Where is our home?

Our little life is fun but different. I get looks of confusion every time new people we meet try to figure out where we live.
Here is a typical conversation -
Other Person: "So, where are you from?"
Me: "Well, we came from Colorado and have a house there we are renting out."
Them: "So you will go back there?"
Me: "Someday, but not for a while."
Them: "So then where are you going?"
This is where I hesitate - it sounds too dreamy or something. Like I'm being prideful or boasting - but I want to be honest too. But I certainly feel spoiled that the honest truth does sound dreamy.
Me: "We'll we are going to Hawaii and South East Asia before we spend the summer back in Colorado with family."
Them: "So you will move back to Colorado?"
Me: "Kind of, were just there for the summer and then going back to Hawaii for the school year for me to work in the schools. Our goal is to live in Colorado and Hawaii."
Them: "That sounds nice. Why do you want to be all over the place?"
Me: "Partly because we enjoy traveling and partly because that is how we've figured out how to make our finances work."

Of course the answer to the last question is quite a bit more complicated, travel and finances kind of sums it up. Seems strange that traveling around can be more financially stable than not? I guess it is mostly true - but it is also true that we could buckle down, try to find jobs somewhere and be stationary. But then we'd loose all our flexibility - one location, Aaron possibly being salary and working 50-60 hours a week and little vacation time. So we must choose between stationary, stable and committed or flexible but somewhat unknown. Right now it is taking both of us to make things work for insurance and finances. Aaron can work from anywhere and has been really blessed with plenty of work for his business. I can find contract or PRN work almost anywhere and make more money doing that kind of work. More money for less time is very appealing at this stage in life. So right now we are choosing flexible and adventurous over stationary. We really feel our hearts belong in two places - Colorado and Hawaii, but to make this possible we have to be a fair bit more flexible.

Although it is a bit of a crazy life and certainly strange and very foreign to most people - it is a life we like. Everyday I'm very thankful that Autumn goes with the flow and is happy where ever we are! The best thing about the little adventure we started at Christmas time, is that everywhere we have been and will be going includes really great friends and family! Sharing life and experiences with those you love is really what life is all about! Well, second to following what Christ has for us! We are excited to see how God will use our flexibility in this life to serve Him. We do not have a clear picture or calling, but are ready to follow what he lays before us each step of the way.

It will be interesting how this life will turn out and where home will eventually be! What will we do for school for our children? What will work look like when we fall into more of a pattern of living in both places? Where will we live? Will we try to buy a home in both places? Time will tell our story!

Christchurch Update

Christchurch has a special place in my heart. During a semester abroad in 2003, I lived about 10 miles outside of the city - but we spent a lot if time in town at the park, at coffee shops, shopping and such. It is such a beautiful city with truly lovely people. Seeing the City Center in rubble breaks my heart. I still have several friends that live in and around Christchurch - all of which are okay. Please continue to pray for the city - here is an email sent today by my friends that live just outside of the city.


Here's an update on the current situation in Christchurch, and our part in it. It is two weeks yesterday since the earthquake struck, and very obviously it is still a very big part of everyone's life here. Aftershocks are continuing on a more or less regular basis, and some of these have been fairly strong, with an occasional one up to about 5.0. After the first quake in September more than 5,000 aftershocks were recorded so I guess we are in for quite a few more yet. While most do no damage, they are nevertheless unnerving and emotionally draining.
We escaped lightly from the quake. This time round we had more damage than in September, with some movement of the house, cracks (mostly hairline) in both outside and inside walls, and doors not shutting. The concrete area in front of the garage also has a few new cracks. Our biggest problem was a burst water main pipe into the house. This prevented us from having a continual supply of water, but we could turn it on for short periods to have a quick shower or do some washing or flush the toilets. This has now been fixed so we're back to normal in this regard, though still boil all drinking water. Our electric power and sewerage system were unaffected.

Tim's house on the other side of town (Avondale) is a mess. It has multiple serious cracks and still has no power, water or sewerage. 98% of the city has power and water and about 80% has sewerage so his is right in the middle of the wrong place. There was also a lot of liquefaction (sand and silt coming up through the ground) in that part of the city and it took a couple of days to wheelbarrow it from his property onto the road, from where it was later removed by the city council. At this stage Tim is still living in his home while he awaits assessment by structural engineers. I would not be surprised if the house is deemed not repairable.

At the moment the death toll stands at 166, but this is expected to rise to nearer 200. Several of these were overseas students who were studying in a language college that collapsed. An estimated 800 buildings in the Central Business District are flattened or so badly damaged that they will have to be demolished. The centre of the city will remain out of action for several months. While there is a lot of work to be done before final decisions are made, many houses will have to be demolished as well. Currently they think about 10,000 will be involved.

Many thousands of residents have left the city, mostly on a temporary basis though some have permanently relocated. About 500 university students have gone to Australia to do their first term or semester of studies. Some schools have reopened, some are awaiting repair, and others will need to be replaced. This has caused huge problems regarding schooling. Some students have been relocated to schools that are open, other schools are sharing facilities with one school using the premises in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Many businesses have been lost and about 9,000 people have lost their jobs. Several churches were also destroyed.

While many are understandably traumatized by the events, the people generally are in good heart. There has been tremendous pulling together to get done what needs to be done. Several thousand students mobilised and took their spades and wheelbarrows to remove liquefaction from people's properties. Churches and other groups are daily providing thousands of meals for those without power or water. And many people from around the country are also helping in many ways. Providing free accommodation for those who need a break away, fund raising, etc.

You will doubtless have seen much of what has happened on TV. I understand that, as is to be expected, the most dramatic of pictures and scenes are the ones that have been given the greatest prominence. While these are true, life continues, though in a rather different and more restricted way. We will get over it, however long that might take, but in the meantime we appreciate your continued concern and prayers.

Here is a rather dramatic photo taken of the city just moments after the earthquake struck.

1 and a half!

Wow! Autumn you are one and a half and time is not slowing down! We have had a fun month - your last one living on the Palouse. We moved out of the Farm house and back in with the Watsons. We spent a weekend in the mountains and lakes of Northern Idaho and you and mommy drove to Olympia to see our friends Oli, Laine and Kevin. You were a trooper - we were in the car for 6 1/2 hours, sat at the shipping dock for 2 hours, in the airport for another 2 and flew back and you never shed a tear. We stopped in south Seattle and walked around the mall and ate at the Rain Forest Cafe! You loved all the monkeys and birds up in the trees and got to sit next to the fish tank for dinner.

