A Year in Review...

Over a year has passed since we've shared & that's mainly because it's been moving fast & furiously!!
Christion has turned 9, Ari turned 4 & Chris & I have both gotten a little older too! (a few gray hairs later)
Chris & I made a decision in October 2008, to divorce, but in consideration of our financial affairs & the well-being of our children, we have taken the process extremely slow & with great caution.
We determined that cohabitation was a good alternative to physically separating or relocating, allowing the children access to both parents on a day to day basis & an opportunity to pay off some existing debt before changing our living arrangements & legal marital status.
We have been emotionally separating from our marriage & have agreed to the pursuit of other individual outside relationships as we transition out of an unhealthy marriage.
Fortunately we make for a good friendship, and should, considering we have spent most of our adult lives together. We've looked greatly at the possibilities of reconciling on numerous occasions, but it is evident that old habits are very difficult to break and destructive patterns still exist in our relationship. Frankly, alcoholism and different religious perspectives has played a very significant & damaging role in our relationship, one that neither of us is willing or able to fix at this time. Though the fall of a family is extremely sad and has brought with it many of painful days, a future that fosters healthy relationships and an abundance of love well received and generously given far outweighs the hurts of yesterday. We both agree that there is greater joy outside the unhealthy marriage we fostered for 13 years & wish the greatest of success and love in life for one another. We also value the family that we've created and look forward to continued co-parenting and continued new memories shared together in our own unique way.
Now that we've gotten the heavy business out of the way...
Christion is in the 4th grade now. Illness and mom's lack of structure has affected his success in school this year, but we are slowly rebounding. He is incredibly intelligent and shines under the right conditions, as is true for most of us.
Chris is still working full-time at the warehouse but has begun pursuing his DJing. He's been researching and pricing DJ equipment and programs, along with building his music collection. He has a real passion for the turntables and it's fortunate he has a dream like this to foster through such a difficult time in life. Not to mention, he's had this dream for a long time & now has the drive to make it happen!
Autumn is still writing! She's been collaborating with a couple of friends in song writing and is looking to expand this music project into live performances. She is writing a few children's books and collaborating with another woman on a couple of these as well. This winter, starting in January, she will be teaching a creative writing/journaling elective course at Sojourner Elementary (Christion's school). Just one more foot in the waters of that which she loves the most... WRITING! She's still in search of "work by day", with a decent amount of pay, as the search continues. Another significant twist occured when Autumn formed a creative cluster! She invited a group of women to gather once per week, using Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" as a model for the group's purpose and structure- it's been a wonderful success! Stay tuned, 2010 should be a big year!!

Conclusion of Summer Haps!

Summer was concluded with much fun & good times!
Sometimes we could be found watching TV from a laundry basket & playing video games...









Swimming in the backyard...









Swimming and dinner by campfire at Frenchmen's Bar, on the Columbia River with Good Friends...













Dancing in The Couve...













We got our first puppy, MARLEY, from a no kill shelter
(it only took us 3-4 weeks to agree on a name for him!)









Ari had her first trip to the dentist!












And Christion still says it's GREAT to be 8!!
The summer concluded with CJ leaving for his first day of 3rd Grade excited to see all of his school mates.












What an AMAZING Summer for 2008!

AHA... it's AHAS!

Upon returning from all our adventures this summer, we made our way to yet another 2 weeks of fun & learning.

Through Emily, we learned of a very exciting opportunity for Christion.

An organization called AHAS (At Home At School) provides a diverse 4 week summer program for kids. Downside... it was in Orchards, Washington & we had to drive 40 minutes to & from each day. Plus side... we missed the first 4 weeks of it & saved 2 weeks of gas expenses!!

Actually, the plus side list could go on & on...

*they provided both breakfast & lunch

*the kids got to choose 2 different electives to take each day (including things like bridge building, music, art, newsroom, quiltmaking & much more)

*the focus of the program was "RESPECT"

*they included field trips & even a petting zoo

*BEST PART... it was FREE!!!

