Trip to AZ

Over Veteran's Day weekend we got to go to AZ and visit my brother and his wife, Abby in AZ. It was a great weekend of catching up and seeing where they live-and a great few days in the sun-as it has been rainy (as it should be) in the Northwest. Here are a few pics of our fun trip!

Justin, Me, Kenton and Abby

Blake sitting on the edge of the pool

Kick kick kick with Daddy!

With Aunt Abby!

Me and my Uncle Kenton
In the airport-I thought it was quite funny to crawl away from the group!

See I am funny-here I go!

Mommy and me asleep on the plane-loooong plane ride home...

Friends and Fun

Blake and the ladies!
Here are a few pics from our time with the Jacksons over my Birthday Weekend! Fun times!

Blake with Kate doing "so big!"

Blake and all the fellas!

Kate and me back home.

Justin and I celebrating at the Melting Pot-YUM!

Halloween!

Blake's first Halloween was a blast! We went up to his Nana and Papa's house to celebrate with the cousins and then get to go to our church's Costume Party-where I was greeted with a long time great friend as a a surprise for my Birthday! We had a great time enjoying Blake's first Halloween-here are some pictues to commemorate the moments!

Pumpkins!

We got to go to a Pumpkin patch this weekend with some friends-it was a beautiful SUNNY fall day in the Northwest great for a fun time outdoors! Despite the man who was arrested while waiting for our group to arrive-it was a great fun evening. Justin and I had a great time with great friends, and it is the first of many holiday traditions that we are starting as we now have a boy to start them with and for. We are both looking forward to this holiday season as it is Blake's first, it is like seeing it new all over again!

WALKED!

Hey all no pics yet but thought I would let you know that Blake walked this weekend-two little steps all by himself! What did he walk to-you might ask? Not mom, not dad...but a spinning football! HA!

4 Friends

These photos are from a Birthday Party we recently went to with our friends from Blue Sky Church, our home group this time last year was one busy group-we had 4 babies born in 5 months! Elsa 9/14/07, Lauren 11/1/07, Blake 12/17/07 and Elijah 1/15/08-I can't BELIEVE it has been a year since that time. I am finding that time just goes faster once you have a kid because you make your time (or at least I do) by their development, which is SO much faster than ours. I think about it and 9.5 months ago I was still pregnant and now I have a beautiful boy who can crawl, climb, laugh, smile, feed himself and is starting to walk and talk! AMAZING!

Elsa, Lauren, Joshua (Lauren's older brother), Elijah and Blake

Someone had had enough...we were about 45 minutes late to nap...

Promised Fair Photos!

Here are some pics from our recent Fair Visit-The day we picked was a wonderful down pour until around 7, when we left...figures! But we had fun:) One pictures is a tribute to our good friends Kyle and Stacie Sale, who are in Scotland for a while:) We miss you guys!~

9 month photos!

Hey all! So despite the fact that last week we found out that Blake has a severe peanut allergy-we are doing great! Although we hope and pray that this allergy leaves him someday we are soooo thankful for the amazing growing boy that we have! Here are a few 9 month pictures to mark his awesome progress!

Hey guys I am waiting for someone to sit next to me!I am such a happy little boy!Here I am in my wagon:)

Ohh-now for the white background-look guys I can stand!

Here I am on another bench...come on ladies join me:)

Anyone want to sit by me???

Happy B-Day Beau!

Labor day we had the opportunity to go spend some time with Justin's family and wish Blake's 2nd cousin a happy 1 year! It was really a good time spent with family and so fun to see how much the boys have grown in such a short time. a funny moment would be when Blake headed off in the yard by himself-off to explore as I am sure he will do often a boy of Justin Dobbins, and Julie and Joel yelled "Wait don't let him go too far there is rabbit poop out there!" Yikes!

Standing with Uncle Michael.

I's gonna get you....Blake's FAVORITE game right now!

Enjoying the Balloon and Grandpa time!

Cousin Julie and Beau with Mommy and me!

Fun at the Fair!

This weekend we had some "Epic Fun" at the Puyallup State Fair with Blake. We enjoyed the animals from around the world and even saw a Zebra, Emu and Ze-Donk (yes that is a Zebra crossed with a Donkey) up close. Blake enjoyed his first fair scone, one of many I am sure, and was as interested in the balloons, fans, and hay as he was the animals...But I have to say one of my favorite moments involved this photo booth and the three of us fun times!

Splish, Splash we were taking a Bath....

Here are some great pictures of Blake taking a bath one morning with mommy! He LOVES bath time and it is finally getting to the point where he can really have fun:) He is starting to be able to give high fives and kisses- what a BIG boy!

Laughing at the funny shower sprayer!

Big Smile for mommy!

Funny memories...

Here a few funny things that happen with a 6-9 month old son...

