the brauns....

Florida....

2012-01-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

After Christmas we headed to Florida with Matt's parents, sister and her fiance, Steve. The weather was perfect...extended time with family was great...and Malin loved every second! Here are a few pictures...

11 months!

2011-12-02T20:04:00.001-08:00

10 months...and Halloween....

2011-11-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Culver's

2011-10-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

fall!

2011-10-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

8 months...

2011-09-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

malin turned 8 months old a few weeks ago...a little late with the pictures! whoops! every month i think i say "this is my favorite age..." but she is seriously so much fun right now. she is so curious, smiley...loves to play and roll, roll, roll all over the place. she loves peek-a-boo and i love the look on her face when she is anticipating your reappearance...ah, my heart melts just thinking about it.... anyway... here are the photos... it sure is getting harder to take these pictures...the paper circle has become a toy and the whole process a game as she tries to grab/eat the circle/camera and wiggle all over that chair.... LOVE this little peanut.... : )

pilgrim pines!

2011-08-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

meeting great grandpa j. for the first time...

packing up to go home...i know, a little out of order...

enjoying first bites of ice cream with papa j....

a day at the beach...

tubing...

family photo...and a night out for mom and dad's anniversary...

annual trip to friendly's...

dinner on the deck...and smores for dessert....

a day at the beach....

2011-06-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

....yeah right!

last week it was like 90 degrees and so i was itching to get home from work so that i could get malin into her little bathing suit...and bring her down to the beach for her fist dip in portage lake. we got changed, put on sunscreen and headed on over....and....malin absolutely hated it!!! i mean, this girl was miserable! she is such a happy go lucky, easy-going kid....but THIS she did not like one bit! we ended up staying for a little bit...and then going home...

... but, oh, you have not seen then end of us portage lake...we'll be back...

5 1/2 months old...

2011-06-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

so....malin actually turned 6 months old yesterday...but....i have fallen behind on my "monthly pictures"....so i am just posting some 5 1/2 month pics that i took a week or so ago.... enjoy!

this one is so sad...but also funny. she was sooo tired when i decided to take these....

i love sweet potatoes....

2011-06-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

projects...

2011-06-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

malin turned 6 months old today.... i can't believe it! she is getting so big, way too fast!

i'm totally laughing as i write this post because back when i was pregnant...and we didn't know the gender of our little peanut, i remember nonchalantly explaining to many people that i wasn't worried about decorating the nursery....because "i would have plenty of time to do that after the baby was born...and it would be easier because then we would know the gender...."

HA! .... it is safe to say that i now see the naivety in this once blissful dream....of creatively and energetically decorating a nursery while my beautiful babe nestled and napped for hours on end... yes, veteran moms, the joke's on me! : )

...ah...well... a few months ago matt and i (and malin) finally began some projects for her room....and now...months later....have finally finished them. better late than never, right?!?!
so here you go... i still haven't put anything on the walls, but the curtains are up, the mobile is hung...and matt built a little desk for when malin gets big enough to color and paint!

first...curtains... got this sweet fabric when i was out in portland at the biggest and most incredible fabric store ever....

my mom deserves ALL the credit for putting the curtains together...i only sewed them where she told me to and then she made the awesome pleats!!! thanks for all the help mom!

the mobile.... before....

...and after....

....

malin's desk....

...a nap after all the work...

....before....

.... and after...

...the little red stool fits underneath!

and finally...the bookcase....before...

...and after...

ahhhh....done!

graduation....

2011-05-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

last thursday, i graduated from grand valley state university with my long awaited masters in social work!!! well, kind of... i walked in the graduation ceremony and i received a diploma that promised the university would mail me a real diploma as soon as i finish up my internship hours. regardless of the fact that i will not finish these hours until the fall, the graduation felt real and was alot of fun... fun to celebrate with so many of the individuals who i completed the program with, so fun to know that i am done paying tuition, so fun to share my experience with matt...and malin, and lastly so fun to know that i could potentially be hired for a job in the near future.... fingers crossed. thanks so much to those of you who have supported, followed and encouraged me along the way. i appreciate each of you so much!

