things i love about spokane

1. when a snowstorm rolls in it is beautiful and looks like a winter wonderland, at least when you don't have to drive in it too much.

2. you can use your back porch as extra refrigerator space because its cold enough outside.

3. In the summer it's so green and beautiful and you are never far from water to play around in.

4. There are plenty of places to take your kids or family for fun. Lots are cheap and inexpensive.

5. Our families are there and our hearts also.

We hope to one day return there to live but for now we are preparing for our next adventure.

Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday ours was fantastic!

it's a holly jolly christmas

These were some super cute reindeer cupcakes that some friends dropped by last night along with a christmas card. I couldn't help but take a picture because they were so cute. Erik scarfed his down and tried to eat Lindsay's too.

For Family Night tonight we made a gingerbread house and used the LA temple as inspiration. It was fun especially since today we also are celebrating 7 years of marriage that have been wonderful! And although we were married in the Spokane temple, the temple is where our family started.

Here is our temple, complete with the reflection pool. And Moroni is not smoking I promise....Linds tried making a trumpet for him and this was how it turned out. Also we didn't have white icing so brown it was :)

This weekend we opened gifts as a family for christmas so that we didnt have to tote everything up to Washington and back. Erik got a big baseball thing and he loves it. It's funny how he gets so excited about things these days.

But you know the absolute best "toy" has been a dishwasher box that the plumber cut into a house for Erik. He loves knocking it over, using the windows as a basketball net, popping his head through said window, watching movies, crawling in and out, etc. etc. all time best entertainment for him and it was free! If you need ideas seriously go to home depot or whereever and ask for a large box to cut up. It will provide hours of the best fun!

And last but not least I thought I would mention that all these little ones were in my care today, two for half the day and the rest for the whole day. It was a mad house and I think only one child made it out alive without a bonk or blood, the rest fended for themselves nicely. It was fun and chaotic and I was glad when it dwindled down to just Erik.

Ahhh family!

Random bits

Recently Lindsay and I were able to get away for an evening and attend his wing's Christmas party. It was an enjoyable night with live music and we even won a gift certificate to Lindsay's favorite local restaurant.

This was a pic of us on Turkey day and while yes I have a huge scowl on my face I could not get rid of it because the sun was glaring right in my eyes. It was an interesting experience eating Turkey dinner outside but fun. We were able to spend time with my parents and our dear friends from Arizona.

On a side note: We thought we were going to have the opportunity to see S over the holiday weekend and I was so stoked. Unfortunately things wouldn't end up working out and let me tell you how bummed I was. I understand that she is at a point where she is moving forward with her life but I feel so spiritually connected to her and wish there were a way for me to have my cake and eat it too. She actually did want to see us and our schedules just didn't line up but oh how I wish we could see her more. I never in a million years thought that I would feel that way towards our birth mother before we experienced the adoption but I really feel something deep inside that we go way back before this life together. I hope she enjoyed her holiday and spent it with important people close to her heart.

Erik played with Grandma in an ikea bag. He didn't want to get out and I ended up toting him around on my shoulder for a while. I carried him in a sling a lot when he was small and I think it reminded him of it because his eyes were getting all heavy and he was super relaxed.

Erik also got to meet and play with this little guy. They are a month apart and after the initial jealousy of toys and such they got along great. They played in dirt, played with trains, and loved chasing each other up and down a hallway!

I am succumbing to the monster

you all know that crazy popular social website named facebook......well I have purposely avoided that thing like the plague. I have been asked plenty of times to join and just didn't want to be tied into the computer any more than I needed, it already is hard for me to keep up on the blog sometimes.



Well with the upcoming move I think it will only make some things easier if I actually cave to the trend. My man and I will be seperated for some time before we head down under and although we plan on skyping and talking I keep thinking the instant messaging would be nice. I also know it is a great way to stay in the loop with others,etc.



So now with a drudging sense to join I am going to do it. But I will have you know that I do not plan on going crazy with it

To the outback mate!

It's official. Today was a magical day in that we learned we just received orders to move to



AUSTRALIA


yep you heard me right. we are moving to the outback just as our winter is ending and theirs is beginning. i am so stoked i can hardly believe it! i am sure little man will pick up the accent and who knows we may come back with a little bit too. i am sure that we will at least be picking up some of their lingo.

so if any of you want to go on a foreign vacation and want to see friends and have a free place to stay........we would love to host you!

Honestly i feel so blessed that we get this opportunity. We heard about it originally way back in early spring of this year and have just been keeping quiet as we wait to hear official words afraid we would jinx ourselves.

