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We are moving! Well blog spots...not houses!

Take a look at Kena and Cooper!!! I thought Cooper should be included in this family too!!

Did this happen to any of you?

Ok this is going to be more of a Rant then a Rave....

I got married almost six years ago to the most amazing man ever and I am very blessed by that. That, however is NOT my rant.

I went to Seattle Pacific University for two years, while there I did live in the dorms there. Emerson, being brand new, on three different floors over the two years I was there. I made some great friends, friends I thought would be with me for a long time. I met Adam Winter of my second year at SPU. My friends loved him and I thought he fit in quite nicely.

We got engaged the following Fall (I was already unenrolled in SPU...and going to a community college)...then got married the Fall after that. All of those friends attended my wedding and some of them even served as Bridesmaids. Even my maid of honor was a SPU friend.

Once we got married and settled in, we hosted a few parties at our appartment...just steps away from the SPU campus where most of them lived. I visited there too, however it was hard for me since I was working a full time job and Adam was going to school and working also.

And then...it stopped.

The hanging out stopped...they didn't call...no emails.

We moved to Bothell a year after we got married and lost contact completely. Its not like we weren't a drive away.

Here is my question...when you got married, did you lose friends? Or big events in your life where you thought you would have those friends and now they have disappeared?

I am sad because I do see them still get together on facebook...They are my friends on facebook too so its nice to see how their lives are turning out.

I have kept in contact with one, Melissa W, who is just wonderful. Also I kept in touch with Derek by reading his wife's adorbs blog.

The Rave part of this....I LOVE my friends now. They are absolutely the best people out there. Adam and I are continuely blessed by. But there is always something in the back of my head that wonders, what the heck happened there?

We are blessed by those friends that come by to hang out...neighbors that watch out for you and your children. I have fanastic "mom" friends, a "photography" buddy that helps me with questions, my "post partumn depression friends", a fab "forever" friend that seriously is more like a sister than a friend, my "gossip" friend(s)...I have everything that a girl can ask for.

So really this is more of a Rave...because I have such great friends.

Rock n Roll Marathon...American Cancer Society Benefiting Charity

Yes, its been awhile...

Besides getting bigger and bigger each day (I better give birth to a 20 pound baby), we have been full on "Rock n Roll Marathon" at our house. Most of you know in the beginning of the year Adam landed a new job with American Cancer Society's Determination. For the west coast division's first event was the 2nd annual Seattle Rock n Roll Full and Half Marathon, Adam dove head into Determination.

I can not be more proud of my husband.

I got the chance to spend the whole weekend emerged in ACS with the Rock n Roll Marathon. The weekend started early on Thursday morning, where we packed up the "crazy man van" (its called something else but not PC for here...) and headed to the Health and Wellness expo at Qwest field. Not only did we get treated like V.I.P, I was so impressed with the overall expo that CGI (the company that runs the RnR) produces. If you get a chance next year...take a look. Its a blast. We spent most of the day there, getting to meet participates and talking to others about RnR's benefiting charity.

After many hours...we took our 'van' to the classy...W Hotel, where Adam and I got to stay until Sunday afternoon.

Pasta dinner followed the busy day at the expo. The pasta dinner for charity runners and their friends and family went without an hitches. It was a beautiful dinner hosted in the W's banquet room. I most enjoyed meeting those that running...and some of the surviors. One of them is a 4 year old girl that is a eye cancer survior.

Friday brought another busy day at the expo (I slept in...walked down to qwest field when I was ready... I got to enjoy the city sights!). Most of the runners attended that day. There I got to meet a recent cancer survior whose RnR marathon was her frist marathon after cancer treatment. Amazing.

After drinks in the W's Bar after the expo, Adam called it a night...he had to get up at 4.

I don't know much about the start....oh thats right, I was still in bed.

Volunteering at the charity tent was a blast. I loved seeing all the signs, sweaty faces and cheering families. This year the RnR had 28,000 runners/walkers/limpers/etc. My mother in law and sister in law ran for 'team hope' for those in church and our community. My mother was so impressed she decided that Stanwood needs to get a team together, as that community has been deeply affected by cancer. Saturday was a long day and thats putting it lightly. But it was the most amazing volutneer experience I have had. We had two women in our church community hold the 'finishers' tape...Kelli stage 3 cancer fighter and Joni a stage 4 breast and brain cancer fighter. They were more than excited to be included in the hype of it all.

