Meet Baby Robinson (12 weeks)

Here's my belly picture. Within the past few weeks it's grown a lot. Actually, this pic makes it look a little bigger than it actually is. Or maybe it just looks bigger to me because I haven't seen myself at this angle. Sometime within the next couple of weeks I should be able to feel the baby move so I'm really excited about that. On Saturday I went to Old Navy and bought some maternity jeans (10$ off right now if you are in need of some) and some maternity sweatpants. And I've worn one of the two nonstop since then. Can I just say that I haven't shopped at Old Navy since I was about 20? But it really does rock my world right now. So much more comfy. My Paul is so great at taking pics. The baby is his new excuse for getting a digital SLR and I think it's a pretty good one. We will be making the investment before too long.

Check out this hilarious blog. It's a comic strip about a kindergartener who blogs via voice recognition. I love it because I work with five year olds all day. Believe me though, reality is stranger (and funnier) than fiction.

www.beingfive.blogspot.com

Friday Favorites:

I'm going to copy some other bloggers that I admire and start Friday Favorites. My current favorite thing is the Bella Band. I't my favorite because my jeans won't button anymore. This allows you to place a rubberband through your button hole and attach it to the button, you put the band over your button and zipper to hide and smooth out. In that wierd stage when maternity clothes are waaay to big and real clothes are uncomfortable, this is the BEST! I got mine on craigslist. If you pay full price it's 26$, but even at that I think it's worth it.

Yesterday Paul said, "It's definately time to take a belly picture."

Coming soon!

Now Reading: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

I have enjoyed the first few chapters of this book, set in Botswana. That's all I can really say so far.

Walking to the lunchroom with my class I passed a male teacher. He was wearing black. We exchanged hellos.

Kindergartener: "Is he a bodyguard?"

I'm back!

Sorry for the lack of blogs, another one of those blogging dry spells. Open house was a success! I actually love this part. Schmoozing with parents! I used to hate it and I've come a long way. What have we been up to lately? Paul started back to school, I had an all day math class on Saturday (glad that's over), we had a potluck on Sunday after church with some visitors from Alaska, had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, open house. We've been pretty busy. I've been pretty tired (going to sleep around 8:30 or 9) but everyone promises that in my next trimester (one week away) I will have more energy. The thing that's surprised me the most is how emotional I've been. Not normally a cryer. Now I cry about little things (like extreme home makeover). Like I read on one pregnant lady's blog, "we definately shouldn't be eligable for jury duty". And other things too. Paul's not so sure I should even be driving (judgement impaired, you know!). This book has been one of my favorites (my mom loaned it to us), especially for Paul, because he can feel left out sometimes, but he really loves the science part of it, and hearing things like our baby is growing fingernails. He's hooked on it. It's really more of a coffee table book, with real pictures inside the womb. It's probably really expensive.
I had better get my you know what movin' so I can get to the gym and watch Oprah. It'll probably make me cry.

This article claims three - D fetal scans are "dangerously misleading". I like what one commenter said, "These pictures show that babies in the womb are just that - and it's painfully obvious that abortion is wrong."

We are pregnant.
"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life."- Maureen Hawkins

This picture is our baby right now. It is growing fingernails and toenails. It can kick and swallow.



This is a picture of what our baby's feet would look like. More info coming soon. I heard the baby's little heartbeat at the doctor's office this morning!

Paul and I want to get away for a nice, (somewhat cheap) weekend. I mean, we are willing to go to a hotel, but not an expensive one. Do you have any advice for us? Leave me a comment.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches


ME: What's your favorite kind of sandwich?
Student: Peanut butter and jelly...(pause)...and do you know where jelly comes from?
ME: Where?
Student: From a jelly fish. When you tickle it, it makes jelly...(pause)...and the jelly comes out of it's tentacles.
ME: Wow, I didn't know that.
Student: And do you know where peanut butter comes from?
ME: No, where?
Student: Ummm, peanuts.

I thought you might enjoy this picture. This is a project that Paul has been working on all summer. He is interning with a housing development and this is thier first "model" home. The one they sell to people. He has two quarters left until he is an official "construction manager". I'm so proud of him.