It's funny how we felt cali (as much as i hate it here) was the place for us to be to have our family expand. and although australia wont be able to offer us adoption or fertility services which means erik may not have a sibling or at least for a few more years, i feel like this is the path for us.

New Dining room set

so i took on a project that i think was much bigger than i bargained for and i don't think i will be another such project anytime soon. but i finished and am pleased with the results. the picture below is showing the old fabric and the new fabric with a little touch from the little mans help. he wanted to help so bad when i was screwing the seats onto the chairs and would pretend in the middle hole.

I didn't get any really good before pics because i didn't think about it until i had the table apart and had started sanding. but this is what the finish looked like before. and you see the light circular spot in the middle, yeah that was from a gun cleaning escapade a couple of years ago.

And the finished product! i love it! i am definitely no pro and will not be showing you close up pictures of the chairs. The table turned out exactly how i wanted but i had a hard time with painting and finishing the chairs those boogers. but unless you inspect they will suit us just fine. this dining set was the one that i grew up with at my parents house. it is pine and pretty soft so the black glaze shows the flaws in the wood from different dents and things, but i thought it added great character!

I am so glad to be done with this project and am glad i had some friends to help me out.

we are all alive and well. blogger is being a booger and not uploading my pictures. is it just me or is blogger out to get me?

i would have been updating a lot seeing as halloween actually came and went with our fun party, and i refinished our dining room table and chairs......the set i grew up with as a kid.

but lindsay has been gone since just a few days after halloween and just returned. he had the computer with him because he had a big annual report due while he was away and thus i have been out of the cyber world for nearly a month. to tell you the truth part of me loved it, and yet part of me felt so weird and out of the loop. but it was a nice reprieve. i think i could do without the computer if it wasnt so necessary for todays world.

when blogger starts cooperating i will post pics

Halloween full speed ahead!

This weekend Lindsay and I are hosting a halloween party for some of erik's little friends. I am super excited about it. First because Lindsay is actually in town this year to celebrate with us (the second ever since we have been married) and second because hosting this party has helped make me feel like I am fulfilling lifelong motherhood dreams. These types of activities are things I have dreamed about planning and putting on since I can remember.


This is an activity where the kids will bob for bat rings. They will get bendy straws and hook them on the rings and then enjoy the prize!

This is just what is up in our entry way

Some Halloween books out on Erik's table that I will read aloud as children are gathering to help keep their excitement focused into one area and really could I do something without a book involved? I don't think so!

skulls in candle holders

favor bags and gloves filled with popcorn and gumdrops.........mmmm so fun!

the table before all the food

a fun festive banner I made out of scrapbook paper. I did get the templates off of a blog and of course I cant find the website to give propercredit. But I did a google image search of Halloween banners and it came up.

I loved getting reaady for halloween this year. WE have some inflatable halloween shapes that we are going to play around with and if I can find out parachute then we will bounce it off that but at the moment I put it away somewhere and can't find it. My luck of course. We will also be doing a pumpkin search and an artwork piece.

But you know what I really can't wait for and am trying my hardest not to pull out, is my CHRISTMAS stuff. I am so excited for this year. The other morning erik woke up at an insane hour and so we had a party in our bed until breakfast and we sang lots of christmas carols to him and had a blast. It got both Lindsay and I in the mood for all the joy and spirit of Christmas. We will be going home for Christmas so I am trying to figure out what to do here and what we can do there and I am soooooo excited. Maybe even be doing some christmas crafts soon so that when the time comes they can go up.

maybe maybe not

photo found here.... http://ulovebeth.blogspot.com

The above picture is what I am trying to imagine myself as. I have never enjoyed running, I have never been a fast runner (I quit in elementary when I realized I couldn't even place in any races), and overall running has never been a part of my life other than attending meets and races for my brothers and sister in law.

I have always wanted to like running and experience the so called high that comes with it. But every time I have ever tried to get into a habit, it lasts about two weeks before I put my shoes away for a while. This time however I am determined. I am nearing 30 and I can feel my body changing. My metabolism is slowing, my clothes are fitting differently as my body shape is changing a bit, I feel like I am getting to know a new body lately and I haven't even had the pleasure of delivering a child. So since running is good for you and cheap I am committed. I have a running buddy who is also very committed which is good since I usually wake up and want to cancel. But we have yet to cancel! Lindsay's brother Alex is a physical therapist and him and his wife are amazing athletes. They gave us an awesome running program that starts out super easy (5 minutes of running time the first two weeks, easy huh?) and slowly works up to whatever amount of time you want to be running. My partner and I are up to 15 minutes of consecutive running.

