To infinity and beyond.....Just Keep swimming

This is a picture of my big grown up boy on the day of kindergarten registration. We are fortunate enough to live in the area that is in the best school for our district. Xander and I went last week to registration and met the school staff. This is the picture he made when he went with the other kids and the teachers for an hour to play and learn. He even made a new little friend named Austin. It was very exciting!Inara is getting big she is modeling her biker babe look with her Harley jacket.

Baby Kingston is here! We have been very blessed with a batch of new nephews. At the beginning of December Casey Scott's sister had Lucas Davon, whom we are eager to see but haven't had the chance since they live in Aberdeen. I am planning on getting to hold that little guy this summer. Then in January Scott's other sister Amy had Ethan Pasquale, and we haven't gotten a chance to meet him either since they live in Florida. However we are planning a trip for August to Florida and are very excited to see this handsome little guy. The pictures below are of Kingston River born on March 1st, just an hour shy of being a leap year baby. I was blessed to have jetted up to MN in time to help out. Mostly that meant trying to keep his big brother Kodi happy while mom was in the hospital. Kingston is my sister Mary's second baby boy. Unfortunately after we came home we got hit with the stomache flu for a week then the cold flu with some ear problems for two weeks so March has been a hard month. Scott spent the last week in March in Indiana which was hard since I was getting over being sick. It is time for spring! Although we did get a trip into the doctor this last week while dad was gone despite us all being well. Inara shoved playdough up her nose. Yup, it's finally happened a foreign object lodged in my kids nose. By the time the doctor got around to seeing us she had snorted it up so far she had ended up swallowing it. I would say we are done with the clinic for a good long while but I have a baby doctor appointment this week. We are getting to know the receptionist really well.

Yup, this is the face of a new father. I am just kidding Scott was way more mellow when I told him that the fabulous little test that I took into the bathroom had two lines on it.

So that is my newest excuse as to why now in March I am updating for the last three months. I have been feeling like roadkill and the blog has been the last thing on my mind. I literally mean roadkill as in I have been hit by a truck and I am not getting up. I thought that since I have already been around the block two times that I would have a handle on this thing we call fertilization. Wrong! Chasing around a 5 and a 2 year old is a whole other dimension that I call the world without rest. I long for my days of taking a nap when that little ball of cells that is multiplying exponentially gets me yawning, or the ability to just eat soda crackers and avoid all other food smells was a possibility. Now I have to keep track of my two children who seem to need to eat consistently, unlike your fish that you feed once a day, and are in need of social and emotional desires. Thankfully we have passed the 12 week mark in fact this week is our 16th week. We heard the baby's heartbeat at our last appointment so indeed it is a baby and I am not just eating too many Cadbury eggs. The newest member of our family is due to arrive September 23, 2008. We are very excited and so our the kiddos. Xander kissed my belly the other day when I dropped him off at preschool so he could say good-bye to the baby. Inara is beginning to understand what a baby is. Look for my ever expanding waistline in the near future!

We had a great Christmas but for some reason I can't publish our Santa photo. Inara's birthday is in January and we had a good second birthday. Here she is our big 2 year old getting her first haircut. We had a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese with some of our favorite people in Wisconsin, the Furgeson's and the Couch/Wichern clan. She is getting very grown-up she likes princess things and Dora the Explorer. Her favorite person is Xander who she calls, "Baboe" because she couldn't say brother awhile back and it came out that way instead. She likes songs, books and animals. I can't believe that it's been two years already!

So let me explain the pictures... We ran our first 5k as a family and although I came in way behind Scott and the kids I still finished which was a big deal for me I plan to keep running and cute some time off my finish next time. The really cool part was Xander ran the last 1/4 of a mile with me, Scott came back and he jumped out of the jogging stroller and took off. "Mama come on you can do it," he kept saying to me. It was a very cool experience. There is also the picture of me wrapping both of my children in my baby wrap which is pretty heavy but they both want mama. Xander as you can see loves his snorkel and the bathtub which is good because he starts swim lessons after christmas. Inara is cute and wild and has decided she is going to do everything Xander does. The last picture is of Scott. He earned the German Physical Efficiency badge which included a swim, track and field events and a very long all day ruck march. I was so proud of him he earned a gold medal. It is standard in Germany for all Officers to take this test or you don't become an officer. Halloween photos soon to come!

