Happenings of the Holweges

Pre-School for Grady-Bug

2009-07-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

Today was Grady's first day of pre-school. He has been so excited looking forward to this day. It is at the school just around the corner so we got up early and walked over. The whole way there Hayden was giving his words of wisdom having been a pre-school graduate himself. He was so concerned for Grady. He told him to listen to his teachers. To raise his hand if he wants to put something on the board at story-time. He also instructed him on how to play with his friends on the playground. As I suspected, Grady had no issues being left at school. He was busy exploring the moment he walked into the room. What a difference from my other child. Hayden couldn't say good-bye enough. As Hayden and I walked down the hall he said "I think Grady's going to be O.K. mom". It was so sweet the concern he had for his younger brother. These milestones in the lives of the boys are exciting and sad. I wish I could get over the sadness I feel at watching them grow-up. I am thrilled to watch them have new experiences and to learn new things. Watching your child gain independence is a rewarding experience. I just can't help missing them when they are away from me. The other day I asked the boys what I should do next year while they are both at school. Hayden's answer: "You can practice the Wii a lot".

This is for you Paula and Vicky!

2009-07-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Cousin Noah with Hayden and Grady

Sorry about my lack of blogging lately too many excuses to list. The main reason is my camera broke, and what's a good blog with out pictures. My brother was married this past Saturday which brought Aunt Paula and my cousin Noah to town. Noah took some fabulous pictures both for the wedding and of my kids. Thanks Noah! It was fun to have them in town although it was too short a visit. My Grandma is also here to visit for a few weeks. That will bring many adventures.

In other news, we are moving. Ryan has been working in Warm Springs over the last year. His company recently established a long term contract and asked if we would move there for about three years. As sad as I am to leave our friends, family and my home, I am looking forward to a new adventure. We are looking to be gone by mid August. We are looking in a little town called Culver. It is right by Lake Billy Chinook. School will start for Hayden September 8th so I would like to be settled a few weeks before that. If you know anyone looking for a fantastic home in NE Portland let us know. We realize this is not the ideal time to be selling a home, but we will keep our fingers crossed.

Hayden Turns 5!

2009-04-05T21:55:00.001-07:00

I am still in denial. I can't believe my baby is five years old. Time is going by too fast. We have had several celebrations for his birthday. We started Friday night at Red Robin for his free birthday kids meal. He opened presents from Grandma and Grandpa Doty. Tonight we had a birthday party with all of the family. He had all of his cousins, aunts, uncles, Great-grandma and grandpa Doty and Great-Aunt Jane and Uncle David. He requested a volcano cake which I think turned out pretty terrific if I do say so myself. Tomorrow he will have a little party at school and his cousin Sydney will spend the night. I think he will be birthday'd-out by then.

Hayden is special. He is the boy who made me a mom. I remember the night he was born. I was a little out of it, but he looked nothing like I had imagined. He was so huge! I couldn't believe that all of him had been inside of me. Our family would not be the same without him. He is a special boy who is good at making friends and a fantastic big brother. He and Grady are the best of friends. I love that they have each other to go through life with. He has his moments, but I have really seen him mature in the last year. He loves to learn. His favorite section of the library is the children's non-fiction. He is so interested in things I never would have imagined for a child his age. From the life cycle of the whale to the dictionary of dinosaurs he soaks of facts like a sponge. He loves books and is trying hard to learn to read. He is a great artist (a bit of a perfectionist like his dad) and loves to sing in primary. I am so thankful to have him as my son and only hope I can be the mother he deserves.

Everyday I become more aware of how my time with my children is passing. Soon they will both be in school and activities will overwhelm our lives. I cherish these lazy days I have with them. We can stay in our jammies until noon. We can sit down and read 20 books with no worry of somewhere to be. Life right now is simple for me and for them. I really am not looking forward to the change next fall. I will no longer be the main influence in his life. He will have a teacher and friends. I know this is the natural progression of things, but my heart aches a little every time I think about him being away from me everyday. I have never been a proponent of home schooling. Just not for me. I totally understand why people do it though. Oh how I digress.........

Anyway, I love my boys. I love watching them grow. I am so happy we have survived this first five years with no major set-backs.

Frosty The Snowman

2008-12-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

What perfect snow for making a snowman. What a beautiful way to spend a morning. We were so happy the wind stopped blowing and we could just enjoy the snow falling. Of course you have to follow-up snowman building with hot chocolate!

Here is our man of snow-

Santa and Snow

2008-12-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

We got our Christmas tree last weekend I am just now getting around to posting pictures of it. It is a beautiful tree. I probably feel that way because it was absolutely free. Ryan's boss invited us out to his property in Sandy and we were able to find a tree there. The pictures don't do it justice.

