Friday was the end of James' required training. We got to get all dressed up and go with him to work for a small graduation ceremony.
Now he has on some extra classes and on Monday, Chinese!! Which also means we get to move again. Can I just say how not excited I am to pack. . .again. But, it also means that Marlo will be back in school, she is very excited, and we are closer to our final departure. 

Don't we have cute friends. 

This is John Brown's Fort as it is called. It is really the old fire house where he, his two sons, and four other men were trapped when the marines showed up. It was probably a good thing they did because the town's militia wanted to hang him on the spot. Instead he was tried and convicted of insurrection, treason, and murder and hung. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/johnbrown/brownhome.html There was some water in the barrels you see in the picture and James broke some of the ice out for the kids to play with. When we walked back by an hour later, the ice had refrozen. 

Saturday was a lot of fun. We talked the Corbetts into braving the freezing weather with us for a trip to Harper's Ferry (http://www.harpersferryinfocenter.org/), the place where they arrested John Brown. After finally finding our way over the river and through the woods on the winding Virgina roads, we climbed out of the car to enjoy the old buildings and history in the 34 degree weather.
Clouds seem to make all the difference. It was a nice clear day, and we were down by the river which channeled the wind right through the town. We even walked the foot bridge accross the Potomac. (For those of you that have never been, Harper's Ferry is right on the point where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers combine and then head down to the Atlantic ocean.) I think the only thing that could have made it colder is if it had been raining...wait, at those temperatures you only get snow. It felt like we were on a ski lift about 10 feet before the summit where the wind really picks up and all of the warm clothes you have on don't seem to make a difference. 

Valentines Day

Well, we had a very calm Valentines day. The girls and I made paper
hearts most of the morning and they glued and wrote messages on them.
For lunch James surprised us with prime rib, lobster, baked potatoes,
asparagus, and cheesecake for dessert. It was better than I have had
at some very expensive restaurants. What a thoughtful husband to
include the girls. Of course they took their polar positions on the
lobster. Zoe loved it and Marlo choked down a bite to earn the right
to eat her cheesecake. Other than that we didn't try and do anything
too special like brave the diner crowd; it was a nice calm evening.
We got some time to relax after the kids went to sleep. These days
sometimes that is enough.
Michelle

This is a short video of mom and Marlo sledding down the hill. 

See how forgiving kids are. Even after Papi burried her, Zoe was still willing to help him up. 

I tried bringing JT out in the snuggly. He didn't like the wind very much. So I ran him back to the house, put him to sleep and came back for a couple quick sled runs. 

Marlo loved the sled. Even after we got all cleaned up, went to church, found it empty and canceled due to snow, she was back on it when not long after we arrived home. She got in snow clothes again and went out and made her own sled run out the back of the town house. She wanted the shovel so she trecked around the house in the snow and carried the shovel back to help her make her run. Hooray for Marlo. 

Being burried in the snow is not quite as much fun as being burried in the sand. 

Marlo carrying the sled back up the hill. 

This was our front walk before James shoveled it. 

We gained a new appreciation for why snow is such a pain. We woke up to great snow outside. So, James being the great dad that he is, lets mom sleep upstairs with the baby and tells the girls to get ready to try out the sled. An HOUR later, mom comes down stairs and helps zip everyone up and then they went out the door. 

We were at a party at a friend's house when the snow really got going. The kids had to get in it, even if it was 7 at night. 

This shot is fuzzy, but see, the black boots look much better with this skirt! 

We are keeping this one just in case the Gap is ever looking for new talent. (Note to self: It helps to do a photo shoot when they are not stuffing their cheeks with string cheese.)--this is when the snow storm was just getting started 

My cute little red head? with another great smile! 

Super Zoe, here to save the day! Zoe designed this costume all by herself; without any direction from her older sister. She even made up scenarios for us to call her so she could come and save the day! 

JT spent the weekend wrapped up in the sling or the stroller. But isn't he cute! We learned that he is allergic to something his skin has been touching so we are trying to figure it out and get rid of the rash on his face...poor guy. He went to his one-month-old appointment last Friday. He is doing well and weighed 12 lbs 4 oz. 

We had a great time in DC even though we got soaked by the rain. Having Aunt Janie for an extra pair of hands made a huge difference. We enjoyed a great weekend together. Can you tell they are related? 

This is at the Korean war memorial. You can walk the mall and visit memorials to almost every war the US has been in. It is humbling to read the names of the people who gave their lives and to see the numbers of people that have been lost fighting because of the wickedness of the world. You get a sense of what the Book of Mormon writers were talking about when they said tens of thousands were killed... 

The opportunity to visit all of these monuments is quite humbling. You realize that the Lord really does have his hand in our lives and prepares people to do what he needs them to do. There was such a reverent spirit at the Lincoln memorial. I hope the girls are not too young to appreciate it. 

Doesn't he look cute in his hat? 

Einstein the giant. Most people don't know this statue is there. You have to find it amongst the trees. 

