The Vachs

Tyson

2011-05-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

Our little boy is now 1! What a bundle of fun-loving, squishy, smiling, curious, and constant joy Tyson has been since joining our family one year ago today.

Tyson has many fans and these are a few of their comments:

That kid is built like a nose tackle

He looks just like uncle Ron as a baby

I love those cute cheeks...I just want to squeeze them

He sure is a happy baby

He is the cutest baby I have ever seen

Tyson is a cheerful baby. Everyone leaves happier after spending a few minutes with him. He makes funny faces and smiles real big when one picks him up from his crib after sleeping.

My favorite Tyson experience...this is Erik speaking...comes at the end of everyday of work when I first see him...his eyes light up, his smile increases, and he makes a high pitched noise while reaching out for me. It gets me every time and makes me so happy.

We sure love our little "Grizz" (so named by his aunt Camille) and look forward to another year of adventures and laughs with Tyson.

One Lucky Cowboy

2011-05-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Have I told you lately that "I'm lucky"? I have had the wonderful privilege of being married to an extraordinary women for the past 5 years. Karen is a one of a kind mother, wife, friend and daughter.

To give you an example: Recently she organized and hosted a surprise birthday luncheon for her mother. She and her sisters plotted and planned ways to make this luncheon very meaningful to their mom by preparing her favorite foods (coconut shrimp, breaded salmon salad, bruschetta, pina colada drinks and creme brulle), putting together a hanging collection of photos from their mom's past, sneakily "borrowing" their mom's china to use at the luncheon, and organizing this far enough in advance so that one of their sister's who doesn't live locally could attend. From what I saw and heard about the event it was a smashing success and one memory that their mom will cherish forever because of the thoughtfulness of Karen.

We recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary with a trip to Leavenworth and Wenatchee. We enjoyed perusing the shops, soaking up the warm sunshine, talking in the car, horseback riding, taking photos, and just the opportunity to spend some time together as a couple without worrying about the kids (they were in great hands with my sister).

I truly look forward to spending the rest of my life with such an amazing individual.

I LOVE YOU KAREN!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-03-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Tyson finally got his first tooth a few weeks ago. This week he has been learning how to crawl. He can successfully come find us and get into Trevor's toys.

Spring Craft

2011-03-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? I started and finished a craft project (in less than 24 hours too).
Thanks for the wood and cut outs Linda.
Is it even spring yet? If it's not, I'm ready for blossoms.

2011-02-20T20:37:00.000-08:00

Indoor Slide

2011-02-20T20:14:00.000-08:00

Karen's bargain finds on Craig's List (green slide and rock wall steps) have found a home in Tyson's room. Several design reviews and weekends of work later the finished product is ready for an all out attack by Trevor, Tyson (in a few months) and their rambunctious friends. Trevor and Tyson can now get some good exercise indoors when the weather isn't cooperating outside.

Trevor

2011-01-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

My Pal Trevor

The beginning of my favorite part of the work day occurs as I am getting ready to exit my car after arriving home and the door to the garage hurriedly opens with my excited, talkative and huggable 2 1/2 year ready to give his daddy a great big hug! Trevor is a great little shadow and we enjoy working in the yard, going on bike rides and walks, watching football (Trevor was rooting on the Seahawks last week by saying: "Go boys, go boys!"), playing catch in the backyard, wrestling, making pancakes, running errands, and reading books. Trevor warms up my days at work by telling me via the phone all about his day at preschool, the movie or activity he most recently viewed or played, the status of his baby brother, and most recently by singing "Happy Birthday" to me. I look forward to our time together each day and thank our Heavenly Father for sending Karen and I such a wonderful, healthy and loving child.

Innocence

There are times, however rare these days, when Trevor just wants his Dad to hold him close and comfort him. These times are precious to me as I get to hold him in my arms and be his comforter. It is during times like these that I reflect on the great responsibility I have to provide for such an innocent, trusting, and pure child. I hope I can always be there for Trevor when he needs comforting.

Curiosity

Trevor gets/wants to get into everything (as is evident by the picture above). He loves trying new things (Karen taught him how to spike a volleyball the other day and he loved it) like taking pictures, cracking open eggs, hammering nails, etc. His curiosity is usually very entertaining but sometimes nerve-racking.

The Usual

Trevor can often be found jumping on the trampoline, sliding down the slide (cleverly placed on the stairs by his mother), throwing balls, sword fighting, and when weather permitting riding his trike to the park. He is a happy and active little guy.

One of my favorite moments that happened a while back was the following exchange:

(DAD) "Trevor. You're the man!"

(TREVOR) "No Dad. You're the man; I'm the boy!"

Trevor's Takes Down Dad with SWEET Move!

2010-10-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

Trevor is constantly on the run and loves to wrestle with his Dad. He is seen here working on his "Flying Elbow/Body Slam" move. Enjoy!

Growing boys

2010-09-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Everyone always asks me who was bigger Trevor or Tyson? Well Today Tyson got measured at his 4 month appointment and... they are about the same size.
Trevor at 4 months: 18lbs., 15 oz. 27 1/2 inches
Tyson at 4 months: 19lbs., 5 oz. 27 inches
Truth be told, we like big babies.

Who's Who???

2010-09-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Big hitter

2010-09-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

Trevor playing baseball with his dad.

Happy Baby

2010-09-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

Gearing up for the rodeo this weekend.

Watching my brother makes me smile.

A Day on the Farm

2010-06-29T15:08:00.001-07:00

We spent a day at Wilcox farm in Roy, WA. We watched the Tractor pull, went for a tour of the farm, enjoyed a hay ride, and had a picnic. Always such fun when you are with cousins.

