A Tia to be...

I have been waiting for like 3 months to announce that my sister is pregnant! It was her news to break not mine, but I was so close to blogging about it anyway.  I am glad I had self-control.  I don't know how some people can hold back such huge news.  I know some people view me as too open, but hey.  I see that she finally posted it on her blog and most people already know anyway, but I still had to write about it.  And I will finally have the title of Tia (Spanish for Aunty).  And we will both finally be in somewhat of the same phase of life.  It is a little hard to imagine my little sister as a mommy, because she is my little sister, not because she won't be a great mom.  Does anyone else feel that way about their little sisters?

A Thanksgiving that looks like Christmas

We spent Thanksgiving at the Phillip's house along with the Mosseys.  It is so nice to be invited to celebrate this holiday with others when you are not able to be with your own family. 

My friend Heidi and her family have a rule that they can always invite others to be a part of their Thanksgiving each year.  All growing up, she can remember having other people come over for this holiday and become a part of her family for the day.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in your own family as large as it may be or become, but I want to try and remember to be mindful of this in our family.

It started snowing on Thanksgiving here and has continued all the next day as well.  It already feels like Christmas here.  We have our tree all set-up and what few decorations we have.  Ever since our last move, I think we are missing a Christmas box because we cannot find our Nativity set.  Hmmm...

Southcenter Shootings/Day 1 of Retirement

Anybody hear about the southcenter shootings yesterday?  Well, my mom and dad were shopping there when they heard 2 gunshots.  Instantly my dad and mom were looking for the fastest way out of Penney's.  My mom had 2 pairs of jeans that she was carrying to buy for my dad.  She somehow thought she would have time to pay for them on their way out!  When she came to her senses, she tossed them in the women's department and they were able to race outside, find their vehicle and get out of there before the lockdown.  It turns out that someone shot 2 people and I think one person died.  I feel for the parents of these teenagers.

My mom called me to let me know about the shootings and that they were close to it, but just fine.  My dad's comment in the background was, "Retirement is exciting!"  Dad can always find a way to make us laugh.

This brings back another memory of a similar situation when we were kids at the Puyallup Fair.  All of a sudden, my dad grabs my sister in a football hold and tells me to hold onto his jacket.  My mom is right there also and we are running.  Our eyes are instantly watering and snot is flowing out of our noses!  My dad and mom think it is some kind of poison.  So we are running out of the fair, past people that were not exposed to it, probably wondering why these people are running for their lives covered in snot.  It turns out that someone let off tear gas!

A Tribute to my Dad

All my life, (that I can remember), my dad has been a firefighter.  My mom, sister and I have countless memories of visiting him at "the station".  He'd go to work in the morning to work a 24 hr shift and by evening many a time we would hop in the car and drive down to visit him.  We've sat on the firetrucks and he'd turn on the emergency lights or honk the horn.  And as I have grown up, I have been able to bring my kids down to see "the station" and sit on the trucks. 

One of my favorite memories growing up was when one of our cats brought a rat into our house, a live rat!  My dad happened to be at work that day.  My mom called him and along came my dad with about 3 other guys to the rescue on the big, red, firetruck!  My mom, sister and I stayed upstairs while the heroes took tennis racquets and smashed the poor rat on our hearth!

Well, my dad now has a lot more free time on his hands as he has just retired after 33 plus years as a lieutenant firefighter!  While I am so joyful for him to be retired, I am surprised at how emotional it is for me.  My mom asked if it was because it makes me think of my dad getting older.  That did not even cross my mind.  If you know my dad, he is far from old!  It is just that he has always been a firefighter and we could always go to "the station" and it is just the thought of not having those times anymore or just that it is all I have known and maybe the end of making more memories at "the station".  I am really not sure.  Don't get me wrong, I am so glad he is retired.  It is probably like the emotions of moving from a house that you grew up in all your life.  Seeing dad in his uniform and leaving for work or coming home the next morning is a normal everyday memory, but it is special.  Or calling the station, before dad kept his cell phone on at work, and hearing him say, "Renton Fire Department, station 12, Lieutenant Dykes speaking", or something like that.  You get my point.

Thank you, dad, for working so hard all my life for us when we lived at home and always for mom.  I have always been so proud of my dad, the firefighter.  But really that was just a small part of the most wonderful dad that you are!  I love you!

On a funny note:  Our cat brought in a live mouse today and Toby was at work.  I called him and he came as soon as he could in his work truck and was my hero!  It is funny how certain moments can repeat themselves and create new memories for your kids.  Although, this scene did not require any tennis racquets!

Check out my Sister's blog for some pictures!

Ellie's Happa Birday!

(Said with a smile by Ayla)

Our girls get a friend birthday party every other birthday.  (Ellie picked a Tinkerbell theme.) And believe me, after Ellie's 5th birthday this year, I will keep that tradition going.  She had over 10 friends come and it was a screaming, running, yelling time.  Ellie was already running on little sleep from the two nights before, you add some sugar and you have over 2 hours of ....fun?!?  Well, the point is that Ellie had a great time and wanted to have another one the very next day, since that was her real birthday.  She didn't quite understand why we couldn't do it all over again.

We just love our Ellie Ana so much.  She is getting easier to take on errands with me.  We just drive along in peace down the road.  A little talking here and there, but we are both in our thoughts most of the time.  She loves going to "seco therapy" with me (physical therapy) and observe all my exercises for my knee.

Being one who has liked to wander too much in the stores we go to, last night I took her to Penney's with me.  While I looked at the curtains, she looked at the ornaments right by the curtains.  I'd check on her and we'd get eye-contact every few minutes.  Well, she came over to the curtain area with me and then I was trying to locate her after a few minutes.  I went over to the ornament area and she wasn't there.  I then headed back into the curtains and I could hear a lady saying, "Have you lost your mommy?"  And there she was surrounded by mommas and grammas choking back her tears.  She could hardly talk.  I felt so bad.  That is the first time that I can remember her ever showing fear at a store out of my sight.  I always feel bad when my kids go through a fear like that.  And I am also thankful for seeing that cautiousness grow in them when it needs to. 

All this to say that I love my Ellie.  As her name means, she is truly a light in our lives.  She loves to do flips on the couch, without arms, which terrifies Sienna every time she does it.  And she can run and run and ride her bike and be the quiet one in the van while her sisters fight for the spotlight to share their stories from Awana.  I have to stop them and ask Ellie if she has anything she would like to share about her class at Awana.  "No", she says.  So then I ask if they colored or heard a story or had snacks.  Then she will open up and start talking once she has a direction.  As my mom says, she is a lot like me.  In more ways than one.  She has been my hardest to potty-train, which I was for my parents.  But now, she has got it down.  And her reasons for taking so long, I think were the same as mine.  Not wanting to stop playing...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET DAUGHTER OF MINE!