Well I've been quite the blog-slacker. I will catch up, at least about my trip to Hawaii, very soon but for now I at least wanted to let any readers know I am finallyback on facebook. So look me up, we can be friends now! ;o) Until we meet again -
Aloha :)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Parking Angel...
Merry Christmas Eve! I still have a stack of "holiday" cards sitting on the desk here so if you haven't got one, do not dispair. I am attempting to get another New Years letter wirtten this year but am not sure it will happen before we spend the week at my parents for Christmas. So.... your "holiday" card, which, take note, doesn't need to be sent before Christmas because it's not a "Christmas" card, should arrive sometime in January.. and before the next holiday, Valentines day. ;) Ahem.
We have had an unusal Christmas this year, and I, being slow to process things, am still a bit awe struck. We literally were not able to budget any money for Christmas as I have not been working and living expenses obviously take priority. So, though somewhat disappointed, we had decided that in keeping with our theme of simplicity we would focus on experiencing the winter holidays in the community as much as possible, and giving homemade gifts for friends and family. There are many free events here in Portland and in the surrounding areas and I made a calender of some favorites and a few new ones to try. The first week in December we spent two dollars for materials for ornament making and set to work. The girls loved it and we let them wrap up the trinkets and decide who to give them to. Typically whenever we had a guest over Eden would remember as they were leaving and would run to get a gift, hand it over with a big "Merry Christmas!" and smile so big. We heard street musicians downtown, experienced the polar express in pajamas at library storytime, cut down "the perfect tree", had friends over for meals, sang Christmas carols for the neighbors, made Christmas cookies, made a gingerbread house with Grandma, visited our special santa (same one we've seen each year since Ben proposed to me on his lap!). We were thoroughly enjoying the season already and then to more than top it off we started getting gifts in the mail, treats hung on our door handle, slipped into pockets.. we really experienced a generous community this year! We received money from an annonymous donor to buy presents for the girls or to use however we wished to make Christmas special. We received gifts from a friends church including gift cards for things both practical and fun. It is a bit overwhelming really. We have already had a fuller Christmas this year than probably ever before and all in the aftermath of months of difficulty and during a time of "poverty". It is incredibly humbling and it makes me want to go adopt a family who is struggling even more than we are and who may not have the support we do because my spirit has truly been lifted and I feel incomplete without reaching out to lift another.
And then a few days ago our apartment manager informed us that another annonymous giver has given up his or her parking place in the garage and is going to continue to pay each month so that we can park there. What?! um, tears. My first thought was one of relief, the safety factor in a busy parking lot with two energetic little girls has been a subconscious concern for a while. But we didn;t even attempt to get on the wait-list for a garage spot because it is an additional $75 a month. Eden and Mila have always loved walking through the garage and asked "why can't we park in here?" Now they say "can we park in the garage again today?!" when we remind them it is ours to park in now every time they are ecstatic. :)
I don't tell all of this to brag by any means, I feel the opposite, that we are in no place to receive all of this and yet because of the kindness and generosilty of our community we have been so blessed. I am uncomfortable that we are so blessed when so many are not but I am trying to enjoy it and allow myself to be inspired to pass it on.
We are off to a Christmas Eve family gathering, until next time, Happy holidays!
