So these are not really in any particular order but thought I would infiltrate Karli’s blog by adding a few remarks about the woman who married me 6 years ago. I found this was a great exercise and it was difficult to stop at just 10, well 11 since I just had to add one more.

11. Her passion for music. I love listening to her play piano, clarinet, and sing. What wonderful talents.

10. I love doing things with her. It is unbelievable how much we have in common that we can do anything together and have a great time. Even just going to the grocery store without the kids on date night is an adventure. Ever since we started dating I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d rather spend time with.

9. Her love of history and politics. Just after we married we started listening to talk radio and luckily we had very similar opinions. She always explains things quite well and we have great conversations about hot topics. We also want to take a vacation to Washington DC together.

8. She not only tolerates but enjoys watching Modern Marvels with me. Okay, so this is just one show but it says a lot about her. In case you are unfamiliar with it this is a History Channel show that goes into detail how some modern engineering works along with its history. Sounds fun, right?

7. She is an excellent mother. She has endured much while rearing our children with little or no sleep but it is wonderful to see its outcome. We have a precious 3-year old daughter and a handsome 6-month son.

6. Her education. We met in college and she has always impressed me with her knowledge and ability to do well in school. She is an excellent writer and always blows me away with what she writes. Her skills even came in handy when we were engaged and she “edited” my essay I submitted to get into the Computer Science program at the University of Washington. Just about the only thing she did not change was my name at the top. By the way, I was accepted and graduated from that program.

5. She always thinks of me. When she goes to the See’s Candies in the mall she’ll always get me a piece. I come home and find a bag with a Scotchmallow inside that she got just for me. She’ll write it off saying she would have felt guilty otherwise.

4. She is a miracle worker. At night when I don’t feel like cleaning she’ll say, “I’ll take care of it tomorrow.” When I come home I find the house is clean and I am amazed she ever had time to do it among other things.

3. Her sense of humor. There will be times we burst out in uncontrollable laughter and just cannot stop. Monty Python is what brought us together, which is a whole story in of itself.

2. She is beautiful. She has the best smile and when she does this there is a special twinkle in her eye. This especially comes out when we laugh together (see #3). I also remember before we ever dated going to a young adult dance and said hi to her. One of my friends I was with told me she’s cute and I thought, yep that’s right.

1. She married me. Enough said.

SOME PEOPLE
by Flavia Weedn

Some people come into our lives
and quickly go… Some stay for awhile
and embrace our silent dreams.

They help us become aware
of the delicate winds of hope…
and we discover within every human spirit
there are wings yearning to fly.

They help our hearts to see that
the only stairway to the stars
is woven with dreams…
and we find ourselves
unafraid to reach high.

They celebrate the true essence
of who we are…
and have faith in all
that we may become.

Some people awaken us
to new and deeper realizations…
for we gain insight
from the passing whisper of their wisdom

Throughout our lives we are sent
precious souls…
meant to share our journey
however brief or lasting their stay
they remind us why we are here.

To learn… to teach… to nurture… to love

Some people come into our lives
to cast a steady light
upon our path and guide our every step
their shining belief in us
helps us to believe in ourselves.

Some people come into our
lives to teach us about love…
The love that rests within ourselves.

Let us reach out to others
and feel the bliss of giving
for love is far richer in action
that it ever is in words.

Some people come into our lives
and they move our souls to sing
and make our spirits dance.

They help us to see that everything on earth
is part of the incredibility of life…
and that it is always there
for us to take of its joy.

Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.
~~~~

Being at a friend’s wedding always gets you into one of those mushy states of mind. Add into that five hours of driving in a car by yourself, and the fact that your sixth wedding anniversary is within the same week, and your inner “blog-a-logue” (you know, like a monologue that you have to share with the whole world?) starts to go crazy.

So here’s a little of what my inner blog-a-logue wants you to know.

I feel that I have been blessed with an inordinately large number of true friends, and my heart must be covered with footprints. As Weedn’s poem describes, so many people have come into my life for a specific purpose, and left silently. Others have remained. But they all have made a huge impact in my life and brought me to where I am today. They continue to lead me on.

I met my first true friend before I was even a year old. She was three years older, and my next door neighbor. Holly was a true kindred spirit, and the big sister I never even knew how much I needed. She taught me about life, and she taught me how to pretend. She inspired me to go on numerous adventures, both real and imaginary. And somehow, even though she moved out of the country when I was only in first grade, we managed to hold on to that shared past. As kids we were great pen pals. We watched each other grow up through letters, cards and 1 or 2 visits. And surprisingly enough, we continued to lead rather parallel lives, finding interest in the same things and even holding the same parts in musicals. Our contact with each other has ebbed and flowed over the years, but we’re always eager to hear about a new installment in one another’s lives. And I know I would not be who I am today without the friendship that goes back from before I can remember.

Though I couldn’t replace Holly in my life, her presence was added upon in those pernicious and nasty tender years that are referred to as “Junior High”. I’ve always marveled that anyone makes it out of these years alive. I know I wouldn’t have if not for two very special people.

Rachelle and I bonded jokingly over the fact that we were determined to get on the “inside” of the in-crowd. Frankly, we knew we didn’t stand a chance. But we had fun trying. I have never met anyone in my entire life who can make me laugh like Rachelle can. To this day, whenever we talk, I usually just end up peeing my pants or drooling down the sides of my mouth like an idiot because I am laughing so hard. We shared the ups and downs of dating through high school, and we mastered the art of skipping class (legally). We always managed to have a legal excuse from some teacher or counselor to be roaming the halls, and some how I only got one ‘B’ in all of high school and Rachelle ended up the Valedictorian. She has always lifted me up when I need the biggest lifting, and I’m forever grateful… and looking forward to planning our class reunion together!

Around this same time, Katie entered my life. The moment we met, I knew there was something about her, like we’d known each other before. She’s the one I shared all my deepest secrets with, and the one who was there to support me in all my stupid mistakes. We shared a million crazy adventures that would compete with a National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. I was with her when she headed off to college the year before me, and the day I got home, I sat on my back porch and cried for an entire day. We have each made our own way in life, but whenever we’re together, it just feels like home.

In the history of my life, there are probably few that have had a bigger impact than Ben and his family, and I would certainly be remiss to let that go unacknowledged. Though Ben was my first crush, it was his entire family that eventually fell in love with, because they had what I wanted. At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure what that was. But through their example, they were able to show me that true happiness comes from following God and his plan for our lives. They led me to the church I had been searching for for most of my life. They were kind, caring and opened their lives to me at a time when I needed a place to belong. And for that reason, I do have now what they had, and it has forever changed my life.
During high school graduation, you get all weepy and emotional, assuming that you’ll never see most of these people again. And partly that’s true. But the ones that matter you do see. And the space in your life that the rest leave only creates room for better friends to come in. The hard part is knowing where to start… How do I talk about the girls that I lived and did everything with for four of the most meaningful and dramatic years of my life? The collective “odd couple” group, with a hodge-podge of temperaments, beliefs, personalities, sleep habits and study habits. The ones that are indelibly woven into my “coming of age” story, and who I’ve laughed and cried and shared harsh realities with. Like my friends from before, the ladies of the Princess Palace and a few choice others are the kind of friends that never really feel far away. Somehow we’ve made our homes on different sides of the universe, but I know that if I ever need them they’d “be there on the next plane”, as it were.