"Somewhere between the innocence of babyhood and the dignity of manhood lies a sweet creature called...boy"

Yes that is our son trying to drink the wine-anything shaped like that (no matter the size apparently) he thinks is his to drink! Ha! Reading the Bible before bed

This particular evening Justin is reading to Blake about Martha and Mary. I hear him reading then all of a sudden he goes "See that picture," it is picture of a cartoon Martha running around cleaning like a crazy woman, "that's mommy!" Nice! But funny also! Blake and Daddy after the "donut" incident:)

That's right folks Justin gave Blake a donut (not the icing part) without thinking "Oh, he hasn't been introduced to eggs, butter, flour, sugar....whoopsie! Notice Justin has a look of fear and Blake has a look of "whats wrong guys?
Mom and Me on the plane ready to go to Colorado! Mom is crazy and tried to feed me my mashed peas and bananas (not mixed:)) on the plane I made quite the mess! In the backyard taking pictures for my 7 month!

Summer Fun!

Well we have been up to a bunch this summer and Blake has been moving more and more! He currently stands and tries to walk, often too fast which has resulted in the occasional bump and bruise, luckily he gets over them fast, but unluckily he can't remember why it happened and he does the same trick again:) It is soo amazing to watch him grow up and see who he is, he is such a sweet boy with a great laugh and love of life. he got his dad's love of adventure and his mom's determination (some might call it stubborness:)) which creates for quite fun around the house! Here is a video of him discovering that he can move outside of the couch area:)

House Projects

I have decided that as much as I do, admittedly, love all of those home design shows-they truly are a farce that have given me false hope that whenever Justin and I start a project we too can be done in 24 hours or less. YEAH right! We are currently re-doing our downstairs bath-as much as a LOVED the blue wallpaper and oak colored cabinets it was time for them to go- and between unexpected layers of wallpaper (we didn't know about the pink floral number below)and work and an almost 8 month old we are on week 2.5 and in the home stretch. FINALLY! Those shows must have a ton of people we don't see working like Santa's Elves! Hopefully we will be done soon, and when we are I will, with thanksgiving in my hear, post some new photos.

Busy Busy!

I really can't believe that it is the end of July and I have 4 short weeks before I have to go back to work part time! It is amazing how fast time flies when you are loving every second of what you are doing. Blake and I have had quite the summer from his first vacation to starting swimming lessons we are a busy pair! Last night he was such a fun boy, laughing and giggling for about 1 hour with mom and dad. This activity was not only fun because for those of you who haven't seen a 7 month old laugh uncontrollably, you are missing out-it is hilarious! But also because this is an activity he really only does for mom and dad. What an amazing set up, some how in the midst of everything he is learning he is able to differentiate Justin and me from the rest of the big people that smile and talk to him. I am truly blessed!

On a side note, I broke my toe about 3 weeks ago and was able to go running the first time last night and I almost ran into a deer-I am not kidding I was daydreaming and all of sudden a deer was like 1 foot away from me-luckily he moved without attacking!

Honking and Yelling at Runners....

Here is a thought I had...I am currently going to try to train for the Leavenworth half-marathon, October 4th, I have run one before (pre-baby, Fall of 2006) and I did enjoy it so I think that is what I need to give me the kick in the butt to get back out there. With pregnancy complications (placenta previa) and then working full time 10 weeks after he came, running consistently has been more of a dream rather than reality. But it is summer, gorgeous, I am home, and only go back part-time in the fall so pavement here I come. But as I am contemplating running one memory always comes to mind (as my route is partly on a main road) why in the world to people (mainly men) honk and women running? Do they think that as I am huffing and puffing up that hill I am going to hear their horn and think "Oh my goodness the man I was always looking for...turn around and run after their car." Or is it more that they are just wanting to affirm that I am running? Because I am often very aware of that fact...or maybe it very simply is they are cheering us on? none-the-less I am excited to get back in the swing of things.

Summer Lovin!

I am done and am so excited for my time home. The year culminated for me at my student's promotion ceremony, I had 4 8th graders who will move on to high school next year YEAH! they did awesome and it was so great to see their families beaming with joy and accomplishment. Many of these students haven't had the same experiences that we all took for granted growing up, and for most of them this is the first time their parents have gotten to go to an assembly where their student was being awarded and talked about in a positive way. Watching my students and their families last night, is the reason that I would call my job, much more than a job but rather a calling and a privilege. I have been home for 2 short days and am already loving the relief of stress from both Justin and I working full time. Here are some more recent pictures...more to come of things like Blake's first Hike:)

Flying with Baby

Well my first flight with Blake is over! I got to go to Colorado and throw my best friend a baby shower for her little girl-due in August. So fun to throw a shower for my future daughter-in-law (ha ha a mother can dream right!) Blake was great, crabby but nothing that couldn't be helped. What a joy it was to get 4 full days with my son-and it was an even bigger joy to know that when the long and fun trip was over I had loving and supportive husband to come home to, who was excited to play with his boy and let mom rest. I am blessed! Summer is a few short weeks away and I can hardly wait for the many more firsts to be had with my son!

5 months already!

As I sit here writing this blog I can hardly believe that my son, Blake, is 5 months old! He is amazing, rolled a couple of days ago ! But more than that I am in awe of how each day he shows me how to love, laugh, and live in a new way. It is a beautiful thing to become a mom, I loved the job instantly, realizing that I had been missing a piece of who I was and Blake helped me find it. He truly is a gift I am a in awe of the blessing bestowed and the responsibility given to me.