For some of you that may sound like the easiest thing in the world, but I must say I don't know when the last time was that I could do that. Honestly it was probably junior high. That's not to say i am not an active person, but running is not natural to me. I am so proud of myself! We are looking to do a race of some sort in the next few months to keep us looking towards a goal as the weather cools down.

Basically I am tell you all this 1....to make you feel good about yourself because you could probably walk faster than I can run, as well as farther 2.......to help keep myself accountable until this new thing becomes more habit.

I am enjoying that a slow build up because all the other times I have tried I always got nauseated after a run and just hated it. But with this program I feel good about myself and accomplished each time I up how many minutes I can run. Now I just wish there more fun places to run with a stroller.

fit for a king

So little man is growing faster than i can conceive it and so his needs are changing. Earlier this summer Lindsay decided to have a yard sale last second. I was all about it, I had stuff waiting to be purged and taken out of the house. We also decided to sell the couches that were in our front room. i know that is kind of weird. But we didn't use them that much, really only when we had visitors which honestly isn't that often. Plus we have couches in our family room where the tv is anyway, that is where we mostly hang out. So we sold them and I have been trying to figure out what to do with the empty room. We noticed right away that Erik loved having the big open space the play, so that got my mind turning and although not super asthetic to see as you walk in the house, I decided to turn it into a play room area. Slowly I have been getting things in there and I think it is complete. Only half his toys are out so it is not overwhelming to pick something to play with. And easier for me to rotate when he gets bored with them.

Since organizing the toys he has actually been playing with them! I just got him a little table and chairs, and he loves them. He climbs onto the little set many times and day and even uses them as toys as he stacks the furniture and toys on the furniture. He likes eating a snack there. It is great! I am hoping it will help ease boredom this winter and create an area that will foster learning as he is starting to really progress in language and labeling body parts, etc.

Just this morning he sat in his high chair pointing to things he could see and half jibber jabbering and half saying his words. He would point and label using the correct word and then continue in his own language and describe what it was. At one point he pointed to the ceiling, made the airplane sign and talked about that and then made the choo choo sound and followed suit. What a crack up.

His vocab, went from about 3-4 words to the following list in about a week or so

-mama

-dada

-bo bo (boomer)

-shoe

-taco

-bubble

-choo choo (high pitched like a train)

-hot (in a whispered voice)

he blows when he sees a candle or lighter

-yes

-no no no (if he is repeating me when he gets in trouble)

-jesus

-na na (banana-his favorite food)

-duck

and when he wants to listen to music or watch a video he talks in a little sing songy voice and opens his eyes wide. Most adorable.

He will follow vocal sounds i make (like going going low to high or vice versa) in a singy voice and it is fun game we play in the car and on walks. this age is hard in its own way but I am starting to enjoy it too. Especially because he is starting to entertain himself a bit more and communicate more

more vegas fun

Erik was laying with his uncle Alex one day and Alex was combing Erik's hair, he was so relaxed and loving the attention.

Naps were actually better than I thought they were going to be while there. Erik took his naps in the bathroom and Zoey slept in the bedroom. I love how his little booty sticks up in the air.

Zoey having a little fun with some nasty poo. Don't worry it was fake

One day we went to the Hoover dam. It was really hot but a sight to see!

Just a fun picture of all of our feet!

while there Linds and Alex took the opportunity to jump off the top of the stratosphere. They said the rush was crazy, especially as you take to initial step off the platform. Overall vacation was lots of fun. We enjoyed just being with Alex and Haley and letting the cousins get to know each other better. People asked every day if they were twins and they played like siblings and fought like them as well. It was awesome!

livin' it up

This last week we actually went on vacation and partied it up with these crazies!

Well ok, we didn't party it up in the traditional way but we did lots of shopping, swimming, and relaxing like we did in the old days.


This group shot was taken at the flamingo and literally a few minutes later they shooed us away because they were going to perform a wedding.

playing in the laundry basket at the hotel. These two munchkins were asked about a million times if they were twins while out and about and they played like they were and fought like they were, it was pretty funny. Definitely interesting to see the difference between boy and girl toddlers too. Erik was aggressive and very physical in playing, zoey would play nice and get into all the girly cosmetic stuff.

most of all I think Haley and I enjoyed watching the men together. They turn into kids around each other and do all sorts of crazy things. And no erik did not have on a bikini he had a swim shirt and a washable swim diaper. Trunks are overrated if you ask me.

more to come....