Growing boy

2010-06-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

5 weeks

4weeks

Two

2010-06-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

Trevor had a birthday, shout hoorray!!! We celebrated Trevor's second birthday with family. It was a beautiful day outside to play in the new sandbox and have a water balloon fight.
I attempted to make a train cake. (It didn't turn out quite like Betty Crockers but Trevor loved it.)
Happy birthday Trevor.

Tyson is here!

2010-05-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated day of the birth of our second son came on Saturday May 22nd at 6:57pm.
Tyson Erik Vach was 9lbs 3.6oz and 21.75 inches long. He and mom are healthy and happy. Trevor is getting used to his little brother and likes to hold him. Thanks goes to all the visitors and friends who have brought their love, provided meals, and helped with other projects in anticipation of Tyson's arrival. Tyson and Co. look forward to meeting you all soon.

Count Down

2010-05-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

I am due in two more weeks! I am hopeful of just one more week but I think that is just setting myself up for disappointment. As you can see my belly has exceeded the size of a watermelon. He's going to be a big one!!! Any guesses of how big?

Eating Oatmeal

2010-05-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

When your child eats his oatmeal with his tractors, do you tell him to stop playing in his food or do you sit back and take a picture of it? I opted to just take a picture of it. I figured he wasn't hurting anyone and moments like this won't last long or at least won't be as cute when he is older.

ABC's

2010-04-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

We have an ABC book with museum pictures that Trevor likes to read. He is hard to video so this is the best we could get. You will notice he has a bit of an attention problem (this was right before bed too).

Incase you can't tell what he is saying,

A-apple, B-boat, C-cat, D-dance, E-egg, F-feet, G-game, H-hair, I-insect, J-jewelery, K-kiss, L-light, M-monster, N-nose, O-ox, P-peacock, Q-queen, R-rose, S-star, T-tree, U-umbrella, V-vegetable, W-window, X-ex, Y-yellow, Z-zig zag. (If I missed any letters I blame it solely on the fact that it's late and I'm tired.)

Fast

2010-04-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

Erik finally got his bike tuned up and ready for summer and I found an awesome deal on a bike seat. Trevor and Erik took it out for their first spin around the block reaching 26mph. Trevor explains, "Fun with daddy! Fast.", shaking his head in agreement with himself. They are going to have a fun time this summer on lots of bike rides.

He is growing up so fast. Tonight as we were chasing him down to get a diaper on, he started doing the potty dance. I asked him if he needed to go potty; nothing new. It usually turns into him talking about the potty and just sitting there. This time he actually went pee on the potty! I'm sure we are a long way from potty training but it's a milestone none the less.

Easter Pictures

2010-04-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

Trevor went on a hunt for Easter eggs the weekend before Easter. I was surprised how well he understood what to do. On Easter weekend we got rained out from the Easter egg hunt at aunt Linda's. However we did get to see aunt Jan and baby Justin. Trevor loved the baby and insisted on picking him up and holding him. At one time I told him he needed to hold the baby's head, so he palmed Justin's head like a ball. (I need to be careful how I word things.) Trevor spent the rest of the weekend playing with his dad while I was sick in bed most of the time. We had another Easter egg hunt at home when I was feeling better and Trevor loved it. He kept saying, "more eggs!" Now he keeps asking, "more eggs?", or "more chocolate?". Luckily Erik has hidden them and Trevor is starting to forget about all the chocolate. Happy Easter!

Finished!!!

2010-03-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

Finally done painting! Yahoo!!!

Our Little Slugger

2010-03-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

We were finally able to convince T-man that wearing a hat was a "cool" thing to do, and boy does he look spiffy! He is growing up so fast and we count ourselves blessed to be a part of the adventure. We love you Trevor!

Girls night out

2010-03-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

Me at 28 weeks before I went out with Heather and Kjaersti.
In honor of Heather being back in town we had a girls night out. We had some yummy salad and pasta at Buca di Beppo. (go here if you want a sweet coupon) Then we went to Jet City Improv for a humorous show that was surprisingly clean. I was sceptical at first but the language and content was appropriate for all ages just as it says on their web page. After the show we made several attempts to have ice cream but everything was either closed or had a line down the street. We ended up at our fall back, Red Robin (check out their $5.99 specials) for the infamous Mountain High mud pie. Thanks girls for a fun night out.

Trevor Sends Love

2010-03-05T19:12:00.000-08:00

Trevor misses his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. He looks forward to seeing all of you. Here he is seen sending his love to his aunt and uncles in Provo. We hope to see family soon.

Basketball buddies

2010-02-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

Trevor's friend came over to play today. They were being so cute playing basketball together. I wish I had the camera sooner.

Four Generations

2010-02-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

We just got back from a trip to California. We flew into Fresno and stayed with Gma Vach and helped her with painting and various handyman work. After all the painting was finished it looked brighter, cleaner, and bigger. We hope she likes it. After a whirlwind of home repairs we took a trip down to Fullerton to see Gma and Gpa Lambourne. We had a nice relaxing visit. Trevor enjoyed the hot weather; playing out side, picking Gma's oranges, walking to the park and getting a big stick (Popsicle) from the drive threw convenience store. It made me eager for spring/summer. Trevor did surprisingly well the whole trip. He took naps and slept through the night both of which I wasn't expecting. He also learned a lot of new words including his favorite, "Aunt Janice". After going to her house and seeing her ducks on display and the stuffed goose all he could talk about was Janice, the ducks, and the goose.

