Congratulations!

Another trip to Seattle this last weekend. It was full of one event after the next. Auntie Gracie was up from Cali to join in all the festivities! It's always fun seeing her!!!! We got to go celebrate Uncle Remy and Auntie Kathy in their wedding celebrations! Kaden wasn't doing too hot... he was getting in FOUR teeth at the same time! His Canines all decided to arrive together! :-( So, starting mid week Kaden got a fever, nose running, lethargic, didn't want to eat. We had many sleepless nights and lots of throw up to clean up... We are glad he only throws up around teething time... and not ALL the time! He was restless and didn't take his naps which made for more of a grumpy child! We were a little concerned that this trip to Seattle would be not very fun for him or for us... but we packed up and headed up! He started to feel better Sunday morning (sleeping in until 11:30 am might have helped too!) We had Chloe's one month party to attend on Sunday and then we took Monday off and hung out with Gracie and my family with yummy pancakes from the Original Pancake House and Salad Rolls for dinner! We had a few BBQs in between all of this...and lots of hanging out with the family! Congrats to Remy and Kathy! Fun weekend, would have been more fun if teething wasn't involved! :)

Father's Day!!!

Dear Dadda,

Words can not express what a great Dad you are to Kaden. Being an at home dadda probably isn't the easiest job in the world, but seeing the way you interact with Kaden and love on him: it is precious. It's amazing to see how involved you are with Kaden's growth, maturity, development and love for Christ. We hope you know that you

are much appreciated & LOVED!!! We would be sad, bored, hungry, and dirty without you. Thank you for caring for both of us when we don't feel well, or are just plain GRUMPY! Thank you for loving us with such sacrificial love. We thank you for directing us both to Jesus daily and accepting us in our brokenness. Thank you for being Kaden's daddy and my hubby! We hope you know we love and respect you with all of us (our head, shoulders, knees and toes!) I love seeing Kaden have your mannerisms and be a little mini-you.

Happy Father's Day!

Momma and Baby

Lets Hear It For Summer

Kaden has been very active the last few weeks. After learning to walk and his feet really under him he is exploring everything. He is amazingly fast and confident in his new walking abilities.

The other day we went to the park and he wanted to do all the "big boy" stuff: climb the jungle gym, go down the slide, and run across the bridge.

Daddy isn't sure if he is ready for this and mommy is just happy to be behind the camera taking new and exciting action shots of the little toddler.

We're looking forward to all the summer activities this year because the little one will be able to enjoy them in a new way. 

This year he will be able to jump in the pool and splash around with the cousins, he can enjoy the 4th of July celebrations,  roll around in the grass, (yes, he is over his fear of the grass!)  the possibilities are endless.

It will be fun to see this little face light up with every new adventure.  

So let's hear it for summer....

Hip Hip Hooray!

Hip Hip Hooray!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

A New Cousin!!!

The last two weekends we made trips up to Seattle. And both trips we were hoping Lisa's brother and sis in law would have their baby... It's been a busy month: 1st weekend Joel's graduation celebrations, 2nd weekend Mother's day celebrations, 

3rd weekend we went to Seattle for a bridal shower celebration and a Mariner's baseball game with some friends from Vancouver, BC, 

and 4th weekend for Kaleb's 1st birthday celebrations... and during the whole planning time we hoped that baby Chloe would be born so (selfishly, I know) we wouldn't have to make a 3rd trip up to Seattle back to back to back! And guess what... SHE'S HERE!!! Chloe was born on Friday, May 22nd at 2:04 PM. Weighing in at 7 lbs, 20 inches! She has the cutest cheeks and is very sweet. Congrats Tran Family!!! So, we got to see her every day over Memorial Day weekend... plus a ton of other events that weekend. We went to Green Lake and walked around, to Hoi Dong (Vietnamese District Conference for the C&MA) and Kaleb's 1st birthday at the park. Beautiful weather! Kaleb got a cool wagon that Kaden and Kaleb got pulled around in... they almost look like twins!!! :-)Slowing down this summer??? Doesn't look like it! We have a few weddings to attend, a FIVE year anniversary to celebrate, lots of family and friends around! And a future to try to figure out!!! :-) Kaden is walking like a big boy and doing all sorts of fun things! I will post a video soon of him singing... and then clapping... it's the cutest thing ever!!! Anyways... sorry blog world that our posts are very few and far in between!  

Mum's Day!