In general your life is pretty similar to last month except that we have been sick the last week and so you have spent extra time with mommy. You have spent many days playing with Kaitlin and Mara and really missed them while they were out of town for the weekend. I told you they'd be back on Sunday and when they got here you excitedly said "Mar back!" Hopefully you will get well soon and be able to play with them again before we move.

The TV: You continue to love Elmo - no other monster or character catches your eye quite like Elmo. We have been letting you watch your Elmo movie more often and you seem to really be able to follow what is going on. You have also become interested in watching the TV when we are watching something as well, which you never used to do. It is interesting to hear what you have to say about it. Daddy was watching Karate Kid and you kept saying eye, eye when the little girl and boy were shown. Below you are holding the $2 Elmo we scored at the goodwill.


New Skills: Your interest of the month has been clothing. Taking it on, off, doing zippers, snaps ... One morning instead of waking and crying you took your pajamas and diaper off. You really like working the zippers on your jamies and jackets and want to be able to start them. Last week I was trying to get you dressed and you took your clothes to the step, sat down and tried to put them on yourself. You would not let me help you. You were able to string your legs into the holes, but finally accepted my help to pull them up. The shirt - well, we just left it off for a while because you couldn't get it on and wouldn't let me help. One of the babies has a dress on and you've been unsnapping it, removing it and then asking me to put it "back on."
You've mastered your 26 piece letter puzzle. It totally amazes me that you are able to locate where all the letters go and you can also pick up many letters and know which picture goes with it. If you pick up the M you say milk, W you say wagon, L you say lion... I'm not quite sure what is next for puzzles as I think the next step is large set in jig saw pieces - maybe we'll give it a whirl just to see!

Language: You continue to explode with your vocabulary. We were at the store and you label things as we walk by them - bread, apple, cado (avocado), sawbeay (strawberry) ... it was so cute. You talk in 2-4 word sentences and try to repeat us all day. You also went through a strong 'no' week. Saying 'no' to everything - it was usually a fairly nice no, but we are glad it has worn off a bit. You said "I lub you" for the first time on Valentines and say"baby lub," which is what I call you. You enjoy saying "bye bye and night night" to everything.

Sleeping: You went through a couple week streak of taking 3-4 hour naps most days, but now you have a cold and napping has become a challenge again. It is also fairly common that you will play with your books and babies in your crib 30-60 minutes before falling asleep. You are sleeping most of the way through the night again, only occasionally do you need cuddles around 4am and then will sleep until 6:30 or 7:30.

Autumn you are such a joy and adventurous spirit! We love watching you figure out this world! This next couple of months you are going to see so many new things - we will be traveling to Maui, Big Island, Thailand, Myanmar, Oahu and Molokai!! We can't wait to enjoy the beaches, ocean waves, new foods and good friends with you!

Biggest Hugs and Kisses,
Mommy and Daddy

Too Many Details...

Details - so many details... Although I complain none that we are getting to travel all over, even with a toddler - my brain stays up at night spinning through the details and trying to work them out. What paperwork do I need to ship our car, which car seat should I take where, will our passports get back from the Embassy of Myanmar in time, how can we have our computers in Kona but not take them to SE Asia when we will not be returning to Kona, what stuff should we leave where, how will I get to the airport when I drop off the car, what has been paid for and what has not, where will we be each night and how are we getting there, will the new noise that the mechanic can't figure out in the car we are shipping on Sunday please go away, when are we going to have time to do our taxes . . .

We will be living out of 2 rolling suitcases and a diaper bag for 45 days. I'm so ready for the warmth and adventure and I'm also ready to have my brain take a break from so many details. We have 17 more days here in Pullman, 9 more days working at the nursing home. I'm ready to only have Autumn and my part time job of planning life - not my full time job and the other 2. I'm maybe getting a bit tired and cranky (-:

Haiti

This is a blog on Haiti that I follow - here is a powerful post on children who are thriving!
http://brittanyinhaiti.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-year-later.html

Take Offs and Touch Downs

This is evidence of the craziness that is about to begin! We will be traveling partly for business and mostly for pleasure starting here soon. Oahu to Bangkok is on Frequent Flier miles. Starting Feb 28 Autumn and I drive to Tacoma and then fly back from Seattle to Pullman. In Mid-March we start our tour of Hawaii and Asia from 'Pullman to Maui via Seattle,' 'Maui to Kona,' 'Kona to Bangkok via Oahu, Tokyo and Beijing,' 'Bangkok to Krabi,' 'Krabi to Yangon via Bangkok,' 'Yangon to N. Myanmar and back to Yangon,' 'Yangon to Bangkok,' 'Bangkok to Oahu via Tokyo,' Oahu to Molokai for a day and then on to Maui,' 'Maui to Pullman via Seattle'. In Late April we drive to Colorado and then go visit family in Baltimore in Mid May.

Opps... I had said 23 but it is only 22 take offs and landings!

17 Months

Baby girl - you are looking more like a little girl everyday! This has been a fun month full of physical growth and huge gains in your vocabulary and other skills! Everyday we are amazed by what you understand and the things you can do.

A typical week - you spend 2-3 days a week with Aunty Kaitlin and Mara, Mommy has you Wednesdays and weekends and Daddy plays with you 1-2 days a week. Mommy and Daddy are working a lot right now.

The first half of the month we were living with the Watson's and now we are staying with a nice family on a farm outside of town for 4 weeks. You really enjoy all of them - including their puppy Buddy and Kitty! You are still a champ when it comes to transitions - you really enjoy yourself and exploring where ever you are.


This month your language exploded - you repeat everything and are able to tell us many things. I can't even begin to list your new words because there are too many. You really love us reading to you and you have more patience to let us read the pages before you need to turn them. Your over all patience and ability to wait has improved as well. When we ask you to - you can say "help please" "good night" "thank you" and many other 2 word phrases. Your other new interest is puzzles. About a month ago you did your first set in puzzle totally independently and so I bought you a 26 piece alphabet puzzle thinking it would be challenge for months. Today you put in about 10 of the letters by yourself and totally amazed me! You can have so much fun entertaining yourself. After you were done with dinner tonight, you went into the living room and played with your toys until we were done as well. After diner you brought all the letters from the puzzle and slid them through a tiny crack in the doors one at a time - and then sent them all back into the living room under the door! You do have an agenda!