Gpa Vach, Great Gpa Lambourne, Erik, Great Gma Lambourne, Gma Vach, and Trevor

Boy number two

2010-02-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

We had an ultra sound in January and there is no doubt that it's a boy. We are very excited for Trevor to have a brother he can wrestle. My energy levels picked up after Christmas and I had been trying to get everything done before it had run out and the baby comes. Erik helped install the ceiling fans we found unexpectedly at a price we couldn't turn down. Hopefully they will help in keeping us cool this summer. I painted the baby's room and Erik has cut all the chair rail. As soon as I get them painted Erik will be back at it to hang them up. There is still much more to get done before the baby comes and my energy has already started to run out.

Today I am 25 weeks and 5 days. I am feeling uncomfortable and time is not going fast enough. At my last visit (24 weeks) I was measuring a month early but that just means he is going to be a big one and even more uncomfortable at that.

Oh Man!

2010-01-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

Our little man is seen here playing one of his favorite games; "basketball". He learned a new phrase, "oh man", you will hear several times in the video. He is a bundle of energy and fun. Enjoy!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T23:37:00.000-08:00

Trevor wasn't scared of this Santa one bit. It probably helped that he saw him get dressed. Oh how he loves his daddy; I mean Santa.

We had a fun filled week with family. My sister and her family came up from Utah and Erik's brother and sister were spending their last days at home before heading off to school.

We let Trevor open a present on Christmas Eve morning before we packed up and headed to his grandparents. I was surprised to see that he knew exactly what to do and showed more excitement in the tractor than in the box it was wrapped in.

We spent Christmas Eve day in Seattle with Erik's family. We had fun riding the light rail and walking around Seattle.

Trevor kept saying "choo choo", very thrilled to be traveling without being strapped to his chair.

We toured the remodel of Jim's office and Trevor found the jack pot of peanut m&m's in a break room.

Caught here saying "cheese" for Mac & Cheese at Red Robin. Celebrating with a birthday burger.

Now the tree is down and the fun is almost over until next year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

2009-12-31T23:24:00.000-08:00

Erik and Trevor made me breakfast for my birthday. Belgian waffles with strawberries, my favorite. We had a fun day together and later that night Erik and I went to dinner with family. My parents came over for dinner that following Sunday and Erik make another favorite, Fettuccine Alfredo. Thanks Erik, it was yummy!!!

During dinner Trevor kept staring at my dad's patch he wears. Eventually he took it off and let Trevor get a closer look at it. He thought he was hot stuff with that patch.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!

2009-12-18T21:54:00.001-08:00

Santa lives on...continuing a Sharp tradition I am now the keeper of Jolly Saint Nick.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Pictures of our little man

2009-12-15T21:10:00.000-08:00

I am seen here saying "Cheese" for the camera before heading off to see Gma, Gpa, Austin & Kirsten recently.

With comb in hand I am putting the final touches to my hair dew. My momma gave me a great haircut.

Thanks for the cape Aunt Linda. Being Superman is a tough job but someone has got to do it.

This photo is taken with uncle Austin shortly after he returned from a mission to Argentina. I believe he told me it was the first time he had shaved in two years! He is such a stud. The girls down in Provo are sure lucky to have such a quality individual in their midst. Go get em tiger!

King Kong of Fisher Price Basketball

2009-12-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

And now introducing the starting center for the Mighty Mites; number 2 (because that is the only number he can say); Trevor "King Kong" VACHHHHHHHHHH!

Appreciation Dinner Cruise

2009-12-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

In appreciation of the efforts put forth in being a contributing member of the construction of the Ninth & Jefferson Building, the developer (Wright Runstad) gracially hosted a cruise for the construction team members and their spouses. Below are some pictures from that dinner cruise.

What a beautiful woman!

Nothing beats a late summer sunset in Washington.

Enjoying the good life for a moment.

"Bubbles"

2009-09-23T19:57:00.001-07:00

Can't quite figure out how to get the bubbles off.

He loves turning on the water even if it's cold.

Bath time is always more fun with bubbles. Well at least Trevor thinks so. Every time he sees the bubble bottle he insists on having bubbles.

Our little baller

2009-09-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks aunt Linda for letting us borrow your basketball hoop, Trevor loves it!

Ski Diving

2009-09-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

Erik got his fill of jumping out of a plane when he went ski diving last month. Trevor and I were at the bottom waiting for him. We watched the plane approach and then it disappeared, shortly there after I kept seeing parachutes popping out of the ski. It happened so fast. Erik enjoyed his time but was a little nauseous after so I don't think I have to worry about him wanting to do it again.

Trevor was getting restless as we were waiting for the shuttle to watch Erik land.

We were so happy to see he made a safe landing!!!

Trevor's new thing is to put on all of Erik's hats that he can find in our closet.

He thinks he's funny!

This is his "airplane" face.

A silly moment

Boys will be boys...

