10.29.2007

a new life to love

We spent the weekend with family across the mountains. We made special trip over to meet our new niece, Miss Avree Jean! She's two weeks old and just beautiful. I love watching new parents with their little ones. I think it is so amazing how life can change in an instant when a new baby is born. I love it! Congratulations to Aubree and Derek!



Parker was so proud to be able to hold little Avree. This picture totally cracks me up. Check out Griff trying to be so cool because he's a whole 8 months older...:)

And Parker got to hang out with his older cousins, Sean and Mattison. Sean is his idol. Sean is everything. Sean'sthe bomb! Parker even has dreams about him. This past weekend, Parker realized a dream...he slept in Sean's cool bed. Oh my!



And now we're back home and trying to get back to normal. Funny thing is, whenever I try to get back to normal, I suddenly realize normal has changed. Ha! Out of necessity (vacation, illness, etc.), I've let some things slide and been pretty lax regarding discipline with myself and my children. I'm actually enjoying adding a little bit of routine and order to our lives. Not too much though:)

10.25.2007

STRIKE FOUR!

That terrible stomach bug hit the fourth member of our family last night. Poor Joel. It is probably good that I got it early on because it gave me a ton more sympathy. I'm afraid that I used to be a bit of the "suck it up" kind--which is just terrible to admit.

This has been a weird week. I expected to come home to beautiful October and enjoy our regular routine of friends and activities. Instead, we came home to beautiful October and have spent the whole week indoors, hanging on to this bug. Gosh, it is just gorgeous outside. I already miss October and it isn't even gone:)

I went to the mall today because I just had to get out! I found a book I'm excited about...

I haven't started yet, but I think it is going to be interesting. Lectio Divina sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?

10.24.2007

Breaking out the Christmas Music...

Well, I'm sitting here recovering from one heck of a stomach bug that went through three out of the four of us. Oh, my gosh...so bad, so disgusting. Of course, no need for details, but I will say it was the kind that defied gravity...a lot.

My babies are napping and I don't have enough energy to clean my messy house or even an appetite to eat my lunch. So what does one do in this situation? Blog, of course:)

My sister in law, Vicky, is famous for sending really awesome packages at just the right time. As I was laying on the couch this morning, feeling sorry for myself, I heard that delightful sound of the mailman leaving packages at my door. Woo Hoo! In addition to fun Halloween goodies for the boys, Vicky sent along quite a few new Christmas CD's for my collection. What a girl! She sure knows how to make my day! You see, I make a goal every year of not bringing out the Christmas music until November 1st--but I rarely make it. This year is no exception...I just can't help myself, I love it so much! And maybe, just maybe I can blame my cheating on Vicky this year, since she sent the new music a week or so early:))

The Sarah McLachlan album is one of the CD's in the great package. I highly recommend it...if you like her style. I think it is a great addition to our mix. The second to last track, In The Bleak Mid-Winter, reminded me how much I love this classic. The lyrics are just great. Here are a few lines...

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

In the Bleak Midwinter, Christina Rossetti


10.22.2007

so much to say, so little time


Our vacation to Colorado was beyond good. Way beyond! I really couldn't have asked for anything more. We spent the majority of our time up in the mountains at Beaver Creek in a beautiful condo. What did we do? A whole lot of nothing...watched movies, read books, ate a lot of food, played with our boys, went on some mini hikes, and took numerous naps. We did all the things we want to do to relax at home, but we never seem to make enough time....basically we had good, old-fashioned family time and we came back so refreshed. Perfect!

Oh, and our time spent with Jenn and her family was even better than I expected! Her family is beautiful and sweet and really...she's a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl. So genuine...so lovely...so fun! When I'm around her, I feel filled up and blessed! I would hang out with her everyday if I could. If only....:)

We were also able to meet up with Sarah and her family! Like Sarah said, it was way too brief....but so wonderful to meet her! I feel like they have something in the water in Colorado--she's another one who is so genuine and has such a good, good heart. Oh, how I wish we lived closer...

I really feel like I could write volumes about how this vacation was so excellent on every level, but I have sick boy on my hands and can't spend much time here on my 'puter. I put together a little slide show, but I have to admit that I was a little bit of a slacker when it came to pictures. I guess my camera was on vacation too! Jenn and Sarah have some that are much better. Enjoy!

10.12.2007

a fall vacation...

It seems as though vacation always seems to come just in the nick of time. Just when we feel as though the days are too long and the nights too short...when work becomes too much....when we grow tired of the daily grind ....VACATION! Woo Hoo!!