Dana, my intelligent, logical, motherly, walking contradiction of a friend has always inspired me to do more and to make more of myself. Lisa was the first person in a long time that really “got” me, who knew exactly what I was trying to say regardless of what came out of my mouth, and who taught me how to be crazy and have fun. Stacey picked up where Holly had left off so many years before, having lived parallel lives before we ever even knew each other. Nora knows and remembers more about me and what’s going in my life than I sometimes do. I don’t know what I would do without any of them.

Because this post is getting way too long (and most of you probably haven’t even made it this far), I’m going to have to stop with the naming of names. But that’s not to say that there aren’t many more people that have touched my life in more ways than I can count. As I type, more and more examples flood into my mind and I’m having a difficult time shutting down my fingers.

Once I left college, I was pretty sure my days of close friendships were over. And it’s true that it’s much harder to make as close of friends when you’re not around someone 24/7. But I will say that in my adult life I have been blessed with much more meaningful friendships than I ever anticipated. Through these friendships I have learned the true meaning of service and of giving of yourself. Since having kids I have had to rely on those around me to help me out in a pinch much more than I ever anticipated, and this has led to what I feel are great friendships. My friendships have become more diverse and varied, with people from different stages of life with much more life wisdom to offer me.

So, as one of my newest and closest friends gets ready to set out on a new (and international) adventure in her life, I am a little sad that once again another of my friendships is being sentenced to a life of long-distance correspondence. But I am not worried. One thing that these friendships from my past have taught me is that distance doesn’t matter. It’s the connections you have, the past that you share, and the love that you give. These friends of mine I wouldn’t trade for all the gold in the world. And though there be some I may never see again in this lifetime, the footprints remain…

Last week I had the privilege of attending (and participating in) my best friend’s wedding. She and I met at theatre camp in junior high and have been fast friends ever since. I have to say it was one of the coolest weddings I have ever been to. Despite the fact that I knew almost no one, and I had to go without my family (as they were all attending Mylie’s recital), and it was a 2 and 1/2 hour drive from home at the end of a long and tiring week, I had a blast. And I hope she knows I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!

The Bridal Party

Awesome Colors!

One of the most gorgeous dresses EVER!

What a handsome father of the bride!

The Ceremony

Singing the Exit Music

An actual picture of me without a double chin… who knew?

Photo by Reversed Lens Photography

I’ve been gently reminded on a few recent occasions that our little blog is seriously lacking for Nolan News. And I’ve ignored it somewhat. Partly because it was June, and around here, you basically get to celebrate your birthday all month. So June = all about Mylie month. And also June was a seriously crazy month for me, and it was all I could do to even get any posts up at all.

But now I’ve had a chance to calm down a bit, and I’ve realized the gentle reminders were right. We’ve forgotten our second child! Now, of course, I guess this is something he’ll just have to learn to deal with, right? After all, it’s his lot in life as a second child… fewer baby pictures, fewer items in the baby book? Always having to live up to big sister’s shadow? I’m sure my little brother and Nick (number three of three) would both concur.

But something about this little guy tells me he’s up for the challenge. Let me share a little bit about what I’ve learned about Nolan in the short six months we’ve known him.

Nolan is opinionated. He knows exactly what he wants and how he wants it, and he doesn’t have time to mess with it being any other way. This has been evidenced by the fact that he generally refuses to take a bottle, he refused to sleep on his back from day one, and he already screams bloody murder if you move or take away the object toward which he’s heading. Oh, and for further evidence, see the picture above, in which he’s saying, “You want me to do WHAT?”

Nolan knows how to get noticed. He is a smiley baby, with one of those infectious smiles that bubbles up from his tummy and spills out through his eyes. And unlike some kids that smile only when smiled at, Nolan often initiates the smile… daring strangers to smile at him and notice him, even if they’re not currently paying attention. He’s pretty sure that he’ll be able to get them to notice.

Nolan loves to talk. He loves to babble and stick his tongue out of his mouth as far as it will go. Though I’m not one of those crazy parents that believes their children should belong to MENSA, I swear that sometimes when he’s babbling I’ve heard a “Hi” and an “I love you” slip in.

In addition to the talking, Nolan is a serious “mouther”. Anything he can put in his mouth, he does, though he has a distinct preference for paper products. He’s already destroyed a number of sheets of paper, napkins, and cardboard game pieces. I never realized just how many pieces of fuzz and junk was on my carpets until he started crawling around on them… and trying to digest every minute scrap. His other special favorites are electric cords and shoes. And he’s recently discovered the amazing joy that comes from feeding yourself cheerios and veggie puffs.