The sibling question

So I know I had mentioned earlier this year that we were going to try to start the adoption process this last spring with a desire to bring Erik a sibling. Well plans have changed.......we definitely want to bring another little one into our family and in a time frame that is natural. But things in our lives are not necessarily as planned. Lindsay has found out there may be a chance that we may be getting orders somewhere in another country where we couldn't adopt and thus we are on hold until we hear further notice. We didn't want to put the work into the process and the money to have to put it on hold and do it all over when we get back to the states if we go.

Without giving it too much detail because like I said nothing is official, we would be gone somewhere for 3 years, in another country and we are not sure when we would leave. My guess is sometime early next year but who knows.

So just for those of you who were wondering yes we want another but we are not sure when or how.

Greetings Earthlings

So I honestly feel like I have been on a different planet this summer. A planet where time goes by five times faster than earth and nothing on the homefront gets accomplished. But we have had lots of fun nonetheless.


Erik and I just returned from a trip to Washington to help my mom recover from a major surgery. For those who know her and are wondering........the first week and a half was really rough for her, but finally things seemed to slowly get better and hopefully she will gain some of her freedom back as she continues to progress towards healing. Erik and I had a lot of fun seeing family, but like always it seems there is never quite enough time to visit friends. We need to go for a month and get in everything. Although in our defense we pretty much stayed with my mom to help her with anything we could.


A favorite activity of Erik's this trip was................ was going through the doggie door. He also loved playing baseball and playing with any stick he could find. Basically anything that is not a toy is what he will play with.

There was a toy wagon and a decorative wooden one that was in my parents backyard. He thought he would be sneaky and took the toy one to where the wooden one sits, switched them like we wouldn't notice and played with the wooden one. Where does he come up with this stuff?

School started here but summer is not over for the moon family! I got enough grief over our blog while away that I will try to keep you up to speed more. On to the next adventure!

we are still around......

....just uber busy. that is all.

For those of you who are concerned about the fires near our house. We are ok. The fire is moving in the opposite direction and we should be safe. The first day of the fire we were not sure but please keep the families that have lost their homes in your thoughts and prayers.

-k so I realize all these pics looks like we have just been relaxin'. Well we have been trying to get in as much summer fun as we can but have been busy with the youth in our ward. I went to girls camp and Lindsay took the scouts on a high adventure. Busy busy!

can't get enough

so, Erik does some the funniest and cutest things. Recently he started to put his mouth on the guitar tuning buttons while linds plays and will stop whatever activity he is doing to walk over and put his mouth on it. We are not sure why, we assume he likes feeling the vibration on his mouth, but it's funny!

And he has become the cutest little helper. He always helps unload the silverware (after I have removed the knives of course) from the dishwasher and like to help out with the yard work too! Shoveling, mowing, weeding, hosing, you name it he wants to take over! Bring it on brother cause in a few years, you will be expected to do some of those things.............any ideas on how to encourage it enough to keep the desire up when chores come around?

Just can't get enough of him!

Today is a day of Remembrance

Today we celebrate those who have risked and lost their lives for our freedoms and protection. Without these brave men and women we would not have the priveleges we have today.

As a military wife I am very patriotic about soldiers. My husband corrects me when I call him a soldier because technically he is an "airman" but anyone who serves in any branch of the military is a soldier in my eyes. Lindsay and I both have many family members who have or are serving in our military and my heart bursts with pride for them! Even Erik's birth families are linked into branches of the military, it encompasses us.

Sometimes I have friends and family tell me that they could never do it, that would not be as strong as I am to have my husband gone so much, etc. Well I am not saying it easy or that I am overjoyed to have him leave me......sometimes I grumble, but what an honor to be married to a hero. What an example he sets for our family in his loyalty and honor in his mission. I know Erik does and will continue to view him as his personal hero. Whenever I see Lindsay in his uniform (okay so that is everyday) and especially when we go out in public, I feel so proud. He is such a humble man and does not like to go out in uniform or draw that attention to himself in any regard. He has more than a box full of awards with more that he wasn't given plaques or statues for that he will not let me put up in the house. When we first moved I thought I was being a sweet wife by putting up all the plaques on our guest room wall, oh no.......he had me take it all down the same day. He may not be on the front lines, but he is in a critical position to help the Air force.

(as a marine)

My younger brother Ryan was a marine and is now in the army. He leaves this week for a LONG deployment to Afghanistan leaving a wife at home. This is his longest and 3rd tour over to the "sandbox." I pray for him. I have seen the immediate effects war has on the front line soldiers. I have seen him go from fun seeking 18 year old to fun loving but yet deeply changed man. You know what his number one request is in his care packages? Baby wipes. These men rarely get showers, they have to burn their own waste and they risk their lives every second they are over there. It's no wonder PTSD is so common. But the sad thing is so few get treatment for it because it can affect their career.

