the mitchells

No time to post

2009-04-22T13:32:00.001-07:00

Neal and I are working hard, so blogging has become a VERY low priority...actually, it's not a priority at all, but here are a couple of pictures anyways...

The Beach!

2009-03-28T21:10:00.001-07:00

We got to go on a quick trip to Dana Point California...Hollis loves the beach!

Playing

2009-02-18T13:13:00.001-08:00

I love taking pictures of Hollis doing what she loves to do: play. The problem is she moves so much and is so busy all of the pictures are blurry, there are toys or her arm in her face or she's not looking at the camera. Here are a few cute ones.

Trying on mom's shoes...notice one shoe is facing backwards.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

I don't care that Valentine's Day is "a Hallmark holiday"--my mom used to (and still does) make Valentine's Day very special. I took on the duty of making it special this year for my friends and family. Hollis got some cute small gifts: a book, some socks and a balloon along with some very special Valentine's from friends and family. It was a fun day!

Moving

2009-01-30T20:59:00.001-08:00

It's the moving-day eve. I'm taking a break because I've packed our whole house, and I'm tired. We've all had the flu, I've taught tennis all week, Hollis is teething all four of those pointy teeth, and she has a big snotty nose. People have been so wonderful helping me...thanks to Nana, Mindy, Ligaya, Kristi, Marilee and a whole host of strong males tomorrow.

We are blessed to have this opportunity to move into my mom and dad's home. We are blessed to have a wonderful couple renting our house from us. Neal and I were reflecting last night on how easy it is to get anxious about the economy-it's easy to get all stressed and uptight with all that's happening all around us, but we were excited to think about how the Lord's economy is not our economy. The Lord isn't nervous, and we can rest in his provision and plan.

In Love

2009-01-22T20:53:00.000-08:00

Here is Hollis pushing her new stroller. Since her birthday is right after Christmas, we decided to let all of her loving and kind family members spoil her with lots of gifts. I think Neal and I got her two gifts total--one for Christmas and one for her Birthday. We just believe in keeping it simple, plus she's ONE she won't have hurt feelings if we don't get her gobs of gifts!

I'm totally smitten with my daughter. She is SUCH a sweet, bright, funny, cute little girl. I LOVE seeing her learning new things--words, routines, how things work, cause and effect--she's also learning how to obey, and it's so scary as a mom to teach obedience! What is the perfect tone of voice? Am I really setting boundaries for things that are worthwhile or selfish?

She was sick for the last two days and though it's the most horrible feeling to see your child sick, she cuddled with me a lot. She's usually too busy to cuddle, so I enjoyed every second of the cuddling.

Union Jack

2009-01-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

My favorite shape/design at the moment is the union jack (british flag)--maybe it's my tea-drinking British heritage or because it's just a really cool shape, but it's inspired me recently, and I couldn't just watch football today, I had to make something creative!

Face food

2009-01-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

It's great when Hollis paints her face with food. I love it!

Happy Birthday take two

2009-01-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

We are home in Seattle, and we get to celebrate Hollis' birthday again with the Mitchell-side of the family. I'm very proud of the second cake I made for her. It's a yummy crown!

Christmas and Happy Birthday

2008-12-30T08:06:00.000-08:00

Hollis' merry-go-round cake

I'm so happy to be one!

Hmmmmmm, this tastes pretty good.....

Am I really supposed to be eating this?!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hollis Design

2008-12-14T21:14:00.001-08:00

I've started a little side business selling t-shirts and onesies. I love making them, and they make great gifts for others or your own kids!

Botanical Gardens

2008-12-14T21:08:00.001-08:00

My nana and I went to the Botanical Gardens in Bellevue last week. It was really fun, and beautiful. There were so many lights. It's definitely a must see. It's free, but I think you have to pay $5 for parking. Hollis liked it too. She was pretty quiet looking at all the lights. It was cute.

Hawaii

2008-12-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

We went to the big island with the Mitchell-side of the family over Thanksgiving. It was so much fun. Hollis LOOOOOOVES swimming, and she was so good traveling, playing, and being flexible. She truly is a joy, and I love being her mom.

