I don't know what to call us... but we live on M Court so that will work for now. Life has been a bit crazy and stressful lately and I obviously haven’t taken the time to write but there is much to be grateful for and many happy memories to preserve so I need to take a moment to record them. This is in no way all inclusive but just a few snippets that come to mind. (We have misplaced a bunch of pictures, like the first day of school and such... so those will have to come later as well. Also, I use this post for our family website as well so some of it is redundant to you or will sound weird like explaining that we live close to DnA but oh well... at least I posted something finally)

The House: We all love the new house and are constantly busy trying to keep it clean while decorating and finishing the unpacking. It was quite the saga getting our stuff from storage in San Diego but after several months it finally came. I will post pictures as things get put together, if they ever do...

Washougal: I like the town we live in. It’s pretty and within 1/2 a mile of my house you are on beautiful country roads with deer, rabbits and so many other beautiful sights. Yesterday Tom and I went on a trail run that is just three miles from our house and went around a beautiful creek and some waterfalls. We can go to the beach of the Columbia River just 2 miles from our house and it is beautiful, with sand to dig in and water to play in. It’s not Okinawa but helps us get our beach fix!

Portland: Living near a big city is great, we’ve been to lots of great places to eat and are hitting the concert scene! We’ve seen The Naked and Famous and Andrew Belle. We’ve got tickets to several more coming up!

Hood to Coast: We were fortunate enough to run Hood to Coast on a team with Tom’s brother Dave, his wife Adina, their friends and Tom’s sister Anne and her husband Peter. It was so much fun. It deserves a post all on it’s own but somehow it didn’t get done. The runs were great, the company awesome and we felt great (except when we lost our beloved inflatable shark decoration off the top of the car..so sad...)










Tom: Aside from being a super triathlete and participating in a Tough Mudder he is busy getting settled in at work. He works Wed, Thurs and Friday with his brother at Discovery Dental. They got a new sign with Tom’s name on it and it looks great. He loves being there and is getting adjusted to the new staff and the different way things are done. Now he just keeps hoping for more patients. Is it okay that I pray for people to break their teeth?

Tracey: I have been running to stay sane and enjoy the variety of places to run here after running around Camp Foster for three years. I miss Okinawa dearly and miss my friends so much but have really enjoyed the chance to be closer to family. Although I have a million different places I could shop I find that old habits are hard to break and I always go to the Safeway down the street and want to do the rest online. I’m busy trying to get the kids settled in, helping them make friends and get involved. I am Hayden’s cub scout leader which is fun and challenging. I look forward to making some more friends here and having game nights again!
My parents came to visit in September and we had a great time! I have been trying to convince them that it doesn’t rain here all the time like they think it does and it was great weather leading up to their visit but then of course it had to start raining the day after they arrived. We still braved it and went up to Mt. St. Helen’s and luckily the clouds parted just in time for us to see the volcano. It was freezing outside, we nearly ran out of gas and the visitors center we went to was closed for the season but somehow it was just fun to be together and we found a nice lake to walk around. It was so fun to have them here, we picked wild blackberries and made a cobbler and my awesome dad even painted our living room for us!!





Hayden: Loves living close to his cousins and wishes he could just move in with them. We are one mile away from Dave and Adina and Morgan is actually in his class at school. School started off a bit slow but Hayden understood he was the “new kid” and it would take some time. Things are going well now and he’s got some friends in his class and we found two boys his age down on the end of our court that he is working on getting to know them. One advantage to not having many friends is that he plays with his sisters a lot. He’s even been training them on how to play the Wii and they all love it. But mostly he wishes he could just play x-box all day and gets mad when I force him outside on the days it’s not raining! I’m sure he’ll have plenty of inside days in the months to come! He's been enjoying reading the Harry Potter series lately and comparing the books to the movies. He's now on book 5 and just keeps finding more differences!

Danica: Has grown up a ton since starting kindergarten. She loves school and has made lots of friends. As usual it’s been funny to watch how her and Hayden are such opposites. Hayden and Danica usually sit together on the bus. But, one day she got off the school bus laughing and smiling talking non stop about the funny boy she sat with on the way home. Hayden got off that day crying because the bus driver made him sit with someone else and he didn’t like it. Hayden’s favorite class at school is P.E. Danica hates P.E. so much that she constantly asks me if it’s Tuesday and begs me to not make her go. The teacher lets her go and just sit and watch but that’s not enough, she still stresses non stop. I finally agreed to go with her today and it seems that she is afraid of the teacher who is a giant of a man...we’ll have to work on that. She still loves gymnastics and has been going to a gym here. Last week they approached us and said that Danica is doing so well they want her to try out for the advanced group. She tried out yesterday, did well and enjoyed it although it was 2 hours long and she got tired. Now we just have to decide whether to take on one more big thing. When we are home her favorite thing to do is ride her bike, she always says "I just love it mom, I just love it!!"

