Episode IV of Adventures in DC

December 15, 2009


Hi Ty and Becks!

How was your day? I hope it was a great one! I sure miss you guys! I had so much fun last weekend being with you guys. I can't wait until next Tuesday when we will get to be together for 2 whole weeks! Just think, when I get home next Tuesday, Christmas will only be two days away.

I gave Meg the present you guys made for her. she really likes it. Robert and her are thinking of putting a magnet on it and using it as a refrigerator magnet.

So last night I had quite an adventure. I had to go to a place called West Springfield to get something from a guy. Since I don't have a car I had to take the metro to the end of the track and then switch over to a bus. After I got off the us I had to then walk in the dark for about a mile to get to his house. The bus was tricky because I didn't have the right amount of money so I told the bus driver and he was ice enough to let me ride for free. Then because it was night time, I couldn't see where the bus was. I had to ask a lady to tell me when we got to my stop. Then after I got there and walked to his house, I walked back to the bus and had to wait out side in the cold and dark for an hour. Luckily mommy talked to me on the phone the whole time so that I wasn't bored or scared. Finally the bus came and took me back to the metro. I got on the blue metro, but I needed to transfer later to the yellow, because the yellow would get me to the Red line metro faster.

While I was waiting for the yellow line, a man came up to me. He was dirty and smelly, he had been drinking alcohol and so he wasn't thinking very well. He said he was hungry and asked me for money to buy food. I said that I had .50 cents and gave it to him.

He said, "Hey man, what am I gonna buy with .50 cents?"

I said, " I don't know." He said, "Come on man, I'm so hungry."

Then I said, "Look, so am I , and I have a wife and two little boys at home, and I don't have a job either."

He said, "Hmmm, well, I don't have a job, and why are you dressed up so nice?"

I said, "Because I go to work but they don't pay me."

Then he said, "Well gee Mr. that coat sure is nice, you should trade me, your coat will keep me warm."

I thought, man this guy is crazy and said, "No, I need to stay warm too."

He said, "Come on man, trade me."

I said, "No," and laughed at the suggestion. Then he walked away. Crazy man. I got on the metro and finally got home around 11:30. What a crazy adventure.

Well, I miss you all so much and love you all so so so sooooo much. Please be nice to each other and love each other, especially love mommy for me! I love you Ty, I love you Becks, I love you Anj.


Matthias/Daddy

Episode III of Adventures in DC

December 7, 2009


Ty & Becks,

On Saturday I went to see the Washington Monument with Meg, Kathy, Rob, and some other little primary kids. We drove there while it was snowing! It was very cold. the wind was blowing the rain and snow into my face, it made me so cold. We walked to the very tall Washington Monument and waited our turn to go inside and go ALL the way to the top! There are 550 or so steps to get to the top, but they won't let yo take the stairs because it takes too long, and they don't want to have to come help you down. The elevator goes up 550 feet sooooo fast, it takes about 70 seconds. I was a little scared going up because I was thinking about how high we were going.

From the top I could look out little windows and see down below. Everything was so little. People looked like ants. I couldn't see very far, however, because it was so snowy, I thought I was inside a snow cloud. One day we will all have to go to the top together to see out the windows when it isn't snowing.

Today, I got to go on a tour of the White House. That is where the President lives. You know, Barack Obama. I didn't get to meet him, but his house is very beautiful. There are guards and police all over watching people to make sure they aren't bad guys. They had to check their list to see if your name was on it before they would let you in. Inside President Obama's house there is a gingerbread house that is just like the real white house but a lot smaller. It is even white. The chefs covered the gingerbread in white chocolate.

I am glad you got to make a snowman today (Monday). I bet mom is a great snowman maker.

I sure hope you guys, Ty & Becks are being so so so so nice to mommy. She is very special to me and since I am not there I need someone to look after her. I hope you guys are looking out for mommy and helping make her happy!

I love you all so so so much and can't wait to see you!

Love,


Daddy

PS. I love you Anj and think you are amazing!

Episode II of Adventures in DC

December 3, 2010

Hello Ty and Beekoo Boy,

How are you all today? I hope you had a fantastic day! It is Thursday night and I am getting ready to go to bed. Before I do, however, I thought I would give you Episode II of Adventures in DC.

Today I got up and had some cereal for breakfast, got ready and left to go to the metro. There was no rain in the forecast so I hopped on my bike, pulled my sock over my pant let and started pedaling to the metro. I locked up my bike and rode down the very very long escalator, going pretty far under ground. When the train came I got on with many other people, but the train did not move. Then the driver announced that we needed to get off because something had happened.