Saturday was a very busy day. We took the boys downtown to see Santa at Macys. The wait wasn't very long, about 15 min. We then walked across the street to Pioneer Court House Square. They had about 300 tuba players playing Christmas songs. Then we headed up to The Chart House for Ryan's work party. We enjoyed tons of wonderful food and all the hot chocolate you could drink. They even had gifts for the boys. Next stop was our ward Christmas dinner. We were full from the previouse party so we just enjoyed the pie. We were exhausted! With the possibility of snow Saturday night we stayed up a little later then normal. Sunday morning I awoke to the phone ringing. It was 9:30 and everyone (even the boys) was still asleep. It was our Bishop calling to inform us that church was cancled. Now I know when you "out-of-staters" check out these pictures you will think we are a bunch of babies. It's not the snow that is a concern. It gets so icey! We wanted to get out of the house last night and slid right out of our driveway into the curb across the street. Thankfully no cars were parked behind us. It was very dangerouse out there. Anyway, we were able to spend a lazy day at home as a family. It was fantastic. We finally let the boys outside to play at about 3 p.m. It was so windy. They only lasted about 10 min. The windchill is like 7 degrees. They haven't asked again to play outside.

Uncle Nate the "horse"

Right after a gust of wind

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-07T20:18:00.000-08:00

I know I am a bit late with our Thanksgiving festivities. Truly it is not my fault. Ryan and I are "sharing" a camera and with him out of town a majority of the week it has taken awhile to get the pictures.
We went away for Thanksgiving again. We have gone to Sunriver the last few years. This year we opted for a change. My aunt Jane knew of a cabin located in Mossyrock, Washington. It is only about an hour and a half from Portland. We headed up late Wednesday night. Ryan usually does the driving but he was tired from work and so I said I would drive. After we left I-5 we hit some pretty thick fog. You couldn't see oncoming traffic until they were even with you. It was pretty white knuckle all the way there. Thanks to my driving skillz we made it all in one piece. The house was fantastic. Plenty of room to spread out. It is only two years old so everything was nice and new. We took the boys fishing on Saturday. The first hour we didn't even get a bite, so Ryan drove Grady and I back to the house. He took Hayden back out to try a new spot. Low and behold Hayden ended up catching two Salmon. That was the high-light of his trip. Other than that it was just a lot of relaxing and eating. We spent the weekend curled up with a fire watching our favorite Christmas movies. No "Black Friday" for us. What a memorable Thanksgiving.

Here are a few of the pictures from our trip:

Watching Football!

Thanks x 29

2008-11-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago for family home evening we made a "thankfulness" chain with the boys. I thought it would be fun to do this for my blog. Since I am 29 years old, I thought I should make a list of 29 things I am thankful for. These come in no particular order.

I am thankful for:

29. Family - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters both in-law and out
28. My boys, Hayden and Grady
27. My husband and his never ending patience and love for me
26. That my kids have a close relationship with not only there grandparents, but there great-grandparents
25. Grady being potty-trained!
24. Living in such a beautiful state, close to the beach and the mountains
23. The Gospel
22. The opportunity to go to church every Sunday
21. My calling in Primary
20. My Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement for all of us
19. The freedom to vote
18. Ryan's employment and the blessing of providing for ourselves
17. Thomas S. Monson our living prophet and his divine instruction that gives much needed direction in our lives
16. Our ever growing food storage
15. A healthy mind and body
14. Foods of all kinds in all varieties, available anytime, anywhere
13. Our home, although bare in some rooms and a constant work in progress, much more than most the world has
12. A much needed Thanksgiving vacation away from emails and phone calls
11. Good friends, you know who you are, the ones I am on the phone with most weekdays days between 9 am and noon.
10. The color green (I love green!)
9. The ability to drive myself around town
8. Good books that keep me up much later at night than I should be
7. Holidays all year 'round and the traditions that come with them
6. Coupons, enough said
5. No moles in our yard for now
4. Kids that are fantastic sleepers
3. The funny things my kids say and do to make my day
2. The scriptures and the comfort found in them.
1. The sacrifice of our ancestors. For there examples of faith during horrific trials. For this great nation they established, for the Gospel they fought to preserve. I hope that one day I can thank them for paving the way for me and my children to enjoy the freedoms they gave all for.

Halloween

2008-11-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic Halloween! The weather couldn't have been nicer. My kids kept complaining they were to hot. What's up with that? Hayden went as a snake, though most thought he was an alligator/lizard. He would have to correct them every time. Grady was a lion and had the best roar to go with it. After about 1 1/2 of trick-or-treating the boys bags were so heavy they didn't want to carry them anymore. That's when you know it's time to head home. It was really fun this year because the boys both understood what Halloween was about and didn't need much direction from us.

The Little Things In Life

2008-10-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

What a great day! I love the amazing fall weather we are enjoying. We have been outside all day working in the yard. Ryan put the boys to work washing the wheel rims of his car. These funny little moments are what life is all about. I think Grady's new nick-name should be "Joe the plumber". We have much to be grateful for.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday after Hayden's soccer game we packed up and headed to the pumpkin patch. The weather was wonderful and we had a great time. We rode the ferry across the river and Hayden insisted on paying for the ferry ride again this year. We rode the train out to the pumpkin patch, went through the hay maze and stopped at the petting zoo. They had some gigantic fall peaches I had to buy some. I made Ryan his favorite peach-blueberry desert. Lucky for us the boys didn't like it so we got to eat it all. It was a fantastic day.

P.S. You may think I play favorites when it comes to my children based on pictures, but anyone who knows Hayden knows he rarely likes having his picture taken. As frustrating as this might be, I think he knows he may be famous someday and is practicing for the paparazzi.