Alyssa: I don’t know where to start with her. She is my smiley little buddy. Quick to give hugs and wants to make sure that I am always happy. If she sees me sad she rushes in to assure me that I will be okay soon. She goes to preschool two mornings a week and goes to ballet on another morning. It’s perfect for her. Some days she wishes she were 5 and could just do everything Danica does but she enjoys our one on one time as well. But no matter how much fun we’re having she still loves to go to the bus stop to wait for the kids to get home. She is learning to read and loves being big like every one else. Her goal in life is to make everyone laugh. The first weeks of ballet she kept acting silly and not following directions and I kept talking to her about it until finally she said “But mom, I have to make them all laugh!” I now see this in so many parts of her life, it makes all of her behavior so much easier to understand. She was the first kid to make a new friend here and loved to go around talking about “my friend” this and “my friend” that. She didn't know her name. There are little kids in our cul-de-sac and she just loves to go out and ride her scooter and bike with them.

Okay, I”m sure I have a ton more things to add but they will have to trickle in... I need this post up there. House pictures coming soon... honest... I am lucky enough to have guests coming this weekend so I’ll have to clean! :)

We live in Lacey but our address is Olympia and "The Olympians" sounds way more cool than "the Laceys."  Plus, my daughter that is obsessed with Percy Jackson will love the name.  It is way too easy to justify not taking the time to write on the blog now that we are here in the same state but it really has been quite a while since we have seen family and will be a few weeks yet.  So...here's the lowdown.

Last week we made the 14-hour drive down to Mike's graduation, it was a great trip, brief, but great.  We had so much fun and it was very satisfying being able to watch Mike graduate after all the hours and hours and hours and hours of work he has done.  The Carlisle's came down for the graduation and our delicious lunch on Fisherman's Wharf.  They gave Mike a framed flag.  It was the flag they flew from 9/11 until Mike got home from Afghanistan, a very touching tribute to Mike and his service.  It still makes me tear up when I look at it.  We were all excited to see Grandma Barb and Papa since I think we saw them more when we lived out of state than we have the past few months-).  Besides graduation we were able to spend a little more time walking our favorite running route with the kids, going out for bread bowls and Ghiradelli chocolates, dinner with our good friends, the Burton's, a girl's night out for me, and a weekend that included a few glimpses of Jane as she made her way from one social event to another. Then we loaded up Mike's apt and took off at 10:30 Saturday night.

Now we have Mike home and it is heavenly.  We all love having daddy around.  Sawyer is his daddy's little shadow or his battle buddy.  Ellyn takes his hand and drags him around with her or curls up in his lap for snuggles.  Jane and Sadie tolerate his constant teasing.   I have a running buddy and someone that makes staying up late more appealing than just climbing into bed exhausted every night and falling asleep.  I'm pretending that he is not leaving again.

Family news-

Jane has a huge group of friends and is always doing something with friends or begging to do something with friends.  It's a cute group and I have no complaints.  She has a hard schedule this fall and at first I was freaking out with the amount of homework she had, but she is getting it done faster and isn't as overwhelmed as she was the first few weeks.

Sadie is queen of the neighborhood.  She plays with all our little neighbor kids until dark.  We have four LDS families on our street and three of them are old enough to play with Sadie and Sawyer, they all just run and bike around from one house to the next.  Sadie is the very oldest so most of the time she is the MC of all activities.  I'm not a huge lover of little cookie-cutter neighborhoods but it really is fun after having the kids so isolated from friends in Carmel.  Besides playing, Sadie is doing piano and doing well in school.  She and Ellyn go to the same school and my cute Sadie is so excited when she sees her sister in the halls and loves playing with her the few recesses a week that Ellyn is integrated into the general school population.