We all got off and wondered what was wrong. After about 10 minutes I walked to the front to see what was happening. In the front car I saw it. A man was laying down in the train. He had somehow gotten his foot stuck between the train and the platform while he was walking into the train and he fell and broke his ankle! Can you believe that? It is very important to be careful when you are getting into the metro! Well, another train came to pick us up because the other one could not leave with the man on it.

was not very exciting, except for when I ate my lunch. I brought a sandwich, a banana, chips, and . . . Frosted Animal Cookies, the pink and white ones that mom loves. Mmmmmm, they were good.

On the way home there was a bunch of people wearing headphone listening to music on their ipods. It was funny because they all had their music turned up kind of loud so people around them could hear it, but all the songs were different so it sounded like crazy people singing and making noise.

I rode my bike home in the dark, ate dinner and wished I was with my favorite people, Andrea, TyTytoos, and Wahoo Beekoo Boy.

It was a pretty good day, but it was a no good terrible day for the man that fell and broke his ankle. we all had better days than him!

Here is a good story to read in the Old Testament about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel 3:1-30. read it at bed time and tell me what you think about it. The three boys get thrown into a fire!

I love you all!

Love,

Daddy

Episode I of Adventures in DC

While Matthias was in DC, he wrote the boys a few letters. I kept them on my night stand and read them some nights right before bed. It makes me sad thinking back on that time, and am so grateful to be out of that situation! Thank you to so many people who helped us through those months!

December 2nd, 2009

Ty and Becks,

I hope that you are having a fantastic day, of course, however fantastic it might be it likely cannot be incredibly fantastic simply because I am not there, and as is well known, fantasticness is difficult to achieve without me. I am thinking you will get this on Friday or Saturday. I am writing this on Wednesday evening as I am about to go to sleep. I figured a few letters might help brighten your and the boys days. I will try to relate some of the simple things I experience that tell me I am in DC and not Bloomington (aside from the fact that you all are there and I am here.)

This morning I hurriedly walked to the bus because I wanted to get to work before some of the other intern and fellows, you see sometimes there aren't enough computers and whoever arrives last has to figure something out.

So, I get to the road where the bus will come and wait for a few minutes and here it comes... and there it goes... right by me without stopping. I start to walk and by the time I get to the metro, four more buses have passed me. I guess I should have just waited a bit longer before deciding to walk. Anyways, I get to the Metro and climb on board. The metro is quite full this morning, we are all packed in tight, so tight that some people don't need to hold on to anything, they just lean into the people around them. I appreciate being tall in these situations because I can still see what's going on. The girl by me is short like mom so she can only see people's backs, she probably fees like she in in a cave.

I finally get to work an held the door for someone carrying a Christmas tree in a box. Finally, after climbing 5 flights of stairs I arrive at the office to find that I am the last on to arrive. The only computer left is the Congressman's in his office, which I am told to use because he won't be in until later. While the Congressman's office is very nice (especially the chair) I am a bit nervous sitting in this very important person's chair. He ends up coming in a bit later and I feel a bit sheepish. He is very nice and we introduce ourselves, he is not staying as he has a meeting elsewhere so I get to stay at his desk.

After work it is raining and I don't have an umbrella, so I hurry to the metro. I end up going the wrong way on the metro so I have to get off and switch to the right train. (silly me) I then decide to get off early to apply for a job. Problem is it is still raining and I am umbrellaless. Once on the street I cannot figure out which way to go so I walk up and down the street for a few minutes trying to figure it out. By now I am pretty wet but I decide to get an umbrella anyways from the hotel gift shop. Now with an umbrella I go to the restaurant, fail to really communicate with the manager so I walk back to the metro laughing at the decision to apply for a job there. The manager was so confused with me. HA!

Back on the metro something is wrong, the train stops for at least 10-15 minutes in the middle of the tunnel and does not move. Maybe there were some Ninja Turtles in the way? Eventually we arrive, I get off the metro and on to the bus. The bus driver let's me rid for Free! Hooray! then get off the bus, walk back to Kathy's and go inside where I change out of my wet pants. What a crazy, silly day. Most of what happened today tells me I am not in Bloomington anymore. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

I hope you have wonderful days in Bloomington! I love you TyTy, I love you Beckham, and I love you Andrea more than you know! I miss you all and can't wait to be together again. Make sure you are all kind to each other and that you show each other the love in your heart.