Still Hippy
"Teacher, you sound really sick."

"That's because I am."

"Maybe you should go to the doctor."

Yeah, I finally took their advice and went to the doctor yesterday. I am taking my first antibiotics in three years. I went naturopath a while ago and it has served me very well, but I am veering off that path for just a little while. Don't worry though, I am just as hippy as I used to be.

Finally feeling better....

On Thursday I came down with a pretty nasty virus. I spent most of Friday and Saturday flat on my back on the couch or bed. I AM going to work tomorrow, mostly because it's getting pretty boring around here. Yesterday Paul took me to the movie store and the Super Walmart to get some Top Ramen (the only thing that sounds good) and soft tissues. I am going to watch Akelah and the Bee today. By the way, I had a bit of a "thirtysomething" moment yesterday when I was in the video store (I know I'm only 29 but it's close enough). I was standing in a line to rent my video and it was quite long so I had alot of time to space out and watch those TV's that they always have previewing movies that they want you to rent. But this time it wasn't a preview, it was a Prince video, you know, the artist "formerly known as prince" that was extremely popular in the 80's and 90's. There were two teenage boys behind me.

"That guy looks freaky."
"Yeah, who IS that?"

Yeah, they didn't know who Prince was. Now let me tell you, I have never owned a Prince album AND I actually do think he is a bit scary AND we never even had MTV growing up (thank goodness), but, I COULD pick him out of a lineup. These kids had no idea. I am no longer YOUNG. Don't get me wrong, I am not sad about that, it just came as kind of a blow.
The mountain of tissues by the computer is getting high. I finally feel like maybe, just maybe, I could do a little laundry today. Paul is at church now, I'm glad because I think he was getting a little cabin fever with me not being able to go anywhere. He cleaned the whole house yesterday. What a guy!
By the way, this is my favorite product for fighting colds. You probably all have heard of it or have some at home. It's wonderful! It's called Emergen-C. Better than Airborne, I think.

post #602:

I noticed some of my students digging a big hole in the pea gravel under the big toy in the playground.

ME: "What are you doing guys?"
Them: (nonchalantly) "We're digging to find the devil."

I also have this little girl who goes around telling all the other kids that Santa isn't real. You can imagine the conundrum this puts me in. It's a very emotional issue for a kindergartener. She even uses logic, "Well, have you ever SEEN him riding around in the sky?" The other student thinks for a while, "Hmmmm, no."

Yes, and today was a tough day. We had a throwup, a painting mishap, and my nerves are a bit fried. About 40 Clorox Wipes, multiple hand washings and a fruit salad later I'm doing much better. You might think this is an easy job. Honey it's not.

This is a farming community. I'm reminded of that every day. You city folk may not know this, but to a boy in the country, the world is his bathroom. And....sometimes when they come to school they forget, you know, that the playground is NOT his bathroom. And I'm sure after my gentle reminder, he won't forget again.

Permission to obsess please?