-Andrea, Ben, Eden, and Mila
We have had an unusal Christmas this year, and I, being slow to process things, am still a bit awe struck. We literally were not able to budget any money for Christmas as I have not been working and living expenses obviously take priority. So, though somewhat disappointed, we had decided that in keeping with our theme of simplicity we would focus on experiencing the winter holidays in the community as much as possible, and giving homemade gifts for friends and family. There are many free events here in Portland and in the surrounding areas and I made a calender of some favorites and a few new ones to try. The first week in December we spent two dollars for materials for ornament making and set to work. The girls loved it and we let them wrap up the trinkets and decide who to give them to. Typically whenever we had a guest over Eden would remember as they were leaving and would run to get a gift, hand it over with a big "Merry Christmas!" and smile so big. We heard street musicians downtown, experienced the polar express in pajamas at library storytime, cut down "the perfect tree", had friends over for meals, sang Christmas carols for the neighbors, made Christmas cookies, made a gingerbread house with Grandma, visited our special santa (same one we've seen each year since Ben proposed to me on his lap!). We were thoroughly enjoying the season already and then to more than top it off we started getting gifts in the mail, treats hung on our door handle, slipped into pockets.. we really experienced a generous community this year! We received money from an annonymous donor to buy presents for the girls or to use however we wished to make Christmas special. We received gifts from a friends church including gift cards for things both practical and fun. It is a bit overwhelming really. We have already had a fuller Christmas this year than probably ever before and all in the aftermath of months of difficulty and during a time of "poverty". It is incredibly humbling and it makes me want to go adopt a family who is struggling even more than we are and who may not have the support we do because my spirit has truly been lifted and I feel incomplete without reaching out to lift another.
And then a few days ago our apartment manager informed us that another annonymous giver has given up his or her parking place in the garage and is going to continue to pay each month so that we can park there. What?! um, tears. My first thought was one of relief, the safety factor in a busy parking lot with two energetic little girls has been a subconscious concern for a while. But we didn;t even attempt to get on the wait-list for a garage spot because it is an additional $75 a month. Eden and Mila have always loved walking through the garage and asked "why can't we park in here?" Now they say "can we park in the garage again today?!" when we remind them it is ours to park in now every time they are ecstatic. :)
I don't tell all of this to brag by any means, I feel the opposite, that we are in no place to receive all of this and yet because of the kindness and generosilty of our community we have been so blessed. I am uncomfortable that we are so blessed when so many are not but I am trying to enjoy it and allow myself to be inspired to pass it on.
We are off to a Christmas Eve family gathering, until next time, Happy holidays!
-Andrea, Ben, Eden, and Mila
Monday, December 14, 2009
Please just call it "throw-up"
Oh my goodness. At 3:00 yesterday afternoon I was listening to the sweet sounds of Ben and the girls singing songs and playing instruments together. The next thing I knew Ben yelled "Andrea I need help!" and Mila was vomiting. Not 30 seconds later Eden, too, began to vomit. I'm talking all over the floor, all over Ben, etc. they had had a full lunch, you get the idea. So we got them cleaned up, Ben too, and settled on our bed to watch a movie, take it easy. We had no idea it was only the beginning of a night full of puke. Sorry to be so explicit, it's my way of coping I think! Eden asked me not to call it puke or vomit, she said "Mama, please just call it throw-up." But seriously, each girl and then eventually Ben too, "threw up" all throughout the night - more than ten times each. Imagine the muscle aches today! Poor things. My tummy gurgled all night but that was it, so far I'm the lucky one. And the one doing laundry today. :) I texted my sister to let her know and I told her I refused to get sick.. power of positive thinking or mind over matter maybe? I hope so. Still crossing my fingers. The really sad part for me is that Ben (my amazingly multi-talented, not afraid to be domestic husband) had cooked a turkey for dinner, I roasted veggies to go with it and made awesome gravy.. and no one really got to enjoy it! I'm pretty excited to have turkey for the week though. Turkey tacos, turkey alfredo, turkey pot pie... I made up an amazing pot pie recipe a couple weeks ago, I should post it.. ok but there's something not right about a blog including both vomit stories and recipes. Maybe next posting ;)
Ah, my friend just sent a text message saying that her whole fam is tummy-sick.. we were at a b-day party together the night before. Oh the joys of watching kids play together, eating together, and sharing. Good times. Bad aftermath. Eden has a book called "Germs are not for sharing." Yeah. Well.
Ah, my friend just sent a text message saying that her whole fam is tummy-sick.. we were at a b-day party together the night before. Oh the joys of watching kids play together, eating together, and sharing. Good times. Bad aftermath. Eden has a book called "Germs are not for sharing." Yeah. Well.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Productivity, potty-training, and my new blog!
