Had an interesting Christmas afternoon...We planned on having Christmas lunch with the Millers (Baron and Cristina live next door) but they decided that they would rather be airlifted to Seattle, and have their baby ten weeks early than have lunch with us! Here is baby Calix Miller- healthy and well! Our prayers is that he will be home with the family soon.

Christmas this year was a blast! Courtney got the big stocking- someone gets it every year, and it is a treat, because it holds the most. Chloe loves opening everything- "Oh my goodness!". The big surprise was that we are taking the family to Cabo- for sun, sand and pool time in May.

Our friends Mark and Rebecca got matching Christmas dresses for Chloe and their daughter Charli Kate. Here they are in all their splendor!

I just got these, so thought I would share. My nephew Jonah is a rockstar.

For Thanksgiving we went to my sister's house to visit her and her husband Chris and their three boys, Christian, Jonah and Max and Trevor was there also. Chloe loves to play with both Jonah and Max. (Christian was being a big boy watching football games with Dad and Uncle Derek- he will be nine on New Year's Day.) Max and Jonah showed Chloe the ropes- what is fun to play with, helped her get extra snacks- the three of them pretty much had the run of the house (the picture on the right shows them doing horsey rides.)

I must say, my sister put together quite a spread. The turkey was incredible, and we had 4 pies, and homemade cranberry sauce. Wow. I remember when she couldn't make mac and cheese...

Well, right on cue, Chloe got fussy needing a nap, so we loaded the family in the car, and went an hour south to Olympia. My youngest brother Dallen and his wife Chrissy, and three kids, Kaiden, Kailee and Kairah (allpictured with Chloe) were all at my mom's house, along with two foreign exchange students that are staying with them. My mom had made a full spread as well, and since we were full from Dani's, we waited a bit for a second dessert, and then ate turkey, stuffing and potatoes the whole next day (well that was my breakfast- the girls had pie).

We watched movies all day long with my mom, (her husband Chuck works graveyard, so he got up around 2PM) and had pretty much a wonderful holiday.

The girls seemed to have quite a bit of fun putting up the Christmas tree last weekend. Christina and Courtney unwound all the lights, unpacked all the ornaments, set up the tree, unwound the beads, hung the ornaments, thebeads, the ribbons and bells (yes we have a festive tree) and put up the lights.

My job was to keep Chloe from touching the above mentioned items.

I had the tougher job.

I took Christina to Vancouver to go shopping for her birthday. We wanted to go overnight, to have a bit more time, and to be able to find a sushi place. Our friends Mark and Rebecca went with us, to celebrate a weeklong birthday extravaganza, since Rebecca's birthday is a week after Christina's.

We also brought Courtney's friend Phoebe, who is adorable and the two of them had a blast in all the scary stores that I now feel way too old to enter. Mark and Rebecca brought their daughter Charli. Six girls shopping, two dads (Ok, Charli was kind of sleeping and hanging out, but it is still a lot of estrogen in a mall).

The trip was great, and we had arguably our best Sushi meal ever. We got Chloe a zip up fleece jacket and some boots, a couple of shirts, and a hat (shown) which are adorable. I think Courtney and Phoebe made out like bandits. I got a cool jacket. The only two that didn't strike it rich were the two birthday girls (although Christina got two shirts).

Last night we decided to start our Holidays. Courtney watched "Elf" for the first time. We got the cutest picures of Chloe in a Santa hat. Photos coming soon.

The rain is a problem. Our roof started leaking, there is flooding all over the state, and my sister's house is in the Snoqualmie River (which is the river I proposed to Christina at).

Yes it is wet. And a bit cold. But mostly it has hindered Chloe's social life. See, in the summer- all she had to do was say "ssside", and we would open up the door to let her outside, so she could run over to the neighbors- Christian (6 1/2) and Tatum (5). She doesn't understand a need to bundle up, wear socks and shoes, and put on a hat or hood for a 20 foot trip. Besides that, she like the rain. She laughs, and giggles (which is a little laugh) and gafaws (which is a bigger laugh). And when mom and dad don't feel like bundeling, then Chloe is left inside- dry, unbundled, and bummed.

Christian and Tatum are great- and they love Chloe. They keep each other busy, and always seem to find new adventures. It is a lot of fun seeing Chloe so happy and loving the neighbors so naturally. we are proud of the little one carrying out Jesus' instructions to "love her neighbor as herself". Way to go Chloe!