Mole Update

2008-10-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

I know everyone has been waiting on the edge of their seats for a "mole" update. I had the trap set over the weekend. Twice I went out to check it and the mole had tunneled right around the trap. I wanted to scream. Saturday, Ryan actually saw the ground moving and tried my butcher knife technique to no avail. Then this morning after I took Hayden to school I decided to check while it had stopped raining. I picked up the bucket and saw the trap covered in dirt. At first I thought he had gone around it again, but as I looked closer I saw the trap was sprung. I lifted the trap out of the dirt and squeezed between two horse-shoe metal clamps was the cutest little animal ever. I wanted to cry. I hadn't really ever seen a mole before, so I didn't know what to expect. It looked like a little hamster. It was so clean for living in the dirt. It was gray with the softest looking fur.(notice I said "looking", I didn't actually touch it!) It had the cutest little paws for tunneling and a little stumpy tail. It made me so upset I had to quickly put it in the bucket and run inside and have a moment. I hope I will be forgiven for my insane hatred of this little guy. I hope he was the only one so I don't have to go through this again. On the bright side, I guess our lawn is saved!

Moles

2008-10-14T12:36:00.001-07:00

So a couple of weeks ago we laid our new sod. It turned out so great. Not one piece died and it was really taking root well. Then the moles found us. I have become obsessed with trying to kill the moles. I have tried everything at the hardware store (traps, bait, bombs) and even home remedies found online like hair from your hairbrush and juicy fruit gum. Nothing Works! Yesterday as I was standing out back getting ready to water, I saw movement under the sod. I ran into the house and grabbed the longest sharpest knife I could find. I snuck over to the area and stabbed the heck out of the ground. I thought about how morbid it was for a split second but decided I wanted the mole dead worse than what may plague my conscience. After the murderous episode was over, I lifted up the sod and dug through the soil trying to find evidence of the moles demise. NOTHING! No blood, no limbs, nothing! I have spent all morning with a knife next to the deck watching for more "movement". I left for a few minutes to change the laundry and when I came back to check again, a giant mound of dirt. What the heck? I feel like I may be loosing my mind and the moles know it. What do I do? Maybe I need to get a life, but I really have become all consumed with this problem. Any suggestions?

Is It October Already?

2008-10-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

Wow! Time flies. I can't believe it's already October. I just love fall and all the activities that come with it. One thing I don't enjoy is having to turn on the furnace for the first time. I kind of think of it as a little game. I like to see how long I can go without turning it on. I totally thought I could make it until the end of October. Ha! Last night I gave in. It was 57 degrees in the house and I couldn't stand it anymore. I do enjoy coming in from the cold to a nice warm house. One blessing I am so thankful for. Ryan has been super busy at work. Considering the economy, it's a good thing he lost his job when he did and found this new company. It has given him the opportunity to learn new things and meet lots of new people. He has been spending at least two days a week at the mill in Warm Springs. We miss him when he is gone, and love welcoming him home. Hayden has been working really hard on his parts for the Primary Program. He has four (one being a singing duet). He is really excited! Grady has been doing great with the potty training also. The first day I almost gave-up, but I am so glad I stuck it out. So nice to be out of diapers! We had a great weekend watching conference. The Saturday session that had the Primary choir, the boys loved that. Every time the choir would sing they would stop what they were doing and come and watch. They loved seeing children participating. Anyway, were still alive just enjoying life.

Life Needs A Time-Out!

2008-09-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

Could the Holwege Family be an busier? I don't think so.

Hayden has gone back to pre-school. Same teacher, same friends so not to much of a change.

Hayden also started soccer. He is on the same team with his cousin Sydney and friend Carter. They have the best coach. He is so patient with them, and Hayden thinks he is so fun. Basically it's kick and chase. It is a huge accomplishment just to kick the ball in the right direction. Now I understand how those parents get so carried away. I love cheering for him. He tells me before each game just to whisper his name so nobody else can hear. He wants so badly to score a "goalie", but he is getting closer each game. Our little Grady-bug is such a good sport about all the activities Hayden is involved in. He wants to go to school so badly and play soccer. He patiently watches though and cheers for the team. Go Green Geckos! His turn will be here soon.
Speaking of Grady, we are finally potty trained. Yeah for me and him! I started last week, almost gave up twice but decided to stick it out. Boy am I glad I did. He has done so well. Everyone has seen a kid on the potty so no need for a picture.

I have also been canning like a mad woman. First I did applesauce which turned out fantastic. Now I am in the thick of pears. I actually find it kind of relaxing at the end of the day to sit at the sink and peal pears. I have been on a real food storage "kick" lately. I never gave it much thought up until a few weeks ago, then I got bit by the bug. I am so thankful for the gospel for many reason, but this knowledge of food storage our prophets have spoken about for so many years is so unique to our religion. No one knows what the future holds, but I sleep a little better at night knowing we are doing all we can to follow the prophet and try to have our years supply.

Finally, tonight we put our backyard in. We have been planning to do this for several months, but circumstances didn't permit. Ryan has been rota-tilling over the past several weeks. Today I went to Home Depot and rented a water drum to roll out the soil. I put the boys down for their nap and got to work. I have the biggest blister to prove it. The sod was delivered this morning. Realizing this was a bigger job then what we had anticipated, Ryan called our good friend Noah to come to our rescue. What a work horse. He and Ryan had the whole yard in within an hour. Thanks so much Noah for your help. The boys thought they were a big help also. They called Ryan and Noah the "lifter men" and they were the "roller men". It looks fantastic. Can't wait until next summer to have a nice yard to play on.

