A Man of Action

This kid makes me laugh. Owen is almost two years old!! His birthday is a month away, but I'm already tearing up. It's been amazing to see him grow so fast in the last few months. He's been talking for quite a while now, and I can't even remember what it was like before he could use words! Owen has discovered that he can now tell us something that he's seen out the window of the car or in the aisle of a grocery store. Wow, the beginnings of real conversation. Of course, that's if you can keep him still for any length of time. He's a ball of energy and I'm imagining many active days outdoors this spring and summer. (yeah!) He loves to make people laugh and has also found out how to "make an entrance." This usually means entering a room with a big "Hel-lo!" Just this week the kids put on a little show to celebrate the Hubs' birthday and, of course, he got into the action. After his show (which consisted mostly of super-fast dancing feet and something like yodeling) he stopped. And then, stuck out his belly and yelled, "TA-DA!" What a crackup. One of my Dad's favorite sayings is, "Never a dull moment." Oh. How. True.

Spring Dirt

Here's to many more dirty hands, sunny skies and

warm days that draw our winter worn souls outside!
Hallelujah!

ps. We're enjoying it while it lasts. Tomorrow promises to be rainy and cold again.
Ahh, spring in Chicago.

You can never be too careful...

Buckle up, friends!

Have a great weekend!

Score one for old-fashioned fun

Awhile ago a dear old lady from our church gave us her piano.  She was moving into a nursing home and had no space for it.  We still haven't tuned it, but it certainly provides a general sound for our little family chorus.  

Today, Ellie was on the computer with Owen at her new favorite website (which I also love, it's from the guys who brought us singing vegetables).  I sat down on the piano and found a wonderful rockin' song called "Soon and Very Soon."  I was singing my little heart out (as only a crazy woman would, knowing no one could actually hear her, or at least anyone who knows what sounds good).

And around the corner peeked Ellie.  Her smile said it all.  These rockin' tunes telling of how we are only here for a little while while we wait for our King to come drew her away from the computer and into the dining room where she joined me for several verses (a few made up ones, too).  

Score one for old-fashioned toys.  And music that speaks to the soul.

 

Fighting Back

To combat my previous post's winter hold on me and the fact that despite my serious tries at just willing my belly pudding (funny word...thanks Sarah S!) to disappear....

I worked out.

For 15 whole minutes.  

With the loving support of my Hubs (he set up the TV so I could watch and elliptical at the same time) I did not pass out, did burn all of 100 whopping calories (which I seriously wanted to eat again in the form of some tasty evening snack, but didn't), and did restore my faith in my own willpower (or at least the fear of embarrassing myself as the big winter clothes will soon be unable to cover me up!).  

This whole phenomenon of "working out" is actually pretty new to me.  In all honesty, I haven't had to work out to keep in relative shape in recent years (or so I told myself).  But a recent screening of my cholesterol and my growing belly pudding (I told you it was a funny word) from having baby #3 have catapulted my health front and center. 

I actually think I went through various stages of grief.  I felt that I was losing my youthfulness, or at certainly I was gaining an older body than I was not ready for.  So I was in denial.  "It's not that bad."  But when recently Owen was playing peek-a-boo with an oddly large portion of my stomach sticking out the side of my comfy pants,  I quickly moved on from denial to reality.

Really. Fast. 

So then came anger.  The "what the ?" question would be punctuated with choice words about getting older that I refused to believe or want.  The Hubs was a total dear.  Poor guy listened to rants without saying one word  about how if I was so pissed...well, I should darn well do something about it.  Luckily, I came to that on my own.  He's patient, but not that patient.

So here we are. Day 1.  Exercise+me= a happier me.  Right?

Why am I writing this?   Mostly so that when I'm thinking I don't need to exercise, or that I don't look that bad, I'll remember how good it feels right now to know that I've started.  I've started to care about myself a bit more or at least enough.  

Enough that the only bellies that we'll be playing peek-a-boo soon with will be those of the 2-and-under set.

It's what's for dinner...

I've hit an new all-time dinner-makin' low.

Corn dogs. With pasta.roni noodles. Leftover veggies.

Where did I get that idea?

My dear girl, Ellie.

Why am I listening to her?

The winter-dinner doldrums are hitting hard and fast here in the Midwest.

Ugg.


Ketchup, anyone?

Writing to Remember

I'm writing today to remember. I want to remember a day where I actually thought about how wonderful it would be to homeschool. I could see it now...the freedom to combine my greatest loves...spending time with my kids, teaching, and controlling any situation that I can. I'm finding the more that Josh is in school, the more I still want to influence what he is learning, how it's presented to me, and who his friends are. I suppose this is only natural seeing that up until recently I was in charge of all of these things. Unfortunately, life and the passage of time has a funny way of reminding us that "this too shall change."

I find some of it liberating, though. The idea that, maybe, somebody, may not, absolutely, need me all. the. time. for ev.er.y.thing. Ahh.


Josh was home today on a "wellness" day. We had a jam-packed weekend filled with friends, family and several birthday cakes. Add that with a bad cold he's not been able to shake and I allowed my mommy heart override the teacher in me and kept him home. And as we sat at home today, resting, and playing some of the great games he recieved as gifts, I smiled. I loved that we could just sit there, no agenda, no place to be, just discovering patterns in cards, jumping at the "attack" of an Uno card and occasionally letting my mind wander about how time is passing so quickly (he's seven now, you know...I've been a mom for seven years now).

I've been a bit sad about not blogging lately. I read this post by Jenni recently and felt better, because she wrote exactly what I had been feeling. But still, although I knew that they would remember more that I was there, playing with them, keeping them fed and clean, I wanted to remember the details. The things that photos didn't catch, the things that my momma brain will quickly file under "remember later in a dream, or not at all."

