Arizona or Bust!!

Oh yeah...Baseball season is in full swing!! You can tell by the look on Truman's face that he is excited and ready to go!! Today we spent the day out in the sun having an inter-squad game preparing for our tourney in Arizona!!
Did you say Arizona Mom!! Yes Kali, we are heading down to Arizona on Tuesday for a week. Truman's team has been invited to play in a invite only tournament. We are looking forward to time with the family and maybe even a little spring training with the Mariners!
So knock the mud off your shoes and pack your bags...lets go!!
OK...the season hasn't even started and she's already pooped!!

So other than the fact that we are pulling the boys out of school for 6 days I really am looking forward to a little time in the sun, watching my son play his little heart out!! Not to mention some great family time with Shane and his mom Barb (aka Guela) I figured if the boys were going to miss that much school I would need a little help with the 'road schooling'. The tournament runs from Thur-Sun. So that leaves Tues, Wed, Mon and Tues to catch the Mariners or just hang out!! I will try and post from the road, but if I don't we'll see ya in a week!!

The Last Oak has Fallen!!

BeforeAfter

It has been a two year process but I have finally managed to rid my entire upstairs of all the old oak cabinets, trim and lastly the mantel!! Yeah! (I apologize to anyone that likes oak, it's just not my favorite wood) We painted the kitchen cabinets when we moved in and now I have painted the bathroom cabinets and the mantel! I love it and wonder what took me so long! Unfortunately once you do one project you see more and more projects. So I will have to try and keep myself in check and pace myself and budget! Let me know what you think of the change!!

A River Runs Through it!!

The weather here has been a little wet to say the least. However, this little flood happened after only one day of rain. This is the view out of our back deck.
This is a closer look at the same side.
This is the other side of the yard. Our poor neighbors have lost 6 of those big evergreens just this year. God and his nature are amazing...what is normally just a little creek can look like a raging river in a matter of hours. What a powerful God we serve!!

Tackle Skipbo!

Jake, Taiji and I thought we would have a good game of Skipbo before they went to bed...well it turned into tackle Skipbo, complements of Kali! We managed to finish the game...but does she love her brothers!! I think the pictures tell it all! She just went from one to the other!

In Support of Cure!

This is an excerpt taken from my sister's MS fundraising website. I have joined her team in trying to raise funds to help find a cure for MS. I encourage you to visit either her blog located to the right and down (the veening's), or my personal donation site (to the right- mswalk) and donate whatever you can...you can help make a difference!!

The Unknowns, the surprises, the gift.

As I sit here right now, I am in the midst of a relapse, I'm numb from my chest down. It's been less than a week ago that my life has been turned upside down by MS. The questions and the thoughts all race through my mind...Will I be able to walk in a week? Will I ever drive again? Will I be able to dance with my daughter or run and play catch with my boys? It's all very overwhelming... but the surprising gift is...I feel God is near. I feel so vulnerable yet so humbled... I have so much to be thankful for. My loving husband, my beautiful children, my family near and far...all of whom are such great examples to me. My friends and co-workers who NEVER let me down! I am so incredibly blessed by you all! I pray they can find a cure for MS so it will no longer be part of my "today" but instead will be gone "tomorrow" and for always!

Why I walk.

As mentioned above, MS is my reality. I was diagnosed in '98 with the form of relapsing-remitting MS. Fortunately, I have had only 2 relapses, and now the third. I have been in a state of denial over the years, thinking maybe I don't really have MS. And for some reason, I have felt a level of embarrassment and sense of shame...like I should of done something to prevent this from happening... It is because of my wonderful support system that I know now that I don't have to hide or feel "less-than" adequate. I want to be an example for others diagnosed with MS and let them know MS doesn't define who you are. We may have MS but it DOESN'T have US! Let's walk (hopefully) together to raise money to find a cure!

Why you should support me!

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will use funds collected from the MS Walk to not only support research for a cure tomorrow, but also to provide programs which address the needs of people living with MS today. Today more than ever, I am realizing the IMPORTANCE of this cause! I truly believe they are close to an oral medication and getting closer to a cure! This is very personal for me... I would be so grateful for your support! Above all, I believe God is on our SIDE! Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!