Trip To The Ranch (Or "Branch" According To Hayden)

2008-09-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Cute couple Grady and Ashley

Hayden riding the four-trax

Katie and I love posing for pictures

Throwing rocks in the creek

We have started a great tradition with our good friends Brian and Katie. We spent a week with them in Joseph, OR at their family property. It is truly the highlight of our year, and we hope they aren't completely sick of us after so much time together. They are so much fun to be with and we had a fantastic time. The guys got to fly fish a couple of times and Katie and I spent a fabulous day at Wallowa Lake sun-bathing while our kids played in the lake. (played, fought what's the difference!) The guys also watched the kids one of the days so Katie and I could go shopping. Friday evening we were able to leave the kids with Katie's mom (thanks again Karen!) and go out on the big town. We had a great dinner and then went for a little sight seeing tour. Driving around out there in the dark you always see glowing eyes. Usually it's deer, but you never do know. Makes things kind of exciting. Anyway, we had a great time. Thanks again Brian and Katie.

Grady Turns 3!

2008-09-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Our precious "Grady-Bug" had a birthday. His actual birthday is September 1, but we were going out of town so we celebrated a week early. He had a great party with a "Lighting Matween"(Lighting McQueen) cake. He got his three birthday spankin's from his Great Grandpa Doty. He was so cute after every present he opened he would go over and hug whoever gave him that present. We love Grady and all the funny things he says. He is truly a light in our lives.

One Hot Weekend

2008-08-17T20:45:00.002-07:00

Well everyone knows it has been a scorcher! Those lucky enough to have AC should pity all without. We use to have it and miss it sorely. Luckily, my parents and Ryan's parents both have it and have let us crash on couches and beds for the last few nights.
On top of not being at home lately, we had a very busy weekend. My best friend from high school got married on Saturday. I was so happy to be part of the wedding. Friday afternoon was the dress rehearsal and dinner. It was at the Abernathy Center in Oregon City. It was a beautiful place. The wedding was on Saturday. I had to be there a few hours early to help the bride get ready and myself. Ryan came early with me and ended up helping the wedding planner with the decorations. It was so fun to get dressed up fancy. She gave us beautiful earings to wear as a gift. I even wore make-up which I rarely do. The ceremony was very nice. My biggest fear was tripping down the isle which was made of cobblestone (cobblestone in heals-wouldn't recommend it!). I didn't trip though, and even though I was so nervous, Ryan said I didn't look like it. After the ceremony we had to do the pictures and then we were able to go inside for the reception. It was cooler inside and that made it more comfortable. The food was wonderful and it was so much fun to dance with my friends all night. Luckily, my friends have husbands are not dancers so Ryan had a great time "talking with the guys". So thanks Tracy for putting on such a fantastic party! Hope you have a great time in Hawaii. Thanks also to my sister for keeping the boys overnight. They are already asking when they can do it again.

I also got to spend time this past week with one of my best and oldest friends Donna. She was in town for a few days for the Les Schwabe convention with her husband. We went and had the greatest pedicure ever! Over an hour long, and we just got to sit there and visit the whole time. Not thinking, we went shopping after and I decided to try on shoes. Of course I messed up my big toe. I went back into the salon thinking I would just touch it up myself, but the lady insisted I sit back down and she totally re-did it for me. Anyway, thanks Donna for the great afternoon. Wish we could do it more often. Your the best!

Doty Reunion '08

2008-08-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we had the opportunity to spend with my family. We celebrated my Grandparents 60th anniversary. Almost all of my cousins were able to make the trip to Portland. We had a fantastic time visiting, remembering old times and catching-up on what's new with everyone. We had a talent show one night with like 30 different "acts". I was so proud of my boys for getting up in front of all those people. Hayden sang "Book of Mormon Stories" and "Alligator Pie", Grady sang "Oh What do You do in the Summertime". They were both so cute. I am so thankful for my family. I have been so blessed with family members who are great examples to me, and always there to support me. Thanks to all who made the trip here- can't wait until next time!

Where Do They Get It?

2008-07-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

Just a funny little story about Hayden. He is in year-round pre-school. Yesterday, when I went to pick him up from school his teacher told my friend Melanie and I about a conversation our boys were having that morning. She said they were talking about how many girlfriends they have. Hayden told his friend Carter that he has two girlfriends. Carter then said, "two girlfriends is expensive!". Where do they get these things from? One moment they are throwing a tantrum like a little baby, and the next they are discussing things that twenty year olds talk about.

Blueberries Are Here!

2008-07-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

My mom and I took the boys yesterday out to Sauvie Island to pick blueberries. What a fun way to spend a morning. Grady thought his bucket was a seat and promptly parked himself under a blueberry bush. They both ate enough blueberries to empty my bank account, luckily they don't weigh the boys before and after. Now our freezer is stocked for the year.

Beach Trip

2008-07-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Grady went around to everyone and asked if they wanted a marshmallow or a "super-duper" (which is a s'more). Then he would say "It's free!". How can you resist? Sand and all, everyone was a great sport. With the help of Aunt Paula, Grady successfully made s'mores for about 20 people.

No, those aren't pants Hayden is wearing, that's all sand!

