Monday, September 29, 2008

First Ever Blog Contest!

I'm so excited to present my first ever blog contest! I've participated in blog contests before (though I never won) and thought I, too, should give it a try. For my contest please send me your most creative and thought-provoking caption to add to these pictures. All entries must be received by Thursday, October 2nd at midnight to be considered. (If you don't have a gmail account feel free to post your captions anonymous and then type your name somewhere on your comment.)

On Friday I'll sort through all the captions and come up with our two winners, one for each picture. There will be prizes... so get creative and think "WINNER".

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Friday, September 26, 2008

(Belated) Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Sunday, September 21, 2008

In the Heartland...IOWA

Greetings fellow reader(s), (I'm never too sure how many of you are out there...ha!)

I wanted to let you know the kids and I arrived safely into the Des Moines, IA airport on Wednesday night with only a few laughs and stressful moments. Since it was my first time flying solo with two kiddos, I was proud of how my kids behaved and how my deodorant handed the extra stress. (Clinical Strength baby!) Overall, I would rate it a roaring success!

If you were wondering...praise God we were NOT "that family" in the airport. The kids were behaved and Keegan slept like a champ. Seriously, to the point he was snoring and drooling all over my shirt on both flights. (It was pleasant...ah...not so much.) But at least I didn't have to deal with "crazy" Keegan on the flight. Fiona watched Shrek and colored. (LOVE IT!) Keegan slept, slept, and oh...woke for about 30 minutes, eat three crackers and then went back to sleep. (Anyone notice a pattern here?) Everyone was very helpful and pleasant with me as I navigated and dealt with my kids in the airport and my Dad even met me at the airport with a Diet Coke. Honestly, it was an answer to prayer. (Everyone being nice. Ok...and the diet coke.)

Since our adventures flying out here, we are having LOTS of fun in Iowa. Fishing, boating, hanging with the grandparents and playing at the water park with the cousins have been some of the highlights of this amazing trip. As always, I promise I'll have lots of pictures to share when we get back home on Tuesday night.

Oh, and don't let me forget to tell you about a HILARIOUS story about Fiona and escalators. (Definitely...a classic Fiona story as well as a defining "mom" moment.)

From inside the little blue bungalow, (actually the lake house in Iowa)
Katie Jean

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

...and I'm taking these two kids on a plane by myself?
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Our Budding Artist


Aunt Sarah gave Fiona the coolest gift ever...paintable rain boots. What could be more perfect for an art-loving Seattle girl?
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

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R U Kidding Me?

What am I thinking? Tomorrow I embark on one of my greatest adventures with my kiddos...we are flying back home to Iowa. (No big deal you think...read on!) Though the kids are somewhat accustomed to flying this is the first time I, the great Katie Jean, will attempt entertaining and herding my kids entirely ALONE through the airport system. (Sounds like a three ring circle, doesn't it?) You are jealous aren't you... a fun stress-free day...huh? Goodness. Needless to say, I am very excited to go home and see my family after 15 months, but the thought of some of the "unexpected" while traveling with two kids seem a bit daunting. My stomach is actually churning as I think about it right now.

We've all had at least one traveling experience when we sat next to "that family". Please pray I'm NOT "that family"...screaming kids, kids don't want to sit down, screaming kids, kids start running away from parents in x (enter bathroom, airplane, terminal), parents begin to start flipping out, screaming kids. I'm sure you get the picture. This scenario is actually quite paralyzing and I pray that all of the years of parenting re-direction and discipline will counter-act any situation that will come my way. (Their smiles may look innocent but...)

Please also pray for the externals...luggage, overall flight, understanding agents, smooth transitions and connections, pleasant seat mates, etc. Not only am I worrying about how my kids react and behave, I'm nervous about the normal logistics of flying. For instance, no one likes to have their flight canceled or delayed, but no one (me especially!) likes to have their flight canceled or delayed with kids in tow. Wouldn't that be fun? (More diet coke and Excedrin please!)

As we embark on our travels tomorrow I hope to return with wonderful pictures of our time in Iowa. Though many of you enjoy my humor, don't expect any funny airport stories when I return. We hope we aren't "that family" and if we are...Drew better meet me at the airport with a Diet Coke in hand.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

WA Vacation Pictures

For those of you interested in seeing all of the Britten family vacation pictures of our Washington adventure check out our slide show of pictures at...

http://picasaweb.google.com/Drew.Britten/FamilyVacation08

We enjoyed two nights camping at Money Creek in the Cascade Mountains near Skykomish and then headed out to Orcas Island for another two days. It was a great time hiking, canoeing, camping, and exploring our amazing state. The kids as well as adults had a blast evident by the pictures. We even managed to squeeze Fiona's first two days of preschool in during the week. CRAZY, but truly a Britten vacation...we packed it in.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean


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Time Evolves


Two years.

Two years ago Fiona rode the entire 5 mile hike to Dorthy Lake in the back pack. Two years later she hiked the entire time and her brother, Keegan (who wasn't even in the picture two years ago) rode in the back pack.

Two years.

Two years ago Aunt Rebekah was unsure of her next direction in life. Two years later she is happily married, finishing her work in public health at the University of Washington, and leaving at the end of the month to Turkmenistan for two years in the Peace Corps.

Two years.

I wonder what changes we'll all incur in two years?

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Sunday, September 7, 2008

What!?!

What were we thinking? Fiona cleared the 42 inches mark this year at the Evergreen Fair a couple weeks ago, making it possible for her to ride some "big people" rides. What parent in their right mind would let there 4 year old daughter ride....
THIS....or
THIS? Parenthood...it is really a journey.
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Friday, September 5, 2008

A Sneak Peek...


Sorry for the absence in the blogging world...we've been away for a week vacationing around our beautiful state of Washington with Drew's family. We've had amazing time hiking, canoeing, and exploring. Fiona even attended her first two days of preschool! So many pictures to share and so many adventures to write about. Drew and I are currently in the unpacking stage of vacation so I hope to have several posts for you all soon.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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