I really would love to sit here and blog about our most recent adventures around the east coast, but I do not have the time. I promise I will get to those as soon as I can...
To give a tiny recap, we've been having a tremendously fabulous time with my family! I am so happy to have them out here with us and so very grateful for all of their love, energy, support and fun they have gifted us with while being here. I have so many fun pictures to share on the blog, but those will have to wait, as will all the stories.
We are amidst boxes all over the house, as we pack up our belongings and bid farewell to Princeton. I'm only writing this quick note to let you know that we are still alive and well, and will leave you with anxious anticipation for future posts with pictures! :)
Meanwhile, today is also a monumental day because Brant will be graduating with his second Masters degree, a Masters of Theology, from Princeton Theological Seminary!! The ceremony will take place at 4pm, and afterward, my parents are taking us out for a graduation dinner. Fun! Maddie has a special friend coming over to babysit so we don't have to worry about her, or rather, she doesn't have to be bored and restless (and loud!) while we are at the graduation. It will be a great afternoon! This will also be a post to come in the future.
So please forgive my absence. I will do my best to post about this past week's adventures prior to our upcoming Hawaiian vacation! Until then...
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Call Us Crazy!
I guess its been awhile since I've really sat down and written a blog post. Too often I wait for opportune moments to appear, with funny stories or cute Maddie pictures. Unfortunately, although many of those have come and gone, I have been too busy to sit down and write a post.
Tonight I am not going to tell you any funny stories. I have no adorable Maddie pictures to share. I simple want to get my thoughts out so you know what we are up to (because we're up to A LOT!).
Our time in Princeton is winding down, fast. Tomorrow will be my last day working at the Children's Center. I am really happy about this. It has been a worthwhile experience, a wonderful opportunity that fit our lifestyle out here perfectly. However, it has also proven to me that I went to college and earned a degree for a reason (to be blunt). I am passionate about teaching elementary aged school children, specifically in the field of special education. I miss it tremendously. This year has been amazing in that I have been able to focus all of my energy on my family. But when I am away from my family and am at work, I find myself twiddling my thumbs and daydreaming about anything and everything, because I am so bored. I need stimulation and motivation. It was refreshing to take a year off from the special education field, but I look forward to the years ahead, pursuing my true career calling.
Where does that lead me now? Well, interesting you should ask. As we get ready to move down to Pasadena, CA, I am in pursuit of a job. I'm not sure what job that will be, but I am eager for it to be in the field of special education. We know I am going to have to work. That being said, I really feel strongly that I need to be working within the field I got my degree in. I don't have any leads at the moment, but I do have some things I am pursuing and am hopeful about. I think once we get down to Pasadena and I become an actual face in the community, rather than an email or a phone number across the country, my prospects will improve.
Rewind a bit before the big move to Pasadena, and we have quite the few adventures yet to come! My family is coming out to our side of the country tomorrow (tomorrow!!), and we are going to be busy with all kinds of fun things! We are heading up to Boston on Friday, where we will spend the weekend celebrating my sister, Sarah's graduation from Boston University. She received her Masters in Music Education! Yay, Sarah! :) We are going to have fun exploring this great city. We've all been there before, but it has been years, so it will be great to go back. We are going to spend the following week in Princeton, NYC, Philadelphia...you name it! We might even make a special appearance on the TODAY Show Plaza (if we can wake up early enough)! Keep your eye out on Tuesday morning...if we get there in time. A week from Saturday, Brant will be graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, with his second Masters degree, a Masters of Theology. Wohoo!! That makes my husband a Master Master. :) I am so very proud of him. He has worked really hard out here this year, and he deserves a grand celebration! It is a full week, but a fabulously fun week that lies ahead of us!
