the end is in sight

25 hours after getting home from Hawaii I was once again at the airport dropping off my hub. New York City this time and fortunately the very last interview! It has been a long lonely many months and come this sunday I will start having another adult human to talk to at night.



And guess who he got to have lunch with yesterday?????
Our very own darling Tamara! (i gave him my camera just for the occasion but he forgot to take pix) Hopefully I'll get to see her when she stops into Portland for a quick visit. And then I can give my personal assesment of her mysterious boyfriend that we have heard so little about...

Mahana you ugly!

Well we survived our trip to Hawaii and back again. Parts of it were fabulously beautifull, wonderfully entertaining, and delightfully luxurious. At other times it was a bit stressfull, draining, and too busy.
Highlights: Getting to know our way cool friends "the Harmon's", spending 2 days alone with my hubby, being warm, and pineapple
Lowlights: driving too much, demanding baby in tropical paradise, last 4 days had a pounding head/toothache.
Overall it was very nice and fun. I was so impressed by the houses we stayed in. The first 5 days were in Oahu at Keith's uncle's home the second 5 days were in Kauai at Keith's Aunt's house. It was incredible (we slept in the same bed that Matt Leblanc {Joey from Friends} slept in with his wife!)







There are more pictures in the "PHOTO" link to the right---->

This is looking out from the lanai of the Oahu house where we stayed for the first 5 days

Guess where Im going today!

with just me, a cool couple with their 2 kids, my stuff, keith's stuff, baby stuff, diappers, bottles, cans of formula, emergancy supplies, spice kit, cds, books, cameras, hiking boots, backpack, high heels, flip flops, more diapers & formula Oh, & one gianormous car seat? (plus a baby strapped to my chest)

In three days keith will join me on our vacation - how weird.

Pictures when I return.....

Happy Birthday to my eva lovin' brotha Rodericksgee!

You're such a studd

(hee hee)

You are my most favorite big brother in the whole world

I love you and miss you tons ~

have a wonderful year with much love & goodness ;)

Pary on, Yo.

Ps: I think your beautiful young girlfriend Saskia is Darling!

Happiness is chosen

I think I'll start posting uplifting quotes or thoughts now & then as I come acrross them and as they pertain to my life. Here is today's...

"The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of a life of continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life. I do not minimize how hard some of these events can be. When the lesson you are to learn is very important, trials can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything you do. Your life can and should be wondrously rewarding. It is your understanding and application of the laws of God that will give your life glorious purpose as you ascend and conquer the difficulties of life. That perspective keeps challenges confined to their proper place--stepping-stones to further growth and attainment."
(Richard G. Scott; Ensign, Nov. 2006, 41)

Happy Birthday to My little Sister Michelley belly boo boo!

The little pest who I loved so much is 25 years old today!

Hooorrraayyy for little sisters!

I love you kid

Smile :)

tic tock tic tock

It's only January and Keith still has several more interviews to do.
All this waiting and wondering
Where on God's green earth will we be living for the next six or seven years?
All I know is that in five months from now we'll be unloading a moving truck in that mysterous unknown place.
Will it be a big city?
Will is be a small town in the middle of nowhere'sville?
Will we be moving into a real house?
or a condo?
or renting a little apartment?
Will it be a hot desert, snowy iceberg or tropical beach town?
All these questions can't be answered until March 15th; the official "Match Day" when all resident doctor applicants find out at the same moment where there life (and wife) is going...
Oh the suspense!!!

Now,
I made a mistake when I originally posted this by listing our possible top six choices because as Keith puts it: "that's like showing all your cards before the game is over"
If that information were by some bizarre chance to get in the wrong hands, it could potentially hurt our chances of a good match. So, let's just say that for now, there's a lot to think about.

Snow!!!!!! and Shots!!!!!

Today we went to the doctor's to get Dakota Jack's 2 month shots And oh what a day! It snowed!!!!!!!
We barely made it slipping and sliding down the hill out our houseBut Keith was amazing zigzaging up hill on the way back (i was very impressed)
Baby was in the 90 % group for his hight & weight. That means he's very very big! But very porportionate the Dr. said.

It was all smiles and giggles until the needles came out. I think I cried more than the kid.....


And we got the whole days adventure on video.

my perfect meal

My favorite thing to make for dinner is so good for you I think it could be the perfect meal. I've made variations of it for ages and lately it has become a daily routine.