I need to add a lot to the blog to catch up on the chaos that is our life. However I am really excited and want to share something new that is making some big changes in my life. I still have pain from my collarbone break and dislocation last year. Although I must admit that I have come a long way from where I was I am by no means in the physical shape I was before. I deal everyday with pain in my neck and head and I have to be careful with how much I lift or use my arm in certain positions. That is just a few of my concerns but now to why I am so happy. About a month ago my mother asked me to try this new protein/vitamin supplement shake. I was incredibly skeptical but it seemed to be doing mom good in so many areas I agreed. I took it once and have never looked back. The company is called Isagenix and they have a variety of products from a program which is giving my mom results that she has never seen in a healthy slow but effective manner, they also have vitamins both for adults and kids. Both Inara and Xander take the vitamins and after looking at the contents they kick the standard kids vitamins in the rear. I take the shake daily and it has given me so much...I have more energy and because it is protein based it lasts through out my day evening my blood sugar levels. I am much more calm and controlled, part of this is the large doses of vitamins in it. I feel like a junkie, I need my shake everyday. I am not doing the weight loss program per SE but I have lost half an inch in my waist for which I am very glad. If you have an interest in trying or asking more about the Isagenix products please ask! It has greatly improved my life and I am so happy to share any information with my family and friends. I will warn you that they have a distributor program, think pyramids but in no way am I trying to sign anybody up I am more than willing to help you get the products without the pressure or a sales pitch. In a few weeks i will be ordering single servings of the shake so if you want to try it let me know... HUGS
Tara

So the big news for us is that Scott is home. He didn't end up going to school after all and so we are here with him in Sun Prairie. I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. The kids just adore dad and I know how hard 5 months apart was going to be on them. The down side is that Scott will not get his masters degree in 5 short months and his World of Warcraft time he thought he was going to get to wallow in is also been cut short. We have tried to spread the word but it's been a crazy summer we have been in MN for a spell, my little brother came to visit, Scott went to West Virginia and I am trying to keep the house clean for the realtor. We are still trying to sell our condo so that by next year either here or if a job on another CST in a state we like comes open we can buy a house with a yard. If you would like to see us back in MN I am asking for petitions to the big man upstairs to help us, but in reality we are very happy in Wisconsin we have wonderful friends and we are still close to home. As you can see from the pictures we attended the Harry Potter party at Barnes and Noble and had a blast. The kids are so big I can't believe how fast they grow. Well that is all for now much love to all of you!

Us with Mike and LauraXander and Inara dancing at the reception.
Mike and Inara

We had a great weekend. Mike and Laura our dear friends in Wisconsin got married. Laura was my first close friend in Wisconsin that helped me through the hard time I had moving here. She served a mission and came back this winter. We picked up right where we had left off and I am so grateful for her love and support. We love her new husband Mike. Inara has a special bond with Mike she simply adores him and we are so grateful that he loves her back. We feel so blessed and honored to share their special day with them and are so happy for them!

Happy Birthday Inara!
Inara turned one in January, this is our princess in her unicorn costume. She won't wear the unicorn headband and I am not sure why the costume has wings but she looks really cute. Thanks to everyone who gave her a gift. She is such a joy and delight!

Christmas was eventful this year. We decided to try a live tree instead of our fake one. We found a charming tree farm with real reindeer and had an awesome family day picking out our tree. Unfortunately we seemed to have lost our green thumb because our tree started to loose needles, a lot of needles. About 10 days before Christmas Inara went to touch it and the tree fell over. Thankfully not on Inara, Scott saved her but we took the tree apart then and there and rained pine needles all over our living room. So for our family Christmas before we went to MN we opened presents without a tree. Christmas itself was a little less fun because Inara and I got the stomach flu but all in all it was a good time. We love Christmas and the joy it brings to see our family and friends. The true meaning and spirit of Christmas bring us such joy that tree or no tree it was a happy holiday.

Update, too much to update. Inara is into everything! She crawls so fast, pulls herself up, eats everything and is adorable doing it. Xander is into Star Wars lately and insists that everything is a light saber. It is entirely too cute when he starts singing the theme song. I have been in a lot of pain since June and after my fourth try of getting help this doctor actually figured it out! I broke and dislocated my clavicle or collar bone. So now I have started physical therapy and I am in lots of pain but I think it's helping. I was beginning to think that my perpetual state would be one of crabiness with my children as wandered through my day in a haze of pain. I am really excited to be able to do things again, physical things like run or jump or play without wanting to scream. So there you have it that is the pain and the cure.

Xander also continues to grow like a weed and I can't believe how tall he is, tonight we cut his hair and he looks so grown up. Of course he wailed the whole time because the hair was prickly and he didn't like it on his neck. Inara cried because her big brother was crying in the bathroom and she was locked out of the bathroom. Gaia whined because both babies were crying and I just about pulled out my hair. But I am so grateful that they love each other so much that if one cries the other one does as well.

Halloween was good and cute, Xander was Luke Skywalker and Inara was Darth Vader. I will write more later my hand is cramping and I am falling asleep!

