Tales from the Biggest Trees Adventures

Hello Blogging community... sorry for my delay in blogging, but I've been off enjoying time with my husband on our tenth wedding anniversary. We have had a terrific time hiking, sea kayaking, exploring endless beaches, dining in fabulous eateries, resting in great B & B's along the Olympic Peninsula, as well as viewing some of the biggest trees in the world. (I bet you're jealous now.) 

Tomorrow we are heading back to pick up the kids from Grandma's house. We are both really excited to see them again and get great big hugs and kisses from our two precious kids, Fiona and Keegan. I'm not looking forward, however, to the laundry, cooking and some of the daily activities that we all tend to hate after awhile. (Such is life.) Hopefully three weeks from now when I'm frustrated or overwhelmed with house duties, I'll remember the peaceful beach or looking up at the largest spruce tree in the world. (I promise I'll post some vacation pictures when I get back.) Yeah for memories....yeah for ten years of a wonderful marriage. I love you Drew.

From inside the little blue bungalow,

Katie Jean

A Decade of Commitment

For those of you that don't know, Drew and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this Friday, May 23rd. It seems strange to think that this year is such a milestone in our time together. 

We've had the opportunity to grow together as we experienced life...truly the ups and downs. I honestly say I'm totally in love with him today. We will be taking a trip WITHOUT kids to the Olympic Peninsula. (Thank you Grandma Bonnie.) We look forward to this time away to reconnect with one another.

From inside the little blue bungalow,

Katie Jean

Don't Try This At Home...

And just when you think you saw it all...


From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Classic Katie Jean Moment

Today was interesting. After finally deciding to take control of my health, we joined our local YMCA last night. We recently were blessed to receive financial assistance from the Y so we could afford a family membership. Our Y opened last Fall but we've been hesitant to join, knowing we would have to commit financially and change our health attitudes. (Ok, maybe just me.) Today embarked on new health changes...a YMCA membership.

Part of taking control of my weight and exercising again has been for me to get over my own body image. Not fun. Really, not a pretty part of anyone's life for those of us that have body image struggles. However I made the commitment. So...with YMCA card in hand, swim suit, and Mr. Keegan we ventured off to the Y this morning for my first swim fitness class.

Even though I appear confident in most social situation, sometimes I'm actually quite nervous. Before I had even got to the YMCA I was worried about finding the right "equipment" for the class, did I have the right time for the class, would my YMCA card work (they were having problems with my paperwork last night), would Keegan not make a fuss and handle the hour I would be in class, etc. (I'm sure you're all shocked to know I actually think about these things. I really do.)

Anyway, Keegan went into child watch great, I found the class (even joked with an older lady when I asked her if this was the class as she commented "Well...your in the water right?"), and began working out. My class was going great and I was feeling good that I had made the commitment. Until...9:42 AM the instructor yells out in my direction. "Hey, are you new?" You've got to be kidding...me. There are 30+ people in the class and you point me out. Suddenly I'm wondering if my legs are going the wrong direction or if I wasn't aware that you have to wear a red suit on Wednesdays. However, with confidence I shouted back, "Yes." The instructor beams and says, "What's your name?" Oh, is that all. (She was just being friendly and I later found out she likes to know everyone that works out with her.) Nice.

Anyway, my morning went great for a gal taking on new commitments. Stepping out of the pool and walking into the locker room I was thrilled to know my first workout was complete. Until...at actually 10:02 AM the fire alarm goes off! (A drill...great timing.) What!

Standing in my suit, dripping water everywhere I realize I have to face one of my biggest fears...go outside in the cold rain in my swimming suit and face the public. Yes. Perfect...so dripping water everywhere with only my bathing suit on, holding a little white towel that could easily be used as a hand towel in most countries, I joined my entire swim class and the entire working-out public of the YMCA. (Nothing like God giving you a little humility for the day.) And of course, I couldn't just blend into the crowd as I stood shivering with my little, tiny, tiny towel...No. I knew at least a dozen folks that were all saying "Hi", "Crazy timing for a fire drill!", "Wow you must be cold!", "Hi Katie Jean!". (God truly has a sense of humor.)

After 15 minutes of standing shivering in the rain with just my swimming suit and of course my handy dandy little towel, the fire marshal announced everyone could enter the building again. So...with any ounce of dignity I had left, I pulled my little white towel over my shoulders a bit more and walked back inside. Beautiful! Bottom line...I survived. It was a classic Katie Jean moment.

I just hope they don't have another fire drill tomorrow. :)

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Favorite Weekend Shots

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

"Green" Demolition

After 2 1/2 years of living in the little blue bungalow, last weekend the back patio was met with sledge hammers. Since the beginning of the year, Drew and I have been talking about our plans to design more outdoor living for our back yard. Saturday afternoon our neighborhood was filled with strange pounding and ripping noises as we randomly decided today was the day for change.