Ellyn is doing great.  I panicked the first day of school.  I walked into her classroom and it was a regular classroom.  No play area, no craft table, no bright happy colors everywhere.  I really just wanted to yell at them  "DID YOU NOT EVEN PAY ANY ATTENTION TO ANYTHING THAT I SENT YOU MONTHS AGO?"  The answer to that is- No, they hadn't.  BUT... they assured me that Ellyn would be fine and basically told Mama Bear to go home.  At the end of the day they asked if we could meet as soon as possible.  We did, they've been able to get to know Ellyn, and they have made some adjustments and what is awesome is that Ellyn seems to be thriving.  She is saying lots of new words, starting to make little one word answers, and is really happy.  She has great new after school tutors and a new respite person from our ward.  It is always an excellent feeling to have our girl feeling good.

Sawyer is a such a happy, cute, little guy. I can't believe our baby will be four in a week! Sawyer is his mom's daytime buddy, he is sweet and loving to each of his sisters, and loves playing with all of his new friends.  "Soy Bean" does preschool four days a week with our preschool co-op.  We have all sorts of fun, each momma takes one day and all the kids love it.  Sawyer now has "red days" and "purple days." He picked the colors.  It's a sign on the fridge, two sided.  Red is a no video game day and purple is a yes video game day.  This little system has saved my sanity.  No more nagging all day long, three days yes, four days no.  Of course with daddy home there have been many more yes days.  

I am just being the mom.  I wake up at 5 with Jane and hit the sack after I get everyone to bed and spend some time talking with Mike on Face time (not now of course).  I don't know when we'll fit in talking when he is three hours earlier than I am.  I am finally on a regular work out schedule and slowly integrating running back into my routine.  I have X-rays on my feet tomorrow and then they are going to make me some lovely orthotics.  I'm hoping I'll get to finally heal up (I want to run that trail run in December by the way, have to check the schedule).  I chopped my hair off last month- short.  I figured it would just hang down my back wet all winter long.  It is much easier and I only miss it when I'm around Meagan and I get a teensy bit jealous.

That is the OLYMPIAN update.  Sorry it is sooo long.  Love you all.

This is Max - one of Taylor's best friends and a fellow 'dancer' for Illumination Dance Company - Taylor's latest hobby. It's a non-profit dance company for kids, and Taylor has figured out that if he participates, he gets to do the waltz with Isabelle Dayley. Anyway - they have a performance on January 5th here at Washougal High and I have gone ahead and purchased 10 tickets. They are $8 a piece, kids 3 and under are free. The performance is kind of a tribute to classic Disney songs - the kids are actually hoping to go to Disneyland in December to perform. So - if you think you'd be interested in attending, please let me know and I will get the right amount of tickets.

Adina

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110930/PREPSSPORTS/109300350/Olys-improve-4-0-CVC-volleyball-praise-coach?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

Even though mine was the last post on here, it was just pictures so I suppose I will write out a full post updating those that read this blog on my life. I'm gonna do this bullet style though because I am too lazy to write out full paragraphs.

• I can't believe it is almost October and it will soon be a full year since I moved up here from San Diego.
• I watched a few new(ish) movies recently, all of which I recommend to some or all of you: X-Men: First Class, Bridesmaids (not for everyone), Moneyball, Conan O'Brien: Can't Stop (on Netflix Instant)
• Work is extremely busy. I had an intern over the summer to help me out with my ever-expanding workload but he went back to school last week so he left us. Since then I have asked the bosses for some changes in regards to my job and our department's structure. They are thinking it over but in the meantime, I am supposed to be getting a temp and I am anxiously waiting for our HR department to find that person as soon as possible so I can actually do everything that needs to be done.
• Four of my best friends are coming up to Portland next Thursday to visit for my birthday, the big 3-0 (yikes). Most of them are staying for a whole week so I am very excited to see them and show them around my new town. I anticipate a lot of eating since Portland has more than enough places to fill the week with deliciousness.
• Things are still going well with Kevin (the guy I am dating for those who don't know) and I'm enjoying the time I get to spend with him. I promise you guys will meet him soon...maybe. :)
• Speaking of, you should all watch "Grimm" on NBC starting October 21st. It is the TV show that Kevin works on. Let's do our part to get it picked up past the pilot!
• I'm taking a quick weekend trip down to LA at the end of October for Halloween fun with my friends that couldn't make it up here for my birthday. We'll be going to the Universal Studios Horror Nights again this year and I am very excited to see what changes there will be and see how absolutely terrified I can possibly get. I will miss the family Halloween party but you guys will just have to take lots of awesome pictures!
• I have a couple new restaurant recommendations in Portland for those of you who are here: Stepping Stone Cafe (breakfast), Casa del Matador, Screen Door, Pine State Biscuits, The Venetian (in Hillsboro)
• I am very excited for the iPhone 5 announcement that is happening next Tuesday for those of you who don't know (and care). I have been waiting for quite a while to upgrade my phone so I'm hoping these rumored possible shortages do not happen so I can get one as soon as possible.
• Pinterest has sucked me in and is a spectacular waste of time. But I still like it.
• I wore boots for the first time this season today and I have to say I am excited about the cooler weather, if only for the expanding wardrobe possibilities. Of course, I am fully aware that I will be complaining wholeheartedly come January. But for now, I am happy it's fall.
• You should all be blogging or on Twitter or both.
• Happy birthday, Adina!
• That is all.