You have a new love as well - although babies are still a hot item - your love for Elmo grows! So funny of all the characters - why Elmo? Uncle Phil got you a Elmo video and you enjoy the occasional treat of getting to watching it! In addition to watching Elmo, you love to Skype with your grandparents and watch the videos I made of your first year. The computer just became even more appealing - you run up to it thinking someone might be there to talk back to you!

That growth spurt we were hoping for happened! Your shirts are getting to short and you now weight 21 1/2 pounds! Favorite foods - berries, pasta, rice, organic mac and cheese, juice (whole milk/juice), avocado, yogurt, cheese, pizza, cheese straws, peanut butter, peanut butter crackers, kiwi, oranges, apple sauce, olives

Sleeping - you have become a power napper! One Sunday you even took a 3 hour nap! We love it! At night you do okay - but still occasionally wake up 1x needing cuddles before falling back asleep. Since we hop around so much right now I always go check on you if you are crying at night and let you know we are here. About once a week you really fight going to bed with screaming, but eventually fall asleep. Sometimes a pep talk after a few minutes of crying will settle you down to fall asleep peacefully. Lately when it is time for bed you stall by asking to 'eat, eat, eat.' I will take you down for yogurt or avocado before your bedtime story and song. I really don't think you are hungry and just stalling bedtime - but it is more calories!

Time out - we started implementing time outs this month. Although you are a very well behaved little girl, you do occasionally take thing from Mara or disobey and short time outs seem to work to let you know what behavior is not okay.

About a week ago your 5th grade friend was playing with you and came in saying you need to go potty? Then you came in too and said 'potty' - so I took you in and you peed on the potty! So far it has been a one time occurrence, but maybe a glimpse into the near future I hope. I'm also trying to teach you to pinch your nose when you poop to let us know that we need to change you, as right now you don't let us know and don't stink - which is not so good on your skin )-:

Baby Girl - we are so so so proud of you and love you so so so so much! You are so much fun, full of spunk and energy! One more month and you will be a one and a half year old! Totally crazy!

Hugs and Kisses -
Momma and Daddy

And a special thank you to my Iphone photographer! (-:

Parenting

After discussing parenting tonight - I continue to ponder and pray about my roll as a mother. Up until the last few months, my roll has been to love and care. Showing Autumn she can trust me to care for all of her basic needs. It is a wonderful thing, easy to enjoy simply pouring out love and soaking in cuddles. Then the will... first it was a look, "the don't you dare take that from me" look. Then the stiff body protesting getting into the carseat, the yelling, then the tantrum, now the "no, no, no!"

This parenting thing is tough and I know it has only just begun. I'll be honest, my mind already jumps to the future and dreads the teen years. (I've dreaded parenting the teen years since I was a teen) Then my mind jumps back to the present - how can I help Autumn be safe, honest, caring, compassionate, loving, faithful... She understands nearly everything I say now, but her ability to follow through, go against her own desires and obey is very very difficult. She has my personality - she is strong willed and curious. Safety is far from her first priority (since she is far too young to predict or understand many consequences) and she is so mobile. Yesterday she got my mascara off the counter and put it on (daddy got to clean that one up - sorry). The other day she fell off the edge of the couch reaching for a desired item. I can tell her a 100+ times not to touch the buttons on the room heaters and she forgets I'm in the room and starts pushing the buttons and startles when I get after her. Ahh........

I say this not because I think she is a bad kiddo, but because I'm realizing that setting boundaries and expectations is so hard and she is going to explore, push and learn. Being 100% consistent is so important, yet impossible. Keeping her safe is difficult. I try hard - but I'm merely practicing, I haven't done this before. We will butt heads and I will make mistakes.

My hope is that we come out in 18 years relatively un-scared - both physically and emotionally. That she becomes a God fearing, loving, compassionate, honest, caring member of society. That I learn and grow in love, patience, and peace.

Children have the ability to bring joy unspeakable and pain deeper than the sea. They will make us proud to call them our own. They will make poor choices that will bring tears and sadness. Lord help us in this journey - we need you foremost.

My Parenting Prayer -
Lord build my faith so you will be the focus of our family.
Lord help me to give you credit for all things so my children see you around them.
Lord help us to be honest so we can meet each others needs.
Lord teach us how you love so that we may love each other more wholly.
Help me to be kind and firm in my discipline so my children will know right from wrong.
Lord help me grant grace and patience- to my children as they learn and for myself when I make mistakes.
Help me to learn, love, laugh and become the parent you want me to be. Amen.

Why I Love Blogging

Blogging: A blog (a blend of the term web log)^[1] is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

To me blogging is both the creation of my own online journal and the reading of others. My own blog is a way for me to journal about my life for my own record, keep family up to date and interact with my friends.

Additionally, almost every night I come to blogger.com to check and see if anyone has written a post I'd be interested in. Most of the blogs I follow are friends, but I also follow a couple of missionaries and other topical blogs that interest me. Through written updates, pictures and video clips I maintain contact and get to know my friends in a way that is otherwise not possible. I'm often encouraged in my walk with Christ from others posts and am able to pray for needs that I may have otherwise not known about! I also learn new things about parenting, crafts, cooking or what ever happens to be on other people's minds. Like tonight I learned about how cutting diary has helped several mommies significantly reduce the fussiness of their babies and read a verse on God's comfort that is very applicable in my life right now too.

