Catch Up

It's been awhile...no surprise there.

Here's a glimpse of our holiday adventure in Utah and Idaho.  We relished every minute of our time there since we don't have plans of heading west in the foreseeable future.  I must say, holidays - especially Christmas - are so much fun with babies.  Bug is already curious, but with shiny ornaments, tinsel, lights, and jingle bells, she is out of control.  It was awesome.

We ran into some crazy Texans who we absolutely adore and made an afternoon of it at Squatter's for lunch and a stroll through City Creek.

Steve and I played chaperones for an outing to the Utah Symphony's Christmas performance with my cousins' kiddos.  We've missed these munchkins!  It was especially fun hearing their version of how picked on they are by their parents.  I was glimpsing my own future...

It was a special treat to introduce AJ to her great-grandparents this trip.  Here she is with Bill and Marlene...

 And Great-grandma Charmain.

And Christmas isn't complete without a visit from St. Nick!  Look how much fun my mom was having!

AJ's first interaction with Santa was a huge success.  No tears, no tugs, just curiosity and smiles.

 Christmas found us in Logan (freezing Logan, I might add) to spend a couple days with Steve's family.  It's always nice to get together and hear about Julie and Derrall's adventures in Peru.  They met a friend of ours who arrived at the MTC in Peru a week or so before they flew home to Utah for Christmas.  Small world.

The time passed too quickly.

AJ got to meet her cousin this trip and they had lots of fun reading with Grandma.

 Bug's first Christmas.  Her expression says it all.  Clueless, but oh so happy.

After we left Utah, we headed north and made our way to Sun Valley, Idaho.  Behold, the quintessential logo at the lodge.

Exploring the ice sculptures in the Village.

We enjoyed the scrumptious desserts and hot cocoa at the Konditorei....multiple times.  Jack Frost forced me into it, but I must say, the pecan brownie and lemon tart were oh so tasty!

Bug finally got to meet my oldest brother, Precious Scott.  They became best buds from the moment they met.

So much so that Bug snagged a special photo-op with Scott and the Zamboni (technically it's an Olympia, but that's like calling a kleenex by some other name...it just isn't the same) in front of Baldy.

She stayed up waaaay past her bedtime to ring in the New Year (she conked by 9:00 p.m.).

 Daddy/daughter date on Baldy?  Absolutely.  

More Village exploration...

And a highlight of the trip was meeting my BFF's brand new baby!  Dez is the cutest little guy on the planet and I was so glad I got to spend time with him (Twice!  Didn't take pictures the first time).  It's still surreal to me that Penn and I are both mamas now.

And that's a wrap.  2012 was a big year and this trip was a perfect way to bid it farewell.

Digits

Ten little fingers and ten little toes...

Das Herbst

Autumn is my favorite time of the year - tis' the season of:

stunning color

brisk temperatures

honeycrisp apples

everything pumpkin

hot chocolate and apple cider

new beginnings (school, that is)

reflection

Fall/Autumn is good for my psyche - it is visible and tangible in a way that is unlike the other seasons and I love the effect it has on me each year.

If seasons had soundtracks, then I came across the soundtrack for Autumn this week.  We went to see Bram Stoker's Dracula at BalletMet, and the music for the pas de deux between Dracula and Mina was gorgeous:  Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt.

Check it out on Youtube if you feel so inclined.

Happy Autumn.

As of Late

Way back when (mid-August), Team Adams went to Canada to see family, as well as the following:

Niagara was amazing.  We made this trip as one grand finale to Summer 2012 before Steve started working and before I went back to school.  Speaking of Steve's job, we were 15 minutes into this trip when he got the call informing him of his job offer.

Perfect timing in so many ways.  So yes, Steve is employed full-time at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.  His department oversees the county agencies that carry out the services, but what it all boils down to is this: Steve found a job in his field and is getting that elusive "experience" that every job requires, yet rarely gives.

Before he started his job, he went to Sweden.

Yes, I repeat, he went to Sweden.

Steve's cousin, Filippa, got married to Niklas on 18 August 2012 in Sweden and Steve was thrilled to be a part of the festivities.  Here he is with Bodil (Filippa's mother), and below you can see the lovely couple at their big celebration.

Summer abruptly came to an end when Steve went to work and I went to school, but we did enjoy Labor Day weekend in the company of my sister.  This was Bug's first time meeting one of my siblings and here they are conversing deeply on the complexities of life according to a five-month old.  My sister takes her role of aunt very seriously, and Bug is so much the better for it - the Brown sisters would be proud.

My parents sent a care package from their latest trip and I must say, Hawaii suits Ainsley.  By next summer this little mermaid will be ready for the beach.  Thanks, Mumsy!

I have resigned myself to the fact that my daughter looks nothing like me (except for her nose...we think), and consequently, I've resigned myself to the fact that her personality may also very well turn out to be just like Steve's.  The following picture offers a case in point:

 Our aspiring bookworm.

She is a lover of the written word.  Forget rice cereal, peas, and squash, this kid prefers paper.  I'm actually really happy that Bug is so much like her Dad.  There are lots of reasons why I fell in love with him, and it's fun to see those same reasons pop up in miniature.

