December 2010

So this has been a really odd season for us this year. I have felt increasing degrees of cruddy and decreasing degrees of energy for weeks now and just didn't have the gusto to orchestrate all of our typical holiday festivities like I normally do. Plus I've pretty much been a grouch, or a grinch would be more appropriate I guess. Here's the thing: I LOVE children and I LOVE being a mom. But I really despise all that it takes to get children on this side of the womb. And that's all the complaining I'll make you endure -- at least for now. But if any of you wants to take Kurt out and buy him a drink, he more than deserves it.

Nevertheless, we managed to have a pretty good December, no small thanks to our families and dear friends. Here's a taste of some of the highlights:

Us in front of the Christmas tree that Madelyn chose.

Maddie and Max -- BUDDIES.

Our secret is out: we pretty much get trees at Lee Farms because they make the BEST pumpkin donuts ever.

Maddie started asking to make and decorate gingerbread cookies before Thanksgiving. One morning, I figured she had waited long enough, so we abandoned everything else on our list and made some cookies. We had a great time, and they were pretty darn tasty.

We are totally pro-Santa in our home and love getting caught up in the full spectrum of the magic of Christmas, but we have worked really hard to emphasize to Madelyn that Christmas is first and foremost about the birth of Jesus. Nana made us the beautiful Advent Calendar you see behind her, and she has genuinely loved hanging each little character in its place building up to Baby Jesus. On Christmas morning, she came running into our room shouting "It's Christmas! I get to put the Baby Jesus on the Advent Calendar!" With all the mistakes we've made as parents thus far and all that we are sure to make in the future, this was a fairly proud moment for us :)

Checking out the evidence of Santa's visit.

Maddie wearing the little fingerless gloves that I knit for her -- so cute I think I might make some for myself!

Loving her new fingerpaints!

Our wish for each of you and the whole world in the coming year.

Maranatha

I learned a new word at church on Sunday, which was particularly exciting because its definition has been -- and will continue to be -- my life's mantra. The word, Maranatha, is a Greek word meaning "O Lord, come." I don't know if I can even delineate or separate the number of times I utter those words on a daily basis. I think it's just become a general pleading of my heart that plays on a constant loop from day to day..."Come, Lord. Save us from ourselves. End our suffering. Return, Jesus. Come now, this day, this minute." Perhaps like many of you, I am acutely aware of and tuned into the extensive and never-ending pain and suffering that exists in this broken, sinful, not-what-it-was-intended-to-be world. For a small percentage of us, life is disproportionately easy and peaceful and joyful. For the vast majority, however, life is filled with hardship and fear and sorrow. It might be a 13-year-old girl in India who is raped multiple times each day because she's been sold by her family to a brothel or it might be the 40-year-old man sleeping in a sleeping bag under the Burnside bridge that I passed earlier this evening. I ache thinking about these people, and if I ache, I can only imagine how much their Creator aches and wants so desperately for them to feel whole and safe and cherished. Maranatha indeed.

Which is why Christmas is just so awesome: Christ came. It's so easy for Christmas to become routine because it's this major holiday that we celebrate every year and it's become so tragically secularized, but the reality is -- whether you acknowledge it or not -- December 25th is celebrated because God answered humanity's cry to enter into creation and save us from ourselves. And He did it in the most humble of ways, which is even more fabulous for those of us who are suckers for underdog stories. And upon His death, resurrection, and ascension some 30 years later, He promised that He would come again. Given the precedent He set with His first carnal entry, can you imagine what the sequel will be like? I love thinking about it because it fills me with such hope and confidence and relief. The world's suffering will end. It will end. Anyway, I could go on but I won't because it's getting late and there are still a few Christmas Eve-y things to do. Just wanted to share these few time-sensitive thoughts with you.

Merry, Merry Christmas and Maranatha...

A Very Belated Happy Grandparents' Day!

So evidently there is such a thing as Grandparents' Day. It was officially back in September, but I did not become aware of its existence until this week through the course of a very random conversation. Obviously, it's a Hallmark holiday, and ordinarily I avoid putting too much emphasis on those if I even acknowledge them at all. If ever there was a holiday worth creating and honoring, however, it would be Grandparents' Day. So. Regardless of my obscenely late acknowledgment (because really, I'm three YEARS and two months late), I would like to take a bit of time to publicly honor and thank the four truly exceptional grandparents in our lives:

Papa (Kimberlee's dad): My dad was a wonderful father so it's no surprise that he is a wonderful grandpa, but man, what a joy it's been to see him delight in my own child and see her light up when he's around. There's not a request she could make of him that he wouldn't grant, even if that means playing Candyland or Princess Chutes and Ladders ten times consecutively. He is infinitely patient with and enthusiastic about the details that are important in her 3-year-old world, and it truly warms me to see that she feels so important in his eyes. He (and my mom) are incredibly generous in helping our young family stay afloat at this time in our lives, whether that is treating us to countless meals or showing up with new PJ's for Maddie when the ones she's been wearing only go down to her elbows and knees or coming to watch Maddie during the day so I can go to a doctor appointment. And Maddie knows that she can always wiggle a small treat out of her fellow candy-loving Papa -- which is just as it should be!

