What a Wonderful World

I hear babies cryin' , I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, then I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!
-Louis Armstrong

Ayla 6 1/2 months, Ryder 10 months

First Family Trip

We headed up the Oregon coast, starting in Gold Beach and working our way to Newport. In Gold Beach we splurged and stayed in a hotel right on the beach and had our own private balcony with a spa tub overlooking the ocean! I also had my first full glass of wine in 16 months! In Gold Beach we stopped by and visited my late grandpa's sister, Madge. She was thrilled to have the company and meet Ayla. We also ate in Evan's fresh seafood resturant called Barnacle Bistro, it was delicious! We worked our way up to Newport and stayed in our time share there. Then we headed to Portland to visit my brother, Jason. On the way we stopped by our favorite winery between Lincoln City and Salem. Ayla liked the sound of the ocean and kept looking at it. She sure clung on when we got close to it though. :) We didn't get to meet up with all our friends in Portland & Vancouver since it was a short trip...next time though!

Daddy's Helicopter

A day in the sun

Here are some pics I took of Ayla in her sunhat that Grandma Lola and Great Grandma Ruth made her. It was fun to watch her experience grass for the first time. She didn't like it much, she wanted to be on the blanket and not touch the stuff! It was also neat to watcher her look at the clover (last pic). She has such gorgeous long eyelashes.

Cuddle Bugs

Look at these two cute little cuddle bugs.

School's out for the summer, YAHOO!

Due to the budget crisis down here I am being transfered to a different grade and school. I will be teaching at Stearns now, 2nd grade. I did get officially laid off on Friday (last day of school) and then got a call on Tuesday getting a job back. I am going to be sad to leave Henley, mainly because of all my friends there and the wonderful families and kids. However, I am really looking forward to being in a building again and this new grade level. There's something about being in a low income school where the kids really need you that makes you feel good about the job you do. My friend, Ann, from Vancouver is going to come down this summer and bring me some of her 2nd grade materials and help me set up my classroom. She has taught 2nd grade in WA for several years and is a master teacher, she's awesome! I did a practicum in her classroom when I was going through my Master's program and that is how we met. So I am lucky to have someone like her to get me started!

Dusty is good, busy as usual. He likes it that way! Still working at the hospital, airlift, and KCC. I think he is really enjoying being a daddy. He just bought a bike so he can ride around on the bike trail here right behind our house. I'm going to make fun of him when he wears his helmet and maybe get him some spandex! haha! He wanted me to get one too but I told him I'd wait till Ayla got her's (whew, that'll be a few years). Or I can ride on the back of his, haha!

This summer we plan going up to Portland to visit my brother, making a trip down the coast, Crater Lake, and maybe some camping. We are also enrolling in a parent and tot swimming lesson class. That should be fun! I've been to Bend once already to visit my sister, Richard and our nephew. We'd also like to take a trip over to Grants Pass and visit Dusty's brother, Sennie and the kids. Whew, I guess we will be busy!

Peas Please

Oh my god, now they're making me eat peas!

Rasin' the kids together

It is such a special experience for my sister & I to be raising our kids together at the same time & them being so close in age. So neat and so fun! Ryder, 8 months Ayla, 5 months.

New Shades

Grandma Ranch got these shades for Ayla. We were laughing because she looks like Elton John. HA!

Great Grandpa & Easter Dress

Great Grandpa Neil holding Ayla on Easter.

Give Me A BIG Kiss!

Ayla started eating her first solid foods this month. She LOVES carrots.

Not too fond of the rice cereal though, we have to sneak it into other things. She sure is growing and changing a lot now. She is rolling over and trying to sit up on her own. Dusty & I are enjoying each new stage with her. She also likes to go go go. She started doing this scream tantrum thing and when Dusty's Grandma Ruth visited she started laughing and said Dusty did the same thing! HA, and he thought she got it from me! We still aren't exactly sure what color her eyes will turn out. Some days they look brown, some days green, and some days hazel. Hmmmm, guess we wait. Auntie Karlene has been watching Ayla while we work and Ayla just adores her. We are so lucky to have family be able to watch her while we work. Only 5 more weeks until school is out for the summer for me. We have 6 days cut off our school year due to the budget shortfall this year, so we are getting out a week early. It is not looking good for next year either and they keep threatening to layoff teachers. If they do that I guess I will have to be a stay at home mom with Ayla and then sub when I want (oh darn). ;) All is well with Dusty. He is still working at the hospital in the ER. He is also the EMT Director at KCC, and most recently he has been chosen to join the new Air Lift emergency transfer unit they brought here to Klamath Falls. He really likes that. There were a lot of people who applied for it and didn't get it, but Dusty did and they really like him! He has been all over in the airplane and helicopter they have. He works as the Paramedic on board, then they have a flight nurse and pilot. Ayla & I went to visit him during one of his 24 hour shifts out at the airport and we got to tour around and get into the plane and helicopter, it was neat. We are a pretty happy little family! :)

Easter Bunny Spotted!

Our little love bunny...isn't she cute!

I'm not Irish, but kiss me anyway!

All is well in Jess & Dusty's world. Ayla is 4 months old now and really doing some fun things like laughing, squirming, cuddling, trying to sit on her own, standing with support, and most recently doing a little squeal/scream when she doesn't get her way (oh great). We are having fun with her and enjoying each new stage. Here is Ayla's St. Patrick's Day outfit that auntie Sarah got her. It is a size 6 months and only a smidge big! Ayla has her 4 month shots tomorrow and we are not looking forward to those or the aftermath...poor thing! :(

Back to work

Well it's back to work for me this week, after being home on maternity leave for 15 weeks. I am fortunate that I had that much time, considering most people only get the 12 weeks. I was able to gain a few extra weeks since Thanksgivng break, Christmas break, a snow day here and there didn't count towards my maternity leave since they aren't considered "work days" for teachers. A nice perk! Here's some updated pics of Ayla, she's 3 months old in these. Smiling away and cooing a lot. She grasps things now and just adores her daddy! She still looks just like my baby pictures, a spitting image! Not sure what color her eyes are going to be yet, they are kind of looking greenish/blue like her daddy's. We are also very fortunate to have a family member watch AJ. Dusty's aunt Karlene will be watching her part of the week and Dusty will watch her on his days off, something we wouldn't have been able to do living in Washington!

Love Bug

This was Ayla's valentine from Great Grandma Bernice.