Modern Day Christmas Letter 2.0

Hello and welcome to my blog if this is your first time!  I'm happy to see you here.  I have been keeping up this blog since Trey was born and find it a good way to journal on our adventures as a family, my experience as a mother, and also, here and there, some thoughts on books I have read.  Maybe you've been here before for my last Christmas letter or maybe you visit sporadically, but here's a blog version of 2014 and the ups and downs of the Clark family.

In January and February, we celebrated Randy's birthday, Trey experienced his first real snow, and we went to California to visit Randy's parents and go to Disneyland.  This was likely our last trip south for a while because Doug and Carmen have since moved to Port Townsend, Washington and are enjoying retirement.

In March, April, and May, we filled our days with the things we normally do: work and daycare during the week and fun adventures on the weekends.  Whether that means fishing for Randy, playdates for Trey and me, spending time with Grady and Case, my sister's sons, or family outings in the gorge or at the coast, we generally have a good time.   In April, Randy and I were lucky to be included in the wedding of two of our closest friends, and it was in Hawaii to boot!  It was such a fun getaway and just what we needed to rejuvenate.  The springtime was pretty stressful for me as my job as an Evaluation Specialist at the Clackamas ESD got eliminated and I was searching for a new job.  

Digging for treasure! 

 The view from our deck

Trey and my sister's sons, Case, and Grady

Summer 2014 included Trey turning four, a trip to Walla Walla on the fourth of July, my 40th birthday, and countless playdates with good friends.  I am so lucky to be in a profession where I get summers home with Trey, and I really do enjoy our time together.

Turning four! 

Trey's first time fly fishing 

Staying cool with Grady, Trey's cousin 

Waiting for fireworks in Walla Walla 

Trey and Camille's first sleepover 

40th birthday party with my sister, Julie

This fall I started a new job as a resource room teacher at Columbus Elementary School in McMinnville School District.  It has been quite the adjustment from my former job, but it is a lot like my first job in the Woodburn School District.  This is not a change I was looking forward to making, but it is nice to feel like I'm having an impact on a program and on the students with various disabilities in my school.  Randy continues to work at the Primate Center at OHSU and has been working very hard on a variety of research projects, mostly involving Huntington's Disease.

The fall has seemed busier than usual with my new job, but we are making do with minor adjustments here and there.  Randy does daycare dropoff in the morning and most pickups in the afternoon, meal planning is a must, and sometimes the floors just don't get clean.  We continue to focus on the important things - time with our family, playing with friends, and alone time - this usually means fishing for Randy and time with my girlfriends for me.  Trey is doing well in swimming lessons and is also soaking in early academic skills like a sponge.  It's hard to believe he will be in kindergarten next year!

On our way to Port Townsend for Thanksgiving with the Clarks 

Visiting Santa

It's New Year's Day, and today I am feeling especially grateful.  I finally finished my Christmas cards, and while they are getting out a little late, looking through all of the envelopes and including messages on the cards just reminds me how lucky I am to have so many special people in my life.  This is a lesson I hope to impart on Trey - the value of family and friends is immeasurable.  Happy New Years to all of you and may 2015 bring love, some extra peace, and countless joy.