More pics

2008-10-29T20:02:00.001-07:00

Costume Party

2008-10-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hollis' friends Clara and Jack hosted a very fun costume party today. Hollis went as a 'garden fairy' and looked amazingly cute.

The Clapper

2008-10-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

During football games I've been showing Hollis how to clap. (Recently, there has been a lot to clap for!) She's never done it on her own until this morning in her highchair she began applauding her breakfast.

Pink Chair

2008-10-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

A friend gave Hollis a pink reading chair before she was born. I let her play on and around it today, and it was a hit! Anything is a hit when she gets to chew on her sparkly toothbrush also.

Hollis loves Koa

2008-10-06T19:45:00.001-07:00

Hollis has loved Koa since she first laid eyes on her (at like 3 months old)...recently she has taken an even greater liking to her, because now she can actually get to Koa on her own. I'm not sure if Koa loves Hollis as much as Hollis loves Koa. Hollis will approach Koa, the dog's tail will wag, she will let Hollis hit her in the face a few times, Koa will suddenly move, and Hollis will fall and hit her head on the floor. It happened a few times like that tonight, and it will be nice when Hollis and Koa both understand the word "gentle".

Honey's New Trick

2008-10-06T19:44:00.001-07:00

Thanks Sierra!

2008-10-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hollis' friend Sierra gave her some new cool, purple boots. They are a little big at the moment, but that didn't stop us trying them on and modeling them. Thanks Sierra!

Happy Fall!

2008-10-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

I love fall. Here are my favorite things:

1) Spiced cider and mulling spices simmering on the stove

2) Cooler temperatures so that you have to wear a cozy sweater or sweatshirt

3) Crazy weather that makes you stay inside or bundling up to enjoy it outside

4) Pumpkin patches

5) Football

Here is my recent fall project made with my best friend Sarah. I adore white pumpkins!

Hollis Loves Her Daddy

2008-09-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

We made a quick trip to Whistler, and Hollis just loves her Dad.

Another trip to DC

2008-09-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hollis gets to ride on her Grand Daddy's shoulders, and meets her Great Grandpa for the first time. Go Redskins!

Busy Day

2008-09-11T21:53:00.000-07:00

Hollis and I had a busy day. She began crawling, held and drank from a sippy cup, and started waving 'bye-bye' today. Phew! While she was resting from all the activity, I painted our family room and kitchen. It need a face lift. There was a butter-cream yellow on the walls, and Neal and I were both sick of it. We chose two rich, warm shades of grey. I'm in love with it. It's such an improvement over the yellow. It adds so much dimension to the room. Good job mommy, good job Hollis.

Ice Cream

2008-08-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sure Hollis isn't supposed to have ice cream. It WAS McDonalds "non-dairy" ice cream, but honestly it's coming from McDonalds, so that's a little suspect to me. Anyways, Neal doesn't obey "baby food rules" so Hollis got her first tastes of ice cream. She love, love, loved it, and it had no adverse affect on her...other than the desire for more.

Design Fever

2008-08-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

I have an addiction problem to my computer, design blogs, furniture websites and paint websites. I have the itch to redo our family room (whole house). Problem(s): 1) money: it'd be sweet to have $100,000 to just go out and buy everything I wanted immediately, but it's never going to happen 2) husband: Neal and I don't share the same flare for design. I want my house to look like the cover of Elle Decor or Domino, Neal wants our house to look like the cover of Hunter's World or Functional, but Not Cute (ok, lame title for a made-up magazine). 3) time: the process is FUN for me--being creative on how to have cute pieces on a dime, Neal sees any kind of process as a bother and wants the job done immediately. I take a long time, he takes 5 minutes.

I don't know how to rectify my problems, but turning OFF the computer would be a start...

Trip to DC

2008-08-14T21:02:00.001-07:00

Hollis and I went to DC to visit! We got to go to a training camp practice.

Here is where my dad does his press conferences each day (check out Redskins.com). The black all-purpose carpet just got replaced because my dad was frustrated at the leftover cake residue from that guy who got the cake in his face.

The four chairs are the chairs for the owners and other important people. They like to watch practice on most days. Jason Taylor is the player standing there talking to them. He was dancing for them. Oh wait, no he wasn't.

In the limo on the way to the game.

Hollis wore such a pretty dress to the game.

Hail to the Redskins!

2008-08-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of my dad and the whole team for doing such a great job at the Hall of Fame game tonight! Yahoo! Hollis had a costume change at half time. She started the first half in her pink jersey/onesie and finished in her cheerleader outfit. What a diva.

Summer at the beach

2008-07-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

In the evening Hollis gets cranky, so to distract her we like to go on walks. The other night I was having hot flashes because it was so stuffy in our house, so we tried to cool down by sitting at our beach park for a while. Neal took some cute pics.

More adventures with food

2008-07-16T10:08:00.003-07:00

It seems like the best pictures come from Hollis eating. This is my favorite.

Whistler

2008-07-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

We got to go to Whistler with the Zorn-side of the family. It was really fun. Neal got to downhill mountain bike each day, and I even went for a day. It was way more fun than I thought, and I'd really like to do it again. Hollis did great. She loves to swim! I don't have many pictures from the trip (my mom and sisters took a bunch and eventually I'll get some), but here are two that drew some funny attention.

Rice Cereal

2008-06-04T21:39:00.000-07:00

It's amazing that babies are fooled into thinking that this gloppy, sloppy, goopey stuff passes as "food". Hollis is a champ at wearing her food all over her face and hands. Our dog Koa does a licking clean-up job afterwards all over Hollis, chair, bib and the floor. Thanks Koa.

Hollis the big girl

2008-05-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, I'm definitely a blogging dud. There's just not a lot of time with a wee one. She sprouted two teeth last week. I was very surprised since she is only just over four months old. I'm very proud and am convinced she is the most advanced baby in the world. She flew to Washington DC and Boston this week and did wonderful. I'm guessing travel gets only tougher the older she gets, but for now it's fine. I was kind of annoyed that it took so much gear--stroller, suitcase, car seat, breast pump, pack and play--to get her to DC, Boston and home, but I just can't think of a way to travel with less--those items are essentials!

Hollis Joy

2008-01-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

She arrived!! I was so thrilled to have my water break on my due date (December 28th), and I delivered her the next afternoon. I had a 17-hour labor, but only a few hours were bad thanks to a blissful epidural. She's perfect of course, and pretty good as far as eating and sleeping goes. Neal is nothing short of amazing, and has been so kind and patient with me, and to watch him care for and love on his baby daughter is SO wonderful. I couldn't ask for a more stellar husband.

We found the name--Hollis--in a name book. I immediately loved it, and it had to grow on Neal. Again he graciously let me make the final pick after she was born, and now we both think it fits her well. I think it means "lives by the holly bush." It fulfills all my requirements: unique, cute, easy to spell, and easy to pronounce. I still can't really believe I'm a mom, but I love it!

Geting bigger...

2007-10-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on our blog. Neal and I have been busy with lots of different things, but nothing much worth reporting on the blog. I'm just getting bigger, we are anticipating the holidays and the birth of Baby Mitchell. She still doesn't have an official name. My mom affectionately refers to her as "Rachaelina", but unfortunately, it's not on our list. It's such a huge responsibility to NAME a child. I really don't want to make a mistake on that! This Friday I will be 32 weeks, which is 8 months, but people, don't be deceived....pregnancy is a TEN MONTH endeavor. I still have a ways to go, but my swollen feet, ankles, wrists and ankles may pop before then. That might be interesting.

GIRL!!!

2007-08-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

We're so excited! Miss Mitchell is healthy and very active in utero...it was amazing seeing everything and she did a couple of yawns and high fives for us. My due date is December 28th, and more than anything we are so thankful that she is looking healthy. I am also excited because they said she has long legs. Yahoo! Hopefully she'll be taller than her mom!

Take a Guess

2007-08-23T10:58:00.001-07:00

Neal and I will find out tomorrow the sex of our baby. We both have been waiting for this appointment for a while, and are VERY excited. I am hoping that the baby spares no modesty and let's it all hang out there. We'll teach modesty later. Anyone care to take a guess?

20 Weeks = 1/2 way!

2007-08-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to the 20 week appointment for Baby Mitchell. The heart rate has consistently been about 150-160 over the last few months, so though I was thinking it was a boy, I am now thinking it might be a girl. Supposedly girls have higher heart rates. I like to think that since I have thought it was going to be either gender at different times then I am right no matter what. (I can't lose a contest I have created). The other possibility is that it is a very active boy and it's busy learning kickboxing and WWF moves in utero so his heart rate is high. Because this baby is a combination of two extremely active people I think we are going to have our hands full either way. I'm glad it won't come out walking. We find out for real next Friday, August 24th and Neal and I can't wait. SHOPPING! ha ha, just kidding Neal. Well, sort of.

Nothing and too much all at the same time

2007-08-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for something interesting to happen to write about, and we have had a lot going on, so you'd think I'd have some great story or something, but no. There's pressure on these things to write witty and interesting things, so I was waiting for something really good...

I did play a really fun tennis mixed-double match last night with my fantastic husband and some friends. I am so impressed with Neal's tennis skills. He had none when we met and he has improved so much that I really need to stop giving him tips so I can still beat him at one thing.

Here's the thing about waiting: we are all waiting for something. Little things: the end of the work day, the end of the week, the end of the sermon, the end of the football game or big things: marriage, a family, college, graduating, grandkids. I think on this earth we are waiting for heaven. I think in heaven we won't wait for anything and I am excited for that because we spend our entire lives down here waiting. Waiting is hard, waiting takes patience and the art of not only waiting, but living our lives so they aren't wasted. That's my profound thought for the day, but it's not that profound because i have written a million items this week for my job, and my brain is tired.

Supportive Sisters

2007-07-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here are my two cute sisters and me in the waiting room at the doctor's office getting ready to hear the heart beat! Dani is pointing to my stomach. Thanks Dani.

Birkenstocks=my best friends

2007-07-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that Birkenstocks are 'out'. At least in the fashion world that I am probably supposed to be keeping up with they are. They are probably not out in Oregon or San Francisco or Vermont, but in my office they are OUT with no chance of coming back in, and actually probably not part of our legal dress code here. The catch is: I NEED Birkenstocks right now. My feet must be swelling or something because they ache every day, all day. I fall asleep dreaming of food massages and wake up scrambling to find my Birkenstocks. I have a pair that is very old and very worn. I had them in college (when i was trying to be a hippie or laid back or something) and now they are a bit curved and smell a tad. It doesn't matter. I wear them religiously every day with anything I have on hoping they will make my feet stop hurting. I ordered another pair (the suede clog kind) so I'd have a pair to wear in the fall when the grungy sandal-kind I already have won't keep my feet warm. It's all in the name of pregnancy! My only goal is COMFORT! I had visions of being one of those 'cute pregnant ladies' but so far I don't have a good track record. I went to a friends' baby shower last year and she was about 8 months pregnant and was wearing very high pointy heels. She looked amazing of course, and I just don't think I can follow in those footsteps. I'd not only have swollen feet, but two broken ankles.

There was a time when I was actually pretty cool with my Birkenstocks...when I was about 12 or 13 and Birkenstocks were HOT and fresh on the market, my sister Sarah and I got matching purple Birkenstocks. They were very cool and we both wore them to their death.

Live Music

2007-07-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

I got to hear the heartbeat on Tuesday, and I think I could have listened to it for hours. It's so weird/amazing to hear something that's alive inside you. It's amazing to think that I am not doing much (except a lot of sleeping and eating) and it's developing without my help...at the right rate, things in the right places, systems and parts all working together...nothing I could ever do if I WAS for some reason supposed to. I can't create something out of nothing, and it puts me in awe of the One who does.

