And It's October

I've been absent from the blog world for a little bit (if anyone has noticed).  September came, it conquered?, or it was super-busy.  Trust me, my fellow readers (admirers? what?), I have written so many blogs in my head it would blow your mind!  None of them have made it to the computer however and are, alas, lost to my memory.

So in light of this absence, here is a summary of what the family was up to in September.  It has pictures.  Enjoy.

Bryon worked A LOT last month.  We did get to make it down to Soldotna for Labor Day weekend though.  I learned to can salmon (which is awesome).  We canned enough to eat canned salmon once a week for a year if we wanted to.  We had a great time spending time with the family!

Lot of fun was had by all!  Anything involving cake, cats, salmon, and goats has to be fun!

Asher has been super-busy as well.  At the beginning of the month, he went on an overnight camp-out with his fifth grade class and had lots of fun.  The canoeing was his favorite activity.  He still talks about it (and how all activities would be better if they just had canoeing).  Rowan and I went out to hang out with him during the day.  I helped make spaghetti for dinner.  I have never seen (or made) that much pasta in my life!

My two boys having fun!

Asher has also been busy with his cub scout pack.  They are in the midst of selling popcorn (and we must get on it and get some sold!).  Rowan and I had another opportunity to hang out with Asher at a cub scout event.  We went geocaching at the Chena Lakes Recreation Area.  It was a neat activity, kinda like a modern day treasure hunt.  I look forward to making this a family activity sometime.

Asher trying to work our GPS (note to self, figure out how to use it outside of the car for  the next time...)

Rowan had his four-month well-child check and shots towards the beginning of September.  He turned four months old on Sept 19.  I can't believe it!  He is growing up sooo quickly.  He is on the right track though, gaining weight and inches.  My favorite Rowan milestone for September: rolling over from his back to his tummy.  He is a little talker too.  Very noisy and playful!  He makes everyone in the house smile big!

Such a handsome little man!

As for me, September marked the beginning of exercise.  That's right, three days a week for the whole month!  I haven't missed yet.  While I haven't lost any weight yet, I am starting to look a little firmer, not so floppy.  I've written a whole post about this in my head, hopefully it will make it out to the computer this month!  I've also been living the life of a stay-at-home mom who never seems to spend all of a day at home. We always have stuff going on it seems!

September brought a gorgeous fall to us up in Alaska.  Next year I am going to devote an entire day (or weekend, or month, whatever) to taking tons of fall pictures.  I'm telling you, this was the most vibrant fall I have ever experienced.  It was odd, however, feeling that fall chill towards the end of August.  I'm used to those feelings in October.

Breathtaking!

To wrap it up, I will close saying this: It SNOWED on the last day of September here.  That's right.  SNOWED.  It doesn't matter that it didn't stick to the ground.  It was there.  I'm not sure if I am ready for it.

I will be much more present in this month of October!  That is my goal.

How is everyone else's fall going??

2010 in Color!

As it is now December 31, 2010 I figured now was as good of a time as any to review my year.  I have come a long ways this year (figuratively and literally) and hope to continue to grow as much next year.

I have debated on how to format this one, so I think the simple list format will work nicely.

1. Beginning of 2010- having just graduated RN school my first step of the year was to find a job closer to home.  I was hired on at the hospital at the ER which was super exciting except I was almost fired from the hospital 3 days into my training.  Turns out they don't want to train a nurse who is more than likely moving across the country in a few months.  Through a stroke of luck however I was given a position on the clinic side of the hospital.  I had the wonderful opportunity to help set up and open a afterhours clinic.  This experience was awesome!  It gave me insight into another side of nursing.  It also allowed me to make some great friends along the way.
2. Shortly after starting at the clinic, my then fiance now husband had to leave for officer training in San Antonio.  This was sad, but an experience that had to happen as I know it will be repeated a few times in the future.  The positive of this experience was that I got to spend quality time with Asher, my then future son now son.  While it was a very challenging experience somedays, I wouldn't trade it for anything because I feel that it made my relationship with Asher much closer.  We were able to fly to San Antonio twice to see Bryon.  The minivacations were a blast.  I am very proud of Bryon for graduating from the officer course!



