Strawberry Season!!

Last weekend Emersyn and I went strawberry picking with some friends! And by Emersyn and I, I really just mean me. :) Next year will be more interactive for her. 

Baggenstos Farm in Sherwood, OR

Wearing flip flops to berry pick: not my brightest idea. It was actually a little rainy out so I got pretty dirty!

Emersyn sat tight in her stroller while Mama picked. 

13lbs of strawberries, not too shabby! They were $1.25/lb. Since we had such an abundance, we decided to get adventurous and make some freezer jam. From what we read, it was pretty easy! Turns out, it is true!!

Ems decided to help with the jam making process. Aren't her little short overalls adorable? I couldn't get over how much she looks like a real little girl in them, no longer an infant. 

Mashing up the strawberries!
Ta-da!! On the left, 9 jars (although only 8 are pictured) of freezer jam. On the right, 7 jars of strawberry sauce which will be amazing on ice cream, cake, pancakes, etc. 

I haven't tasted the freezer jam yet, I have been meaning to but keep forgetting. I am sure it is delicious though. Brett had some and gave it a thumbs up! 

Berry picking was a lot of fun, I plan to pick some more this summer. Raspberries and blackberries are two of my favorite things, can't wait until they are in season!

Happy Father's Day Honey!!!!

When Brett and I were about 17ish, he had a very intensive surgery on one of his legs. Brett and I were in the same youth group together and our families knew each other so my mom and I went up to Shriner's Children's Hospital to visit and deliver our get well wishes. When I got to the hospital room, several of Brett's crazy little cousins were running around, most of them climbing all over Brett and wrestling with him. Brett was having such a good time and truly was enjoying them. At this point, I had NO romantic interests in Brett, he was just a guy in my youth group like I said. But I very much remember that day and thinking to myself, "that guy is going to be a great Daddy someday". Little did I know, he would be MY children's daddy...and for that I am SO happy.


I found out I was pregnant on January 2nd, 2008. We had been married for 4 1/2 years and had always looked forward to starting a family. I got that two year itch and was tempted to start trying for a baby but I was still so new in my real estate career and we determined that waiting would be best. I am so glad that we did. Since we had been married for such a long time already, I assumed it would take awhile to get pregnant so we kind of decided to just throw caution to the wind and let the Lord work, thinking if we got pregnant soon, what a blessing and if we didn't, that was okay too. Well, the Lord decided to bestow on us a blessing in a rather quick manner. :) I was late but assumed that it was because of holiday stress. I had taken a test earlier in the month and it was negative, so I figured my cycle was just off. Curiosity got the best of me, however, and I proceeded to buy three dollar store tests on January 2nd on my way home from work. When I got home, I took one and it was positive. I will never ever in my life forget that feeling of seeing those two pink lines. I can't even begin to put it into words. My heart raced and stopped at the same time somehow. I had taken my fair share of pregnancy tests, I mean, the dollar store practically encourages you too with the cheapness factor. If I was like 10 minutes late, I would take a test almost for fun. I was SO not prepared for a positive result. I called my friend Amancia and was like, "HOLY CRAP IT'S POSITIVE"!!!!!! I had been emailing with her earlier and she was 4 months pregnant herself. She said that she was so hopeful that my test would be positive so that we could pregnant together but I assured her, it was unlikely. Amancia was so excited and told me to take the other two tests and I did. Sure enough, a total of 6 pink lines. :) I had about 30 minutes to kill before Brett got off work. I was going to go crazy in my house so I just got in the car, grabbing a small cardboard jewelry box to put the pregnancy tests in on the way out. I called Brett and told him that I had bought some pants at Kohl's (which I had) and I wanted to show him and meet him for dinner at Sonic, which had just opened. I so could have done the cute wife thing and taken him to a nice dinner and had him open the tiny package that contains a onesie with some cute saying about daddy. But I didn't. I feared exploding with excitement during the dinner and ruining it all. Plus, I was NOT hungry! So I sat in my car and waited. My unsuspecting husband pulled into the parking lot and was on the phone. I motioned for him to come and get in my car and he did, still yapping all the way on the phone. He proceeded to talk for like another TEN minutes while I waited for him to wrap it up, the LONGEST 10 minutes of my life!!!!! When he got off the phone I told him that I had something to show him and gave him the jewelry box. He opened it and was like, "really?!!" and just smiled the biggest smile ever. Thus beginning his journey as a father and our journey as parents.


Brett is an amazing Daddy. I seriously couldn't ask for a better partner in raising our daughter. Brett is patient beyond belief. He could soothe Emersyn as a newborn in ways that I couldn't. From the moment she entered our life, his world shifted and now revolves around her and her well being. I do know that he still loves me and that our marriage is still his number one priority. But this man is truly smitten with our daughter and that makes me love him even more each day. Every night we go into Emersyn's room and just stare at our sleeping angel. Those are probably the moments that we feel the closest to each other.

