Farmers Market:
In my last post I had just finished my first week of the Farmesr Market. Overall my experience has been positive. I am so glad I have been doing it with Breanne though because it is definitely more fun to have the company and to have someone else drawing in customers to our booth. We have had some VERY windy days. June 6 our booth simultaneously almost blew away and collapsed on us! At that moment Kennedy had stepped out to fill out some paperwork at another booth and Dean was on campus doing homework. Breanne and I were left with Jenny and Bruce. I can't imagine how crazy it looked; I was holding onto Bruce with one arm and holding down our tent with the other, Breanne was trying to grab the other end of the tent before it blew away but at the same time she was trying to scoop up Jenny who was (wisely) crawling for cover under the table! Luckily a few market-goers ran over and grabbed a corner and helped gather Breannes flying bibs (they don't really fly but they do when it's ridiculously windy). So that week was exciting. As far as sales go I have been pretty consistent each week with how much money I bring in. I am doing about how well I had expected but not as well as I had hoped.
Etsy Page:
Most of you probably know, thanks to my IG and FB posts, that I also have an etsy page to sell my canvas's. It's been a slow start as I had expected. I've only been at it for 6 weeks now which means I am still brand-spankin-new. I've made a few sales on there but they have been all from people I know, which is still totally awesome but when complete strangers start buying my work that will be terribly exciting. But a big thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far! It's a lot of work to get any online business started and an etsy page is certainly no exception. I am very grateful for certain classes I took while at University because it has really helped me develop a marketing strategy.
Kennedy's Green Card:
Since my last post Kennedy has heard back from the US government and all of his green-card paper work has been received and filled out properly! What an answer to our prayers! We so badly wanted our paperwork to be filled out correctly and we considered hiring a lawyer to go over it but it was just so expensive so we decided to take a risk and just review it ourselves. If it had been filled out incorrectly they would have to send it back to us and the process would be lengthened which would have meant it would be even longer before Kennedy could legally work in the US. He has since had his biometrics appointment where they finger print him, and do other things. I wasn't there so I'm not really sure. We just found out this past week that we have our interview in Boise July 21, which is two days before grad and while I was still going to be up in Taber visiting my family. So we've had to be a little creative this past week figuring out how we are going to manage that but I think we have it figured out!
Canada/Johnson Family:
May 16-19 my parents and Becca came down to visit. We took my Grandma Brown to Bear World and we fed the bears. It was a lot of fun. On the 19th I drove back with my parents, and Bruce, up to Canada to visit for the week. We had such a blast! Especially Bruce. He LOVED all the attention. It was very interesting to see him thrive so much with all the socializing. It made me feel bad that he's stuck with me all day so I vowed we would get out more and play with others so he could interact with more people. My Mom was determined for Bruce to crawl while we were visiting (he didn't) and he made a lot of progress while we were there.
On Wednesday Kennedy's parents, and Bailey & Halle came to my parents for dinner and to visit. It was so much fun! We put Bruce and Halle in the cozy coupe together and we had quite a hoot watching them interact with each other. I am very grateful that I love my in-laws!
On Thursday while we were there Bruce got his first haircut! He desperately needed it but all of a sudden he didn't look like a baby anymore!
On Friday I got to catch up with Erin, which was so much fun, we don't get to get together often enough. I also got to see Alanna and later that evening she and Nate came over after Kennedy arrived. We had fun visiting with them late into the night (12:30 is super late for us these days). Kennedy arrived in Taber just before it was time to get Bruce ready for bed. Bruce was so excited to see his Dad! He went to bed a little late because he was having too much fun. In fact, he went to bed a little late the whole week because he was having too much fun with everyone!
Saturday we got together with Berezays, West's, and Patti in Lethbridge for a picnic at Nicholas Sheran Park. It was a lot of fun, then we spent the afternoon at West's. When we are home like that it makes me wish we could live in Lethbridge close to our families forever. I don't really have a preference for Lethbridge itself (I mean it's nice) but it would be so much fun to be close to family!
Sunday we got to visit with both our Grandparents and Kennedy's Uncle Eric's family.
Monday we drove to Coutts and Paige had arrived that morning from Vancouver so we got to spend the day with her. Bailey and Halle came down too. It was a pretty low-key day but it was so much fun to see everyone once more before we left.
T25:
Kennedy I started the T25 program June 2 and so far I am 100% and Kennedy missed one day because he was sick. But, we are loving it! I have started to notice more muscle definition in my legs, my waistline is getting a little smaller and I feel so much better! I get up at 6 or 6:30 to do it and Kennedy either does it before or after me depending on his schedule that day. I have always wanted to be a morning person and it just happened on accident. June 2 Bruce woke me up around 5:45 wanting his soother and he fell right back asleep but I thought I'm not going to get a good sleep for the rest of the morning so I might as well get up now. And, with the exception of one Monday I have gotten up each morning before he wakes up to do my T25 and I am truly converted to this morning exercise thing. Who would have thought? Kennedy and I both took "before" pictures because when you are done the program if you send them in with your "after" shots you get a free T-shirt. Who doesn't love a free T-shirt? We do. Perhaps if our "after" shots are really dramatic and impressive we will post them.
Since starting T25 and becoming a morning person I have become a lot more productive during the day. I get a lot more done and we are eating regular, healthy meals too! I think part of my new energy is due to Bruce sleep better but I do think that T25 has played a crucial part as well. We were lucky enough to get the program free from a friend because I think it is a little expensive to purchase but I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a program to get in shape and become healthier.
