The Colby Family

It's been a LONG time.

2010-04-18T18:14:00.001-07:00

So, yeah, I shtink at blogging. Sorry!! :) I'm likely to get stinkier but I thought I'd just sort of post an update for now...

We're back in Texas, living in Carrollton. Ethan is working and some days are good and some are hard, but we are no longer in residency or fellowship...he's a full-fledged radiologist now. We just had our third boy, Henry David, and he's a doll. Although, learning to poop has been a challenge. We'll get there. We all do! :)

I do have thoughts mulling about in my mind that I'd like to post, but I find that time is scarce these days.

One thing I'd just like to say is that I'm extremely grateful to the LORD for what He has done in our lives over the last year. Change is always hard, but He has held us together.

S

I'm a crappy blogger...

2009-03-07T18:42:00.001-08:00

...sorry folks!! Not much to tell these days...just busy!! :)

Honest Scrap

2009-01-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

This will be fun. :) I just got tagged by my friend Katie for Honest Scrap...which, I gather from her blog, means that I should share 10 random and true things about myself, and then tag another friend in hopes that they do the same. Katie is hysterical, so reading hers was so fun. I crack up everytime I read her writing...I think she missed her calling as a stand-up because she's just as funny in person. I'll try to do some justice to this fun experiment! :)

1. I've been skydiving once. I loved it so much, that if I were single with no children, I'd probably try and get certified to take other people skydiving. It was probably one of the most fun days I've ever had. Of course, this probably relates to the fact that I love heights and am a bit of a thrill seeker.

2. If I could pick another career, other than being a Mom or a skydiving instructor, I'd be a wilderness guide. I love hiking and canoeing. Canoeing in particular. I've traversed down several level-4 rapids in an open canoe, made the canoe go UPstream in a level 3, and enjoyed every minute.

3. As much as I talk about doing other things, there's no other place I'd rather be. I adore my husband and children and there is no greater joy, or hardship, than giving of myself everyday for the fulfillment of those boys. The highs and lows of motherhood and being Ethan's wife are better than anything else I've ever experienced.

4. I am a total Law & Order junkie. In fact, my boys are asleep as I type, and I've got it going in the background! :) It's a little slice of heaven in the day, even if I don't watch it but just listen as I do chores. It's my "daytime drama" fix.

5. Ok, so really, the one things I really want to pursue is culinary school. I want to be a master pastry chef. I love working with chocolate and would like to have my own little homegrown business making specialty chocolate treats.

6. The best day I can imagine would be one where my children sleep past 6am. :)

7. I love to run outside, sans music. The sound of my footfall, my breathing, the noises of the great outdoors are enough to soothe my soul.

8. If I could go back to Guatemala, I'm not sure that I'd like it. Things change so much, and the memories that I have won't be what I find there. I'm a little bit worried about that.

9. My sweet Everett has the cutest pink cheeks when he wakes up from a nap, and Tate has the best laugh, ever! If I could just capture and hold on to those things... Maybe that's why I scrapbook. I love to look back and remember all of our fun times as my kids have grown up. It also helps me forget the not-so-fun times, too.

10. I confess that I live on caffiene. Coffee until about noon and diet coke afterwards. I'm also a Weight Watchers fan, too. I use their recipes even when I'm not Watching!

OK, so, I've run low on time, and Ev wants to know why there's so much room in outer space. He also wants his room to be IN outer space. :) I'd love to tag my sister Susie and my niece Rachel. Ok, so they're more like best friends of mine than relatives because I'd spend time with those gals for no reason at all...but that's another entry... :)

Everett's Prayers

2009-01-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

Children are amazing. Honest. Much more intelligent than we give them credit for. Tender hearted now and then, too.

Last night, as I was putting Everett to bed, we had this conversation:

"Ev, today when you hit me, that made me sad. You need to remember to tell me with your words that you are angry with me, instead of hitting with your hands. Hitting hurts, OK?"

"Ok, Mommy. I'll try. 'Jesus, can you please help me to stop hitting?' "

Wow. He's definitly into praying these days. This afternoon he asked Jesus to help him be kind and gentle with his little brother. And then he asked Jesus when Jesus was going to come and take us home because he wanted to go fishing with God and wanted to get to heaven in the hot air balloon.

OK, so kids don't understand all things spiritual and philosophical, but they DO understand a lot more than we give credit for.

This is a sweet time. There will come a time when Ev has questions about God for which I don't have any answers. I'm not sure how I'll handle that, but I trust that God will still be on His throne. And who knows? Maybe God WILL take us to heaven in a hot air balloon!!?! :)

OK, so...there's a change in plans. Welcome to being a Colby.

