Gotta love free speech

Saw this editorial comment on a sign at my local grocery store. If you can't tell what it is, it is a recruitment poster for the National Guard, and someone has taken a pen to add "Fight for Oil!!"

Changing things up a bit...

I'm going to try to fire the blogging machine back up. In the midst of a busy life prioritization is required, and blogging unfortunately (or fortunately?) falls far down the priority list for me. But recent developments have encouraged me to start blogging again.

First, I have been struck with how quickly our kids are growing up. I mean, I'm GOING TO HAVE A TEENAGER ON MY HANDS SOON. And one of the main benefits of blogging is that it provides a snapshot of a particular point in time. I like blogging for its ability to capture thoughts, photos, and memories relating to my rapidly-growing-up kids.

Second, Blogger has finally come out with an iOS app that allows me to post from my iPhone. For so long Blogger lacked a mobile app, and thus I couldn't blog unless I was sitting in front of a computer. In fact, I even thought about switching my blog to Wordpress because it had a mobile app.  But I'm loyal to Blogger - I have almost 500 posts on this blog - and they finally rewarded my loyalty by developing an app. I'm actually typing this post while riding my bus into work.

Because most of my posts will now be generated using the mobile app, expect shorter posts with less text and more photos. In a way, I expect this blog to resemble more of a tumblr site than a blog with 2,000-word posts describing my feelings on the fiscal cliff.

As always, you can take a peak into what's going on in our lives by following me on twitter or finding me or my better half on Facebook.

Big 'ol update from spring and early summer 2011

Sorry for the insanely long post, but I figured I needed a big huge update to somewhat make up for my lack of blogging the past few months.

Crazy Dress-Up Days
This year Drew and Sam went all out in their outfits for their school's crazy dress-up days.


Here are Drew and Sam on "crazy appearance day"


This is Sam on "Favorite Character" day. She was Fancy Nancy. If you've ever scene the "Fancy Nancy" series of books, you'll recognize that she absolutely nailed this one.


Drew on "Favorite Character" day. Not hard to realize that his favorite character is a soldier just back from deployment to Afghanistan


Drew and Sam together on "Favorite Character" day

Easter 2011
This year's Easter celebration was one for the memory books. First, our church held one massive service at Qwest Field in Seattle with thousands of people attending. It was an amazing service, even when it started to rain a bit. Second, our son Drew decided that he wanted to be baptized at this service and John was able to baptize him at the Easter service. After the service we had dozens of friends come over for a big meal and Easter Egg hunt.


The set up for our church's Easter service


Drew at the Easter service

Drew preparing to be baptized


An amazing moment


The big 'ol Easter egg hunt


Family picture on Easter


It was great to have Grammy and Grandpa (John's parents) in town to help celebrate Easter

Tee Ball and Sounders FC


Our little tee ball player


"Swing, batta, batta, batta..."


There are few things in life more adorable than watching little kids play tee ball!


Missi and our friend Jessica at the Sounders game


At the Sounders game

Sam's Seventh Birthday Party!
We had a great time celebrating our little lady's seventh birthday. There were about 12 of her friends who came over for a makeover themed party and sleepover.


Sam and one of Drew's friends who came to assist with the party doing an at-home manicure


The birthday girl getting her nails done. (notice how her hair has been crimped as part of the "makeover")


Dance party to Hannah Montana!


Massive pillow fight!


I loved the irony in the fact that the girls had a "makeover" themed birthday and then promptly went out into the dirt and worked on building a fort.


I can't tell if "Pillow Pets" are popular among 6 and 7 year old girls

End of School Year and Visit from Alaskan Cousins


Hazelwood Elementary Class of 2011!


Drew and his great teacher at the graduation ceremony


We LOVED having the Alaskan cousins in Seattle for a short visit. So fun to catch up with them!


Sam and her wonderful first-grade teacher.


It was incredible to have this guy be Drew's teacher for the past two years. He'll be missed! Notice Drew rocking the end-of-schoolyear mohawk

3 Month Hiatus!

Hard to believe that it has been 3 months since I've blogged. I think that may be a record. There seems to be a very clear inverse relationship between the level of "busyness" of life and the frequency with which I blog. I'm going to post a bunch of pictures that will hopefully update some of what has been going on in the spring of 2011.

Pray for Japan

Our hearts are broken for the country of Japan. The images of destruction in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami are startling and disturbing. I have a special affinity for the Japanese as I studied that language for a number of years. I also worked for a few summers at a summer camp in Bend, Oregon for Japanese school kids who would come to the United States to do things like going horseback riding and whitewater rafting. Please be praying for the Japanese people and their leaders as they deal with the aftermath of these disasters.

We have some good friends who live here in the Seattle area but are currently in Japan for work obligations. They live in Tokyo, which thankfully wasn't the hardest hit area, but they definitely felt the quake and were affected. Check out The Millerhood if you want to read a well-written first-hand account of the earthquake.

In Which I Blog About What Has Been Going On...

It's always crazy for me to look back at the last time I posted something on the blog, when I realize that it has been several WEEKS since the last post. I guess I just need to resign myself to the fact that with the current pace of life, that is about the frequency that I can reasonably expect. In any event, here are a few tidbits from our life lately:

- We celebrated our eleventh anniversary! It is hard for me to believe that we have been married for 11 years - it certainly hasn't seemed that long. But what an adventure it has been. We celebrated by going winetasting in Woodinville, where there are dozens of tasting rooms.


