December Days - 12.31.10

And so another cycle of my walk through the holiday season has come to a close.  December 31st has its own tradition since moving to Indiana, in that it is the day we celebrate our Indiana Christmas!  We don't take any presents for our immediate family to Oregon with us (the trip itself is really the present) but we save December 31st after we've come home for our own little Christmas celebration.

Kyron enjoying his first cap guns

Since I didn't have to work we were able to get up in the morning and treat the day as we would if was actually December 25th.  We take a traditional family photo of all of us in our pajamas, eat breakfast while we open stockings, and before we open presents we read through the Christmas story.

This year, however, we didn't read the Christmas story from the Bible. One of the kids had gotten the The Brick Testament: The Christmas Story as a gift and we read the story from The Brick Testament instead, taking time to appreciate at the pictures.  If you're not familiar with The Brick Testament, it is a collection of stories from the Bible illustrated entirely with Legos.

All in all it was a great Indiana Christmas.  A few simple gifts to share, but great family time as the highlight.  The funniest moment of the day came when we were reading the Christmas story and we got to this picture and part of the Christmas story.....you can imagine the questions and quotes we have from Kyron on the topic and the picture itself!

December Days - 12.30.10

Last year I did a blog posting about my personal Top Ten Favorite Christmas Movies so I decided this year to create a list of my Top Ten Favorite Christmas Albums/CDs.

First, let me explain the importance of Christmas music in my family.  I have blogged before about how much I like Christmas music but this love was instilled in me by my Mother.  She taught me that it's acceptable to listen to Christmas music anytime of the year, why wouldn't she when you consider the message of most of the songs?  I'm not talking about Santa Claus coming to town or jingling bells, but songs about Christ's birth, Peace on Earth, and Goodwill to Men.  Those are themes any parent would want their child hearing about year round. So before I share my list let me publicly thank my Mom for going against the flow and having Christmas music playing in our house beyond the holiday season.  Thanks Mom!

I have over 100 different Christmas Albums/CD's with a wide variety of music and styles, but these are the 10 that jump to the top of my list as my personal favorites.

10) Faith Hill - Joy to the World: It's a well done collection of classic Christmas songs

9) GLAD - An Acapella Christmas: It's out of print now and not even out there to download, but this one has been a family favorite since 1994!

8) Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration: Handel's Messiah is a classic piece of music and this soulful celebration is a different and fun twist on Handel's masterpiece.  The Hallelujah Chorus in particular is great!

7) Rescue - The First Christmas: Another acapella collection, but this is from a group of guys my sister is friends with in Oregon.  A great collection of original music and original arrangements of some classics.  Even without the family connection, this would be a favorite of mine.

6) Michael Buble - Let it Snow-EP: my only critique of this collection is that I wish there were more songs.  It's primarily a collection of ballads, but they're solid renditions of each classic song.

5) James Taylor - At Christmas: If you like James Taylor, you'll really like this album. If you don't like his music then you might agree with the main review on iTunes.  I happen to really like James Taylor music.

4) Harry Connick Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas: The one is Harry from the 90's and if you like his pseudo-jazz sound from the 90's you'll enjoy this one.  The title track is probably the best song.

3) Steven Curtis Chapman - All I Really Want for Christmas: The was SCC's second holiday release and it's primarily his versions of classic Christmas songs with a few originals thrown in, but they're great songs.  Especially All I Really Want which tells the story of Christmas from the perspective of an orphan child.  I had a new baby again when this album was released and I remember listening to that song the first time and being so thankful for my kids and my family.

2) Avalon - Joy: There isn't a bad track in this collection.  It's much more upbeat and energetic than most others on my list but Avalon put together a collection of music that any Holiday music lover would be proud to own.

1) Steven Curtis Chapman - Music of Christmas
In our house, this album is exactly what the title says it is.  This album gets more play than any other on the iPod during the holiday season.  It's primarily original music by SCC, with a couple traditional classics thrown in.  I think this one has been so special to Marcy and Me because it came out right as we were celebrating our first Christmas as a married couple and the song Christmas is All in the Heart connected with where we were in life.