Ben had Friday off which gave us a three day weekend. Yay! Eden went to Nina's for the day and Mila stayed home. It was a very productive day. Ben got journal work done, I updated and hand-delivered my resume for a job I am interested in. Ben and I got to talk about things that matter. We also got to watch "The Kite Runner" together. Good movie. Even better book, I hear. It is now on my to-read list. Mila got some Daddy-coffeeshop time, some Mama time, and plenty of personal space and playtime. Eden got to go on a playdate, visit an indoor park, "help" Auntie Nina with her baby cousin, Jude (who just turned six months old btw!) and both girls benefited from having some separation I think. They really have become so close, best of friends these days, but everyone needs space once in a while. Btw I am hopeful we will soon be using diapers only at night as Mila is potty-training herself (insists on underwear and only had two accidents in the past two days!) and we've discovered Eden's potty issues are biological in nature and with treatment she should be back on track in three to six months. I'm so excited!
Today, although they went to bed after nine o'clock, the girls got up before seven. When do kids start to understand about Saturdays?? We got the house cleaned up, went to Powells book store, went to Baby Tessa's birthday party, and girls were alseep by seven. Ah.
Now Ben is doing some custom journal work, typing mostly, and I started my new blog! I was needing a place to express my abstract ideas and philosophical thoughts but wanted "Keeping up with the Joneses" to be more practical, down-to-earth. So with Diskord and Harmony I plan to create a place where we can "think out loud" and truly converse about things that might cause tensions and divisions, but which have the potential to unify. And I'm hoping that we will share stories of discord and harmony. Stories are food for the soul. Now I have a place to blog about the realities and practicalities of family life and another place to blog about the world inside my head!
Today, although they went to bed after nine o'clock, the girls got up before seven. When do kids start to understand about Saturdays?? We got the house cleaned up, went to Powells book store, went to Baby Tessa's birthday party, and girls were alseep by seven. Ah.
Now Ben is doing some custom journal work, typing mostly, and I started my new blog! I was needing a place to express my abstract ideas and philosophical thoughts but wanted "Keeping up with the Joneses" to be more practical, down-to-earth. So with Diskord and Harmony I plan to create a place where we can "think out loud" and truly converse about things that might cause tensions and divisions, but which have the potential to unify. And I'm hoping that we will share stories of discord and harmony. Stories are food for the soul. Now I have a place to blog about the realities and practicalities of family life and another place to blog about the world inside my head!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Changes.. must be the weather.
Well we are really coming out of the woods I think. I am physically doing SOOO much better. There are remnants of surgery, scars, altered voice, sore muscles, etc. But all in all I am back to my good old self. Yay! I just sighed big and deep when I thought about what we've come through and how. I suppose I am not my same old self really, among other changes I have a new profound respect for the power of love through community. The power even to heal and to revive spirits. We are now trying to figure out how to move forward on our own financially - Ben is heading a new direction with his education and future work. I am considering the possibilities of work or a masters program and how to balance that with caring for and being present with the girls to an appropriate extent.
And I'm feeling the need for a change here. I needed this blog as a diversion to get me through the past months but it has really been all about me! I am now going use this blog to post updates on the family, more in keeping with the title. For my own personal blog I'm creating a new link. I will post this soon. Thanks for continuing to keep up with the Joneses. I appreciate all ya'll's comments and emails. Time to read to girlies and put them to bed. Maybe after that there'll be a few minutes for talking with Ben over tea and pumpkin chocolate chip cake, then watch the Kite Runner. We haven't watched a movie together in weeks! Remembe when movies were an excuse for making out? haha fun times.
Ok real Jones family updates coming soon, I promise! Until then, happy holidays and keep warm!
-Andrea
And I'm feeling the need for a change here. I needed this blog as a diversion to get me through the past months but it has really been all about me! I am now going use this blog to post updates on the family, more in keeping with the title. For my own personal blog I'm creating a new link. I will post this soon. Thanks for continuing to keep up with the Joneses. I appreciate all ya'll's comments and emails. Time to read to girlies and put them to bed. Maybe after that there'll be a few minutes for talking with Ben over tea and pumpkin chocolate chip cake, then watch the Kite Runner. We haven't watched a movie together in weeks! Remembe when movies were an excuse for making out? haha fun times.