"I think I'm getting some notes of blackberry and with a hint spring mist..."


"No, actually I'm getting a nose that consists of wild mushroom and toasted oak..."

- We celebrated the wedding of our great friend Monica Kerslake to her husband David. We met Monica during my first year of law school in Eugene and she has been such a great friend ever since. Missi was radiant as the matron of honor and Sam was completely adorable as the flower girl. After the ceremony, Sam completely stole the show on the dance floor. It is completely apparent that Sam has received her mother's dancing genes. An added bonus of the wedding was the chance to catch up with my friend Ryan, who was up from Eugene to film the ceremony.


Sam coming down the aisle.


Mr. and Mrs. Chin!






This about stopped my heart when I saw Sam in the veil.




Ryan hard at work.


Missi did an AMAZING job with her toast. A great combination of heartfelt encouragement and humor.

- Baseball season has arrived! I have the honor/privilege/burden of being a head coach this year. We are the Cardinals. I am a mixture of excited and anxious.

- We took a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with our friends the Foglios. This was one of the kids' Christmas gifts and we had a blast. If you have kids, I recommend checking out Great Wolf. If you haven't been, think of a fairly large hotel with a huge indoor water park included in the price of your room. They also don't allow non-hotel guests to use the water park, and this limited capacity means that you don't have to wait in line for 45 minutes to use a water slide. They also have this crazy treasure hunt throughout the entire hotel called "MagiQuest" where you have a wand and have to point it at certain features (picture frames, plants, lights, etc...) in order to complete certain quests. It was a great time.


Drew hit it big in the arcade.


Sam and her BFF Taylor.





- We went to see The Decemberists in their "Popes of Pendarvia" tour. What a great show. I can't emphasize this enough, but please go see this band if they come through your town. They are total stage performers and you will have a great time, even if you don't know much of their music. Here is a review of their show in Portland, which took place on the night following their show in Portland. Without a doubt The Decemberists are one of our favorite bands right now.





- Speaking of music, I am listening to "Sigh No More" by Mumford and Sons a lot right now. Check it out. It's a great album.

A gem of the Internet

Every now and then you come across some gems on the interwebs - zefrank, Montgomery Flea Market and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On come to mind - and I have another gem to share with you.

If you are like me and have a strong affinity for awesome vintage t-shirts, then you need to cruise over to Skippy Haha's Etsy shop. Skippy is one half of the former Vintage Vantage (R.I.P.), and she is now providing her great shirts through her Etsy site.

Check out this sweet tiger shirt that I got from Skippy.





Actually, I like to think that the shirt actually shows a liger, which, as you know, are bred for their skills in magic.

So go check out Skippy's Etsy site and buy some shirts!

The Tooth Fairy Visits the Wilsons

As you have probably noticed from prior posts, I love getting notes from our kids. I love seeing their handwriting, spelling, phrasing, etc...It isn't uncommon for me to take pictures of these notes or writings so they are preserved as memories.

We had an exciting event in our house last night - Sam lost yet another tooth. The girl is definitely going a phase where here baby teeth are falling out at a rapid pace. As our family's "tooth fairy," I have the honor/privilege/responsibility/burden of writing a note to each of the kids when they lose a tooth. I always "disguise" my writing in some crazy handwriting and then burn the edges of the paper for effect. It's quite a process, especially late at night right before I'm trying to go to bed.

Here is the note the "tooth fairy" received from "Toothless Sam" last night, and the response that was left behind with a few dollars.



Dear Tooth Fairy,
I am Sam. I lost my tooth. I am giv??? [giving] it to you. Please leave me a present.
Love, Toothless Sam

My favorite part of this note? That she signed it "Toothless Sam."



Dear Toothless Sam,

Thank you for your kind note and for your tooth! It is a nice tooth! I have left you a few dollars as a thank you for your tooth. Thanks again and always remember to brush your chompers!

Your friend,

T.F.

Banished Words List

I'm a big fan of words, and all the unique "quirks" that accompany them. I'm guessing this has its root in my love of reading and all of the time I spend at work writing. So, it wasn't hard to predict that I absolutely LOVE this list of the most overused words of the past year. The list was put out by, of all people, Lake Superior State University, and it looks as those they receive nominations from the public for these words throughout the year. For those who want a little sneak preview of what words made this infamous list, both "epic" and "fail" are on the list.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Let me preface this blog post by saying that we have an incredible group of friends up here in Seattle. We have been amazingly blessed with great friends since moving here two years ago. But this morning as I was laying in bed solving the world's problems (as I often do on Saturday mornings), I was struck with the thought about how many great friends we have had that are now scattered throughout the country. This has been due to either them moving away from us, or us moving away from them. We are able to stay connected through sporadic visits (we are coming to the 'burg soon Newtons - promise!) or technology like Skype, but it's just not the same as being able to share a meal or watch a football game with these great friends. So, with absolutely no slight to the friends we have here in Seattle, here are some (but not all) of the really great friends we miss a lot!










And don't forget the one and only Jack.