The Stevenson Ohana

Jan 29th, 2022: Clay is TWO!! His birthday was actually the 27th but he was sick as a dog so we waited until the weekend to celebrate. We had a great celebration, Luke made it so fun actually. He has been learning about "parties" in school and drew up all the decorations and went to the store and picked them out did all the plans for the party. We both woke up at 6am to blow up a million balloons and hang flags and make pancakes. We blew up a little inflatable pool and filled with balloons and Luke was inside ready to say SURPRISE at 7am (when he normally wakes up)... but of course the only day Clay has ever slept in until 8:30! But we were ready! Had a great morning and opened up this little basketball hoop for the boys. We had fun setting up together and playing and then went out to pizza and explored more of amsterdam!

I pulled out my camera for the first time this year and snapped some picture of Clay. The sun was out of hiding and shinning through my bedroom, which also happens to be Clay's bedroom these days (his choice, not ours). I feel like my quality time with Clay has increased with Luke being at school these days. He probably took Luke going to school the very hardest and still is a puddle whenever he leaves the house but quickly changes his tune when he realizes he has access and free range to all the toys.

Clay has a bit of a speech development problem and pronounces majority of his C/K like Ts. So his name is "Tay" lately, and everyone has adjusted and also call him Tay! We love our Tay and think he is very toot=cute. He has yet to get a haircut and his curly natural mullet is making its way down his back. He laughs and loves all the potty humor and has become quite fond of cars like his brother and loves balls, even enjoys watching games with Dad.

I have been calling Clay my little "hype man" lately because he always responds with an enthusiastic "YAH!!" for everything we do, like its the best thing ever:

Let's go upstairs. YAH!!

Let's start the laundry. YAH!!

Should we pick up Luke? YAH!

Should he make dinner? YAH!!

Clay and Luke are very opposites in personalities in many ways, but are the best buddies. Clay is very stubborn and set with his ways and particularities.He is slow to backdown or give in and fast to say no or disobey. Clay is very dramatic when things don't go his way, falling face forward to the ground and completely loosing it. He still doesn't sleep though the night well and loves to make sure we are close and water is available all hours. 

Clay loves his pockets, and our pockets, always filling them with toy cars and small objects he finds. He loves his pocket filled with Cheerios or crackers always there are prepared with a snack. When I went out of town last month he went to a friend's house while Riley worked and Clay insisted on having his heavy coat on and would not take off his jacket the entire time there because he wanted his Cheerios pocket close. 

Tay is obsessed with belly's and loves when a little skin is exposed and tickling everyone's tummies calling them "sweet belly." He has mastered "tacking" and can take down Luke and loves to wrestle and run laps with Luke racing the hallways together (sorry neighbors). He runs away at the sound of 'scripture study and prayer', and can't get him to be reverent to save our lives.  We love Tay and all the spice he brings into our home and can't believe he turns TWO in a couple weeks. So grateful Riley has worked from home his ENTIRE LIFE and secretly all hope that never changes. 

 

THIS PAST YEAR! WOW! It's been one for the books. I get overwhelmed posting about it because so much has happened and so many great little adventures and blessings this year. 

We started out January 2021 with Riley thick in the job hunt, interviewing and applying and getting rejected and trying to find something new. We very much had grown out of our one bedroom apartment in Tokyo and we were ready to move on. In March, he got offered a job in Amsterdam and we took it. Not his dream job, but our dream place. We've been wanting to go to move to the Nike Europe Headquarters.

We enjoyed our last season of Cherry Blossoms. I'll miss Japan's favorite sport: flower viewing. 

In April we went to Ishigaki, Okinawa and had the best time! The next few months we spent our time loving up Japan and getting as much ramen and sushi in belly as possible. Just really trying to maximize our months as we wait for visas and move. 

In the middle of June we moved to Amsterdam! We lived the next three months in a museum, sorta. 

In July we went to Belgium and Austria. 

In August we went to France, Italy, and Switzerland hiking near Mt. Blac. 

In September, my parents came to Amsterdam and we took a road-trip across Germany and moved into our new home.

In October, we were sick a bunch, but managed to homemake cars for Halloween Party and furnished home. 

In November, Luke started Dutch Primary School full-time, Riley started tennis lessons, and we found out I was pregnant.

In December, we did some more France and Switzerland and Alyssa took a solo trip to US.

Avery and Meg came and we went back to Belgium and loved our few days with them.