I haven't posted much since my parents were in town (for 5 weeks) and we were just too busy having fun and carrying on with everyday life. Since I last blogged, Doug got promoted to Major, Griffin turned 3, I turned 33, Jillian turned 6 and we've kicked off the holidays. I'm pooped already :) Last weekend we got our Christmas tree at a cute little local tree farm, and then later in the day took our family picture for our Christmas card. It actually turned our pretty nice and wasn't all that stressful (unlike other years). I'm about 1/2 done wrapping gifts, so it feels nice to get somethings accomplished since there will be A LOT of prep work involved in our trip to AZ. Yes, we've officially gone insane and decided to DRIVE to Arizona. It's gonna be crazy but a lot of fun too. We haven't been home for Christmas since 2003 so it's time. And next Christmas, Doug will be deployed so we figured this was the year to do it. My parents are beyond excited to have us home and we can't wait to catch up with our friends. We're really looking forward to being there, but not the drive ;)
I wish I had the time/energy to post pictures but I just don't, maybe next blog!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
What a busy few months!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I've been tagged.....
I've been tagged by Jaime ... here we go!
5 Jobs I have had:
2. school teacher
Sadly, I don't have 5 blogger friends! :(
Friday, October 10, 2008
A day at the pumpkin patch...
Fall is definitely in the air here in Oak Harbor (when isn't it?). It's been cool and breezy with much shorter days, unlike the summer where it's light at 10pm. The local farms are burgeoning with corn and pumpkins and we knew a trip to the pumpkin patch would soon be on the horizon. So last week we bundled up the kids and headed out to Dugwalla Bay Farm. The kids had a great time on the hayride (pulled by a bright orange tractor), although it was quite bumpy. Mallory kept looking up at me with a puzzled expression :) Jillian and Griffin combed the fields quite thoroughly and each found a pumpkin to their liking, which have found a home on our front porch, making it look very cheery and autumnal. We just adore Washington for its never-ending supply of family-friendly, outdoorsy, memory-making possibilities.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Happy 1st Birthday, Mallory!!!
Well, it happened. Our baby girl turned 1 on the 25th. We had a small, family party, just the 5 of us. It was fun, happy, exciting, peaceful and unreal. I found myself thinking the whole time, "One already? Wasn't I just in the hospital having her?" I know I say it all the time, but this last year has flown by in the blink of an eye.
We had so much fun preparing for her party. Jillian, Griffin and I made and iced the cupcakes the night before and Doug did most of the decorating on party day. She really enjoyed opening her presents and trying to blow out the candle. Well, mostly she just kept trying to grab the flame. I thought it best that she didn't receive any burns on her special day, so I blew it out for her :) She loved her gifts, especially her Laugh and Learn purse and pull-along pelican. Poor thing barely gets a moment to herself with them though, the older kids are always playing with them. You know, anything new and they're enthralled!
All in all it was a wonderful day that we'd been looking forward to with much happiness and a touch of nostalgia. That first birthday is always bittersweet, but we loved every minute of it!!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
First day of Kindergarten!!
Well, it finally happened. My baby girl is now officially in school. She had such a fun day and even made a new friend, Olivia. While it was a little sad to see her walk down the hall, Doug and I were filled with pride and hope, knowing she is well-equipped to learn, succeed and be happy. She's such a remarkable little girl and an enormous blessing in our lives.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
She's walking!!!
Our sweet little Mallory started walking two days ago. It's so cute because she looks like a walking infant (she's in the 3rd percentile for weight). She just made up her mind to do it and never looked back. Jilly loves how she always walks to her first, and Griffin is annoyed that she can now get into his stuff faster ;) I can't believe her first birthday is right around the corner (9/25). Her first year has flown by waaaaaaaay too fast. But I guess the quote from Barbara Kingsolver is true. "It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't."
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Eagle has landed...
After a year of hard work, Doug finished making the kids' pedal plane today. It's a wooden, totally handmade, Christen Eagle with a working stick and tail wheel. He even made the tail number N4JGM (For Jillian, Griffin, Mallory). The kids (and myself) have been waiting anxiously for months to see it completed. They were beyond excited to take a test flight today, and they were NOT disappointed, complete with the begging and whining for another turn when the other was "flying." Even sweet little Mallory got a turn. She had no idea what to make of it but she grabbed the stick like a pro and smiled her precious smile :) The kids are so happy with their new plane. Now Doug wants a real one to park along side of it, ha ha! Even though he's the best daddy in the world and deserves it, I don't know if I see that happening, but I guess it never hurts to dream, right?!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
I read this when I need a little perspective...
A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome -- that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you.''
OK.
One of these days you'll explode and shout to the kids, "Why don't you grow up and act your age?"
......and they will.
OR:
"You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do. And don't slam the door!"
......and they don't.
You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way.''
.......and it will.
You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company.''
.....and you'll eat it alone.
You'll say: "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do your hear?''
.....and you'll have it.
No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.
