Camel Back

We have been having some beautiful days here in Idaho. The sun as been out and the sky blue... beautiful! Joe and I went to this place called Camel Back right outside of downtown Boise (at the foot of the foothills). It is a big plateau that you can hike around, mountain bike or run. We picked up Arthur (Joe's brother's dog) and let him run around with us. It was cold, but we got a good work out in. Afterwards we went to a fun little coffee shop, visited Joe's grandma in the hospital, then got some pizza at a place called Pie Hole. It was a lot of fun to get out and do something new, and especially outside! Have a great Saturday!

Hiking along with Arthur

On top of Camel Back

Arthur and I taking a rest at the top

Life Map

My first big project in grad school was something called a Life Map. A life map shows what I have gone through in my life with a "6x6" perspective. The first six are personal influences such as: culture, gender, race, religion, sexual identification, and socio-economical status. The other six are from a western perspective front: historical, philosophical, ethical, political, sociological, and environmental. Blah blah blah... all that crap is for my paper, which I won't bore you with. But here is my graphic organizer. I took cardboard 3-D letters, and put on pictures starting with me being born (curve of the J), to present day (E). Enjoy!

So there it is, my 23 (almost 24) years in 5 letters!

Close Call

I woke up this morning to a much unexpected blanket of snow. No big deal right? I have driven in the snow to work on the same road many times this year. So I am driving along, a little faster than I probably should of been (40 MPH in a 50). I guess I thought I was driving for the winter conditions. I hit a solid sheet of ice, veered one way, corrected myself, veered the other way, corrected myself, then did a 180 and went into a farmer's field backwards. Damn, it scared me!! Two truck drivers came and helped me get out. Thank God for them. Bad start to my Friday morning. After enough day light came out today, I went out to the parking lot to see how the car was. Everything is fine except my back right tire was flat. Joe came today, brought me coffee and a cupcake, and took of the tire and took it to Costco. What an angle! Thank you Joe!

So moral of the story, drive at the speed the weather allows you too, but don't take roads for granted. Especially if you are driving your little ones around! Have a great weekend!!

Exhausted but so happy!

I am so happy that tomorrow is Friday. Although it has only been a 4 day work week, I am still recovering from last weekend! It was such a blessing for Tiffany and Kory allowing me to be present at Jackson's birth. My sister is amazing, absolutely amazing. The hardest part of the delivery was watching her in pain. But her unconditional love for her children and husband won in the battle of pain has she brought each and everyone of us a gift. Joe and I left on Monday afternoon and got back to Nampa around midnight. I got up, made it to work, and even got my homework done before my 4 hour class that night. So needless to say, I am still tired. However, every time I get sleepy or yawn, I can't help but smile knowing I have a healthy nephew and niece back in Washington.

Here are some pictures of skiing and Jackson!

Standing on top of Bogus during the sunset

This is how I found Joe when I came down the mountain...

Remember the post about the inversion, this is what we saw when we drove above it! Blue skies and sunshine!

We took Avery to see the fish. She walked around pointing at them saying "feesh"

The new big sister and auntie

Holding Jackson

Grammie holding Jackson

Jonathan Richard with his grandson Jackson Jonathan

Big Sister and Little Brother

Jackson Jonathan

Jackson Jonathan Newgard

Welcome Jackson Jonathan Newgard! Joe and I made it back just in time. I dropped him off at my parent's house at 4:00 a.m. (so he could sleep because he drove the whole way) and rushed to the hospital. Tiffany was definitely in labor! She was doing great with the contractions despite being extremely uncomfortable because of Jackson's position on her lower back. At around 5:55 a.m., the nurse and Kory held her legs as she pushed through each contraction. She would push hard for ten seconds, quick breath, and then repeat two more times. With every contraction we could see the head just a little bit more. I have never witnessed a live birth before, and it was one of the most amazing, beautiful, horrifying things I have ever seen! Tiffany did amazing, I look at her in awe of enduring one of life's hardest yet rewarding tasks. At 6:24 am, the doctor delivered a dark hair, tiny baby! Jackson weighed 7 pounds and 9 ounces. He was 19 inches long. He took to crying right away, but had to have his little lungs suctioned out a few times. He is beautiful.

Both mom and baby are doing great! Kory was amazing through everything as well. Jackson took to breast feeding right away, a true man already who loves boobs =)

Avery, when she met her brother, stared at him for about thirty second a little unsure. It is funny to see her face change into confusion when he starts to cry. Kory, Tiff, and Jackson will stay the night at Tacoma General one more time. The family of four will be all home tomorrow night. I thought Jackson would have dark hair like Avery, but he is actually somewhat blonde. He has been mellow all afternoon and awake. He sucks on his little thumb... so cute!

Thank you to all who had the Newgards in their thoughts and prayers the last couple days! When we get home tomorrow, I will post some pictures, I don't have my laptop with me. I have always known that I could get home in 7 hours when need be, when I was in college and now. Last night proved it. I have the world's most amazing boyfriend who drove all night, after a rough day of skiing, to get me to Washington. I love you Joe!

January 17 marks the day the Alyssa died in 1984. The cycle of life continues as we welcome this new baby into our family. Welcome Jackson, you have a huge support group behind you that will be loving you the rest of your life!

Rushing Home

Hi everyone... after a long day of fun and humorous skiing, I GOT THE CALL! Tiffany is in labor! Joe and I rushed down the mountain, packed our bags, and the second he is out of the shower, we'll start our 7 1/2 hour drive to go see my amazing sister. Please keep us, her, Kory/Avery, and our families in your prayers!

I'll keep you updated!

hummmm

I am not sure why, but I am a little depressed. I think it might be because Idaho has a stupid inversion, its FREEZING here, and I can't remember the last time I saw the sunshine. I think I am just stuck in a rut. I don't even have anything good to blog about. I had my second class this week, and I am enjoying it more and more. It makes me feel like I am doing something productive with my life. I am excited to meet my nephew. I keep my phone ringer on high 24/7 just in case! We have a three day weekend (no school on Monday). Joe and I are going skiing tomorrow so that will be nice to do something outside and active. I think sometimes I am a better friend when I don't like with three of my best friends. I hate the "cripty crapity he said she said gossipy crap"-- words of Jon Kellett. I have made it through my one year anniversary of tearing up my knee. My surgery anniversary is on February 1, but I played a game on the one day anniversary of when I tore it and I am still intact!

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to send your way this weekend after skiing!

World's Worst Blogger

So I have crowned myself the "World's Worst Blogger"! I suck and everyday I think I need to blog, I need to blog, and I don't! So FINALLY... here I am. I know you have all been checking ten times a day to see, so now the wait is over ;)

Christmas break came and went so fast that it saddens me. I got a lot of quality time with my family. Mom, dad, and I went and saw Marley and Me. Has anyone seen it? Hilarious and sad and really miss our cat Sophie. I went up to Crystal Mountain with Kory and Dad the Saturday after Christmas. We had a blast and got some "sick air". The conditions were "pristine" but the snow was a little heavy which caused some pretty hilarious falls from all of us. We were going down this one run (not sure if it was a double or single diamond) and I see dad face plant, then Kory did the same right next to them. Funniest thing about it, was they both looked up at me at the same time with their faces were COVERED in snow!

Joe flew out and celebrated New Years with me and the family. We didn't go out, but had fun playing games and drinking champagne.

School and work started this week, and I swear this has been the longest week of my life. I have just been extremely tired and it's been hard getting back into the swing of things. My first class for grad school was on Tuesday and I really liked! The classes are pretty interactive so I am not sitting there for 4 hours taking notes. However... lots of homework, welcome back to school Jamie!