Doesn't this orchid look like some kind of alien? 

At the botanical gardens they were having an orchid show. It was beautiful. There were so many different kinds- very unique looking flowers. 

Aunt Janie came and spent the weekend with us. We went to the smithsonian botanical gardens to avoid the rain. They had the coolest metal sculpted flowers with spices in them for us to smell. 

Birth Story (With all the gory (juicy) details

You may or may not want to read this one...but I wanted to post it to make sure it didn't get lost.

I couldn't believe how different my labor was with him. It was like I
was in labor for a couple of days... it wasn't that the contractions
were painful yet, just strong and fairly regular. Sat morning I woke
up feeling like things were going to happen that day. So we went to
the grocery store etc. About 3 pm I told Delilas on the phone that I
thought I was going to have him that night. By about 5 pm they were
about 4-5 mins apart but still not painful. That was the strange part.
So after dinner, James and I went for a walk. They kept up, and
started getting stronger, but I would have a good one, and then a
couple of weak ones, and then nothing, and then they would start back
up again. My instincts told me I was in labor, but since with both the
girls, I felt the contractions strong and painful and regular....then
went to the hospital and had them, I wasn't quite sure what to make of
it.
So about 8 pm I called my Dr and gave him the heads up (since it was
new years eve)- he said to go ahead on over, and so we drove accross
the street, (if it wasn't up a big hill and freezing outside we would
have walked!) to the hospital. I was still walking through most of
them fine. We went upstairs and there was only one other mom on the
floor, she had delivered earlier that day. They hooked me up to the
monitor and said yes for sure I was in labor, but I was only dialated
to about a 3 or 4. That was not encouraging. We walked around and
tried to keep busy. I bounced on the birthing ball...but then my hips
started to cramp and hurt, we watched a movie....nothing seemed to
help the time. A little after 9:30 my Dr came in. He checked me and
broke my water...everything got soaked. He said I was almost to a 5,
which an hour later the nurse said I was still only a 4...go figure.
James was hoping we would have him before 12 for the tax break, but my
contractions still weren't that painful so I could tell we had a ways
to go.
About 11:30 I got into the shower, and they had started to become
stronger. I was still trying to walk and move through them, but I was
so tired, and my body was so sore. Around 12:30 I was in good labor.
The problem was, it had taken so long to get there, that I was really
tired. Tired of standing, kneeling everything. I just wanted to go to
sleep. Meanwhile, another mom came in, just about the same stage of
labor I was in. A little later, a new mom came in, and they were sure
she was going to be a while. Since this is kind of a small town
hospital, my Dr was the only one on call, and there were 2 nurses.
They later got someone else to come in, but we were mostly alone
because of it. In fact, they wanted to give me a saline drip, or at
least start the IV in my hand. I asked them if we could wait until
just before transition...they agreed and then forgot bec. they were so
busy. So I never got one at all!! When things were really bad, I was
so exhausted I was falling asleep sitting up in between contractions.
I don't think we were even timing. James had helped me with pressure
points for a good portion of it, but then not even that helped.
Then when the Dr heard me really yell and James said, "oh wow, he
really moved down that time" he and the nurse rushed in and broke the
bed down and then coached me through the next two pushes and he was
out. He came out with so much fluid that it splattered everywhere!
And, he was totally clean except for his hair. His big head had been
blocking the amniotic fluid from leaking and so even though my water
had broken, I think all of the fluid that had been replenished stayed
in. My Dr. did just as I asked and no episiotamy...only one small
tear- one stitch worth. He didn't even numb me for it...since the poke
with the needle was about all the stitching would be. I felt his head
pop through and thought the rest would slide out but it took a second
push to get his shoulders through....
He was beautiful with a ton of blonde hair and so pink and plump. I
couldn't hold him for a while though because I had the shakes so
badly. At least James washed him up and they weighed him etc. all in
my room where I could watch. When the adrenaline finally calmed down
after about 10 mins I got to hold him. To be honest, I didn't want to
hold him any sooner than that. I just physically couldn't- I was
really tired. And it wasn't until around 4 that we started thinking
about going to sleep. He nursed well...Other than not being so
exhausted for the labor, things couldn't have gone any better. Now I
just need to figure in a nap somewhere. At one week, he was back up
to birth weight, and now, at 2 1/2 weeks he looks so big. Babies are
such a blessing but they sure are a lot of work!

I needed to post this for posterity's sake.