4 months....

2011-05-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

quick... before malin turns 5 months old... here are some of the pictures i took when she turned 4 months old... also, much credit should be given to jenny mecher.... whose idea i stole in taking these pictures with the sign, chair, etc. thank you jenny for sharing your creativity and... letting the rest of us copy you! : )

Rice Cereal!

2011-04-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

we went to the doctor yesterday for malin's 4 month check-up....and got the a-okay to start some rice cereal. so malin had her first "taste" last night! enjoy.....

matt's birthday!

2011-04-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

march 22nd was matt's 32nd birthday...unfortunately it was a pretty crazy day of work for both of us! and it snowed like CRAZY!!!! but we were able to sneak in a few fun things...

.... headed out to start the day....

i had class on matt's birthay and so i left malin with him to take care of her all afternoon and evening... malin and i planned a little surprise for dad to find during the day.... (i love this picture...she looks like she is in a straight jacket!

.... or really proud to be showing off her surprise onsie!)

.... after a LONG day of work, school and snow.... we finally sat down for a birthday dinner!

this was actually the day after matt's birthday. even though we were disappointed to have MORE snow on the ground....it was seriouly one of the nicest days!

and...march 22nd was also malin's 3 month birthday..... so here are a couple pictures of her....

every month i have been taking her picture next to this doll so that we can see a little more clearly how she changes in size.....

california

2011-03-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago matt, malin and i headed west....first stop california....to visit my grandma and grandpa...malin's great grandma and grandpa. while we weren't necessarily beachin' it, it was so much fun to see my grandma and grandpa and share malin with them. we were thankful to be able to make the trip and enjoy the warm weather. we also got to visit with my aunt joy, uncle norm and cousin krysta in san jose! thanks everybody for a really fun visit!

while we were in turlock, ca my grandma and grandpa took us to the hilmar cheese company/factory. we got to see how they make all the cheese...and had lunch there too!

turlock is definitely dairy country....so we went to a milking carousal. it was pretty amazing...and SUPER smelly!

turlock is also known for its orchards so we drove around and saw LOTS of blossoms. these are almond blossoms and they were in full bloom. they were so cool because they looked like they were covered in snow! p.s. i had NO IDEA almonds grew on trees!

portland....wahoo!

2011-03-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

after california matt, malin and i flew up to portand, oregon to visit my brother + his family! my sister + her family also flew in from chicago....i had been looking forward to this trip for what seemed like forever....it was SO much fun...but way too short! oh man i wish we all lived closer!

here are some pictures of just a few things that we did. i wish i had taken more pictures...but we were just having too much fun!

OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)....not sure who had more fun....the kids or adults!

......hanging out......

....rollar skating for calla's birthday!

....and....greta, calla and samuel were all dedicated at church on sunday!

what a fun week!

the many faces of malin....

2011-03-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

when we were in chicago for midwinter we had dinner with our very good friends, kris and matt thulson. it just so happens that these guys are the most amazing artists....and while we were at there place they took gobs of pictures of malin! here are some of my favorites.....

geesh....it was hard to pick just a few.....i simply love this little peanut too much!
thanks kris and matt

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree!

2010-12-11T19:43:00.000-08:00

...how very much i love you...

i realize how silly this sounds, but i am seriously in love with our christmas tree this year! i always love getting, decorating and sitting in front of the christmas tree...but this year seems different. maybe it's because this is the first year that matt and i are sharing a home together...maybe it's because i am finally finished with this semester of grad school, my internship is over for a bit, and little baby b. is due just about any day now...

whatever the reason....i am loving the moments this winter when the sun goes down and i can turn on the lights and just enjoy being cozy in front of the tree....

matt and i actually got to cut our own tree this year...which is something i have never ever done, but always wanted to do. it was one of those perfect afternoons that just never seems to work out, but DID!....the group from camp was gone for the weekend... matt was free to be home... we drove less than 5 miles to a house where the nice people who live there sell the trees from their property for just 10 dollars! they had a saw hanging on their barn and a bucket where you left your money!!! it was super casual... and it was so fun to just walk around in the snow... they even had animals and it was snowing! i loved that none of the trees were perfect...and yet that made them that much better! anyway...enough about my love of christmas trees.... here are some pictures from the day....and of course, our tree in all its beauty!

merry christmas!

waiting....

