Well anyhow, it should go without saying that we've been busy around here! That's kind of become the norm - which is both frightening and also exciting. Strangely, I feel like I can already put myself in my own shoes like 40 year from now. In those days, I'm sure the silence in our home will be overwhelming, and I'll be thinking back to the times I am in right now, when there is hardly ever peace or quiet, yet it is amazingly fun and real and crazy. Life is being lived in a very large and happy (and oftentimes exhausting) way these days. May they continue like this for years to come.
As for me, I've been promoted to a Technical Delivery Manager at IBM, which means I'm a full-time manager now. On the one hand it's what I've always aspired to, yet on the other it is a big change! So far so good, I'm enjoying it and feel like I'm doing a good job. We'll see where it takes me! On the home front, I've been busy busy working on home projects whenever I get the chance (rarely lately, between all the travels!). I've come to learn that my much of my happiness in life right now is largely tied to planning home improvement projects and getting them done. I just finished a garage rack for our Yakima car top carrier and whatnot. Also did the raised permanent irrigated garden bed this past March. Up next is the outdoor shed, so I can finally reclaim some garage space! You wouldn't believe just how tight a 2 car garage can be, for a family with only 2 cars. Neither of them fit in the garage. I think there's about 6 bicycles, 3-4 bicycle trailers/accessories, and about 5-6 other 'pre-bike' things for the kids to ride on. It's pretty insane just how much stuff we have in there.
So here's the status report of all family persons, as it were.
Meg. She's blonde!
And isn't she a cute one! It's funny how the human mind works. I can hardly remember what she looks like with any other color and style of hair. Except for when I met her, she had that long blonde 'Shakira' hair. I like both, then and now, the best of all her hair styles through the years. Maybe I really do have a things for blondes, eh?!In other news, Meg is absolutely slaying her continuing education credits that she needs to 'move horizontally' on the pay scale. She's already like 90% done, and will be totally done by the beginning of the school year, way to go Meg! Also turning into quite the cook when she has time, and her crafty skills are second to none, also when she has time. She's a heck of a partner. The best that I could ask for, or even imagine.
Oh, and isn't that baby D-Snow adorable too? Speaking of Dempsey...
Demps
Little 'Dempsey No', 'D Snow', 'Snowbaby', 'Little Sister', or as we've gotten used to calling her lately, just 'Demps'.
This cute little girl has been growing up so fast! The last time I posted she was hardly walking I think. Now, there is no stopping her, naturally. She has the cutest little penguin waddle run I've ever seen, without the bowleggedness of course. She is a big girl, as far as she is concerned. She started refusing to use the high chairs about 3 months ago. She also eats with forks and spoons now (Ok fine, she starts out using them and then eventually goes to using her hands, the most efficient method to inhale food, naturally). She wrestles with her brothers as if she is truly one of them. Pulls them down to the ground. Chases them. They chase her. Oh, and she has really taken a liking to kicking balls around. She loves it! Fitting that the US Ladies just won the World Cup. Future player here!
AJ
My big little man. Starting Kindergarten this fall, and SO ready for it. He can count to nearly one hundred now, more or less, can add nearly any single digit numbers, and is learning to write. Also in the early stages of reading, can identify certain words and whatnot. AJ loves Legos, both following the instructions for a new Lego and also coming up with his own creations. AJ has a big natural curiosity about the world and how things work, and his grasp of logic, cause and effect, etc. is better than any I've seen for a kid his age, 5. He will just randomly start telling us about how or why some things work the way they do, or he will sometimes make observations about the world or share some bit of wisdom about something that seems beyond his years. I love that about AJ. I truly think he will be a scientist or engineer when he grows up. I'd like to think he got those analytics from me and Grandad Richardson... Also, he's a very sweet guy when he wants to be. When someone leaves, it's common that he'll stop what he's doing and come and give a hug and a kiss. He's also discovering his own temper, but that's another story haha.
Oh, and AJ is a very good big brother. We don't stage photos, they're so fake. This one is quite real, on AJ's birthday night out, no less.
Rykee-boy
Oh my Ryker. The thing that I have known about you, and which becomes more and more evident all the time, is that you are a very passionate guy about everything you do. You live in the present, man, and I love that about you. When you're wrestling, the entire rest of the universe may as well not exist. Same thing applies to when you are running/playing, mad about anything, sad about anything, happy about anything, and excited about anything. You really feel your feelings. I admire that passion. Pretty sure you didn't get that from me. I could use a little more passion about things I do sometimes! Anyhow, this passion makes 'transitions' hard for you, and always has. Things like going to sleep, waking up from sleep, saying good-bye, being told 'No'.... You are also a good brother, when you want to be! You do have a crazy side that has been known to come up and push or hit Demps for no reason at all too, my little man! You are quite good at riding your strider bike, I bet you'll learn the real thing ahead of schedule too. We're excited to see you have the chance to get into various sports, we think you'll be a natural based upon what we've seen so far.
My passionate little wild man.
Meg and I
It's true, Meg and I have been challenged these past few years, both individually and together. Having a family changes every single aspect of life as you have known it. It can be tough. Anyone who doesn't think so is either lying or in denial. Accepting this fact is the first step to moving through it and growing on a personal level. We had a sort of 'grieving' period for the life that we had known after we had our first little AJ that lasted a few months, as we got used to the new routines in life and whatnot. We've learned new things about ourselves and each other, sometimes in a not-very-graceful way. Anyhow, we've grown a lot, and fought to remember who we are and who we want to be, and lost and refound our sanity multiple times. We've done did it, methinks. It's all about honesty and communication, who'd have thought? Honesty with each other, and also with ourselves (which is usually the harder of the two). Meg has her time away, I have my time away, and we have date nights out at least monthly. We're blessed with supportive family and friends, good health, and great jobs that are quite accommodating to our young family lifestyle. Not much more to ask for, if you ask me. Certainly not much of anything to complain about. Cheers -R
Root beer floats while on the G-Knight Ride!
Lightsaber battle at Patrick's bday party, naturally.
First Rockies game as a family!
This is what 2 crazy fun people look like.
A pic from our latest parents-only adventure, backpacking and hiking up Mount Holy Cross!
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