So the funny thing that happened last week was I was getting frazzled and my dear sweet husband tells me to take a deep breath and calm down. This was overheard by Xander who now tells me to settle down when I am talking a little too adamently. He also told me I was talking crazy the other day which made me laugh so hard I cried. Scott had decided to play flag football with his cracked rib and called to tell me that was the plan for that evening. He plays regularly on Tuesday evenings with some friends in a city league. It's a good time for all Xander and I cheer him on and Inara eats grass so we are happy campers. I was pretty much telling Scott in no certain terms would he be playing when Xander grabs the phone informs his daddy that mommy is mad with him and talking crazy! He then chastizes me and tells me to be nice to his daddy. The funny things my babies do. Inara now thinks it is great fun to play in the dogs water and eat any scrap of paper she can get her hands on! They do keep us busy!

So this is my contribution to the blog since Scott is now the editor. I belong to a group called NINO that supports babywearing. Meaning I try to have as much contact with our babies while still getting things done by wearing them on my body in a variety of ways. Now Scott calls it my propaganda since I love to spread the word about babywearing. But since he is such a good husband he supports me in my parenting choice and wears the babies too. I think this is my favorite set of pictures of him and inara at the state fair. She loves to play with his ears and she loves to be worn. Ohhh and that is my current favorite wrap called a gypsymama. That's all for now!

A Trip to Visit G'ma Sweetie and Papa Jim......The kids love thier Granparents...



The Kids become Harley Dudes and Dudettes....Xander even gets a cart ride..

Hello All, this is my (Scott's) first foray into the Hawks' Family Blog...so Bare with me... We just got back from our annual trip to the state fair with Tara's side of the family.






It was great fun. Xander and Inara had an oppotunity to try all kinds of exotic fried goods, and mom and dad got to wear in thier shoes a bit more. Xander and Scott had our typical State Fair Mohawks in sporting style, along with Uncle Bubba and Cousin Coda. We also got the chance to visit the Koudelkas and thier newest addition Julia. very nice.... Now we ae home and tired trying to recover and get moved back in here in WI.

I am so sorry this has lapsed again! So much going on with 2 kiddos, a busy husband and the lovable but mischevious gaia dog. She is into eating diapers now, can we say disgusting and lots of work for me. I thought I should introduce Inara Girl . As some may know at the end of 2004 I found myself pregnant. Due to the immense stress of the holidays(which always stress me out but that is another post) moving to WI, having my husband home after six months of living apart and pregnant hormone fluctuations I was not as happy as I would have thought. Two weeks after we moved to Madison I went to the doctor because I was spotting only to confirm the fear that we were no longer pregnant. On our 5 year anniversary no less we lost our baby. I found myself despite my earlier feelings very distraught and sad. But we felt it was for the best, we hadn't planned on having another sunshine until we were more settled in our new home. WELLL three months later I became pregnant and with baited breath we waited to see if this time things would go well. They did and we were excited. Due to our insurance I couldn't have an ultrasound unless things went wrong so we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl. I felt sick almost the entire time but there were no large complications so we waited for our suprise baby.I was overdue again on Jan. 10 and feeling like a baby beluga whale. Our dear friends Chris and Sarah came over to cheer us up and sure enough later that night around 3 am I couldn't handle the contractions any longer. Our baby girl showed up almost 12 hours later on Jan. 14th and of course since I had been up with our company late I was going on almost no sleep. When the baby arrived amidst tears of joy I said what is it and the reply was a girl! She was so beautiful with lots of hair and a perfectly round head, not cone shaped. She has been a fabulous baby eating well from the start sleeping well and being overall just an angel. Seven months later she is thriving and I can't believe that we ever didn't have her here with us. The first three months went by so fast as she woke up and became alert to the world. Xander has loved her from the start and we feel so blessed that he is such a good big brother. She growls and grunts like a little bear it's so cute. Around four to five months she worked on rolling over and by six she was scooting. Officially now she crawls really well and really fast. She even pulls herself up to standing now. I call her the destroyer because she is into everything and loves to eat paper! My children come equipped with my contact improvisational skills. They roll around on the floor like puppies together and although I am worried someone is going to get hurt so far noone has. Besides they both are laughing and squeelign its so much fun. Daddy and Xander have written a little song for her that they like to sing and she knows it's her song. It's called Inara girl and if you see them aske Xander to sing it for you. She is also our princess and our Bean. It's been such a joy to have her in our life and we are so thankful for our princess.
You can check out her 6 month pictures at flashportraits.com click on my portraits the last name is hawks and the password is hawks.
hugs to all
Tara

