Early Birthday Present

Mom? Why is there a giant box in our living room?


A birthday present? For me? From Grandma and Grandpa C? Yahoo! They knew exactly what I wanted for my birthday:
Styrofoam Packing Peanuts!



Oh. That's not my present? This chair is my present? I guess that's pretty cool that Grandma restored the rocking chair that my mom got for her first birthday over 30 years ago! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!


Marley 2008


Dawn 1978

Happy Turkey Day!

I did it! I finished the hardest week of the year: Conference Week. I held 25 conferences total: 6 were in Spanish, 2 in Vietnamese, and one in Cambodian. (There was an interpreter, of course, though it would have been easier if I were able to speak those languages!) Only one parent didn't show for her conference. I tried to reschedule, but was unable to reach her. All in all, I feel very good about this year's conferences - especially now that they're over! Woo hoo!

Now for the turkey! Actually, I have to admit that we started early this year. Last Sunday, we were lucky enough to be invited to our friends, Dustin and Cecily's early Thanksgiving dinner. Cec is going out of town this weekend and Dustin's parents were here, so they decided to celebrate early. I wish I'd have taken a picture of the spread (maybe Cec can post one) - it was delicious and included a few things I hadn't had before, like mochi rice stuffing and sweet potato casserole topped with coconut and pecans. Mmm...



We have, not one, but TWO more Thanksgiving dinners to attend this year. This will be the first time in 14 years that we will spend Thanksgiving Day with family (not that the Funkhousers and Husons haven't long been considered family!). We will go to Jeff's parents' house in Steilacoom and have dinner with Jeff's whole family! Then, on Saturday, we will have our final Turkey Day with our "adoptive" family the Funk-Husons:)

On Sunday, we plan to take naps and unsnap our pants. Better yet, we will wear elastic waisted pants:)

New(ish) Photos!

We posted some photos from August, September, and October on our Picasa site, including some from Pat and Cyndi's wedding. Enjoy!

Day Out With Dad

As Jeff's collar bone has healed over the last several weeks (He goes back to the doctor for another x-ray on Tuesday), he has been able to do more and more with Mars. They have gone swimming at the YMCA, ridden the Elliot Bay Water Taxi, visited the Sculpture Park downtown, gone for lots of walks, and taken the bus around Seattle. This week they walked through Schmitz Park to Whale Tail Park, where Mars enjoyed the swings.



Then, they headed over to Alki Beach to play in the sand.



Having this much fun is exhausting!

11 month old Marley FAQs

Favorite Pastime: Pulling up on unstable objects/furniture, bumping head

Special Skills: Grabbing things, clapping, playing the kazoo, blowing bubbles under water, screaming really loud, staying awake - even when VERY tired, biting

Favorite Food: Mom's sweet potato pancakes (I'll post the recipe some time)

Favorite CD: Vampire Weekend

Likes: Peek-a-boo, dogs, books, musical instruments, hair

Dislikes: Loud noises, being left alone, getting his nails trimmed

Locomotion: (see video - however, he has gotten more skilled at his "crawl" even in the day and a half since this video was taken)

Happy Halloween!

Mommy and her Little Pirate

Flying Ninja Move

Grabbing Ninja Move

Raiding the Booty

Little Monster