The Matthies Family

2010-08-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful time at Mt. Rainier this past weekend! We went with a few family members to White River. Derek has been camping since he was 6 months old and is one with nature every year since. We went on walks, played in the river, rode bikes, and visited Paradise. Here are a few pictures to show you all!

2010-08-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Oma and Derek on the iphone!

We continue to enjoy our summer! I have been starting to get my classroom ready for THIRD grade! I will be working full-time this year, while Derek is at school from 9:00 - 3:30 every day. We definitely have a lot of changes going on!

2010-07-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

July has been so much fun! We have been at a ton of parks, Pt. Defiance, gardening, and enjoying the sun. Here are a few pictures to show you!

2010-07-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

2010-06-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today is our 13th anniversary!!! We celebrated by going to the Grand Lodge just west of Portland. It was an incredible time - soaking in the pool, throwing the frisbee, having picnics, playing in the fountain, and much more. Ric and I think it was the most fun we have had at a McMenamins Hotel.

2010-06-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

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Happy Father's Day! From the start, Ric has been the most incredible dad in the world! He cherishes every moment he has with Derek. I couldn't have asked for a better father, husband, and friend. We love you, Papa!

2010-05-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

As of yesterday evening, I completed my two year pro-certification responsibilities! The process has helped me to become a better teacher. I look forward to the next learning experience! Derek is thrilled I will be spending less time typing and more time playing!

2010-05-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of the fabulous women in our lives who have touched us deeply! We love you and wish you a marvelous day!

2010-05-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

Derek wanted to put another video on his blog, so we made one this morning. Enjoy!

2010-05-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

Derek has a hair stuck on his tongue. ENJOY!

2010-04-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Wow! What an amazing event on Sunday at King's Books in Tacoma! Ric was one of 7 artists who did a linoleum cut, then steam rolled it for a print. Ric's "master piece" turned out amazing. Several people asked for his contact information to purchase one of the prints. He did 6 total, and I am hoping he can print more at a later date.

Here is the linoleum cut prior to inking.

Ric and Uncle Chris used brayers to do the dirty work!

After a few more touch-ups, it was ready to be steamrolled. Check out the video below. At the end of it, Ric received an applause. I have to say, he did an incredible job!

2010-04-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

Fun times with Derek!

Derek set the entire table all by himself, folded napkins and all!

2010-04-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

A fun trip to Pt. Defiance to view logging machines and trains.

2010-03-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote! Life has been good. Four has been such an amazing age. Derek enjoys wrapping up his favorite toys and giving them to his friends in the neighborhood.

2010-03-05T12:05:00.001-08:00

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Happy March! We are thrilled the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining!

2010-03-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

Derek would like everyone to drive an electric car so he doesn't have to smell chemicals anymore!

We have decided on a preschool for our son! We are very excited and thrilled he will have the opportunity to go to a Montessori school three minutes from our house. He will attend Brant Elementary in the fall. It is a public school in Tacoma which goes up to 8th grade. What an amazing program where the entire child is taught! Education is based on where they are developmentally and three grade levels are in one room. About 23 students are in the class with a full-time teacher AND aide! I'm jealous. I am all by myself with 23 kindergartners. We are looking forward to this amazing experience and journey for our son.

2010-02-19T15:14:00.000-08:00

This week has been a blast! I love mid-winter break. Derek and I have been quite busy. Here is a list of some of our favorite activities - spending time at the parks and beach as a family, painting the rain barrel with the kids at Bryant Montessori School, scraping and cleaning at the "white house," spending time with friends, smelling the flowers at the conservatory, and watching Derek dance!

I apologize. Derek's videos are not uploading to the blog sight. I will try again at another time! BUMMER!

2010-02-12T20:26:00.000-08:00

I am now 38! What a special day it has been with my family, friends, and class! One of my students even made me a cake. So sweet and beautiful! I feel truly honored to have so many wonderful, caring people in my life.

2010-02-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Fun, fun, fun!

2010-02-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

Well, we are finally all better. It lasted such a long time... Here are some recent pictures/video. Enjoy!

2010-01-26T18:03:00.000-08:00

I have been sick for an entire week, and I'm so good at sharing, that now Derek has it. Last night I was up with him for several hours because he stated he couldn't breathe (through his nose). What a wonderful evening of bonding! Here are a few recent pictures. ENJOY!