Trunk or Treat

At our church we had this great event- Trunk or Treat! People parked in the parking lot, opened their trunk, an handed out treats from there. OVer 2000 folks showed up, and we ran out of candy several times. Bought everything out of Cost Cutter! Chloe was a Shooting "Silver" Star, and Charli was a pumpkin. Jury is still out on what Mark was.

Here are my three girls:

The love of my life Christina- who drove all the way across the country from North Carolina to my church in Bellingham to answer my prayers and be my wife (I am sure I would have gotten lost somewhere had God called me East!). We are absolute best friends.

My precious daughter Chloe, who is as cute as can be, and full of energy and life. She looks innocent in this picture, and will win you over with her sly ways, but she knows exactly what she is doing. We are worried about her taking over the world when she grows up.

Our wonderful Courtney, who we have known for five years, and staying with our family for a while. Courtney has fit right in, loves Chloe, is on Christina's cheer squad, and seems to enjoy my warped sense of humor (or at least tolerate it).

This picture was taken at a trip down to Burlington for a lunch at Chucky Cheese's. Sometimes we just need to get away for a bit of pizza, and "play" as Chloe would say.

Chloe Marie

My daughter turned two in August. She is at a brilliant stage, that is everything she does amazes Christina and I.

We were sitting at the dinner table, and I decided to try and book a weekend day away in Vancouver. She asked what I was doing, and when I told her, she replied "Oh, nice!" Such enthusiasm. Such innocence.

I delight in watching her. It is amazing being a dad, and what I learn from the world through the eyes of a two year old. She is playful, curious, determined, caring, sensitive, stubborn, and loving. Like her mom. Like me. Like us. We love being parents.

She dances. Every morning she will eat her breakfast, and then usually wait a half an hour before asking for "music" or "dance". We turn on a CD or the stereo, and she mimics moves she has seen by the cheerleaders, and makes up some of her own. She is thrilled by her own creativity, and fearless in attempting new physical feats. She climbs in her dances, and bounces and jumps off the couches and chairs. Our desire for her safety conflicts with our desire for her courage and physical developments- and the primary caring parent determines which wins (Christina leans more towards safety).

She has recently found that mom and dad put stuff in their hair (Christina mouse and I use a gel) and so any bottle she gets her hands on becomes hair cream. This has been frustrating, yet funny at the same time- because she is so proud of her new hairdos (or hair don'ts!).

I will try to keep up with Chloe's new adventures...

Intro to my new life

My name is Derek. For years, I imagined that my life would be total termoil, for that is all I knew. In fact, I did not understand what it meant to be content, for my life was a continual pursuit of peace, hapiness and contentment. I was not looking to settle- but I did want to be happy with the cards I had been dealt, and had a lack of confidence in that that caused unrest by me always trying to get something that I wasn't even sure existed.

God revealed himself to me slowly. It was not a grand or great vision- there was no parting of the clouds in the sky. But I recognized that the thoughts in me must be inspired by a Creator, and the the answer would only lie in His created plan.

Now, it seemed to me that there were an unlimited amount of plans to choose from- much like picking a cell phone service and plan, or picking a city to go to for vacation. Yet I was consistantly struck by the idea that perhaps the Creator had one specific plan...

I did not want to be a Christian. Honestly, I thought there was an arrogance about the attitude of the whole "grace" and "personal relationship" thing. And being that the country I am born in has recognized Christianity over any other world religion made my desire for uniqueness want to look somewhere else.

Yet in the words of Christ I was completely changed. Transfixed. Purplexed. Challenged. Terrified. I knew my life had to change. Outwardly I was a good guy- got good grades, had a bunch of friends, succeded at work and in sports- but I knew inside that everything I did was an attempt to self satisfy. And every other religion I looked at was some form of that very thing. Then there was Jesus. Dang it. I seemed to know in His words and presence that I needed to change.

So I did.

I have never regretted it- although the timing seemed inconvenient when I wanted to do my own thing. How many people wish they could completely do their own thing in college? Yet Jesus saved my life by revealing himself when He did. I am sure I would have self destructed.

So now I sit, it my house, surrounded by a loving family (my wife Christina, daughter Chloe and cared for daughter Courtney), with great friends, and a great job. I do not deserve or understand. But I am thankful, so thankful.

This is the story of my life, my family and our adventures.

Welcome to Dubland.