5 months quickly turned into 6 months, and here we are celebrating half a year with our adorable daughter who has changed us for the better.

As for me, life is crazy as a PhD student.  There are good days and bad, lots of laughs and lots of stress, but we're all alive and well.  Team Adams is definitely a team.  Time passes more quickly these days, but I happen upon so many moments where time seems to stand still and I can reflect on how meaningful all the crazy, funny, stressful, and uncertain moments are since they've gotten me to where I am, in the company of my dearest companion and our sweet baby.  Those moments are priceless.

And that's life, as of late.

Little Bug

Little Bug is approaching four months (this coming Monday) so we thought we'd share a few photos that capture her fun personality since we haven't updated Picasa for awhile.

 Bib-turned-hat...very stylish

Getting in some of the Good Word before bedtime 

 Sharing her thoughts on what she just read...how very kind

If a bib is fashionable, why not a washcloth as well?

 The possibilities are endless.  We have a very resourceful kid on our hands.

And to show you just how much she is growing...last week we stuck Bug in the same outfit that we put her in when we brought her home from the hospital.

Why use stats/words when photos can do the talking?

Let's just say she's growing like a weed.

Oh how we love our little Ainsley Bug.

SGA = MPA

Steve graduated in June, and I'm so proud of him!

It was a fun day celebrating two years in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at OSU with amazing friends.

Here's how we celebrated...

We started with lots of pictures outside the Glenn School building.

Had a fun conversation with Senator John Glenn, and his wife, Annie.

Watched the Mister as he walked across the stage - with Bug in his arms - to receive his diploma.  Being an Adams, Steve was the first to walk across the stage, but AJ may have stolen the show...

Snapped some more photos with Senator Glenn and the family.  We feel so lucky that Steve's aunt, Cheryl, happened to be in Columbus that weekend and got to participate in the graduation festivities.  It was so fun having her here!

Steve with his parents, Julie and Derrall.  If you didn't catch it in our last post, they flew all the way from Lima, Peru to be there for Steve's graduation.  Events like this are always more special when shared with family.

Team Adams  

AJ was decked out as an OSU cheerleader, spit bubbles and all - daddy's littlest fan.  

Here we are in Union building to see the sculpture of Brutus the Buckeye, and celebrate being an alumnus.

This next picture has a pretty cool story.  Before the graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, awards were given out to a few students and faculty.  As Dr. Greenbaum presented the winner for the Mary Katchmar award (they didn't mention a name until the very end) I thought the person being described sounded very familiar, but it wasn't until the last few comments that I knew Steve had won this particular award.  I couldn't agree more with the comments below.

Mary E. Katchmar Outstanding Service Award

This unique service award recognizes a graduating student who has been nominated by his/her peers as demonstrating selfless giving to others without expectations of compensation or acknowledgment.

The award was established by Jody and Scott Gary (MPA ’87) in honor of Scott’s grandmother, Mary Katchmar.  Scott’s intent for the award was to recognize students who go above and beyond and are not necessarily otherwise recognized or even aware of the fact that they are making such a difference in the lives of so many other students. These are the types of people who regularly give credit to others and quietly leave themselves out of it, even when they deserve it. Leadership, trustworthiness, and humility are also common factors among past winners.

This year’s awardee was nominated by his peers, who remarked on his strong character, calling him a kind, calming influence, quiet and supportive, a person with depth of character and integrity, down to earth, caring, really listens and cares what people say when he asks how they are or if they need help. A person of quiet service.  He served as a teaching assistant for us this year, and he was lauded for frequently interacting with students outside of office hours and class, just to check in and help if he could. He also frequently offered help to students in other classes.

And, I might add, I had the opportunity to work with this year’s recipient this past summer on a research project, and he was always very concerned about pleasing the client, which happened to be county government agencies.

Finally, this year’s award winner has a love of Adidas that rival’s our own Craig Boardman.

If you have not yet guessed it, this year’s winner is 

Mr. Steven Grant Adams.

***

A good friend of ours, Alex, won the T.A. of the Year Award, and we wanted to document the accomplishment.  Steve has been very fortunate to associate with talented, kind, and driven people while attending the Glenn school.  We're grateful for the many wonderful friendships we've made these last two years.

  

And some candid photography for you - just in case you were wondering who wears the pants in the family...

Only teasing.

Congrats Steve!

Blessed

We have lots to catch up on here at the Team Adams blog, so we'll start with Ainsley's blessing day that took place on 03 June 2012.  We were surrounded by family and friends, and had a wonderful day celebrating our sweet little girl.

She wore the same blessing dress that my sister wore 31 years ago - I absolutely love it - simple yet elegant.

Since moving to Ohio we have come to consider some dear friends as family - many of them were able to make it to the blessing and we loved that they could be a part of this occasion.  It was even more special because Steve's parents were able to come from Peru.  Neighbors, classmates, ward friends, long time friends, and parents helped make it an awesome day.

Good eats...

...promptly devoured.

Some bonding time for AJ and her Grandpa Adams.

Lost in fabric.

A big thank you to Mariah Murray, a good friend who made this adorable bracelet for Ainsley.  It was a perfect accessory for her blessing attire.

Our happy Bug - we sure love this little person.