Well, I thought I would share a taste of the bureaucracy with
everyone. Don't take this as complaining, merely a description of
events.
Thursday James had administrative time if he would use it, so we
decided that we would head into DC and start the passport process. (We
have to get dipllomatic passports so we can't just mail them in.) So,
about lunch time James got home and we drove the hour and a half into
DC. When we first found parking for our very large vehicle, we paid
the meeter and walked across the street- 2 girls and a 3 week old baby
in a sling- to the office to pick up the paperwork. After the security
checks and signing me in, we first stopped off to say hello and show
off the baby, and then headed up stairs to pick up a paper. The lady
that James needed to see wasn't there at first, so we waited. Then
when she got there, the computer system wasn't working, so she typed
up the form on a typewriter so that our trip would not be wasted.
By this time, our meeter had expired and we hurried back across the
street, and decided to look for the free parking around the corner we
had heard about. After trying to find a spot we would fit in for about
10 mins, we found another meeter spot and unloaded everyone again and
headed into have our pictures taken. It was about 2 blocks that we had
to help the kids walk in the freezing wind around the corner of the
building, show them our paperwork and then go in the little office to
have our pictures taken.
Poor JT, I had to hold him up and balance him while they took his
picture. We finished and went to go in the other part of the building
up to the passport office. Unfortunately, on Monday (unknown to
anyone) they stopped admitting visitors from any other entrance than
the front entrance.
Sooo, back into the wind we went. Zoe was starting to feel a little
tired by now. We walked back to the front of the building accross from
where we were parked. But, a bus tour had just arrived so we got in
line behind the bus load of people while they put us through the
security gates and x-rayed our things. When we finally made it inside,
we found our way around the crowd to the sign-in desk and got my
badge. Then the girls and I went through the visitor gate (around the
crowd of people again) while James let himself in. By the time we got
to the passport office.......it was closed for the day. We arrived at
3:10 and they had closed at 2:45.
Now this is just a courtesy office. The real passport office is
located somewhere else down town. So when James called to get the
hours the day before, they gave him the hours for the main office--
but he didn't know that. They do run a shuttle to that main office,
but because of our car, we couldn't leave it parked there that long
and so we couldn't take the shuttle. So after taking care of some
other business while we were there and a trip to the bathroom, we
walked back out, turned in my badge, got everyone strapped in and went
to find more parking near the passport office that was going to close
at 4:30.
We found a spot about 3 blocks away...good enough at this point since
we were getting close to rush hour time. So, James carried Zoe most of
the way, the baby in the sling, Marlo trying her best to be cheerful
since she could tell how frustrated we were by the situation and we
made it to the office at 4:15. Just in time to get it all
processed.....except the guy forgot to ask for the kids birth
certificates, which we had with us, and now we have to fax to
him...and then they will get processed...
We finally made it back to our car just in time to sit in traffic.
Fortunately we were in town and it was easy to stop at our favorite
Kabob place for dinner. (Marlo ate her leftover hamburger from
lunch...I was done having battles for the day :))
That night when we got home, James packed up and got ready to sit at
the airport all day yesterday waiting to fly to AZ

Just a note. If Southwest needs to bump you to a different flight
because they over sold tickets...it is just a minor inconvenience and
you have to deal with it. But if you show up at the airport 8 hours
early for a flight because your work schedule changed and they have
plenty of room on several earlier flights, they will in no way change
your ticket or let you fly stand by. That would just be too convenient
and helpful.

So, the kids and I are spending the weekend recuperating from
Thursday. The girls have runny noses, I have a sore throat, and
thankfully JT seems to be fine. James on the other hand is in AZ
working like crazy for a day helping his parents with some computer
work. And then he can come back and recuperate.....

Needless to say I am tired.
Michelle

OK, I will try not to post any more older pictures, but this one is worthy of a good frame...even with the bathroom in the background. Carpinteria, June 2005- Marlo, Zoe, Kaisa 

Speaking of growing up... This is last July- 2005- I will miss the sunny cheeks and all the time in the pool while we are in China, and the good friends that help us enjoy getting them. 

Zoe's sunbeam teacher at church asked me to find some pictures of her with her papi so that she could teach them about their Heavenly Father. Sad, but as the #2 child I could only find 2 pictures without her sister. This is one of my favorites. This is June 2005 at Carpinteria, CA with a cheeseball face :) 

After much searching, I finally found some tall black boots...they arrived in the mail about 2 1/2 weeks after JT was born. I know, not a very flattering picture. This blog is all about realism, lest you think that the pictures I show you two weeks from now came with out any hard work ;)
I don't think I'll wear them with those pants... 

The girls love to hold their brother. (3 weeks old) 

This picture we took on our way out. Can you tell who is happy to be going? JT was there in a stroller...but he was happily sleeping, and you know what they say about sleeping dogs. 

At 2 weeks post partum we took a trip to the Udvar-Hazy air and space museum. http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/ It is a GIANT airplane hanger full of restored planes from different eras; including the space shuttle. The girls were not as excited as we had hoped. Maybe after they have flown in more planes they will appreciate how cool it is. Even though this museum is not on the mall in down town DC, it is a must for airplane enthusiasts! James' friend who volunteers there took us for a private tour of the museum. He is a pilot and talked us through an air traffic control screen that they have up in a simulated air tower. You can see National airport and watch the planes take off while you are up there. 

James VII at one month... I don't think he's starving :) 

This is Michelle as a baby....I don't think he looks like me at all.... 

This is James VI as a baby...thought it would be fun to post for comparrison. :)