We didn't just celebrate mother's day on Sunday... it was an entire weekend celebration! It all started on Friday when we got a text at 6 am from my friend Krista! They were in labor! She joined the mommy club just in time for Mother's Day! Elijah Joseph Donald was born that day 7.7 lbs, 19 inches! What a sweetie! He's so CUTE! Congrats friends!!! Friday evening Kaden and Lisa spent the evening together hanging out, learning to sing "Oh McDonald" and danced and played! It was a fun time!!!

Saturday we woke up and met up with the Miller's to get Waffles at the Waffle Window on Hawthorn! It was heaven to the stomach!!! Then we walked it all off at the Farmer's Market... a tradition for the last three years now! We stocked up on herbs and tomato plants and all sorts of other goodies! We headed home and gardened all afternoon and headed to the Lam's house to feast for Nappy's birthday! Prime Rib, Chili, Ahi Tuna salad and all the sides and chocolate cake!!! Oh man... I was stuffed! Nothing is better than friends and food! ;)

Sunday we got up to go to church... Lisa woke up to a mum's day present... a new camera flash, and a gift certificate to ger her hair done by the coolest hair dresser ever! So, good job daddy and baby! They even kept it a secret for a few days!!! They are pretty bad at giving gifts ASAP... we headed to church and Jonah got dedicated today! Afterwards we feasted! We ate at Pho Ngon. Then naptime... and more gardening... and then to A.T. and Chi Thu's house for clams, steak, grilled veggies and cake made by Annette!!! Great cake Annette!!! ;-) So... that makes very happy tummies... a baby that is worn out by lots of walking and eating and playing with his cousins... 

It's been an amazing experience to be a mom... God reveals his love in so many different ways once we become parents. To laugh when Kaden laughs, to cry when he cries... to hurt when he hurts and celebrate when he celebrates! Cheering him on when he tries to do something new! It's such a great experience to know that this journey is just barely starting... I am loving every minute of this thing called being a mom.  

Kaden's Birthday Party Part 2

Alright... so... we headed to Seattle two weeks after Kaden's birthday to celebrate with friends and family that couldn't make down to Portland! So, Kaden's birthday Part 2 was on Sunday, April 26th. We would have had it on Saturday but KT had a birthday party and Lisa's brother & Sis in law had a baby shower...so, we moved our party to Sunday after church. Which worked out great!

 It was a packed house with yummy food, sweet treats, lots of laughs, awesome presents (thanks!) and Kaden still doesn't like cake. (We had his smash cake, that i made, and my mom ordered a cake from the person who made our wedding cake...it tasted pretty good... it just wasn't very pleasing to the eyes... toying with the idea of submitting the cake to cakewrecks.blogspot.com but good thing she didn't mess up on our wedding cake 5 years ago. 

So, we partied hard on Sunday and slept all the way home. Thank you for all that came out to celebrate Kaden's life! It's been a fun adventure... now he's a walker... life seems like it's going to get more interesting. :-) He's adorable toddling around the house... definitely doesn't look like a little baby any more. Life finally is slowing down for us To's. Joel is done with school and walks this Friday... and Lisa is all done with all the major events for the year at her work. So, time to slow down and figure out what God has in store for this family of three. Please keep praying for us and knowing where God is leading us in this next season. Much Love!!! :-) 

Kaden's Birthday Party

What a fun filled birthday week for Kaden! Auntie Gracie from California was up in Portland for her spring break, she's a school counselor. Auntie Gracie made Kaden's first birthday Dr. Seuss themed cake. It was amazing! Auntie Annette helped with the supplies and the assembly of the masterpiece! Beautiful just beautiful! So the week was spent hanging out with Auntie Gracie and eating a lot of treats... lots of frozen yogurt... cookies...cake... other yummy food! Man... we think we all gained five pounds! 

Birthday party day: 

Over 50 people came through the To house...lots of fun and laughter was had by all. I am sure everyone was super stuffed and tired by the end of the party! The kids played in the bounce house (thanks Chu Nappy and Co Annette for loaning it to us).

The adults sat close to the food and munched all afternoon! :-) Kaden was so good... even without really napping all week! He loved being around all the people and knew he was very loved!

 

He loved the balloons, the tissue from the presents, the kids playing... the adults holding him... he loved it all... EXCEPT when it came time to eating his personal sized cake. He didn't the texture of the frosting... he freaked out!!! It was quite adorable.

 

After all the friends and family went home... Kaden crashed for almost two hours! He napped so hard he didn't even budge from the position we laid him down from.