Grady enjoying ice cream with Aunt Jane.

What cute boys!

Feeding the seals at the Seaside aquarium.
While we were in Seaside we took the boys on the bumper cars. My mom had Grady with her and I drove with Hayden. After we got off the ride, Hayden said, "That was very bumpy. If dad were driving we wouldn't bump!" I guess he believes Ryan to be the better driver.

I can't say thank you enough to my Grandparents for the wonderful beach trip we had. All of the family at one time or another were able to make it to Rockaway, Beach. This is what my Grandma had requested for her 80th birthday. Fortunately we all benefited from her "gift". The boys and I were able to spend the whole 10 days at the beach with everyone. The sun showed its face everyday, and so did the wind, but no rain. We took the boys crabbing twice, which they loved! I can't believe how much they love seafood. They each ate a whole crab, an oyster and a clam. They had a couple servings of clam chowder and ate salmon. We took a train ride through Rockaway and Garibaldi, we went to Seaside for a day, Indian Beach in Cannon Beach and of course the Cheese Factory. We had an excellent time! Here are just a few pictures from our trip.

Memories

2008-07-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

A friend of ours did this on her blog and I thought it would be fun to try.

1) Leave as a comment on my blog of a memory you have of you and I together. It does not matter how well you know me, any memory you have.

2) Try the same thing out on your blog and see how well it works.

Come on guys! I have lived a whole 29 years on this earth. There are a whole-lot of memories to remember.

Donna Tagged Me!

2008-07-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

What I was doing 10 yrs. ago:

I am not organized enough to have pictures I can find from 10 yrs ago, but I remember that time like it was yesterday! I was so excited that Donna and Derek were getting married. It was the first wedding I was going to be in. Ryan and I had just met and we were together almost everyday. I was working for Dr. Poff as a dental assistant. It was my first dental job and I will always be grateful to Dr. Poff for being patient enough to teach me a job that I would continue to do for the next several years. He was a great man to work with and to know. This was a great time in my life. I had a lot of freedom and I enjoyed doing a lot of fun things. Donna, I too will always remember that beach trip as one of the funnest times I've ever had! I think we need to do it again!

5 things on today's to-do list:

Laundry
Pack for the beach
Family reunion picnic @ Blue Lake
Go to the bank
Clean out my car

Snacks I enjoy:

Chocolate
Taco Bell
Frozen Cherries
Yellow cake batter (I make cake all the time so I can lick the spoon)
Skinny Cow fudge bars

Things I would love to buy if I were a millionaire:

Living room and bedroom furniture
A new deck
A great vacation
A maid

Places I have lived:

Portland, OR
Salt Lake City, UT
Hermiston, OR

3 joys:

My boys!
The Gospel
Sunny weather

3 fears:

Something happening to Ryan or one of my boys
Having a house fire
Someone breaking into my house

3 goals:

Get organized (I am really working on this)
Eating healthier (I am also currently doing this)
Being a better friend

3 current obsessions:

Jon and Kate plus 8 (she makes me feel like I can do this job of being a mother)
Reading (always has been an obsession)
Developing the best Sharing Times ever

Random Facts: (I love to read these about people but I can't imagine anyone caring about mine)

I can't sleep without my earplugs (I feel I lose it a little bit when I can't find them-kind of like a binky or blanky for me)

Ryan and I stay-up very late like 11:30 or midnight every night

The movie for the book Twilight was filmed partly at Madison High School where I graduated from

I play the piano, but can't sing (I love to sing, but can't hold a tune)

I love my local afternoon radio show The Buzz with Daria and Mitch, they make me laugh so hard out loud where ever I am. I recently was at a re-sale shop on Freemont and was walking to my car when I spotted Daria walking down the street. I stopped her and talked to her for a few minutes. She was so nice and made me even more of an obsessed fan.

Every time I go to Red Robin at Mall 205 I see someone I know. This has become one of the many things my brother-in-law Nate likes to tease me about.

Well there it is-my first tag! I hope someone will enjoy reading it.

A Day In The Gorge

2008-07-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

We took the boys up the gorge the other day. It was cooler than here in town and they had a great time playing in the water.

It has been really fun to have Ryan home with us during the days. Over the last few weeks we have done many fun family activities. Good news though, he started his new job today. It is a lumber company out in Boring, OR. We are so thankful and excited for this new opportunity. We will miss having him around, but glad to have a job again.

Our Weather

2008-06-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

First we complain because it won't stop raining here. Now, it is so hot we are reduced to sleeping on the basement floor. I was so thankful that it rained last night. That should help with my water bill. I went out and picked our raspberries last night (I know it was Sunday, but if I let it go they start falling to the ground). It was raining, but it felt so nice to be in the rain. Thunder and lightning were going on all around, it freaked me out a little, but it was fun to watch. I got enough raspberries to make two more batches of freezer jam. Anyway, it's good to see the sun, and the rain. I appreciate both.

Saturday night we had a great time at our church ball field. It was Ryan's brother Aaron's birthday. We had a BBQ with lots of good food and of course Popsicles. We had a kiddie pool for the kids and water balloons which eventually turned into a water fight for the adults. The guys had a great time playing softball.