Structurally the patio was fine, but the design and layout was a bit to be desired. Honestly, we've been waiting for this beast to be gone since the day we purchased the house! So this weekend, the Britten backyard was a frenzy of pounding as we ripped away at the ridiculous patio. (So ridiculous...Drew stood on two different steps to grill!) We really didn't have any intentions for the demolish to begin this weekend, but it just evolved.

Since we are concerned about our carbon foot prints, we tore each board off removing the nails and then piling the wood by size so we could reuse some of the better boards. Ironically, I remember doing this kind of work as a child when we wanted wood for different projects...mainly sheds as I loved animals. The worst ever was a old chicken coop that we tore down in the rain complete with an infestation of maggots. (Lots of fun Dad...thanks for the memories!)

Back then, we were be "thrifty" as we didn't have the resources for the projects. Nobody really thought of it as "green", but it was. My Dad was just utilizing his resources and I'm glad he instilled this value in his kids. As a society, we have grown-up as a throw-away, disposable world. But why? Personally, I think we are just lazy. It takes time to pound each nail out of a board and organize it to use it again and this just doesn't "fit" with our "easy street" society. But to Drew and I...it is worth it knowing our boards won't end up in the landfill. We are glad to be instilling this value in our own children just as our parents have and look forward to the finished product. We are being green and thrifty!

We'll be sure to update you as we have many more boards to take out, a new staircase to build, and a brick patio to lay...but this new outdoor living with be worth all the work. By July, I hope to be sipping my Diet Coke on a new patio.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Smiles All Around

I just wanted to give an early "shout out" to all the great mother's of the world. (You know who you are...) JA and Bonnie B you rock!

Check out these great smiles! Forget the paycheck...the smiles on my two kid's face is my daily reward. Thanks for being such super kids, Fiona and Keegan. I am one very blessed Mommy.

Happy Mother's Day!

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Kids and Raining Flowers

"Raining flowers" on Keegan, Alexis, and Fiona during playtime.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Raining Flowers

We have two amazing old cherry trees in our yard that bloom each year. Being the avid gardener, I am always excited to see the tree's branches light up with pink blossoms. Millions of tiny petals fall down for weeks after the trees bloom, covering the ground in a blanket of pink. Yesterday Fiona and Keegan were outside running underneath the cherry tree that holds their tree house. With such excitement, Fiona screamed, "Look Mommy...it's raining flowers!" I couldn't help but smile too. Children's perspectives are so precious. Fiona was right, it was "raining flowers" and it was absolutely beautiful.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie jean

Slow-Paced Observations

When was the last time you just observed life around you. When did you slow down and just take in the sites, sounds, and textures God created? A couple of months ago I would have said it had been awhile since I "stopped and smelled the roses". However, we recently made the decision to sell our second car and now are blessed to use alternative forms of transportation.

Reducing our "fleet" to one car has meant my husband and I have had to communicate more about our daily travels. Fortunately, my husband takes the bus to work on a daily basis leaving me feel to use the car for errands and short get-away with the kids. The weekend is were we occasionally find ourselves with conflicting car use schedules and it always seems to work itself out. It really isn't a problem it just means we coordinate rides, decide to go early or late to an event, ask a friend for a ride, decide not to do an event, or use our bikes or legs and get there ourselves.

Lately, I've been walking home from church as I often work in the children's ministry and stay behind. It is isn't far...maybe 1 1/2 miles...1 3/4 miles at the most. However, when I had two cars I would have easily used both cars to attend church and never thought anything of the decision. We drive blocks to the post office, banks, etc and never really think about how fast our lives are moving. As a society, we are blessed beyond belief...pushing buttons to wash dishes, do laundry, make the morning coffee. (Thank God for those buttons!)

Walking home from church has been a huge blessing. I've slowed down and travel at the speed God created for me with my own feet. I've enjoyed the time to think about the week ahead, pray about my family, etc, but most of all I've enjoyed just listening and looking...the sounds of distant lawn mowers, the way the sun bounces off the snow on the mountain peaks, a worm wiggling across the littered sidewalk, double car garages packed to the ceiling of everything I can think of with their two cars parked in front (that one always gets me), children laughing as they draw with sidewalk chalk.

As you can read, my observations aren't always through rose-colored glasses and that is OK with me. I am being real. This time to look at the world through slow-paced observations makes me appreciate what God has granted me. I am blessed. So next Sunday, if you see me walking home feel free to honk and wave, but don't stop and ask me if I need a ride. I'm taking my time observing and soaking in the world around me through slow-paced observations....with my own two feet.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean