2010 – the year that kind of “never was” and yet resulted in the biggest changes in our life as a family, to date!
January
Our year started out with a wonderful 3-day get away at the Lakehouse at BlackLake with the SNG Group. What great and fantastic memories of that weekend spent together.
One day while at the Lakehouse the whole group came up to Seattle. Here is a picture of our family. Little did we know at that point that soon we would call this area "home" and Layth would work blocks from the location where this photo was taken.
Great memories at Black Lake. This one, just before a windstorm came up that took the power out. From the left: Stephanie, Alicia, Andrea, Paul, Matt, Meghan, Vance, Layth, Justin... and then me, behind the camera.
February
Then in February after a long series of interviews Layth was hired for a job in downtown Seattle. We had a mad 10-day mad-dash to get everything in place and then the day came when Layth moved north. He lived with friends and family in the Seattle area while the boys and I stayed in Salem with the house to finish out Soren’s preschool year and try to sell the house.
The day after Layth moved out, the boys and I left on a two week San Diego/Arizona road trip. What fun we had! The boys were amazing travelers and we had a great time with grandpa and grandma Rowles hanging out in their RV first on the beach of San Diego and then in the desert of Arizona. It was a nice way to get some sun during the dark days of Oregon winter and take our minds off the change of not having Layth live with us for a time.
Me with the boys in San Diego at the park
In San Diego on the beach playing with grandpa and grandma Rowles
March
A photo of the boys. One of my favorite shots.
Soren and Keiton - Spring 2010
April
Keiton turned 3 in 2010! I made him a baseball cake and we celebrated quietly at home.
Keiton with his baseball cake on his 3rd birthday
Keiton asleep on the night of his 3rd birthday
June
Finally, June rolled around and it was time for us to leave Salem, the area we’d grown to love in the 18 years we’d lived there and move to Kent, WA. We found a sufficient place to rent in Kent, and made the move thanks to the help of dozens of family and friends on both ends. We felt very loved throughout the move. Leaving Salem was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
Our Kent, Wa dwelling.
Three weeks later, we spent a weekend at our Island Vacation House with our good friends, the Hammonds. It was a weekend none of us will ever forget as I had “the last swing”… and my first helicopter ride!
A photo of the last swing. Just after this was taken my hand let go of the rope swing and I plunged to the ground below landing on my head and neck resulting in loss of memory and the inability to move my head and neck. The island firefighters were called and then Life-Flight was called.
Being wheeled to the helicopter for Life Flight to Harborview. Loss of memory and no movement in neck at this point.
July
My brother and his family (the KAL pals) came out for two weeks this summer and my dad visited the same time. What a blast all of us had together for two weeks. Hikes at Mt Ranier, visits to downtown Seattle, walks around the old neighborhood, afternoons at parks where we spent time as we grew up, a 40th birthday party for Scott, a completed half marathon for several, and a full weekend away at the Island Vacation House. Wonderful, priceless memories.
Scott's 40th with all of us there!
At the Island House
Lori, Ken, Kristen and Lilly: The 1/2 marathon runners!
Loescher Family pictures
August
Our annual SNG Camping Trip. This time at BlackLake and as usual a WHOLE lot of fun and good eating!
The Annual Camping Trip: The West Family (Matt, Meghan, Christian, Nika); the Rowles Family (Layth, Betsy, Keiton, Soren); The Zuniga Family (Katie, Josh, Alex) and the Lunde Family (Andrea, Paul, Nathaniel, Benton)
At Black Lake while camping
Soren turned 6 years old. He loves seafood so I made him a crab cake for his birthday. A week later the Salem group threw he and Megan a joint birthday part while we were in Salem and Katie made him a cake as well. The goose was presented to him as a birthday gift, but we didn’t feel we could keep in from others so we left it as a thank you to the Bowmans for letting us stay at their place!
Our family in front of the crab cake I made for Soren's 6th birthday
Soren loves his crab cake for his 6th birthday
Katie Zuniga made him a cake for his birthday party in Salem! What a great party that was.
September
Soren started Kindergarten.
Soren on his first day of kindergarten in front of his locker
October
Layth and I had a formal night out which resulted in Pizza for a year and 8 Sounders Tickets. What fun!
November
Layth and I took a MUCH NEEDED 5-day get away to San Jose Del Cabo and relaxed for the first time in a year. We are so thankful for the frequent flyer miles that bought us such a luxurious time away!
Layth and I on the beach in front of our resort. The temperature was between 82-87 the entire time were there. Perfect!
Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe. Our resort.
One day we went snorkeling and sailing on the sea of Cortez. What great memories.
Olivia Louise – the little girl I dreamed of by name before I even knew she was to be – was born on Thanksgiving Day.
Olivia Louise - born on Thanksgiving day
December
My birthday. Complete with a Red Robin birthday dinner and then a fun evening with family at Bellevue Square and Snowflake Lane. A week later, the Salem-area group threw me a surprise birthday party as well.
All of us, at Bellevue Square on my birthday.
Christmas family photos.
"Formal" Family Christmas Picture
The Loescher cousins minus the KAL Pal girls in Virginia. Tim, Lilly, Soren, Keiton, James, Moriah, Olivia, Launa
Informal picture of us on Christmas morning just before we opened gifts.
And finally, between Christmas and New Years: The family enjoying a rather spontaneous 3-day get away to our Island Vacation House just after the loss of Layth’s job.
On Hat Island. It was cold and clear and beautiful the entire time we were there.
We finished out the year back at the Lakehouse at Black Lake with our SNG Group of friends. A perfect way to start and end a year!
What a crazy and "different" year 2010 turned out to be for us. We had so many changes in our lives and challenges to face and overcome. With God as our source of peace and joy, and through the perseverance only He can provide we muddled through and grew as individuals and as a family as a result.
Here's to 2011 and a God who is in control not only of the world at large around us, but also of OUR small world as a family and individuals.
I can't help but wonder since we are at the same place we were last year (just living in a different location): What will this next year bring?!
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