That's my list and I'm sticking to it - for now.  Many of these have been on my list for a long time so it will take something new and amazing to bump any off.

I'd love to hear what your personal favorite Christmas CD's are.  I am always looking for suggestions to continue to build my collection.    

December Days - 12.29.10

My sleepy kids waiting at the airport

I don't think my kids have the type of 'special needs' the sign in the picture is in actual reference to, but on travel days like today, the whole family has a history of special needs.

Thankfully though, despite a 4am wake-up time today was actually a pretty good travel day.  The kids all did great on the planes and through the airports.

We only had one really stressful experience occur when we were in the car getting ready to leave the Indianapolis airport and Caeden calmly told me that he had forgotten his iPod Touch on the plane.  I raced back inside the airport to the Southwest counter and told them we had left an iPod on our plane and asked if there was anything she could do to see if someone could check the pocket of the seat Caeden was sitting in.  She called right down to the gate and someone had actually turned it in!  I had to go back through security and down to the gate, but we got his iPod back safe and sound.

Big shout-out and fist-bump to the honest traveler who turned it in!  You saved the holidays for a little eight year old boy.

December Days - 12.28.10

There are no pictures to share today.  It's our last day in Oregon before a very early flight tomorrow.

We are so blessed with a great life in Indiana, but there are times like today when I struggle to remember what was so bad about our life in Oregon with family close by that made us (me) seek something different.  When I think about it for a moment though I am reminded that it wasn't that life wasn't good, but that we felt a calling and something pulling us to be in Indiana.

I knew then and still believe today that God had/has something special in store for us in Indiana.  That move four years ago was more about obedience than opportunity, and that's a great lesson for my kids to learn.  As hard as leaving wonderful family behind is, there are and have been many incredible blessings for us in Indiana.  As questions and doubts creep into my mind, it's these blessings that remind me why it's important to be obedient and how God has already used our family.

So, yes, we all leave Oregon very sad from tearful good-byes, but heading home to Indiana brings a different kind of comfort.  It's just the distance between the different that makes it so tough; and I wish being obedient didn't make my family cry.

December Days - 12.27.10

On many occasions I have made my affection for Tillamook Cheese widely known.  I've been a Fan of the Month, blogged numerous times about my favorite varieties, and even been a Tillamook Cheese evangelist in the midwest where most think it's best origins lie north in Wisconsin.  In my world though, nothing beats  Tillamook Cheese.

This post isn't about cheese though.  I want to dedicate this post to another Tillamook Creamery favorite, their ice cream.  In my experience, this has proven much harder to find outside of Oregon, it certainly isn't available in Indiana.  So on our annual trips home to Oregon, a healthy dose of Tillamook Ice Cream is a must.  The words on the label call it 'Premium Ice Cream' but that may not say enough. I would suggest that it change to 'SUPremium Ice Cream'.

Here are my top ten favorite flavors (in no particular order) from their nearly 40 to choose from, you'll notice none of these are types of cheese so you can hold back your cheddar flavored ice cream jokes....

Oregon Strawberry - I'm drawn to this one in the summer months. Not your typical strawberry pink strawberry ice cream, this one has big chunks of real Oregon strawberries.  Want a taste of Oregon in the summertime? This is it!

Old-Fashioned Vanilla - totally lives up to it's name.

Caramel Toffee Crunch - First time I had this one I thought 'Heath bar and vanilla ice cream, ok.' Wrong!  Yes, the vanilla ice cream is the base, but mixed in are caramel, cookies, coconut, chocolate, toffee, pecans, and almonds.  Goes best with a good cup of coffee.

Udderly Chocolate - I grew up knowing this as Brown Cow. It's my father-in-law's favorite and a staple in my in-laws home.  White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and chocolate flakes - YUM!

Rocky Road - They use Almonds in this favorite!  Ok, maybe this one is my father-in-law's favorite....

Mint Chocolate Chip - It's a classic flavor done just right.

Marionberry Pie - A combination of two flavors from home: Tillamook Ice Cream and Marionberries. Even has chunks of pie crust in it to wound out the experience!

Peppermint Candy - this is a holiday favorite in our family.