OK, I am ready to confess that I am obsessed with Alaska. I really can't put my finger on exactly WHY either. Most of a half hour car ride to Olympia yesterday was devoted to trying to convince Paul to move there. I got on craigslist this morning to look at real estate in Alaska (not as cheap as one might expect). I don't know what God has in store for us. I continue to teach this year with considerably less fervor than in years past (for many reasons). I have books checked out from the library on Alaska, and I am currently finishing this one, about life in small town Alaska. I am also in the middle of another one, Looking for Alaska, by Peter Jenkins (the man who wrote A Walk Across America). There is a chapter in this book about Unalakleet, the village we spent most of our time in last year. I even have Paul reading books about Alaska. He is more attracted to the ruggedness of it, but is still very skeptical about the feasability of a venture like this.
In other news, a Saturday stretches out before me! I love this feeling. There's nothing like working all week to really make you enjoy your weekends. I am really loving the personality of my new little crop of kindergarteners. I won't have to put as much effort in this year for many reasons, only one grade, only 11 students, an aid all morning. It took until my third year of teaching to finally feel like "this is doable". I have to say, I am in a very unique situation that most people would give thier right arm to be in. Class size and environment can make a huge difference. This year we are doing a "reading buddies" program, which I have been pulling for for a while. Older children are paired with younger, reading together and building relationships. I get to have contact with some of the rest of the kids, not just the littlest ones, which is really nice. My kids from last year have moved on, which is a little sad, but I still get hugs in the hallway.
Last night Paul and I went to Olympia, walked on the waterfront, went out to dinner at Ramblin' Jacks (we met my parents there) (Ramblin' Jacks is where we went out to dinner late at night after our wedding, we love it for sentimental and tasty reasons) After that we went to Barnes and Nobles to look at books. Sidenote: I was in the browsing in the parenting section of the store and my eye caught a book called something like "diaper free parenting". This involves holding your baby over a little bowl when you FEEL LIKE THEY ARE READY TO ELIMINATE. No thanks! What scares me is when I told Paul about this he thought it was cool. Anyway, we love B&N for the big chairs and coffee and the fact that you can stay there and read a whole book and no one would look at you twice. I fell asleep on the way home, it's been a long week.
I really should stop not because the laundry is actually piling up over the hamper and onto the floor, and I want to go to the gym too. If you've made it this far in today's blog, WOW, thanks for listening.

The first day of school:

10 am : "This kindergarten is too long for me."

1 pm : "When are we going home teacher?"

2 pm : "I'm glad you're my teacher."

note: this is not because I'm a bad teacher, but because everything seems long after preschool.

Camping: Alicia, Dan, Annie, Paul, Kyle, Anna

For Labor Day weekend Paul and I went camping at Ohanapecosh campground with my family. My brother Kyle (he's a youth pastor) baptized my brother Dan in the Ohanapecosh River.







We had a lot of fun, despite making reservations rather late and
getting a rather crowded campsite.








keepin' away those mosqitos (Mom and Dad don't really camp since the kids have grown up, they just came out for the day)









Wes and Anna








Reflection Lake

My brother Dan and his girlfriend Alicia at the Cricket Cafe this past weekend when we met them for breakfast. I asked Alicia if she wore contacts to make her eyes blue. Dan says, "No, they are naturally beautiful!"

Wesley and Paul in Paul's garden
Paul gives Wesley a wheelbarrow ride

Wesley helps Paul out by watering the garden.

It's coming along, the classroom, I mean. Paul is going to help me can pears tonight. So nice!

No I'm not missing in action, just busy, busy, busy trying to get this dang classroom ready for the first day of school. I am one that gets overwhelmed by the emormity of a task, skipping from one thing to the next, whatever sounds good, without ever finishing one thing completely. So you can imagine what my room looks like right now. Sometimes I even forget mid-task what I am doing. Blogging sounds better right now.
Paul and I spent the weekend in Portland visiting with friends. We saw Letha, Kara, Jason, Dan, Alicia, Dan and Rebecca and Will. Whew! No wonder I'm tired. I also got to make a trip to my favorite store, Trader Joes! I truly miss cheap, healthy food. Letha took us to Mothers and we had breakfast with Dan and Alicia at the Cricket Cafe. Remember the disgusting house that Kara and Jason were remodeling? I can not even believe how amazing this house is right now. It's beautiful.
I promise not to disappear again.

Wesley is growing up so fast. We babysat him the other day. I also took him swimming last week and he put his face underwater! I taught him how to blow bubbles, but I think he ended up drinking a lot of pool water. 

Paul and I took a trip to Mt. Ranier this past weekend. It was just beautiful weather. 

ThE LeWiS CoUnTy NeWs

Right now, there are 28 jars of dill pickles resting on a table on my deck. I am so proud! On to the next. I'm not quite sure what I'll be preserving next. In a cruel twist to my summer plans, it turns out that canning zucchini (sp?) is not recommended by the Ball Blue Book. RATS! I think I will make some Zucchini Bisque and freeze it for the winter. I will post the recipe on Food Love soon. Turns out that zucchini brownies are also very good, we took some over to my brother's house last night, a good way to slip the zucchini in when they least expect it. Muahahaha!