Ok real Jones family updates coming soon, I promise! Until then, happy holidays and keep warm!
-Andrea
Sunday, November 29, 2009
NPR: Church for people like me!
Eating snapeas.. one of the best inventions ever. Just got done listening to "Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett. (for those here in Portland: NPR @ 7:00 p.m. Sundays) I love that show. I always feel more alive, more connected to humanity after listening. Maybe like a church service is for some. Tonight she interviewed a Unitarian Universalist, Kate Braestrup, author of "Here If You Need Me". She is a chaplain to the Maine Warden Service.. random but actually pretty neat work. She spoke of the paradox of life and death and the miracle of love in very practical matters. I found her view of "God" to be probably the closest to my own that I have heard put in words. If interested check it out:
http://www.speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/
Today Ben and I moved stuff around so that the new bedside tables my grandpa made for us would replace the filing cabinets in our room! They look sooo much better. Thank you Gramps! We then put the filing cabinets in the closet where Ben's desk had been (I know, crazy right?) and moved desk to livingroom, more accessable to both of us for writing. Ah.. I like it. No more laptop on the floor. And the best part is it replaced the TV, yay! I will miss The Office re-runs, Charlie Rose, House re-runs, Myth Busters (for Ben's sake mostly), OPB .. ok and a few more too but it is refreshing to have the TV put away where the cable doesn't reach. And I know it's bad feng shui to have a TV in the bedroom but it is tucked away in a corner and tonight we all laid on the bed together and watched Thomas Christmas DVD and laughed and tickled and played before putting the girlies to sleep.. so it can't be all bad, right? As long as some more play goes on after kiddos are in bed and as long as that play involves me getting a back massage... its all good.
Ben and I also made a "discipline plan" which I'll try to write more about later. Then we turned on Christmas music and turned the girls loose on the Christmas decorations as Ben put up lights.. ah, I'm getting that warm holiday feeling..
I'm also getting sleepy. More to write, will have to wait for another day. Real quick update though, I am feeling SOOOO much better these days. Wow, so much better. Also feeling very greatful for all the thoughts and prayers throughou the past few months. Thank you Friends, Family, Friends of Friends and Family. The miracle of Love... It has the power to heal.
To do tomorrow:
* Write and send 4 more thankyous (having many to thank for much is a good problem!)
* Bake bread or make pretzels with girlies
* Get up early enough to have at least 20 minutes "me time", ie. tea, bath, meditation, yoga, or whatever before girls wake
* Take a load of things to Goodwill (we've been simplifying again, our bedroom/bathroom hall is FULL of STUFF we need to pass on.)
http://www.speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/
Today Ben and I moved stuff around so that the new bedside tables my grandpa made for us would replace the filing cabinets in our room! They look sooo much better. Thank you Gramps! We then put the filing cabinets in the closet where Ben's desk had been (I know, crazy right?) and moved desk to livingroom, more accessable to both of us for writing. Ah.. I like it. No more laptop on the floor. And the best part is it replaced the TV, yay! I will miss The Office re-runs, Charlie Rose, House re-runs, Myth Busters (for Ben's sake mostly), OPB .. ok and a few more too but it is refreshing to have the TV put away where the cable doesn't reach. And I know it's bad feng shui to have a TV in the bedroom but it is tucked away in a corner and tonight we all laid on the bed together and watched Thomas Christmas DVD and laughed and tickled and played before putting the girlies to sleep.. so it can't be all bad, right? As long as some more play goes on after kiddos are in bed and as long as that play involves me getting a back massage... its all good.
Ben and I also made a "discipline plan" which I'll try to write more about later. Then we turned on Christmas music and turned the girls loose on the Christmas decorations as Ben put up lights.. ah, I'm getting that warm holiday feeling..