Coffee Almond Fudge - The name says it all.  My favorite amongst the favorites.

Chocolate Peanut Butter - Maybe this one is my favorite...Creamy chocolate ice cream with ribbons of creamy peanut butter flowing through it.

If you've never had this ice cream and the opportunity comes knocking on your door, do yourself a favor and answer that door!  

December Days - 12.26.10

I wrote a few days ago about the opportunity to be around my little niece and how much fun it has been to watch her play and the memories it brings back from my own kids at that age.  This trip home has also given me the opportunity to spend some time with my sister's little boy who is only 6 months old and really hasn't had any introduction to me or my family, beyond a few video calls the past few months.

We had to prep the kids before seeing him that he was likely to be pretty shy and not want any of us to hold him much; it may take a few days for him to warm up to new family, so we thought.

What actually happened, was Marcy was the first to get to him and pick him up, give a couple hugs before handing him off.  Immediately he looked at me, then to Makela and reach with both arms to Makela instead.  With a huge smile, Makela took him from my arms and gave him a big hug.  He took her face in his two little hands and started kissing her face!  So much for all the prep work and assumptions we had about taking time to get used to us.  Caleb was next in line and he did the exact same thing to him! It was all very cute and very funny!

We've had a great time with him and as great as it has been it is sad that we won't get to see him more often.  It does make me thankful for video calls and simple technological wonders like camera phones, not mention my sister who does a great job of utilizing both to send pictures and keep us connected.

December Days - 12.25.10

One of our favorite family traditions is Christmas pajamas.  Not that they are Christmas themed, just that we all get new pajamas for Christmas and they typically match in some form or fashion.  We open our Christmas gifts on Christmas day, but the one exception is the Christmas pajamas we all open on Christmas Eve.

It's not a unique tradition, I know many other families that do the same thing or something very similar but it's a tradition that my family had growing up and Marcy and I have adopted for the past 16 holiday seasons.

This year, Grandma Simpson provided the pajamas for everyone (Thank you Grandma!) but we had a slight breakdown in communication and for a brief time it looked as though we would not have the pajamas available for opening on Christmas Eve.  Marcy was filled with anxiety that this important family tradition wouldn't be continued this year, but Christmas was saved when we found the pajamas and were able to let everyone open them.

Overall, we had a great Christmas celebration with lots of family and lots of food.  As today comes to an end, I feel very fortunate to have so many blessings in our lives.

Merry Christmas from the Kaopuiki 'Ohana (family)!

December Days - 12.24.10

Today is Christmas Eve, a fact by itself that makes today a pretty big deal.  In our house, however, we have even more reason to celebrate because it is Marcy's birthday!

Marcy loves to make a big deal about birthdays, mostly the kids', and I have a suspicion this comes from a lifetime filled with having her own birthday overlooked because of the biggest holiday of the year.  Unfortunately, I do a poor job of making the day standout for her beyond all of the family events we are involved in as part of the holiday season.  I did learn, however, very early in our relationship that birthday and Christmas gifts are not to be combined - an incident that may by itself be a humorous story to blog about.

Last year, I asked the kids to describe their mom in 10 words.  This year, I asked them a different question: What do you love most about your Mom?  Here are some of their answers...

• Kyron: "She let's me snuggle with her at bedtime."
• Caeden: "She's my mom, I just love her."
• Makela: "She's always smiling, usually."
• Caleb: "She is a really good cook!"
• Caeden: "She loves watching me play sports."
• Makela: "She's my shopping buddy."
• Kyron: "She let's me watch Ellen with her."

I don't know that I can keep my answer so succinct or pin point one or two reasons like the kids can in answering this question.  I have known Marcy for most of my life and while I know her better than anyone else, I continue to learn more about her each year.  She is an amazing mom who gives her all to her kids and anything they are involved in and she is a tremendous support and my biggest cheerleader when I need it.  She is simply the best person I have ever met.

So, Happy Birthday Marcy!  I hope this next year is full of greater adventures, more blessings, deeper relationships, and more smiles than frustrations. :-)  

December Days - 12.23.10

Today was the 3rd annual Red vs. Green family basketball game.  This is something that us boys in the family started a few years ago and it has turned into a heated family competition.  The build-up involves months worth of planning and organization as we arrange schedules and a facility to host this family event.