In other news, my Dad called me the other Friday morning (as he often does on Friday mornings, mostly because he is at a garage sale and sees something that I cannot live without) and said that he had found a brand new canoe for a mere 125$. Tempting as it was, I passed, seeing as we already have a canoe that doesn't leak. He bought it for himself anyway. Then I was driving later on that afternoon listening to our local news station, KELA, to a particular program unique to countrified folks called "Best Buys". If you don't have something similar in your town, it's a shame. People can call in, say what they have to sell, their phone number, etc. like the classifieds on the radio. Well, who do I hear but my dear father on "Best Buys" trying to sell his 125$ canoe for 250$ (it is not uncommon for me to hear my Dad on Best Buys as he is prone to this type of deal and wheel behavior, my grandma frequents this programs as well, a family monolpoly, if you will). I had no doubt that he would, in fact, sell the canoe because, well, that's still a really good price for a canoe.

In still more news, my husband just came home. Bye!

For about a week now I've been vacationing,vacating, and I mean really relaxing, because if there's one thing I'm good at, it's kickin' back like a princess. But I'm sorry to tell you that I'm... bored. Officially bored. Now I can't really go back to work because they haven't shampooed the carpets yet and I can't really do anything in my classroom until then. So I'm going to have to find some things to do, which won't be hard. Tomorrow is pickle day, I'm making pickles all day. Yesterday I took my nephew swimming. I'm beginning to be a productive member of society again.

One of the things I have been working on is "beading". I learned how to make this beaded star pattern in Unalakleet. It is a Unalakleet pattern. Beading is very popular there. It's not done yet, when it's finished it will be about three times the size.

Now Reading: "Crunchy Cons: How birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mama, right-wing nature lovers, and thier diverse tribe of countercultural conservatives plan to save America (or at least the republican party)" by Rob Dreher

A Baby Story...

...should come with warnings. "This program contains graphic images that persons contemplating pregnancy should avoid." or "Viewer discression advised" It's my new favorite show to watch while I am working out at the gym. I think it's good birth control. But we've been married for five years and it's time for us to start thinking about children. So we've been trying for the past few months. It took me a long time to decide that I WOULD give up my job when I had kids. It's wonderful to have a job that you love, and teaching will still be there some day when I am done being a full time mom. But I still think I will bawl my eyes out on the first day of school when I don't go back. In case there is any confusion here, I am NOT pregnant yet, just thinking about it.

Our garden. If you come see us, you'll go home with produce (whether you want to or not). This year we are experimenting with pickling cucumbers. So far I have canned 3 quarts. I'm finding that they don't come fast enough at the same time to make it worth canning. So I ordered some from the produce stand. Also, we have spaghetti squash right now. This vegetable really does not get the credit it deserves. I love it with spaghetti sauce on top.

oh...yes...

Five Years!

On my husband....

my husband is reading a book called "Awakening The Financial Genius Inside You"

just what I need. if you got to know my husband very well, you would know that he regularly refers to himself as a genius. i love this self confidence. he inspires me to think the best about myself, the very best, the very best possible. and when I do something genius-like he says, "whoa...lady".
when he and his brother, Dan, were in highschool they decided to start using the word "cheap" hoping that it would catch on among thier friends. it did. "that's so cheap" can mean good or bad. it really all has to do with the voice infection and context.
my husband loves all my friends even if they are wierd. he gets along with almost anyone. except people who throw plates into the street. hey that reminds me of a story:
one time when we lived in portland there was a lady across the street who was throwing plates into the street. yeah, it was a halfway house and she was off her meds. we lived in a apartment on the third floor with a balcony. we shared the balcony with the johansens. it was hot and paul had his shirt off. oh, and I was on the phone. all this to set up the scene:
so this lady is running in and out of the house pretty much hurling every plate in the place into the street. she would run in, get some plates, run out, and chuck them into the street, creating quite a mess.
Paul: "HEY!" (yelling from the balcony) STOP THROWING THOSE PLATES!
Lady: "WHY SHOULD I?"
Paul: "IT'S AGAINST THE LAW TO OBSRUCT THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY!"
Lady: "ARE YOU GONNA MAKE ME? YOU THINK YOU'RE SO TOUGH UP THERE WITH YOUR SHIRT OFF?"
we had many laughs about this (otherwise unhappy) incident. paul went down and helped the other people that lived there sweep up the plates in the street. paul doesn't mind confronting people. and this is a true story. ask the johansens. they witnessed it all.
he grows vegetables because I like to eat them. he takes care of me. i missed him so much when i was in alaska that swore never to leave him again.
anyway, tomorrow is our five year aniversary and this is my tribute to him. he is a man who knows who he is and I love him. right now as i am writing this he is singing a little jibberish song to me.

