Saturday, October 11, 2008
Emma chatter
Well, Emma was chatting away the other day and of course when I get the camera on her....she stops!! But here is a bit for your amusement!! Sorry Meme....one day I will get her saying all her words.....
MOM...I am too big!
I am loaning my baby sling to my sister and decided to show her how to use it with Emma. Well....let's just say that a 20 pound baby does not fit in them and Emma was not too sure what was going on. She did like me swinging her in it, although my shoulder didn't.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Memorial
On Monday, we went to the Bremerton Boardwalk to attend the Memorial Service for the Unborn. It was a very cold and rainy night...but with the girls all bundled up and with our umbrellas ready we still went. It is always powerful to attend these events with little ones and to see so many children there. Angelica was very excited to bring the baby shoes to give to the babies. Unfortunately I think the bad weather kept a lot of people at home, so I only hope that next year it won't rain!
Ready to Ride
Jason loves all his new bike gear he got for his birthday, especially the weather gear for this time of year.
Updates
Well, last night was bittersweet as we sad goodbye to my sister Megs (Aunty Megs). Next time I see her (in February) she will have a new little baby boy. It was so good to see her (she is such a cute pregnant woman) and it was lots of fun to rub HER tummy and feel my little nephew kick and roll. Angelica gave him a couple kisses and then just would stare at her belly trying to figure this whole miracle out but remaining quite puzzled. I helped throw Megs a baby shower when she was here and that was lots of fun. I made my first baby scrap book for her to fill in for his first year of life (I was inspired by the ones my sister-in-law did for me). Thanks to everyone who came and made it a very special day. We did a lot of shopping with Megs....she got her maternity winter clothes, a lot of the baby items she needed and of course she spoiled her nieces...WAY TOO MUCH. Thanks for the shoes and clothes, they will forever look hip with you around! It was lots of fun and we will miss you, but we will see you soon. Thanks for asking Jason and I to be godparents, we are honored.
Let's see. Well we are not closing our 5th week of the Boeing strike. I cannot believe it. Every week we say to ourselves that this has to end, and yet another week goes by. Jason has worked so hard, in rain and cold weather, to do yard jobs and manual labor work to help ends meet and get bills paid. Thanks so all those that continue to provide him the opportunity for work. Also, thanks to all those who have helped us through this challenging time.....your prayers, support and friendship mean a lot...it has been a very humbling experience and I only hope we are as generous when the roles are reversed one day and we see people struggling. Keep praying that we stay in good healthy, because Boeing did cut off all our medical benefits on the 1st and it makes me nervous since we have two little ones and entering the cold months.
Well, Jason had meant with his advisers, gotten registered and was ready to start classes this quarter....that was until Boeing called and told him due to the strike all tuition benefits were withdrawn. Big bummer.....especially when this was once of the main reasons he was excited about this job. So....hopefully he can resume things next quarter.
The van and the broken transmission....well, Jason has been shopping around at the junk yards and found one for the van for $350 and a 90 day warranty....so he was trying to figure out how he could do it. But having never done one and not having the proper equipment to do it, he found someone who could do it for $300....which $650 is still a lot less than the $3000 the shop wanted....Jason would like the challenge of doing it, but considering the circumstances might continue working instead of taking two days to possibly do it himself. We shall see. I definitely miss it....amazing with kids how great the van is for transporting them and all the stuff...especially the strollers!!
My mother-in-law successfully had her port put in on Monday and will start chemo this coming Monday. So we will definitely keep her in our thoughts and prayers especially on Monday. We love you.
The girls are getting so big and seem to change a little bit each day. Emma is wanting so badly to start walking...she will take a few unassisted steps and then go back to crawling. Won't be long. I think she is teething again (I hope so, because she STILL only has ONE bottom tooth). She has been fussy, clingy and not sleeping well this week and her appetite has gone down. SO we shall see.....hoping for at least two teeth by her first birthday!! She smiles all the time and loves mimicking and following Angelica around the house. She loves to bounce to music, learning to wave and is a cuddle bug. Angelica is just talking ALL DAY long now, which includes thousands of questions all day long....mostly "What are you doing mom? Mom, what are you doing? Are you doing something mom? AAHHH. She also has become quite the little mother. I hear her saying things to Emma, such as "No no sweetheart....you can't have that. Sorry honey." Oh boy! So they keep me busy and I am loving every minute!!