So today was one of those days. It was great. It was relaxing. It warmed my heart on a cold day.

Although, I'm pretty positive in the next ten minutes the kids will remind me why I can't wait for them to go to school...it's the ebb and flow of life with kids. Yep, I think I hear screaming now...

Top Ten of 2008

Inspired by my sister-in-law here are my top ten events of 2008:

10. We began the year by doing some heavy soul-searching about schools for the kids. And oddly enough, we feel called to send our kids to private Christian schools. This has become one of the biggest leaps of faith we have encountered as a family, especially with times the way they are nowadays. But in this we've found God's glory being sung by seeing Josh blossom in his own faith, as young as he is.

9. We survived several small illnesses this year (pink eye, stomach bugs, colds colds and more colds). But what I find amazing is that usually it's an isolated event and it isn't passed on through the family. See, my maniacal hand washing is working!

8. It's hard to imagine it now, but Owen began walking early this year and just like most kids, he hasn't stopped since. My, how fast it goes.

7. We had a great trip to Atlanta this year around Easter time. Although it was for a sad reason, with the passing of the Hub's grandfather, it turned into this amazing time with family we don't see very often. The Aquarium was a huge hit with all of us and so was a trip up Stone Mountain.

6. When spring came we couldn't wait to get outside again. Owen discovered he was a big fan of the Bronco Rider and I didn't mind tagging along for the ride.

5. Owen turned one in April with much hoopla (naahh, not really, third child syndrome). He has been such a blessing to our family and it was wonderful to celebrate his big day with family.

4. Summer brought several things: T-ball, an attempt at gardening, afternoons in the sprinkler, trips to the park, and some great vacations.

3. We were blessed to have weeklong vacations with both sides of our family this year. A loooong (not a typo) trip to the Outer Banks was an amazing time at the beach. The weather was really wonderful and even the storm we had was a thing to behold. The second trip to a cozy cottage with the Hub's side was equally as fun. I found myself easily slipping into a routine of yummy breakfasts, lazy splashing in the lake, comfortable conversation and delicious dinners followed by movies and games. Ahhh.

2. School started this year with Josh going into first grade at a new school and Ellie in her first year at preschool. Both kids have jumped right into the school routine with eager anticipation. My teacher hearts sighs with happiness.

1. I'm pretty sure I'm missing a ton of things from big to small (like a terrific Thanksgiving, to giggly family nights), but looking at this year I see how blessed we are to have healthy, happy children, a marriage that is strong through the rough places, and a Savior that promises the "Peace that passes all understanding." With the plan to move our family one more time in this coming year I felt many emotions, but every time the still small voice of my Lord reminds me that He is in control and His plan is far greater than any that I have imagined.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Meme

Ok. Time to get into the spirit of things. My sister-in-law sent me this email and I thought it would make a good get-to-know-you-at-Christmas-time post. Enjoy, and then try it yourself!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I LOVE to wrap gifts. When we were young, my mom would try to "hide" our gifts in plain sight by wrapping them in some sort of pattern (all the snowman paper had my gifts inside, etc.). Some day when the kids wise up, I'll do the same. For now I just love taking the time to make the packages special.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Definitely real.

3. When do you put up the tree? Soon after Thanksgiving.


4. When do you take the tree down? After the New Year, before school starts again.

5. Do you like eggnog? No.

6. Favorite gift received as a child or adult? (adult) Plane tickets to California to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. Of course, that was the same year I bought the Hubs a DVD player. So much for a budget that year.

7. Hardest person to buy for? The Hubs. He has this habit of buying gifts off his list while he's out shopping for others.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Josh.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. We would love one that the kids could "play" with. (any suggestions?)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail or hand out (save a stamp!)

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of one right now, but my dad gave my mom a housecoat/pajama robe one year that will live in infamy.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Polar Express, currently. I love watching kids watch it. Oh, and I really like all the old-time claymation ones!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October or November. It helps to spread out the cost.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, but they're usually cute things I've gotten from students in the past that someone else could really use.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's fudge.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, white only.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Micheal W. Smith's "Christmas Waltz."

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home, meet with family, unless we go to my sister-in-law's in Michigan to play in their snow!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Sure...now, how's that song go?.....

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve with my side, Christmas morning with our little family and with the Hubs' side we do it whenever we can all get together.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Dragging the poor kiddos around in the cold, because I still love to shop in stores instead of online.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen and felt handmade ornaments

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Appetizers after Christmas Eve service.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Practically?...A great kitchen knife. Emotionally?...peace of mind about moving sometime in the new year!

The Honeymoon is Over

Yep. And it lasted longer than I thought. It usually starts losing it's luster after the first long weekend. But in this case, he made it until Thanksgiving.

I'm talking about Josh. (what did you think? hehe)

The poor dude survives an unfortunately long afternoon bus ride after working hard all day at school, only to hop in the van and be greeted by his little sister who finds an odd joy in telling him all the "fun" things she got to do while he was at school. So, it caught up to him.

After an wonderful trip to "Aunt Tami's" (apparently the coolest place on earth...blog to follow), and several days off school, Josh succumbed to the end of his honeymoon relationship with first grade. Now, this is not to say that he doesn't enjoy school (he loves it! ahhh...my teacher's heart), but now his rose-colored glasses are clearing up a bit and he looks forward to the weekends more, wondering when the next day off will come. Secretly, I am comforted by the fact that he misses being with me, because I miss him some days, too. (The rest of the days?...I'm thinkin' "when do they go back to school?)

I'm pretty sure after the real chill of winter sets in, a cozy couple of weeks off at Christmas, and he's cooped up in his classroom for a while...

... he'll be asking first grade for a divorce.