It is so simple, so fast, and easy to clean too. It is the perfect combo of good carbs, protein, & veg and can be made an infinate ways.

Here is the basic version:

>Start with your tin foil laid out.

>Take one fillet of fish - any kind (I like using the indiviually wrapped pieces of Tilapia because it has almost no fishy flavor and is a perfect portion -with 2 grams of fat and about 23 grams of protein!)

>Sometimes I add shrimp (12 little pieces has zero fat![unless grilled] and 17 grams of protein)

>I sprinkle it with a "mrs.dash" type season like seafood or chicken mix but you can use any flavors you like (lemon pepper, garlic pepper, fresh lemon, thai mix, whatever {I choose the salt-free ones})

>Then I cram in my veggies of the day: brocoli, carrots, beans, etc... (onion is fine staight in but better pre-sauteed)

>Seal it in more tin foil and bake at about 400F for about 10 min ~ (I just wait till I can smell it)

no need to add oil - the juice from the fish is great

MEANWhile

I prepare my side carb which can be brown rice or couscous etc But my favorite is a Kashi 7 whole grain pilaf straight up.

Sometimes I eat just that and sometimes I like to plop all that hot savory stuff on top a salad bed with a balsamic vinagrette

mmmmmmmmm

For a perfectly healthy desert to go with your perfectly healthy dinner I like making sugar free raspberry jello with raspberry tea instead of plain water!

Add some fat free cottage cheese (as a whipped cream alternative) and you have another 12 grams of protein (per 1/2 cup)

This entire meal has only 2 grams fat (plus any oil added)

up to 30+ grams of protein

No salt

a little whole grain

and as many vegetables as you can stand.

To me, its perfect,

satisfying

and delicious

"Brain Toys"

Oh the colours! The contrast! The motion & the Music!

We had such fun last night with our new mobile

Until mommy broke it.... :(

Dont worry little guy,

I'll get a new one....... oi

sneaky sneaky in your sleepy

look who I ran into at BabiesRus

What a nice coincidence. Skye looked lovely and she's ready to pop any time now. We're all so excited for her and pray it happens safely and happily. And she finally got to meet my own little cry baby. Oh what a world....

Seoul Sisters

The highlight of today was a morning wakeup call from my dear soul sisters Lumina (left) and Emily (right) all the way from Korea! Emily is visiting Lumina from India for a while. Some family you are born to, others you are led to.

good morning

I don't normally like to publish real pictures of poop (just mud that implies as much) but honey, you should have seen it this morning!

It shot accross the changing table with such speed and jucy verocity. And it didnt stop there oh no, he kept it coming with each push a new color and consistency.

Towels ruined. Trash bin overflowing. Bleach wipes out. Baby in the tub and mommy too.

What a mess.......

sniffles, snot & tears

It's sad at my place again......
daddy is a-interviewin' cross country and gone most the month.
baby is sick with a cold that wont clear up
and mommy is tired, lonely, dieting & sucking on a cough drop.

I still managed to laugh when I put this new sucky in his mouth

Momentous Bumbo Occasion!

It's amazing ~ Dakota Jack held his head up on his own in the bumbo for the first time!
He lasted for ages and he's not even 8 weeks old yet.... It so fun to be a proud mommy and think that my kid is the coolest!
I am struck daily with mini epiphanies about life, mortality, God and nature. This whole thing is not what I pictured but then, what ever is?

Happy Birthday Chris!

My dear sweet brother in law is the coolest and I didnt get to talk to him on his birthday but im thinking of you and luv you tons!

You go little bro...

Where were you on the stroke of midnight?

I was mid-wipe in an explosive stinky poopy bum as the cheers in the other room anounced, "Happy New years!"

(what has my life come to?)

French marchers say 'non' to 2007

Hundreds of protesters in France have rung in the New Year by holding a light-hearted march against it.
Parodying the French readiness to say "non", the demonstrators in the western city of Nantes waved banners reading: "No to 2007" and "Now is better!"
The marchers called on governments and the UN to stop time's "mad race" and declare a moratorium on the future.
The protest was held in the rain and organisers joked that even the weather was against the New Year.
The tension mounted as the minutes ticked away towards midnight - but the arrival of 2007 did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm.
The protesters began to chant: "No to 2008!"
They vowed to stage a similar protest on 31 December 2007 on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/6222153.stm