San Diego

We went a bit south to San Diego for 2 nights and 3 days. We had a wonderful time exploring the beautiful city. We enjoyed local foods, swimming, and being tourists!

Look what I found in a stork egg!

late night swim

Harbor Excursion

8 months old

Sibling Love

I hope they always get along this well.

Summer 2009

We made it through the summer! Usually I don't want the summer to end. However, this summer I couldn't wait for it to end. Why? Well, Ross has been gone all summer, so I have been counting down the days until his return! Well, the end of August has arrived and Ross is home! The kids and I had did all that we could to make the most of it. We made new friendships and enjoyed the great outdoors that California offers! We did go to Arizona once to visit Ross over the 4th of July, which was great.
Enjoy the pictures of our summer!

Q & A w/ Ezra

I asked the questions and Ezra answered them! 

Ezra: 4 years and 2 months

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Don't get out of bed! 

2. What makes mom happy?
by being good.

3. What makes mom sad?
being rude

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
by tickling me! Is that funny?

5. What was your mom like as a child?
birds pooped on your head., Right mom?

6. How old is your mom?
ummm.....21! Are you 21?

7. How tall is your mom?
from here to way down here! Really big! 

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
eating dinner together.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
sends postcards.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
by going away.

11. What is your mom really good at?
I have never seen you do karate!! You should do that!


12. What is your mom not very good at?
spanking me! 

13. What does your mom do for a job?
clean the house and take care of Gracie and me.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
soda and subway sandwich. 

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
by you cleaning and being good.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
bob the tomato! 

17. What do you and your mom do together?
go grocery shopping make macaroni and cheese together. We go shopping and go to the parks too! 

18. How are you and your mom the same?
by are big and small. We have the same skin.

19. How are you and your mom different?
you don't look like me.....you look like daddy!! *followed by teasing laughter*

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
when you say I love you! 

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
you married each other. he takes you shopping. he makes you dinner when your hands are tired from cooking. 

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
on the airplane! ( Yeah right. I hate flying!)

Pictures Are Coming......

In Three Weeks!

 For my few blog followers (Grams and Gramps) who come to check out pictures of the kids, there won't be any for three more weeks. Ross took the good lap top that has the power to deal w/ pictures. So, when he returns you will all be overloaded w/ images of our adorable children.

A Baby, a Move, and a Little PPD

It's been a really long time since I have sat down and wrote a blog. After we moved, I just barely had time to post a few pictures of the kids.  The last 6 months have flown by! My pregnancy was like a year long (well 9 months, but felt like 12 months), then I had Grace and BOOM! Time to move all the way down the west coast to sunny Southern California! 

Can we say CULTURE SHOCK?! My Alaskan roots run deep.  I wasn't so sure I was going to fit in down here.  We had a terrible time finding the right church to attend, but after many Sundays and lots of prayer were were lead to a little Foursquare church. There are about 80 people. Much smaller than we are used to, but we were so drawn to it because of the people in the church. They are so friendly, so welcoming, and just seemed really genuine. 

I had a few really hard months after the move.  Take hormones from just having a baby, mixed with a little postpartum depression, and then top it off with a huge move and you'll have what I was... a basketcase! 

After three months of being here, my hormones got in check and I started to feel more like myself. I got back to the gym, started making some YMCA friends, enrolled Ezra in preschool and swim lessons.  

The Lord is always teaching me things and when I choose to be still and listen, I am always amazed.  Just when I think my faith is strong, it gets tested and once again I have to surrender and cry out to God how and admit that  I am unable to do things on my own. I have to ask for forgiveness for even trying to handle situations by myself. Why can't I just trust God from the beginning?!  I KNOW that I KNOW that He has His best for me.

Anyway, I waved the white flag high and asked God for help. 

I have met so many nice people the last few months.  God is just bringing wonderful people into my life.  I have play dates with new friends every week and I love it! Ezra is making many friends and is asking less and less to go back to Washington.  Ross and I have had so much fun with our slower pace of life and just enjoying each other, our kids, and our new surroundings.

I am loving this Southern Californian adventure.  We only have another a year and a half here, which is so crazy to think about. We are loving our church here and I get to help in the nursery for the first time on Sunday. I am excited to get involved and see what God has planned for us while we are here. I am trying not to waste a day and just live it up while we are here.  We will get to live in many different places during Ross' military career, so I have chosen to enjoy what each place has to offer and just give our time to God and let Him use us.  I have realized that life is way to short to spend it worrying or wallowing in self pity. Life is a gift and I pray that I don't waste it.

Little Sister

Our Grace is so sweet.

Ezra's 4th Birthday!

Today we celebrated our precious son's 4th birthday. Where have the last 4 years gone? We celebrated as a family today with little surprises for ezra through out the day. He got a few presents through out the day. He would get to open a present and then play with it for a couple hours before the next gift was hidden for him to find. He got his requested mac and cheese for lunch and chocolate cake. After quiet time (which involved us putting a 100 piece puzzle together) we went to the park and he got to ride his new bike (thanks Great G & G Hollers!). Later in the evening I made Ezra's special birthday dinner that he asked for.... Pancakes w/ strawberry sauce and whipped cream!! Ezra thought his special day was perfect and said he wants tomorrow to be his birthday too! He'll have fun celebrating his daddy tomorrow though! He is such a sweet boy. He wanted to buy all of us slurpees w/ some of his bday money! He thought it was so fun buying us a treat!=)

Just Because

Friends, Smoothies, and the Beach!

"Uncle" Curtis came to town! We are so excited that he is here for Memorial Day Weekend! He is one of Ross' best buddys and always a great house guest! We went to the beach this afternoon and enjoyed smoothies, waves crashing on our legs, and sand in between our toes! Then we came home and I made spaghetti and meatballs. Now Ross and Curtis are at the shooting range! Tomorrow....an LA Dodger's game! We LOVE having friends come visit us!

Disneyland May 2009

We have so many fun things to do in our backyard! One of the most famous places to visit here, is Disneyland! Oh my goodness, what fun we had! I have two children who love rollercoasters! Yes, I was able to take Grace on some of them!=) (Dont' worry Grandma's it was safe.=)

Ross said it the best though..."I know now why Disneyland is called the most magical place...it is the only place you are as excited to arrive as you are when you leave!" HA! we were sooooooo exhausted by the end of our two day adventure to California Adventure and Disneyland!

Mother's Day 2009