Fathers Day:
It was Kennedy's first Fathers Day as a Dad. We had a fun morning together since church doesn't start until 1:30. We had cinnamon swirl french toast for breakfast. Bruce LOVED the french toast! Like father, like son. It happened to be a beautiful day so we went on a nice long family walk. I was lucky enough to win a Tie clip a little while back so I saved it for Father Day for Kennedy, it seemed like a perfect Fathers Day gift. I also decided I wanted to make him a chocolate bar bouquet out of his favorite bars and crazy straws. In theory it was super cute and delicious, in reality it was only delicious but I guess that was the most important part. For dinner we went all out. I bought some marinated steaks so we cooked those up, I found a mashed potato recipe that was amazing(they were mashed in cream cheese and sour cream… yummy amIright?), I bought a deluxe caesar salad kit (we never buy salad kits), we cut up the juiciest, sweetest watermelon (it was SO good) and to top it off I made Kennedy brownies. We were very happy when we had left overs and had to have it again the next night!
Bruce:
Bruce is currently working on tooth #4. He has his top left fang in and we are just waiting for the right side. We giggle every time he does a big smile because his toothy grin is just too cute. We started sleep training him at the beginning of June. I mean really sleep training. He has done quite well although some nights it still takes him a little while to settle. But we could tell he was ready to learn how to do it. He is still learning though but we have seen a lot of progress so we are happy about that. He still stirs periodically through the night wanting his soother which is super annoying. I will be so glad when he can just SLEEP! We added nap training last week and that was a bit rough, as expected. But it's been a week now and he is doing a lot better at recognizing when he is tired. I'm hoping once we start getting nap training down the nights will go even better.
Bruce still loves food. We've started feeding him our dinner with us and he loves it! He has steak twice the past month (lucky kid) and he has loved it! He has tried lots of new "table" food. He still eats his pureed food twice a day and cereal before he goes to bed and we have now added two pieces of toast in the morning. I try to nurse him in the morning before breakfast and some days are better than others. He just really isn't all that interested in nursing. About a month ago he stopped nursing through the night on his own. I'm trying so hard to keep nursing him until he turns one because that's what they recommend but it is getting tricky! He just doesn't really want to. We have a check-up this week with his doctor though so I'm going to ask his advice. I am grateful that I don't have to go through a painful weaning process. I know that can be very difficult for some Mom and babies. So in that regard I got off easy with Bruce.
Bruce is currently taking swimming lessons and loves it! We learned how to dunk and I was super nervous but he did so good and although he seemed a little surprised but he wasn't too thrown off by being dunked.
Bruce is getting a lot better at self-play. We are amazed at how much longer he can sit by himself and play with his toys. It is a relief to us! We can actually get things done now! Bruce loves to sit and empty his toy box and check everything out.
Bruce is still not crawling but in the last week he has started staying his hands and knees longer and rocking back and forth so we are feeling very encouraged by that! He also can slowly crawl backwards and he likes to pivot on his tummy and push himself backwards on his tummy. So, he's not crawling but he is getting around!
Moving:
Kennedy is done school in 6 weeks! Ah! How did that happen? We can't believe our time in Rexburg is really coming to an end. A little while ago we decided that Kennedy should focus his job search to the larger Seattle area. For those of you don't know he wants to work in administration at a College/University. There are a lot of school in the greater Seattle area so he has applied for over 50 positions in the area in the last month. He's had a few rejections, which in inevitable when you apply for over 50 jobs! But for the most part his applications are still being considered, as far as we know. We have recently decided that even if he doesn't have a job lined up we are going to move out there anyways. We are a little nervous but we feel like that is where we are supposed to go and what we are supposed to be doing. Its a leap of faith but we have decided it's best to be all in, instead of one foot in one foot out.
Conclusion:
Well I think that is the gist of our past month. Are you still there? If you have made it this far congratulations! You are a real trooper! Hopefully it won't be another month before you hear from me again!
Here is our Picture Round up for the past Month! Get comfy people.
Bruce gets so caught up in Barney! We only watch maybe once every two weeks or so but he loves when we do!
Kennedy and Bruce eating crackers together.
Our Mothers Day date.
Bruce loves chewing on straws when we go out.
Actually Bruce likes chewing on lots of things like my Mothers day card for example.
Bruce drew me a great picture on my card.
Bruce hanging with Dad while I relaxed on MD.
A great end to MD… this was pre-sleep training.
Before bath time Bruce peed on Kennedy. Bruce and I thought it was pretty funny!
Kennedy doesn't have to do much to make Bruce laugh these days.
And Bruce is always excited about the idea of eating.
Bruce and Auntie Becca
Bruce had fun honking Grandpa J's nose
On our drive to Canada.
I was so happy he slept so much!
Bruce had fun peeking up at Becca throughout the whole drive. Luckily she was happy to amuse him.
Grandma J got the cozy coupe out and Bruce loved it!
Look at all his hair!
Bruce looks concerned that I am "driving"
Bruce and Grandma B reading
Grandma B playing with Bruce and Halle
They think we are crazy because we are laughing at them but they aren't actually doing anything.
Bruce kept grabbing Halle's ear and Halle wanted the steering wheel all to herself.
We went swimming the morning before his haircut
Last picture with long hair!
All done!
OH Canada
Bruce found a new long: Multigrain Cheerios
At our picnic, I should have taken more picture!
Bruce with Auntie Paige. We got some cute pictures I'll have to post later!
We went out for a walk and played in the grass!
Bruce loves the spray park!
Future Missionary!
Snuggling in bed together is the best!
I love morning pictures!
Fathers Day: Bruce is loving all the treats!
And the crazy straws.
Delicious dinner!
Our walk got rained out! All last week was cold and rainy so we didn't get to go out very much!
I love when he leans back and cuddles with me! It doesn't happen very often!
The little chubs on his arms make him look like he has muscles! They always make me giggle.
Playing at the Farmers Market
Ninja Turtles.
Happy to be up on a sunny Monday!
You Made It! The End :)