We got decorated for fall and it is probably one of our favorite seasons. Angel isn't scared of our scarecrows this year so that is good!! She actually loves them and the pumpkins. Will have to take pictures. Still need to go to a pumpkin patch.....Hoping everyone is having a great start to your Fall!!
Let's see. Well we are not closing our 5th week of the Boeing strike. I cannot believe it. Every week we say to ourselves that this has to end, and yet another week goes by. Jason has worked so hard, in rain and cold weather, to do yard jobs and manual labor work to help ends meet and get bills paid. Thanks so all those that continue to provide him the opportunity for work. Also, thanks to all those who have helped us through this challenging time.....your prayers, support and friendship mean a lot...it has been a very humbling experience and I only hope we are as generous when the roles are reversed one day and we see people struggling. Keep praying that we stay in good healthy, because Boeing did cut off all our medical benefits on the 1st and it makes me nervous since we have two little ones and entering the cold months.
Well, Jason had meant with his advisers, gotten registered and was ready to start classes this quarter....that was until Boeing called and told him due to the strike all tuition benefits were withdrawn. Big bummer.....especially when this was once of the main reasons he was excited about this job. So....hopefully he can resume things next quarter.
The van and the broken transmission....well, Jason has been shopping around at the junk yards and found one for the van for $350 and a 90 day warranty....so he was trying to figure out how he could do it. But having never done one and not having the proper equipment to do it, he found someone who could do it for $300....which $650 is still a lot less than the $3000 the shop wanted....Jason would like the challenge of doing it, but considering the circumstances might continue working instead of taking two days to possibly do it himself. We shall see. I definitely miss it....amazing with kids how great the van is for transporting them and all the stuff...especially the strollers!!
My mother-in-law successfully had her port put in on Monday and will start chemo this coming Monday. So we will definitely keep her in our thoughts and prayers especially on Monday. We love you.
The girls are getting so big and seem to change a little bit each day. Emma is wanting so badly to start walking...she will take a few unassisted steps and then go back to crawling. Won't be long. I think she is teething again (I hope so, because she STILL only has ONE bottom tooth). She has been fussy, clingy and not sleeping well this week and her appetite has gone down. SO we shall see.....hoping for at least two teeth by her first birthday!! She smiles all the time and loves mimicking and following Angelica around the house. She loves to bounce to music, learning to wave and is a cuddle bug. Angelica is just talking ALL DAY long now, which includes thousands of questions all day long....mostly "What are you doing mom? Mom, what are you doing? Are you doing something mom? AAHHH. She also has become quite the little mother. I hear her saying things to Emma, such as "No no sweetheart....you can't have that. Sorry honey." Oh boy! So they keep me busy and I am loving every minute!!
We got decorated for fall and it is probably one of our favorite seasons. Angel isn't scared of our scarecrows this year so that is good!! She actually loves them and the pumpkins. Will have to take pictures. Still need to go to a pumpkin patch.....Hoping everyone is having a great start to your Fall!!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Going to get Aunty Megs
This was the cute Hanna outfit Angel wore to go pick up Aunty Megs at the airport!! She arrived Thursday and we are so happy to have her hear and "litter Bertie" as I am calling the Baby since Albert is a little weird for me yet as it is my dad's name. Pics soon to follow of her nice round tummy (and her!) I got to feel him kick tonight, it was wonderful and so exciting!
Happy Birthday Hon!