Pictures from Alaska

I think I am going to have to blog about Alaska in parts, because the whole is just really too much for me to digest at once. Really, where do you start talking about a missions trip and how God worked in a certain place. It's too much.
I actually had never been on a missions trip before. Anyways, I really can't even think of where to start, even now. I guess you'll have to wait.

for more pictures click here

I saw a moose!
This is in Unalakleet. You can see the fish dying in the buildings.

I saw a mountain goat.
I went imprompu sledding on someones coat, in July.
Dad really likes flying in these little planes. Whenever he had a choice he chose the ones with the most stops. We saw some amazing things on the way back from Unalakleet.

I was reminded of a story that I meant to blog about at the time and didn't. My mother in law said she sent it in to reader's digest:)

OK, My friend Sarah bought us Tshirts that say "I love Paul" on them because we are both married to someone named Paul. Our Pauls have Tshirts that say "Paul" on them. It's very cute, I should have a picture of all of us together. Anyway, I happened to be wearing this T-shirt one day when I was walking into Wild Oats (a grocery story)and there was a person outside giving free samples of Silk Soy Smoothies (or something similar). Well, I got my free sample and I was chatting with the young man about his product and then I said goodbye and turned to walk away. THEN - I hear him call out from behind me, "Who do you love?!?" Now, I had totally forgotten that I was wearing the shirt and hadn't the foggiest idea what he was talking about. His product? was it a pickup line? I turned slowly and said, "ummm, silk soymilk?" He gave me the weirdest look, "No, you love Paul!" he said laughing. At this point you would have thought that I would have figured it out. But no. I'm Annie, remember. "How did you know that?" I said. This man was cracking up. Anyway, you can guess how the rest went.

This is kind of fun:

www.praize.com/sgifts

Now I can start my normal life again. smiles. it's a hot, hot day. I think 103. too hot to be outside so I have the laptop outside even though it's 11pm. we were thinking of sleeping outside tonight. it is soooo good to be home. Paul and I decided that we are much more effective together than apart. Oh, the company of a person who helps me where I fail and needs me more than I realized. Thanks to everyone who took pity and invited him over for meals and fellowship.

I have about a month to do nothing before school starts, and believe me, it's an important nothing. I will write about Alaska at some point but right now I still need some time to process. This ministry for our church is really not a one time only thing. I feel like now we are committed to going back and parntering with this village. anyway, still processing.


"Your face is beautiful, and your eyes are like the stars
your gentle hands have healing, there inside the scars
your loving arms they draw me near, and your smile it brings me peace,
draw me closer Oh my Lord, draw me closer lord to thee"

I'm baaaaaack!

from Alaska

really tired

pictures and stories later

hugs

annie

Hi from Alaska!
I found a computer. yeah, I think this is probably the one and only time I will be using one. On Monday we fly out to a remote village. I am going through blog withdrawls. Alaska is great. I have seen a moose and a mountain goat and am hopeful about seeing a bear. You know I am all about the animals. Also hiked to a glacier today. Paul would be hyperventilating if he were here right now. I'm pretty sure we would be taking pictures every ten minutes down the highway. I'm planning to bring him back as a tourist. I am staying with some people that live by the Kenai River, a famous fishing river. In fact when we drove here there were fishermen lined up down the river catching fish.