I've been a bit absent from my normal blogging routine already this week, but now I'm going to be really absent! Maybe my mind has just been preparing for next week and checked out early. I tend to do that. We get to go on our first vacation as a family of four:) We'll be hanging out at a condo for a week in a state I've never visited. AND we'll get to spend time with Jenn and her family! How cool is that? I am beyond excited! I can't wait! Not super-excited about the flight with the two kiddos...but I'm sure that it will go better than I've imagined!

And so...see you all later! I'll be back sooner than later with some great pictures, I hope!

leafy greens...

I haven't found anything that Griffin won't eat. I'm so surprised that he isn't HUGE because he eats like a horse....grass and all. A couple of weeks ago, I was making my spinach salad for lunch and dropped a few leaves on the kitchen floor. Before I realized the mess, Griffin managed to make his way over to the leafy greens and stuff them all in his mouth. He was quite proud of himself. I wasn't shocked he'd eaten off the floor, just that he seemed to really enjoy the spinach. Lately he's been into our house plants. He likes to dig around in the dirt and enjoy a mud pie. Gross, I know. We're not encouraging it. But he's so obsessed with the leaves of the plants--they're like a delicacy for him. When we're not looking, he goes and rips huge leaves off the plants and stuffs handfuls in his mouth. It's like chocolate cake to him!

It is so ironic...while I'm pleading with Parker to try a chicken nugget, Griffin is happy stuffing foliage into his mouth. It's like he has pica or something. Oh well, at least he likes food!

10.09.2007

change tense

"It is extraordinary to realize that this moment, framed in time--not the memories, not the expectations or ambitions--is my life. And in this moment I change tense: stop becoming and just am."
"Seeing in the Dark" ~ O, Oct 07 ~ p. 298


We made a family trip to Costco last night. Love that place! I tend to get more than we need, so for that reason, I don't love it...but it is just so darn fun! Yes, even fun with two little ones in the cart and ice cream all over their faces. They were fascinated with the Christmas merchandise. What kid wouldn't be excited about a lit-up, life-sized reindeer? :)

I've written before about how I am striving to live in the moment...not dwelling on the past or camping myself in the future either. I think the key is to live like a kid in some ways. They are so simple and practical. Parker's prayer after we got home (before bed) was a good reminder of this...

"Dear God, thank you for the stooooorrrr.....ummmmmm......thank you for ice creeeaaaam....ummmmm....thank you for fwosted middy eats (a.k.a. frosted mini-wheats). Jesus. God. Amen."

I love that he was just thanking God for what he knew to be good, for the exciting things he had just experienced and for the practical things in life God gives us. He was praying with a grateful heart and certainly knows how to live in the moment.

And all this time, I thought I was supposed to be teaching him.... ;)

10.07.2007

these boys, my delight

I know, I know...I've been mainly posting pictures lately and not writing a whole bunch. Truth is, I haven't been super busy, just really enjoying my gifts. Friday was one of those days that I was truly able to live in the moment and enjoy plenty of one on one time with both of my sons. I was able to forget about the absolute disaster all over the house and decided to spend more time with Parker and Griffin. Totally refreshing.

I hope these boys know that they give me such delight...


10.04.2007

mama joys

Being a mama is so fun. So fun! Now, I'm not saying it isn't work--it is the hardest work, but there are some really great perks. Check these out...


These are Parker's new shoes I just bought for him at Nordstrom Rack! Aren't they snazzy? I love to dress my kids! I know that it isn't that important in the grand scheme of things, but we've got to have a little fun, don't we?!


This picture was taken in between flops. The action shot probably wouldn't be blog appropriate:)

And speaking of fun...I wish I could post an awesome picture I took of Parker practicing his belly-flop in the bath tub tonight! It was so hilarious! He decided to do a sort of hand stand with his feet on the back wall...then he'd push off with his feet, land on his belly and send water everywhere. It was so cool! I know, it probably wasn't the safest activity, but it was supervised and I couldn't stop laughing in time to intervene. Oh, the mama joys...

10.02.2007

Breakthrough

For possibly the first time in his life, little Griffin has learned that pain often accompanies growth. Isn't that true in most things, especially in the big picture? I get the feeling that Griffin doesn't like this new reality. Sometimes I don't either...

Griffin has learned this lesson at the ripe old age of almost eight months...in the form of his very first two teeth in one week! We have a breakthrough, people! I am so thankful that his recent crabbiness can be explained rather than be blamed on a new, un-delightful disposition.

I think he is feeling better now and gleefully using his new tools:) I can't wait until we can actually see the two little razors when he smiles!

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