Two days after my family leaves town, we will be flying across the country to our stomping grounds of Seattle, WA, where we will meet up with Brant's family. Why? Well, we will be boarding a plane together, and heading off to HAWAII!! Oh. My. Word. I am so excited! I have never been to Hawaii and I can hardly wrap my mind around the idea that I am actually going to be there in 2 weeks. Wow! We will spend a glorious 10 days, basking in the tropical sunshine and having a wonderful time. Our Hawaiian tans won't diminish too much, as we will be soon living in Southern California. :)
After Hawaii, Maddie and I will remain on the west coast, while Brant heads back to New Jersey, packs our belongings onto a moving truck, and drives our car (and our dog) across the country to our new home, in Pasadena. Where is our new home? We are still working that out as well. :) Details, details. My parents will drive Maddie and I down to meet up with Brant and our belongings, and help us settle into our new community.
Whew! We started this blog up just about 1 year ago, and our lives are still just as crazy as they were back then. Here we are, facing more job changes, housing changes, cross country move changes... but we are facing them in stride. We are scared. We are anxious. We are thrilled. We are blessed. We are filled with the expected anticipation that all of this brings. But we can't wait.
Call Us Crazy!
Tonight I am not going to tell you any funny stories. I have no adorable Maddie pictures to share. I simple want to get my thoughts out so you know what we are up to (because we're up to A LOT!).
Our time in Princeton is winding down, fast. Tomorrow will be my last day working at the Children's Center. I am really happy about this. It has been a worthwhile experience, a wonderful opportunity that fit our lifestyle out here perfectly. However, it has also proven to me that I went to college and earned a degree for a reason (to be blunt). I am passionate about teaching elementary aged school children, specifically in the field of special education. I miss it tremendously. This year has been amazing in that I have been able to focus all of my energy on my family. But when I am away from my family and am at work, I find myself twiddling my thumbs and daydreaming about anything and everything, because I am so bored. I need stimulation and motivation. It was refreshing to take a year off from the special education field, but I look forward to the years ahead, pursuing my true career calling.
Where does that lead me now? Well, interesting you should ask. As we get ready to move down to Pasadena, CA, I am in pursuit of a job. I'm not sure what job that will be, but I am eager for it to be in the field of special education. We know I am going to have to work. That being said, I really feel strongly that I need to be working within the field I got my degree in. I don't have any leads at the moment, but I do have some things I am pursuing and am hopeful about. I think once we get down to Pasadena and I become an actual face in the community, rather than an email or a phone number across the country, my prospects will improve.
Rewind a bit before the big move to Pasadena, and we have quite the few adventures yet to come! My family is coming out to our side of the country tomorrow (tomorrow!!), and we are going to be busy with all kinds of fun things! We are heading up to Boston on Friday, where we will spend the weekend celebrating my sister, Sarah's graduation from Boston University. She received her Masters in Music Education! Yay, Sarah! :) We are going to have fun exploring this great city. We've all been there before, but it has been years, so it will be great to go back. We are going to spend the following week in Princeton, NYC, Philadelphia...you name it! We might even make a special appearance on the TODAY Show Plaza (if we can wake up early enough)! Keep your eye out on Tuesday morning...if we get there in time. A week from Saturday, Brant will be graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, with his second Masters degree, a Masters of Theology. Wohoo!! That makes my husband a Master Master. :) I am so very proud of him. He has worked really hard out here this year, and he deserves a grand celebration! It is a full week, but a fabulously fun week that lies ahead of us!
Two days after my family leaves town, we will be flying across the country to our stomping grounds of Seattle, WA, where we will meet up with Brant's family. Why? Well, we will be boarding a plane together, and heading off to HAWAII!! Oh. My. Word. I am so excited! I have never been to Hawaii and I can hardly wrap my mind around the idea that I am actually going to be there in 2 weeks. Wow! We will spend a glorious 10 days, basking in the tropical sunshine and having a wonderful time. Our Hawaiian tans won't diminish too much, as we will be soon living in Southern California. :)
After Hawaii, Maddie and I will remain on the west coast, while Brant heads back to New Jersey, packs our belongings onto a moving truck, and drives our car (and our dog) across the country to our new home, in Pasadena. Where is our new home? We are still working that out as well. :) Details, details. My parents will drive Maddie and I down to meet up with Brant and our belongings, and help us settle into our new community.