Work it...Work it!!

Working out is not one of my favorite things to do...however as 35 approaches I am finding that it is a necessary evil!! Usually I go to the gym with my good friend Amy. Kali and her little boy Duke head up to the nursery. Well Amy is down and sunny Arizona and the motivation to get to the gym is not as strong. So today I opted for one of my video's. Kali thought it was a great idea and she grabbed a blanket and plopped down next to me...what a little honey. She tried her hardest and together we got it done...to bad that pictures don't have audio...because I breathing heavy to get through it, she joined right in!! Too Cute!!

My little Snow Bunnies!

The Gang
Truman pushing his little sis around the yard.
Truman and Kali-Best Buds!

Three pairs of pants, two shirts, two pairs of socks, one sweatshirt, two hats and an oversized pair of gloves and Abbey's old boots...That smile...Priceless!!

Bunco!

For about 6 years now I have been a part of a bunco group (dice game). It is a group of 12 girls that meet once a month. We eat a little, drink a little, talk a little and play bunco. It has seen me though some good times and bad and I love these girls. The group has morphed some and we have seen some leave and some great girls fill their shoes...I think we are as strong as ever and last night had a great time inviting our husbands to come and join us for Feburary Valentines bunco. What a great time was had by all!! I love you all bunco babes!!

Kali at her finest!

Kali rockin out to her favorite Elmo video

Kali and cousin Tessa

Kali with cousin Hattie

Kali and big bro Jake!

Not a lot going on as you can tell...it seems when life slows down I actually remember I have a camera and set out to get as many random photos of Kali and I can get!! Enjoy the little Q-T!

Life with boys!

This was from an email that my sister sent me...it was titled life with boys...if you have boys you may be able to relate, if you have girls you may find a new appreciation for them!! Enjoy!

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on . When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.

8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.

11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12. Super glue is forever.

13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15. VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.

21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

Time with Guela

As you know Shane, Truman and I were gone this past weekend. The most common question asked me was, "where are all the other kids?" Of course this makes it sound like I have tons of kids...oh wait I do!! =) Actually Jake was at his Dads and Taiji and Kali spent some quality time with Guela. There are never any tears when we drop the kids off there...in fact if anything they are pushing us out the door. She loves to have the kids and filled this past weekend with one adventure after the other. The pictures are from her BirchBay outing. Thank you Guela for all that you are and all that you do...WE LOVE YOU!!

Basketball in Portland

This past Presidents weekend Truman, Shane and I headed down to Portland for a basketball tourney. The boys have played in several tournaments this year, but none with the teams of this caliber.
They ended up playing in 6 games and ended up in the top four teams out of 30. They had two games that they won quite easily, 2 games that were close but we ended up winning, and two games that they got completely schooled. They ended up playing the eventual champs from California. It was a very humbling experience for our team that went undefeated in their league. They learned a lot and will be better players for it!
The one thing the boys liked the best was watching the older kids play. There was a team there that is the Adidas national team from all over the country. They are 8th graders and were dunking and doing stuff that our high school team could only dream about.
It wasn't all basketball...we had a great time as a group. Many dinners and lots of down time together. I think the best way to know your kids friends is to get to know their parents, and there isn't a rotten egg in the bunch!!
Shane and Truman enjoying their time together.

Happy Valentines Day!!

As has become tradition in the VanDalen household, we celebrated Valentines as a family with a heart shaped pizza, heart shaped cookie and a few little gifts. It was great!! I hope your Valentines Day was all you hoped for!!

Love it...hate it!!

This post is in honor of my friend LP. She did a very funny version of Love it...hate it. I told her that I would try one as well so here is goes...

