Sunday, October 30, 2016

Alaskans in a Washington world

1 Texan, 3 Alaskans
"Friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget."
Friends that are "harder to leave" are friends worth keeping! At least, that's what I thought after spending a week in Alaska with Hannah this summer.  Hannah and I have spent most of our lives writing each other, but only recently discovered the goodness of actually enjoying each other's presence.
After we visited Alaska in June, Hannah (and Christian) decided to return the compliment and come see us in Washington this October!  Better yet, they got to join us for one of my family's favorite fall holidays--Sukkot, or Feast of Booths/tents.  
Our living room before construction.
Each October we celebrate this holiday by making a "tent" in our living room and spending the majority of our week in it.  Having Hannah and Christian join our celebration was just an added bonus!  And we have been counting down to this trip since August.
(Photo credit for all tent pictures goes to Hannah.  Thanks for capturing the moments I forgot to!)

Maybe our most stable tent of all time!
Toward the end of our 10 days together, we did some filming for a video on the armor of God.  Take note of this important information!  I think it was both the beginning and end of my career as an actress.
Sometimes Hannah and Christian just couldn't stop fighting. *wink*
Ummm....
Our pictures seemed to go by a "serious" theme.
I just love that Hannah is holding the blade of her sword!  XD
Sometimes being serious isn't an option


Filming!
Caption as you will...I'd like to think this was just a friendly punching match between Tirzah and me...
We also got to play with some dry ice, and it worked quite beautifully!  This stuff really makes fog!
New job description : herd the fog.  That'll go nicely on my resume.
Some of us have rather weak arms, apparently.



The unplanned "everybody pick on Hannah" picture.
I just can't believe how much Tirzah and I look alike...*cough, cough*
Having Hannah and Christian here was such a blast!  I am so grateful for their friendship, and only wish they weren't a flight away!  We think a visit every 4 months is a good idea, don't you?  

Friday, October 14, 2016

Life is the Small things

Spiky hair, kleenex, and old photos.  This is what memories are made of.  Do you ever wonder how it can be that the little, unexpected things through life are often more memorable and important than the big things?  When I think about my dad, I remember all the little last-minute ways he showed me love or the grocery shopping we did together.  When I think about my sister, Tirzah, I think of the times we laughed together or shared that look that meant "yes, I know what you're thinking without you saying it."
While those big life events and special outings are indeed treasured and exciting, we should not count on that to make up the "happy pillars" of our lives.  We can't ignore or look past the little things that make life what it is.

A few weeks ago we were babysitting 3 youngsters for a few days.  It's funny how kids can be stressful, consuming, and tiring, but also the cause of many laughs.  These kids are so cute and thoughtful; they really make me smile.

One night, after a bath, Elijah had his hair spiked.  I have a weakness for spiked hair, and he knows it.  Although he originally tried to run and hide his adorable spikes from me, I eventually got his permission for a picture.  Isn't it the cutest?!
Gideon knows how to unload a kleenex box.
...and he knows what they're for!  Sooo cute to watch him try to blow his nose.

Ashnah looked so cute in her French braids made by Auntie!
And here she is admiring a very old picture of Aunties Tirzah and Sharon.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Gideon anticipates his future


I believe aunts have 2 major rules to live by:
  1. Be a good influence and example
  2. Spoil as needed
Having been an aunt for the past 10 years, I've had a lot of time to practice these rules.  Unfortunately, even that many years does not make me perfect at it yet...But I do try to be a good example, especially when it comes to nephews and footballs.  

After several minutes of practicing my football throw and aim, I sat down in the grass with Jelly Boy and the 2 footballs.  Gideon proceeded to handle the footballs with so much cuteness that I couldn't resist leaving him alone in the grass for a few minutes in order to grab the camera.  (When I got back he had neither been attacked by the dog nor had he been screaming.  Score.) 

A rather serious football player?

How does Gideon feel about his future as a star football player?...
First, pretty chill and confident in his future natural skill.  He thinks it'll be rather relaxing.
Second, he obviously can't wait!  It will be so much fun, and he'll show them all.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Beachy weekend, day 3

A true work of art!
Our last morning at Cannon Beach was still cold and required a warm cup of coffee to be complete.  It was neither rainy nor windy, so our 2nd try at a morning beach walk was much more pleasant.
Chasing seagulls proved to be fun and rewarding.  However, they were surprisingly chill about being chased.

It's so much fun to have this as a photography subject, especially when she does not highly object.  Her smile is real; her adventurous, fun-loving heart is always "on"; her joyful spirit does not easily burn out.  There is a reason Tirzah and I are on our respective ends of the lens!







This time we actually made it out to Haystack Rock; but I must admit that Tirzah did reach the rock in the previous day's walk.








Cold, wet water; cold, wet sand...why not have cold, wet feet, too?!

By the time we had turned back from Haystack Rock (don't ask me why that is its name), the fog began to really sink in, surrounding the rocks and swallowing the trees.  As we got farther away from the rock, it became completely invisible with its new shield of fog.  It made quite a cool effect.







The camera was being very slow and frustrating, so we decided to see if we could get it to capture sand flying through the air.  Turns out that it worked...after a couple tries.





Then came time to go back home...to leave the Oregon state that I disapprove of and return to Washington state that is my pride...