This year, Marcy's Dad retired from the game and the Red team had a big free agent signing with Kyron joining the team as a player.  The game was tightly contested through 4 quarters with Caleb leading the Green team in scoring and Caeden leading the Red team.  Kyron proved his value on the court scoring more points in his first game than his Dad and Uncle Travis did combined!

At the end of regulation, the score was tied 40-40 and we were prepared to call it a tie, but after some negotiation from the boys we agreed for a single overtime period.  Five minutes later we were still tied at 47-47 when the final buzzer went off.

Our boys are starting to take this game a little too serious and all the adults were nervous about the potential of driving home with someone from the losing team in their car.  I think we've decided we need to change the format of this game and find another family we can play against.  That way our family can be united as we win or lose. :-)

Big shout out to Uncle Travis for providing the custom team shirts for the game and to Kyron who was chosen as the game MVP for not only his 12 points in scoring, but his "just having fun" attitude.  The video below shows the consensus play of the game by Kyron.

December Days - 12.22.10

Those who spend any time around me know that I have a creative side of my person that I will occasionally let out to tackle various projects, hobbies, or just as a way of relaxing.

Out Family Christmas Card:
http://christmas.hawaiianhoosiers.com

One of my creative outlets that has grown over the past several years is our family Christmas Card.  It's turned into a sort of tradition since it started four years ago when we wanted to use our Christmas Card and Christmas letter as a means of allowing our family and friends in Oregon/Washington a way to experience, in a greater sense than a standard letter and card could convey, how we were doing in the midwest.  I also found the exercise of creating the cards a great creative outlet for myself.  So, beginning in 2007 we started a combo Christmas Photo Card and Website/Online Letter as our family's version of the holiday cards so many people send.

As it's evolved over the years (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), part of my motivation has changed  because I am enjoying the challenges of coming up with ideas.  It's not for everyone, but I like creating something someone else doesn't have and that does a good job of conveying our family's personality.  Admittedly, they aren't even the best cards I've seen but they do represent our family, the Hawaiian Hoosiers.

I have about 6 more years worth of ideas and designs already floating around in my head, so I may need to start thinking of expanding beyond just a family Christmas Card and start thinking about other holidays we can send cards for. :-)

And while it is a creative outlet for me, the true intent really is to provide a different way to simply say to those we love and care about, Merry Christmas and God's blessings on a Happy New Year!

December Days - 12.21.10

Last year I blogged about the family 'argument' between my brother, sister, and myself about which of us is truly my Mom's favorite child.  I've come to accept that the favorite is not me, but when I arrived at my parent's house today with my family it was just further confirmation of my place in the family.

The view from my Parent's front porch this morning.

We pulled into the driveway and Marcy was the first out of the car and up to the door.  The kids were next to pile out of the car and I took my time as the designated pack mule carrying all the bags and stuff we brought with us.  As I walked up towards the front door I smiled as I saw my Mom hugging Makela and as I adjusted the load I was carrying I prepared to reach out and with a semi-free arm give my Mom a big Christmas hug.

All of a sudden, the door shut in face and I was left alone on the front porch.  I did the polite thing and rang the door bell, waiting for permission to come in.  Thank goodness it was a warm 40 degrees outside! :-)

When my Mom came to the door we were both already laughing about the incident and she was claiming she didn't see me outside and thought I was still at the car - a likely excuse!

I did get that Christmas hug after all and had a great day of visiting and eating my Mom's awesome cooking.  It was such a good day, that when I left this evening I left knowing that at least for today and despite how the visit started off, I am the Favorite!

December Days - 12.20.10

Tonight, the boys in the family were fortunate to be able to go to the Portland Trailblazers game, courtesy of Marcy's brother Jason.  We had great seats just a few rows from the Blazers' bench and were able to be up close to all the action on the court.

The Blazers dominated the Milwaukee Bucks in this game, and the boys still haven't stopped talking about how much fun the night was.  The Blazers were hitting a lot of three pointers and all the boys really got into the "3 Goggles" the Blazer players have made popular this season.

