Season of Change

Over the past few weeks I have had so many thoughts go through my head that one might normally post as a Facebook status update, but then I think, "No one needs to read that.  I'll save it for my blog." Now, of course, that I finally have a moment where Trey is sleeping, Randy is fishing, and I am too overwhelmed by my garage to do any more work, I can't remember anything that I wanted to say.

The past month has been very busy for the Clark family.  In no particular order of importance: we sold our house that we moved into in 2005, we moved to Beaverton to live in our friend Kris's house, Trey left his daycare where he has spent most of his time for the last 16 months, we have hosted Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day dinner with our families, AND we have a new dog.  

Trying to keep some semblance of normal for Trey during the move and celebrating the holidays at the same time has been....I'm trying to think of a good word and just let out a big sigh....well, hard.  I was so excited to finally start some Clark family traditions for Trey for Christmas, and I was disappointed that I didn't get to do all I wanted to do.  I think Trey had a good time over the holidays, so I will accept what I was able to do this year.  

Another evening at Hopworks when we had to be out of the house for a showing

Before we moved, we went to the Alpenrose Christmas Village with Julie and Tim.   Trey had fun seeing some of the animals, and, despite the expression on his face, he was happy to see Santa. 

With Trey and Grady 

My sister and our boys

Her new baby is due is 6 weeks! 

Family shot! 

In the little village

Trey might have stayed in this house forever if I'd let him. 

It looks like Trey is trying to leap off Santa's lap, but he was happy to see Santa and told him he wanted a drum for Christmas.  This year Trey talked a lot about Santa, the chimney, and gifts.  It was so fun to see him so excited.

We did the majority of our move in the middle of December after receiving 6 offers on our house after 2 different listings, 3 opinions on our foundation cracks from contractors, and 1 official report from an engineer.  Here's hoping that third time's a charm because we are all moved in to our new house.  As of this moment, the appraisal has already happened and the loan is in underwriting (I think that's how you say it).  If this goes through (which it better), we will have saved over $21,000 in repair costs by sticking to our principles and trusting in our realtor and the professionals who gave us their feedback.  I'm still in shock that it (hopefully) worked out the way it did.

Before...
Putting my bookshelves together is always

 one of the first things I do when I move into a new place.

After.

It has been six months since we had to say goodbye to Tango, Randy's loyal companion of 14 years.  Randy has been looking for a new dog for the past few weeks because he has been eager to get a dog back in the house (I, on the other hand, have not been so eager.).  I said to Randy one night, "Don't you think it's a tiny bit of a red flag that the people who are trying to get rid of these dogs make comments about how much energy they have?"  He disagreed with me, but I still think I had a very good point.  Randy ended up finding a dog through a rescue shelter who had recently arrived in Portland from Baja, Mexico.  To me he is a brown Tango, but I guess that is a good thing since the only dogs I thought were cute from the postings Randy would send me were the ones who looked like Tango.  Randy wanted to name him Elway (since I wouldn't let him name our baby Elway), but once we got him home he really didn't seem like an Elway.  Randy has settled on Bailey, another shout out to his favorite Broncos.  

The dog immediately took to Randy. 

Trey reading a story to Bailey

He was so cute as he flipped through the pages and made up words.

Sleeping dog 

Tell me this does not look like a brown Tango!

Being home for Christmas break has been a great way to get Trey adjusted to the new house and to get Bailey comfortable as well.  We put up our tree a week before Christmas, and I tried to get Trey to help me decorate it.

He only wanted to put the ornaments on a few branches, 

no matter how much I tried to encourage other spots. 

It may have something to do with the Christmas sugar or maybe the lack of sleep, but Trey has had A LOT of energy over our break.  He seems happy in our new house and has not once asked about the old place.  Maybe it's because he's been here so much before, but he seems really comfortable.

A morning burst of energy 

The new stool is doing wonders for Trey's ability to find the lollipops. 

I moved the dum-dum suckers to the counter, 

and later in the afternoon this is what I found.

On the Sunday before Christmas, Trey and I went to pancakes at Tom's Pancake House and then on an early morning shopping trip at Winco.  We were done with both errands by 9am thanks to my early riser.  Later that day we made sugar cookies with frosting for Christmas.  I had so much fun making cookies with Trey, and he has had a lot of fun eating them.  