2010-01-19T20:41:00.001-08:00

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Derek and I decided to take up ice skating this winter. What do you think? Pretty good, huh!!! Ric wasn't into it, so he wanted to ski. What a pro!

2010-01-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

I didn't want yesterday to end. I kept telling Derek, "Today is the last day you'll be three." Four, just sounds so old to me... Whenever someone asked how old he was, he would state, "I am three. My birthday is January 13, 2006! I will be four." Now he is four, and I'm feeling a bit sad. As all parents say, "They grow up so fast!" Ric and I cherish each moment we have with our son. Happy Birthday, Derek!!! We love and adore you.

Today we had a lovely day celebrating Derek. When I got home, we opened gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, then did the Five Mile Drive. After, we headed to Eric's work to have lunch. It was wonderful spending time with Uncle Eric! Next, we went to Green Towers for a little bit (actually a lot) of indoor miniature golf . Derek and Ric played 51 holes. We thought he would only do about 3 holes... We were sure wrong. Later on, we went to Build-A-Bear where Derek made his first stuffed bear and placed a tiny heart inside. Lastly, Derek opened gifts from Mema and us. What a very special day!

2010-01-12T17:02:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, we would like to introduce to you the newest arrival to our cousins, Jakob William Eric Sawaya. He was born on January 7 and weighed in at 7 lbs. He has such a cute face with the blondest hair I've ever seen on a baby. Derek and I got to meet him today, while Ric met him the day after he was born in the hospital. Here are a few pictures! Isn't he a doll?

Also, today Ric, Derek, and I went to Owen Beach and caught about 30 to 40 jelly fish. We actually held them!!! In the video, the entire cup is filled with jelly fish and the water has been dumped out. Therefore, the cup is entirely filled with them. So Fun!

2010-01-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

Because Derek loves to stay up until 1:00 AM. Ric and I have him do "heavy work" to tire him out. On this particular day, he was able to get a work-out as he used his muscles to push us across a play toy. It took him about 15 minutes to do it, and he never gave up! 300 lbs is quite a heavy load.

2010-01-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

Derek's great grandfather's funeral was on Tuesday, January 5. Many were there to say their goodbyes. May you RIP, Opa.

2010-01-02T15:40:00.000-08:00

What a trip! Highlights: WALL-E, hand dryers at a rest stop, Zamora, 4 star hotel, cookies, blue and green candles, chasing a rooster and waves, half a zoo, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, oh my, candy smiles, goo, Christmas, fried turkey, first bike, Opapa in our hearts forever, feathers of a pelican, wine tasting, sand crab, beach, snow ball fight, long journey, and finally, safe at home.

2009-12-17T16:56:00.001-08:00

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Happy Holidays to all of our friends and family. It has been a very busy year for us. We moved last January, I started a new teaching position as an AM kindergarten instructor, Ric has spent countless hours designing for various clients, and Derek keeps us on our toes. Though it has been busy, we are all healthy, happy, and thankful for our family! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Matthies!

2009-12-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

Our weather has been AMAZING! Sunny skies and freezing cold days have added to our adventures. We have spent a great deal of our time outdoors enjoying the sun. Usually we have snow, but there's not a cloud in the sky!

2009-11-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

Good-bye November; here comes December! Ric, Derek, and I went to Zoo Lights last night at Pt. Defiance Zoo. It wasn't the best of times, but we did see a lot of lights! Perhaps Derek will be in better spirits next year!!!

2009-11-28T20:54:00.000-08:00

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for all of our incrediblel family members and friends!

2009-11-25T11:58:00.000-08:00

Derek has been coming up with ideas for what he wants to do when he gets bigger. One, he desires to create a "safe" motorcycle that Papa can ride, and he will attach something to the back so Derek and I can ride with him. The other item of interest is to create a machine that sucks all of the chemicals out of the air. Perhaps we have an inventor on our hands!

2009-11-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

It has been mighty cold and rainy, but we still venture out and have lots of fun!

2009-11-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

2009-11-14T16:46:00.001-08:00

We have been having such great experiences with Derek this fall. There is always something fun to do in the Great Northwest!

2009-11-09T14:42:00.001-08:00

Oh, Derek!

2009-11-09T14:33:00.001-08:00

Another fabulous day in Tacoma! This was the first time Derek had been on the 11th Street Bridge! It was a harry climb to reach it, but Derek did a fabulous job!

2009-11-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we took the light rail to the Tacoma Art Museum! What a fun day, and it was free to Bank of America card holders!

