Salomi and Green Olives

Well, It's official, We're Pregnant...Again! And for the record we are very excited about the next arrival. Just when we thought we had so much space, we had to make sure we kept things cozy. The "NewB" as we have affectionately coined the new baby is scheduled to arrive September 10th. We are going to find out if it's a boy or a girl, but we won't be doing that until the end of April.

Needless to say, moving and being in the first trimester of pregnancy was not all together joyous- but we all survived. And compared to traveling to Nicaragua while I was pregnant with Cecily, Moving was nothing. We have been taking our time, and I have been taking naps when Cecily naps and our friends and family really came through and has helped us so very much! (A big Thank You!)

I didn't have many cravings with Cecily (except Salmon, Cream Cheese and Dill spread--- not sure where that came from). However, with the NewB- there have been cravings. I have enjoyed my share of green and kalamata olives. Yummm! I have also been dreaming about food a lot. This is an interesting contrast to the 'morning' sickness I have been experiencing. Ahh the joys of pregnancy.... again!

We moved!

Rory and I have been blessed! We were able to buy a home! We still can't believe it. We had been looking off an on for over a year. There was not a lot available in our price range, and what was available required a ton of work and money just to make it livable.

However, God provided a home for us that was in our price range, and that has required only minimal repairs. We are still living out on the Peninsula, just farther down. We bought a double wide manufactured home that has three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. We were so crammed into our little apartment that we quickly spread out and filled up the house. It was quite amazing!

We have been working hard, unpacking, painting, finding places for everything and making this place feel like home.

This video shows the house on the first night we bought it. Stay tuned for a tour that shows all our hard work. We have definately had fun painting and decorating. Thanks to all of you who have slaved over the house with us (especially our parents- Beth, Noel, Cliff and Lillian)!

Food, Fun and lots of lights!

On December 30th we celebrated Christmas and Rory's Birthday at Rory's mom's house with his family. We enjoyed a nice meal together, followed by a gift exchange and then we all went to Zoo Lights at the Point Defience Zoo and Aquarium. We had a wonderful time.

The three kids- Rebekah Joy, Rory Austin and Genesis BethJimmy and Rebekah sporting their trendy new clothes from Genesis. They are from a place they visited while with Genesis in Seattle.

Grandma Bear and Austin can't wait to see what's inside their presents.
Rebekah made plaques for us. They turned out very cute. Ours has a house on it-- to go up in our new home. She put a cat on Mamma Bears, because Hobos used to draw cats in train stations where there were a nice woman lived-- so that the Hobos would know that they could go there and have a good meal and experience hospitality. (Sorry if I butchered that Rebekah)

Genesis retrieved gifts from under our little tree.
Mr. V and Jimmy opening their gifts.
Duck Tales! Whooo whooo! Does Rory look a little excited or is it just me?

Here Rory is singing the Duck Tales theme song with the help of Rebekah. They used to watch that cartoon together as kids.
Here are the two Austins. Rory Austin showing the awesome tie that Austin picked out all by himself. (As well as a very nice shirt from Jimmy and Rebekah.)

Needless to say-- A good time was had by all. I wish I had pictures of Zoo Lights, but they are all on Rebekah's camera and I haven't gotten them from her yet.

How the Finch Ruined Christmas

Last year Rory and I surprised the family by writing a play for us all to act out. It was called Goodnight Scrooge. We had so much fun making our little family movie- we decided to do it again this year. Christmas 2007's play was titled How the Finch Ruined Christmas. It was definately a whole family production! Everyone had a role to act as well as a part of the production. The play is a spoof off Robin Hood, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and a little of our family's favorite movie; The Court Jester- with a lot of our own creativity rolled in.

Here we are- Rory is Lord Finch (The Ruthless Villion), Jen is the Princess of Quite a Lot, and Cecily is playing The Heir to the Throne.

Phil played Robin from the Hood and also filmed and directed the production. Cara was Maid Marion- The Royal Decorator, and she also designed all the sets. Cara is wearing one of mom's Gunny Sack dresses and yes- Phil is wearing a kilt.


Dad played the role of Friar Tuck and Mom was The Queen of Everything. Mom also was our costume designer. She scored a lot of these costumes from a friend who helps with the Madgrical Feast at the high school.
Darren of course was Little John.

Rory had a fun time getting into character.

Putting on the finishing touches!
It was a long day- but a fun day. We can't wait to see the finished product. It will bring us lots of laughs for years to come. Next year we are going to take a break from the family play- but we are planning a talent show of some kind.

Gifts to Remember

Here is CJ in here chair! She likes to make it rock back and forth. She also has plenty of room to grow into it!
Uncle D got CJ this handy dandy push toy. She had this thing cruising around the house in no time!
Here are Cara and I with our Celtic Women CD's. We are big fans, especially me! That's why when my parent's surprised me with tickets to their concert and a night with my mom in Seattle I was a blubbering mess! The concert is in April- I can't wait!
My mom could not pass this up! Rory loves Puss in boots! I think he almost liked getting the beanie baby more than the movie!
Here is CJ sporting her cute outfit that her Nana made for her!

Here is the grand-daddy gift of them all! A large group (my parents, his parents and sisters) all chipped in to surprise Rory with golf clubs. Boy was he surprised and excited! I could hardly wait for him to open them!!
He is very excited for things to dry up and thaw out a bit around here. Every chance he has had to golf so far has been one of those AMAZING PNW days (You know the ones ... record rain and windshield). But we are hoping he will make up for lost time this Spring and Summer.

Our friend Marie knitted him Michigan colored golf covers. How perfect is that?

Hartshorne Celebrations!

One aspect that always makes Christmas very special- is when the Wilsons are there! Here are Cara (Jen's sister) with here husband Phil and his mother Becky. We just love them!
Surprise! After we get home from the candlelight service we get to open one present. I wonder what that present could be? Wait- it's always PJ's! And we all love getting them!
Daddy and the Uncles enjoyed putting together Cecily's special present from Mommy and Daddy- a Rocking chair. It wouldn't be our first Christmas as parents if we weren't assembling something until the wee hours of the night.
First things first! Christmas morning we always read the Christmas story. This year we read from a book more Cecily's size. It was very special.

Here are Rory and Cecily poised and ready to open their stockings. Isn't Cecily's stocking beautiful?! Rory's mom made Cecily her very special sock!

Mistletoe!

Rory's Christmas gift to me was a lovely Holiday Date! He did some research and found an outdoor iceskating rink. We enjoyed taking a turn on the ice- and we didn't even injure ourselves or make to big of fools of ourselves!
Later we enjoyed a nice dinner out and some time just walking around. We made it home in time for the 9 p.m. candle light service at First Christian that we attended with the family. It was beauriful as always. Here we are all dressed up for the night.
This is Rory in his style'n new suit that our buddy Adam had custom made for him in Korea. It even has Rory's name embroidered in the coat pocket. Very fancy. Doesn't he look handsome?