2009-01-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

My last post said we were moving to Ft Worth...and while that was the plan for a little while, much has transpired. Hard decisions have been made with little less than blood, sweat and tears to get there, and we've taken another offer. Ethan will be working for a group based out of Plano instead...so, we'll likely be living north of 635 somewhere...Flower Mound, Addison, Carrollton, Lewsiville, Southlake...who knows? But I'm confident in his decision to change things up and go with this group! And I'm really excited, too! I think that the average day working there will suit him better, his workstyle and approach will be more easily matched there. It's going to be so great and I'm looking forward to all that this will bring. :)

I've not been very good about blogging...although, I'm sure that the holidays had something to do with it so I'm not going to pile coals on my head. :)

We're MOVING TO FORT WORTH!!

2008-11-24T11:06:00.000-08:00

WOOHOOO!! Ethan has accepted a position with a group in Ft Worth and I am SO excited! I can hardly stand it! It's just too cool. I'm so proud of him...he's worked so hard and I'm glad that he gets to work for a great company at a great job.

So, come June...we'll be back in Texas...

We're going to enjoy VA while we're here, though! :)

The things kids say!

2008-11-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

Everett was sitting on the potty. He needed to go poopy. He was having a hard time of it, so he says, "The poopies don't want to come out because they want to ride on the Metro and go to the museum in my intestines."

BWWAAHHHAAAAHAHAAAAA~~~

How do you not laugh???! It was totally hysterical! We've been to DC too much or something. He's just got the best imagination.

The thoughts in my head. Yes, politically related.

2008-11-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

I don't really like to use my blog as a place to share my political leanings, but, politics have been on my mind lately. And, not really politics per se, but the issues that our political leaders vote on that affect our lives. I'm not too passionate about a lot of things that are in that group of things...but there are a few things that I care about...

Mostly as regards abortion and sex education...I am very pro life. But I'm also very pro sex education in schools with free access to contraception. I don't think that every kid in the world is going to make good choices, even with the best parents who teach them that it's better to abstain. And I know that kids aren't always free or able to approach their parents for contraception. I'd love to live in an ideal world where self control over hormones ruled, but that's never been the case...but I don't want to live in a world where we cover our eyes to reality and think that young ones are going to do the right thing all of the time and then only give them two options when there's a price to pay: abortion or adoption. I think the choices should begin before there's a third party involved. If we have one, then we have less of the other....and that's a good thing...Abortion IS a deal breaker for me. I feel that life begins at conception (having had 4 miscarriages...) and that taking that life is playing God.

And I don't care of gays want to marry. What does that bear on my marriage? Nothing. If my church decided to marry homosexuals, I might have more to talk about. Not a deal breaker, but something I definitely think about.

I'm not too keen on redistribution of wealth; I sort of wish the government would allow us to choose how we redistribute our own wealth. Maybe a better incentive would be to require a certain percentage of giving to non profits, and if that isn't made, then require a make up. I don't know...I'm starting to become a fan of the fair tax, thanks to my brother...but taxes aren't a deal breaker for me, but like gay marriage, something I put thought into.

The war? I'd like it to end. But I'd like it to end when it's done. I'll leave that to the professionals....

Anyway, that's just been rattling around up in there, and I thought I'd write it down...just in case anyone is interested in my little old opinions. :) And, it's nice to get it out of my head and into the computer... :)

A Fun Fall Day!!

2008-11-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

I love Washington, D.C.!! I mean, I love the museums, the fun things to see and do. ;) On the spur of the moment this morning, we decided to go to DC for the day, and I'm so glad we did. It was a beautiful drive up. Having never really seen seasons before, I really enjoyed all of the fall colors...deep reds and bright oranges...and even lemon yellows. It was better than the pictures. I am going to miss fall when we move because I'm not sure we'll get to see this again. Drinking it up has been a lot of fun, but today there was just that extra special something that made it breath taking.

Tate slept and Ev watched a movie, so Ethan and I listened to Skip Ryan on the iPod together. That was nice, too. We've downloaded his whole series on Romans and...let's just say Skip cuts to the quick and doesn't mind pounding toes. It's good.

We got to DC, and at the Natural History museum, the new Ocean wing was open. It is amazing! Just gorgeous with more things to look at in that one wing than you could take in during a whole day. Everett LOVED it! We ate lunch (which we had bought at Bodo's that morning: bagels with peanut butter!) and made our way to the dirt and rocks and bugs. WOOHOO! I love having a boy who is interested in such fun things. :)

After that we took a few minutes to see the National Gallery and the Air and Space museums. It was so great, as usual, to see Everett's face light up. He's so much fun...and thankfully, Tate is so easy going that he had a good time being pushed around in the stroller and getting out now and then to look at fun things.