Love,

Daddy

PS. I will try to work on my penmanship.

PPS. I forgot to tell you that the Congressman doesn't sign his own letters, he has a machine that signs for him. The machine holds a pen and signs the same way he would.

filling in the gap

Between Indiana and Sheridan, Ty, Bex and I lived with my parents in Utah while Matthias was working and seeking employment in DC. Although it was a very challenging time, actually, probably the hardest experience we as a family have ever gone through, being with family in Utah made it a little more bearable. My parents and Matthias' parents were our greatest supporters and really helped us get through those months of being apart. Spending time with cousins lifted the boys spirits. 

One day the boys begged to take a bubble in Nana's jet tub. After she filled the tub with the right bubble/water ratio, she turned the jets on and the bubbles grew, grew, and grew!  The boys loved it! She had to turn the jets off to keep the bubbles from overflowing.

We were in Utah for Ty's 6th birthday. Luckily, Matthias came to town for his birthday. We had a family party at classic skating where all the cousins came and both grandparents had little parties with a cake and candles. He loved celebrating his birthday with cousins! 

We went to a climbing gym while we were there, and Ty went to a climbing class. We weren't there long enough to get into it, but Ty was hooked. We went another time with a friend of mine who competed internationally in climbing and she showed us a great time. Ty really is a great climber. He got all the way to the top - I couldn't even do that! 

We love our families for so many reasons - thank you for taking care of us those 3 months in Utah!

splitting up is hard to do

Rewind.
Thanksgiving weekend.
DC.
We drove out to VA to spend the holiday with the Bruncliks, and are thankful to have good friends that help make the holidays bright. The other purpose of driving out was to drop Matthias off in DC to start working. He landed a legal fellowship working for a Congressman and started the week after Thanksgiving. He is living with a relative who very generously is allowing Matthias to stay with them until the time is right for all of us to move out there. (Call me paranoid, but this was the reason I had intended to make my blog private. I didn't want any crazies knowing the kids and I were without Matthias, alone in B-town.)

Most of the details from the trip have faded from my memory. The few I do remember are:

• Running the Williamsburg Turkey Trot with Linnea (my old running partner and very good friend) Thanksgiving morning. It was the fastest I have ever run (which isn't that fast). My only goal was to keep up with Linnea, and I did - until the last half mile where I ran out of gas. I came in only 30 seconds behind her. I love that lady, she brings out some of the best in me.
• Taking the boys and Meg to the National Zoo.
• Visiting the Air and Space Museum.
• Ty, Beckham, and I taking turns crying during the lonely drive back to Indiana. I don't know why I played all our favorite Christmas songs on the way home. They just made us cry.
  

Dad, this picture is for you. A Fishing Cat Ty found just for you at the Nat'l Zoo.

Our first visit to the Air and Space Museum.

Chris, this picture is for you - the Wright Brother's airplane.

Fast Forward.
Bloomington, IN.
After the boys and I got back to Indiana, I began substituting. I had wonderful friends help me with the boys. Nights were lonely, days were a blur. We tried our hardest to smile, and we generally did, yet our hearts ached for our daddy in DC. Matthias came home for Christmas and we had THE BEST time lounging around, eating holiday food, and playing games with each other. As it came time for him to leave again, I panicked a bit. We were making it work - being apart, yet it was so hard, me working and taking care of the boys without the support of family close by.

And so, call it our craziness, spontaneity or just out of need, we decided it would be better for the kids and I to head out to Utah to camp out while Matthias and I are apart. Two and a half days later we had all of our belongings packed up in a 10x20 storage unit and began the long drive out to Utah to stay. Let's call it an extended vacation, that's what I keep telling myself.

Today.
Sundance, UT.
Matthias is working part time as an attorney for a Tax Law Firm in DC and part time at the Congressman's office. Things are looking up and he is getting closer to catching a full time job. He flew home to UT for a long weekend and we are enjoying our time together at a cozy cabin in Sundance. He leaves tomorrow to go back to DC.

And there you have it. We are living up the time we have in Utah with family. They have been so supportive and fun. Thank you all so much for your love. We, especially Ty, miss Bloomington and all our friends there. It was difficult to leave our life of three and a half years behind so quickly, but it was time to move on and I feel, I think, that we made the right move. Hopefully it won't be too long before we are together again, wherever that might be. Keep us in your prayers.