2009-08-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

On Thursday Trevor had a fall that scared us all. He was standing at one end of the couch and was attempting to sit on the arm as his legs came up over his head, I tried to grab him but I just wasn't fast enough. He began crying like usual so I picked him up and put his head on my shoulder. As I pulled his head back to make sure he wasn't bleeding anywhere he began to have trouble breathing and completely went limp.
Panic ran through me as I laid him on the floor tilting his head back hoping he would gasp for air and start crying again. I couldn't figure out if he was breathing, so I attempted to open his mouth and began CPR. (He had been eating blueberries so it was hard to tell if his lips were blue from berries or lack of oxygen.) He started moving his eyes slightly so I kept rubbing his face and talking to him so he would regain consciousness.
Thankfully he started crying again. I went to pick him up again but as I did a lady from church that was there during the incident was on the phone with 911 and said not to move him because he may have a neck injury. I laid him back down, examining his movements in his legs and arms wondering if my baby was paralyzed. Shortly thereafter he attempted to get up so I picked him up. His crying stopped but he was very lethargic. I tried to get him to talk but he would just stare. At one point I tried to put him down to see if he could walk and he began to stumble.
When the paramedics arrived they checked him out and took us both in the ambulance to get him checked out as a precaution even though they thought he would be fine. During the ride to the hospital he was still very lethargic but once we arrived at the hospital and were in a room to be checked out he wanted to get down and explore everything in the room. He was starting to show signs of normal behavior.
The doctor said a lot of times what small children will do is hold their breath, get dizzy and pass out. Because the fall wasn't from a very high surface the doctor was not concerned about the impact. Tests are not necessary unless they are still unconscious when they arrive at the hospital.
Erik just happened to drive to work that day and arrived shortly after I met with the doctor. Not being able to communicate with me directly or see Trevor's condition shook Erik up a bit more than me, but once he saw Trevor and Trevor came to him with open arms he knew he would be just fine. Trevor seems to be doing well. He hasn't shown any further signs and is active as ever.

Fun with my cousins

2009-08-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Erik and Cavin found it humorous to throw the babies in the air. Not so humorous for Angie and I as we watch our babies fly 15-20ft in the air.

Keeping Trevor quiet in the morning so we don't wake Madison up.

caught red handed. Just kidding.

Having a snack with graham cracker frosting sandwich cookies and a glass of milk

Trevor in his sweet red shoes and his awesome $3 radio flyer tricycle we found at a garage sale.

summer 2009

2009-07-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

We survived the heat at Lake Powell by staying in the water. Trevor loved the water but protested the life jacket. The morning shade allowed for some fun in the sand.

4th of July parade in Provo.

Trevor's Birthday Cake

2009-06-16T20:12:00.001-07:00

Give me liberty or give me cake...

Please sir...can I have some more?

Mmmm, mmmm, good!

Mommy's cake skills are wicked! She is the best mommy ever!

Trevor's birthday at the zoo

2009-06-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

We took Trevor to the zoo for his birthday. We met his cousins Julie and Jessie briefly and then continued our search for the animals. The most captivating for Trevor were the fish in the aquarium. (They were the easiest for him to see.) Toward the end of our visit at the zoo Trev got a second wind and loved the petting zoo, sprinkler/play ground, and last but not least the carousel.

The birthday boy

A quick snap shot near the penguin exhibit

Riding the carousel together

Shark mouth

Play ground excitement. (Warning: may cause dizziness; view at your own risk)

Happy Birthday Trevor

2009-06-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Lawn progress

2009-06-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

We are patiently waiting for our lawn to grow in and for plants to go on sale/clearance to beef up the yard a little. We are learning a great deal of patience. Our garden however is taking off and looking good.

Front left lawn

Front right lawn

Back lawn

Garden boxes

Experimental upside down hanging tomato plant

Memorial Weekend

2009-06-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

Erik and I took a quick day date to Snoqualmie Falls to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We got some shopping in at the outlet mall and hit up Small Fryes in Fall City for a burger and shake. The falls were very busy with tourists, the mall had lots of great deals, and the burger joint had a long wait. Over all we had a good time together reminiscing about our past and dreaming up the future.

The tide was out at Redondo and we took Trevor to the beach. He had fun digging in the sand and wading his feed in the water. He had the most fun playing with his dad at a near by park going down the slide and climbing through plastic tubes. We topped it off with an ice cream at Costco. (It seems like McDonald's is on every block until you want an ice cream cone on a hot day and you can't find one in site.)

Walking

2009-06-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

Wedding Anniversary

2009-05-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary Erik. I Love You!!!

Growing, growing, growing

2009-05-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

Karen and I can hardly believe how fast Trevor is growing. He seems to develop new skills everyday. He can now lift himself up anywhere and loves to see what his Mom and Dad are doing at the table. One of Trevor's favorite activities is pulling all of the tupperware out of the drawer and playing with it. He is such a curious and fun little guy.

Trevor's New Digs

2009-05-19T20:08:00.001-07:00

Trevor recently found a new place to hang out. The following are what we believe his thoughts were as he explored his new hideout.

This spot isn't too bad...Much more accessible than my crib. A couple of doors for privacy, hardwood floors, and a years supply of wipes...Can't ask for much more.

I just found out my roommates are a bit stiff and cold. From what I hear one of my roommates can really "grind" on peoples nerves (and food). Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

Ha! I pulled a fast one on all of you! You thought I was going to stay here. No way, jokes on you.

soccer ball

2009-05-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Digging, shoveling, raking, planting, watering, playing, dirt, and more dirt and lots of helpers!!!

2009-05-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

The last two weekends have been a whirlwind of activity in our backyard. We were the beneficiaries of some wonderful help two weekends ago as we moved (Wade- thanks for the Bobcat help!), shoveled and raked out 25 cubic yards of topsoil in our front and backyard. We want to thank all of those who helped including: Mom & Dad (Vach), Kirsten, Pat, Wade, Spencer, Kaleb, and Corey and his kids. We were able to get the backyard seeded and most of the front prepped for seed. This past weekend Karen and I were able to plant 25 of the 44 "Emerald" 5' trees along the street side of our property. We plan on planting the rest of the "Emeralds" this week along with seeding the front yard. We have put in many hours of hard work to get to this point and it is fun to look at the results. Anyone wanting to see the results are more than welcome to stop by!