Nana (Kimberlee's mom): For nearly three years now, Nana has faithfully and sacrificially watched Madelyn at least one day per week while I go to work. I know she genuinely enjoys that alone time with her grand-daughter, but what a gift to me to peacefully know that my child is safe, nurtured, and doted upon by my own mom when I can't be with her. Madelyn eagerly anticipates "W-W-Wednesdays" when she knows she gets to be with Nana, and she literally squeals and does a little dance when she walks through the door. Because Maddie is so familiar with Nana and is so at ease in her presence, Nana occasionally takes some abuse from her (emotional and physical, I'm afraid to say). Nana's not a pushover, but she always responds lovingly and patiently and is quick to forgive and scoop Maddie right back up in her arms. She is lavish in her praise and affection, and Madelyn's small soul blooms a little bigger and brighter every time she is in her Nana's presence. And if you ever see Madelyn in a darling little outfit, it's almost always one that Nana has picked out for her :)

Baba (Kurt's dad): Madelyn loves to talk about how her Baba loves to tickle her and chase her. Indeed, Baba can be counted on to be very physical in his play with Madelyn which is so fantastic (and necessary!) for my active, rough-and-tumble little girl. He tirelessly chases her around their house while she laughs and screams, and I am always so grateful for the good night's sleep she gets when we leave their house! Baba is a whiz with the camera on his phone, and Madelyn is always his favorite subject. I love watching his face when he shows off pictures of his grand-daughter -- it humbles me to know that she brings him so much joy. Baba is a listener and an encourager to the core of his being, not just with Maddie but with Kurt and me as well. No matter how small or big the story, he is available and eager to hear it and offer his words of praise and encouragement -- such a gift!

Mimi (Kurt's mom): I'm pretty sure if Madelyn purposefully set our house on fire someday, Mimi could find something positive and redeeming about her behavior. She is a constant cheerleader for Madelyn, and Madelyn glows when her Mimi praises her and tells her how special she is (Mimi is also a constant cheerleader for Kurt and me -- what a gift to have a mother-in-law who has NEVER even hinted at anything negative about our parenting!!). Mimi makes herself available to come stay with Maddie every time we call and ask and acts like we are doing her the favor by giving her time with her "darlin'." She always has a little treasure for Maddie in her purse and thinks of every last little thing Maddie could need or want when we go visit their house. And when she's at our house, the poor woman doesn't ever get a chance to sit down because she is so patiently and willingly obliging Maddie in her requests to "come see this, Mimi!" or "play with me over here, Mimi!"

Suffice to say, all three of our lives have been blessed beyond what I am capable of describing by Papa, Nana, Baba, and Mimi. We thank God every day for each one of them and truly do not take for granted that they live close enough for us to have such close relationships with them. Madelyn talks about her grandparents constantly -- she has pretend phone calls with them; she tells us things that she wants to remember to tell them; and we don't even bother telling her that she gets to see them until the night before or she would be so excited that she would just want to get in the car right away. Each one of them is deliberate and intentional about their choice to be an involved grandparent, even though they make it look easy. Madelyn won't fully understand until she's older just how blessed she is to have such fabulous grandparents, but I know her little spirit feels it -- she would not be the amazing little girl she is without each one of her grandparents. And for that, our family collectively wishes a heartfelt Happy Grandparents' Day to our favorite Papa, Nana, Baba, and Mimi :)

Homemade

I made this: (ok, God did, really, but 26 hours of labor ought to count for something)

And then I made this:

And then I put the two together:

Conversations with a Budding Jesus-Lover

So, our beloved city, Portland, is nationally and perhaps internationally known for many things: gourmet food, organic living, dedication to environmentalism, gorgeous scenery, etc. We are proud of these characteristics and love living here for all of those reasons. We are also nationally and perhaps internationally known, however, for having the highest per capita sex industry of any city in the county. We are slightly less proud of this characteristic. Even the nicest of neighborhoods seem to have a strip club or an adult film shop within a stone's throw, and there are certain streets or parts of town where these institutions are literally lined up next to each other.

One of these such institutions is called the Sugar Shack and is located on a road that we now frequent given that it's the most direct route to Madelyn's preschool. It's painted black and white with captivating red trim and has female mannequins posed in the windows in all sorts of curious positions wearing what can only be described as "smut" -- seriously, live naked bodies would be significantly less offensive.

In the last week or so, Madelyn has not only taken notice of this establishment but has started asking questions about it. Our ever perceptive and curious daughter inherently knows that there is something different about this place, and this morning she finally asked me "What happens there, Mommy?"

So I decided to tell her.

"Well honey," I began. "That place is very sad. The people who work there and go there are not very respectful or nice to each other. They say inappropriate things and dance inappropriately and wear clothes that are not meant to be worn in front of strangers."

"Do they hit each other and slap each other?"

Answering all-too-truthfully, I said "Yes, honey, they probably do hit and slap each other there." (Yikes.)

Boy, she thought and thought about this new information. After a minute or two she said, "It's kind of like Ninevah, Mommy."

