Double the Love

Double the Love: Big brother and Big sister to TWINS in May 2014!

We are reeling, as you can imagine!  Excited... Scared... Happy... the emotions are swirling.

I'll sit down and write the story of how we found out when I've settled my emotions and the fog of surprise.  This is a story I'll want to remember!

Halloween!

Elijah (the firefighter) and Eva (the giraffe) with their friends Merek (the Jedi) and Kennedy (the pink owl.)
Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

The kids had a blast at the pumpkin patch! Favorites included mud pie making, corn pit somersaulting, tractor-tricycle riding, and operating a water pump. We bought pumpkins and both kids cradled them on their laps the whole ride home. They looooved painting them (covering them in paint!)

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Missyou Daddy

This morning Eva woke up hard from her nap. She was crying in my lap, "Missyou Daddy. Missyou Daddy." He was just at work, but our little lady is definitely becoming Daddy's little girl!

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Garden Variety Prayer

Lately when I've been putting Elijah to bed, after we pray he will say/shout "Tomato!" At first I thought he was just being silly and talked to him about praying sincerely, and how though God loves our laughter, He also deserves our respect... But as the nights passed and he continued ending our bedtime prayers with "tomato," I wondered if there was something I was missing.

"Elijah," I finally asked one night, "why do you say tomato after we pray?"

"Daddy said I could," he said.

"Really?" I said, considering how to respond to this, as I seriously doubted David had approved Tomato instead of Amen.

"Yup, he did! He said some people say Ahhh-men and some people say Ay-men, and some people say Tomato."

I remembered the conversation. Weeks ago Elijah asked why we say "Ay-men" but other people he had heard pray said "Ah-men," and wanted to know which was right. David had said both were fine, "...just like some people say to-may-to and some people say to-mah-to." Little Man thought Daddy was saying they were acceptable closings to prayers as well.

Hopefully we got this one cleared up! And we're thankful that God loves us no matter what we say! :)

and who's coming next?

We have been blessed with lots of visitors this October!

Overheard tonight:
David: We had fun with Oma and Poppi, and with Mr. Kyle, Ms. Alli and Josephine... and do you know who's coming tomorrow?
Eva: GOD!!!

So (Uncle) Tim, we are expecting God, but we're happy you are coming! :)

Balloon Fiesta 2013

Every year the city of Albuquerque hosts the international balloon fiesta where teams from around the country and the world bring their balloons to fly in the beautiful skies of Albuquerque.

As is typical for balloon fiesta the temperature became pretty cool so we were all dressed in our coats to watch the balloons. 

Having a little one potty training was an adventure, but Eva was a good sport. 

It was great to have Dad and Mom Otten here for balloon fiesta! 

Albuquerque has a unique feature in that the Rio Grande valley creates a box pattern where about 30% of the time the wind blows down the valley close to the ground and then blows north higher off the ground. Balloons can enter the box pattern and stay in it for a long period of time. 

Overall there was a about 500 balloons with as many as 250 up in the air at any one time. 

3, 2, 1 Launch!

We had two of the satellites from my program launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 1.1 a couple Sundays ago. This marks a major milestone event for us and was an exciting day as we watched the rocket sour to space and then as ground stations from around the world begin to talk to the satellites.

We had a launch party at the house and projected the webstream of the launch on the wall. We had some computers set up for tracking the satellites as well as a telecon line going with both of the satellite design teams. 

A picture of the nozzles of the Falcon 9 just before launch.  

Eli was captivated for the entire launch and as excited as we were with the successful launch of the satellites. 

Jamie was creative once again and partnered with her friend Katy who had a rocket cookie cutter. Our friend Jim brought a cake with the two satellites names on them. 

The day ended with our friend Nick giving Elijah his entire space lego collection which included a space shuttle, a large rocket, a small rocket, and a launch pad. Eli was thrilled! 

A New Mexican Fall Tradition

We love fall traditions... and in New Mexico, fall means green chile! We got to join some good friends to celebrate the fall tradition of green chile roasting and peeling akin to the apple picking of our previous habitat.

Our friends Jason and Katie purchased four bushels of green chiles and had them freshly roasted. We gathered at their house with friends Michael and Tiffany to peel them all and split them into three groups for all of us. 

You had to be sure to wear gloves otherwise you may rub your eyes and have them burning. 

The kiddos helped briefly, but mostly we kept them entertained with toys and TV so they wouldn't get chile in their eyes.

Michael demonstrates the higher quality control standard of the men.

Though the ladies were teased for letting a higher degree of seeds into the peeled chiles, we were the powerhouse peelers!

Story time

"Good Night, Good Night Construction Site" as read by Poppi who knows all about construction equipment. :)

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Sandia Hike

Last weekend we decided to go for a hike at the top of the Sandias to get out of the city and get some fresh air. It's a beautiful hour drive around the mountain and up a winding switchback road to the top of the mountain.

From the top you have an ~360 degree of the Rio Grande valley and the surrounding NM terrain. 

We struck off on a hike down the ridge of the cliff enjoying a beautiful view and passing in and out of the trees. 

At one point the trail hit a switchback and we had to climb through up this great stone stair between two giant rocks. Eli especially loved this part. 

Our final destination was a stone cottage built back during the depression and made a nice destination. At one point it looked like we were hiking off into the wild blue yonder. 

Eva's 1st three word sentences!

To Oma: "What you doin'?"

And today... "Poppi, get here." (Not a question, but telling Poppi to sit near her!)

Eli's First Soccer Practice

Soccer growing up for me was part of life. Between going to watch games of the older brothers, to participating myself, to watching younger brothers and sister play, soccer was always a great time. Eli is a bit young for competitive soccer and paying for a league is pretty expensive, but when we heard about a league our friends Merek and Kennedy where in that was focused on younger kids learning the basic skills and lead by volunteers we couldn't pass it up.

Although Elijah was having a bit of a hard time the first practice it was nice to have his buddy Merek with him. The two of them did all of the drills together which helped them both out. 

If there was anything Eli picked up naturally it was running. He had no problem running after the ball or doing any running drill. 

Eva loved seeing her brother play, but she was a bit upset about not being allowed to play because she was to young. Next year she'll be old enough for the young group and watch out because she's ready to go. 

Eva's prayer

Eva is learning to pray. At AWANA Puggles tonight she learned that God made the sun.  I was rocking her at bed time and she said "Pray!" then folded her hands and closed her eyes. "God, Sun... Oma... Poppi... Brutha... Daddy... Mommy... Amen!"
I love her first prayers are of thankfulness.

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