Adventures in [honda] Odyssey!

Our new four year old baby:

Nope, not the blonde baldy sitting there but the blue shiny thing underneath...

Our new/used Honda Odyssey

Our Subaru was awesome and was a huge blessing but it needed a lot of repairs and it was going to be a tight fit with two car seats in the back. It was time to buy a car.

The facts: Minivans are bigger inside than SUVs, get better gas mileage and run a bit cheaper. The pride: they aren't the coolest/manliest/feminist things to drive. But, call us the practicals, we bought one anyway.

Toyota has a funny video: Check it

The Swagger Wagon

How to Ari-Eat a Banana:

In honor of Rebecca's Birthday...

How Ari Eats a Banana

In the morning, Ari reaches for the fruit basket saying BanBa Bah Bah. I set her on the counter, turn the coffee pot on and give her half a banana.

Somehow, she inserts the entire banana into her mouth... and its gone in 10 seconds.

(This pic is a bit frightening; she looks concerned but would refuse to have it cut up)

Rebecca refers to this as eating a banana "like Ari". Allie, her cousin, eats bananas "like a normal person."

Happy Birthday Aunt Bex!!!

Easter

This year, we discussed the 'traditional' Easter routine and decided that we'll just keep it simple. So, a small basket of a bunny, banana, some raisin-filled eggs and straws for color was all it took to get an "ooohhh" from Ari.

We did a 'hunt' for eggs and our little tee-tobbler waddled to the eggs and exclaimed as she discovered raisins and bunny crackers.

On Saturday night, I read Ari the crucifixion and resurrection story from a Bible that was in her room. She sat attentively as I struggled through the KJV of the story (it was from a childhood Bible of mine) and though she didn't understand, I prayed for her that she will grow to know Jesus.

Instead of a traditional lunch, we used what we had on hand... salmon! It was nice to chat with family and friends as we all celebrated Jesus' resurrection... Comforting to know that everyone else kept it low key this year.

Happy Easter everyone!

Ari is Walking!

From two or three steps taken here by the windowsill on April 8th...

To full-blown walking across rocky-terrain at Zachary's baseball game on April 19th! We have ourselves an official Toddler!

Facts, Futures and [fears]

Optimism: an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome. It is the philosophical opposite of pessimism.

So, here is what we do know...

• Dan has a new job as an Edward Jones Financial Advisor; after successfully presenting himself on a phone interview, for 30+ people in cold-house-calls and a face-to-face interview, he was offered the job!
• His start date is August 8th, 2011 and his location will be in Georgia. North-Eastern-outer-Atlanta region (Athens, Watkinsville area).
• His current job situation is unbelievably stressful (two jobs, no break, no weekends). His new job will be much less stressful, more rewarding and a completely different change of pace.
• Dan's last day of teaching school is June 10th.
• Jenny is still pregnant with their second child (in case you thought it was too many donuts). She is still expected to deliver on or near June 28th, 2011. We are planning to deliver at a Birth Center in the Charlotte region.
• Our house is officially up for sale today; April 13, 2011.
• Houses on our street have lower prices, green grass and have been for sale for months and months. On average, houses sell in 6-9 months in this area. Our realtor is optimistic with a 3 month goal.
• Our house is clean, well-decorated, large and has a great floor plan. We have a garden and woods and a flat yard.

What we dont know [fears]...

• If the house will sell in this short time-frame (for something other than free)
• Where we will be living in August when Dan starts his new job
• When our second baby will come and if we'll be in this house at that time.
• If we get to keep our beautiful and large refrigerator (hehe).

James 1:2-7 Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault , and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

(look at how handsome Dan is!)

Walk This Way

It may seem like I'm walking... but really, I'm just denying the ability.

I'll stand on my own. Take one to three steps. Become really excited and sit down.

Dont pressure me people. I'll do it when I feel like it. You shouldn't wonder where I got my stubbornness. I learned from the best.

I'm very independent. Excuse me, I'll just use my cart and make my way across town.

Happy Birthday Zach!

Five years already? I can hardly believe it. We love you and wish you a happy HAPPY birthday!!

15 Months

Somebody is 15 months! And practically walking! She is taking her little sweet time to walk and its okay, we're patient! Here are some stats/pics.

I'm not really sure how long I will do this monthly posts/updates... I dont want it to be redundant or boring. She's cute and I like to take pictures of her so, I'll probably keep going. Maybe for two years. It would be convenient if this next baby could also be born on the first (of July) so that I could do them at the same time ;)

Some of my stats: I'm still pretty tall. I'm heavy and I have some adorable thunder thighs. I eat my weight in anything but especially love quality proteins like: beans, beef, salmon, chicken, cheese, tuna, eggs and grains. I love bananas and strawberries and will eat an entire banana at once.

I still love reading and my vocabulary is expanding immensely. Some of my newer words are: banana, strawberry, pretty, book, eat (both including the sign language), pray (in sign language), yucky/pfft (for gross things like coins...), bear (followed by a growl), and more!