It's been a while since I have updated the blog, so this post might be a little long....we have been busy!!! Once we returned from our memorable Maui visit, Ryan rapidly embarked on his 5th season with the Portland Beavers Baseball Club, and working toward the 2011 MLS Soccer season opener. There is so much positive energy going around MLS right now that we cannot be happier. I think it was a wise decision on Portland's part to welcome MLS, more jobs, more entertainment, another family event to attend.
We celebrated our 1 year Hawaii reunion with our friends the Graham's & Arrasmith's. They are our good friends that we went to Maui with last year. This year everyone was doing their own family vacation so we celebrated at our home for a Maui style sit-down dinner. It was so much fun, and we took this "family" photo at the end......we are so blessed with their friendship.
Uncle Adam also came to visit us in February as did Grandma and Grandpa Brach. It's always so much fun to have friends and family visit us. Thank you for your visits, we miss you all and wish we all lived closer.
Anya was really ill in March with RSV which can be pretty horrible for babies under a year of age. We made 6 trips to the doctor in 10 days. It started off with a horrible rash on her back, terrible wheezing, had x-rays done for her lungs, to rule out pneumonia, had double ear infection, and ended up with a bad reaction to amoxicillan. Poor Anya, I would say this was the longest duration of a severe cold we have suffered around here, it totaled about 2 weeks. We are so thankful she is better and it wasn't as serious as some cases of RSV can be. Mila and Nolan also got sick with ear infections (which they have never had) and some bronchial stuff but nothing as bad as little Anya. We are all better now, and hope that runny nose is just a sign of new teeth coming through. I am marking down March as a bad month to do anything BUT sanitize, sanitize....
I had the opportunity to fly to the Bay Area in early March for my good friend Chrissy's wedding and to catch up with some good friends. It's always nice to see everyone. The wedding was so beautiful, and my little Chrissy is all grown up. It was so nice to see the Ucovich family and reminisce for a moment. I also had some time alone, which allowed me some quality time with mom and brother. Other than my brief trip we have been plugging away with basketball, gymnastics, art classes, play dates and a great deal more. We are thankful for our health and hope the sun comes out to play more often as we approach the summer months.
Anya has her first two teeth, Nolan has lost 8 teeth total (4 accident at 3 years) and they are all almost in. He looks so different, we call him "Chiclets" around here... (thanks to Uncle Adam for the nickname) you will see why from the photo....Mila has all her teeth....knock on wood....but keeps looking in the mirror and asking when hers will fall out, so she can be like brother. Haaaa
Nolan had a great basketball season, he did so great for his first time ever playing the game on an organized team. The organization we play through is super organized and the teams wear uniforms, run out to some favorite theme song that I cannot remember, with smoke spraying at them as they run through the tunnel slapping high fives...hilarious. First game was a disaster, ( I am so "that" screaming mom). As the weeks progressed, the kids started to understand more or less the game and as long as the kids scored...they were all smiles.
Now that basketball is over, Nolan started T-ball, which apparently is not a favorite sport of moms and dads around here due to the rain and how long the games are....soooo we are giving it a shot, rain will not stop us...we will see if the excitement lasts like it did for b-ball. So far it's all about wearing the pants, the jersey and the team baseball hat....he is so excited to do sports that it makes him so excited to be a part of it...
School-wise, Nolan is doing so great. He is so excited to wake up every morning and put on his uniform. We will see how long that lasts. I offer a free dress pass now and again, but he refuses. He is reading really well, just started his first chapter book, it takes us about 15 minutes to get through chapter 1 but he is so excited that he knows how. Not a sign goes by that he doesn't read. I believe we are studying math now, because I get alot of "mom did you know that 20+20= 40, 80+80 = 160, etc...." Mila is enjoying preschool, and developed a love for singing "BINGO" really loud...pretty much all day long.
The year has started off with a bang....
GRANDPA & ANYA