Here is one of Derek's favorite activities!

2009-11-03T20:26:00.000-08:00

More fun in fall!

2009-10-31T20:51:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween to all of our friends and family! Derek decided to dress up like a rock and roll Frankenstein. He is so funny!

2009-10-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Fall is so beautiful here! Derek decided he wanted to dress up to go ride his bike outside. Enjoy!

2009-10-24T18:33:00.001-07:00

Today was fabulous! The three of us took a trip to two wonderful farms, The Lattin's Cider Farm & The Schilter Family Farm. At the first one we enjoyed their famous apple fritters, a tractor ride, petting & feeding animals, and going through a maze. The second farm was great because we got to go on a hay ride, run through the pumpkin field, pet animals (especially the kittens), and go through a hay maze. The weather was perfect and so was the day!

2009-10-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today, at 12:55 AM, our adorable nephew was born to Eric, Christina, and Mylie Matthies. He weighed in at 9 lbs and was 21 1/2" long. Ric and I were able to hold Micah Lucas this afternoon. What a SWEETIE!

2009-10-12T15:34:00.001-07:00

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2009-10-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Today, Ric, Derek, and I went on the light rail downtown and experienced Tacoma to its fullest. We live in such an amazing place! Please come and visit whenever you can!

2009-10-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

2009-10-04T19:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had the splendid opportunity to be a part of Fall Fest in Gig Harbor. We had a blast visiting all of the farms in the area. It will be on our list to attend next year!

2009-09-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

What can I say?

2009-09-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

I am sick once again and Derek now has quite a bit of mucous coming from his nose. This evening he needed to be inspired, so he decided to paint his body. FUN!

2009-09-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

We just got back from the fair. It was a good time experiencing it through Derek's eyes!

2009-09-20T18:03:00.001-07:00

What do Dahlias and fish have in common? I'm not sure...

I feel terrible today, but was able to get out for some fresh air at Pt. Defiance! Derek enjoyed watching this fish be gutted, but had difficulty being near it once it was in front of him. (Notice his arms pulled away from it! HEE HEE

2009-09-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

My beautiful sister turns 30 today! No one in a million years would think she's 30! Happy Birthday, Summer!

2009-09-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

I have a cold! I knew it wouldn't take me long to get sick since starting work! Derek has adjusted very well to my schedule, and I am adjusting too! My class is amazing, with a ton of parent support. Wow, I am super lucky!

Derek is cutting and cutting! He really wanted to cut out the dinosaur parts from his book. If you ask him about what happened to the dinosaurs long ago, he will tell you!

2009-09-15T19:26:00.001-07:00

Derek and I have been avoiding our garden due to the huge yellow jacket nest in our backyard. I got brave and just had to check out our sunflowers. Holy Moly! Derek and I were quite amazed with how huge they were. Derek planted them all by himself.

2009-09-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten is making me tired and joyful at the same time. Boy, do I have a lot to learn!!! It has been nice coming home by 11:30 AM every day, but getting up early is hard on my body. Here are some of the fun activities we have been able to do after I'm home with my two favorite guys.

2009-09-07T11:22:00.001-07:00

We are truly amazed by Blueberry Park in the heart of Tacoma. Though we have lived here for over 6 years, we just learned of this fabulous place to go pick blueberries for free! Just a few days ago, we shared this experience with our cousins from CA.

2009-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

My first day in kindergarten was a success! What a sweet bunch of kids! I'm looking forward to meeting the other half tomorrow.

Derek just learned how to blow up a balloon on his own.

2009-08-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I last wrote due to spending an exorbitant amount of hours in my classroom preparing to teach KINDERGARTEN! I will be the AM teacher finishing the day at 10:50. I met 19 out of the 24 at an all school bar-b-q. What a sweet group of kids with a great deal of parent support. I'm very excited to teach a brand new grade!

Derek has been such a joy helping me in the class! On one day he spent 9 hours at work with me. What an amazing soul! He still loves to dance! Enjoy his "moves."

2009-08-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

Ric, Derek, and I had a lovely day at Titlow Park yesterday! Derek became one with the water and sand! These sensory experiences allow Derek to feel complete and satisfied.

2009-08-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

I have been stung three times in the past month... Before then, I had only been stung once when I was two years old. Derek was also "stung" by a bee. I'm sure you can see the swelling in his lips!