I just have to hope Kyron doesn't pull out the "3 Goggles" when he makes a basket in his own basketball game!

December Days - 12.19.10

One of the joys of being around family during the holidays is getting the chance to spend some time with nieces and nephews we don't get the chance to watch grow up on a daily basis.  They seem to grow in what seems like bigger steps than the gradual growth we experience on a daily basis with our own kids.  I know our brothers and sisters feel the same way about our kids.

A little girl and her dogs

My own kids are past that toddler stage and they seem to be moving further and further from it at lightening speed, so it's been fun to be around my three year old niece and be reminded of when my own kids were at that stage.  I don't know if it's easier or harder when they are that little, but it sure is fun to reminisce about the funny things Makela used to do at that age or how my niece's obsession with her little toy dogs mirrors Kyron's own, at that age.  We smile and talk about how cute and funny it is and then someone steps on one of those little hard plastic dogs with their bare feet and you quickly remember why you're glad they grow out of these stages.  It doesn't take too long though before you see that little girl playing with her dogs again and your foot stops hurting and you just get caught up trying to slow down time and enjoy the moment, knowing you're going to blink soon and it will be gone.

 

December Days - 12.18.10

Coming to Oregon for the Christmas holiday has become a great tradition for the family. Within that tradition we've started several traditions that have become favorites for Marcy and I.

Sunrise over Nahalem Bay, the view from the Beach House

One of these is an adults only weekend trip to the Oregon Coast with Marcy's brother and sister and their spouses. The kids get to stay with Bumpy and Grandma for the weekend doing lots of fun stuff while the parents all get a break to relax and have fun without the worries of entertaining and watching the kids.

For what is supposed to be a relaxing weekend, I feel like we pack a bunch of stuff into two days, but by far and away my favorite part is just the chance to visit, share, and laugh with Marcy, Jason, Kim, Lisa, and Travis. Whether we are playing tourist in small coastal towns, playing board games, shopping, or eating at our favorite spot on the OR coast (The Lumberyard in Cannon Beach) I love the chance to just spend the time with our family.

I have been fortunate to have been part of Marcy's family even when we were just friends as kids, so I have known Lisa and Jason real well for a very long time as we have all grown up together. It is truly awesome that we have all stayed close and enjoy each other's company so much. I am a little sad that this weekend is winding to a close but comforted by the fact we are already planning next year's getaway.

December Days - 12.17.10

Late last night I went to turn on my MacBook Pro and nothing happened.  Panic went through my body as I am all the way across the country and was depending upon my MacBook to help keep me connected and to get some work done as well.  I had never encountered this type of problem before, but I hit the Mac support forums looking for possible causes and solutions.  It got even worse when everything I was ready was pointing to a problem that would require a significant repair process.

I continued my due diligence to determine the cause of the problem and eventually ended up at a Apple Repair store.  I described the problem and everything I had done to try and fix it to the technician I was speaking with.  He nodded an understanding, held the Macbook in his hands, turned it over to inspect the outside and underside, opened it up and pressed the power button.

Right before me, my own little Christmas miracle occurred. The machine powered up exactly as it was supposed to and has always done. No problems at all.  I was stunned!  The technician ran a detailed scan on the machine and system and everything checked out exactly as it should.

It was a strange situation, but I left the store much happier and thankful I wasn't going to have to go through a week long repair process.  I know there are greater miracles occurring in the world, but I'm thankful for the Christmas miracle I was given today.

December Days - 12.16.10

Homecomings are always interesting events for me. There is a lot of anticipation leading up to the trip, stress around getting ready to travel (especially with four kids in tow), and then the emotion of seeing family again that you've been missing so much. We love living in Indiana, but being separated from all our family is tough.

It's family that make coming to Oregon so great for us. Yes, the landscape is beautiful (we
appreciate that much more since we've been away) and I look forward to visiting McMenamins for a pint of Rubinator and a Captain Neon burger, but our homecomings are entirely about family. Marcy and I have talked about how we want to take the kids on vacations to new places, but all they want to do is come to Oregon to see family. It isn't lost on me how blessed we are to have a situation where our families (both sides) are so close and important parts of our lives where we want to be with them.