So to those of you who are in my blog world - thank you - I appreciate all of you! We are in this journey of life together!! (-:

Chai Gingerbread Bars

I made these tonight and they are heavenly!! From a friend of mines food blog: http://mytabletheirtable.blogspot.com

2 cups of whole wheat flour

1 tsp of allspice

1 tsp of cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp of ground ginger

1 1/2 tsp of Chai tea leaves (about 3 tea bags worth)

1/2 tsp of baking soda

1/2 tsp of salt

1 cup of butter, softened

1 cup of dark brown sugar

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

2 whole eggs

1 tsp of vanilla

1/4 cup of molasses

1 TBS of fresh ginger, minced

1/2 cup of golden raisins

Sift together the flour, allspice, cinnamon, ground ginger, tea leaves, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until smooth. Add in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides as needed. Add in the molasses, vanilla, and ginger. Combine until the mixture is smooth. Slowly add in the flour mixture. Once combined, add in the raisins. Grease a 9"x13" baking pan (I like to use the paper from the butter). Spread the batter evenly in the pan. Bake at 350degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack completely before cutting. These bars are best cold, honestly! Enjoy!

More Fat Please!

For most of my life I have tried to figure out how to shop for low fat foods. Although I have always fed Autumn high fat foods, her weight gain had been minimal between 12-15 months and we have been trying to figure out how to add calories to her diet! After cruising the grocery store and reading up, these are the things we have tried to add to her wholesome diet!

She will not drink milk - so after several attempts of adding coco, vanilla, warming it... I thought I would try adding half and half to her orange juice that she loves! White juice was born - she downs it no problem and sometimes I've even been adding heavy cream instead of 1/2 and 1/2. I tried it - it tastes like a creamsicle.
Half and Half - 1 Tablespoon = 20 calories, 1.73 g fat
Heavy Cream - 1 Tablespoon = 51 calories, 5.5 g fat

Butter - on anything!! Mixed in the pasta, added to eggs, on toast, in potatoes, on vegies

Coconut butter is a tasty treat I found at the food Coop here. 1 Tablespoon = 57 calories, 5 g fat I add it to peanut butter on toast or mix in warm oatmeal.

Peanut butter - goes on crackers, on toast, in applesauce, in yogurt - anything really! 1 Tablespoon = 94 calories, 8 g fat

Higher Fat Yogurts -
Greek Gods Pomegranate - 6oz = 230 calories, 17 g fat
Dannon naturals plain yogurt - 8oz = 160 calories, 8 g fat (reasonably priced at Walmart)
Fage Total Greek Yogurt - 8 oz = 300 calories, 23 g fat

I feed her yogurt plain, with applesauce, and in oatmeal.

Cheese - on whole grain pasta, plain, on crackers, cream cheese, cottage cheese... I've even caved and started feeding her natural mac and cheese. She loves it! Aaron made it with 1/2 and 1/2 instead of milk.

Confessions of an obsessive mother: I've had to break some of my rules to increase her diet - mostly in the area of sugar. Up until 3 weeks ago I had tried not to feed her anything with processed sugar, not even cane sugar - only plain yogurt, no sweet treats (cookies, ice cream...). She had plenty of fructose and other sugars found naturally in fruits and vegetables. The flavored yogurts I'm now feeding her, have cane sugar in them and because she has started asking for them when we are eating them, I let her have bites of cookies/ice cream every now and then. I still plan to keep her sugar intake as small as possible, but am trying to be less neurotic about it. I had also decided I didn't want her having processed crackers - and found that rice cakes and veggie straws had way fewer and more natural ingredients. However in the quest to up the calories - I'm now feeding her cheddar whales and ritz crackers as well.

16 months

Sweet Girl! Another month has slip by and you continue to be the joy of our lives! Much has changed in our life as a family and you just roll with the punches! In the last month we packed up our house in Loveland, celebrated your 2nd Christmas and traveled to Washington state to live for a short time. Your daddy and granddad drove our cars and you and I flew on an airplane from Aspen. You hardly noticed all the change as each day the house became more and more empty. As long as there were some toys or tubberware or boxes to play with you were happy.
We moved out on the 23rd and spent 2 nights with the Grandma and Papa and then with the Lyon's enjoying Christmas! You got lots of fun toys - and even screamed in excitement when you opened a learning turtle from Grandma and Papa and the baby from Heather and Todd. You are busy busy busy - playing with this, hiding that, asking for "dat" and running around! Christmas afternoon we drove to Nana and Papa's for a relaxed Christmas evening and more spoilage! The next day Great Grandpa and Grandma came to visit and spend time with you.
We are now in a new place and you have adjust well. I would even say you have a better routine here, which is nice! You now take a mid-morning nap and then sometimes another one before dinner. Other than mommy having to wake you up to feed you before work, you are sleeping at night like a champ! The Watson's are generously sharing their home with us for a few weeks and then we will be with another family for 5 weeks. While mommy is working full time, Daddy has you 2 days a week and you spend 2 days with Kaitlin and Mara! We are so blessed that you are happy where ever we are!

You had your 15 month check up - not our best visit. The doctor is worried that you are not gaining enough weight and you had an ear infection and had to be put on antibiotics. You had not showed any signs of sore ears - so I'm glad that we happened to be going to the doctor's office. We are not worried about your weight and expect you will have another growth spurt soon! We are also trying to boost your diet with more calories. You now drink 'white juice' (heavy cream and Orange Juice), we add butter, coconut butter and cheese to everything! You ate so much before that it is amazing that you are still hanging out at around 18 pounds - avocados, full fat Greek yogurt and cheese ... lots of food for a busy girl! Keep up the good work - you like most of the food we give you!


Firsts: First train ride (Glenwood Springs to Denver on the Amtrak), first time playing outside in your snowsuit, first time allowed eating treats like bites of cookies and a bite of ice cream, first time on antibiotics (which you loved thank goodness - but after the last dose you got hives, so just like mommy - no penicillin for you!), first time feeding Llamas (with Kaitlin and Mara).


Words! Many new words including bart (barette), butt (button), eat, nun (done), side, tutl (turtle), kiki (kiwi), shoes (which sounds like juice), no, dat (that), Mama (Mara), Elmo (super clear!), buk (book), cheese, kitty, eye, dee (diaper), kiss, dun (down), nada(banana), dow (door),baat (bath), own (phone), ion (Lion), beep (sheep), tee(teeth) .. and others!

Things you love - babies are still at the top of the list, but since moving, Elmo is a new favorite - yesterday in the car you said "Momma?" I said "Yes Autumn," you said "Elmo!" You love to play with your shoes - the third day we were here you took all your socks and shoes and put them on the 2nd stair. You like order - you fix the rugs if they are flipped up. You LOVE Mara's booster seat - for some reason it is far superior to your own. You also love juice and luckily your white juice too!!! You love to knock on daddy's office door! You love the bath - you splish and splash and blow bubbles.