I'm also getting sleepy. More to write, will have to wait for another day. Real quick update though, I am feeling SOOOO much better these days. Wow, so much better. Also feeling very greatful for all the thoughts and prayers throughou the past few months. Thank you Friends, Family, Friends of Friends and Family. The miracle of Love... It has the power to heal.
To do tomorrow:
* Write and send 4 more thankyous (having many to thank for much is a good problem!)
* Bake bread or make pretzels with girlies
* Get up early enough to have at least 20 minutes "me time", ie. tea, bath, meditation, yoga, or whatever before girls wake
* Take a load of things to Goodwill (we've been simplifying again, our bedroom/bathroom hall is FULL of STUFF we need to pass on.)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
I and Love and You...
I'm in love with the Avett Brothers right now! "Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in.. ..three words that became hard to say, I and love, and you." Ben just bought their CD at Starbucks of all places! I'm a sucker for accoustic bands with drummer who sing. You have to check them out..
www.youtube.com/watch?v+Jj8HDe5M-Jo
Ben and I have had some good quality time together as the girls have been at my sister's for the week (thank you Nina and Matthew!!!). We are reminded we need to schedule time for just us each week. We are best friends and we like eachother too much to just live together without making quality time and attention for one another a top priority. The craziness of life can really cloud and scramble one's priorities.
Well this is gonna be a good week:
Jaymie took me to get my hair cute on Friday, It's always refreshing to start the week out with a new haircut. (thank you J! You are always there in just the way I need!)
I have been narcotic-free for nearly two weeks now. I am still having a lot of pain especially when I do anything with my left arm, like dishes, laundry, washing my hair, anything.. but it is somewhat manageable with Tylonal and Ibuprofin and regular back/neck massages! (thank you Ben!!!)
The girls come home today after being at my sister's for nearly two weeks! I needed this time to recover but I really miss them and am hopeful that we will enjoy our next phase of life day by day as i am "forced" to be home with them instead of working, a blessing in disguise, I'm sure.
My long lost friend, Emily, is in town and is making us dinner on Tuesday! I get to meet her new baby too!
Ben has Wednesday off!
Mila turns two years old on Thursday!
My Favorite Roommate, Megan, who I apparently haven't seen in nearly 4 years is coming to visit on Friday! I'm soooo excited.
Then on Saturday Nina and Julia (my sister-in-law, Kyle's wife) have planned a Dr. Suess B-day party for Mila!
Well, the girls are coming back any minute so I should be done here for now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v+Jj8HDe5M-Jo
Ben and I have had some good quality time together as the girls have been at my sister's for the week (thank you Nina and Matthew!!!). We are reminded we need to schedule time for just us each week. We are best friends and we like eachother too much to just live together without making quality time and attention for one another a top priority. The craziness of life can really cloud and scramble one's priorities.
Well this is gonna be a good week:
Jaymie took me to get my hair cute on Friday, It's always refreshing to start the week out with a new haircut. (thank you J! You are always there in just the way I need!)
I have been narcotic-free for nearly two weeks now. I am still having a lot of pain especially when I do anything with my left arm, like dishes, laundry, washing my hair, anything.. but it is somewhat manageable with Tylonal and Ibuprofin and regular back/neck massages! (thank you Ben!!!)
The girls come home today after being at my sister's for nearly two weeks! I needed this time to recover but I really miss them and am hopeful that we will enjoy our next phase of life day by day as i am "forced" to be home with them instead of working, a blessing in disguise, I'm sure.
My long lost friend, Emily, is in town and is making us dinner on Tuesday! I get to meet her new baby too!
Ben has Wednesday off!
Mila turns two years old on Thursday!
My Favorite Roommate, Megan, who I apparently haven't seen in nearly 4 years is coming to visit on Friday! I'm soooo excited.
Then on Saturday Nina and Julia (my sister-in-law, Kyle's wife) have planned a Dr. Suess B-day party for Mila!
Well, the girls are coming back any minute so I should be done here for now.
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