Nagel Bagels: 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

Snuggles

One of many reasons I love being a mommy…snuggles

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Lewis and Ryan

These two boys are full of love for each other. Their imaginations are great, they talk full speed, and their laughter is loud. God is so good! I am beyond thankful and Blessed.

Monday, December 27, 2021

Snow in Seattle

Boys ready to play in the snow. They played for 30 minutes…creating childhood memories.

Friday, December 17, 2021

Turning Inward

I am fighting the urge to not turn inward. Turning inward is what I did before. Shutting out the ones I loved outside our family of four.

Fear of the consistent comments of “when I was a kid that was not allowed, in my family that was not accepted whatsoever, send him to his room, yell back, put him over you knee, let him cry it out and avoid him…”

Avoiding, separating, and /or yelling is not what will smooth his road, sure fire way to make his road ahead filled with potholes.

Life is HARD…having community, support and deeply loved is often what is holding me together.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Harrison=learning to code

Harrison is learning to code Python

"Once Upon A Manger: A paper bag pageant"

We really enjoyed Philadelphia Church this past Sunday, we started attending PC this summer.
Harrison attended Little Feats Preschool (at PC) for one year before moving to India. Lewis attended all his preschool years at Little Feats. Being welcomed with open arms and sermon focused deeply on scripture. God is good...all the time.

Saturday, December 4, 2021

6th grade math class

"In 6th grade math, students have been practicing prime factorization and visualizing number relationships (an example of a number visualization found here). They worked in groups to create a visual that represented the prime factorization of a single 4-digit number or a variety of smaller numbers."- Sarah (Math teacher)

Rocking Math class! Loving and thriving at Billings!

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Santa visit and trenches

Santa train never disappoints...telling Santa what their hearts desire, (LEGOS), and the views of Snoqualmie Falls

Trenches in our backyard as we prepare for our garage remodel...

Friday, November 26, 2021

Thankful and Blessed

Billings Middle School, 6th grade and Whittier, 1st grade

Cookie thinks the fruit bowl is her new bed...Although she thinks all surfaces belong to her...

Shortbread lounging with turkeys...he also believes he rules the house

Harrison and Lewis were on board last night to help Bill get the turkey ready.
It has been a year full of many blessings and lots of curves, bumps and potholes in our road. Harrison is thriving at Billings Middle School. When I pick him after school he is full of learning and stories of the day. Lewis continues to adjust as a first grader and being at school all day. He really enjoys his teacher, loves to read and draw. The force is strong in our family and Lewis is no exception. We are currently building our support (Team Lewis) community. God is good...all the time.

God Bless you and your family today and always.

Monday, November 8, 2021

Movie making

Harrison and Lewis have been making movies for several years. Their imaginations are amazing!

Sunday, November 7, 2021

What a week!

Harrison's viking ship...designed and created by himself

First Friday at Whittier...chalk art "Thankful for books!"

Love these two boys and so glad to be down with a week of jury duty!

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Salmon, please

Halloween 2021

Harrison and Lewis decided the yard need a more scary look!

All ready for treats!

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Almost Halloween 🎃

We love Halloween at our house! This year Harrison and Lewis were in charge of decorating.

Vision therapy goodbye til January

Today Lewis has graduated from vision therapy! Woot woot! We’ll see Dr. Pearson in 3 months to make sure his eyes are continuing to strengthen. Admittedly doing the therapy exercises at home was incredibly inconsistent. Pulling Lewis out of school for weekly then biweekly appointments was tough. Today wasn’t the exception, very sad to miss science.

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Leaky Cauldron update

It all started with reclaimed wood from Earthwise Architectural Salvage

and...

turning the front yard transformed into a workshop for a couple weeks

After a week of major sanding and many trips to the hardware store, the door is almost complete

Lots of hard work and dedication...front door is complete!

Bill continues to leave me in awe with what he can make.

Background story- We bought this beauty unfinished from Whittier Elementary auction years ago... It took awhile to get assembled and each year we have slowly made improvements.

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Writing retreat…

I was able to accomplish a lot last night. I finished the journal I had been working on and read through the next one. July 2000-2003 was emotional. Emotional to read the words I wrote and the heartache of my teenage and young adult self.

I used to feel like I was unforgivable. I was not and am not. I learned so much from my deep mistakes and the journey I have been on.

I want to scream from the top of mountains to all teenagers and young adults that what they are going through is not the end. They will travel down dark holes as they navigate themselves. Some will travel down deeper and darker holes then others. You will make mistakes and endure heartaches. Lift your head up and give thanks to God for his forgiveness and love.

You are not broken and not something to be fixed. You are loved deeply and supported by so many. Find your place and your space in this world. Love deeply and pray to the God whom created you. You are not nor will never be perfect. The mistakes and failures are learning points to pick yourself up and go forward, tiny tiny tiny steps. No one is like you, be you and be brave. Spread your wings and fly. There is so much more ahead of you.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Seattle Aquarium

The Octopus never gets old for Harrison and Lewis. This time They have been caught.

Love these two boys of ours

Mmm...

Why not have a chocolate chip cookie bigger than your hand. He did share and eat it in stages!

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Sweet Lewis, the moment I held you for the first time, I started singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”God is so good and life is HARD at times. Being on this mommy road of two boys has been filled with more bumps, steep drops and curves then I could have ever imagined. Thankfully God is always next to, in front of, and behind Bill and I.

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Rope climb

Lewis has mastered the art of climbing to the top of his school rope course. Brave soul to be up high...

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Jagged little pill tour

Loved Alanis Morissette at White River Amphitheater last night. This closes the door to my middle and high school favorite bands. Her lyrics helped inspired me, feel less alone and gave me hope for the future.