Ari & I entertained ourselves with playdates with Alex & Ms. Heidi, as well as storytimes at Barnes & Noble & other park playing.

CJ said it was a GREAT experience & he would love to do it again next summer!

Magic, Glitter & Fire Oh My!

After only one day in between trips...
we left for the
2008 Oregon Country Fair (OCF)!!
We had yet another amazing adventure there!
The only troubles we faced were hand to hand combat with some relentless mesquito warriors in our campsite-- they flew through the citronella candles & ate our children as if they were invited to a bonfire beach party with an all-you-can-eat buffet!!

We enjoyed good friends & fair family!










Cheyenne & CJ enjoyed the snowcone breakfast ritual!












Snuggles alongside meetings with wizards & wolves
was a daily norm.












"Fair Play" consisted of climbing Giant Play Structures,
playing in the sand,












& let us not forget HULA HOOPING!!












Scaling Stiltwalker Benches at MainStage proved Super Fun!
(especially with good friends)












Cheyenne grooved a Hula Hoop at MainStage
while people stopped to take pictures of her.












Ari found herself in the Kaleidoscope Tower this year!












We relaxed quite a bit in the Meadow this year...
The White Parade stopped to deliver a cherry to Christion.












A lady from France showed CJ how to Balance a Juggling Pin.












Chris, Ari & I all played around--
keeping eachother smiling and laughing all weekend long!












Christion even flew out of the fair one day!












Camp was greeted with Cheyenne & Kaley
"the tunnel monsters"!












Maya & Francisco kept us giggling vintage style.
Little Araiza got a splinter in her foot,
but daddy Franni fixed it up proper!












We adorned ourselves
with face paints, ribbons, horns, & glitter....
& left each day with fair dust from head to toe!
Dancing, marching & playing at Fair equates to much dusty love!!





























Though it's always sad to leave the fair... we have much to take with us through the year ahead!
Every year is a deep inter and intrapersonal learning experience for each of us & we are fortunate to have the gift of touching each sense with an abundance of each intelligence (Mathematical-Logical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Linguistic, Naturalistic, Visual Spatial & even Existential). From amazingly reflective dream puppet shows to soul soothing drum circles, participant breakdancing performances to people sized chess boards, we are bathed in a complete revitalization of our spirits and even enhanced with refreshing new perspectives. The reminder that we are each unique, incredible individuals and yet very much engulfed in an intricate contribution to a growing community makes me feel whole. I hope not to feel complete, but rather to feel whole and able to cultivate my spirit through a lifetime of fulfilling interactions and quiet contemplations.
Many thanks to the Oregon Country Fair & my ability to open to its many enchanting possibilities!

Bitter Sweet - TUESDAY (DAY 14)

I am going to miss my sisters,

brother-in-law,

& nieces

soooooooo much!!!!!

Here's the Sweet part...

We have had such an incredible 2 weeks together

& no real scuffles.

I could play with my nieces everyday--

they are sooo much fun!

I could sit & chat it up with my sisters

if the sun would never set!

& I could laugh through eternity

in the presence of my awesome brother-in-law!

Now the Bitter part...

It's soooo hard to leave,

knowing that it will be quite awhile til we're

together again!!

I won't see my nieces everyday.

The sun does set each day.

& I won't be in Michael's presence for awhile.

tears dripping like a leaky faucet

I am soooo grateful to have given my children this beautiful gift

& I am grateful for this time that I have spent

sharing & laughing & touching

so many people that I love so deeply in my life.

I only wish to not wait so long to see them & hold them again.

I am soooo grateful to Chris.

I appreciate his committment

to making this trip possible for us

& all of the sacrifice involved.

It has been very hard for Chris to be apart from the kids,

but it is a refreshing reminder of how wonderful

it is to have special people in your life.

I can't wait to see Christion & Ari's eyes light up

when they see their daddy again.

As much as I will miss my family...

I am excited to be headed for the Fair!

What an amazing summer this is.

I am fully in love with life at this moment

& filled with immeasurable amounts of love & gratitude!