I am doing the flowers for a friend's wedding tonight, and I spent hours last night putting all the bouquets together. I thought they looked incredible and vibrant last night, and I really hope they can make it to, through and after the ceremony this evening. I love arranging flowers. I love flowers. It's like art for me.

Tomorrow I get to go with my sister Dani to watch our other sister compete in an Olympic-distance triathalon in Chelan. I am very excited and extremely proud of her. She has trained with a friend, but a lot on her own. It's not typical Sarah, so it has been really cool to see how her confidence has grown since she has realized how she has improved and how much she can do, and how good she actually is. Dani is going to run the last few miles with her, and I (and Baby) are going to cheer from the side. I'm not running in any race anytime soon.

Heartbeat

2007-07-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today I get to leave work early to go to our 16-week appointment. Ultrasounds are my favorite (even though i have only had one), but today I only get to hear the heartbeat. 'Only'?! It's pretty amazing to hear it, and the doctor usually only has the thing on my stomach only for about 30 seconds--until the BPM registers in her machine. I think I could listen to it all day long. I do get a tad nervous before I go just because I REALLY want to hear it, and I get nervous it won't be there, but I also know that I am not the giver and taker of life...

I am mostly excited to leave work early since I conveniently get to miss this rah-rah meeting pumping up this giant sale where we make millions of dollars in one day, blah, blah. I usually get really cynical towards the company I work for, materialism, corporate politics, and the lifeless cycle of buying more clothes and more clothes and more clothes because we create a 'need' to be 'in fashion'. WHO CARES!!!!!!! I'd love to see what percentage of the world has that need verses the percentage of the world who actually has a need: food, water, shelter, saftey, education, medicine.....it kills me.

Neal

2007-07-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

I have such a kind and compassionate husband. He is so much nicer, kinder, loving, and caring than I am. He is such an amazing example to me how to love people. He welcomes people 'invading' his life and doesn't see it as invasive at all, he welcomes it and thrives off it. I admire him so much for it, and am so excited to be married to him so I can be a life-time student of his example.

Through Painted Deserts

2007-07-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

Donald Miller is one of my favorite authors, and I loved Blue Like Jazz, but 'Through Painted Deserts' might have just eclipsed it. I was reading it on the bus into work and I burst out laughing (but don't worry, a lot of people do that because there are so many 'interesting' people ride the bus, so I fit right in). I re-read the same part to my friend Jenn from work and we were both in tears (still not helping myself with the people around me thinking I am normal). Don is in the grocery store, and he puts all this stuff in his cart, and well, you'll just have to read it.

I love laughing and recently have noticed that Neal makes me laugh more and more. I can't even detail the voices, expressions, actions, statements in our conversations that make me laugh the most, but I have completely lost it a few times over the piddleyest (made it up) things, and can barely recover.

I know my normal energy level is back, or more than my normal energy level is back, from the first trimester of pregnancy because I am on a tennis kick. Neal and I have been playing for the last couple of days, and it's FUN. I love hitting the ball and running around and being in the sun. Neal has gotten so good at tennis (I like to take all the credit), and he is fun to hit with.

I finished 'Through Painted Deserts' yesterday, and I started 'Three Cups of Tea' today about a man who stopped mountain climbing to start schools for girls in Pakistan. Right now he is lost near the bottom of K2, and I am guessing he doesn't die since I am on page 12. That'd be a bummer of a book.

Left out

2007-07-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

I was feeling left out that 'everyone' has a blog. Though very few people will probably ever read this, our entire family lives in a 10 mile radius, and anyone else who will read this already knows me well, I still must have one for myself. Technically, I will be blogging for both Neal and I, which is funny because he will never, ever once look at this blog. He might not even know what a blog is, but he can pack the heat and swing a hammer unlike anyone else I know. I can brag about him all I want. :) So, hello world (actually, no one) here we are!!!