End of a great summer

So it's officially the end of summer. It always makes me sad when the summer comes to an end. Living in Oregon it means, here comes the rain. Is it just me or was this summer's weather quite weird? Rain, cold, only about a weeks worth of "HOT" weather.

My family and I survived another family beach trip...sort of. There were a few bumps in the road but overall we made our crappy weather at the beach a fun time.

The stormy weather didn't stop us from swimming

Flying Brian's kite

Or most of all going out and enjoying ourselves

It was a great vacation, much needed. Brian just had an absolute ball and really enjoyed himself this year. It was fun to see him feed the ducks in the morning. He woud laugh so hard when the ducks would put their heads in the water and stick their butts up in the air.

This weekend we went to Portland, and my parents, brother, his girlfriend and their son took Brian on The Max and went to the Zoo to see the Dino exhibit.

He had a great time and really got a kick out of the all the dinosaur's. He wanted to touch them and have them bite him.


I'm glad this summer I made the choices I have for Brian and I. We go to do a lot of fun things and we both had a great summer. Cant wait for March when we go to Hawaii.

The things that come and bite you....

Had to share this quick little story about Brian last night...

I am in the kitchen moving all of the stuff off the counter to clean and get ready for the new counter tops, sink, faucet and microwave to be installed today. My child who loves to clean is helping me wipe down the counter top, I am focused on getting stuff done while my son says..

"Mom"
I than reply "What"
He says "Mom"
I than say "What"
He says "Mom"
At this point I get the picture that he wants me to look at him when he says "Mom"....Do I look, of course not, I reply with...lets all say it together now.... "What"
He gets down off the stool walks over to me to where I am looking at him snaps his finger (he tried) and says "FOCUS"
After I am trying to hold back the laughter and the annoyance of him I put the toaster down, LOOK at him and said "What Bossy!!"
He than stands there points his finger and says "Don't be a Smart Mouth"

I lost it....I walked into my room and laughed. I couldn't take it anymore. The only thing I could come up with is it's my own fault.

I still don't know what he wanted. Go figure. Kids are like fish...they have the 3 second memories.

UPDATE!!

Long time no blog huh?

It's been quite a while since I have updated my blog. Lots of stuff has been going on and lots to update you all on. I do have to admit I have missed updating everyone on Brian and I.

Brian and I are now settled here in the Valley! Though Brian still doesn't think this is his home...he still refers to grandma and grandpa's as "his house". I guess in an odd way I don't think of this as home either...though I know I should, in due time i'm sure.

I love my job. Most of you who know me know that I need things to keep me busy at work. I was at Pinnacle for such a long time and the demand that came with the job was outrageous at times. I have now come into a job that is laid back with friendly students and co-workers people who give you tons of trust and lots of encouragement...something I am still getting use to. Linfield has opened up a lot of doors for me so far and the opportunity to go back to school.

I have just applied and been accepted to Linfield College. I have no goal as far as what I want to do when I grow up. My ultimate goal is to just finish and get my degree. A dream of mine has always been to graduate from College, I thought that dream was over these past few years, but with this new job and the perks that come with it I had no more excuses to keep me from signing up for classes. I will start in September and I am very excited yet nervous....wish me luck.

Brian is now 3 years old and he is such a typical boy. I was at the park yesterday with Brian, he played in the water feature while I sat and watched in amazement. Another mom comment on how much energy Brian had and I said "yeah he is a typical boy" she aksed me "what is a "typical" boy?" I had to sit and think about that one!! I gave it some thought and the best answer I could come up with was "if you have a son you would know"....I kept that comment to myself of course.

He is so adventurous and inquisitive. His mind goes a mile a minute. I sit and watch him at times and wonder what he is thinking about. You can just see the wheels in his head turn as he looks at something. He always wants to know how things work and how he can "break" it and than "fix" it.

He still hasn't grown out of the phase of vacuuming, cleaning or washing dishes. Maybe that is a good thing as teenage years wont be too far to follow down the road and i'm sure i'll be fighting with him to do anything. I dont complain...I just let him do it and make an absolute mess at times.

Brian is the type of boy who has always been "NO FEAR"...the older he gets the more dangerous he gets. He is always ready to accept that new challenge you put in front of him and to jump off counter top. I guess I should have the ER on speed dial now.

Outside is Brians middle name. You can't get the kid out of the water or get him inside. He'd be outside all day if you let him. I'm hoping I wont ever have to use the famous line that my parents and grandparents had to use on me..."go outside and play"!!

2008 and this summer are full of new beginnings for Brian and I. We walked to the top of Multnomah Falls twice (my first time since high school), and we took our first road trip to California with Brian. There have been many more new things in our life and more will follow this year I know it. I am proud of the changes he and I have made.

New Adventure...

I am starting down a new adventure in my life. I was just offered a job in the Financial Aid Department at Linfield College. February 4th I will be starting a new job.

It's been a whirl wind of emotions for me, sad, happy, depressed, confused, all of the above! But overall I know this will be an amazing experience for me. I'll be moving and starting a new chapter in the world of Kristin and Brian.

This is a new adventure for him and I. We will be close to family so I won't be alone by any means, and i'll only be about an hour and a half away from my Mom, Dad, and Brother. I am very devastated that I will be leaving them but it's time.

I am one more step to my major goal....to graduate college. I am almost there I can touch it. I'll be able to go to school for free, I am one more step closer to my ultimate goal. I have not given up on my goals, I just put it on the back burner for a while and let it simmer. It's time to take it off and let it boil and see what great things can come out of it.

I am very sad to be leaving my current position, as I have grown enormously as well as made great friendships and work relationships. I have been here at Pinnacle for 4 years now and have climbed the ladder as far as it'll take me. As you all know I'm the type of person who wants more, the ladder that's been handed to me isn't long enough...I want to climb farther. I have been given an amazing run for the past 4 years and I am very comfortable, but it's time to step out and blossom a little bit more.

Wish Brian and I luck on our new adventure.

POTTY TRAINED!!!!

My little man is now potty trained. Can you believe it?

I am so happy to not have to change dirty diapers anymore. I am so proud of him. He is 2 1/2 now and potty trained. :)

As most of you know about a year ago I was trying to potty train and it was going but he really didn't get the concept. So I let it go and I didn't want to push and turn him away from it. Around the end of November he was showing signs that he knew when he had to go. He would look at me while he pooped for goodness sake...

I made the decision that while I was on vacation during Christmas I would potty train. That's what I did, and now he is all potty trained. He went all day yesterday with the same underwear on, no accidents and even told me at the store he had to go potty. He has made great hurdles into the life of an official "Big Boy".

I have been putting him in a diaper or a pull up at night when we go to bed, but he stays dry all night...Good Sign. So this weekend I will put him to bed with his underwear on and see how it goes.

I'm so proud of Brian!!

We had a great Christmas. Brian of course for spoiled. I mean Hello he is Brian for goodness sake. I can thankfully say he didn't get a lot of toys, it was mostly bigger items he can grow into and I won't have to get rid of in 6 months.

Brian is going potty and poop in his big boy potty now. He is not fully potty trained yet (sounds like I am talking about a dog) but he is getting there. He goes about 90% of the time in his potty. He does have a few accidents but it's only been about a week, can't happen over night. I praise him and celebrate when he does go in his potty, which makes him beam from ear to ear.

We have been working on colors and shapes at home which he is enjoying. He thinks everything is blue though.

He is singing so much these days. He knows all of his girlfriends songs (Taylor Swift), he sings all her songs and he knows them before the second note has been played. It's so funny.

Our new year is starting out so great...hope yours is as well.