The party began tonight when we arrived in Oregon and will continue for a week or so while we're in town. I am sure that eventually we'll look forward to going home to Indiana, our dogs, and the comfort of our own beds but for now there is a great peace and comfort in being back amongst our family.

December Days 12.15.10

I've hi-jacked my Dad's blog because I have an important message to share. There are other kids in our family besides Kyron!

Sure he's cute and funny, but it's just because he's the youngest and he's supposed to be cute and funny right now.  He's easy to write about because it's all just cute and funny stuff!  Some of your older kids are older and wiser and can help you write about more important topics.  Don't just spend your time trying to embarrass us, share your own funny stories. Blog about the time you blamed us kids for dropping and denting your iPad, and then realized you had done it, not us.  That's a good story.  Or spend the time to answer the question everyone wants to know, which one of us is your favorite?  Everyone knows it's me!

You can have your blog back now Phil Dunphy.

December Days - 12.14.10

In our house, when we have some exciting event to look forward to we don't measure the time in a 'days until' fashion.  It's always measured in 'sleeps', that is the number of times we will go to sleep before the anticipated day or event.

For the last couple weeks, we've been counting down sleeps until we get to go home to Oregon and visit family for the holidays.  This countdown has been especially tough on Kyron and all he has been talking about for the past 3 days/sleeps is when we get to go to Oregon.  He's even been in tears because he doesn't think it is coming fast enough.

He gave his mom the solution this morning though when he wanted to continue sleeping at nearly 10am in the morning: "If I just stay in bed I can sleep until we go to Oregon, then it's only 1 sleep!"

You've got to love the mind and reasoning of a 5 year old!

December Days - 12.13.10

Christmas time is always cookie time in our house and for several generations on my side of the family that means my Grandmother's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

These are not your ordinary oatmeal chocolate chip cookies though.  This is a family recipe handed down on my Mom's side of the family for generations.  They are a connection to the past, a shared bond between family crossing space and time, and a little bit of heaven in every bite.  I've taken these cookies to work before and had them quickly disappear off my desk as people clamored to get a sample.  We've made them for parties, gatherings, and events and rarely had extra to bring home.

But, before you even think about emailing me to ask for the recipe though, it's important to understand that this is for all intended purposes, a secret family recipe.  In all the cook books my Mom contributed to while growing up, non included Grandma's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Corner my mom on how many people she has shared the recipe with and her answer will confirm the recipe's secret status: (1) Kelsey (my sister), (2) Marcy (my wife), and (3) Erika (my sister-in-law).  The list ends there.  Tell me that doesn't qualify as secret recipe status!

December Days - 12.12.10

A little boy is a lot for a dad to think about.  I remember how before Caleb was born I felt like I had figured out how to handle a baby girl (Oh, how little I knew back then!), and the thought of having a little boy really stressed me out.  Most of my friends have told me that as young fathers they felt most nervous about parenting a baby girl, but for me, I couldn't stop thinking about the huge responsibility that comes with raising a boy: teaching him to respectful of others, modeling what it means to be a man, and - if I'm really honest - fearful that the result would be a reflection of myself I wouldn't want to see.  How do I instill my strengths as a man, husband, father, and son in my own little boy and protect him from absorbing and reflecting all my faults?  I haven't figured all that out yet and as with much in life, I am still on that journey.

Dad and his Mini-Me

As we celebrate Caleb's birthday today though, I can't express how proud of this kid I am.  Sure, he drives his Mom and me nuts sometimes but that's mostly because we're faced with that reflection of our own imperfections.  Most often though, he gives us so much to be thankful for and proud of.  He spent much of his first five years being referred to as my 'Mini-Me' but he is truly becoming his own person, and a great one at that!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Pictures from the hospital when Caleb was born, eleven years ago today. I recognize this is a picture from a stage in my life most of my friends today never experienced: the mustache days.  All I can ask is that as the jokes start coming, be gentle. :-)

One of my all time favorite pictures of Caleb.
It's how every boy wants to play with his Sister's dollhouse

Happy Birthday Caleb!