Today is Jason's 29th Birthday!!! We love you so much Jason and thank you for all the love, time and hard work you do to support and take care of our family. Can't believe you are almost 30!!! (I can tease you about that for a few months at least!) We hope you had a good birthday even though this year has been a tough one, I pray that God will bless you with a wonderful year ahead and continued health and happiness. We love you...as Angel says....bunches and bunches...up to the moon and back!! (Jason is a cheesecake man....so every year since we have been married I have made him a different cheesecake that he picks out. This year, it was a huge winner...click on picture to get the recipe for the Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake...and enjoy!!)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
"Get me out of here!"
Angel was climbing on some tubs I had under the dining room table today and got stuck. She couldn't figure out how to get herself down....I was cracking up because she got my attention by yelling "Mama....get me out of here!"
Mama's cookie helper
Angel loves "helping" me in the kitchen and yesterday helped make some cookies. Her favorite part....licking the beaters!
Could she get your vote??
Well...she did win a mock election and debate series in middle school....but could she win your vote today? Click HERE.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Power of Prayers
Last night we had a long talk with my mother-in-law, Mary Hartsell. Many of you have been praying for her through her battle and surgery, test, etc with breast cancer. We were really hoping the good news would continue....she was told they got all of the tumor and her lymph nodes were clear!! So the plan was to start radiation and be done with it! Well, unfortunately while the cancer is estrogen positive, she is also HER2/neu positive (an oncogene overexpression that could cause more severe breast cancer in other area of the body later if not treated for now. For a better description of HER2 status, click HERE and for a brief explanation on it and the medicine treatment Herceptin, click HERE.) So, to make this short and sweet....here is the plan that we are looking at. She will have a port put in under the skin by her collar bone probably the first week of October. Then on October 13th, start chemotherapy....it looks like they will do the two most powerful chemo drugs first. Two rounds in October and two in November. Then in December the plan is to do the less intense chemo and start the Herceptin treatment every week for 12 weeks. So by the end of February she hopes to be done with the chemo. March she will continue the Herceptin and most likely have to continue until December of next year. Then in April she will start radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. WHEW. So.....we will keep you posted on how she does, but I really hope everyone can add her and the family to your prayer list. She is a very strong lady and I know she can get through this. I hope that all of our prayers will help her get through each day, one at a time knowing that she is loved and prayed for. It is so hard for Jason and I to be so far away, especially in times like these. Mom, we wish we could come over and have the girls make you laugh.....I wish I could make you a cup of tea and play some cards to get your mind clear, I wish I could come over and make you some meals and clean the house.....but we hope you know that we love you so much and we will help you get through this any way we can!! Saint Peregrine and Saint Agatha, pray for her.
So Silly
Angel was cracking us up the other night just running around in circles in the house and being just plain silly!!
Do Your Part
Today is Day 3 of the 40 Days for Life. Check out the site and see how you can help and stay up to date on the latest news. There is no greater power than the power of prayer....so please join this powerful event and change some hearts, lives and protect the gift and miracle of life.
Easy and Delicious
Both of these recipes were super easy and SO DELICIOUS!!
Cheesy Bean Enchiladas (I also used some shredded mexican cheese and added rice)
Grandma Gert's Chocolate Cake
Cheesy Bean Enchiladas (I also used some shredded mexican cheese and added rice)
Grandma Gert's Chocolate Cake
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Alli in Tom Sawyer
My mom took me to Alli's show, Tom Sawyer, Sunday night and it was SO GOOD and SO FUNNY. The newspaper critic was there that night and he wrote THIS AWESOME REVIEW. If you can make it to the show, please come...you will love it! Here are some sounds clips and video from one of the rehearsals to give you a little taste!
The Love Song
Lost in the cave
"The Light" song in the cave
Alli singing in the cave
Recipes to Share
Sorry, with all the stress and crazy menus we have been having lately, I haven't done my Monday menus...but here are two recipes we loved:
Low Carb Penne Pasta in Pesto-Cream Sauce (good for Fridays, I used low fat half and half instead of the heavy cream)
Split Pea Soup (I made up with ingredients I had on hand, SO YUMMY!)
about 7-8 cups water
3 chicken bouillon cubes
whole bag green split peas (I think 1 lb)
chopped up onion
chopped up carrot
2-3 cloves minced garlic
I added spices like Basil, Rosemary, bay leaves and salt and pepper
Put everything in pot...bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer for several hours (4-5). I added ham cubes last 30 minutes. YUMMERS!!
