I’m always on the lookout for awesome parks in our area. Kadie and I spotted this one on Google Maps earlier this month and were admiring the zipline-swing at Bethany Creek Park. We also visited Orchid Playground for their rope climbing polyhedron.
When Kadie didn’t get into the International School of Beaverton, it triggered the beginning of our ongoing house hunt. Our neighborhood middle school and high school have low ratings and a reputation for disengaged students. When we looked at our finances, it didn’t appear that we were able to move immediately, so we chose to home school Kadie for her middle school years.
Which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. A year after, when we started looking at houses again, the pandemic took over, and the other two kids transitioned into distance learning at home. When school started back up in the fall, all three kids were home schooled. Our home started feeling a bit cramped, we were stuck with ourselves, so we decided to try searching for a house again.
Like last year, we’re still navigating through a pandemic, but with the proper precautions, we were able to leave the kids with Cory and Arianne for one night, then Jenni’s parents for the following night. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to spend our anniversary alone to adventure, dream, and recharge.
We did it. We made it through 22 epic movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with the kids. Ever since the first Avengers movie in 2012, I impatiently waited for the right age to share them and hold back all the spoilers. It’s been a long, long time.
Naming is hard, but it’s also important. A name is a communication tool that can quickly form a bond of understanding when it’s done well. It might even spark some humor, respect, or admiration if done very well.
A name doesn’t have to be original. Sometimes, making a clever association is a good name. Other times, a play on words is a great name. Here are a few names I’ve come up with that make me smile.
My Po Po passed peacefully at 8am, February 11, 2021. One day before Chinese New Year.
Mom said that she was even thoughtful about when to die. In Chinese superstition, you should not have a joyous family event the same year as death. By passing away on the day she did, my cousin can be married in the coming lunar year. Though I often shrug off superstitions, I appreciated that this highlighted just how thoughtful my grandma was.
A year unlike any other. Three hundred and sixty six days with reasons of what to be grateful for, reminders of what not to hold tightly to, and recognition of how connected we all are.
