Rising like a Phoenix from the Ashes!

After months of hibernation, the Lynch family blog is baaaaaack! I am sure world-wide parades are being thrown, children are cheering, and manly men are weeping with joy over this monumental news... Much has happened since last July so lets have at it! Washington Visit

Shortly after the last posting on this blog, our little family embarked on our first family vacation. Although it was not Autumn's first airplane ride, it was her first commercial flight. :o) Much to her mother's, and father's, relief, she did just dandy on the plane. Our time was split fairly evenly between my adopted family and my real family. A couple highlights of the trip: We took a trip to Seattle with Charles, Heather (w/Ellie), Abigail, Andrew, Lindsay, and Scottie. We got to check out the Blue Angels flight demonstration (loud but thrilling) along with and trip to Pike's Place Fish Market. We also enjoyed hanging out with Charles and his family at their house and enjoying stories from the past (mostly embarrassing) and the present (mostly involving young-ins).

Spending time with my father and two sisters (Nicci, Katie) was awesome! The last time we had seen my father and Katie we were packing and leaving for Autumns emergency life-flight. Thankfully, this trip was much more low key. Our time was spent grilling outdoors, croquet battles, and Autumn's first visit to the zoo. We went to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. It is funny how things that I have not enjoyed since before I was a teenager, suddenly take on new joy and excitement when you have a little one. My father, Nicci, Zach, Zach's buddy, Jelly (my sister's behemoth child ;o), Becky, Autumn, and I all made the trip. Mucho Fun! As much fun as the activities were, it best part was just chillin at home with the fam.

Disaster

Some of you may have noticed that the posted pictures accompanying our time in Washington, are not actual pictures in Washington. About a month or so after our return from Washington, disaster struck. My computer gave up the ghost and checked into its final resting place. OK, maybe that is being a little dramatic, but we did lose the hard drive along with every picture and video of us and Autumn. Thanks to this blog, and other sources, we have been able to salvage some pictures, but not many. It was pretty devastating. If there is a silver-lining to this story, I have learned the valuable lesson of backing up your computer...

Getting Schooled

I am not talking about basketball, nor am I making an obscure reference to fish swimming patterns... I am back in school. I am currently taking classes at a local community college (Folsom Lake College). It will not come as much of a surprise to those who know me best, but school has never been a forte nor a high priority of mine. Sticking with the "getting schooled" theme, I would summerize my college experience this way: I spent way too much time during college trying to school people in sports, and getting schooled in dating, that I had little time left for educational schooling. :o) Well, one wife and one kid later, priorities change. Although I had enough credits from the previous three college programs I attended to graduate, the grades in the classes were not impressive and the credits earned were not functional nor conducive in structure to do so. Simply put: very average grades in random course from different schools = basically nothing. So I have started over. It is hard work holding a full-time job, going to school full-time, and being a good husband and father, but I have a ton of support from amazing people.

Pumpkin Patch

We had a chance to go to Apple Hill in October with Becky's sister April. Her son Brock had a field trip there and we made some extra time to join them. Apple Hill is a local apple orchard that also makes awesome doughnuts, apple cider, and more. That time of year they also construct a hay maze for children along with growing pumpkins. The only reason this is really worth mentioning is because we got some cute pictures there. :o)

Holidays

We spent Autumns first Christmas at Becky's Grandparents house; which is about 150feet from where we reside. The highlights of the Christmas Party include Autumn playing the role of baby Jesus in the family reenactment of the Nativity.

On January 1st Autumn's turned one. Apparently it was a big deal because people kept shooting off fireworks throughout the day, and many people took the day off of work. We ended up having the party on the 2nd because Daddy had to work on her birthday and Autumn didn't really care if we waited an extra day. As you can see from the pictures provided, Autumn enjoyed her cake. She didn't really like to eat it; just poke it, throw it, and wipe it on her face. She also got lots of new toys which she loved for about two weeks...

Growing Fast
So those are a couple of the big events that have happened since the last posting. Throughout this she has been growing and developing at an astonishing pace. Those who have children or are around children a lot know what I am talking about. Each stage is just so amazing. As a parent, at least to me, it feels like your kid is the first and only kid to ever do these things. For example, crawling: everybody I know can do it to varying degrees. But there is something magical about when your child learns to do something that they had previously been unable to do. It is priceless. The biggest and most recent thrill has been Autumn learning to walk. She still staggers around and falls all the time, but each time she takes off it is both awe inspiring and anxiety inducing :o)

We are really looking forward to the coming summer. I will be taking less credits in school, which hopefully will allow us to get out more. Autumn loves the outdoors, no matter the weather. Once the sun comes out and she takes to wearing shoes (does not like them yet) we can oblige her constant yearning to be outdoors. She has cabin fever bad. We are very excited for camping and swimming. We are also in the works on making an Idaho and Washington visit this summer. We will let you know more as it progresses...