Nolan’s in a hurry to grow up. He started rolling 3 days before he turned 4 months, and could roll both directions by the end of that month. He was able to get anywhere he wanted to go (though clumsily) by 5 months. The one thing he doesn’t like to do, however, is sit. He will throw himself backwards in an attempt to straighten like a board and stand up, or he will just reach out and start crawling instead. He is one busy kid!

Nolan’s other likes include swimming, being tickled, music and anything that has to do with his sister giving him the time of day. He’s especially in heaven when all four of the above are combined, like when his sister sings him the ABC’s while they’re in the bathtub together, and she’s splashing and tickling him. His dislikes include being told no, being in one place too long (especially his car seat) and having to go to bed.

So, that’s Nolan in a nutshell. It almost sounds like his profile on a dating website. So, though it may be his lot in life to have less pictures to show to his posterity (though I hardly think there’s any LACK of pictures), I will say that he’s got a lot going for him in his little life. And I don’t think this is one kid that’s going to stand in anyone’s shadow…

So, I was going about my regularly scheduled business today when I got an email from Nick’s cousin. She happens to be a (very good) choir director at one of the high schools in the Seattle area and just received some promotional material for a Music Festival in Anaheim this coming school year. She opened it up and thought she saw something very familiar about it… maybe you notice the same thing?
This picture was taken in, oh, 1999! You would think that there might be a few more recent pictures they could use, ya know? But then, when the Klamath Union A Capella Choir, everyone shook in our presence. We generally walked away with every award possible, so I suppose that’s why they’d want to use our picture. Or it could be because I have a giant and very colorful Disney character on my shirt. And when you look close, you can verify that it is in fact, me, by the giant scar down my right shin. When I showed it to Nick, he found that not only are we on the printed material, we’re on the website too! Heritage Music Festival Anaheim So, I’m pretty sure I should start asking for royalties. And a shout out to my fellow A Capella Choir buds, wherever you are! Those were some good times.

Well, the pictures were blurry, the video bootlegged, and the tap shoes were nearly forgotten at home, but at the end of the day, Mylie’s first dance recital turned out to be a stunning success. Who would have guessed that when we decided to make the crazy decision to sign our two-year old up for dance class that she would actually be on stage PERFORMING in just nine months?! And she wasn’t just up there picking her nose, either! She actually knew the dance (though slightly behind the beat at times).

The day was a blur of craziness as I had to be at my best friend’s wedding. I had attended Mylie’s dress rehearsal the night before, and even though I had watched the dance a thousand times throughout the year, I was still impressed by all these itty bitty dancers getting up on the big stage with all the lights and doing it all by themselves (with only an occasional glance to their instructor in the wings ). So on the actual recital day, Daddy and Grammie were in charge. They took care of everything… getting her dressed, hair done, make-up on. The only problem was that they were almost to the auditorium to check in for the performance when they realized they didn’t have Mylie’s tap shoes. They were sitting neatly on the stairs where I had placed them to be in plain sight and specifically pointed them out to Daddy and he acknowledged them and then even tripped over them before forgetting them left them.

So, at 12:30, before the 1:00 peformance, Daddy made a mad dash back to the house (a 35 minute drive – can you say yea for high gas prices?!) for tap shoes. Luckily, Mylie’s number wasn’t until after the intermission, so Daddy made it back with time to spare, and Nolan even got a short nap in the car.

The performance was incredibly well-done, and even the tiniest dancers remained in the “green room” like professionals during the whole performance. We give a big shout out to MVP Dance Elite for their incredible professionalism and wonderful dance instruction. We have had a great time there this year, and highly recommend them to anyone!

Though video recording was really not allowed, we did get some footage at the dress rehearsal, and snuck in just a couple seconds of the real thing. If anyone would like to see the professional video when it arrives, I’m sure we’ll be willing to show it off and brag about our wonderful little star to anyone who cares to hear show it to you. For now, you’ll have to make to with the little snippet we have.

Dance lessons = $55/month for 9 months
Leotard & Tights = $30
Tap Shoes = $25
Ballet Shoes = $10
Costume = $55
Capezio Nude Colored Tights = $11
Flowers for the performer = $3
DVD of the performance = $20
Seeing your baby girl having a great time doing something she’s really good at = priceless.