If you are reading this most likely you are a friend of a family member. That being said there are both friends and family that either we have never met or have not talked to in a long time. So I thought I would post some of the facts about us that will fill in the blanks for people.
I am 28 soon to be 29 Scott turned 31 in December and my birthday is in April. I am an Aires and as a funny side note Scott has dated a lot of Aries women. As a general rule I am rather stubborn and strongly opinionated, I like to think of it as passionate. We were married in 2000 after having known each other a total of four and a half months and having dated for about a whole thirty seconds or two weeks, before getting engaged. We met in a production of Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in which I played Ophelia and Scott was one of the Players. The first time I met Scott was at the call back audition and I sat down and started to talk to some of the people there. I was immediatley attracted to him. However a blonde woman came in and she knew Scott from college and he turned his attention to her. I was a bit put off but still I was thrilled when I found him at the first read through in which we tried to sit together he was attracted to my hands and I was annoyed that someone sat between us on the couch. Skip ahead a few weeks I thought my future husband was gay, a common misconception becuase all the gay men hit on him and he didn't freak out. Logical conclusion on my part was he was either of the mo persuasion or he was a coming and going guy. It turns out my husband just happens to be a very kind and friendly man who wouldn't be rude to anyone of any persuasion. This actually made it easier for us in the long run becuase we became friends and I could talk to him very easily becuase in my mind I didn't have to wonder if we could or would date. Needless to say I thought he was great and I could talk to him about anything so it came as a mack ton truck suprise when after the show started it's run he asked me out and I realized that I thought he was the cutest, funniest, sexiest and smartest guy I had ever met. Add the fact that we were good friends and a bit of moonlight you get falling in love and feeling like your walking on air. We were set to get married in Feb. but jumped the gun and eloped in January. I figured I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him so why not start sooner than later. We still had the wedding and it was lots of fun but I felt like being married to this man was more important than the act of getting married. I didn't need a fairy tale wedding to feel like a princess he made me feel like that all the time. Six years, two kids, one move, three dogs, and lots of things in between and I still feel like I did the first night he kissed me. I never want to leave his side. Having said that the funny thing is with Scott's job, which deserves a blog entery of it's own, has caused us to spend almost an entire year of our lives living in different states. It means that at any time of night or day he may be required to leave me without telling me where he is going or when he is returning. With a chance that if something goes wrong horribly wrong he won't be coming back. Scott's job is a huge part of who we are and what we believe in. It is committment that we made together and it is part of why I love him so dearly. He believes in freedom, that we should be free to make our own choices even if he doesn't agree with them. He believes in a greater good in the world and in helping others.

3-7-2006

Salutations,
Hopefully you are having a great day! In an effort to keep our friends and family connected I have decided to start this blog. Truthfully I have been meaning to do this for a few months but with the excitement of christmas and the expansion of our family I just didn't get it done. I will post things regularly about each of our family members as well as other fun and interesting things about us. Check frequently for new pictures and thoughts, although most of the posts will be by me since Scott has a busy schedule. Well that is all for now!
Smile life is good,
Tara

SOOOOOOO... Inevitably you knew that I would fall behind and it has happened already. AHHH! By the way Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies. I had a wonderful morning I awoke with my baby girl smiling at me as she spit, waved her arms and talked to me, I felt as if I could keep doing this mommy gig for another couple of years. When Scott and Xander woke up they brought me a muffin and card to my bed. I also recieved a rose bush which is a good faith gesture by my husband since I always kill our plants inadvertently and a large balloon. Scott in his wonderful way bought me three cards since they all expressed different things and no one card said what he wanted to say. HOW I LOVE THAT MAN.
Updates....Xander has been battling a virus for the last week. My little guy is a pile of sick little boy instead of his super ball of energy. The Doc said it's just a virus, so we wait push the fluids and hope that his bounce is back soon.

Inara is great! She is as smiley as ever, and getting chubbier by the day. She is very interested in her fingers and toes. She also loves it when her brother talks to her and plays with her. In the past day she has also discovered the dog and so if the dog moves, barks or licks her those baby blues pop open and she smiles.

Scott is getting back into the swing of things at work after a month long traveling and exercise (military) spree. The command will officially change in June and our good friend Major Steve Brewer will be leaving us. It's sad but rather normal for military life and so we will miss him but have another friend to visit on the east coast.


Me, well I'm me. I have my good days and my duct tape the kids to the wall days. I haven't gotten much done with Xander being sick. He needs lots of cuddles when he is sick and Inara just needs cuddles. But that is the good part of being a mommy so I go with it. I am making baby carriers for the people at work who had babies and I found a fabulous sewing machine at a garage sale.
I have had trouble uploading pictures to the blog but I will press forward. There are a bunch from Easter and Xanders birthday.