On the trip home, Tate made friends on the Metro by flirting with the two women who were next to us, and as soon as we were in the car, both boys were out. I mean, completely OUT! :) So, we got to listen to more Skip...so good for us. I can't think of a more fun day.

To top it off, when we stopped off for burgers, Ev woke up out of his deep slumber and said in a groggy voice, "I had so much fun at the new-seum, Mommy. I wuv you." :) Can't beat that.

Halloween/Fall Festival/Costumes...etc.

2008-10-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm making costumes for the boys this year. Yes, I'm certifiable!! I've always made costumes for Ev (of course, that's all of 2 costumes, really) and I felt like Tate would have much to complain about if I never made him costumes...so, I bit the bullet of maternal-future-guilt and decided to dive in. I know, I'm mixing metaphores. It's OK. :)

Ev wanted to be a doctor, so I've made him a labcoat, scrub bottoms and a hat. I'm embroidering the lab coat with "Dr. Colby - Pediatrics" on it. :) He's going to be so cute!! And Tate is going to be a skunk...because he's my little sinker!! :) I'm so gooey these days. I blame it on fall, the beautiful leaves changing into amazing colors, the nip in the air and all of the hot chocolate I'm drinking. I promise...it's JUST hot chocolate. Most days...some evenings it has a little Bailey's in it. :)

Anyway, we're going to our Church's fall festival tonight and I can't wait to see my boys all dressed up. I'll try and post some pictures later...it should be a fun time!!

On Moms and Grandmas...

2008-10-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

I talked with my sweet friend Lisa this morning. It has been a tough morning, and she and I have that kind of friendship where honesty is appreciated and encouraged! So, I called her to talk and to catch up. We can go for a while without talking and then just pick up where we left off...I'm always grateful for her; I feel like I can be transparent and that it's OK. She's got 3 of her own kiddos, the youngest is about 3 months old, so she's got her hands busy...and still makes time for me. Anyway, I was commenting on how Ev had been totally spoiled at Grandma's house...She said her mom has this theory that, for every day at Grandma's, 2 days at home are needed in order to recover. So, I've got a long haul!! :)

It's funny, because I adore my mother in law. She's a great grandma, for sure. Very doting, always paying attention to the kids and doesn't care if her house is a disaster. These are things that I want to be as a mom, but it is obvious that it doesn't work exactly the same way...I'm here to teach my kids how to grow up into responsible adults: Grandma's house is for being totally irresponsible! So, that means that I have to teach them that they aren't at the center of the universe, they need to pick up after themselves, and learn to do things like eat right, brush their teeth, be grateful, use appropriate words to express emotions, not hit...

I'm glad for my kiddos to be spoiled. They need that! They need to have time to just run wild and do their own thing...to have fewer rules and all...They also need to be reigned in at home when the time is right...and that's hard. It is NOT fun to re-teach all of the important things: Say please and thank you, put your things where they belong since Mommy isn't the maid, eat dinner with the family at the table and sit on your bottom please, share with your brother, do not growl at me when I ask you to do something, no we can't watch TV all day, and I don't have any M&Ms right now, you have to be quiet since our neighbors are still asleep (townhouses!! ACK!), markers may not be used on the couch, and no you can't eat the telephone Tate, we can't go to the park all day long today since I have a stack of laundry from here to the ceiling, and you have to go poopy in the potty and not a diaper since you're almost 4 now, saying "I don't want to" is not an acceptable answer, and don't slam your door...*sigh*

We'll get there!! And thankfully, with friends like Lisa, I can laugh now, too!! Maybe we can make some fun cookies and get a little distracted from laundry...Laundry can wait...

A Wonderfully Tough Week

2008-10-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

Whew! It was a whirlwind, for sure! We left for Dallas on Saturday the 11th, and got in late that night. It was a long trip there, but thankfully, it went without a hitch at all!! No vomit, either!! :) We had Sunday to spend with family, which was wonderful. Time well spent, but it seems that there is never enough time. Then, the busy-ness started! Ethan had several interviews in Texas, and hopefully, a good job offer will come of it. We are so excited for the future and are anxious to know what it holds.