The phrase I heard the most at the race's end was...."I wanted to QUIT. But then I thought of those who we were running FOR...and those friends/family/community can't stay QUIT to CANCER."

...this is a disease that affects everyone...no matter your race, gender, age, income. Please consider running/walking/tranning with ACS next year for the RnR. Its an amazing experience.

Please let me know if you have anyone that is a survior or current figther as Adam is always looking for people to feature with ACS.

Below are some amazing pictures by my dear friend Krista. She captured so many beautiful moments and I will share more later.

...I have had people ask me if I am going to run/walk next year. I have already decided no....because I just have way too much fun volunteering!

...Thats Kena...a total rock star...with her V.I.P pass!

Some New Pictures.

Its been awhile....

Inbetween the computer situation, craziness at the house and...A BABY ON THE WAY...we have been a bit busy...

Here are some pictures of our sweet girl....


Kena's Swimming Lessons

Easter

First Hair Cut by Tasha

Christmas 2009

Day in Seattle

A trip to the Children's Muesum

Gold Creek Community Church

Either if you are close or far...you can enjoy my home church's Easter Service via the web!

Yes, our church is super techy...

Easter Services at Gold Creek
Friday 7pm
Saturday 7pm
Sunday 9am, 10:30am and noon
Or Live at
www.goldcreek.org/live

Also, my baby brother (who works at the church) will be playing drums with the encounter band!

Little Known Facts...

Just a few tidbits of yours truly....

-I am in fact 26 years old...even though I look 16. I know everyone says to enjoy it...I hate it.

-I am probably the worse housekeeper you will ever meet. I guess I don't care who sees my dust! I also have a tendency to burn food too....which makes me think....

-That I am a little ADD. Simply because I am so distracted. Ask my husband....I am not allowed to watch tv in the morning because I get so distracted. Hence the many projects I have around the house that I have yet to finish.

-I suffer from Depression and Anxiety. God has given me the courage to be able to share with other women, especially mothers, my story. I also had horrible Post Partunm Depression with Kena.

-I really enjoy blogging...and just wish I had a little more time to do it.

-I really wish I was musically talented...like my brother.

-I LOVE music. Silence kills me. We always have music going on at the house.

-My true passion is helping others. I was studying sociology when I was in college. I loved it because I enjoy learning about others.

-I prayed when I was pregnant with Kena that she would be a compassionate person.

-I love Jesus and are amazed daily at his grace, love and understanding.

-My church is more than just a church...its family.

-Even though I am not the most girly girl, I do love planning weddings. I thought about doing that as a job, but then realized that I am may not have the most patience....

-I am also an extremely impatient person.

My dear friend Kisha

I woke up this morning to check my facebook and found this picture posted on my profile...

Now, if you don't know...I have the hugest celebrity crush on Joel McHale (from the Soup and Community). Kisha over at In through the out door, her crush is McDreamy from Grey's. These would our, lets say, top on our "laminated list" (yes I am pulling a friends' reference).

So I don't know how the crap Kisha found it...but a picture of our two dream men (keep in mind both of US are married, happily)...together. We can only wish right???

Ponderings....

This commentary was written Monday March 15th....

-As I sat today watching a Josh Groban DVD (don't judge me, Kena wanted 'ball' music) the song "You Raise Me Up" started. And all i could think of is five and half years ago at my wedding and how far things have come.

With Makena sitting next to me, distoring my day planner, surrounded by the morning mess, I think back to me in a stunning white wedding dress. "You Raise Me Up" was the song my father and I danced to at my wedding. I never seen my father cry so much in my life. I think of twenty years from now, our own daugther could be getting married. She too will pick a special song to dance to with her father. And just like my father, Kena's father will sway his "little girl" (now in her twenties) ad tears will stream down his face. Much like the way Kena and her father dances now, with a total different meaning. He will then hand off his "little girl" to her new husband, both egger to start a beautiful life together.

Three years ago this month we found out our new addition will be a daughter, as she proudly displayed her "girl bits" (I will spear you all the ultra sound photo). Driving home from the ultra sound appointment I vowed to never in anways have a 'girly girl'. Speed forward 3 years later, as I look at our playroom floor, cluttered with scarfes, jewels, purses and a castle made of mega blocks for princesses, that I do in fact have a girly girl. I hate to break little Kena's heart and tell her that, sadly, we do not live in a castle. We will let her figure that one out on her own.