It is hard to appropriately put into words how blessed I am to have Brett as Emersyn and her future sibling(s) Daddy. (Not in the near future!!!!!) I wish I could write some eloquent poem or come up with some profound statement but words escape me.

Brett, thank you for being the patient, baby tossing, diaper changing, stroller hogging, heavy infant seat carrying, fussy baby calming, spit up wearing, baby fashion appreciating, caring, loving, funny, confident, cuddly, and AMAZING daddy that you are!! I love you!!!!

Happy Father's Day Fah-ja!!!

Dear Dad,

How I wish I could come join you on your beautiful deck and sit in your gazebo and have an iced tea with you tomorrow in celebration. But alas, we are about 1000 miles and a $400 plane ticket away so this will have to do.

Having you guys move has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. But honestly, I believe it has brought us closer and awakened emotions in me that I might not have ever discovered had you stayed. I am SO grateful for you and Mom and having a daughter of my own has given me a new appreciation for you both. It turns out, you weren't as crazy as I thought. :) I suspect I will draw more and more of these conclusions as Emersyn grows up.


I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day. Know that you are never far from my heart and I am so happy that we live in a time where web camming and keeping in touch via the internet is so convenient. I think of you every single day, whether it be driving by a Starbucks and thinking of how you used to judge me for getting my $4 coffees and now you do the same. I think of you when I drive by Harvey's Marina Supply and watch that creepy giant bunny sway in the wind, thinking of all the fun memories we had on the boat. I think of you whenever Emersyn's face gets messy while eating, thinking of how you wiped her face clean with each bite when you fed her. :) I think of you when I am buying wipes and diapers, hearing you whisper in my ear that buying P&G is like betraying your family. Maybe that isn't you whispering though, I think that might be Brett. He has actually said that before, hee hee.

Bottom line: it really stinks that you had to move. But it is okay. Many people have lost their father's and would give anything to have them live anywhere. So I will choose to celebrate how wonderful you are, not dwell on the fact that you aren't here. 8 years will go by fast anyways, plus I am praying for early retirement!!! In the meantime, stay healthy. Eat lots of fiber. Drink lots of water. Go on walks. I need you to be around for a long long time to come.

I love you Dad. XOXOXO

Your daughter.

Thursday Tid Bits

Auntie Jenny sent me this picture the last time that she hung out with Emersyn. Does Emersyn look like she is having fun or what?

Yesterday Emersyn hung out with one of her favorite ladies, Auntie Jenny. My brother and Jenny have been dating for 4ish months and are seriously one of the cutest couples ever. Their relationship maturity surpasses it's short time span and my heart is happy to see my brother so schmoopy in love. Jen wrote a cute blog about hanging out with Emersyn yesterday. Check it out here!

In other recent news.... I am now trying to figure out who is going to be hanging out with my sweet pea while I am at work on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Luckily, it is only 11 hours so that isn't too much, and when you split it between people, it ends up not being too bad. My neighbor is going to watch her on some Thursdays and then I am kind of piecing the rest together. This brings me stress at times, as I am a major planner. :) But the happy side of this is that Emersyn is getting to be even MORE socially well rounded then she has been before. My neighbor (Sherrie) has three kids who love to entertain Emersyn, which hopefully gives Sherrie a break, thus creating a win win situation! I received a picture on my phone today of Emersyn, passed out in a jogging stroller, on their walk to the park. She was covered with her blanket and two monkey's, one of them is hers, the other is theirs. Sherrie said that Maddie, her 4 year old, covered Ems up and pretty much thinks that she is Emersyn's mommmy. How cute is that?? I am so happy that Emersyn is getting to hang out with new people and learn from other kids. In the meantime, I am praying that the right doors would open up and that Emersyn would be surrounded by positive people that love and care for her and us as well. I am not wanting to put her in a day care situation, more have her hang out with people that want to be around her. I am willing to pay or do childcare swapping, whatever works out best. It is all going to work out. :)

This Sunday is Brett's first (official) Father's Day and I have some plans up my sleeve. I am really excited and hope that they pan out. Either way, I plan to celebrate the amazing Daddy that he is. I will be wishing I could celebrate with my own amazing dad in Minnesota but hopefully he enjoys the little gift that we sent his way.

Next Tuesday, Emersyn starts swimming lessons!!!! We are sooooo excited, she is going to be SOOO cute.

