Leprechauns tried to steal my change!

Awhile back Jen really wanted to get a Wii. We weren't sure we should be buying a Wii right now for several reasons, but then I had this brilliant idea. I told her that if there was a significant amount of change our big change bottle, that we could take it to the bank, put it in our account and buy a Wii. So one day we sat on the bed and counted change for hours. It ended up that we had almost $200! Not enough for a Wii...but enough to make us feel ok about buying a Wii. However, it was Sunday and the bank was closed. So we bought the Wii anyways with the intent of taking the change to the bank on Monday. Well, that was a couple weeks ago! (I'm a little bit of a procrastinator.) So today, since I'm on Spring Break, I decided to take the change to the bank.

I pulled into the parking lot, hopped out of my car, and grabbed the gallon sized baggie that held $200 of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. (This is when the lephrechauns tried to steal it!) The baggie burst open and $200 of change flew all over the parking lot!!!! It took awhile, but I scooped it all up, took it into the bank, and was glad to be rid of it. Next time we have to take $200 of change to the bank....I'm making Jen do it!!

Snowshoeing...not so much

Jen has wanted to go snowshoeing all weekend and it just never happened. So, today after work and school we came home changed, cleaned out the car, got the dogs ready, and headed up to Happy Jack (mini-mountains only 15ish minutes away). We get there and guess what, yep, that's right...NO SNOW! At least not enough for snowshoes. We got out anyway to let the dogs play, mainly because they were driving us crazy. Nakai goes absolutely nuts when in the car. She can't wait to get somewhere and get out to roam and run about.

Here are a few pictures from our outting. We hope you enjoy.

This is Jen's favorite nature picture of the day. The berries just demanded to be digitally captured!

Jen just thinks this one is kinda cool. Kara had to help by holding the branch down low enough for Jen to get the picture. Just one more time where being short was a disadvantage. You'd think we'd be used to this by now.

And last, but not least.......

Kara playing peek-a-boo with the camera.

Jen's Updates

Well, I've decided it is time to let all of you know that I will not be going to Africa this summer. This was an extremely hard decision to make, but it was a decision that had to be made. Financially, it is not possible for me to go. I applied for a grant through the University of Wyoming but was denied. With no financial assistance and my new monthly prescription expenses there is just no way that Kara and I can come up with the extra money for me to go to Africa, even though it was for a good cause. Maybe our finances will be better in two years when another Africa trip should be planned. Who knows.

I have also been to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. This is supposed to be the leading headache clinic in the country, possibly even in the world. My trip resulted in a 6 day hospital stay so the doctors could change my medications and monitor me closely during the process. I now have minimal daily pain, which is huge progress! I'm still having my migraines, but the new medications actually cause the pain to go away. So, when I have a migraine I don't have to just tolerate the pain, I can actually get relief. Definitely a step in the right direction. I now feel like I will be able to be an even better mom when the day comes.

Bonus - while in Chicago I got to see my best friend Ella who I hadn't seen in just over four years. I hadn't seen her since a few days before I closed on the house. Craziness! It was great to get to see her and meet all of her new friends. Although I must say they are all high anxiety and a little neurotic! Thankfully, they all agree with me so there won't be any disagreements when they read this post.

Thats all for now. I hope all is well with all of our blog followers, family, and friends.
Jen

THE ONLY BOY KARA WILL LET CHEW ON HER TOES!

This is our good friend Anthony. Apparently he has a thing for toes!

100 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!

Today is the 100th day of school. That means there are only 80 days left! YAY!!! I think teachers like summer more than the kids. And I feel so sorry for all of you Iowa teachers that have to make up tons of snow days and go to school until mid to late June. That's awful! :( But I'm glad its not me! Hehe!

Update on Jen's Upcoming Africa Trip

This week I finally learned more about my trip to Africa this summer. There are seven women going as part of the clinical outreach team and then a few additional women who are the organizers. We will attend an international multicultural mental health conference in Gabarone, Botswana and during the conference we will have the opportunity to go sight seeing. That makes me very excited. I was afraid I was going to Africa and I wasn't going to get to do any of the touristy stuff (big sigh of relief).

After the conference we will spend one week in Gabarone colaborating with mental health agencies and providing supervision. They have a very limited number of mental health professionals and have asked for clinical supervision so they can have fresh ideas on how to better help their clients. We will also spend time in the schools and a day hospice center for individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS. These are two places where I will most likely get to conduct one-on-one counseling with the residents of Africa. We will also spend time doing informal outreach and helping the residents get connected with local resources so they have lasting help that will continue after our group has left.

I will also get to spend a week in Johannesburg, South Africa doing similar work. Sounds like we will also get to go to some of the smaller villages to see how the individuals live and to see what additional help we may be able to offer them.

We will also travel to Malawi where we will visit the National Black Child Development Institute. This is an organization aimed to help the children of Africa receive an education and have other needs met as well.

There is also a chance we will go to Cape Town because this group had a wonderful experience there in 2007. From now until my departure on July 3rd at 5:20PM from Washington Dulles Airport I will take part in monthly teleconference calls, online training, online readings, online videos, and online discussions. All in an effort to ensure I am culturally compenten to be of assistance to the individuals of Southern Africa. Also, it is so the group of us who are going can begin to get to know one another so we can be of support to each other while we are in Africa.

Just today I found out that my passport application has been approved. I should be getting it in the mail any day now. One less thing to worry about. My passport just came in the mail!!! Kara's jealous, she doesn't have one.

Finally.....we got to go snowshoeing!

Jen's cough is finally gone and that means we finally went snowshoeing, for the first time this winter. Seems like the dogs had even more fun than we did! Know what the best part was? The dogs slept all afternoon and evening, and so did Jen.

Kara posing for a quick shot. I think she just needed a break!

North Fork Little Laramie River. Just loved the icicles hanging from the snow,
yet above the river.