Thanksgiving in Idaho

I went to Idaho for Thanksgiving. Dave had a six day gap in work so he headed to Arizona the week before Thanksgiving. People have asked me if it is weird to not spend a holiday with Dave and I guess it is, but we just make it work. He actually had to work on Thanksgiving Day so even if I were home we wouldn't of had a traditional Thanksgiving on the day of. 

I came up to Idaho for a week and I just love seeing family. I always tell my sister that I so look forward to spending time with them but I always know the week will go fast and I'll be sad at the end. 

My sister and her husband have a 3 year old and an almost 2 year old so we have to be strategic in planning to do things. Somehow we managed to do some shopping, go for coffee, go to a craft fair and do family pictures. It was a lot of fun. 

My nephew Zachary knows how to give the best squeezes around and I take every hug he'll give me. 

I'm at the airport and feel super sad but I also know I'm really blessed to be able to hop on a plane and see family. I'm blessed that they are healthy. I'm blessed that God put us all together as one big family and for all that, I'm thankful. My nephew loves to sing the song '10,000 reasons' and it's just the cutest thing ever and is also a really good reminder that we really do have 10,000 reasons for our hearts to praise Him.

How was your Thanksgiving?

What was your favorite part? 

Have you ever spent a holiday away from your spouse? 

Let's Move Kansas - A race to benefit the Carol A. Johnson International Missions Scholarship

This past weekend our family participated in the Let's Move Kansas Run. It's an annual run put on by the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, also known as KAFP.

KAFP was the group that Carol worked with so it is neat to support the organization that she served with. Our family all signed up as the, Carl A Johnson team, in honor of Dave's Mom. Her favorite color was purple, which is why we most of us are in purple gear of some kind.

Something we are honored to share in, is that part of the benefits from this run go to the Carol A. Johnson MD Family Medicine International Mission Scholarship. This scholarship provides funding for one resident each year to go on an international medical mission trip. It's a blessing to know that Carol's passion for sharing the gospel of Christ as well as meeting physical needs for others will be continued through these residents.

The race was a 5k run as well as a 1.5 mile walk. I really wanted to run but Dave took a look at my foot and told me I would be better off walking and not impacting my foot after having the cut I had. I got my race entry switched into Dave's name and he ran a 22:30ish 5k. He wasn't happy with his time as that is slow for him and I just eye roll. I'd love to run a 22:30! ;) He didn't train due to having a cold so I am sure that he will be faster after a bit of training.

All in all it was a really great day and I'm thankful we have this opportunity to remember Dave's Mom. I'm pretty sure I'm always delayed in grieving things because this year I have missed Carol more than ever. There are questions about her time in Burma I'd like to ask her. I'd love for her to know I married her son. I'd love for her to be at holidays with us. I'm sad for myself and for my family,  but I do know these feelings are part of life when someone is no longer here. But then I think of heaven and how great she has it and I'm so so glad for her! To be with Jesus in heaven will just be amazing and I'm so glad she is there with Him.

I don't have many pictures in this post because I made another video. It's been fun to make videos. Also, I'm trying to get familiar with it so I can make one for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. =)

A week in Whidbey Island

Last week I went up to Whidbey Island (which is just 1 1/2 hours north of Seattle) to babysit my nephew and niece for a week. My sister-in-law is in the Reserves and had to get some work hours in and my brother is deployed (was deployed actually, as he got home yesterday)! 

I originally wanted to stay in Seattle for a night to do all the touristy stuff I love but Seafair was going on and rooms were $250 a night and there is no way I was going to pay that. I looked into AirBnb and the options were really weird, like I'd have to sleep in a studio apartment with people...no thanks! So I got into Seattle and took a shuttle up to Whidbey. 

The shuttle ride itself is actually pretty fun. They drive you by downtown and then you take a ferry across the water. The ferries of Washington commute 23 million people a year, Dave and I just watched a documentary on this last night. Once on the island you commute north and it really does look like Prince Edward Island from Anne of Green Gables. It's super pretty. 

Sunday afternoon my nephew and I went to a lavender farm which is about 1 mile from their house. It was really pretty and fun. 

Elliot actually took this next picture. He kept asking to take pictures with my camera so with a lot of help from his Aunt Beka, I'd let him hold my super expensive camera and lens and take some pictures. It's kind of fun to do that with him and I think he took a really great picture.

I think Elliot's favorite part was when we chased each others shadows.

 Trying to get a good picture with a 4 year old is a big job. =) Here is what I got.

My nephew loves a restaurant called The Knead and Feed. Seriously, the best 'cimanon' rolls (as Elliot pronounces them) are at this place. I told him he could get whatever he wanted. What was I thinking??? He ordered hot chocolate, a cinnamon roll (which are huge) and a piece of toast. And I'm here to tell you he ate all of that by himself.

One day we were sitting outside swinging and looking at the ocean and the green trees and I asked him what his favorite thing about living on Whidbey Island was and he said, "going to The Knead and Feed." ha! I then asked him what his favorite thing about his Mom was and he replied, "that she takes me to The Knead and Feed." ha ha ha! I was cracking up!

This little girl right here melts my heart! She is one happy baby about 95% of the time and is so much fun. 

This is what happens when you don't get a baby quick enough from their nap.

Here is another picture taken by Elliot.

At night time when the kids were asleep and their Mom was home I would take my brother's dog and go for a walk down to the beach. It's so pretty there and I just love that PNW ocean!

The only thing not pictured is the one that my sister-in-law, Ana, and I didn't take together. We even said how we always forget to take a group picture and that we would do it but we totally forgot. =( That's okay, next time!

Have you ever been to the PNW? 

Also, for those in the Wichita, area come April of 2017 Alaska Airlines will be offering a direct flight daily to Seattle! I'm super pumped about that. 

A Cookout with Dave's Side of the Family

I know I keep saying this over and over on my blog, and now, I'll say it again: I'm so thankful to be home so Dave and I can spend time with family. It's such a blessing and I hope I never take it for granted. 

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law recently purchased some land that they plan to eventually build a house on. From time to time we go out to the land with them and walk the property. This past weekend we went out there for a hotdog & s'mores cookout. 

There is a fire pit area and we gathered sticks from around the area and built a huge bon fire. We ate and visited and it was so much fun! Their land also has a big peony bush that they let me take and I split that with my other sister-in-law. 

It's also amazing how much fun the little things in life can be when kids are around. Aidan was a lot of fun at the cookout too. 

I had no idea my husband was a pyro maniac but apparently he is...

Hopefully Aidan will just enjoy from a distance and not follow in Uncle Dave's pyro footsteps. ;)

I have no idea why Dave did this but it cracks me up. 

Yes, I do realize hotdogs are supposedly unhealthy for you but who can say no to an all beef one filled with cheese? So good!

   

We think this picture of Static is funny. She isn't supposed to beg nor does she like pictures so she refused to look at the camera.

We tried to re-create the picture that we took of Aidan as a newborn.