Now, for those of you who might not be super familiar with the Bible, Ninevah is the place where the prophet Jonah refused to go, even when God directly asked him. Ultimately, a big whale had to swallow him and carry him around for three days before spouting him back up on Ninevah's shore, and only then did he obey and deliver God's message of repentance and salvation to the lost people of Ninevah who were destroying themselves, each other, and their city with their sinful behavior. Veggietales made a movie out of this story some time ago that we have recently discovered, but I had no idea that Madelyn had so thoroughly and accurately absorbed it's message. (In the movie, the people of Ninevah don't exactly participate in promiscuous and leud sexual behavior, as they did in the Bible. They "slap" each other with old, stinky fish, hence Madelyn's question about whether or not the people at the Sugar Shack "hit and slap" each other. I find this connection to be particularly hilarious.)

"Yes, Madelyn, it's exactly like Ninevah," I went on. "And just like Ninevah, Jesus loves the people there just as much as He loves you and me. He wants them to be healthy and loving and kind, and we need to pray for them every time we drive by there. Do you think we can do that?"

"Mmm hmm," she replied. "Let's go there right now and pray for those people."

"Umm, we're just going to pray for them as we drive by, honey," as I imagined the line of questioning that would arise from actually setting foot in the Sugar Shack...

Anyway, 'twas a very enlightening morning for the both of us. I'm writing this down because I want to remember it, but I also want to give you all an accurate description of our conversation lest you spend some alone time with Madelyn in the near future and she tells you the 3-year-old version that leaves you scratching your head and seriously questioning our parenting :)

Ohio Guests and Halloween

Our long-time friends, the Dekkers, came out for a visit and spent the last week with us. This was the first time we had seen their son, Will, since he was three months old and he is now 2 years old, so we all had so much fun. One day (the one day that didn't rain, that is) we drove out to Multnomah Falls for a little adventure. In all the years I've lived here, I've never visited Multnomah Falls in autumn, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The kids were impressed with the tall waterfall and all, but pretty much they just loved chasing each other round and round the various stone steps and ramps, squealing and screeching the whole time (oh wait, that was just our child...). Anyway, we had a great week and love that we get to continue adding fun memories with life-time friends!




Isn't our little ballerina so darling? Madelyn trick-or-treated at Mimi and Baba's and Nana and Papa's today as well as a few houses in Nana and Papa's neighborhood. Let's just say, she fully gets Halloween now and is a solid fan. She also had a great time handing out candy to the kids trick-or-treating at Nana and Papa's door and didn't even seem scared of the scary masks. All in all, a great day. And the weather was just beautiful -- crisp and temperate and dry, what do you know. And the trees in the Northwest are just gorgeous right now, so we are soaking up every beautiful moment of the season while it lasts.

Pumpkin Patch

We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch out at Lee Farms today and had such a great time. Seriously, the way things have been going at our house lately, this was the best day I've had in about three weeks. We missed our friends, the Smoots, with whom we usually go, but they are on vacation so I think they're having plenty of fun. Love this time of year! And we're super grateful to have some gorgeous weather to actually enjoy the outdoors.







Arrr matey! This is Mr. Pirate Pumpkin that Maddie and Nana found for our front porch. Maddie is totally enamored with potato heads, so this seemed like a good fit!

And this is the Olmsted family -- all FOUR of us -- as represented in pumpkins. You can decide who is who :)

Pinkalicious 3rd Birthday!

There are moments when I truly doubt that Madelyn is, indeed, genetically my child. You know...like when a plate of delicious food is put in front her and she lollygags and fidgets and fabricates any reason to get down from the table. I typically have to give her a 3-count for nearly every bite as though eating were some kind of punishment. Trust me. No one has had to give me a 3-count for bites of food for a very long time, if ever. I get down to BUSINESS when a plate of yummy food is put in front of me.

But then something inevitably happens that confirms our genetic connection, most recently her third birthday party. We kept things very low-key this year given my pregnancy and Kurt's impending trip to China and opted for a brief afternoon celebration at a local ice cream shop. I told Maddie that we were going to eat ice cream for her birthday this year, and she said "Yeah! For my pinkalicious birthday party!" Some of you might remember that we had a huge Purplicious birthday party for her last year given that that was (and is) her favorite color. Purple decorations, purple attire, purple food. I love a good theme, and I like to take it to the tiniest detail. I was willing to let a theme go for this year, but evidently, my daughter was not. She suggested a pinkalicious theme all on her own, and even when I tried to say that all we really needed was family and ice cream and a gift or two, she would smile and re-emphasize "At my pinkalicious birthday!" Ah well. She's my theme-loving daughter after all. (Interestingly, she has since told me that every birthday party from now until she turns eleven will be a color-licious birthday...greenalicious for next year, blualicious the year after, etc. all the way to whitealicious when she turns eleven. Now that would be taking a theme to a whole new level.)




(These last two photos are from Madelyn's actual birthday. Kurt left for China that day, so the best we could do was a pancake and egg breakfast with just the three of us. We stuck a candle in one of the pancakes and sang Happy Birthday and did our best to make her feel special. I think it worked out ok.)