Homesteading

Yes, we headed West of the Mississippi and found us a nice little plot of land to call our own. Now, not as hard as it once was, but it is still an adventure.

It's amazing how easy it is to nest when you know you are staying in one spot. We emptied all the duffle bags for the first time in probably all our lives since we both left home. Boxes with permanent labels are like treasure chests being pillaged for the first time. We even got a real live Christmas tree, after Thanksgiving, before December 1st to make the season last as long as possible. Pyper put up a miniature fake tree in her room, one I had as a little girl. I had thought my ornaments lost in the world until I came across some of mine today while putting up the live tree; the only dated one says 1990, I was ten. Somehow we have managed to obtain or make an ornament the last three years of her life, so I guess that's a fun tradition already started.

I can't recall the last time my home really smelled like Christmas. It's absolutely nostalgic and completely wonderful! There's just something peaceful about a room only lit up by the lights on the tree, a warmth that touches the heart.

Decorating our very large tree. 

In and out of the holiday season, I continue to organize and find the perfect place for things. Unfortunately Pyper caught and cold too. It's nice to have a place with no where to go for these occasions. She was a trooper and just has a lingering cough now. Tis the season of germs and lots of sharing!

Little sickie recovering with a video and nap. 

Pyper being a tree too!

Gypsies No More?!

It's been two weeks since we closed on the new house. The first day of official ownership, we visited with key in hand and relished in the realization that it was really ours, well partly anyway, since the bank really owns most of it. Andy headed to work earlier on closing day, so he would not step foot into the house till Monday. 

While Andy was away, the girls played house. I cleaned in the morning and Mom helped me in the afternoon by caravanning three loads to clear out our storage unit. During that time Eileen brought Pyper to a birthday party to keep her out of loading way. The following day, in and out of meals, we moved "hand-me-around" furniture. One item that floats in and out of our lives is a wooden futon. Originally bought and owned by Aunt Lora even before she married Uncle Jeff, the futon came with me to Bellingham in 2002 for graduate school, it resided at Aunt Joyce's for a stent after it made its way back South, went back to Aunt Lora's, made its way to Eileen's bedroom and now it's at our new place. The futon is family and is loved, and I doubt it will go too far. It's fun to have it in my possession again.

By Monday, three days after closing, we had most of our belongings in the house. I had made a mistake and thought Andy was coming home the following day, so what a surprise when he telephoned in. It was a fun evening having dinner with company, then finally being able to have our first sleep in the new house. We all slept in.

In two weeks the place already looks like we've been here for years. We've craigslisted a dining table, barstools, and bookcases. I've goodwilled bowls, saucers, mugs, utensils, organizational units, and a shovel. Other items have been gathered from family members or else saved from a dumpster fate. All in all, we are satisfied having outfitted our home for under $250 thus far. It gives us money to spend on more important things, like building a chicken coop, raised beds, and financing lots of soil. The place is filling up fast and feeling more and more like home each day we are here.

We haven't quite collected all our stuff from its four corners, but everything in due time.

Pyper documenting "move stuff in" day.

Our first meals at the house involved leftovers because we hadn't unpacked anything to cook with, and then we invited people over to cook for the next meal, making sure we had some Champagne to celebrate. Our drink was acutally a "Piper" Brut, coincidently.

Celebrating Great Grandma's birthday with cupcakes made from "The Red Hen" book decorated by the Sprinkle Master herself.

Little Striders

Pyper and Hope taking on this glorious day!

A little over twenty years ago, I was chased down by a tall blond girl named Anna Mickelson on a dirt field during PE. That field is still there, but is now surrounded by a newly constructed middle school. Not certain who said, "you're pretty fast," but it started a long friendship that still holds strong to this day. 

I'm also not sure how I got talked into cross-country that fall of 1993, having been a fast-twitch muscle girl all my life, but I guess friendships guide you in all sorts of adventurous directions. I also picked up basketball and track and field later that year thanks to Anna. I definitely had no skills handling a ball, but I did have speed, which helped me take to the track without too many loosing battles. So we've collectively had our fair share of wins and loses while running around those first seasons together. 

Yes, we have been in and out of touch over the years, but somehow, even without Facebook, we managed to stay connected. 

We've both come full circle, back to our "running" grounds, after lots of adventure individually. We are now raising and chasing little ones.

Today, on this beautiful early November day, we are filled with joy to watch our girls do as we did back when we first met. 

Stride on girls, stride on!!!

Pausing at the big rock on the trail for a breather, and a photo.

Yup, the blond one will always be taller!

Seattle Based, Finally

I finally got the keyboard out of the "tech" box. My fingers can do the thinking now, it feels more like an extension of my brain, which is less choppy than trying to finger type on the phone. 

