Spring in Camas

I am very very behind in updating this blog but instead of apologizing I will just move forward from where we are...

September 2012 we moved into our home in Camas, WA.  It was sad to say goodbye to the East Coast but we have been very surprised at how much we have enjoyed the Northeast.  Clint transferred to Banfield Pet Hospitals with their HQ in Portland.  They are majority owned by MARS so he has ben able to stay connected to those that he worked with at MARS but enjoying a new challenge.  And though he may be worried about losing "status" with the airlines...the rest of us are soooo grateful for a lighter travel schedule!  David doesn't ask daddy anymore, "So where are you off to this week?"

Here are a few highlights since arriving in Camas:

• David just finished his first year of preschool with his teacher Mrs. Nuse.  He loved his class, loved it when mom came as a helper, and said that recess was his favorite part.  He is working on writing his name but loves to identify letters and tell everyone that 'David starts with D'

  

  David at preschool with Mrs. Nuse

• David is now a Sunbeam at church and he comes home singing all of his primary songs.  His favorites are: If the Savior Stood Beside Me, Army of Helaman, and Faith.
• David will be 4 in July and he is into everything related to trucks and firetrucks these days.  One of his favorite things to do is sit and read with anyone that will read with him.  We try to keep up on new selections from the library.  

  

  David's walking field trip to the Camas Fire station

  
  
  
• David enjoyed his first trip to Disney World in February with Mom, Dad and Aunt Shalece.  It was a perfect escape from a rainy winter.  I think David would have been happy to ride Buzz Light year and the race cars the entire time.  Clint had a conference for work so we tagged along but enjoyed several days in the park including celebrating my birthday in Magic Kingdom!

  

  Waiting for the Fantasmic light show

  
  

  

  He was super excited to see Lightning McQueen

  
  
  

• Emma is finally old enough for Nursery!! Mom and Dad could not be more excited.  She is a busy/social girl and mimics EVERYTHING her big brother does.
• Emma is our climber and resident 'dare devil'.  She has a few bumps and bruises to show for it.
  
• She loves to sing (or should I say do all of the actions) and some favorite songs are: I'm so glad when Daddy comes home, Faith, Popcorn Popping, Wheels on the Bus, Whenever I Hear the Song of a Bird...
• Her newest words at 20 months are 'snack', 'show', 'shoes', 'cheese', 'mom, mom, mom' (all of the time).
• We are expecting baby #3 mid July and are taking bets on the gender.  I agreed to go for the 'surprise' approach this time around, after I was always the eager one to find out.  I guess with the 3rd we feel we will be happy either way!
• We have enjoyed several visitors and hope to enjoy more in the time we have been here.  Uncle Kevin just spent a week with us as we showed him around the Portland area.  We look forward to seeing many more visitors this summer as we welcome the new baby.

  

  Portland Temple with Uncle Kev

  
  
  
  
  
  

 

 

• Memorial weekend we enjoyed a family 'getaway' to a cabin near McCall, ID.  It was fun to explore a new area and we were joined by BG, uncle Steve and his friend Alison.  The kids had a blast as we explored the hiking trails, went swimming, flew a kite, ate delicious food and enjoyed great company.

Hiking at Tamarack Resort with Uncle Steve  (Emma would not let go of the sticks...very worried)

Love these two!

So there you have it....a quick Kofford update, minus lots of details I am sure.  But, maybe I can recommit  and be better this summer--maybe.  They grow so fast and we are just trying to enjoy every phase!

1 Already?!!

On September 20th my sweet, lively, energetic little Emma turned one and I am not sure where the year has gone.  We had a whirlwind of a summer as we sold our home in New Jersey, took a new job in Portland, Oregon and are now settling into our home in Camas, WA.  Sad to say but Emma's birthday fell right on the days we were moving into our new home.  We decided it would be best to celebrate early so while Grandma and Grandpa Kofford were in town we celebrated.  I truly believe that the first birthday celebration is all about the cake!  Emma did not disappoint.  The first birthday milestone is just as much a celebration for us parents.  I feel like it is a little pat on the back saying..."way to go Mom and Dad you made it through the first year...you might even get a little more sleep this next year!"

Emma is certainly my adventurous child.  She has a little look when you know she is trying to be sneaky.  She moves her lower jaw forward and lets those lower teeth pucker through her lips.  As she does that she also has a bit of a furrowed brow.  She has been walking since 11 months and is certainly more of a climber than David was...oh boy.  One of her favorite spots is to climb up on her little rocking chair, turn herself around and rock.  She is a great little eater and goes ballistic when she sees a bottle of milk.  Emma is in the 70th percentile for both height and weight.