Whew! We started this blog up just about 1 year ago, and our lives are still just as crazy as they were back then. Here we are, facing more job changes, housing changes, cross country move changes... but we are facing them in stride. We are scared. We are anxious. We are thrilled. We are blessed. We are filled with the expected anticipation that all of this brings. But we can't wait.
Call Us Crazy!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Maddie's Fancy Dress
A friend and co-worker of mine gave me a beautiful dress for Maddie at a baby shower I had last year. The dress has been hanging in Maddie's closet since before she was even born, waiting to make its grand appearance.
The day finally arrived.
We pulled out the fancy dress on Sunday, as Maddie and I were deciding what she wanted to wear to church. Words cannot even describe how beautiful she looked in this dress. The tag on the dress says, "Cinderella," and yes, she definitely looked like a little princess. The ladies, young and old, at church were oohing and ahhing over our sweet girl. I couldn't complain. :)
So, as if this is a shock, we had to take pictures when we got home. Here are a few of our favorites.
The day finally arrived.
We pulled out the fancy dress on Sunday, as Maddie and I were deciding what she wanted to wear to church. Words cannot even describe how beautiful she looked in this dress. The tag on the dress says, "Cinderella," and yes, she definitely looked like a little princess. The ladies, young and old, at church were oohing and ahhing over our sweet girl. I couldn't complain. :)
So, as if this is a shock, we had to take pictures when we got home. Here are a few of our favorites.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Guess who is 10 months old?
It certainly isn't Brant! You guessed it. Madelyn is 10 months old today! She is growing up so fast and is in constant motion. I am not exaggerating. Our baby girl is crawling all over the place, over anything in her way and through spaces I didn't think she could maneuver through.
Every morning we tear down our living room and create a large play pen area for her to freely roam. No kidding; we have suitcases out to barricade our entertainment system, as she has successfully discovered how to pull one of the knobs off of the amplifier and stick it into her mouth. :) Ah, the joys of rearing a mobile 10 month old. And it is a joy! We are so in love with our little Maddie Mae and are equally blessed by her blooming personality that is overflowing with bubbly excitement, happiness, and loud vocal chords! Yes, it is true. My daughter appears to be taking after me; she loves to be heard, she enjoys being the center of attention, and she will do anything it takes to get you to notice her (which in turn equates to her voice becoming loud, louder and loudest)! What can I say? The girl's got a lot to say! :)
This past weekend, Maddie discovered the joys of responding to us asking her the question, "How big is Maddie?" Let me tell you, she is "SOOOOO big!" We have not been practicing this little game at all, and on Friday, she threw her hands up in the air while she was sitting in her high chair. So, I decided to respond to her actions by exclaiming how big she was. That's all it took. She was hooked! As are we. It is ridiculously adorable to watch her little arms fly up into the air and frame her cute face, as it looks back at you with a smile that can't be beat. :) She is showing me how big she is in this picture, but holding on for safety's sake!
Speaking of smiles, if you look at Maddie smile these days, you will notice that she has two more teeth trying desperately to poke through her gums. She is about to start sporting two bottom teeth, one on either side of the two existing teeth in her mouth. Who knows how many more are just about ready to make their entrances. But for now, it looks like we are about to have 4 total.
Happy 10 month birthday, Maddie Mae! We love you!!
Every morning we tear down our living room and create a large play pen area for her to freely roam. No kidding; we have suitcases out to barricade our entertainment system, as she has successfully discovered how to pull one of the knobs off of the amplifier and stick it into her mouth. :) Ah, the joys of rearing a mobile 10 month old. And it is a joy! We are so in love with our little Maddie Mae and are equally blessed by her blooming personality that is overflowing with bubbly excitement, happiness, and loud vocal chords! Yes, it is true. My daughter appears to be taking after me; she loves to be heard, she enjoys being the center of attention, and she will do anything it takes to get you to notice her (which in turn equates to her voice becoming loud, louder and loudest)! What can I say? The girl's got a lot to say! :)
This past weekend, Maddie discovered the joys of responding to us asking her the question, "How big is Maddie?" Let me tell you, she is "SOOOOO big!" We have not been practicing this little game at all, and on Friday, she threw her hands up in the air while she was sitting in her high chair. So, I decided to respond to her actions by exclaiming how big she was. That's all it took. She was hooked! As are we. It is ridiculously adorable to watch her little arms fly up into the air and frame her cute face, as it looks back at you with a smile that can't be beat. :) She is showing me how big she is in this picture, but holding on for safety's sake!