2009-08-09T14:18:00.001-07:00

Derek has been listening to "They Might Be Giant's - Here Come the One, Two, Threes" in his own room. He loves dancing to their music. Enjoy! Also, he loves dressing up like "Batman." He tries to save the day by helping people he comes into contact with!

2009-08-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Racheal, my life long friend, gave birth to a healthy baby boy July 25 at 5:11 a.m. He weighed in at 7 lbs 8 oz and was 22 inches long! His name is Caden Matthew McCabe. This is their first child and boy are they ecstatic he is in their lives! Congratulations to you and to all of your family and friends. What a HAPPY time for all of us!

2009-08-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some of Derek's cousins hanging out in a tree. The area we were at was called Patriarchs of the Forest, which I would highly recommend going to!

Ric and his cousin Billy had to hold up a few trees so we could get by on the trail. Thanks guys!

Derek and Mylie are heading to the hot springs. What great buddies they became!

Derek took this picture of us!

He wanted to be silly like his crazy parents!

Chloe and Derek enjoyed giving each other rides on her trike! Thank you for being so sweet with our son, Chloe!

We just arrived home after a wonderful camping trip to Ohanapecosh, Mt. Rainier National Park. The weather was HOT HOT HOT! Derek decided to do a rain dance to help beat the heat, but all he did was create a dust storm!

2009-07-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

Derek loves his cousins! He is a shadow to Trevor, following him wherever he goes! It has been quite hot here in the Great Northwest! We are supposed to be in the 90s for quite a while. Not Fun! So we are in or near water as often as possible.

2009-07-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Ric and Cort! Yesterday the two of them became a year older. We spent the day eating, drinking and relaxing at Tante's house. It was a perfect day!

2009-07-10T10:58:00.001-07:00

Well, we just figured out Derek is a fish! He absolutely loves water, and has been able to swim at his grandparent's hotel several times this week. You would think that after about 2 hours in the pool he we drift off to sleep... Not a chance!!!

2009-07-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

As I sat at the computer yesterday, I read the words, "Sad News." I opened the email from my principal and began to cry... My friend from my pro-cert class had died on Friday due to complications after surgery. She was only in her thirties and was an amazing teacher who worked so hard to meet all of her students' needs. She will truly be missed. Here is a video I would like to dedicate to her. May you RIP, Hilleary.

2009-07-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Fifth of July! We hope you all recovered from the fourth. Derek had a blast yesterday with his grandparents! Here a few pictures to show his amazing day.

2009-06-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Ric and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary! All of us went to Port Townsend for a short getaway, which was filled with castles, crabs, and swings! We had a wonderful time and look forward to our next visit!

2009-06-24T18:58:00.001-07:00

The Rose Garden at Pt. Defiance is in full bloom! What a beautiful place!

2009-06-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

Derek has been quite fond of the band, "They Might Be Giants!" Here he is singing "Speck of Dust" as he bangs on the "drum" with chalk. ENJOY!

2009-06-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads whom have touched our lives!

2009-06-16T18:32:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, Derek, Ric, and I had the splendid opportunity to take a short trip to Portland to celebrate our dear friend's graduation! Derek loved being by/in the water at the house boat and also at our hotel, The Kennedy School.

2009-06-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

Derek said he wanted to play music for me. I knew I had to grab my camera for this event. Enjoy!

2009-06-06T18:15:00.000-07:00

2009-05-29T14:03:00.001-07:00

May has been such a fun month for us all. The weather is amazing, with blue skies until 10:00 P.M.

2009-05-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Pt. Defiance to enjoy a most beautiful day in the Great Northwest. It is by far our favorite place to go! Derek is trying to hopscotch at Owen Beach! Enjoy!!!

While we were there, Derek spotted a bunch of mushrooms which he loves to observe. We're not sure why. Isn't the texture neat?

2009-05-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Ric, Derek, and I were so thankful to spend a bit of time with some wonderful friends from CA. We got to meet their very sweet, beautiful daughter for the first time who is now 2 and half years old. All of us went on a harbor cruise and then to the Aquarium in Seattle. We had a BLAST!

2009-05-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the moms who have touched our lives in a mighty way!

2009-05-05T18:39:00.001-07:00

Derek received his own house from one of my students who had outgrown it. What a sweet generous family! He absolutely loves going in it and asks to play at "his home" every day! Thank you, Emma Baird, for giving this to our son.

2009-05-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of my class and fabulous students! They are super amazing!