The quote on Trevor's shirt is an understatement. Karen is a wonderful mother to Trevor and her love for him is evident everyday by the way she teaches, loves, serves, sacrifices, plays, reads, and cares for our little man. Trevor and his daddy sure are lucky to be around such a special mother and companion. We love you Karen aka Mommy!

Trevor said: "I must be in heaven man!"

Trevor thought he had died and gone to heaven when he saw all the dirt piled in the driveway. Unfortunately for Trevor his dream only lasted about a day and a half because the Bobcat quickly gobbled it up. Trevor is now asking: "What is next; bark?"

Trevor's Sweet Shades

2009-04-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

What a good lookin' dude!

Our very own UFO clouds

2009-04-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

We woke up on this beautiful Sunday morning to the sight of some UFO clouds.

These clouds are awesome!

Sprinkler System

2009-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of before our sprinkler system install pictures.

And here are a few of the results during the sprinkler install.

The finished yard product is still a few weeks away but we will keep you posted.

1st Easter

2009-04-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

The camera caught Trevor giving it the "I know what you're up to" look for this Easter morning shot.

This picture is the "I am so happy" face we all see when Trevor comes speed walking across the floor with someone in tow.

This picture is Trevor showing us his "I have the best mommy ever" smile.

Rolling out the "white carpet"

2009-04-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Mom: "Trevor, what do you think you are doing?"
Trevor: "I am rolling out the white carpet for you."

Mom: "What is the special occasion?"
Trevor: "I wanted you to feel special as you made your way to the thrown."

Trevor: "Look Mom, it even makes for a great Caesar outfit!"

Chocolate Milk and Oreos

2009-04-06T16:23:00.001-07:00

Splashing in muddy water and eating dirt isn't exactly the treat I would prefer but it suits Trevor very well. The sun has been shinning the last few days and we have been going outside every chance we get. Trevor loves it. If he didn't put every rock, leaf, and hand full of dirt in his mouth we would be out there all day long. He is so happy outside.

By the photos you can see we don't have grass yet but it is coming soon (hopefully). We are waiting to get a sprinkling system put in and we will be in business for top soil and sod. The garden is in the works, our boxes are up, blueberries are planted, and vegetable starts are brewing in the house. I am so excited for a garden this year. Yahoo!!!

crawling, teething, and standing

2009-03-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been busy for Trevor. He has learned to crawl forward, teaching self control and boundaries haven't been too easy. Sleepless nights and napless days have resulted in Trevor's first tooth breaking through the gums. I'm afraid this is just the beginning. The latest trick Trevor is most proud of is standing in his crib. This doesn't make naptime any easier. Lets just say I am grateful when Erik walks in the door and when he tells me his scouting camp out has been canceled for the weekend.

Pinned part II & III

2009-03-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Trevor is becoming more mobile everyday. Yesterday he figured out how to crawl backward without being on his belly and can army crawl forward if he really wants to get to something. He can also get from laying on his belly to sitting up.

Trevor also started sitting up in his bed during naptime today so I had to lower the mattress. While I was busy fixing the bed he managed to get himself completely under the crib. By the time I found the camera he had managed to get himself unstuck. Busy busy boy!!!

"I'm so glad when daddy comes homes..."

2009-03-04T16:59:00.000-08:00

Pinned

2009-02-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

Trevor managed to get himself pinned while playing with his new favorite toy. He has some growing to do before he can actually use it for it's intended use.

Dinner Time at the Vach's

2009-02-23T19:23:00.000-08:00

First Hair Cut

2009-02-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

Trevor's hair was getting a little long around the ears so it called for a little trim. Well, his dad got a hold of the clippers and he got a little more than a trim around the ears. He got a buzz! Toward the end he wasn't liking the sound next to his ears so the next day, Gma Vach fixed it up around the side to make it look more uniform.

The end result, a handsome boy!!!

Fun with Dad

2009-02-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

As long as Erik or I are on the floor with Trevor he doesn't mind it too much. He likes rolling the ball and can grip the toy baseball. (Maybe he will be a pitcher, or a soccer goalie) Either way he doesn't crawl yet but when he can stand being on his belly he can scoot backwards and in a circle. Occasionally he will get on his hands and knees and rock back and forth. Soon enough our house will look like it got turned upside down but for now war are content with still learning how to crawl.

Our most recent distraction is the old school Sega Genesis. We salvaged it for Uncle Austin but next to the T.V. series 24 it keeps us entertained. Trevor likes pulling and chewing on the cords, but as you can see it doesn't slow the game down much.

Reading is Trevor's favorite quiet activity, he even likes helping turn the page. Aside from reading, his first jabbering word was Bubba (Erik calls him Bubba) and now he likes to say dadda.

Happy Birthday!!!

2009-01-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Today is Erik's Birthday!!! Just looking back at some photos of him and I still can't get over how handsome he is. Erik (Energetic! Romantic! Irresistible! Kid!) I love you!

Our Snowy Adventure

2009-01-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

This is Trevor's first pic with "Frosty". Unfortunately "Frosty's" life was short lived as he was beheaded by a few neighbor kids later that day.

Trevor's first taste of fresh fallen snow came with mixed reviews. This second pic is the figure of my angel Karen. Isn't she perfect?

This is probably the only time Trevor was smiling in this outfit. He didn't like feeling restricted but put up with it long enough for us to snap a couple of priceless pictures.