Bottom line, God laughs when you say 'never'.....but I digress....

I had to make myself stop thinking about the future, enjoy my time with Makena, because before you know it, I will be watching her dance with her father in a stunning white wedding dress.
.....Lets just hope one of the wedding colors is NOT sliver.

Busy...

...is the goings of this house!!

Yes, I am backing to writing (little by little), with a borrowed computer from the lovely Deiby! She let me borrow a extra laptop they had so I am able to feel 'connected' with the real world. As a mom sometimes you don't feel like you are connected to the real world, but a world of forever whinning, gigi (God's little Princess), saying 'no you may NOT have more sugar' and cleaning playdough off the carpet. Its nice to take those few seconds to see if other moms are having a crazy day like me. Normally they are, which puts my mommy mind at ease. We have been very busy around here. Adam is very busy with his new job. We are so lucky that he is happy with his job, most people find that when they are older or never at all. He comes home excited to talk about his daily work and his goal setting for the next couple of weeks. If you are interested in running the Rock n Roll Marathon in Seattle for American Cancer Society please check on the following post.

I have been working very hard at battling with my depression/anxiety. I will blog more about that later....

Kena, is talking more and more, which makes for some interesting coversations. She regularly makes us laugh, which we LOVE. She is such a carefree, loving, kind, and compassionate little girl. Yes, she got both her mother's and father's stubburn sides, but I know God has quite the plan for her! Ask her her favorite song and she will gladly proclaim "GLORY TO GOD" (by Fee band). We have taught her at a young age to express her Praise and Love to Jesus through music. We often raise hands in Church to show that its ok to Praise, however you may. She will ask to listen to our Church's music before she goes into Children's Church. We are so proud of her and her love of Jesus!

Personally, I have started a Bible Study with some wonderful friends at Gold Creek. We are working through "Captivating" which is the sister book for "Wild at Heart". I am really enjoying the study and being able to open up to others and listening to others open up to me.

God is doing amazing things in our life.

A little break....

..not on purpose!
my computer, finally, did bite the dust. it was time...well not really, but i guess my computer decided it was. now we are on the search for a cheap, great and hopefully orange laptop! if i don't get my orange laptop adam said that i can get a cool orange sticker from etsy (i am thinking a little orange birdie on a tree). until then, i have limited time on the hubs' computer so i won't be able to update my blog as often. also, no new pictures until i can download them on a safe, new computer!

until then....check out my friend's blog!!! Kisha, who is a friend i met at work, has an awesome blog, she is a great writter! please check out her blog! also she has 'freebie fridays' where she gives away some awesome prizes!!!!

In Through the Out Door

will be back soon!

the adventures in potty fairy land...

So in a blog entry, oh so long ago, I said iIwould let you know how we potty trainned M. Now, please keep in mind, it won't work for everyone! M is a very independant, strong, stubborn, first born. So we had to take a little bit of a different approach.

So, at first to get M excited about going potty and having a direct reward (decided against giving her candy...because, well have you seen her? she would be tricky, so she can get more candy). So for a pee- she got a sticker. For a poop, she got to make a phone call. And for some reason, that made her excited! She got to call who ever she wanted (before hand we 'warned' those who might be getting phone calls) Her fav's her boppa and g'ma/ auntie and Olivia. Once she grasped that idea and didn't need the phone calls, but still needed some kind of...reward...we introduced "The Potty Fairy".

M, being the stubborn child of mine (who the heck did she get that from?) decided she was DONE taking naps. So I morn the death of NAPS at 2 and half years old. So we didn't need to work on staying dry while sleeping, we will save that til later. So, if M stayed dry all day...then after her bath time the 'potty fairy' would visit (i would sneak into her bathroom and be the 'potty fairy' when she wasn't looking). PF would bring a small toy...a matchbox car or a puzzle, on the toliet. For some reason, that worked! She loved getting little toys at the end of the day...and she was so proud of herself.

Her end of day potty training kind of coinceided with christmas, so PF took a break while Santa took over and gave her presents on Christmas. However, if it didn't work that way then the PF would have brought a big present to end her adventure with M and that M was potty trainned.

Now, of course M has her slip ups. It happens and that is ok.