Officially 2 and a half!   

Happy at Winco!

One afternoon we were home and all of a sudden Trey was very quiet.  You know, the quiet where you know something mischievous is going on?  I couldn't find him right away because he was hidden behind the Christmas tree.  He had the iPad in his lap and was fully engaged in some app.  I am not sure how I feel about the fact that he can start it up, swipe the screen, choose an app, and start playing all without help.  Proud?  A little scared?  Guilty?  Probably all of the above.

Cookie baking time!

I thought I'd get all of the ingredients out before we started.  Very smart idea. 

Watching the batter mix 

Cutting out the cookies 

At first, Trey tried to cut one on top of the other.
I usually try to give Trey room to explore and learn, 

but this was one thing I couldn't help but stop.

Trey and Bailey watching the cookies bake 

Patient boy 

Finally able to decorate! 

 Taste testing...he managed to take a bite out of four or five cookies

Cookie project = success! 

I had a bit of a stocking saga this year.  I started the decorating season with one stocking and ended with ten.  Needless to say, I only needed four (Trey, me, Randy, and my dad).  I won't go into the details, but let's just say that moving at the height of Christmas season does not do wonders for one's organizational skills.

Trey found the stockings to be very warm.

Grandpa Gerts, who came to spend Christmas Eve 

and Christmas morning with us, reading to Trey

Opening presents with Julie, Tim, and Grady

Grady, almost 15 months

Trey thought this game was really fun.

Not a very flattering family shot, but it's the best we could do.

Trey eating Santa's cookies 

Opening presents from Santa 

You can't tell from the photo, but Trey is overjoyed with his Yo Gabba boombox. 

Listening to Grandpa's heart with his new stethoscope 

Randy's parents arrived on Christmas Day and stayed until Friday.  We had a great time with them: went to the Dalles to visit Grandma Julie and Aunt Carol, had some good meals, went to Zoo Lights, and even got a few things done in the new house.  Trey had so much fun playing with Papa Doug, and it was a little heartbreaking when Trey woke from his nap on Friday asking to play with his farm with Papa Doug (who was long gone).  

Playing with some of Santa's gifts

We went to the Dalles to visit Grandma Julie (Carmen's stepmom) and Aunt Carol (Carmen's sister).  I think it was one of the first times Trey has seen snow in a way he could experience it, and he was in love.  He had so much fun making tracks in the snow with his footprints, and he was giddy watching Papa Doug throw snowballs.  I can't wait to take Trey to the mountain!

When we left the Dalles, we went to Fabric Depot, and then Carmen was in heaven!  I think this may have been the highlight of her trip!  We got some fabric to make a replica of the advent calendar Julie and I had when we were growing up (Julie has possession of it now) and also to make Trey a cape similar to Super Grover's.

Trey was able to burn off some energy! 

Thursday we went to Zoo Lights which was cold as shit.  Trey would not wear gloves, and by the end he wouldn't wear his hat either.  He was super tired due to his sleep strike, but he did well and enjoyed the train and lights.

I love how Trey is mashing his face into mine in this picture.

He has been such a love bug over break.

Trey and I have had a lot of fun together over this break, but he has been making it extra difficult for both Randy and I by not sleeping very well.  He is waking in the middle of the night most nights, and he has been waking for the day at 4:30am.  Today we were lucky because he slept until 4:45.  This meant that including his middle of night wake up, he only got seven hours of sleep last night.  He also has been on a bit of a hunger strike, so between that and his sleep, his mood has been fluctuating to say the least.   Here are some fun moments:

DJ Lance and his Yo Gabba boombox

Our cowboy fireman at Costco

Playing at the Children's Museum:

Checking out the dogs with Garland

Trey's got a full cart - he has learned from the best!

Playing with Owen at the water table

Now, my blog post wouldn't be telling the whole truth if I didn't give a brief shout out to the meltdowns and tantrums we've been enjoying over break.  I think this one was when I didn't have the exact kind of cookie he wanted...at 6 o'clock in the morning:

But later in the morning, I looked out my new living room window and saw this:

If you look really closely, you can see Mt. Hood
inbetween the roofs of those two houses.

That's sort of how I feel about motherhood right now - a constant vacillation between joy and despair.  Happy New Year to everyone and may 2013 bring you happiness, growth, and love!