Mat and Jen: December 2010

Saturday is a day that I wish never to repeat.
It all happened so fast and yet, time felt as if it stood still.

For the past week, Mat was in Oregon helping my dad move. They both were going to head back here after all was said and done. On the day of their return, Mat had text me to let me know he'd be home to me around 8-9pm.

Shortly after 9am, Mat called me while I was at work. The conversation went something like this:
Mat: "I don't want you to worry, but I won't be able to make it home tonight."
Me: "Why not?"
Mat: "Your dad & I were just in a roll over accident and the car is totalled."

Time stopped.

I cannot begin to tell you the thoughts running through my mind, the emotions that I was fighting and all the while trying to keep myself together since...well...I was at work. Every time I closed my eyes to take a moment, I would see something like this:

The day is much of a blur, but due to good friends, comforting words and listening ears, it was easier to make it through the day. Still, a day that I do not (ever) want to repeat.

Both Mat & my dad are ok. They are banged up, but are ok. It doesn't happen all the time, but they were able to walk away from the crash without a scratch.

We are counting our blessings this holiday season and are so incredibly grateful.

This year we experienced a first for Thanksgiving.

We went to Oregon!

A little history...when you get married, there is usually the discussion of holidays and who's family you'll spend it with. Well...when Mat & I got married, we also moved to Utah, where the weather is unpredictable and an occasional snow storm does happen. We thought it would be easier overall if we decided to spend one "winter holiday" (Thanksgiving or Christmas) at home with our own little traditions and the other year, travel within driving distance of only a few hours. Which meant, Idaho! I know, Idaho also gets snow. However, to Mom & Dad Haderlie's house, it's a 4 hour drive (or 6 hours if you get stuck in a snow storm...Christmas 2007) compared to overpriced plane tickets (usually, we did get a decent deal on ours when we bought them 3 months ago), a 2 hour flight, 2-3 hour fight through the airport and possible flight delays...etc...get my drift??

When this year was being planned, a few factors came in to play...

my cousin got married & was having a reception over the Thanksgiving weekend...

Mat will be graduating this next April and we won't be able to make our annual Oregon trip...

I graduate in June and we won't able to swing a trip over the summer...

All in all, if we didn't make this trip, we would be pushing well over a year before visiting and that's just not acceptable.

So we packed our bags!

We left Thanksgiving morning, landed just in time to pick up the rental car and drive to my mom's in Washington. They purchased a new home over the summer while we were in Texas, but we had a hard time making it back for a visit. So this was our first experience seeing it.

It's in a pretty neighborhood and it has the works!

Pool, tons of room, fantastic kitchen, etc.

We had all the kids up for Thanksgiving dinner, pumpkin pie and games.

I could not believe at how much my niece and nephew have grown!

My nephew at 9 years old is just about my height.

(I know, that's not saying much, but he's shot up like a weed!)

My niece still has her colorful personality and is growing into such a sweet little lady!

Why do they grow so fast??

We drove down to see my dad on Friday. Mat spent the entire day helping him with doing projects. I love how well Mat and my dad get along. They both fully admit that they are "rednecks" and with that, there must be a mutual understanding.

However, Mat did mention, he now sees where I get my "unorganized, chaotic multi-tasking abilities", he also knew I was very much a "Daddy's little girl" when he married me.

While Mat was "redneckin' it", I went out to Grandma-ma's (pronounced Grand-ma-ma, no joke :) ) and had some crafty fun! When I was young, we used to live at Grandma-ma's and everyday we would spend hours and hours in the "shop" doing ceramics of some kind.

The "shop" isn't the same as it used to be when I was younger...it has grown and expanded out a lot! My grandma-ma now holds classes in ceramics, painting and glass work.

I have a crafty side, (which I say was influenced by Grandma-ma) but have never done anything with glass before...so this was a new one!

My sister came with me, and then my aunt, cousins and family friend all showed up too! It was a party! My Aunt Andrea helped me through the steps of cutting the glass, picking a shape, etc.

I did a very basic starter: made ready patterned glass slumped into a wavy candle holder/dish. The second piece I made was one that I designed myself using frit (shards of tiny glass).

I kept questioning if it looked right or would turn out, Aunt Andrea said,

"It's art! There is no right or wrong, it's all just art!"

That gave me a little confidence boost and I love how it all came out!

If you are in Oregon, you should definitely take a class from my grandma-ma!

Saturday, Mat & I went out to see my dad again. My dad has overcome so much in his lifetime that I really enjoy each minute that I get to spend with him. We had a limited amount of time because Saturday was also the Reception Day! My younger cousin, Esther, we call her Tess, was married in Tampa, Florida, but held a reception in Oregon for her friends and family. She made such a beautiful bride! Her new husband, Jalen, is also a very nice fellow! Mat had a great time playing monopoly with him, the only thing Mat could say, "he's got some skills". I think that's also because Mat was on the loosing end of the game. :) After the reception, we were able to spend time with a bit of the family just catching up on everything.

Sunday, was our "wrap up" day, we had breakfast with my dad and then headed back to my mom's for the night. She's closest to the airport and our flight was SUPER early in the morning, so we spent the evening with her & Jim. Mat was a little occupied by cramming a paper in hours before it was due, but he made it. It was a good visit, we stuffed a lot in while we could!

I forgot how nice Oregon was in the fall...the fall colors through the trees, the foggy mornings, the crisp, clean air...I truly miss that part of Oregon, especially when we landed and there was white stuff covering the ground.

Stinkin' snow.

And now...pictures!