Speaking of smiles, if you look at Maddie smile these days, you will notice that she has two more teeth trying desperately to poke through her gums. She is about to start sporting two bottom teeth, one on either side of the two existing teeth in her mouth. Who knows how many more are just about ready to make their entrances. But for now, it looks like we are about to have 4 total.
Happy 10 month birthday, Maddie Mae! We love you!!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Easter Pictures
This post is simply for the pleasure of our adoring blog readers who love to see super cute pictures of our baby girl. Be warned: she is really cute in these pictures. Get excited!!
Easter Sunday. As told by Miss Madelyn Mae.
Look at my pretty hat!! I'm so excited about this hat!!
I love how it keeps the sun out of my eyes!
I could lounge outside in this hat all day long.
Whoa! Check out my cute pink shoes!
I can't believe how much fun it is to get all dressed up for such a special Easter Sunday!
My Daddy and me. He's just the greatest! But I'm still the cutest!
Did you notice the pretty bow on my hat?
I just can't decide if I want it to be on or off!
Yay for Easter Sunday, and pretty white dresses, and for clapping!
Here's a good picture of my Mommy and me, without so much sunlight. It was such a pretty day!
We ate a yummy Easter dinner at our friends' house. Everyone was clapping for the camera right before the picture was taken, and it made me really happy!
He is Risen!! Happy Easter, everyone!
Easter Sunday. As told by Miss Madelyn Mae.
Look at my pretty hat!! I'm so excited about this hat!!
I love how it keeps the sun out of my eyes!
I could lounge outside in this hat all day long.
Whoa! Check out my cute pink shoes!
I can't believe how much fun it is to get all dressed up for such a special Easter Sunday!
My Daddy and me. He's just the greatest! But I'm still the cutest!
Did you notice the pretty bow on my hat?
I just can't decide if I want it to be on or off!
Yay for Easter Sunday, and pretty white dresses, and for clapping!
Here's a good picture of my Mommy and me, without so much sunlight. It was such a pretty day!
We ate a yummy Easter dinner at our friends' house. Everyone was clapping for the camera right before the picture was taken, and it made me really happy!
He is Risen!! Happy Easter, everyone!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
I Heart Oregon
A few weeks ago, Maddie and I had the fabulous opportunity to travel home to Oregon to visit our family. My parents blessed us by flying us home for a week-long visit (truth be told, they really needed to see their granddaughter - I was the bonus! :)). We started the trip off with a wonderful time in Sunriver. My sister, her husband, and their 1 1/2 year old daughter, Ellie, joined us for the fun! The only bummer about the whole vacation (besides Brant not being with us), was the terrible chest cold I was fighting. I got sick a few days prior to flying out to Oregon, and as I sit here typing, I am still not feeling myself. Maddie caught the cold halfway through our vacation, and is still fighting the virus. Unfortunately, I believe we spread our sickness to a few of our family members as well...I suppose that is the risk you take when an adorable, yet sick 9-month-old baby is just begging for you to play with her and love on her. What else are you going to do? :)
Here are some picture highlights of our time in Sunriver!
Maddie and Ellie sharing a bath. Maddie had lots to say, and Ellie was fascinated.
Mohawk babes.
Sarah bought matching t-shirts for the girls, that read, "One Cute Chick." They are pretty cute! Its amazing to think these girls will be in the same grade in just a few years, when they are at such different developmental stages right now! They had a blast together!