Sunday in primary, we taught the kids some patriotic songs. It made me so excited for the fourth of July. I love all holidays. To be with family and eat all the good food is the best. Thursday we will go to the Rodeo with my family (Doty tradition) and Friday will be full of lots of fun activities. It should be a busy week, but a fun one!

A Visit With The Marlatt's

2008-06-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends Donna is here visiting with her girls from Carson City, Nevada. It has been fun to spend a little bit of time together. It makes me wish they lived back in Portland so we could do things all of the time. These are just a couple of pictures of her cute girls and my cute boys.

(P.S. Donna- my boys want to know when they can play with those friends that are girls again.)

Last Day of School

2008-06-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Hayden had his last day of school today. Pre-school that is. He is on a year-round schedule so school will actually just be over for a couple of weeks before he goes back. He will have the same teacher again, which both of us are thankful for. My mom met Hayden's teacher and said that every ones pre-school teacher should be so pretty. She is as pretty on the outside as she is on the inside. We love teacher Laura and don't know what we would do without her!

This is a picture of Hayden with his best friend Carter. He and Hayden play so well together. He only wants to be at school when Carter is there. We have the same conversation everyday there is school. He wants to know if Carter will be there and wants me to call his mom to make sure. They will be in the same class next year which should make things go pretty smoothly.
I was hesitant to start him in pre-school at the begining of the year, but I think it has really been the best thing for him. He was so attached to me before and now has little problem walking into new situations. He plays better with other children, which could be a result of age. I have seen him mature a lot this year and can't believe he is not my little baby anymore. I am so glad this has been a positive exprience in his life and look forword to next year!

I Love To See The Temple

2008-06-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

This month I have sharing-time in Primary. The theme for June is "I'll Prepare Myself While I Am Young". As I have been preparing my lessons for the month, I have realized how much I miss attending the temple on a regular basis. I think Ryan and I do a pretty good job, we go every couple of months, but I miss having that peaceful calm that comes only by attending the temple. I was told in my first recommend interview that there would be times in my life that I would attend the temple regularly, and as I had children it would become less frequent, and as my children grew the opportunity would present itself once more. I have seen this take place now in our lives. When we were first married we made it a goal to attend the temple once a week. We were pretty successful (it was a cheap date) and it was a great way to end a stressful week. Now it is less often, but I feel it appropriate for the stage of our lives.
I talked to the children in Primary about how preparing for the temple was like preparing for a trip. When you go out of town you pack a bag full of items you will need. Same with acquiring a temple recommend, there are certain things they can do now to prepare for attending the temple. I am so thankful for having a temple so close and want to take full advantage of it. As I told the children how the temple is the most peaceful place on earth, I felt the spirit so strong and truly hoped that one day they will all have the opportunity to feel that same peace. I know that we do temple work to serve others, but I get so much out of every time I go. I want to do better and want to go from every few months to at least once a month. Once again, cheap date! I really feel like our church leaders are inspired with the topics we are assigned to teach. I am thankful that this is my month to teach, and hope the children will get as much from it as I have.

Enjoying Portland

2008-06-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

One nice thing about Ryan being out of work is we are able to do fun activities throughout the week, not just on Saturdays. Friday was such a nice day we took the boys to the Rhododendron Garden. This is one of my favorite places. It was fun to feed the ducks, and we only had one "trip and fall" incident.

One of my favorite things about Portland (sorry if this makes you home-sick Donna) is the Rose Festival. My parents took us to the Star-Light Parade every year growing up. I enjoy this tradition even now. My kids were glued to the parade for most of the 2 hrs. It got a little cold, but no rain. We had a great time and we made it home in record time thanks to "expert driving" skills. If you can't tell, Hayden really enjoyed the cotton candy!

Memorial Day

2008-05-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

We had an excellent Memorial Day. Our friends Brian and Katie invited us to go to the beach for one night. One night turned into two, as we realized we had no reason to go back so soon. We drove down after church and on Sunday, and came back Tuesday afternoon. I was so happy to stay one extra night, one just isn't enough sometimes. The weather was pleasant. Overcast, but not windy. The kids had a blast on the beach making "snow angels". I know I annoyed everyone, (including myself) with my constant worry about the cleanliness, (or lack of) of my children. I know I need to relax, but little boys have to be the dirtiest things around! If there is icky anywhere, my kids will find it. So sorry Kate and Bri- I will try to be better. We went to Hug Point on Monday, and spent sometime in the arcade in Rockaway. Monday night we roasted hot dogs on the beach, we all agreed it is a lot easier than throwing them into the microwave at home. Yeah right! It was fun for the kids though, and it wore them out. On Tuesday we went down in some tidal pools and found hundreds of crabs. As a parent, one of the neatest things to me is showing something new to my kids. They were so excited by all the creatures they found. I love the exprience of re-living life through my children. My kids said that finding the crabs was their favorite part, but I think Ryan and Brian had more fun. They were like little kids themselves. It was harder to get the men to leave then the kids! As always we had a fantastic time with our friends.

"MOMSI"

2008-05-22T13:56:00.001-07:00

I haven't written in a while, so this should catch things up-

I decided today would be a great day to spend at OMSI. They have that great Discovery Room for young children. When the boys came in to wake me up this morning, I asked if they would like to go to OMSI with me and daddy. Hayden said, "What MOMSI are we going to?". I thought it was so funny. I guess that is what we will call it from now on. Anyway, they played in the sand for about 1/2 hr. until I convinced them we should go try something else. They play so well together. Downstairs they have a dinosaur exhibit. The dinosaurs move and are pretty realistic. It was a lot of fun, and we can't wait to go back.