Low Carb Penne Pasta in Pesto-Cream Sauce (good for Fridays, I used low fat half and half instead of the heavy cream)
Split Pea Soup (I made up with ingredients I had on hand, SO YUMMY!)
about 7-8 cups water
3 chicken bouillon cubes
whole bag green split peas (I think 1 lb)
chopped up onion
chopped up carrot
2-3 cloves minced garlic
I added spices like Basil, Rosemary, bay leaves and salt and pepper
Put everything in pot...bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer for several hours (4-5). I added ham cubes last 30 minutes. YUMMERS!!
"If it doesn't kill you..."
Well, I know I have heard the saying "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger" and "God never gives you more than you can handle"....but starting the third week in this Boeing strike, I am feeling very weak and frustrated, scared and stressed. There is still no "new contract" on the table and the strike is going strong. We found out this last week that the strike checks don't even start until the third week of a strike, but you have to go to Seattle to even get that. It is $150 a week and the first one is issued this Saturday. There is also some buzz that come October 1st, your medical benefits might stop as well....GREAT!! Of course, they offer COBRA which is ridiculously expensive. And of course we don't qualify for unemployment because technically we have a job...one which we are just not allowed to go to work for and not receive any kind of pay or benefits in the meantime. I am having a hard time understanding how the Union which is fighting for the people, is really creating quite a burden for us in the process. Of course, this is all just compiled with the stress of the transmission in the van deciding it was a perfect time to BREAK and poor hubby is trying to find one in a junk yard and how to do ti himself so save us the $3000 the shop wanted! So, yes it hasn't killed me yet and I believe God gives us strength through the hard spots....just trying not to lose my sanity in the process of surviving.
But on a more serious note, we want to thank EVERYONE for all their support and prayers during the time and for all of those that have helped. Especially again, the Grays for the car which has been HUGE right now!! We are hoping this all can come to a close soon!!! October 3rd is Jason's birthday, so the end to this strike would be a wonderful present!!
Update: My brother-in-law, Chris, who was with Lehman Brothers....for now has a job with Barclays at least for sure through December so that is HUGE. And he gets to continue his MBA program too!! They are updating , HERE.
But on a more serious note, we want to thank EVERYONE for all their support and prayers during the time and for all of those that have helped. Especially again, the Grays for the car which has been HUGE right now!! We are hoping this all can come to a close soon!!! October 3rd is Jason's birthday, so the end to this strike would be a wonderful present!!
Update: My brother-in-law, Chris, who was with Lehman Brothers....for now has a job with Barclays at least for sure through December so that is HUGE. And he gets to continue his MBA program too!! They are updating , HERE.
Pajama Time
The girls look so cute in yes...their Hanna Andersson PJs (thanks Aunty Megs)...it is nice that Emma can wear all the beautiful clothes Angel got!
Missing you Sophie
My friend Sophie has just recently moved to CT and we miss her a lot. We are grateful that she has made several trips back so they we could visit some. Sophie, this outfit still fits Angel and SHE LOVES THE HAT AND SWEATER. Couldn't get them off of her!! We think of you whenever she wears it!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Cookin Sisters
They have been spending a lot of time cooking and playing in this kitchen together...so cute!!
Get Out and Vote
This powerful video which has been appearing a lot lately reminds us that there are some REAL important life-changing issues that trump others in this election. Watch and I think the choice is clear....
Girls with Curls
Saturday night I decided to try curls in Angel's hair. First, I didn't' know if she would let me put them in....SHE LOVED IT...kept handing them to me to put more in. Second, I didn't think she would keep them in...she did and wanted to put them in my hair and in Emma's too! Third, I was sure she wouldn't sleep with them....but she did and while some got loose and one fell out....she managed to have some beautiful curls for church Sunday morning.
