Family Reunion 2010

During the days, we went to a local park on the lake that is just above the dam. The girls enjoyed playing with their cousins in the water, and I got to do a lot of reading!



Uncle Chris took us out on his boat. After taking off and getting a fair distance from the docks, his engine started acting funny, and then cut out. He had me a bit worried when he began looking at the docks, seemingly calculating the swimming distance. But alas, he started it again, and we went back. I think he was running low on fuel....

We drove up above Coulee City for a nice view of the dam at a distance!

There is a very odd structure at the lookout, and the grandkids all posed with the grandparents for a photo. Of course, our children were the only difficult ones for this photo shoot!

Grand Coulee Dam Family Vacation

In mid-August, Jared's parents came for a visit, and took Ella home to Washington with them. That means we had 1 1/2 weeks of quiet in the house, because Maiya had no one to fight with!!

We then packed up the van, and enjoyed a full-days' drive up to Washington, where we met up with Ella once again.

Maiya helped to entertain Ethan in the car...


Next, we took a short drive up to the Grand Coulee Dam area. We enjoyed a family reunion at a lovely house that we rented for the weekend. We took a free tour of the dam...

The whole crew (minus Ethan...who was sleeping in his car seat)...

Day 30 - My Dream for the Future

I dream that someday I will be the person I want to be...

I will work less, play more.

I will criticize less, love more.

I will shy away less, and step forward more.

I will lecture less, inspire more.

I will begrudge less, forgive more.

I will doubt less, trust more.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Thanks for reading, folks. Sorry it took a lot longer than 30 days...

Day 29 - My hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days

I hope to:

Be more patient with my children, and find more time to play with them.

Make new friends, yet keep the old.

Get back to my pre-baby fitness level.

I dream to:

Move to Mexico and start a new full-time life (as opposed to living in places seasonally) for the first time EVER in my married life!!

Travel and see new places in Mexico, and learn more about the Mexican culture.

I Plan to:

Continue growing my sales rep business, and attain even more accounts.

Pay off all my debts.

Learn Spanish.

Expand my wholesale business (flower jewelry)

Build a food storage

Begin saving for a home to buy with cash in the next 5 years

Day 28 - What's in my Handbag/Purse?

I've never been much of one to carry a purse. Ugh. I hate them. I have one smallish travel-style purse (given to me by my parents over 8 years ago!), and if I go out with it...you will find my wallet, Vaseline, toothpicks (for Jared), and perhaps a random assortment of things I've forgotten to clear out (napkins, receipts, etc).

I also have a diaper bag (a beautiful Vera Bradley bag

my Mom gave me 5 years ago), and it has been very well used (i.e. It has seen better days!). Of course, if I'm out with the diaper bag, it carries the baby essentials...wipes, diapers, and a change of clothes. And my wallet, and likely Jared's wallet.

But the MOST IMPORTANT thing to have in the diaper bag is DEFINITELY Vaseline. I might have a breakdown if I leave the house without it.

Yeah, I know...I'm addicted.

Day 27 - My Worst Habit

A few funny habits I have...

#1 - I type things on my fingers. I've learned to do it so that you can't see my fingers moving, but the muscles are being used, and I type uncontrollably at times. I used to type numbers and conversations. Now, I find myself simply typing myself messages. The typical messages I type to myself are: "What the heck?" "Are you kidding me?" Seriously...I have no idea why and how...but when I catch myself typing, I usually discover that I am typing this to myself. WEIRD.

#2 - I play with my hair. I finger through my hair strand by strand, looking for the "crinkly" hairs...the super-curly ones. I used to pull them out, but I've stopped that. Now, if I pull a hair out, it is only because I have been playing with that super curly one for too long! Again, I can't stop myself from playing with my hair strands.

#3 - Every since we left Georgia this Spring, I have been obsessed with ice. I blamed it on the pregnancy, but I still haven't gotten over the craving. I was chewing ice all the time, and I began to worry about the health of my teeth. So, now I only allow myself to suck on ice, instead of chewing it. If you see me reaching into a glass of water to get my ice--I am sorry. I just can't help it.

Day 25 & 26 - My Day & Week in Great Detail

Let me sum up my daily life without wasting much of your precious time...

Up at 7:40

Send Ella off to the bus

Feed Baby

Get on computer--catch up on emails

Baby down for nap

Answer emails and go to work on the computer

11:30am

Feed Baby

Feed Ella & Maiya

Baby down for a nap

Again--back on the computer--working. Finding new accounts, emailing existing accounts, working on the website, packing jewelry orders, etc.

Baby down for a nap

3:30pm

Feed Baby

Start thinking about dinner (If I'm lucky, I'll make it now so I don't have to worry about it later)

Back to work

Baby down for a nap

7:00pm

Feed Baby

Eat Dinner

Chase Ella & Maiya around the neighborhood. Try to make them eat dinner.

Bathe the girls

Brush their teeth

Wrestle them to bed

Baby down for a nap
9:45pm

Feed Baby

Go on an hour walk with Jared, if I'm lucky

Come home

Crash

Repeat

Anyhow--life is a daily struggle of balancing kids at home with work at home. Some days they fit well together, and other days it is a struggle!