Annie

Paul and Brandon exploring the caves.

Mark, Barb and Will (Paul's sister Rebecca's boyfriend). This was Will's first time camping ever! He said he liked it.

Tahklahk Lake - we just love this campground, it's so beautiful!

Mark and I tried fishing with no luck. Last year I caught six or seven, but this year they just weren't biting. Maybe I'll have better luck in Alaska?

Our campsite

You won't hear from me for a while. I am leaving tomorrow on a mission's trip with my church. A great adventure! Paul and I just got back from camping at Tahklahk Lake with our family and friends. I will try to post some pictures before I leave, right now my computer is being a little wierd.

Paul comes into the kitchen from the garden:

Paul: "guess what, the birds LOVE me."
Annie: "have you been talking to them again?" (he has a history of this, and whistling to them)
Annie: (note to self: this is going to be great for my blog)
Paul goes on to tell Annie elaborate story of a hummingbird who got REALLY close to him.
Paul: "... it was so close, but then I got freaked out a little, and I moved, and it flew away."
Annie: "freaked out?"
Paul: "yeah, haven't you ever seen thier beaks?"

Yeah, Sarah is probably the only one laughing right now, but I think it's so funny.

Do you love to cook? Do you love to eat? Share your recipes with us. I created a new blog called Food Love where you can share recipes and food stories with everyone. Email me to become a member!

CYIA team from Lewis County, from left: Mark, Tobin, Alicia, Emma, me, Alana and Marie.

I'm back from summer camp! I am soooo glad to be home.

Isn't Paul a great photographer? He took this picture of our neighbor's dog, Dexter, yesterday. I will miss him (the husband, not the dog) next week when I am at camp. You won't hear from me for a while but I will make sure to post many pictures when I get back.

Our first crop of strawberries. Last year we harvested about two the WHOLE year. So we're very excited.

Two of my friends from highschool, Addie and Kara, and I got together last night for fun. Addie lives in South Carolina and was home for a week. Kara lives in Bellingham. Thanks Alysun for the recipe for Emergency Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Broiler frosting. It was a hit. Anybody want to start a recipe blog? I've been seriously thinking about it. You can have multiple contributers on one blog, so we could all contribute. Let me know if you are interested. Leave me a comment. People are always asking me for recipes, and recently my sister in law pointed out that I never remember to give it to them. Maybe this would help.

Isn't she lovely? And yes, the curls are natural. And yes, at 29 she's still got 'em. Eat your heart out. Check out Smith's Bliss for more.

My husband actually said this while we were shopping at Macy's (eyeing a salesperson suspiciously):

"Don't look too lost or they'll come and harass us."

He said this under his breath as if we were on some secret mission. Shopping is a foreign thing to him. Everything must be questioned. In fact this is the only time when he sees me at the leader and he as the sidekick. Even though we are shopping for him. We shop for the polo shirt, the button up shirt, and the T-shirt. He views all other styles with extreme suspicion. Once we went into Eddie Bauer and I said, "How about you go over there and look at the men's, and I'll look at these dresses." He gave me a look as if to say, "Are you out of your mind? Leave me alone to wander this store? You're not going to protect me from harassing salespeople?" I actually started to walk away to see what he would do. He just stood there, like an abandoned child. One time I saw something across the store and headed over to look at it, somehow I lost him, and when he finally caught up with me, he expressed his displeasure at me leaving him alone. "I couldn't find you," he said.
I have to say though, after we were all done shopping for him, he actually followed me around while I shopped for myself. I even modeled some clothes for him. It's a give and take thing I guess. In the end he did have fun. He tried on all his clothes when he got home, just to make sure that they went with the things he already had. I love him. Paul is starting an internship in a week and needed the appropriate clothing. He goes shopping about once every four years (I'm really not kidding). We have been married for almost 5 years and I can only remember one other major shopping trip, where he actually bought things other than for hiking or camping or other such outdoor sports.
It's Monday and it's raining torrentially outside. I am in my (empty, sniff sniff) classroom cleaning up. Have a great week.

Kayaking at Tugboat Annie's (6/10/06)