Graduation Day





At Sea World

 



At Sea World



3. After Bryon came home from San Antonio the best thing in the world happened!  I married the most wonderful man ever!  We had a beautiful, small ceremony out at our house.  It was sooo laid back and I think really focused on why we are here:  at then end of the day Bryon and I were married and that is all that matters.



The Wedding Cake Incident



Asher

4. Shortly after our wedding (less than one week to be precise) we finished packing up our house in Kansas and moved across the country to Washington.  Our roadtrip took a little longer than we envisioned and we had a few times where we all tested each other.  It's amazing how road trips can bring out the best and the worst in us.  It was a beautiful drive!  Nebraska took forever to get across, it snowed while we were in Wyoming, Oregon had some crazy mountain roads, and finally we hit Washington!  Upon arriving we spent a few days in a hotel while we looked for a place to live.  We found a cute little house in Spanaway.  Asher made friends with the neighbor kid right away!  Unpacking took way less time than packing did!

Bryon loading the truck.

All packed up and ready.  Good-bye Kansas!

Asher and me at a reststop in Nebraska

My view for the trip.

5.  After settling into our new home, I had to find a new job.  This turned out to be a lot more difficult than I expected.  In nursing school you hear over and over that there is a shortage of nurses and jobs are available by the handful!  Yeah, right.  I applied to lots of hospitals but because I had less than one year of RN experience and no "internship" I wasn't eligible for most of the jobs.  I had a stroke of luck when I applied at an agency though.  Working for the agency has been another valuable experience that I can add to my resume.  It has retaught me how important it is to be flexible!  I get sent pretty much anywhere and every place is a little different.

6.  In July I had an important "first".  I climbed a mountain!  That's right...a mountain.  For the first (and definitely not the last) time in my life I hiked a true hike.  It was very challenging and there were times that I wanted to give up, but I persevered!  Thank-you Bryon for encouraging me the whole time.  The view at the end was fantastic!!  I was sore the next day but I felt alive!

 

7.  August brought about great weather and more opportunities for us to be outside!  It was great to explore so many new places!  Bryon started his work on a more regular basis, I was working mostly full time, and Asher was settling in as well.  We hiked, we biked, it was great month!



I felt like hiding in the tree!




Riding a bike is something that you can forget how to do, but I get better with practice.

8.  September brought many new things to our family also.  Asher started a new school, which he is doing fantastic in!  He has also joined Boy Scouts and has started to learn to play the violin.  I found out that we are expecting a little one in May 2011. We've nicknamed the baby Appleseed because that is how big the baby was when we found out. Bryon and I quit smoking (no small feat, but I am proud that we were able to!)  Bryon had surgery at the end of the month on his jaw.  He had a rough few weeks, grew tired of his soup diet and such, but is recovered now!

Pre-op



Post-op



9.  In October I flew back to Kansas to see my cousin Melissa get married.  She had a beautiful ceremony and I wish her and her husband that best of luck.  I told my parents and sister about Appleseed, they were all excited!  I turned 26 (note to the age fairy, I can stop aging for awhile now!).

10.  November and December brought the holidays!  I have successfully cooked two holiday meals now.  We enjoyed being able to spend time together as a family but missed all those so far away!  We've been able to hear Appleseed's heartbeat, and my stomach is living proof that the baby is growing everyday!  I started a per diem position at one of the hospitals I have worked at for the agency.  I love the floor that I get to work on.



My first belly pic at 10 weeks 4 days, you can barely see the bump!



My latest at 18 weeks 3 days, a lot of growing going on!!

  So that brings us up to speed for 2010.  What does 2011 hold for us?  I am not making a true resolution this year.  I always wind up disappointed because it doesn't work the way I want it to.  Instead, I hope to continue to grow together as a family and continue to grow as a person.  I hope to remember to be thankful for everything I have already, especially when things seem darker.  I am looking forward to giving birth, meeting our Appleseed, and growing as a mom.

To everyone I wish good luck and continued good wishes for the new year!!