Home for the holla-daze!/ Ch-ch-ch-ch changes!

Holy cow! There has been an immeasurable amount of change since I have blogged last. There is so much that I want to say. Though I feel as though I am learning a new language, and my words are coming out jumbled! Let me see, where to start.

I'll begin with The Biltmore. The Biltmore was the apartment building that Kirk and I lived in before, and while we were married. Our little 420sq ft studio has so many memories with many a rotating cast of friends and family. I am excited to say that we will be residing there once more. However, this go-round we have acquired a one bedroom. We will be "snug as a bug in a rug" to say the least. Holidays (or "holla-daze/ holi-daze"" as I like to say) are my favorite time in The Biltmore. With the furnace radiating and the windows fogging, the dimly lit building brings more than just the holiday spirit to this so-called sap! Ha! We move the weekend of the 20th!

*A note to my beautiful mother-in-law: Lydia! From the depths of our souls we thank you. You have re-filled the love in our hearts with your benevolence! Our glass is half full again and I hope you know just how much we appreciate everything that you have done for us! We will miss our Huffman commune. But most of all, I will miss our chats over wine about life and faith and family. And the fireplace. *winkwink* We love you all more than one could even begin to perceive!

Since the 31st of October I have been assembling my Christmas music list! So far so good. I have also been listening to accuradio.com to get into the holiday mood. Kirkey knows how much I adore the holidays, though I may get a little too giddy. He just smiles and nods his head in approval. We cannot stop talking about pictures with Santa, and Kiddo's first tree.

This time of year reminds me of how thankful I am for everything in my life. It also reminds me of my Grandpa Joe, he always used to set up his train set for my brothers and cousins.

Not sure of what our Thanksgiving day plans are as of yet, but we will be attempting to drive to Eagle Point this Christmas. I cannot remember the last time that I have spent Christmas at home. I am ready. Mt. Ashland, Abby's pizza, family dinner, Christmas tree lighting ceremony, etc! Money permitting we will be traveling down in the Gummi van. With the new apartment and new bills, it may be a tiny hurdle, but worth it to see the whole "fam damily"!

Kay Kay is going well. We will be releasing the 2nd album "Introducing..." soon. Tomorrow we are taking the album cover pictures. It will be amazing. This year it will be the group with our families, kids, et cetera. Very much like old R&B album covers in the 60's. Technicolor, style. SO COOOL! I can't say what the date will be just yet, but we will tell soon!

Kiddo is well at 7 1/2 months! He has 2 bottom teeth, is getting around military style, almost crawling, and still walking with help from Mom and Dad. Everyday he amazes us with sentences, and "ba, ma, da, uhma"! He crinkles his nose and makes a funny growling sound when he gets excited. So fun to watch him grow.

Work is amazing. Everyday I think about how thankful I am to have work. In a time when so many are struggling, we are very fortunate!

I think that Santa has seen how hard we all work, and no one is to get coal in their stocking this Christmas. Or fruitcake for that matter... God willing. ICK! ;)

That is all I have at the moment. Below are some family photos that were taken recently!

The Sea of Love

Since the moment that we had left to the beach for a family trip to Long Beach, Washington,  I have not been able to stop listening to Cat Power's version of Sea of Love.  Hits the spot, per se!  Swoon!

We left on Friday afternoon, and arrived to the true west coast around 10ish at night.  The drive was stunning, even when the sun went down, and kept reminding us that it was "ni-night time"!  Kiddo figured that out as soon as we hit the pavement in our Gummi van.  The scene on the way to the beach was heavily wooded, with homes tucked into blankets of trees and bushes.  You could just barely make out the silhouettes of these shanty's by there lantern lights, and the occasional moonbeams playing peak-a-boo with the hidden abodes.  It was magical.  It reminded me of home, and the road trips that we used to take in high school, just to camp on the beach and hear the waves.  It was nostalgic to say the least.  We immediately settled into our cozy hotel room, said hello to Jeff, Lee, Liz, and James, who had all went down early.  Jeff had bbq'd some chicken, we had a glass of red wine, and hit the hay!

The next morning we awoke to the amazing smell of french toast, and Elizabeth's strong coffee.  It was a delight!  We readied ourselves, and headed to the shore that was mere yards from our hotel.  It was beautiful.  Windy, yet warm with a glorious umbrella of clouds!  I miss the salty and sometimes harsh smell of the sea at low tide.  Once Kiddo started to get a little fussy, we all headed in for some rest, and lunch.  Jeff had barbecued salmon and a steak for me, while Kirk grilled bacon-wrapped prawns.  It was delightful! 

Afterward, Liz, James, and I went to Hobo Junction.  It was the closest "antique" shoppe to where we were staying.  Long Beach was full of them.  If I had the time, and funds (as well as an extra storage space)... I would have hit up every. Single. One.  Immediately, we walked up the walkway to what was once a house that was lived in at some time or another, and was now used as the shoppe.  There was an amazing wheel or helm to what have to had been an old ship somewhere.  It was wooden, and the paint was chipping.  I would have loved that.  There were old oil lanterns, door knobs, luggage, etc...   I ended up with a 1960's golden cigarette holder (it is a box with a bird, and when you push on the bird, it bends over and a drawer comes out, and it's open beak picks up a cigarette) which will only gather dust, an old creamer jar that is shaped like a cow, an old Coors framed picture with a cowboy, and an old photo of a couple that nobody wanted.  It was a steal.  Cheap!  I felt like I had won the lottery.  I want to go back.  We then proceeded to head to the main strip, which was all of 2 blocks long, to devour an elephant ear.  It was the worst one I have ever had.  Be that as it may, somehow it was still sugary and delicious.  

