Monday, February 23, 2009

Education Travel Culture

I just got trained to be a Community Coordinator with Education, Travel, and Culture, ETC. Education, Travel & Culture (ETC) is a Pacific Northwest-based non-profit organization providing inbound and outbound international exchange opportunities for high school students.

I'm really excited to start finding host families and placing students. This company really impressed me with all the credentials it has. It is fully listed with the CSIET Council on Standards for International Education and Travel. The Executive Director likes to know each of the students they bring over by name. I like that they keep it on a personal level even with their corporate staff.

If you are interested in being a host family please let me know. They are time restraints and availablity at schools. The student has to go to the high school in which you live. I can place a student anywhere in the US, so don't think this if for you if you don't live in the AZ valley! Students come with comprehensive medical insurance. Families are volunteers and are not expected to pay for student expenses. Students are responsible for their own personal expenses including school activity charges, class fees, clothes, travel expenses, entertainment, bus passes, long distance phone charges, and lunches purchased at school.


This organization has three different lengths of time you can have a student. 5 months for one semester, 10 months for one school year, or one Calendar year if you want a Korean student. They also have a short 2 week one in the summer.

If you want more information on the company please visit their website at http://www.edutrav.org/.

I would love to be your coordinator!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

1 Year Stats

So here it is. Kathryn's one year appointment was a success!

The Doctor is always impressed with how well behaved Kathryn is. And how she's growing. He also reminds me of how blessed I am that I get to stay home with her and that she's only had to go see him on One sick visit her entire first year. I am blessed. I love that I get to be home with my baby girl. Oh wait my Little Toddler.

She is now 22 pounds and 30 Inches tall. Both in the 50-75%. A perfect little girl!

WE love her so much!I have some fun picutes to come soon. She's having fun getting into small places and laying down. its kinda funny!

Monday, February 16, 2009

1st Birthday















So My little baby is One year's old. I can't believe it. It doesn't seem like she's been with us that long and at the same time I don't remember her not being here. We had a great party with family at our house last Saturday and she got to have her own cake. Matt thought that was the weirdest thing but its a tradition I want to keep.

She's grown so much. from being my little tiny baby to my big and ever growing toddler.
Born Feb 8th at 1:30 in the morning 6 lbs 7 ozs and 20 1/4" tall
14 days later she is 6lbs 14ozs and still 20 1/4" tall
2 months old 10lbs 7ozs and 22" tall
4 months old 14lbs 9ozs and 25" tall
6 months old 17lbs 11 ozs and 26 3/4" tall
9 months old 20lbs 1 oz and 28" tall

I'll find out on Thrusday her 1 year stats. I can't believe how big she's gotten. It's so fun the things I see her doing each day. She knows which book has the Lion and Monkeys in it. She imitates our sounds. She loves on the big bear Melissa got her for her birthday. and Loves to lay down on the blanket she got too. She has a lot of dollies now and she loves to hug them after I've hugged them. She got a pop up toy that I once closed with the cute kangaroo she got from Rachel , bouncing up and down and now that's how she wants them closed. She remembers a lot. I try to hide something from her and that doesn't work as she remembers where my hands go and try's to look for them.

She still only has 4 teeth, 2 on top and 2 on bottom. So I have a hard time thinking of things to feed her other then her baby food which she doesn't always like to eat. She hasn't tried to climb out of her crib yet which I am grateful. She is so much of a mover and a goer that that would definetly be a bad thing. She climbs into the tub by her self now too.

I love my little Kathryn Olivia. Thank you all who have helped me in raising her and being there for questions and showing your love for my baby. I'm sure she will love getting to know each of you as time goes by and she realizes how much she is loved by the many family members around her.

Pictures coming soon. computers on the fritz and Kathryn is awake! got to go play with my cute baby!

Fun at the Zoo


My sisters Rachel and Shelley both have passes to the zoo so I get invited every so often. This time though it was Rachel Shelley and Jessica. It was fun to have more kids there. Kathryn still doesn't really get it but I think she really likes being outside anyway. We usually do the same loop most of the time. Rachel knows where everything is. We've been really lucky lately as we've seen the tiger out and sometimes in the tree, the Cheetah's and the bear. This time my favorite was the Walabee's or I like to say baby kangaroo's. I asked the Zoo keeper about them and they like to eat cheerios. I thought that was cool. Anyway Here are a few pics of the occasion. Kathryn really liked playing on the toys over by the petting zoo. I got a great picture of her on the play horse just before she fell off. I'm such a bad mom. Getting a great picture at the expense of my baby.
She's just the right size for the little people toys at the Zoo.