I've wanted to do an update on Andy's Horizon progress. And I think now is a good time, as many things have come to pass in the last three months.

The first month, back in August, Andy finished his ground school training out of Portland. It was a long month of learning and studying, but he survived it. In his class, we was the second oldest, which meant for a higher seniority number within the company. Age and experience seemed to help Andy get a step ahead of some of the other new hires during this phase of training.

The "Q-400" - training to fly this.

The following month was based in Seattle doing simulator training. At least he was home, but it wasn't easy leaving for "work" before dinner time and getting off at the wee hours of the morning. His simulator partner was upgrading to captain, so he always had a lot of experience to draw from. 

Once "sim" training was complete, Andy started his initial operating experience, also known as IOE. This was based out of Seattle. 

Getting ready for work never looked so good!

In the right seat, looking very pilot like.

Andy's "desk."

During this time Andy was paired up with a training captain, flying the real deal. Andy just finished up on IOE on Tuesday, and starting Saturday afternoon, he will be a "real" Horizon First Officer Pilot. 

To sweeten things up a bit, we got the call today we've been waiting for since he started working for Horizon. Starting December 7th, ironically being his birthday, he has been granted Seattle as his permanent base assignment. So he will be starting and ending his Portland base assignment till then.

So proud of Andy and all the hard work he has put into his career and keeping his family a priority. We wouldn't be in Seattle otherwise. So good to be home!

Monkey By Day, Batman By Night

So what kind of parents are we? The kind that take their kid out of preschool to trick-or-treat?! Well, that's what we did. Like last year, we started the Halloween festivities with a trip a neighboring Merrill Lynch office that goes all out on Halloween. That's where we stock up.  Pyper's favorite treat was a grape flavored marshmallow "eyeball" that promptly gave her a stomach ache. She stuck with her seaweed "candy" the rest of the morning after that. 

I always try to pocket things I don't mind her eating, especially since candy makers are adding all sorts of interesting things in the candies now like PGPR and TBHQ. PGPR is an emulsifier, it stretches out the chocolate so they can use less cocoa butter which is more expensive than this synthetic chemical. Who wants chocolate in chocolate anyway? And TBHQ is a preservative, but it's origin is butane. What's wrong with people!!! Why would they think any of this is okay for consumption?! Anyway, let's get back to the topic, the cuteness that is Pyper!

Monkeying around the office with "Clark Kent" and a bumblebee. 

The weather was finicky all day with rain showers, so we decided to take her to our local shopping center for an early trick or treat. She learned to speak up and say thank you, so it was a good mission.  Somehow she fit into last year's Batman costume, which came up to her knees and was tight around the neck. Anything to look good right?

After every treat was placed in her bag, she promptly inspected it and inquired about its name. 

We had plans to take on the neighborhood after dinner, but then the doorbell rang. At first we thought it was our first trick-or-treater, but instead it was a treat being delivered for Pyper by a neighbor that was filled with Hello Kitty themed crafts. She dismissed all treat-or-treating then and spent the rest of the night with her craft pack. 

We did finally get our first and only trick-or-treater that night, which is always eventful considering the hill we live on. 

 

Selfie Master

So my Half Brother David has this amazing reputation for taking perfect selfies. And today his skill shown as he managed to get all seven of us in frame, on the first try. 

We all met up for Eileen's 31st Birthday, and at the end of the meal, we had everyone gather together for a picture. The picture was taken by a friendly neighboring diner guest, and upon inspection, was blurry and darkish. The lady took a couple pictures. We then stepped outside and attempted to set up the timer, when David said, I can totally do a selfie. We should never doubt someone with legendary talent. 

I'm sure Pyper's expression would have been different if she had not been eating a lemon. 

Candid breakfast shot taken by Cousin Christiana

After breakfast hike at Cougar Mountain with a tired monkey, she fell asleep on Daddy while getting a piggy back ride. 

Rain or Shine

There's just something about sunny rainy weather that's exciting and fun. Love being back in the Northwest! It's nearing the end of October and we get another blast of sunshine. 

An after dim sum jaunt on Mercer Island. Daddy daughter skipping rocks on Lake Washington. 

The ducks followed her all around, she waited patiently for them to move so rock skipping could continue. 

And the next day, in and out of rain on the trail on Cougar Mountain. I think she may be doing a rain dance with those leaves. 

Quite the hiker now. I don't carry her on hikes of 1-2 hours, it's awesome. On this hike we were talking about all the leaves and why they might be on the ground. She told me because it was winter time, which was followed by her telling the plants, "go to sleep, go to sleep." Love this girl!