The last day, we went hiking to see the 2 lighthouses.  They were stunning, and quite the hike.  Sometimes, I think about how amazing it would have been to not have so much technology.  To be a lighthouse keeper.  To communicate in a more eloquent and simplified manner.  Seems amazing.  However, if that were the case, this would be a hand written letter.  Haha!  We had another fantastic dinner, and then headed for home.  Our GPS got us there quickly.  It was the same route, but it seemed to had gone by much faster.  I love that our GPS has a "home" button.  No matter where we are, we can always find our way back home.

Family update:  All is well in our cozy home that Lydia has helped create.  It is so warm and inviting!  Kirk is amazing!  Kay Kay has finished the 2nd album, and it is streaming up on our myspace page:  www.myspace.com/kaykayunderground  I love this album, it reflects our lives again, but is more current.  Heee!  Work for me is amazing.  I adore my job, and my co-workers.  I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity to get back to work.  I work my tail off, and love it.  Not too many people can say that.  I hope my bosses know this, as well.  Kirk and I will be celebrating our 3rd year of marriage (and 6 years of being together), and it has been hard work, but the FUN kind of hard work.  I couldn't ask for a better best friend.  Kiddo is 5 months on Sunday!  The time has flew by.  Poor bear is teething as well.  I think that Kirk and I are more excited about his chompers than he is at the moment.  I think that is about it.  We love and miss you all!

Below are picture of the trip, as well as a short video of Kiddo taking some steps (with my help of course).  Too cute!  (If the video does not work, go to youtube and enter Kiddo Huffman)

I believe that Johnny Cash said it best...

..."I remember when I was a lad/lass, times were hard and things were bad.  But there's a silver lining behind every cloud." 

Us Huffman's have been amazing.  Happy, healthy, and employed!  But I will get to that later in the blog.  I want to start out by talking about our dear friend, second father, brother, and confidante Tom Pfaeffle.  He recorded, mixed and mastered all of the Kay Kay and Wild Orchid Children music.  He has also worked with Nirvana, BB King, the Black Crowes, and many more musicians.

Tom, or Hammer, as we loved to call him, was shot a little over a week ago.  He was vacationing in Winthrop, WA with his wife Valarie.  It was for his dear friend Rick's birthday.  They decided not to stay at the Sun Lodge.  They hopped on the road, and found a little hotel in Twisp.  They had checked in.  Valarie was unloading the car, while Tom went to unlock the door.  He stuck his key in what he had thought was their hotel room, jiggled the lock, but it wouldn't open.  Instead, without warning, three shots were fired.  Two of those shots had hit Tom.  He took one through the door, and the gentleman opened the door, and shot again.  His wife rushed to him, and carried him away from the door while awaiting paramedics, and the authorities.  He was coherent at that point.  It took the paramedics an hour to get there, and hour to get him to the hospital.  They were going to air lift him to a Seattle hospital, but he didn't make it.  The gentleman was apprehended, and charged with 2nd degree murder, and 2nd degree assault.  He is a well respected man in the construction business, and was released on only $100,000 bail.  

Is it just me, or does it seem like he was doing something sketchy?!  This was not self-defense.  

Yesterday was his funeral.  It was beautiful, long, happy, sad... (enter ANY and ALL emotions here)!  There has been some closure, but we are all just trying to adapt to our loss.  He will be with us always!  We will miss you, Hammer!  :D

To read articles, just google Tom Pfaeffle.

*deep breath* 

Now, back to us Huffman's.  We have been staying with Lydia, in order to get back on track.  It is a full house, but operating smoothly.  It has been so much fun having ladies (Lydia and Liz) to hang out with.  Ha haha!  I have to mention just how gratuitous, kind, and loving Lydia is, and has always been for that matter.  We have enjoyed staying here.  

I have a job.  In property management again.  I love it!  The people are amazing, and nice.  There is plenty of room for growth, and I fully intend on taking advantage of that!  YAY!

Kiddo has gotten enormous!  My mind is boggled.  He has been rolling over, chatting, trying to sit up, and scooting (on his tummy).  He will be a fun little handful when he is mobile.  

Kiddo and I made the venture to visit my Mom in Eagle Point for the 4th of July parade.  It was fun, even in triple digits.  It was nice to be home, and see my family.  I wish I was able to do that more often!  I have to say, the trip was rad, but the long drive time was eased by visiting my Auntie Kandy, and cousins (Trey and Kelis).  I got to have some of her waffles, which for me, kick anyone else's waffles ass!  Consider me a "waffle-snob"!  Just sayin'!  (See photos below)

My brother Jacob is getting married on August 10th.  I am very excited for him.  He is a good kid, and I am proud to call him, and Trevor BROTHER!  He will also be a Dad on January 6th.  

The black and white photos were done by our very good friend Hayley Young for Kirey's Father's Day present.  It is our "perfect mess", as I like to call it.  We were moving out of our house, and there are just boxes everywhere!  Haha!

Below are a "shit-ton", yes... I said "shit-ton"...  Ahem, There are A LOT of pictures!  Enjoy!

(Remember to click on a picture to enlargen)