On Sunday night, Ethan and I had dinner with our cool friends, Andy and Shelley. They are a ton of fun...we had good pizza and good laughs...and even got to have a fire outside at their house by the pool. Mmmm...nice. :) Ethan had an interview that lasted all Monday, and then we went to Ft. Worth. We were totally amazed and impressed with the area, the people, the group. It was a fantastic time, and we both really enjoyed it. Wednesday and Thursday and Friday were all equally busy...some things better than others for sure...I don't want to bore anyone with too many details...

BUT, I do want to ask our friends to please pray for us and for the groups that we saw. Pray that we'll end up at the right place for us, for our family, for the group who hires Ethan...that we'll be where we're supposed to be. There are SO many factors...We each are truly excited for what is to come.

And...I DO want to thank our families! We couldn't have done what we did without my sweet Mother-in-law and Father-in-law...they watched the boys for us for what amounted to most of the week! And my parents lent us their car to drive around. My boys are totally spoiled now, which is a fantastic thing. Being spoiled now and again is so important; they can't wait to go back to Grandma's house for more. As soon as we got home he said, "Ok, we'll stay tonight and go back tomorrow, OK?" *sigh* It would be so nice if it were that easy. :) Maybe someday it will be?? Who knows!

Anyway...there's my brain-drain for the day. :) There's a lot rattling around up in there...and we'll keep you guys posted!!

Everett Takes the Plunge.

2008-10-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

This morning on the way to preschool, Ev and I were talking about heaven. He wondered out loud where Jesus lived and if it was close to where the birds were in the sky. I told him that heaven was not in a place where we could see it, but that we often imagine that it's beyond the sky where the birds live. He said he wanted to go to heaven and see Jesus sometime. He wondered if we could get there in a hot air balloon. :) I told him that the way to get to heaven was to ask Jesus to be your savior and forgive you of your sins. That way, when it's your "turn to go" you can go live in heaven with Jesus forever. So, I said, "Would you like to tell Jesus that you want to have him as your savior and live with him forever in heaven?" And he said yes. So, we prayed "the prayer" that went something like this: Dear Lord Jesus, I realize that I am a sinner in need of your grace and forgiveness. Please forgive me and come live in my heart. Make me more and more like you each day. And let me live in heaven with you forever." :) Who knows what a 3 year old understands, or what God thinks of all of that, but it's a starting place for sure. :) I don't think I've ever cried tears of joy like that yet. This is what we've been praying for his whole life: "Lord, may Everett know you at a young age and walk with you all of the days of his life."

Thank you, Lord, for this first step. We pray for more!! :)

Our trip to Ft. Collins (aka: You aren't going to believe me!)

2008-10-02T06:54:00.001-07:00

In my last post I mentioned that we were headed out to Ft Collins for an interview. Ethan and I are excited about the opportunity...we won't know more for a few weeks, but we'd be glad if he gets an offer ; but we still have other interviews to go, and we'll know more about what we want later...The interview went really well, and the evening dinner (where I was basically interviewed) was good, too. They took us to Jay's Bistro off of the downtown mall there; a great place and a fun time.

But...let's back up. This is the part you aren't going to believe: The interview was the easiest part of the whole trip. (Oh, and the half day spent with a realtor that the group had set up for us so that we could get a feel for neighborhoods and such...that was easy, too.)

I understand why families these days don't take vacation. I understand why no one flies anywhere with small children. Not only is it just impossible to make it through security (what with taking off four pairs of shoes, taking out the computer, iPhone, DVD player, emptying sippy cups, taking off jackets, folding up strollers and carseats...) but the dirty looks and unhelpful attitude of every other traveler and all of the security people is absolutely mind numbing. Let's just say that there is a serious lack of grace and/or humor in airports. Not to mention the fact that after all of the trouble it takes to get there, everyone on the whole plane expects your 3 and 1 year old to behave like little adults. It's rather crazy. So, that's just the "normal" part of traveling with small children; this happens to parents everywhere who go anywhere on an airplane. Here's the unbelievable part of our tale.

The day we're leaving is Saturday, so we wake up and have eggs and bacon and juice. A fun breakfast for all, and filling, because we knew it was going to be a long day. We pack up our things, get in the car and head to Dulles International Airport in D.C. We expect the drive to take 2 hours, and since it's 10am, and our flight leaves at 2pm, we were doing well!! Until, that is, Everett gets sick. Yes, he threw up eggs and bacon all over himself and the car. We weren't quite sure what was going on; we'd had no indication he felt poorly. No feverat all, and he had a healthy appetite, so we chalked it up to carsickness. So, we pull over to a gas station, strip him down and wash him off with wet wipes. We clean out the car and get a garbage bag for vomit filled clothing and car seat covers. Ev is feeling fantastic, or so he says, and he wants McDonald's for lunch. OK, that sounds great! We're sure it's carsickness and that he's just fine. He has a wonderful appetite, and eats his whole hamburger and all of his fries, so we head out on our merry way to Dulles. We get to Dulles and can't find Frontier Airlines anywhere. We ask someone and they say it's upstairs to the left. Still can't find it, so I go to the United desk and after about 10 minutes of deliberation, they tell me that Frontier flies out of Regan, not Dulles.

