We have been busy!

It has been a while, and I know my weekly updates are now turning into monthly. But I will at least blog about more than one thing, which will make up for some of the slack of not writing so often. It has been a busy time, but also a time of monthly celebrations.

We first celebrated Brandons 26th birthday. We saw Robin Hood, ate at the delicious Cheese Cake Factory and had a staycation at a hotel nearby. I then surprised Brandon the next week and had his mom fly out to Orlando for memorial day weekend.

Following that we celebrated the Lakers Victory!

The last celebration has been the most busy for me. Our baby girl is growing quite nicely and is expected to arrive November 7!

Starting at an early age

For those of you who may not know, I am an extreme book worm. Give me a great book to read I will have it finished the next day. I have a tendency to forget what is going on around me and just dive right into the book. Brandon sees a book in my hand, he knows not to talk to me. (Sorry dear.)

I was so happy to see that little Jai is taking after his mothers footsteps. He loves reading all books, but especially chapter books upside down. Here are a few photos I couldn't pass up on.

For those of you needing a good book here are my suggestions.

1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

3) Wish you Well by David Baldacci

4) Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg, writer of Fried Green Tomatoes

That's it for now. I am on a roll! Two posts in a row.

I'm loving it!

We went to Daytona Beach the other day and it was perfect. We had warm weather, warm water and a son who fits right in. Did I mention Eamon loves the sand, loves it. So here are a few pictures from that beautiful day with a delicious fish sandwich dinner afterwards. (The fish didn't taste like fish one bit). Eamon was sure in heaven!

Welcome to Brandon's world

Brandons first apartment in FrogTown, aka the Ghetto

St. Paul Cathedral

Eamon's cute Hmong friend, she was so adorable

Where have we been lately?

I thought I was going to highlight our lives once a week, but that obviously hasn't happened.

But as of late we have had quite an adventure. We went to visit the land of the Hmongs otherwise known as St. Paul, MN.

Brandon has been talking about going back to his mission ever since he got off and we finally got the chance to go. What an experience.

For those of you who don't know what Hmong is, or who Hmong are they are an indegenious people that live in the mountains of Loas and Thailand. They helped the CIA during the Vietnam War and now there is a huge Hmong population in Minnesota.

We were able to visit some amazing families that Brandon served with. When we stepped into their home, I thought I had stepped into another country.

Highlights of the trip

• visiting my friend and college roommate Natalie and Dave who are there for school.
• Brandon eating squirrel
• Brandon eating Hmong sausage
• Brandon eating Hmong pork
• Brandon eating fish
• Brandon eating duck
• Brandon eating seafood delight
• Brandon eating spring rolls
• Brandon eating tripe (cow stomach)
  
• and Sienna eating chinese broccoli
  Brandon speaking Hmong and seeing the joy in his face as he once again came in contact with the people he loves so dearly
• Visiting the Hmong Flea Market and buying Eamon the cutest chinese silk outfit for $5
• The Plane ride home for which Eamon screamed the last half an hour of the flight and he wouldn't stop.

It was a trip well worth it.

I

Festivities

Eamon enjoyed his first Easter egg hunt. I showed him how to do it and after picking up one egg he was done. He opened one egg and it was over, candy was crammed into his mouth one by one. After he had about 10 jelly beans I said no more. He began walking around to all the other kids baskets and took candy out. What a sneaky little fella. He loved all the Easter candy.

Almost back

It's been a while, but not much has been going on. My little sweetie pie has been sick the past week.

Will be back soon.

Ode to Kaia

I have been meaning to blog about this for a while and when I say a while, I mean since Christmas morning.

Brandon and I received the best Christmas gifts this year. We couldn't have asked for anything better, and my sweet neice knew exactly what we wanted.

We were so excited to open her presents that we were overjoyed and over ecstatic at what we held in our precious hands.

First, I was given the greatest gift of Butt paste, yes that is correct. When she saw it she thought of me and knew that I would know what to do with it. It wasn't for Eamon mind you, but me.

The next best gift was for Brandon to open. To his surprise it was a very personal gift that only he has received. As he unwrapped his present he found a a little cotton ball. Not just any cotton ball, but Kaia's dried blood cotton ball.

When Kaia had gotten hurt and she dabbed her blood on the swab, the first thing she said was "I am going to give this to Brandon." I am so glad to know that Kaia esteems Brandon so much that she is willing to give him her blood.

We just love her!