2010-11-30T11:32:00.000-08:00

come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

Check, check and check....

2010-11-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

only 6 more weeks until baby arrives....or sooner! YIKES....

i seriously can't wait to meet this baby....

in the meantime...i do believe my life has been invaded with lists...lists of things we hope to get finished before this bouncy baby arrives! fortunately, matt and i have been able to cross a few big ones off the list in the last few weeks....and oh man does it feel good.

first and foremost, my amazing, crafty and creative husband has been hard at work putting all of his beloved tools to use! he never ceases to amaze me with his talent and vision....and i am so thankful, not just for his handy-work...but for the joy, silliness and love that he brings to my life. thank you matt!

so here's what matt's been up to:

this is our brand new shed....to store all of the things that have been living over in the camp garage...snow tires, bikes, rotatiller (sp?) for the garden, skiis....you name, it's in there!

the super fancy door on our shed is compliments of camp...it was left over from a building that was renovated this past spring...lucky us to get such a beautiful free door!

TA-DA!!!!

Lastly, we mounted a huge dalla horse ontop...

no.... but it looked that way when i took the picture! HA! : ) really that dalla horse is hanging by the back door of our house!

next, matt finished building a new changing table for baby b.

i have had that blue dresser from IKEA since my junior year in college...matt built the wooden top and shelves and put it all together so that it is all one piece. it seriously looks like we bought it that way and i absolutely love it! we will have one clean baby on that securely and fashionably made changing table!

my project....which i started a long, long time ago has also finally come to fruition. this summer i began painting all the shutters on our house. WAY bigger project than i first imagined...but also really happy i did it because it looks so great! kinda wish i had taken some "before" pics...but never did. oh well. i also painted the back and front doors!

our front door!

....and back door and deck!

lastly, i have been growing this baby to be and it has wiped me out! i am also trying to finish up my second to last semester of grad school without totally losing my mind and compile enough hours for my internship! i am really looking forward to being done with school and spending time at home with matt and baby! - even if it is more exhausting than the crazy schedule i have had all fall...at least i will be with people who mean the world to me!

Oh Baby!

2010-09-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

i am not really one for big announcements.... but it has become increasingly obvious that matt and i are expecting a baby! we are SUPER excited.... and are expecting this little one to join us at the end of december! today marks week #26....only 14 more to go!

Mackinac Island!

2010-09-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago matt and i went to mackinac island. i had never been there...but everyone in michigan seems to think that if you haven't ever gone...you should. it was really fun! there are no motorized vehicles on the whole island so the only ways to get around are by either bicycle or horses! it was absolutely beautiful and a sweet time away after the end of a busy summer!

Ruth & Kyle's Wedding @ Keystone!

2010-08-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

Ruth & Kyle's Wedding Weekend!

This past weekend I went to CO to see my dear friend Ruth get married! I also got to spend the entire weekend with some of my most favorite women in the entire world. It was the most refreshing and enjoyable time away catching up with incredibly dear friends and spending time in some of God's most magnificent creation!
The tag line for their wedding weekend was an invitation to experience the wonder of God's creation, the joy of community, and the unity of love. That couldn't have been a better description of all that we encountered during our time spent together! Thanks for a fun and memorable weekend Ruth and Kyle! Love You Guys!

indulgence!

2010-06-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

not that i am accustomed to drinking mimosas every day.... BUT.... my newest favorite drink this summer (since beginning a totally new regimen for my diabetes & baby on the way!) has become....