Here is a picture of our house after the first snow arrived. The second picture shows Trevor and I bundled up and ready for a walk around the block.

My First Christmas

2009-01-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

My vocabulary is quite limited at this time so please accept this humble summary of my first Christmas: "It was quite a ball". -Trevor

This picture of me was taken from Grandma & Grandpa Sharp's home. We spent Christmas morning at their house and they let me play with the wrapping paper! I got so wrapped up in it I ignored the gifts inside.

Later that same snow covered morning we ventured over to Grandma & Grandpa Vach's house for more gifts and a jolly conversation with my industrious, hard-working, charming, lovable, humorous, Spanish-speaking (of which I only understood a bit), and affable missionary uncle Austin.

Christmas was truly a great day because of all the family interaction I was able to enjoy.

My dad thought it would be funny to put me on top of a big red ball and take pictures. I didn't find his idea too funny! Here are a few photos of me hanging on for dear life like my motion picture friend Indiana Jones.

I love you all!

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

This year (2008) has brought us many "firsts" including:

1. Our first child
2. Our first home
3. Our first new car
4. Our first trip to Hawaii together
5. Our first hanging of exterior Christmas lights

6. Trevor's first solid food feeding
7. Trevor's first 20 lbs
8. Karen's first visit to Missouri
9. Karen's first flight with Trevor
10. Erik's first changing of a "NASTY"
11. Erik's first bike ride with Trevor

From our family to you:

We wish you a Merry Christmas this time of year
And hope to see all of you soon
We think of you often
In rain, snow, sun or typhoon

We love to see pictures of family and friends
So get out your cameras and high powered lens!

May you all be blessed with love, health and joy
Till the next time we see you with our young strapping boy.

5 Months

2008-11-19T18:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

We hope everyone had a save and happy Halloween. Here are a few pictures of our little frog before the party at Kjaersti's house.

This is my flexed pose, "Trick or Treat"!!!

Trevor's First Swim

2008-10-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

I took Trevor swimming for the first time with Grandpa and Grandma. Trevor loves his baths so I thought it would be fun to take him for a swim. We had a great time and plan to go again soon. The rest of our Wednesday was a typical Wednesday, rushing Erik off to scouts with or without dinner. This time it was without. However Trevor got to tag along with him which was a nice break for me!

Our little missionary

2008-10-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

If the "real" missionaries were able to tract with Trevor and this stellar outfit they definitely would talk to more people. Who could turn down such an innocent face?

Trevor Rolls Over

2008-10-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

First Addition to Our Backyard

2008-10-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

We would like to thank the following sponsors for donations of tools, labor, and perspiration: Sharp Construction (without the use of their multiplicity of tools, especially the jackhammer, we would still be digging!) and The 3 Vachs (Kirsten aka Ms. Wheelbarrow, Mary aka The Wondermom, and Jimbo aka There are 3 different sized pavers?)

This truly was a family effort and we were very pleased with the results. Next up: The sprinkler system and grass. Anyone wanting to volunteer (you will be fed) your time can call me at 1-800-VLN-TEER.

Our little cowboy

2008-09-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is picture day and we were just having a little test run on what Trevor should wear.
What do you think?

He's the cutest cowboy I've every seen!

Minutes later he conked out.

BYU vs. Washington

2008-09-07T16:09:00.001-07:00

Y, doesn't that look spiffy?!

This very nicely drawn cougar paw (Karen is a wonderful artist) helped the Cougars "claw" their way to victory.

Faces only a mother could love and Huskies feared. This "Fully Invested" duo brought their "A" game from the beginning and watched the Cougars leave with a "W".

I think the face paint really makes him look younger and rejuvenated. Wouldn't you agree?

Pictures...as narrated by Trevor

2008-08-31T20:32:00.001-07:00

Whoa Mom! You really caught me off guard, I probably look like a deer caught in headlights or something. Can you show me the pic?

UGH! That pic looks about as good as last nights leftover scramble tasted like! Let's get on the same page here with these pics. My future dates might hinge on these photos.

OK, so I have never been to Italy, but I believe I can say with a surety that I know what it feels like to be the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Can I get a little help straightening up?

Ah, I feel much better about this one. I can picture myself behind the wheel of a beautiful cherry red '67 Mustang, windows down, one hand on the steering wheel with the music playing and Mt. Rainier staring at me through my windshield.

OK, now I have them right where I want them and I can mold them like Play Dough. They think I am the cutest baby around HA HA HA HA! They are totally clueless. All I have to do is learn their high squealing gibberish talk and the house will be mine!

Flaming Geyser State Park

2008-08-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

We went on our first family hike with Trevor. He was a trooper as we attempted to escape the heat. The trail was nice and cool next to the river with lots of trees.

Our little tanker after a diaper change on the hood of the car before our hike.

I've lived here all my life and I finally saw the flaming geyser. Who knew the park actually had a flaming geyser?

Keep out of this "DANG" area!

2 months old

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

Trevor is now 9weeks old
15 lbs. 3 oz.
24 3/4 in.

Can I get some milk with that donut?

Trevor's blessing day

2008-08-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Doesn't' he look so handsome? We think so!!!

Our trip to Utah

2008-08-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

Tyler and Cami are officially married! It was a beautiful wedding. They were married in the Provo Temple. We all tried to keep cool in the hot sun by sticking our hands in the fountain while we waited for pictures. There was a wonderful lunch that followed at The White Willow House. Erik had a hard time behaving himself as he tried to get his mom and Tyler to throw him a roll from across the room. Eventually Braden took Erik outside to release some of his energy (or was that Erik taking Braden outside.)