So, this is the formal announcement. I know most of you won't be there, and that is understandable in these busy parenting days. If you are coming, I will need to know at least 3 days prior to put you on the gate access list. Nice to be done. Thanks.

http://www.pantherrunners.com/row/row20110911.html

(I started this blog weeks ago and finally put it on our family blog but decided I'd copy it onto here as well. Soon I'll post more about the house and school starting!)

It's been a whirl wind and impossible to really summarize but I'll give it a try. Of course it started with moving from Okinawa Japan the day after school ended in June. We stayed with friends and then moved in with Tom's parents. Life was instantly busy and fun and crazy and exhausting all at the same time. Amidst it all we continued to wait to close on our house in hopes of getting in before school started. While we waited we kept busy, here are a few highlights:

TRIP TO UTAH:
We enjoyed our time in Utah with tons to do and lots of family to visit. The mountains were beautiful, the sunshine warm, and wonderful memories made. What I learned:
Mom's cooking will always be the best
There is nothing as wonderful as the sound of cousins laughing together
Utah summers are the best, warm and dry
My parents are amazing and so full of fun and excitement, they kept us really entertained!





NORTHWEST PASSAGE RAGNAR:

Tom's family is full of runners and this year for the first time they put together a Ragnar team consisting of his mom, some of her children and their spouses. Tom and I ended up joining the team taking the spots of a few people who couldn't do it and ended up having a blast. It was a 190 mile run starting on the border of Canada and winding down to Langley Washington. We each ran three different legs of the race with some eating and attempts at sleeping in between. It was great! Thank you to all the awesome family members who ran, drove and watched the kids so we could have so much fun! What I learned:
You can take a "shower" in the back seat of a suburban with a washcloth and towel
It's more comfortable to sleep in the car than outside on the cold sloped ground
Croissants with meat and cheese are delicious
"Killing" is good
You don't actually need a good nights sleep and good food in order to run



LAKE SHASTA HOUSEBOAT:
After only spending one month of summer here in Washington I was already done with it and can't believe they have the nerve to call it summer. I have a feeling this is payback because I spent so much time complaining about the heat in Okinawa. I continue to be cold almost daily. So our trip down to Northern California for a week at the end of July was much needed! It was hot and sunny everyday!! We stayed on a houseboat and had a fantastic time. We swam, skied, wake boarded, tubed, ate, sat, swam again and played games. It was blissful and will definitely be an annual tradition.






ALYSSA TURNED 4!!!
I can't believe my baby is 4. I am imagine I'll be saying that a lot in the years to come. She's is just the most fun and exciting little girl ever. She is all smiles and happiness and is just the best friend to her big sister. She loves to laugh and tries to tell jokes and do silly things. One of her favorite expressions is "that is freaky!" Scooby Doo is her favorite show and she is in love with ballet and dancing. Her and Danica play "mom and dad" all the time and Alyssa likes to be the mom and calls her daughter "honey" and "sweetie" all the time. She has a great imagination and loves to play with action figure type dolls, characters or animals. When she can't find any she will use whatever she can find and one day used a dew screws and little mom and dad dolls. At the park her favorite thing to do is the swing and she just learned to swim and things it's the best! Truly she just lights up our family and is so much fun to have around!!!

THE HOUSE:
In the interim we've enjoyed time just letting the kids ride their bikes, playing on a co-ed softball team, getting ready for the house with things like buying a washer and dryer, kitchen table, etc. Finally, after much drama and several ridiculous delays we closed on the house August 18th. We love it and can't wait to get settled!