Current interests: Babies, Elmo and Cookie Monster, electronics - remotes, phones, anything with buttons, a foam elmo book, scribbling, swinging, observing, running, being tickled, shoes, climbing, Mara's high chair.

Difficulties this month - you are cutting like 6 teeth (including 3 first molars) and although you are not supper fussy you started biting me )-: You lean into kiss or give goobers and then chomp chomp. You have also continued to become more opinionated about things and throw an occasional fit about things like not wanting to get dressed, or when you get into things you should not be getting into and we remove you, and other not so fun moments. You are also having a hard time sharing - you want everything Mara has in her hands - slowly you are learning to ask please and give her things to play with. You also get pretty jealous if daddy or I are holding baby Mara, but you are getting better.

Although we have hard moments, you are one amazing and wonderful girl! You are learning and picking things up so quickly - watching you grow up is so much fun! We love you very much and are so proud to be your momma and daddy!!!!

Nursing Home

Well, I just finished my first 4 day in a row stretch of working since June 2009. It wasn't bad - my job is very rewarding even though it is hard work. For another 9 weeks I will be at a SNF (nursing home) in Colfax helping elderly people gain independence.

Hardest Moments of the last 7 days:
Having Autumn cry at the door as I leave and then peer out the windows to watch me drive away.
Having Autumn scream Mommy at the top of her lungs when I hand her off to Aaron at O dark thirty in the morning and have to leave.
Today having my client with a neurological disorder cry because he no longer is well enough to live with his wife or care for himself.
Watching clients decline in function or give up.
Foul odors.

Best Moments (at work):
Being asked to be the primary OT by a family and then the mom said - "if you'd have been here 2 months ago he'd already be doing all these things."
Conversations with clients about their families and lives.
Being told I look 16 by a funny woman (-:
Watching clients gain independence and confidence in order to return home.

2010 Recap

What an amazingly blessed year the Lord gave us! A year of many unexpected changes and a lot of fun! It was our first year start to finish with a little one and it has been absolutely amazing watching her grow and change into a little toddler!

We started the year out with Aaron working for a small marketing company and me thinking about going back to work 12-16 hours a week. By the end of January God heavily changed our path - Aaron quit his job to start a Web Services Company and I went to work at the hospital down the street PRN. After working 2 days the primary therapist tore his ACL and I could pick up as many hours a week as I wanted (I tried to work less than 3).

In early February we all flew out to Portland for Aaron to attend a Business as Missions conference while Autumn and I checked out the city. For many years we have felt that God may lead us overseas and it was good for Aaron to see and hear first hand how Business and Missions are being used to reach people across the world. Autumn and I also got to spend an afternoon hanging out with a friend and her son along the river and down town.



In March we decide to commit to spending a weekend a month in Glenwood Springs where my parents live with me working PRN at the hospital. It was nice to do lunch with my mom at work a couple of times and we always enjoy the time spent in the beautiful canyon. Nana spoils us, Granddad takes us to the hot springs and red mountain is out the windows! We are also able to help a little bit around their house with projects.

In May Aaron's paternal Grandma Vi went to be with the Lord. We were able to travel to Montana to attend the memorial and visit Aaron's loving family and even meet some family I had not yet met.

June began the summer of travel! On the same day my nephew was born in Maryland, Autumn and I flew together to Washington to celebrate the birth of Mara and honor Grace's 2nd birthday. In July Autumn and I hit the airport again together to see her new cousin Eric! We had a fabulous time relaxing, helping out and also getting to go to the national zoo and fun pub in DC. In August we hit the road as a family! First family road trip - we saw so much, visited many friends and even froze a few nights together (-: Zion to Vegas to Death Valley to Yosemite to Tahoe to Redwood to the Oregon coast to Olympia to Rainer to Pullman to Montana to Yellowstone and home again!


September we celebrated Autumn's first birthday in Hawaiian style and collected 2 full boxes of generous donations to take to the local pregnancy center. A few days later we caught an airplane to Hawaii!!! We dream of being able to share our love of the warm Hawaiian ocean with our children! Autumn absolutely loved the water - hanging from a Va'a splashing, playing on the SUP, running on the beach and into the waves! We all had so much fun and enjoyed all our friends that we miss so so so much!!



October rolled in the second Wacky Warmers season and then until Christmas is a bit of a blur. Aaron has been staying very busy with his work, I continued to work 2 days a week at the hospital in Loveland and doing 1 weekend a month in Glenwood and I some how made about 400-500 hats! I will admit this was done in the wee hours of the night or occasionally with baby sitters - as Autumn is a full time job when she is awake! (-; Aaron and grandparents graciously helped with Autumn while I did 6 craft shows. I learned a lot, bought a serger and will figure out a Wacky Warmer game plan when I get back in 2012.

Until 2012? In about October we sealed our plans to take off again. God lined everything up so nicely - as of right now we plan to be here in Pullman, WA until mid-March, in Hawaii mid-March to mid-April, in Thailand and Myanmar for 12 days, back in Colorado May until mid-July and then on a school contract in Hawaii for the 2011-12 school year. Each stage has it's own purpose - all in all it is a kind of unusual way to live - but we enjoy the life style and it helps to meet our life and financial goals.

We moved out of our home the 23rd and spent a couple of days celebrating Christmas with Aaron's family. We then drove to Glenwood on Christmas day and spend a couple of days resting and relaxing with my parents. On the 27th Aaron and my dad drove our 2 cars to Washington and Autumn and I flew out of Aspen (which was the same price as flying out of Denver - crazy) on the 29th to meet Aaron in Spokane and drive to our new temporary home! We are so so so so grateful to the Watsons for taking us in for awhile! I started work on Wednesday and will be working 32-40 hours a week for 10 1/2 weeks at a local Skilled Nursing Facility. As all travel jobs have been - it is sure to be an adventure!! Besides the somewhat scary winter drive - the rehab manager resigned and had his last day Thursday and the other OT put her resignation in on Friday! Pray for me (-:

Happy New Year!!! God Bless 2011!!!