Love food and eating...
hate the calories and fat.
Love cooking and baking...
hate the mess and cleaning up.
Love my kids and playing...
hate homwork and fighting.
Love Traveling and vacations...
hate packing and unpacking.
Love dinner parties...
hate cleaning for them.
Love reading...
hate a bad or boring ending.
Love a clean and picked up house...
hate cleaning and picking up my house.
Love how I feel after I worked out...
hate working out.
Love my blog and blogging...
Love it even more when you comment!!
THAT IS ALL!!

Life on S. Park...

I realize that my most recent entries have been about Kali and I don't want you to forget I have other children...boys I think...just kidding!! It's funny because when we found out we were pregnant we thought, 'wow we will truly have his, hers and ours children', but Kali has been more than that she's been our common denominator. She connects us, and it makes for one pretty cool little family!! Truman is in the thick of sports right now, he is playing AAU basketball and has also started practicing baseball. His team has been invited to play in a tournament down in Arizona in March!! With Truman as a preteen I find myself sometimes frustrated with the sudden mood swings and interesting attitudes, but on a whole he is a great kid who loves sports, his friends and Kali!! Jake and Taiji are constantly into something and it changes so quickly I find my self constantly trying to keep up. I think right now it's StarWars cards (or at least I hope it is because I got them a few for Valentines) they can go for hours trading and re-trading. They too are very into basketball right now and will be finishing out the season on Saturday. Having twins that aren't really twins has also been a challenge, Jake is my oldest, where as Taiji is Shane's youngest so even though they are the same age their natural birth order often comes in to play when dealing with each other or Truman. Taiji tends to be a perfectionist in all that he does, and Jake is very laid back trying constantly to get by with the bare minimum. I think as a whole they balance each other out!! Well, this is really starting to sound a bit like a Christmas card, but I thought I would catch you all up on our lives!! We are happy, we are sad, we have good days, we have bad but we always have each other and for that I'm really glad!! (Oh my gosh that is the lamest poem ever...but I know a few of you will get a great big chuckle out of it so I'm going to leave it on!! =)

Just because she's so darn cute!!

I know more pictures of Kali...but the camera loves her and so do I...so bear with me. I hope they make you smile like she does for me everyday!! What a blessing!!!

Kindermusik Kali!!

As a mom there are several steps to help us learn to give up our inhibitions. This starts of course very early in motherhood, because as we all know those babies don't come out by themselves. We find ourselves spread eagle for a complete stranger never thinking twice...then there is the breast feeding thing...when that baby is crying uncontrollably you don't stop to ask the questions, 'Where am I?' or 'Who's watching?'...you just whip out that boob and calm your baby. Well I am convinced now, that all this was preparing me for kindermusik. What? You may think. Well, let me explain...I am not a dancer, in fact, I am very self conscience and don't find it enjoyable at all. Kindermusik is a parent-baby dancing/singing type class. In class, with all the other parents and kids, you have to just be free and let it all hang out...again for the love of your child. So am I ready to go dancing this weekend...no...but I probably will sign Kali and I up for the next kindermusik session, for even though it is not my favorite thing...she loves it and that's enough for me!!

Superbowled out!!

I think the picture says it all!! We had a great Superbowl party over at Dave and Vonda's. Kali, however, decided that she was going to have nothing to do with nap! She did great, charming herself into 4 red licorice sticks and 2 cookies!! But when is was all said and done, the minute she hit the car seat she was gone!!

Basketball Buddies!

Jake and Taiji had a game yesterday. It sure is fun to see how much they improve year after year. Taiji's ball control has grown extensivly and Jake just knows how to take it to the hoop. I think that we have a true point guard and forward in the making. Of course they do have their fair share of double dribbling, traveling, fouling and ball hogging....but hey isn't that what they do in they do in the NBA!! Watch out Sonics here they come!!

The coach took out his two stars to let the other team get back into the game!! =)

Crazy cousins!!

I never had cousins around when I was growing up. I think it is such a blessing for our kids to be surrounded with cousins on both sides of the family for them to grow up with. Kali and Tessa are almost exactly 7months apart, and already we can tell we may have trouble!! It is so fun to see them play together, copy each other and even fight with each other!! Here they are just plain being goofy in Tessa's crib.