Current subjects at our house:

Teething baby.
Buying a house.
Pop-up books.
Superbowl XLIII.
Haiti.
Karate (kid) & Kung Fu (panda)
Un/home schooling.
Pressed leaf books.
Foraging.
Swim classes?
2 yr. wedding anniversary.
How to play a recorder/ harmonica.
Malina's feet--size 11 1/2 shoe!
Sleeping through the night.
Saving money.
Metamorphosis.

The Plan

Happy 2010!

As of the start of this year we are going to begin the steps in order to buy our first house. There are many "ifs", "buts", and "whens" but we are willing to begin the process and to be patient. Even though Dave just got a raise we are hoping that we still qualify for some the first time buyer programs. If that happens then we can get a real estate agent and start looking for a house. We would like to stay near the Puyallup area but, due to our price range we will most likely be living a little farther out of town. ; ) We are looking for a property with at least 1 acre and some sort of dwelling on the property in semi-decent condition. After we have found our place, we will start saving in order to build our house with cash. We will still have a mortgage but at least we wont have a building loan on top of that!

This is a grand undertaking for us and so we are doing our best to break it down into smaller, more manageable goals. Our first, is to save money to put down for a house. Right now we have 4% of the money we need. (We also plan on getting most of our down payment from our tax return.) But we will keep posting our progress to keep everyone updated and to motivate us even more. (as if living in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment isn't enough motivation!) ; )

Meet the Howard's: Ella edition

Name: Ella Noeme

Age: 3yr. 5mo.

Sign: Cancer

Likes: Jumping, laughing, sweet potatoes, silly things, singing, dressing up like a princess, dancing, ice cream

Dislikes: being teased by Malina, being interrupted while she's playing, ghosts

Hobbies: ballet, tap dance, and gymnastics at the Little Gym, finging money on the ground to put in her piggy bank, collecting stickers

Malina's favorite thing about Ella: "Ella's not bothering me"

Best known for: confusing sentences: "I took the marker, but I didn't, but I did",

Promotion

Hooray! Dave got a promotion at work and is now the foreman on the job where he works. Instead of having some schmoe tell him what to do, he's gonna be the schmoe telling everyone else what to do! ; ) He has been working really hard for this and it's nice to see hard work rewarded. Congratulations, we are so proud of you!

* "My father taught me to work; he did not teach me to love it." --Abraham Lincoln

* "People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get."--Frederick Douglas

* "The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." --Jonas Salk

All I want for Christmas.....

At Christmas time, we tend to do more fun shopping than we normally do all year. Buying and making presents for friends, family, and little kiddos. Consequently I always see ALOT of stuff that if I could, I would buy because they are on sale at this time of year and it is usually the cheapest price I can find them. (usually). It takes all my will power not to just give in and spend the 100's of dollars I'd like to but, if I could ; ) , this is what I'd buy:

A Homesteading series, which compiles alot of the "home-craft" I'm into, all in one set: www.franklinsprings.com/films/hsbsixpack/

A Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Pretty: http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/product/KSM158GBCA/

Food Processor: http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KFP720OB-7-Cup-Processor-3-Cup/dp/B0007SXINQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1260566914&sr=1-3

Knitting looms: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WUVJUS?ie=UTF8&tag=owlhaven-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000WUVJUS

And always, always, always, I am dreaming about eating at The Herb Farm (yum): http://www.theherbfarm.com/dining/

(The Herb Farm never has "sales" to speak of, the cold-weather just makes me think of good food! : D)

Meet the Howard's: Jackson edition

Name: Jackson Vassar

Age: 3 2/3 mo.

Sign: Leo

Likes: smiling, laughing, making funny noises, being naked, music, being sung to, splashing in the bath tub, Mommy, his sisters talking to him, his dangly elephant toy--when he can grab onto it

Dislikes: being cold, wet diapers, being alone, his dangly elephant toy--when he CAN'T grab onto it

Hobbies: breast feeding, shopping with Mommy, kicking and wiggling when he gets excited

Teeth: teething, expecting first tooth soon

Sleeping: average at night is 5-6 hrs. before he wakes up, although he's slept up to 10 hrs.

Best known for: being a happy, easy-going baby

Thanks

I like Thanksgiving. It's probably one of my favorite holidays. It's not over-commercialized, there is no religious affiliation, and you get to eat. But mostly because, you're just supposed to hang out with your family and be grateful that you have them. Even if for the other 364 days of the year, you're not.

I am fortunate to be the youngest of my family. I say fortunate because as the youngest in a family you do a lot of watching and listening; consequently you learn alot. So I just wanted to say:

Thank you to my Dad, for teaching me to stand up for myself.

Thank you to my mom, for teaching me to set standards.

Thank you to my brother Brandon, for showing me that it's good to be smart; it makes you knowledgeable and interesting.

Thank you to my brother Cameron, for showing me how to laugh at myself.

I love all of you and I am very Thankful to have such an interesting and dynamic family.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ps. Don't ask me to be sweet and sentimental tomorrow--you only get one day a year! ;D