And now... on to our next adventure!

So, as i'm sure many of you have already gathered in one way or another, I have officially been granted residency at PSU beginning fall quarter of this year. As you also know, my plan prior to this was to take year off to gain oregon residency before beginning at PSU next fall. This changes a number of things in my life right now. First, of course, is my fabulous brand new job that has been so exciting in the last month and a half or so. I am very lucky to be working for a company that is going to be flexible with my new schedule and is granting me part time, as a substitute teacher in all of their 6 schools. This is going to be great for me while going to school- have some money and also be able to continue racking up much needed experience points in my field of education. Theoretically. The second change is not so much of a change- it is going back to school, the same school i was going to last year, clackamas. This is the most confusing part for me to explain to people; my getting residency doesn't mean that i'm going to psu immediately, all it really means for me right now is that i don't have to take a year off. So.... i am registered for a full load of prerequisites for my bachelors degree at the less expensive community college. My plan is to begin taking psu classes either this winter or spring. Lucky for me, the community college offers a co-admission plan with the university so i can continue to take what i can for cheap while beginning the major classes that can only be taken at psu. Does it sound like i've explained that enough times to have it down pat? Well i have. Now on to more lighthearted topics, first of which is- why on earth did i just say" have it down pat"? Where did that saying come from?

And now for some random pictures.

My lovely roommate Dosia 

She is 4 days less pregnant than Shannon!

Anthony and Dosia, relaxing after their baby shower

We went to see Trek in the Park. Yup, just like it sounds.

My strawberries are doing great and i have been harvesting carrots for a few weeks now. One at a time

The first half of the wood burning oven Ben is building in his backyard.
 This is the fire pit, the oven dome part
 will be next to and slightly overlapping this part. 

Ben's first pepper!

Aunt Pearl

The few days following the shower and June Bday I spent up in Morton, WA visiting with Grandma Cissie, Shannon, Mom, and Aunt Pearl. We got the exact same hotel rooms we had gotten the previous year ( was that really a year ago?!) at the little motel in town. We had a few interesting small town meals, a bit of pop culture shock from the motel's cable television, and two visits with Pearl. 

103 and able to remember all of our names, names of all of her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, and so on. She even remembered the name of her daughter's favorite chicken. (pet) I have forgotten it, just a few weeks later. An inspiration and an amazement, Pearl is just plain awesome.

My car broke down heading out of town- boo- but the local mechanic was able to fix it up so I could drive home. By unhooking the exhaust before it got to the muffler, which he thought was clogged. Rightly so, but still the loudest, most vibrating cruise down the freeway ever. Exhausting. Ha!

Summer Fun

Well, in addition to the big baby shower a few weekends ago, we also had the June Birthday. Ben came along for the trip, it was nice for everyone to finally meet him. He introduced himself properly by winning the croquet tournament- way to go Ben! I got a special birthday surprise in the form of an awesome tool box, fully stocked with everything that i will need to build -insert super awesome project here-. More on that to come. It's possible that Kim took more June bday pics with my camera than i did, anyways...

Ben had to hold the wood with the fireplace tongs while dad  cut it with the chainsaw. A good intro to  how we cook in our family, we do things the easy way, of course!

Ben is the 2011 champion!

A picture of me!

This is the space by the barn that Shannon has cleared and planted. There were a few  things coming up, lots of weeds! What a lot of work it must be to be a farmer and fight weeds all the time! They really grow well, if only we could eat them!

And the dogs! Holy crap, the puppies are not puppies any longer! Dale, the girl doggie looks just like a big baji, only slightly less trained. They are pretty cute!

And now here's some family pics from the shower, i liked them all so much i just put them all on here, the different facial expressions are all so funny, it was hard to pick.

And now my breakfast is ready so i have to stop. More to come.....

Baby Shower!

Finally, i know! It has been a whirlwind couple of days around here, complete with fun and more fun. I got up this morning super early in order to get all the pics sorted and re sized for this posting. I know it has been long anticipated.....

The baby shower was wonderful. The weather was perfect, all of the important ladies were present. Auntie Emily provided us with a few awesome craft projects and there was some delicious food. All in all, it was the perfect low key party i had envisioned for Shannon. Sitting around after the fact ( dressing up a stuffed monkey in baby clothes) i noticed that the pile of loot was exactly what Shannon had wanted- a few big, necessary things, thoughtfully chosen clothing and blanketing items, but no toys, bottles, binkies, or other plastic items that would surely have had to find their way to island thrift. I think that says a lot about our family and friends- they may have differing opinions about what and how and why, but they are all able to respect and honor Shannon and Adam's choices. Cheers, on to the pictures!

It was a bright and sunny day, which is total sabotage for the photographer. I ended up with some great shots anyway, a large number of pics of the onesies, which i am just totally in love with. Can't get enough! They were so freaking awesome. In no particular order....

The finished product of the bead activity- everyone brought a special bead to string together on a necklace for Shannon to wear during her labor. Luckily we had Kim's jewelry making expertise, this ended up looking great!

The beads, pre- necklace, got passed around in a cup for everyone to see.

Post shower, we used a stuffed monkey as our baby to try out all the new stuff!

Lots of amazing hand knitted items from Anne's Aunt.

Onesie stencils pre-project

I used this one!

Yup, there's the monkey again.

Sophie curled up on all the soft baby things as the night came to a close.

Emily shows us how it's done!

Three generations of feet!

Both of my grandmas together!

Cloth diaper cake

Candles for everyone to light during Shannon's labor. And lovely flowers from Margie's garden.

Dad getting his present ready.  He was sure to include an equal number of blue and pink ribbons, 

In the end, however, the whole roll of pink was used, but there was still plenty of blue left. My father and  I are choosing to interpret this in different ways.......

I am now officially more excited than ever! Only two short months to baby time! I'm sure it will just fly, the last 8 sure have. Thanks everyone for coming to the party and helping us celebrate our fabulous baby and mama, it was a pleasure to have you.