OJ + diet Squirt!

matt is actually the one who introduced this delightful drink to me when he poured me a class of orange juice and realized how little OJ i can now drink. (*note* orange juice is one of my most favorite beverages) sooo... he surprised me when he delivered what looked like a FULL glass of orange juice...and tasted even more amazing than my ordinary vice. so ordinary... yet so yummy! definitely my new drink of choice!

(i also recommend diet tonic water + limaide! on ice... introduced to me several summers ago by my sister-in-law...sarah!)

p.s. matt and i are expecting a baby at the end of december....hence the much ado about food and drink selection!!!!

2010-04-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

SAMUEL MICHAEL JOHNSON!!!!

He is here....

Mike and Sarah had their baby on Sunday, April 18th @ 4:09 PM.

He weighed 6lbs. 6oz....and as Sarah has said..."he is perfect. perfect!"

i haven't seen him in person yet....but i couldn't agree more already.

just look at the faces of his excited older sisters!

WELCOME TO THE WORLD SAMUEL...

WE ARE SOOOO GLAD YOU ARE HERE...SAFE AND SOUND!

SPRING BREAK....

2010-04-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

since i will be leaving the field of education....this was my last official spring break! matt and i decided to roadtrip it FLORIDA.... we left on thursday night with our swim suits, credit card, gps and good ol' tent and set out on a grand adventure.....first stop... mammouth, kentucky... mammouth cave national park.... this was the really funny ferry that we took to get into the park!

inside the caves....

next we headed down to miami to see good friends kris & matt... they are working on a cruise boat so we caught them while they were in port...headed out for breakfast and then to miami beach....

after that...we stopped by to visit my mom & dad...and sister + kids.... who were all down there for the week too...

last...we went to visit matt's grandma and grandpa in fort myers... his mom and dad, aunt and uncle and cousins were there too. it was very fun to see everyone....so fun we forgot to take pictures!!!!

oh how i will miss you....spring break!

2010-03-11T17:29:00.000-08:00

i feel like i have ants in my pants waiting for spring! the last few days have been so warm here that i have fallen head over heels with the idea that winter will not strike again....and spring is on the way!!! i cannot wait to get outside....and most especially i am getting so excited to plant again. last year was my first attempt at a vegetable garden and i loved every part of it. the best part was planting all my tiny little seeds...hiding them beneath the soil... watching and waiting everyday....

...for that first sight of GREEN!

a blog.....really???

2009-05-16T18:29:00.001-07:00

soooo....i really like reading all of my friends blogs....but have never felt quite ready to start my own...mostly because i just wouldn't know what to write about....and i still kinda wonder about the "weirdness" of putting my life on the internet.... but here we go. i'm giving it a try. why, you ask? what has brought on this change of heart....

last year i moved to northern michigan, and now, living so far away from the people and places that i love, i find myself longing for CONNECTION.... life in michigan has been good to me! but one thing i have learned, without a doubt is that nothing can replace old friends, the very best kind of friends who can just look at you and know whats on your mind....the kind of friends who you don't have to make formal plans with....the kind of friends who when you mention something from the past, you don't have to explain details or summarize past events...they already know! ALSO, this past fall i quit teaching and went back to school to pursue my masters in social work....while this has been by far one of the best decisions of my life....it has overturned so many "rocks" in my world....giving further passion to some things i already believed in....and bringing uncertainty to others. i am learning sooooo much!!!! i know God is using this time in my life to further mold my heart....but i'll be honest....at times it seems like too much to process!

AND SO....thus the blog....i miss my "people". the people who know me best and remind me of who i am and what i want to be. the people's whose insights i trust and options i respect because we have already spent hours upon hours questioning each others thoughts and experiences! i treasure all my visits, phone calls and emails....they help me along the way. but with the continued feelings of being on the brink of crazy....i am using this blog to share with my friends, and also just to get out of my head all of the "wonderings" along the way....

and so tonight....although i trust that God is GOOD.... i wonder does the future hold? what is God teaching me as my environment and perceptions change? where does it all lead? and am i willing to go? i hope so.....