Dear Australia

Why are you so afraid of Halloween? It's just for fun!

One day, at Tyler's office, I asked our friend Erwin "Do people celebrate Halloween in Australia?". This video is a reenactment of his response... No words, just terror in his eyes.

i love my girls!

Kathryn, Clare and Lily (3 of my 4 nieces) sent me a halloween package this week! They sent art, popcorn, and candy of course! I have loved watching them grow each Halloween and it truly breaks my heart to miss this one, I miss them so much. I love these girls more than anything, they are the best! I took some pictures of the art they sent, and am posting some pictures of Halloween's past as well.

we decorated our door!

I love this letter from Clare, even though it made me cry!

Kathryn painted the wooden door decoration!

Clare, Kathryn and Lily's signatures

We would have hung it on our door knob... but we do not have one.

Clare's first Halloween!

Kathryn being silly for Halloween 2005

carving pumpkins 2005

Lily and Clare 2005

19 weeks

At 19 weeks, I am feeling great! I still struggle with nausea if I smell food that is not on my okay list. This week I have been craving broccoli cheese soup and mexican food! I searched for broccoli cheese soup mix for a good hour... they do not make it. I gave up on mexican food long ago... but have learned to make due with shredded chicken, cheddar cheese (even though it does not taste the same) and tabasco sauce. The baby this week is about the size of a mango and is continuing to develop its smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing. The gender poll is now closed, and 66% of you voted boy. We will know who was right and who was wrong by this time next week and our little dude will finally have a name!!!

Baby Bargains

Our cousin Carly sent us the best baby book ever! It has all the latest in baby safety, reviews on all baby products and plenty of other baby tidbits we never would have even thought of. Thank you Carly and congratulations on giving birth to a beautiful baby girl Kavya!

jelly fish

This weekend we walked down to the beach from our apartment. We think it took about an hour. I wore my swimsuit, but soon realized that I would not be getting into the water. There were so many jelly fish in the water you could see them from a good 10 feet away.

Dear Australia

Thank you for Friday family movie night. Every Friday night lots of the tv channels feature different movies. There are usually about four to choose from, so the chances are there is something good to watch. Movies we have watched include: The Da Vinci Code, Shrek 3, Home Alone 2, Fox and the Hound, Finding Nemo, Casino Royale, Harry Potter, etc. Saturday afternoon movie selection is much more limited, the best one we have seen was The Tender Trap.

red kangaroos

Here are some pictures of the kangaroos from the wildlife center. Hope you like them...

18 weeks

This is the start of my fifth month! Our little bub is about the size of a sweet potato. S/he is busy yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing... hopefully, I will be able to feel the little dude soon. I also learned a new phrase: "Up the duff". It is Aussie slang for being pregnant (like "knocked up"). Only 13 days until we get to find out the gender! Hurry up and vote already (Kathy).

all in the family!

All of these animals live together in one big exhibit at the wildlife center. It is fun to see them all interacting with one another. Enjoy!

more koalas

Last week we went to see the koalas at the wildlife center! Enjoy!

Dear Montana

Dear Montana,
I miss you. I miss your bold and abrupt seasonal changes. I love how you bust in and decide it is winter one day and summer the next, it keeps things entertaining! I love that you demand people make note of you, "this is Montana for you", "only in Montana". I am sorry that I never appreciated you enough before, I always thought that a long Spring and Fall would be the best. After all, Fall is my favorite time of the year, but I think I love it so much because you make it interesting. You have to love Fall when it happens or it might be gone the next day. When it is Fall in Montana you are forced to live in the moment and celebrate it for what it is. You have to take a walk and crunch the leaves on the day they fall, or you might just miss out. I love you Montana because you keep things moving and changing whether we are ready for it or not. You encourage us to move forward and embrace change constantly. In Australia I feel like I am in the twilight zone... The seasons happen so gradually that you do not even notice they are taking place. The plants and trees always look the same... It makes me feel like no time has gone by... like it is still June. Montana, I promise to not complain about your weather when I come back. I really do love everything about you!

Clare & Kathryn, Fall 2007

Bozeman - The M Trail, Fall 2008

Fall 2007

Yellowstone, Fall 2006

Happy Birthday Sean!!!

Sean is the best because:

• most of my childhood memories involve his shenanigans
• he is one of the smartest people I know
• he taught himself how to play the guitar and on a good day he will bust out a crazy song
• he introduced me into the high school drama world
• when we were kids, he knew what was on all the TV channels... it was awesome
• he never gave me a hard time for not eating meat or when I started eating meat again
• he is going to be an amazing nurse
• he has two beautiful girls
• he is always up for playing a board game...
• when we were kids he would play barbie with me if I would play blocks with him.... then we both got into Ninja Turtles and life was good.

17 weeks

Yep, I am 17 weeks... the last week in the 4th month! I have been walking for at least 30 minutes a day and doing daily stretches. I want to start swimming... the closest pool is about a 45 min walk and costs 5 dollars per swim... but I think it should be a sound investment. The baby is now the size of a turnip or a large onion. Baby also has fingerprints, making him/her truly one of a kind! I think that I have been feeling "quickening" (a fluttery feeling that signifies baby's movements). I only feel it every once in a while, but it takes my breath away whenever it happens!

Chinese garden

We went to the Chinese garden... it was beautiful and relaxing, but not worth 6 bucks each. We thought it would be a lot larger than it ended up being. My favorite part was watching the huge fish follow people as they walked around the pond.

The Best

My mom is the best because:

• she sends me something in the mail almost every week... and it gives me something to look forward to!
• she waits around on the internet, just in case I am there.
• she always knows what I want and need!
• she makes me laugh... a lot. 
• she is so excited for my baby's birth... even though it will take place on the other side of the world.
• I know she thinks about me all time and always hopes for the best!

Last week my mom sent me a package that almost got lost in the mail (really it was just at the post waiting for me to pick it up) and although she was panicking that my goods would never come... she still managed to send me another one that I got today! In total she has sent me 4 maternity shirts, one dress, one skirt and a pair of convertible pants! She also sent me a book (belly laughs) which I read in about a day and an adorable picture drawn by my lovely niece Lily! I would be struggling without her... Mom, you are the best! THANK YOU!

P.S. everyone should vote on the baby gender poll to the right of the page.... even if you have already told me what you think!