I hope and pray for his safe return home with a heart beat........please pray for our service men and women. They need the comfort and support, no matter what they do in the military! Today Lindsay and I hosted a bbq and it was fun. I wanted to sneak in Lindsay's awards all over, but knew he would have nothing of it. Instead I made sure to make festive decorations to go along and we said a prayer that was in memory of those who have lost their lives in service. Did you know Red Poppy flowers are a symbol for Memorial Day? Just thought I would let you know!

Love,

Som

all grown up

I took this picture a couple of weekends ago when we were headed out for a day of fun. He looks like such a big boy now and I feel like he is quickly losing his baby face. I know he is still young but he is growing so quickly.

Earlier this week I took him to play at a friends house. Erik and his 3 year old play mate were actually wrestling (or what they thought to be wrestling) on his friend's bed. It was fun to watch, it wore Erik out and he had a blast. But I couldn't believe how he naturally knew how to wrestle and wanted to at almost 16 months.

Nothing new has really happened lately which I am not complaining about. I would much rather have it quiet than have lots of bad things happening. What are you all up to this holiday weekend?

he has my heart wrapped around his little finger

(jammin to the radio)

I feel an urge to voice some of my feelings for my little man. Erik is the light of my life, he knows just how to make us laugh and smile. He will do anything to make us laugh, especially when he is being naughty.......he is smart and tries to distract us from his bad behavior and I can't say he fails either. Half the time Lindsay and I can't look at each other or him when that happens because we will bust up laughing.

Erik is very active and although it's tiring, I love to foster his activity so that he will grow to love being outside, running around, or doing fun activities. Music will always be a passion in his life I believe. He even went and turned on the radio the other day and layed down next to it listening. Watching Michael Jackson he busted out some new dance moves and couldn't peel his eyes off the screen.

I love having handprints on my windows and extra laundry with miniature clothing to sort through. I love Erik's birth parents and think the world of them. I hope to instill their love into Erik as he grows and starts to understand how special he is. I hope that I am the Mom that they would want me to be for him. Erik is such a sweet spirit and his pontential is far beyond what I ever would have thought I would have seen in any of my children. Honestly, not trying to be cheesy, I think he is destined for great things. I don't think he will be the president of the United states, but I do know that he will posess amazing leadership qualities, I think he was given a gift to make others feel good and loved and am excited to see that expound as he grows.

I feel blessed to be his mom and hope that I will be guided to know how to help him be the best he can be. I feel blessed to have a husband and a great marriage to provide that example to our son and hopefully more children to come.

Let me praise S and B a little more. They are such examples to me. They are both individuals that I would hang out with anytime. Being the adoptive mother of their child I feel honored to have been chosen with Lindsay to take on parentingof Erik. Erik may take on our mannerisms but their are still qualities that I can tell he has inherited from them. S claims she is stubborn and Erik follows right after her. I think it's quite comical at this moment in his life. Both S and B are laid back people and fun to be around, Erik was born with a laid back personality. I hope they will know and never doubt that we love them and will never hide anything from Erik. That when he has questions we will answer to the best of our ability and if he ever wants answers from them, we will contact them and let him ask them directly. I truly feel that they were selfless and able to put their personal desires and feelings aside to think about the life they wanted their child to have...........I will forever be grateful!

Mother

Although this is late, both Lindsay and I wouldn't be the people we are without the wonderful way we were raised by our mothers! We love you moms!

I am the luckiest girl alive. My husband rocks my world and feel so lucky that he chose to spend eternity with ME! And I am also so lucky that S and B chose me to be the cutest little boys Mother. Motherhood is the hardest thing I have ever experienced but it has also brought me a joy and fulfillment I could never imagine. Our small family is perfect to me. I am honored to be a part.

Highly recommend!

i just got this book and it is amazing. If you are or have been curious about organic eating or eating in a really healthy manner, or just want to know more about sprouting whole grains and using them for baking this book is the one. It recommends using raw milk and grass fed beef, free range chicken, etc. While this may sound like a fad or just an expensive way to eat, well more expensive yes, but highly nutritious......you bet! If we could afford to live completely according to the real food diet, our family would. However with our nation how it is, healthy food is much more expensive so we will be picking and choosing what things to get really healthy and which processed foods we will still need to buy to sustain our family.

After reading this book I shared it with a friend who I knew was into healthy food as well and she recommended I watch the documentary "Food, Inc.". I did and it totally informed me and was a bit upsetting but I loved it. The film made me really want to change our family eats not only for health but to help the farmers who are doing things the right way. If you have netflix, you can watch it instantly.