"Marmee's Blanket"
My mom, Marmee as the grandkids call her, made Angel a new blanket/quilt for her bed. Angel LOVES it especially since it has butterflies on it that match her room (a friend just told me I never posted pics of the girls rooms so I will have to do that). It has been warm here this past week and Angel still INSISTS on covering up with "Marmee's blanket" as it has been named. Last night Jason ended up sleeping on the pull out with her becuase the poor baby was having trouble sleeping and breathing (see update below)....and Jason said she woke up at one point and said "I need Marmee's blanket!" Too cute...so thanks Marmee!!
Frustrated
Poor guy spent two days like this fixing seals on both ends of the transmission shafts (I know this technically is probably wrong....but I try)....they both were leaking fluid and needed to be replaced. So for about $60 he fixed what would have cost us $1000+ to get done. We were really hoping that was it, but there is still a leak from somewhere else...waiting for a shop to tell us what it is and hopefully we can get it fixed soon.
Still on Strike
Update on us is that the Union is still on strike, thus Jason still is not able to work. I check HERE daily for any good news, but nothing so far. Jason has to go once a week to picket to get the $150 Union weekly strike pay!! We are only hoping that this can end sooner rather than later, although the last one took 24 days!! It is a weird reality to have a job but not be allowed to go in to work. Thanks to all for your prayers and support....thank you to the Gray family for the use of your car while our van has decided to was also a good time to go on strike! I keep trying to count my many blessings during this tough time for us, especially when I see how many people in this country are suffering with the devastation of Hurricane Ike. Sometimes it is hard to keep it all in perspective though. Luckily Jason has been able to do some work for my dad by accomplishing his outside "to do list". Jason spent two days fixing the car to still have a leak from somewhere...hoping the shop can diagnose the problem and possibly a friend can help us fix...we shall see.
I hope we didn't start a sister tradition....because when I was pregnant with my first child...Jason ended up getting laid off his job. And well....for those that haven't heard....Lehman Brothers filed bankruptcy and my sister's husband Chris works there. You can go to their SITE to read the details....but being in your third trimester and having your hubby lose a job is never fun...I know!! But, Chris is working through this week and already getting some offers and possible offers on the table....so hopefully something will come through fast for him...maybe even better it sounds like!! So we will keep that in prayer too!
But, I better run because both the girls decided to get a "lovely" cold with horrible runny noses and coughs...so I have spent the days suctioning noses out and dealing with babies that can't sleep!! Angel has been walking around with her mouth wide open and drooling since she can't breathe through her nose and last night started a fever...still 101. Poor babes. So I am off to suction some more!
I hope we didn't start a sister tradition....because when I was pregnant with my first child...Jason ended up getting laid off his job. And well....for those that haven't heard....Lehman Brothers filed bankruptcy and my sister's husband Chris works there. You can go to their SITE to read the details....but being in your third trimester and having your hubby lose a job is never fun...I know!! But, Chris is working through this week and already getting some offers and possible offers on the table....so hopefully something will come through fast for him...maybe even better it sounds like!! So we will keep that in prayer too!
But, I better run because both the girls decided to get a "lovely" cold with horrible runny noses and coughs...so I have spent the days suctioning noses out and dealing with babies that can't sleep!! Angel has been walking around with her mouth wide open and drooling since she can't breathe through her nose and last night started a fever...still 101. Poor babes. So I am off to suction some more!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Happy Birthday Teenager!!
Happy Birthday Alli. I can't believe my "baby" sister is now 13!!!! Wow, how the years have flown by....there are so many times when I am taking care of my little ones that I remember doing the same things with you!! I am so blessed that I get to see so much of you...I was always worried that because I was so much older you would never really know or see me!! You are so full of life and it is always such a pleasure to watch you and all your many talents. You are a wonderful aunt and the girls are blessed to be so close to you!! I hope you have a wonderful day and can't wait to celebrate tomorrow!! Love you!
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