Monday night for family night we went on a picnic to Laurelhurst Park. We used our great picnic basket for the first time. We received it as a wedding present 8 1/2 yrs. ago. It was a little windy, considering how nice the weekend was. I guess we missed our picnic window of opportunity.

Ryan is still looking for a job. This has been a stressful couple of weeks, not only with this, but other things happening that our out of our control. I feel like my prayers have become that much more sincere and purposeful. I want them to always be thought out, but when things are going well it becomes more difficult. I find myself praying out of habit. I feel like we have had many blessings come to us throughout the last few weeks, and have realized the great blessings that come through paying our tithing. Ryan and I have always felt that we don't need to be rich, we just want to always be able to provide a comfortable life for ourselves and our children. I really feel that Heavenly Father is making this possible for us. Other miracles have occurred in our lives recently that have strengthened my testimony. I am thankful for these experiences in my life. The future is so uncertain, and it scares me to think of a possible move in our future. But, I know wherever we end up, we will always have each other and the Gospel, which are the two greatest blessings in my life.

Hayden's First Talk

2008-05-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

I know I am a bit late, but Hayden gave his first talk in Primary on Sunday. He was so excited all week. He colored all the pictures himself. President Monson and the missionaries ended up with multi-colored suits. I don't know how well that would go over in real life, but it sure made things a little more interesting for his talk. His talk was about "Following the Prophet". He did a great job and we were all so proud of him! (the picture didn't turn out well at all, I was standing in the back and didn't want to get to close to the front)

Gradys Articles of Faith

2008-04-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

This past month in primary the children have been learning the Articles of Faith. They get to plant a flower for each one they learn. Hayden really wanted to do this, so we worked on the first and then the second. He was so happy he was able to stand up in front everyone and say them. Then all of the sudden Grady started saying them. It is so cute, I just had to share!

Jars O' Bugs

2008-04-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

So, we are having some friends over for dinner tonight and I thought I should tidy-up a bit. I put the boys down for their naps, and as I began picking up, I realized the many jars of creatures we have in "safe" places around our house. My boys love bugs. They love touching bugs, watching bugs, and catching bugs. I know it is hard to tell in the picture, but all these jars contain some sort of bug. It doesn't really gross me out, considering how much of a girly-girl I am. They know the rule, the lid stays on in the house. I think it is good to encourage their interests. If this means I have to wash out a few extra jars I think it is worth it.
Nana Krein wrote to Grady yesterday saying that they would be talking about bugs in nursery on Sunday. She asked if he would bring is bug collecting kit. She sure came to the right place. She might get more than she bargained for!
One thing that impresses me is how gentle they are with these insects. I know first response is to stomp on it, but they have learned that these are Heavenly Fathers creatures, and they need to be gentle. Last night as we were in the yard weeding, I found an earth worm. Hayden held it first, and then handed it to Grady. Hayden told Grady to be very gentle, Grady tried very hard. I was impressed how Hayden was such a good example to his little brother. Thank goodness for bugs!

Imagination

2008-04-10T17:07:00.000-07:00

These two boys of mine have developed quite the imagination. The other day I heard Grady talking to himself in the living room. He was standing facing the couch petting something. He was saying "It's alright go back to sleep". I came in and he said "Ssshhhh mom, my raccoons are trying to sleep!" I asked him the natural questions,
Me: "How many raccoons do you have?"
Grady: "Five"
Me: "What are there names?"
Grady: "They don't have names, there just raccoons I found"
Grady: "Hold this one mom, like this"
He cupped his little hands and rocked the "raccoon" back and forth.

Today Hayden came running in the room, "Mom, I heard a noise."
Me: "What kind of noise?"
Hayden: "It was a bear noise"
Me: "Where did you hear it at?"
Hayden "In the closet, under some books and toys, it was wrestling around like it was in some bushes"
Hayden: "When can we go camping?"

I love these conversations, as short as they are, they are such an insight into what they are thinking about. It reminds me how important it is to really listen to my children when they talk, not to brush them aside, and disregard there thoughts.
They are such special little people. I am so thankful for them.

Hayden turns 4!

2008-04-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Wow! Everyone told me that time with your children would fly-by, but I never expected how quickly! Hayden turned four years old on Saturday, and as I held him in my lap Saturday night I told him about the night he was born. He then wanted to act like a baby for a few minutes. That turned into a fake burping contest between him and Grady (because babies burp you know). Never a dull moment around here. Anyway, this weekend caused a lot of reflection of the type of mother I am, and what I want to be. In someways, I am what I want to be, but there are many things I would like to improve on. As I listened to the conference talk given Sunday afternoon on motherhood, it seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear. I need to live in the moment more, not worry about my laundry so much (it's always there!) and I can always use a bit more patience. I feel so lucky to have met Ryan, and for the calming influence he has in our home. At night, when I have had it, and just want the boys in bed, he takes them and plays with them and reads to them and sings to them. A few months ago I asked him how he was so patient with them at night especially, and he said that he wanted them to be happy and content as they fell asleep. I need to try to remember this in all aspects of our life. I have been blessed with smart, enthusiastic, energetic, inquisitive children. I am so thankful for them, and I hope they will always know how much I love them.