2009-05-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

I officially finished my first year of Pro-Certification last night! I 'm so excited to have it completed. I don't have to worry about it until next October! I found out that I will not be let go for the next school year. I will most likely continue to work part time, but I'm so thankful to have a job! One of my colleagues was riffed, which has broken all of our hearts. It is not a fair process...

We have been enjoying the warmer weather and longer days! So has Derek!

2009-04-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

Derek, Ric, and I went to the Spring Fair for the first time this year. We had a blast! We received free tickets for Sunday because we had spent so much time in front of the Bubble station, that the owner received more customers, thus he repaid us with tickets, a free wand, and strawberry bubbles for Derek. What a sweet, generous man!

2009-04-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

Derek wanted to wish all of his family and friends a Happy Easter! Enjoy!

2009-04-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

We thought you'd enjoy a serenade from our most talented son! Enjoy!

2009-04-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

Wow, we are having some incredible weather! Spring has sprung!

2009-04-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Derek continues to have fun dancing and "dressing" up!

2009-03-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a fascinating book called, The Sensational Child. It has been quite an eye-opener for us in terms of our son. We feel like we know him better and can adjust his environment to allow him to feel "better." It has been an amazing experience for us all! I will add more details as we learn more about Derek. Here are some recent pictures!

2009-03-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Since Derek was a babe, he has been mesmerized by a children's musical performer named Dan Crow. He has watched his video (from 1989), danced, and sung his songs for "years!" Last night, Derek got to see him in person. It was hilarious to see how he reacted to Dan. At the end of the performance, Derek decided to sit with him as he signed autographs. What a fabulous experience for us all!

2009-03-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Our artist has found a new way to "paint!" Thankfully we have hard wood floors that are easy to clean! Mema was in town and was the lucky one to receive this piece of artwork before Derek could cut it up with scissors into tiny pieces!

Derek has been curious about our names! Enjoy the video!

2009-03-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

Derek is one funny kid! He wants to do everything by himself like... taking off his clothes, putting on his socks, getting his toothbrush ready, turning on the bath water and letting it out, opening the car door, and much much more! He is really working hard at the whole potty thing! He stays totally dry when he is naked, but he can't be like this all the time!

2009-02-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

What a hoot! Derek decided to wear his papa's robe, from when he was little, as a kilt. Derek is quite an interesting, unique kid! We never know what he is going to do or say next!

2009-02-20T15:48:00.000-08:00

Here is Derek's version of Batman! His pants are clipped around his neck so he has a cape! He still enjoys dressing up as you can see from our photos!

Here are my two artists working at the same time. Derek is using oil pastels and ink on gray construction paper while Ric, in the background, is in the process of doing a linoleum cut for King's Books in Tacoma, which will be printed with a real life steam roller.

2009-02-16T10:13:00.001-08:00

We hope you had a fabulous Valentine's Day! Derek draws or paints every day. The photo where his hands are full of paint, is when he learned he could use all of his fingers to paint with! His art work turned out so fabulous, we just had to frame it and put it in our kitchen. It looks absolutely beautiful!

2009-02-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun pictures of our guy at our new house! We continue to love it! Check out Derek's latest music video. What talent!!!

2009-01-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

Our little boy has grown up so fast! He amazes us with his deep empathy, knowledge, and language capabilities! I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we do!

We are officially in our new place which we enjoy a great deal. We have so much more room!!! Derek has adjusted really well... thankfully. We would love to have you over, if you are ever in the neighborhood. We actually have room for visitors!

2009-01-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

OMA WENT HOME TODAY!!!

Derek created a lot of drawings for Oma, while she was in the hospital. But now he'll have to save them for when we play cards with her on Thursdays. We are absolutely thrilled she is home.

While Oma was waiting for the car to pick her up at the front of the hospital, Derek hopped on her lap while she was in the wheel chair. It was so sweet. They talked and talked. When she got in the car, Derek kept telling her he wanted to go home with her. He was nearly in tears.

2009-01-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an announcement! Derek is now three years old as of yesterday. Here he is celebrating the big day! We have been quite focused on Oma these days. She has been in the hospital since January 3, but looks to come home in the very near future!

Happy Birthday, Derek! Mama and Papa love you so much. You are our joy in life.

2009-01-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

Derek wants to wish all of you a Happy New Year!

2008-12-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

I hope your Christmas was wonderful! Here is Derek showing off one of his gifts. ENJOY!