33

I turned 33 while in Hawaii. It was a relaxing birthday no big hurrah, just spent it with the family as they packed up to head home. Joel an I had one more night there.

As I reflect on my last year of life it was filled with transitions. New baby, good bye to close friends, sold our house, blessed with a beautiful house to live in. Quit my job at the Portland Art Museum. Got a new job at Compassion Connect. Our church is growing and exciting to see how God is molding and shaping us. It's been a stretching, beautiful, life-giving season!

As I look ahead to my 33rd year I am excited to see more stability. More of a rhythm of life. I am a steady Eddie... So, stability is a good thing for me. Haha! I'm excited to see how I can be used by God this year...how my family will grow and learn. I can't believe I will have a ONE year old and FIVE year old in a few weeks. I was going to write down 33 goals for the year or 33 something something. But I am not sure I'm up for that sort of challenge. I feel like I am learning to simplify instead of adding right now. Maybe later. Maybe I when I am a little less sleep deprived. Thank you for the masses amount of birthday wishes from near and far! It made my day extra special!

Hawaii

We got to spend a week on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. We got to celebrate a beautiful wedding and have a Tran family vacation. My parents, siblings, their spouses, and my niece were able to spend to all take time off to hang at the beach, eat good food and spend quality time together. The kids did great through all the traveling. They loved playing in the sand and water. It was no agenda, relaxing, and filling! We love good food! The weather wasn't too hot or too cold. Kinda windy though. It was just good to be with family.

Day 31: A Year in Pictures

Here's my 2012 in pictures...but how do you choose 12 pictures when I shot 12,000 pictures? So, I added some highlights... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January: 

Rung in the New Year with my cousins! 

Missio launches into full weekly morning services.

February: 

I celebrated my 32 birthday!

These two are the LOVE of my life! 

March: 

It snowed! 

We prepared for Addysen's arrival.

We had a birthday party in Seattle for Kaden.

Joel and I saw Wicked.

April: 

Joel's birthday.

Kaden turned 4.

Addysen decided to enter the world. 

We got an offer on our house.

May:

Kris decided to move back to Hawaii.

Adjusting to life with two kids.

Threw a bridal shower for Lori in Seattle.

June:

Joel and I celebrated our eighth Anniversary.

We attended TD's pinning ceremony.

Went to lots of birthday parties. 

Went strawberry picking.

July:

Lori and Kyle got married.

Zach and Amanda came home from China.

Gracie came to visit.

Quit my job at the Portland Art Museum.

August:

Tim and Annhi got married.

Kevin and Liz got married.

Lots of trips to Seattle.

TD moved down for a few weeks. 

Went to the Oregon Coast.

Got a job at Compassion Connect

September:

Had to say good bye to Zach and Amanda.

Kaden started preschool.

Moved into our new house.

Mike and Liz moved to Seattle.

October:

Went to two pumpkin patches: one with Kaden's preschool and one with the family.

Trick or treated at Multnomah Village.

Went to Seattle to celebrate Lucy's birthday and visited Raygie after getting his new kidney!

Compassion Connect's banquet.

 November:

Hosted Thanksgiving Dinner at our new home.

Threw a baby shower for Isaiah Homola.

Lots of family time! 

December:

Celebrated Christmas in Seattle.

Had a belated Christmas in Portland with Joel's sisters'.

Had a cookie exchange at our house with our Missional Community Group.

Kaden was in a Christmas Program. 

 May you feel blessed as you reflect upon the last year and have hope for the new year! This list is not complete whatsoever. We are very thankful for how God has stretched us this year and allowed us to grow in so many different ways. Our kids are such a joy in our lives and it's crazy how fast they are growing. This year was a year of many changes... lots of friends moving away, having babies, moving houses, and job transitions. But through it all we know we are right where God wants us to be and focused on the things that matter. We are grateful for all the new people that are in our lives and all the friends and family that have journeyed with us through it all. Thank you for reading my blog the last 31 days (give or take...but i was pretty close to blogging every day). I will keep blogging but not as pressured by a challenge. :) 

Day 30: sick baby

Addysen isn't feeling too hot. Lets just say we have gone through more diapers then not. Her top two teeth are coming in and she's super uncomfortable. She is also super clingy to me. If I'm not around she's fine with who ever. But the second she sees me she starts to whimper and crawl towards me. I'm sad cause there's really not much I can do. We have teething tablets, Tylenol and lots of diaper cream. I just try to hold her and console her. Kaden is very loving and prays for her. I hope she feels better soon and is back to her normal super happy self. Right now she is just semi happy.

Day 28 & 29: I chose family time

Friday was our last full day in Seattle and we chose to fill it with family time! (Therefore not blogging). We went and hung out at Mill Creek Plaza. I had a coffee date with Kiki and the kids and Joel and Chi Mai walked around to the stores and ended up at the toy store. Trong met us there and we had lunch. We headed back home so the kids could nap. Raygie and TD came by with more gifts for the kids and we had a cousin's dinner... We took up half of the sushi restaurant. Haha! Our second annual cousins' Christmas gift exchange party went into the wee hours of the night. So many laughs. So many gifts. So many games! Then Saturday morning we had a photo shoot. We had so much fun with one of my former coworkers, Brooke. I can't wait to see her pictures. We are such a group of posers. Haha! We filled our tummies with breakfast at Edmonds beach and then met up with my parents and siblings for one last meal. We got Dim Sum for lunch. (I ate wayyyyyy too much this morning, forgot to include the bagel and coffee I had before the photo shoot.) Joel and I returned back to my parents house to TRY to get everything to fit in our Honda Fit. It was tight but we did it. We headed back to Portland and am thankful to be home. Good night blogging world.

Day 27: Not Girly

I'm not a girly girl. I didn't have many dolls growing up and what I had married my brother's GI Joe action figures. Today my niece wanted me to play with her castle and I really didn't know what to do. Here's hoping that Addysen won't be too much of a girly girl.

Day 26: Christmas Aftermath

This morning i woke up to kaden and his cousin Chloe fighting. Not over any one thing but over EVERYTHING. They both have been on less sleep than normal. The Christmas toys are everywhere. They have a love-hate relationship. They are best friends most of the times. We have had to get two of the same thing for gifts cause they want to be like each other. I love how much they love each other. But boy when they fight or whine it drives me crazy! I'm thankful that kaden has cousins around his age. I love having so many cousins and hanging out with all of them. I think my bro needs to have another so Addysen has a cousin around her age. :) We are having a cousins Christmas exchange on Friday. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my cousins.