Hayden had a wonderful birthday. His cake was adorable, not to toot my own horn, but it turned out better than I imagined. He is finally at the age where he is really excited about parties and holidays etc. It's fun to watch as he discovers the magic of these events in his life!

Our Trip to Utah

2008-04-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Utah was wonderful! I took the boys for one whole week (yes Tuesday to Tuesday) to my Grandma Francks. It was her 80th birthday, and I had decided that I wanted to celebrate with her. The first day we were there, it was beautiful. Bordering on short-sleeve and shorts weather. That sure changed in a hurry. By Sunday, we had 4 inches of snow. What a great surprise for the boys. I heard it snowed in Portland also, but this you could actually play in. We got more on Sunday night, and Monday was a sunny, snowy day. We had lots of fun going to the Bean Museum, the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point, Gardner Village, and feeding the "ducks" with Aunt Theresa. (They were actually big geese, but a defiant 3 year old insists not). Thanks to all my family for help with the boys. A week with no dad around can wear on ones nerves. It was great to see all my cousins also. We will all be together this summer at the beach, and I can't wait! Thanks again to Grandma for being the best grandma and great grandma, Aunt Theresa, Paula and Jane for playing with my boys, and my Mom for her help on the way down!

Nice Mom

2008-03-06T11:47:00.001-08:00

I usually try to make cookies when the boys are busy playing or napping so that I don't have to share the spoon and beater with them. I know, it's awful, but today I decided to let them have it instead! I don't expect any "Mother of the Year" award for this action, but it was nice to see them so excited. Like I need cookie dough anyway!

OMSI

2008-03-04T18:34:00.001-08:00

I took the boys to OMSI today with our friend Abby and her mom. We had a great time playing in the giant sand box and playing with "flubber". These pictures are of the boys being "eagles".

The Mohawk

2008-03-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

We went the other night so Hayden and Ryan could get a haircut. I still just buzz Grady's at home, so he was pretty upset when he wasn't getting his cut. Our favorite hairdresser Shalew put colored gel in his hair, and spiked it. It's hard to tell in the picture, but it was really red! He was so happy.

Busy February

2008-02-20T22:01:00.000-08:00

So this month has been full of many activities. Ryan took Hayden to the sportsman show at the Expo center. They had a "trout pond" (more like a bacteria pool) that he was able to fish in. We cooked the fish for dinner, and the boys loved it. It's the "Anthony Lakes" in them!
So you know how kids become attached to certain things. Hayden seems to be like his dad in this way-dosen't like change. We got new carpet in the family room this week. As Ryan and I spent the night before ripping out the old carpet, Hayden was a little upset about it. He asked why we needed new carpet. I told him the old carpet was dirty. He sat on the couch for the next 20 min. crying, saying "I want dirty carpet". Say that sentence in the most dramatic voice with a slight bravato and you'll see the clear picture. It was pretty funny.
We also had the chance to spend a couple fun morninings with Tami Harrison (Powers) and her two children. We went to the Zoo, and then to the Childrens Museum. It was fun to see her while she was in Portland for the week. Going to the Zoo made me re-commit to two dollar Tuesdays. The boys love it there.

Being Goofy

2008-01-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

I walked into the kitchen the other day and found the boys like this. They were suppose to be eating lunch, but I guess they became bored with this activity. I was lucky enough to snap a picture, before they became bored once again and moved on to the next activity of the day.

Funny Boys

2008-01-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

So yesterday Grady was sitting on my lap, and we were having a little chat. I was asking him what his name was. He would say "Grady". I was trying to teach him his middle name, so I kept saying "yes, Grady Ryan Holwege". He got really frustrated with this and said "NO, I Dora Holwege". So funny! I couldn't stop laughing which made him even more upset. Both boys love the cartoon Dora the Explorer. Every time we are outside Hayden looks up at Rocky Butte and thinks the radio tower up there is the Temple. There is no convincing him that it is not. He now says "Our house lives by the temple".

Our Little Cowboys

2008-01-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

If you have seen the boy's bedroom, you understand.
This is the next generation "ky-eye-yippie".
Ask Ryan for an explanation.

Christmas 2007

2007-12-29T22:53:00.000-08:00

We had a magical Christmas with the boys. This being the first year Hayden really understood that Santa was coming made Grady just as excited. We had a family party early afternoon on Christmas Eve, then decided to take the boys to the movies. We saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. Christmas morning was great! The expression on there faces was priceless! Grady was the first out of bed, and Hayden has never gotten up so quickly. We had a great day full of food and family, only wish it would last longer. Only took video of Christmas morning, but the pajama elf showed up while we were at the movie, leaving new "spiderman" pj's for the boys.

New Years Resolutions!

2007-12-29T22:29:00.000-08:00

We all have them, and we all attempt to achieve them. This is my attempt. After viewing so many of our friends "blogs" I have decided that whether it is looked at or not, this could be my chance to journal some of our families activities. We will see how it goes. Ryan and I can't believe how fast our boys are growing, and we take every opportunity to capture who they are in the moment. I am not saying we are good at it, but we try. So this gives me one more way to try to remember how things are "today", before "tomorrow" comes!