 Bath time has got to be one of her favorite times of the day as she splashes, laughs and always tries to stand up.  She is learning quickly how to defend herself against her big brother.  He is constantly climbing on her or trying to pin her down and she is not afraid to reciprocate with a tackle of her own.  But no one makes Emma laugh the way David does.  There is something about that sibling bond.

Happy Birthday Emma, we can't imagine our family without you.  What joy, happiness and spunk you bring to our little family.

 Just getting started...

We did not know she was a thumb sucker

Tasted all of the colors of the rainbow...quite satisfying!

Bucket List

In April Clint was offered a new job with Banfield Pet Hospitals and would require us to move to Portland, Oregon.  Needless to say things have been a little crazy as we set in motion another move.  We have been married less than 5 years and in that time--3 different states, 3 different jobs for Clint and 3 different jobs for me (one of them now my current job of giving birth and helping to raise our two children).  Life certainly just keeps moving forward and keeps getting better.  Knowing that we have limited time left in NJ and on the East Coast we of course have a Bucket List that we wanted to tackle before we left....

Here are a few we have checked off so far:

1.  Gettysburg

2. Philadelphia and tour of Independence Hall

3.  Eat Amish Sticky Buns at the Terminal Market in Philly

4. Hershey, PA  (this was Nancy's idea, Clint felt a bit uncomfortable since he works for Mars...I told him to just view it as checking out the competition)

5. Harmony, PA

6. Run a Half Marathon in Jersey

7.  See Lion King on Broadway
8.  One more day in NYC as a family (and ride the subway with David)
9. Visit New Canaan (shop at Penny Weights, eat a #29 from Club Sandwich, go to Stew Leonard's)

A few we are still working on:
1. Go to the Jersey Shore one final time
2. See a Yankees game
3.  Eat a waffle from the waffle cart in Columbus Circle
4. Bike across the Brooklyn Bridge
5.  Visit the Natural History Museum in NYC
6.  Climb to the crown of the Statue of Liberty

We did decide that it is ok if we don't get everything on our list checked off, because we feel you need to leave some things unchecked so you have an excuse to return!

8 months

Dear Emma Gloria-


You are 8 months!  As the third child I never understood why my older sisters always had more baby pictures than I did.  But, now I soooooo understand.  Emma I am sorry and I hope you don't hold it against me.  Life has been crazy these past few months (will explain later) but I wanted to take a minute to let Emma know how much she is loved and such a big part of our family.  Here are a few things we love about Emma:


-She is full of smiles
-makes her brother think he is the funniest boy alive
-lets him wrestle her and roll all over her without even making a peep (in fact she thinks it is funny)
-her two bottom front teeth and top two on the way
-She finds a way to scoot into small crevices (i.e. under the bed, under the couch, and under the kitchen table)
-Rolling is her favorite way to get places
-That tongue is ALWAYS sticking out
-When she eats she smacks her lips
-not quite crawling but gets up on all fours and rocks


Emma we love you to pieces...just slow down growing up please.


Love, Mom

Where in the world is Daddy?

Clint has been traveling quite a bit for work lately.  When he is gone David and I look on the map and I show him where Daddy is.  Needless to say it is a good geography lesson as Clint circles the globe.  Sometimes a 2 year old interprets things a bit different that I do.  These are some of my favorite places Clint has been (according to David).


Mom:  David this week Daddy is in Miami
David:  Your-ami?
Mom:  No he is in Mi-ami
David:  Oh....Your-ami, i see.


(So I guess Yourami is the city at the southern tip of Florida)


Mom:  Daddy is on his way home from Dubai
David:  "Goodbye, Mom"
Mom: No, Dubai is the name of the city
David:  Good-bye


So if you are wondering where Yourami and Goodbye are on the map, just ask David!

Bubbles Bubbles

BUBBLES BUBBLES on my nose

BUBBLES BUBBLES on my toes

BUBBLES BUBBLES in my hair

BUBBLES BUBBLES EVERYWHERE!

How can such a range of emotions be captured in minutes?

Blessing Day

On New Years Day Emma Gloria Kofford was given a name and a blessing by her Father. It is always a tender day as a mother to witness my husband be able to bless our baby and share a treasured moment with her as he shares with her special blessings that lay in store for her in her life. Emma really is a sweet spirit that has been such a gift to our family. She shares the names of two or her great grandmothers. She was able to be blessed in a dress that was made by Emma Glover and was worn by one of her aunts (Lisa or LeAnne) when they were blessed as babies. It was a great way to start off 2012 and was a special day as several of our family members were able to attend. Thanks to all who made the trip, it really was a special day.

Clint was able to have his Dad and his brother (Uncle Steve) stand in the circle with him

Grandma Kofford with baby Emma

3 Generations together. Thanks BG for coming!

Proud Aunties

Lola Fely, BG, Papa, Grandma Kofford, Uncle Steve, Lili and Fan-Fan thanks for coming