Moving on...

Another transition - always exciting and yet quite a bit of work (to narrow a whole house down to what fits in a single car and pack and clean). I kind of thought that after the floors were steam cleaned and we left the house I would feel instant relief or the excitement of change. I don't know if it was because we drove straight to family Christmas time or that there is still a bit of work before we get Aaron and my dad on the road to Washington or that I will be working full time until early March? Or maybe it isn't really feeling real yet - or maybe it is more routine than I would like to admit . We have packed up a home and moved 5 times in the last 4 years.

On our drive to Glenwood Springs last night Aaron and I tried to wrap our heads around what the next 18 months will hold. Getting to spend some precious and rare time with my best friend from grad school, taking Autumn overseas for the first time, and preparing to and hoping to grow our family of 3 to 4. One foot forward into the adventure - we really hope to fully enjoy and appreciate each step of the journey.

Here we go.... Aaron leaves tomorrow and Autumn and I will join him in Washington Tuesday!

15 Months

Autumn - you are growing into quite the fun and energetic little girl! Everyday you act and look more like a little girl and less like a baby! We are so proud of your determined, busy, curious and loving little self!!

Foods - you pretty much eat everything that we do if it is safe for you. You still prefer fruits, yogurt and cheese - you even loved the pomegranates and cranberries the other day. Right now you prefer to eat about 1/2 your meal in your booster and then 1/2 of it while sitting in our lap. This works with the cleaner food and not so well when you have sauces, peanut butter or anything else messy all over you and us. You also think it is very funny to feed us your food! You are still quite the eater some days and it is surprising that you are still only 19 pounds! Guess it is all that running around that you are doing!

Potty - this month you peed and pooped in the potty!! Sometimes you give indication that you might be needing to use the potty and so we put you up on it. You now enjoy flushing way more than sitting on the seat - might as well get you familiar with the idea!

Bath time - you are a very clean little girl. You love to be in the water and get a bath most nights and then if you can, you insist on crawling in the tub to play with your toys while I shower.

Your favorites!
Babies, babies, babies - real ones, little ones, big ones, doll ones, every color and shape - they are your babies!! We let you sleep with bitty baby - a very small one that I don't worry about getting stuck near your face. But the other night you screamed and screamed and screamed because you didn't get to go to bed with all 3 babies you had been playing with - so I caved and let you fall asleep with them and then removed 2 of them! Right now we are in Estes Park with the Carver family and you are having so much fun looking at and bring things to your cousin Eric!


Zippers - getting into bags, your diaper bag, running the zipper on our duvet cover and shams, pulling zippers down on our sweatshirts and coats...

Books - you have just started a book (AKA ba) phase - you bring them to us and then turn around and sit on our legs, allow us to quickly read/turn through the pages and then go get another. Your favorites are Brown Bear Brown Bear and Shapes with Abigail.

Coloring/Pens/Pencils - unfortunately this often ends in tears because you get a hold of dangerous pens and pencils or start coloring on things that are not to be colored and we have to take them away )-: The other night you went from spot to spot laying down on your belly with a coloring book and crayon - I got pictures and then left that SD card in the reader at Safeway )-:



Music and River Dancing - you have the cutest little dance - it is stomp dancing, but still with a little rhythm! It gives us giggles and smiles every time! We have 2 toys on the refrigerator that when you push their buttons you get farm songs or the ABC's - you push them over and over and over and dance dance dance!!!

New words I can think of - even though we may be the only ones that know what you are saying - you are repeating us more and more! Orange, Copper, Grandma, Open, Down, Ban (banana)...

Opinions - so I'm not sure that 14 month olds should have opinions about what they wear - but sometimes I go to put an outfit on you and you shake your head - so we go pick another.



Agenda - you usually have a plan, we are not always sure what it is - but for example the other day you carried 2 blankets to a spot, went and got 3-4 babies to put on the blanket and then relocated them over and over. You also still enjoy taking things in and out - of anything - purses (now that the zipper is as easy!) , buckets, boxes, baskets... You also like to climb and get in a climbing mood to climb the chairs, on the coffee table, on boxes, steps...



Well... that is about it to describe this month! You also enjoyed your second Thanksgiving with your great grandparents!

We love you Autumn Bear!

Momma and Dada

With Thanksgiving!

Psalm 100:3-5

3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;his faithfulness continues through all generations.

More than a day, more than a moment - a life full of thanksgiving! That is my desire, not achieved... it has been far too easy to be caught up in busyness, rushing from one event, from work to play to work... and to forget to be thankful, completely full of thanks in my heart. To praise Him, my almighty God for all the things in my life - the awe inspiring moments that amaze me, the everyday good, the bad that builds character, and even for the grief that allows me to better see God's heart for the lost, broken and needy.

I have so much to be thankful for!! Amazing Grace from my Savior, my wonderful husband, my delightful daughter, great parents, loving family, really amazing friends, a warm home, ability to travel, health, jobs and so so so much more! God Bless your journey of thankfulness - a warm heart that gives gratitude in all things!!

Wacky Warmers

I haven't really blogged about the hats this year! Thought I might as well give my website some SEO link juice www.rockymountainwackywarmers.com (-:

I can not believe that I only have 3 shows left for the season! Craziness!!! Last January I had big dreams for this year - street vending in Denver at Bronco Games and Zoo lights, more craft fairs... then in February I took an OT job, my coworker went out with an injury and I picked up extra hours, then I took a job doing one weekend a month in Glenwood. Then we traveled most of the summer and zip zap - it was October!!! O-: Decided I better start sewing! I've been averaging about 50-100 hats a week since the second week of October and finally have a decent selection again! I think I've sold around 100 hats this year - and am hoping to sell that many or more this weekend in Windsor!! We shall see!

So although I didn't go big the season (-: We did get a professional looking website up, I'm doing about the same number of craft fairs and am hoping to come out a bit more ahead plus have a stash of fine fabric in the basement!!! (-:

14 Months

Another month has gone by - an unseasonably warm Oct/early November! This month was defined by 2 things - climbing and eating!

