Hi Friends & Family!I haven't posted a real blog update in a few months and we have a few new pictures and videos to share.
We have been faring the Orcas Island Winter as well as can be expected. Full time jobs on the island during the winter months are scarce and challenging to keep, but Tim still has his full time job at Ace, and I still have a few cleaning clients and we are thankful for all that we are afforded.
It's been cold the past couple of weeks and we even got a few snowflakes, but not enough to stick for long. I can only speak for myself when I say that I am ready for some snow! After spending the last five Christmas's in San Diego, where we went to the beach after opening presents, I am ready for some snowmen and sledding on Christmas Day!
We spent Thanksgiving Day on Shaw Island with our friends Jay and Amy, who were dog/house sitting for our good friends, The Laursen's. Jay built a turkey sculpture out of scrap wood that we burned in the fire pit after dinner. It was slightly sinister, but great fun after a huge meal!
Maddox has been growing so fast I can hardly stay on top of things. He is 14 months old as of December 10th and is wearing size 18-24 month clothes (and has been for the last 3 months). His feet are like square, flat bear paws... thick and big. His hands are huge, his legs are chunky, his belly is jolly and his cheeks continue to entice us to eat his face! He has started to walk, FINALLY! He thinks he's pretty cool, and we do too :) He is starting to talk more every day. He says "Mamma", "Dadda", "Hot", "Yes", "Bubble", "Cracker", "Uh-oh!", "Woh!" and other unintelligible things that one day will turn into English. He LOVES to be outside and go on walks and watch Mom and Dad chop and stack firewood (which, little does he know will be his job soon enough! MUAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!).
My days of having the super easy baby are coming to an end. His sense of self and entitlement to anything he sees is becoming stronger and stronger and the battle of wills has begun. Bedtimes are sometimes a struggle. Who would want to go to bed when there is so much to explore! There are books to read and cupboards to open and close and pictures to be colored!
We are proud to report that Maddox is still the happiest kid we know.
Tim and I are excited for the Spring/Summer season to start. Orcas is a great place to earn some dough during the tourist months, and we plan to milk that cow this season and head toward Bellingham before the 2010 winter. There are more opportunities out there for better jobs that can better fit our family's needs.
Until then we are thoroughly enjoying the "Island Life" and have spent many nights cuddled up by our fireplace, drinking hot cocoa and reading books, taking walks in the woods, and catching up with old island friends.
We hope you all are doing well this winter, that your nights are filled with undisturbed slumber (unless you're Annie or Danielle- *wink*), that you are in good health, that your homes are warm and your bellies are full, and that everyone has a peaceful and sane holiday this season :)
Cheers!
Maddox, Alison & Tim