DetermiNation

Congrats to Adam for landing his dream job at American Cancer Society! January 4th he started a new journey as the Community Relationship Manager, exclusively working with the "Rock n Roll Full and Half Seattle Marathon" (June 26th). As the Community Relationship Manager, he is in charge of scouting runners to run/train for the Rock n Roll Marathon and rising money for American Cancer Society (ACS).

If you are to sign up, run and raise money for ACS, you will be apart of "DetermiNation". As a member of DetermiNation, you will not only be raising money to END Cancer, but you will receive Rockstar treatment, including (but not only):

-Free Group Race Training

-VIP treatment on race day

-Free entrance fee into the Rock n Roll Marathon1

-Many More! (click on the Rockstar treatment link for more info)

Have you ever thought..."One day I would like to run/walk/crawl/moan/cry through a marathon!"? Then this is your time to do it! You can do either the half or full marathon, while raising money for ACS. Click on the following link: ACS to get more information.

Or email Adam, my hubby, at adam.cross@cancer.org Call him at 206-406-9626

pure...nastiness....

I am sitting here with my lovely husband...watching some "cbs" (because I changed it from the "bachelor"...frankly i got sick of that 'd bag'). and a commerical comes on for the new "big mac snack wrap" from mcdonald's. um, nasty. maybe mcdonald's made an 'ordering mistake' and made too many 'big mac beef patties' and flour wraps. sit back and think about all the big wigs in a meeting

"WELL, damn it folks! we have far too many wraps...and beef patties. WHAT on earth are we going to do??!?!?!"

"Well boss...combine them together. we can corner the 'pregnant mom cravings' and the 'poor hungry college kids' market!"

no i am not knocking mcdonald's here...i am simply saying "hey mcdonald's...i think you went a little too far". it has got to be the nastiness thing i have ever seen. no wait...yes...yeah it is. it out beats the 'famous kfc bowls' shown in commericals a few years back.

yes folks. that is crispy chicken, cheese, corn and rice! i don't know if a pregnant woman, with all the crazy cravings in the world, would think this looks appetizing.

now its your turn....what do you think? maybe wash it down with a tall beer?

We are a.....

...work in progress!

please ignore the mess! i decided, while sipping wine and watching "Community", to change my blog. frankly, i was bored with it and needed a change.

if anyone can help...look at the little sweet window at the top of the page...HOW ON EARTH do i get a actual picture in that!

I guess I am that bad...

yeah, i totally suck.

i thought i would be more on top of things lately, but let me honest...i am not.

let me catch you up on a few things that has been going on in the Cross' household.
-Christmas came and gone in a blur. however, the piles and piles of garbage is still around. oh and so is that freak'n poundage that i 'luckily' gainned from christmas sweets (note the scarasim.). damn you holiday sweets. those cookies get me everytime. does everyone need like, three cookies, to go with their coffee?

-kena is day potty trained. how we did it? i will never know.

-kena has decided to never take naps again. which makes mommy sad...i miss my OWN naps. a single tear for what was a nice two hour nap time...with out whinning. now the time that was spent updating my blog, is now...watching my two year old not taking a nap.

-Adam recieved a NEW job! yes!! Praise God, for adam's new job at American Cancer Society. i will do a whole post on his new job and what that entails (any runners out there?).

-i have been reading! finished jennifer wiener's "good night nobody" around Christmas time and now working on "Tweak" by Nic Sheff (a compain book to "beautiful boy" by his father David Sheff).

-crap dang it...i am addicted to...crossword puzzles and wordsearches. And not just the same old puzzles and wordsearches...its those damn celebrity ones. i just bought my second 'people puzzler' from people magazine. hense why i am tired because i stay up doing those things!

-both adam and i had two weeks off. sorry, i hung out with my fam playing games.

-i thought kena wouldn't get the 'terrible twos' but guess what??? it has smacked me in the butt. kena has hit the terrible twos...and is running with it. the whinning, drives me nuts. so i have been trying to 'nip it in the bud' before it gets too far. hopefully there isn't too much damage.

-life gets crazy. i guess sometimes i HAVE to do laundry...when everyone runs out of underwear.

-i am loving some new blogs! I will follow up with a later post with my NEW favorite blogs!

Ok, I gotta get back to watching my 'friends' dvd's and my crossword puzzle. wow did i like age 30 years just then?