Emersyn's mobility is increasing. She likes her army crawl, grunting all the way. She has pulled herself up a couple times on her crib but it takes all her strength, it is really cute. We ordered a little scooter/walker toy from Amazon. It was really reasonable, only $22. It is hard to find reasonably priced baby toys and even looking second hand is a challenge. Often times used toys aren't even that much cheaper if they are in good condition. I am excited for this toy, it is the first "big" thing we have bought for her toy wise. We try to be minimalistic with toys, partially because of the size of our living area, partially because kids CAN have TOO much STUFF!! It will be fun to see Emersyn grow with this toy.

Finally, I need to "vent". It seems like a LOT of negativity has been coming my way and unfortunately, I have felt attacked on a personal level. This weighs heavily on my heart but I am confident that God is working in my life, thus threatening the devil who feels the need to send discouragement my way. However, it starts to really wear on a person, ya know? I never want to be a "debbie downer", especially on my blog that is intended as a future gift for Emersyn some day. But I am being real, blog friends, and asking that you pray for me and my husband. Everything is okay, we just want to do what is right. We aren't perfect, that is for sure. But there comes a point when enough is enough and we have a daughter to think of and protect.

How's that for vague? Probably not vague enough, should wandering eyes land on my blog but oh well. It is MY blog after all.

"I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:7-11

HAPPY THURSDAY!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday- Emersyn Lou Hoo

Celebrating My Heritage!

For Mother's Day, my sweet Auntie Marti sent me some violets. They did not arrive in a vase via a delivery company; instead, they were sent overnight via USPS and were wrapped in wet papertowels and a freezer baggie. These aren't just any violets, however. They are part of my heritage....

Along with the violets was a sweet note, accompanied by a piece of paper with old photographs. This is what part of the note said....

"The pictures enclosed are of your Great Great Grandmother's house and your Great Grandmother's house where your Grandmother Inglis (my dad's mom) was rasied. Both homes still exist in Sacramento California...... One of the great joys and traditions that was passed from mother to daughter in your family was the love of flowers and plants. These violets that I am sending you came from your Great Great Grandmother's home on 2nd Ave. They were given by her, to her daughter (my Great Grandmother) and lovingly planted in her yard on McKinley Blvd. Your Grandmother Inglis loved them so much that when she grew up and had homes of her own, she transplanted them from her mother's home into her own homes in Sacramento. She shared them with me and now they are blooming each spring in my garden as well. They bring me so much enjoyment that I wanted to share them with you."

My Great Great Grandmother's Home

Great Grandma Hyacinth Margaret and her mother, my Great Great Grandma Margaret Mary. Circa 1950. Love the white shoes, so sassy!

My Aunt sent me "flowers" that are over 100 years old, essentially. Amazing.

I planted them and I wasn't sure if they were going to make it. You can see them below with my tomato plants, the violets are in the pot without the cage. They struggled initially but I think they are going to hang in there. Aunt Marti assured me that if they didn't make it, she could send me more. I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard that.

Whenever I see those violets, I am reminded of my heritage and the legacy that has gone before me. I am responsible for creating my own legacy now, one for my daughter and her daughters.

It is so easy to get caught up in the now; not taking time to do things that invest in the future or in eternity. I bet that as my Great Great Grandmother planted her beloved violets, she had NO clue that they were destined to end up in my garden. Or rather my pot. :) (Hoping that the gardening genes will kick into effect anytime now....still don't know what the heck I am doing!!)

I want to "plant" something for my Great Great Grandchildren and beyond to reap. Not literally a plant, unless that green thumb miraculously hits me. But start sowing a life rich with virtue and traits worth inheriting. Start paving a path of prayer and intercession for my daughter and her future children and their children.

This way of thinking WILL inevitably change me. And only for the good. Every single night (here come the tears, darn it!!!!) I go into my sweet little girls room and stare into her precious sleeping face and think, "how on earth did I get so lucky to have her???".

It makes me want to start "planting". :)

What are you "planting" for your future legacy? :)

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Titus 2:4-5

Picture Update!

Here are some pictures to recap what we have been up to in the last few weeks! I wasn't as good about updating my blog while my mom/Grammy was here. Enjoy!

Emersyn's first time at "Munchkin Playland".

Emersyn and Sanj....it is so hard to get a pic of these two busy girls....Sanji's mom is literally holding them down! :)

Family dinner at the Macaroni Grill. Thank you Mom!!!!!!

Snuggling with Auntie Lou....we haven't seen her since Emersyn was about 10 weeks old!

Future Mr. and Mrs. Don't they look thrilled? :)

Riley pretending to read, in hopes of impressing Emersyn. I think it worked.

Sleeping beauty.

We are really happy with this car seat!! Love the little lady in it too.

First ponytail! She wasn't a big fan of me putting it in her hair....

Happy swinging.

Note: she pulled out the pony tail but her hair is still sticking straight up, hee hee. :)

Well, that concludes our recap. I hope you enjoyed it!