You have become quite the climber - one morning we turned our backs and you were in your high chair! This last week we have had to start putting the high chair on the table for safety. You love to climb on everything - you made it on top of the coffee table, the dining chairs and many a box. You are our little monkey and you scare me a little. Last week we borrowed a slide for the living room - you are in love with it - running around, climbing up and coming down. Yesterday you climbed up it backwards and today it was hard to convince you to sit at the top and you tried walking down it - this did not end well. Luckily you have not broken your arm or bloodied your nose - I'm hoping not, but that day may come.


This month you also started eating like a champ - you eat everything and lots of it! On several occasions you have had adult sized meals! I think you have grown quite a bit as well, but I haven't measured to see how much. Your favorite continues to be any type of fruit - top is raspberries, but you also really like cheese, eggs, veggie straws, yogurt and kumut puffs.

Other memorable things: You quit crying most nights at bed time when I put you down, you took a 2 1/2 hour nap at Sharon's - but hardly nap at home for us, you say day-day for thank you, bay bay for belly button, goo-goo for good girl (you are so proud of yourself!), mommy is super clear now, up ps for up please, eeee eee - for a monkey, ba ba ba ba - for a chicken, baa - banana - you love to gibber gabber all day long. You've started to hide - if I come to get you, your run and duck behind the bed or toy. You can buckle the car seat (not while you're in it), the high chair and dog harness, and undo most zippers. You opened a Ziploc bag, and love stuffing anything in and out of bags. You've started to sometimes notice when you potty - and sometimes come let us know you need changed.

Favorite things: Bath time, brushing your teeth, eating, climbing, running - it is so cute how you run from place to place in the house, milk, outside, kisses, exploring, getting into everything, helping with the laundry, music, being in mommies arms.
You loved going in the garden and picking tomatoes and cucumbers to eat! (-:

Least favorite things: Car seat, confinement, getting taken out of the high chair when you refuse to sit down, being put down if you don't want to be, some diaper changes.
On the only cold day of the month!

Autumn, you are growing so so so fast! We can't wait to see what the next month brings and all the new things you will be able to do and say!!

We love you so much!
Mommy and Dada

Crazy Time of Year!

A year ago I didn't really know what I was getting myself into! It is a fun little adventure and will be interesting what becomes of it all - but one thing is for sure - Wacky Warmers makes life crazy busy! Last year I had a 'sleeping' baby and no other jobs - this year I have a running, climbing, and very busy 14 month old, 2 jobs, applying for a third and packing the house up to move again! Yes - life is crazy! I should have been working on making hats all year - but couldn't get going on it until early October! So cut and sew hats after Autumn goes to bed - and try to get the other stuff done through out the day - photos, signs... Then there's the craft fairs - I really enjoy the craft fairs - meeting, networking, learning about other business opportunities and socializing! Good thing I like them - because I have them 4 of the next 5 weekends - and the other 2 weekends between now and Christmas I'm working in Glenwood at the hospital (-: Maybe on top of being crazy busy - I'm a little crazy to sign up for all of this! Oh well... we will make it to Pullman at the end of January and life may not less busy - but I think I will have fewer hats to wear (ha ha)!

Fun Side note! I've always loved taking photos - and ever since Autumn's new born photo shoot I've really enjoyed trying to get good photos of our family (well Autumn), friends and for my business. On Sunday I asked my beautiful HS friend if we could head for Estes and try to get some Wacky Warmer photos! I still have a lot to learn about lighting and angles and stuff - but I think they aren't too shabby!

Halloween!

Isn't dressing your kiddo up so much fun!? (-: The Friday before Halloween - Aaron's old work had a Fall Fest - I knew that Autumn would be too hot in her Monkey - so I quickly put together a Cindy Lou Who outfit - she was adorable and had fun playing the boardwalk games! Throwing fish, golfing and getting toys!

We've been practicing Monkey noises with Autumn for a few weeks - oh to capture her dressed up as a monkey saying ehh ehh ehh... Anyways... Halloween was fun and although we did not let her eat her candy - Autumn was amused by the silliness as well! We went over to Aaron's sisters for dinner and then hit the streets after a photo op! The best was when Autumn looked up at her ghostly cousin and giggled! All the kiddos looked great and tore up the neighborhood running from door to door - I was lucky to get to every 3rd house with Autumn! She did make a cute monkey!

Barrette Board

I was inspired yesterday at the craft fair to make this board to hold Autumn's barrettes! I had ribbon hung next to her changing table, but she tugs on it - so this seemed like a more durable option!

Super Easy to make!

What you need -

Thick poster board or an old frame without the glass

Fabric

Ribbon

Something to glue or tape everything together! I wasn't in the mood to get my glue gun out, so I used duck tape!!! (-: No one will ever see the back!

Wrap the fabric, run the ribbon and there you go!!!

13 months

Sweet Girl! You continue to amaze us!!! Everyday you do things that make us so proud, make us laugh and touch our hearts!!! It has been another wild month where we drag you all over the world and you easily adjust and have fun - whether we are in a car, on a plane, in our living room, on the beach, at friends, in our yard or walking around town!

You monkey see, monkey do everything from trying to put on clothes (or anything), snapping buckles, putting on lids, chasing us, talking on the phone, stuffing things in and out of bags to scribbling. You have also started to get creative and start to use your toys in ways that we have not shown you! You are starting to be more interested in books. For long periods of time you entertain your self by running from room to room rearranging everything, moving/stuffing toys and other things. You like to move - run, climb and push, pull and lift things. The first day in Hawaii we got to the beach and you walked up to a large lava rock (bigger than a basketball) and tried to pick it up. I looked at Angie and said - that defines my child!! You are a go getter - busy busy busy!!

Yes, you got up there all by your self!

You have gotten a few more words this month - Fish = Shhh, Ball and Book = Ba, All done, More = ma. You sign all done, more, give hi five and blow kisses.

Things you love!
Milk
Giggling
Being Free - not into holding our hand
Putting things on yourself
Hugs and Kisses
Your car seat - when you want to be in it playing
Trying to drink out of a big girl cup
Running on the beach
Getting hit by waves
Gibber Gabbering
Ellas (puppies)
Baby Dolls
Dancing
Pushing your self down slides (or backing up to a wall or bed and sliding down)

You like anything you choose to do - but have a hard time enjoying the things we needed you to do - like getting dressed, changing diapers, getting buckled in, stopping when you cross boundaries (like zooming out of the house).