No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.
No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.
No more clothespins under the sofa.
No more playpens to arrange a room around.
No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent
No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.
No more iron-on-patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.
Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it.
No baby sitter for New Year's Eve.
Washing only once a week.
Seeing a steak that isn't ground.
Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.
No PTA meetings.
No car pools.
No blaring radios.
No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.
Having your own roll of Scotch tape.
No more dandelion bouquets.
Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.
No more sloppy oatmeal kisses.
No more tooth fairy.
No giggles in the dark.
No knees to heal, no responsibility.
Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?'' and the silence echoing,
"I did."
by Erma Bombeck
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I miss them already
My parents were here for a 3 week visit recently and the time flew by way too fast. A 3 week trip is short for them, it's usually more like 5-6 weeks! We had so much fun in that time though. I swear we were busy doing Washington-type stuff almost every day! There is just so much beauty here, it's almost impossible to go somewhere and not be amazed. Below are some pictures of our adventures.
My Dad trying to keep Griffin from chasing the 2 fawns
Griffy and my dad on the east coast of Whidbey
My mom with the kids - we were out stretching our legs on a road trip along the Skagit River
After Jillian's ballet recital I have the sweetest parents - so willing to help out with the cooking, laundry, cleaning, and they never tire of playing horses with Jilly (Doug and I are pretty worn out on that one!). Their visits are always fun and always seem too short. Poor Jilly cried for an hour after they left :( They plan on coming out again for the November birthdays (Griffin's, Jilly's, mine and my dad's) so we have that to look forward to. I know Jilly will be counting the days till they're back!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Busy, busy, busy!
I haven't written much lately because we've been so busy having fun with my parents here. My mom finally got the go-ahead from her Dr. to do some traveling so they flew up 2 weeks ago just in time to get here for Jilly's recital (I need to post about that too). Jilly was thrilled they were able to make it. So, for the last 2 weeks we've been doing all the fun Whidbey Island stuff - touring the quaint towns of Coupeville, Anacortes and Langley, walking the beautiful beaches, visiting State parks, picking the very abundant berries that grow here, shopping, eating yummy seafood and next week we're driving to Mt. Baker to do some sight-seeing, hiking and picnicking. We've been blessed with clear and cool, sunny days and gorgeous views of the mountains lately. The weather here isn't always nice (that should be WA's real state motto) so I'm glad it's been cooperating for my parent's visit! I really need to post some pics, but I'll get around to that after they leave. Today we're off the the tide pools of Rosario Beach, a favorite spot of my kiddos. I can't wait!!!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Take 2
Well, I had a nice long post about babies and their innocence and the love and joy they bring, but unfortunately I accidentally closed the tab in which I was working, and voila, it was gone. UGH! Anyway, instead of trying to recall what I was thinking (my brain is mush lately) I thought I'd just gather some of my favorite quotes about babies and families. They always bring a smile to my face, and sometimes a tear to my eye.
Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. Elizabeth Stone
If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
Vincent van Gogh
People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one.
Leo J. Burke
I can't think why mothers love them. All babies do is leak at both ends.
Douglas Feaver
A baby is born with a need to be loved -- and never outgrows it.
Frank A. Clark
Father asked us, "What was God's noblest work?" Anna said, "Men", but I said "Babies". Men are often bad, but babies never are.
Louisa May Alcott
A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
Author Unknown
A baby is an inestimable blessing and bother.
Mark Twain
Babies are always more trouble than you thought -- and more wonderful.
Charles Osgood
A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. She can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves, yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.
Alan Marshall Beck
Having a baby changes the way you view your in-laws. I love it when they come to visit now. They can hold the baby and I can go out.
Matthew Broderick
Children reinvent your world for you.
Susan Sarandon
Families with babies and families without babies are sorry for each other.
Ed Howe
It is the nature of babies to be in bliss.
Deepak Chopra
It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.
Barbara Kingsolver
Even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections, children tend to be sticky.
Fran Lebowitz
People often ask me, "What's the difference between couplehood and babyhood?" In a word? Moisture. Everything in my life is now more moist. Between your spittle, your diapers, your spit-up and drool, you got your baby food, your wipes, your formula, your leaky bottles, sweaty baby backs, and numerous other untraceable sources--all creating an ever-present moistness in my life, which heretofore was mainly dry.
Paul Reiser
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Getting ready for her big day
Jillian's ballet recital is just around the corner (July 2nd) and today was picture day. It's so bittersweet. We love seeing our little girl do big girl stuff, but it's hard watching her grow. It feels like last week we were driving her home from the hospital to our house on Ellsworth. Time has been flying way too fast lately and I can't believe it's recital time again. Where did the last year go? While I may not know where the time has gone, I know I've enjoyed every minute of it with my sweet Jilly girl.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Oh great...
so here it is - our family blog. One more thing to keep track of and update, but hopefully it will be fun and allow our friends and family to keep up to date on what's keeping us busy.
Check back soon!