Trevor will be passing up his cousin before too long (Trevor at 7 weeks and Madison at 6 months)!!! He is our little tanker! I think he is finally graduated from the cradle. I can't believe how big he is getting.

Our Photo Shoot w/ Aunt Camille

2008-07-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

Cam and I had fun taking pictures of Trevor when he was a week old. Oh how he has grown!

Growing Baby

2008-07-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

We have been disconnected for a couple of weeks and in the mean time Trevor is growing and changing rapidly. He is now measuring 12 lbs. and is nearly 24 inches long. He is starting to smile more and is continuing to be more alert.

We tried our stroller out a few times but as you can see he is still growing into it.

Carol cut my hair and I am loving it.

Here's to the little man

2008-06-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

Our little man continues to grow and bring happiness, sleepiness, gladness, and love to our lives every day. Enjoy the pics.

On our own

2008-06-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

Erik had to return back to work this week : ( and Trevor and I are officially on our own during the day. We sure miss having him around.

1 week old

2008-06-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

Trevor is 1 week old today. We feel so blessed to have him in our lives. He is so sweet and lovable. He is beginning to explore his surroundings more and his sleep patterns are starting to change.

More pics of our little guy

2008-06-16T18:10:00.001-07:00

Our new addition

2008-06-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

Trevor James
June 13, 2008
9 lbs.
21 in.

First Family Photo

Less than an hour old

First cap nap with dad while waiting to leave the hospital

First car ride

Getting the baby's room ready

2008-06-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

We got the keys to our house on Friday!!! Jan and Amanda came over that night and started painting the baby's room. It is looking really good. John is building shelves to install where the two colors meet. Saturday Jan, Joe, Amanda, John, and the kids came to help move a few things in. (Thanks for all the help!!!) Yesterday Erik and I installed some lights in the bedrooms. Things are coming along.

Just a few highlights of this Month

2008-05-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

Jan and Joe flew in Thursday and Camille and Ryan flew in Saturday. It is fun to have family come visit especially when they don't live close by.

John, Joe, Erik, Hannah, and Annabel took my dad fishing Saturday morning. I don't think anything other than a cat nap was caught and a little sun bathing on such a beautiful day.

The day wouldn't have been complete without someone falling into the fish pond trying to catch some gold fish at my parent's house. As Elise took a dive for the gold Jan and I went running after her. Unfortunately only Jan actually reached the soaking wet, frantic, and scared little girl. I on the other hand, in the process of running to help Elise, biffed it and received a good sized battle wound on my left knee while trying to avoid falling on the unborn babe. It was all a little alarming but we are all doing well.

Last week my sisters threw me a baby shower as well as some ladies from my ward. We ate lots of good food at both showers and received very nice gifts for the baby. Thanks to all that helped and attended them it was very much appreciated.

We went to the Mariners game with Erik's dad and Kirsten. Erik clocked his pitching skills and threw approximately 77 mph. We all got bobble heads at the door which I don't think we have even opened yet. The Mariner's had a few good plays but seeing as how they are one of the worst teams in the league it wasn't too surprising that they lost. Oh well, the company was good and we had plenty of junk food to keep ourselves content.

Erik and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary last Friday. We took a walk down memory lane by going to lunch at Spud's fish and chips and taking a walk down Alki beach. This was were I took him on one of our dates about four years ago. It is hard to believe we have been married for two years and are going to be parents in about 3 weeks. Life goes by so fast.

We had fun at the batting cages for family home evening one night. Erik is getting ready to go to Cincinnati for a softball tournament with his work. He got some practice in batting right and left handed for the big weekend that is coming up in July. They have lots of things planned including going to the Cincinnati Reds baseball game. The baby and I will miss him but we are excited for him to do something he enjoys doing; playing sports and just plain old getting exercise.

Quadrant had a garage sale so I convinced Erik to come along with me to see if we couldn't score a coach for our new house. We were a little under prepared for what we saw that morning. The people there had been scouting this out days in advance. As we waited for the doors to open and the mad rush of people to run and grab anything they could, Erik was regretting coming and I couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous people can be. Surprisingly we scored an awesome coach, some drapes, and curtain rods.

Home update

2008-05-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Our home is just about ready for us to move in. Erik drove by the house today and said the front yard is in. He also peaked through the window and noticed the carpet has been laid and the appliances are installed. We have our final walk through this Wednesday and we are scheduled to close on Thursday. Amanda is eager to help paint and set up the baby’s room. I am excited to see the final product.

Dad's Progress

2008-05-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

It takes a lot of concentration for dad to complete this task but he has come a long way and it is exciting to see him taking steps. This video was taken last week, since then he has been practicing walking up and down stairs and stepping off of a curb. I was a amazed at the exercises he performed while at the parallel bars yesterday. He was able to hold all of his weight without holding on to the bars on each foot and while bending at the knees. It was hard for him but he did it!!! If things go as planned he should be coming home next week. He continues to work hard and looks forward to coming home.

Our Baby's Ever-Growing, Lovely Mother

2008-04-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

What a looker! Our little guy is growing quickly (at least that is what the belly growth would indicate) and is causing a ruckus in his mom's tummy. Our little guy seems to be sitting high, likes to play the drums on his mother's ribs, and he bounces around her stomach like a ping pong ball on occasion. Karen has taken all this action in stride but is looking forward to holding our little boy in her loving arms shortly.

