June Afternoons

Earlier this week Ella was begging to play with her little friend, Summer, so we decided to meet both Summer and her mommy, Becky, at a local park last Saturday. The girls both brought their bicycles and rode around, but they spent the majority of their time on the play structure with Nicholas happily looking on. 

Yesterday afternoon Ella asked me to get her puppet theatre down so she could put on a show for her brother. Nicholas enjoyed her re-telling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

I have been trying to spend time in the yard; mowing, pulling weeds, and tending to our mini garden  now that the sun is  back in the Pacific Northwest. Today I noticed our beautiful hydrangeas are blooming. We have five of them in our yard and I think we must have the right soil for them because they are all HUGE this year and are just about every color you could imagine. We have two with dark blue flowers, one with light blue flowers, one with purple flowers, and one with white flowers. 

Nicholas had his last therapy visit for the school year  with his OT, Pam, and his SLP, Laurie. They are both the most wonderful ladies and we will miss them these next few months. See you next fall!

Daddy Day 2014

 Last Sunday we celebrated six years of Jeff being the best daddy to our two kids. The kids made him a cute card and the outside looked like a tie that read, "Happy Father's Day."

We also bought him a new Nixon watch that he really likes. 

After church on Sunday we took the kids to see How to Train Your Dragon 2  in 3D. We all loved it. We laughed and I cried and it was so fun as it was the first time the kids or I had ever watched a movie in 3D. 

As we were leaving the theater after the movie, we saw a giant balloon Toothless which Ella insisted she get her photo with. 

 Later that evening we went to my folks' house for dinner and we brought Ella's old walker over for Vivi to try. At first she was a little hesitant to walk in it, but she slowly got the hang of it and started walking all over the house. It was pretty cute. 

At one point Ella was pretending to sprinkle Vivi with magic fairy dust to help her walk. 

The dads got to relax and enjoy the NBA Finals while the mommas chatted and watched the kids. 

 It was a great day!

Make the Ordinary Come Alive

Do not ask your children

to strive for extraordinary lives.

Such striving may seem admirable,

but it is a way of foolishness.

Help them instead to find the wonder

and the marvel of an ordinary life.

Show them the joy of tasting

tomatoes, apples, and pears.

Show them how to cry 

when pets and people die.

Show them the infinite pleasure

in the touch of a hand.

And make the ordinary come alive for them.

The extraordinary will take care of itself. 

~William Martin

I love this poem.

We live a simple life, seeking the joy in each day, in the small, but beautiful moments. I only hope that my our children spend their lives looking for the extraordinary in the ordinary, as there is love and wonderment all around us, after all.

Countdown to Summer!

Summer is less than a week away and the Gustafson Family is thrilled!

After months of being cooped up inside during cold and flu season, getting outdoors and enjoying summer couldn't come sooner. Last Monday my mom and I took the kids to the park and we went for a long walk. It was nice to be outside and Ella loved sliding down this amazingly fast twisty slide over and over while big brother cheered her on. 

Ella also loved the field of daisies we spotted on our walk and insisted on a photo with them. 

Our little sugar plum is three and a half and nearing her fourth birthday with each passing day. She's got sass and spunk; but she also has a gentle, compassionate side as well. She keeps us laughing and impresses us with her knowledge, vocabulary, and zest for fun. She's a little lady with huge feet in the photo below...I swear she will be wearing MY shoes any day now! 

Last Sunday we had a family dinner at my folks' house and Ella enjoyed pushing her cousin, Vivi, all around the backyard.

Yesterday the kids and I went to Shriners Children's Hospital to get Nicholas' AFOs (feet braces) stretched as they were fitting too tight for comfort. This was the amazing view of the Willamette River and the city of Portland from our room. 

Nicholas and Ella were thrilled to get matching tee shirts (Ella's is identical but red instead of navy) from one of our favorite people (Holly Jones) of one of our favorite Universities (Gonzaga) where Holly now works and attends classes. 

Thank you Holly for spoiling the kids!! Go Zags!

Tiny Super Hero

Today Nicholas is the proud recipient of a TinySuperhero cape from some wonderfully generous and thoughtful friends, Traci Ryan and her family. The Ryan children were in my RCIC class a few years ago at Holy Redeemer and I loved getting to know this amazing family. Nicholas absolutely LOVES his gift and has been happily wearing it all day. 

Anyone can purchase a personalized cape for a super hero (a child or adult fighting a disease/illness) or a cape for a supporter of the person you love at this website: http://tinysuperheroes.com. 

Thank you Ryan family! We sincerely appreciate your SUPER gift for Nicholas!!

Grimm Play

Last Friday Ella and I went to Journey Theater's production of Grimm. We went to support my co-worker's daughter, Mary, who was one of the eight dwarfs in this adapted Grimm fairytale play. 

I have to say that this production was spectacular! The acting and singing was absolutely amazing and both and Ella and I were mesmerized the entire time. There was some major talent in the youth who performed this show, namely the boy who played Rumpelstiltskin, the boy who played the Big, Bad Wolf and the girl who played Little Red Riding Hood. They were all fabulous, but those three were cast really well. Their singing and acting were spot on. 

At intermission, Ella felt the need to get her wiggles out and used the space next to our seats to do so...

She caught the attention of a gentleman who was congratulating a raffle winner so he asked her to go on stage with two other little girls her age who were dressed as princesses. 

Ella was thrilled to be up on stage as she kept asking me during the show, "When is it my turn to dance on stage?" She got her ten minutes in the spotlight and then she was able to settle down, relax, and enjoy act two. 

It was such a fun mother-daughter event with my little girl!

I Love My Job

Really and truly, I totally love my job. I am the Pastoral Assistant for Sacraments at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and it's a job I would have never predicted I would be doing ten years ago. I have my master's degree in education and taught in a Catholic elementary classroom for five years prior to conceiving Nicholas. I was pregnant with him my fifth and final year of teaching and I knew that I desperately wanted more time at home with him, raising him, watching him meet milestones, and being a constant in his young life. Once he was diagnosed with SMA, I realized how truly blessed I was, for if I had been teaching full-time, I would have had to quit mid school year to meet all his medical needs. I applied for the part-time position that I have now nearly six years ago and I have never looked back. This job is more than a job. It's a gift and a blessing and has been the absolute best thing for my family, my spiritual life, and my new career path. I feel abundantly blessed to be able to work in an environment that values family and allows me to be a mommy, first and foremost, because that is where my heart is. I thank God for leading me down this path of discipleship and looking out for our family in such a tangible, profound way. 

Our Small Home

This is my mantra as I trip over the kids' toys, Nicholas' medical equipment, Jeff's gigantic work boots, and the daily clutter in our small home. But I wouldn't have it any other way for our home is full of giggles, joy, and harmony. Most of all it's full of love and that's what makes our haven; our respite from the busy-ness of the world. Our little slice of heaven, just for us. And it doesn't hurt that our yard is pretty substantial in size so on these warm spring into summer days, we take full advantage of the outdoor space for our daily living. 

"There is no place like home." ~Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz)

Vivien's First Birthday

Last Sunday afternoon Ella & I attended my niece's first birthday party. (Jeff stayed home with Nicholas who wasn't feeling fantastic). Vivien turned one yesterday, June 4th. Isn't she just darling?!

Ella loved the space where her party was, which included an awesome play structure and swings. Papa was happy to give her some big pushes.

 There was also tons of green space to run and play with the other children.

Ella was thrilled when Auntie Tina asked her to help Vivi open her gifts!

Mmmm, cake!

Happy first birthday, sweet girl! We all love you so very much! xxoo