Everyday your bright, spunky opionated personality continues to grow and develop! We love you so much and are so proud and blessed to be your mommy and daddy!!!

Quotes that Stuck

I have no idea why this came to mind - but I've been trying to remember specific conversations that have stuck throughout the years.

"You should really play volleyball and basketball next year." Mr. Tate - 6th grade science teacher

"We are so proud of you." Mom and Dad - throughout childhood

"Good work good and faithful servant." Jeff Seacrest - Youth Pastor in reference to a friend of mine who became a Christian.

"Your voice doesn't sound very good." Melody - 6th grade choir

"Cheek to Cheek." Amanda - 7th grade while learning a box defense

"Don't think about it, just shoot." Coach Pro - 10th grade

"I love you." unfortunately, quite a few boyfriends that obviously didn't last.

"It will always make sense." Mr. Adams - 3rd grade referencing math

"You don't want to be a ditch digger, do you?" Dad - throughout school years

"Blahhhhh..." - Chad - pinning me down and acting like he was puking on my face - throughout childhood - and still makes be gag to think of it.

"You don't want to be a doctor." Mom - later HS years.

"I think you'd be a really good OT." Mom - later HS years.

"Knowledge is Power." A bookmark I got from the library in HS.

"My way or the highway." My not so nice HS volleyball coach.

"We love you." Mom and Dad and all my grandparents - all the time

"I think about God all the time, it won't escape me - I'd believe that Old Testament stuff, but Jesus, I don't know about Jesus." A good friend the summer after HS.

"Stay where you are." God - when praying if I should continue dating my now husband.

"You will do well no matter what you choose to do." Dr. Patton - freshman honors physics teacher.

"Are you going to be a Kingdom builder?" - Campus Crusade conference

Life as Nomads!

Well - it is looking like we are back on the road again! A little crazy, a little fun and a lot exciting!

The next 21 months are sure to be full of adventure, fun, and the unexpected. Many things can change between now and then - but as of now we will hit the road again after Christmas.

December March = spending time with good friends and filling our bank account back up in Pullman, WA
March and April = back in the land of Aloha - playing, working and enjoying friends
End of April = exploring a few places in SE Asia on the Murphy/Bracken/Brown Tour of SE Asia (seeing Aaron's best friend)
May-July = enjoying the Colorado Summer, loving on our friends and family and working
August-May = living on an Aloha contract in the school system again and hopefully coming home with Lil Brown bun #2!

Hawaii

Wow - what an amazing vacation and scouting trip! We enjoyed our every minute on the islands - seeing and enjoying our friends again, watching Autumn love the beach, the crystal clear blue waters, surfing fun little waves, smelling sweet flowers, eating yummy fruit, sushi, and ono island fare!! We picked up our rental car and headed for the Keisers - we looked at each other and had the same thing on our mind. "This feels like home again." Funny how it was only our home for a year - yet if feels so homey. We'd meet friends and their first statement was usually "Welcome Home" followed by "When are you moving back?" or acquaintances would say - "Welcome back, when did you move back?" It is strange and a bit hard to explain how and why this place feels like home. Some of our greatest joys and our greatest challenges occurred here. We loved our life 10 minutes from the ocean, we loved exploring and treating our eyes to completely new sights and experiences, we had great joy in finding out we were pregnant, we had so many close friendships - bonds that happened quickly and were so deep. We also had to try to figure out how to live in a place where there is constant friendship turnover, where everything breaks, parents of students were not always nice, watching friends grieve from afar
and where we fought feelings of being very lonely at times. Our hearts have fallen in love with Kona. It was refreshing, awesome and fun to be back - and amazing to watch our daughter love the things we love while being there!
(For those of you who are worried right now - Colorado feels like home as well and we plan to try to make both places our home).

So... although this was vacation, it was the variety that felt a little different because our main agenda was seeing friends again and relaxing in places we were already familiar with. The waves rolled in just in time and we got to take turns playing in the waves - something I was so so so so excited for. I hadn't surfed since I was about 6 weeks pregnant with Autumn and it felt like it had been forever! Although it was not quite like hoping on a bike again, I got a feel for it and got to ride a few waves in!

Good friends we got to visit! Keisers, Simanjuntaks, Carpenters, Ang, Tosh, Brock, Hassels, Doctorchiks, Jaspers, Ashley, Jackson, Pat, Becky - plus many other friends from work, church and our upstairs neighbors.

Activities we enjoyed! Surfing, SUP, Wa'a ride, eating at Jackie Rays, Annie's Island Burgers, Denise's Cafe, and the Kona Inn, beach time, the lavender farm and the church celebration Luau.


Hotels we poached (using our beach access rights of course)! Mauna Lani, Hilton Waikoloa and The Grand Wailea

New Foods Autumn enjoyed! Papaya, Apple Bananas, Butter Avocado, Fig, Gold Fish (the cracker kind), Haupia, Okinawan Sweet Potato (baked and as chips)

Number of friends who told us they are pregnant! 2 with a 3rd who could be anytime!
How did Autumn do with the travel and time change?! She did awesome! We got an entire row on the way out there and that helped with the wiggles from California to Kona. We let her take a 30 minute power nap at 6:30 when we arrived and then she stayed up until 9:30 Hawaii time. Not bad. Only took that one night and then she slept in until 6 or 7 am each morning after. Staying asleep in foreign places is tough - but we all got enough sleep to be happy each day! On the way back she slept the entire ride from Kona to LA and then woke up ready to run (@2am Hawaii time) and then slept the next leg to Denver. She stayed up a bit late and slept in a bit, but was right back on CO time last night! Our flight to Maui and back was on a small 9 passenger Cessna - and Autumn had a ball! We're hoping her love of flying (or lack of fear) sticks around for a while!!


On the business side of things and our future: It is still our plan to spend some portion of each year in Hawaii. Aaron is figuring out how to pursue business in Hawaii and he had some good informational meetings with men who do business in Hawaii. So for now we will let God guide, take one step at a time and see what happens!

Again - Mahalo all our wonderful friends in Hawaii for welcoming us back with aloha, open arms and helping us have an incredible time back on the islands! A Hui Hou!!!! We miss you already!