Special Olympics- Aquatics Event

2008-04-20T20:20:00.000-07:00

On Saturday April 19th several of my project team members, their family and friends, and my lovely wife and sister gathered together at the Aquatics Center in Federal Way to support the Special Olympics Aquatic Event. We volunteered our time as timers, runners and marshals. We had a great time cheering for the athletes as they gave it their all in their respective races. Their energy and enthusiasm was contagious and their smiles warmed our hearts.

Thanks goes out to all of those who volunteered and made this an event to remember. Kirsten made it even more memorable when she randomly asked "the cutest lifeguard ever" (her words) to snap a photo with her. Way to go sis! Kirsten also grew attached to some of the athletes including the cute kid in the photo below. The little guy asked Kirsten if he had a chance at winning his respective race and she told him he did and then added: "Go get em!" The little guy took her words to heart and impressed us all with his speed and form, taking home the gold! What a fun event!

More House Updates

2008-04-20T20:05:00.001-07:00

The house is starting to come together (as you can see from the pictures) and we are excited. We were a bit nervous about the siding and board & batten colors clashing, but we are really happy with the results. They have completed the sheet rock and rough-in work. We look forward to visiting the site next week to see what new treasures have been installed. It is a bit like watching a dream of yours unfold over a couple months. Kirsten loved the orange Quadrant hard hats so much we decided to snap a couple of photos.

First Home Progress

2008-04-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

What a quick process! Our house has been under construction since March 6th when the foundation was poured. We are amazed at the progress in just a month's time. We generally stop by on Sunday afternoon right after our church service and take that opportunity to snap some photographs. We are becoming more and more excited with each phase completion and are eagerly anticipating the day we get to move in to our own home (Approx. May 31st).

We are also eagerly anticipating the arrival of our first child! At Karen's last appointment with the OBGYN she was told our little guy is measuring 3 weeks early. She was told this means one of three things: 1. The baby may come early (we have been told first babies aren't usually that generous so we're not holding our breath for this option) 2. The baby may be sitting higher up in the uterus (if this is the case Karen will continue to get kicked in the ribs for a while longer) or 3. The baby is big (we tend to believe this is the most viable of the three options because both of us were not small babies- Heck, I came out with 10in biceps!...or maybe that was my head size) It will be 10 weeks tomorrow until the anticipated arrival of our little boy.

We are truly grateful for the wonderful people who surround us with their love and friendship, and we send you all our warmest greetings.

A moment in Paradise!!!

2008-03-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Dazzling & resplendent sunsets, pacifying Pacific Ocean waves, argent aromatic fauna, revitalizing sunshine, sweet-tempered oceanic breezes caressing the island and her people with every motion, and a radiant, splendid, and pulchritudinous spouse to share with me the memories. I was in paradise!

Karen and I recently vacationed on the island of Kauai (Garden Island). We enjoyed our week together walking the beach, beach combing, swimming, sunbathing, playing card games, golfing, scuba diving, watching the sunset, trying new foods, sleeping in, and just plain old relaxing. It was a great week! We were able to spend some quality time with Karen's parents while down there and we appreciate them hosting us and showing us around the island.

We look forward to a trip back to Hawaii sometime in the future. It was great!

Scuba diving was a first for me and I enjoyed mingling with the sea life, including a playful monk seal, several turtles, and many tropical fish.

Karen sure is a cutie! (We would like to give her mom a hand for her part in this picture:)

Progress Report (Our New Home)

2008-02-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

We were sent this aerial photo of our home site (furthest lot on the left) this week from our community manager and thought you all would enjoy seeing the location of our home. One of the reasons we liked this lot was the proximity to neighbors. We liked the fact that we will only have direct neighbors to our right. The grassy areas you see to the north and west are maintained by the homeowners' association and will provide some extra play space for out little guy. We also liked this lot because it offers more square footage than a typical lot.

On Wednesday we went in for our final showroom appointment. For this appointment we sat down with our Quadrant sales associate Melinda and reviewed all of our selections. We were given $30,000 toward showroom choices and we ended up utilizing all but $32. We upgraded items such as our roof, counter tops, cabinets, lighting, and added a bathroom downstairs. It took us a little over an hour to complete our selections and finalize the purchase price. We left the showroom feeling good about our choices and are now in the process of prioritizing the items we plan on completing ourselves (landscaping in the back, fencing, accent paint, fans, etc.). The actual construction of the home will begin in the next couple of weeks. We look forward to the actual construction and watching our home take shape. We anticipate our home being completed in early June, just in time to welcome our little guy.

The picture to the right is looking at Mt. Rainier from our driveway. What a beauty!

Our Baby's Beautiful Momma (Week 22)

2008-02-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

If Karen isn't the cutest 22 week pregnant woman ever than I am not weird. I guess ya'll can't argue with that because I am one weird hombre. Karen is progressing along just fine and gets excited when she can feel the baby kicking. She took a Yoga class last week and really enjoyed it so she plans on taking the class every Tuesday and Thursday. Karen picked me up from the train station the night after her Yoga class and I could tell something was different because she was completely relaxed and used words like "duuuude", "faaaar out" and totally surfer/hippie person words. It took me a while to rile her back up. She has been collecting baby stuff little by little and we have been the beneficiary of many charitable individuals who have provided us with some baby basics and necessities.

We are coming up rapidly on our final showroom appointment for our home in Bonney Lake and are excited to begin watching the construction. We have a few items to finish picking out including the car-cleaning, dish-washing, floor-sweeping, yard-maintaining robot named Erik2. We wish!! Thanks goes to all of those who have made our purchase of a home a fun and exciting time. You are all welcome to visit us anytime!