Grandma Kris bought her granddaughters matching Easter outfits (watch for upcoming Easter post for adorable pictures!).
Grammy and Pop-pop came by for a visit. Maddie and I were also able to enjoy a longer visit with them in Eugene later in the week.
My baby girl loves to swing. This was her first experience, and it was a big hit! We have been swinging at the playground in our neighborhood everyday since we returned!
Sisters and our girls.
Some pretty happy grandparents!
While we were in Oregon, as I mentioned above, we visited my grandparents in Eugene. I was really happy to be able to spend good time with all of them.
I was also very fortunate to be able to spend time with the other side of my family, the Himes crew. We had a great day together, which was kicked off with fabulous pedicures for the ladies, while the men held down the fort with the kids. The only downside, again, was Brant's absence. I was really missing him by this point in my trip, and to be at his house with all of his family made this particularly difficult. Regardless, we still had a wonderful time! Maddie's three girl cousins had an absolute ball being "little mamas" to her. It was so endearing to watch. Here are the highlights of our day!
Adalie (7) and Maddie having a great conversation, catching up after months of not seeing each other.
My time to get away from life for a little while, and feel pampered. Ahhh. This picture is hardly posed...I really was feeling this way. :)
Amber and Martha, in their element!
April, also taking advantage of being away from the little ones for awhile. So nice!
Toes!...because you always need to get a picture of your toes after a group pedicure! :)
Photo opportunity!
Family Picture!
And this is how everyone felt that Brant was not with us...I think his daughter was the most upset!
On the last day of our trip, we went to the park again, and took some fun pictures. Of course, we had to do the same set of family pictures as I had done with the Himes.
And how does everyone feel that Brant is not with us?
We had such a fantastic trip!! We can't wait to see all of again you in just a few months, this time, with Brant! :)
Here are some picture highlights of our time in Sunriver!
Maddie and Ellie sharing a bath. Maddie had lots to say, and Ellie was fascinated.
Mohawk babes.
Sarah bought matching t-shirts for the girls, that read, "One Cute Chick." They are pretty cute! Its amazing to think these girls will be in the same grade in just a few years, when they are at such different developmental stages right now! They had a blast together!
Grandma Kris bought her granddaughters matching Easter outfits (watch for upcoming Easter post for adorable pictures!).
Grammy and Pop-pop came by for a visit. Maddie and I were also able to enjoy a longer visit with them in Eugene later in the week.
My baby girl loves to swing. This was her first experience, and it was a big hit! We have been swinging at the playground in our neighborhood everyday since we returned!
Sisters and our girls.
Some pretty happy grandparents!
While we were in Oregon, as I mentioned above, we visited my grandparents in Eugene. I was really happy to be able to spend good time with all of them.
I was also very fortunate to be able to spend time with the other side of my family, the Himes crew. We had a great day together, which was kicked off with fabulous pedicures for the ladies, while the men held down the fort with the kids. The only downside, again, was Brant's absence. I was really missing him by this point in my trip, and to be at his house with all of his family made this particularly difficult. Regardless, we still had a wonderful time! Maddie's three girl cousins had an absolute ball being "little mamas" to her. It was so endearing to watch. Here are the highlights of our day!
Adalie (7) and Maddie having a great conversation, catching up after months of not seeing each other.
My time to get away from life for a little while, and feel pampered. Ahhh. This picture is hardly posed...I really was feeling this way. :)
Amber and Martha, in their element!
April, also taking advantage of being away from the little ones for awhile. So nice!
Toes!...because you always need to get a picture of your toes after a group pedicure! :)
Photo opportunity!
Family Picture!
And this is how everyone felt that Brant was not with us...I think his daughter was the most upset!
On the last day of our trip, we went to the park again, and took some fun pictures. Of course, we had to do the same set of family pictures as I had done with the Himes.
And how does everyone feel that Brant is not with us?
We had such a fantastic trip!! We can't wait to see all of again you in just a few months, this time, with Brant! :)
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