Oh, Grandma....

Luka saw Grandma driving around in her little red car the other day. We didn't know it but she was driving around Portland in her little red sports car with Oregon plates-specialized Oregon plates with Oh LaLa on them.

Grandma, we just have a couple of things to say to you: First, I know that when you drive a Ferrari you can probably get to Portland from Texas in a couple of hours, but it would still be nice to tell us you will be visiting for the day, we would invite you over. And second, if you think it is ok to drive around town, just having fun without your grandchildren, do you really need to do it in a car that costs the same as a house in NW Portland? Surely you could trade it in for a little red Miata and be just as happy and then we would have a WHOLE HOUSE. You might not be able to make it to Portland for lunch, but you didn't call anyway!

Friends

Can you imagine in the midst of our busyness and new lifestyle (the 7-4 work schedule, that is) we found time to spend as a family, with friends at the beach.  I think if you have the chance to spend the weekend with great friends you shouldn't let it pass because there aren’t that many opportunities when everyone is free and has the means to come together. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, after Roman’s first full week of work we have President’s Day weekend.  That means that we have a three day weekend, thank you State of Oregon.  We could  have stayed at home getting more organized and finishing up important things like papers for incomplete classes or doing our taxes—instead, it’s off to the beach.

When you spend the weekend with friends you finally have the chance to develop your friendship to include  more than just day to day life.  Especially being in close quarters-five families in one house.  Five families equals 10 kids and 10 adults.  Not only do  logistical things like breakfast, lunch and dinner become exaggerated but also pajama comparisons and relaxed conversation fill the time.

We spent all evening talking about family history and family vacation.  Ideas like distant travel as a group came up and especially the fact that this feels good-togetherness and a little less individualism-we should do this more often.  It is  the same when we have a dinner party at our place and  friends come over to spend a few hours at our home.  When they leave I always feel warmth left over that is unique to the visit that just happened.  I am reminded that I want to invite friends over more and even though it might be daunting for me to pull everything together and manage life with 3 boys, it is very much worth it. 

Last week we had a really nice dinner with our neighborhood neighbors.  The kids are just old enough (and Niki slept through the dinner part) that we could just let them go and play together while we sat around the table eating wonderful food and talking about our life.  How each couple met and how we share our life together.  There is something about peeking into the intimate part of another family’s life that makes you realize that what you have in your own family is normal and good.  The little arguments and why those happen and even the things you each find joy in-which usually allows you to view your own experience with a new perspective. 

I know some people who would give anything to have a perfect weekend at the beach and for some reason or another it is impossible.  I am so thankful that we have the opportunity, ability and even more so the friends that allow that to be possible. 

Announcing…

We are now, for the first time in 6 years, a dual income family! from 0 jobs to 2 jobs in a matter of days.  The fact that neither one of us know how much we will be paid is beside the point—right?  Benefits are involved somewhere because Roma will work for the state of Oregon, other than that all we know is that each day we go spend some time making the world a better place and get paid for it.

My work is really exciting because it and the place I work for is evolving and developing.  The best part is the cause seems to be touching and real in a sense that it affects each person who becomes involved with it in a heartfelt way.  I’ve mentioned CHAP and Frank before.  So that is where my official job is now—I am part of the team! I am still developing my capabilities, but I have tons of potential.  I’m trying to keep up with everything and that is a lot!  See the three hams below:Roma’s new job is big.  He just went in to the office for the first time today and spent all day with Human Resources getting all the official business sorted out.  The biggest thing is that is all the the way out on 191st street—we now need 2 cars.  So, car shopping has begun but we are halting it in its tracks because we don’t like shopping and hopefully a car will just appear for us to buy.  (does anyone have a car for us for 3-4  thousand dollars, anyone?)

So much more is going on like Alyosha as star of the week and Luka just thinking about green and Niki almost walking and Jen visiting the voodoo doctor and Roma not quite finished with his papers for university…and more and more and more, but right now. Sleep.