WHAT?!

Great. We are idiots on top of it all. Both of us were certain it was Dulles; when we bought our tickets, we'd double checked that since it would be easier to get into and out of with our kids. No matter now...our problem is that we're not going to make our 2pm flight. So, we call Frontier and talk to someone in reservations. The next flight leaves at 6pm, but they don't "do" stand-by anymore so we'll have to, essentially, buy a new ticket. They said, oh so graciously, "We'll waive the $150 change fee per ticket, and just charge you the difference between your old ticket and new ticket. And yes, that's $336.19 per ticket." (Mind you, we have 3 tickets!)

WHAT?!

No way. Now we're in a mess. We don't have an extra grand sitting around to pay for tickets for our family to fly to Colorado. We made several phone calls to family...my parents offered to give us miles so that we could buy one way tickets to Denver...my mom even had American Airlines on the phone ready to push a button and get us there. (THANK YOU, MOM!!!) My sister gave us the same option and was standing by to help us as well. We decide to suck it up and go and pay for our own mistake ... After 3 more calls to Frontier, getting the same answer each time, we decide to buy the new tickets. All of this happened en route to Regan Airport while it's pouring down rain, we're lost in Washington DC, and the windshield wipers decide to quit working. As SOON as I hang up with Frontier after shelling out big bucks for our new tickets, Ev gets sick again. No, I'm not kidding. Well, now what?? We really want ME to go with Ethan to Colorado to the interview, but what about the kids? What if they're really sick? And, what about the new tickets? But Ev is acting just fine, so we chalk it up to carsickness again. I begin to bawl like a baby. We find some neighborhood off of the highway, get Ev out and clean him up again while he throws up again a few times in someone's front yard. (Sorry!!) We're SOOOO lost, but thankfully the iPhone begins to work again and we find our route to the airport... Not only is all of this going on, but I'm in the middle of what seems to be a possible miscarriage. Talk about the worst day ever.

Finally! We get to Regan...we decide to bite the bullet and pay $100 to park close to the airport. I mean, we're out all of this money now, what's $100? We rush in to the ticket counter and the wonderful lady behind the desk asks, "Why did you buy new tickets? You could have flown stand-by." We explain what we'd been told, and she says, "But there's a 2 hour grace period. If you notify us within 2 hours then stand-by is available."

WHAT?!

Are you freaking kidding me? Are you for real?? We just shelled out all of this money and had all of this stress, put my family through the ringer when we didn't even have to? AGH! Can we just have a do-over today?? Please? So, Debbie at the ticket counter calls all of her friends in Customer Relations to get us our money back, but it's Saturday and no one is in. She gives us her card and personal cell phone number and says she'll guarantee getting it fixed for us. So, as this is happening, Ev throws up in the airport twice and Tate has the worlds biggest poop ever. We know that bathroom inside and out now. At this point, Ev is throwing up water, so we assume he's sick, but there's no going back now. Not after what it took to get this far...

We finally make it to security (which I spoke about earlier...) and on to the plane. And we sit on the tarmac for 50 minutes. Yes, the children LOVE that. (Insert roll-eyes here...) We take off and the kids just crash. Thankfully...some respite from the storm!! Sleeping children!! BUT WAIT! What's that?? MY tummy is rumbling.

It was my lucky day. I got to vomit in an airplane. And so did Ethan! Yes, folks, we were ALL sick. And now we were spreading it to the world. I apologize to everyone for this...We really had no idea. No fevers, not feeling bad...But we did take our wipes and clean everything out, so hopefully we spared a few...It was a horrific experience. McDonald's onions on a hamburger will NEVER be eaten by me again, needless to say. I can still feel them in the back of my throat. Gross. I know.

So, now we think we're going to be OK. We go to Advantage Rent a Car to get our cool SUV that we had rented. But WAIT! They say we only have an economy car on our rental info.

WHAT?!

Seriously. Could we please get a break? Oh, that's right. Orbitz had a deal: rent an SUV for an economy price. Oh, our mistake. We gave your SUV to someone else, but how's about this one? Fine. Sure. We don't care anymore. In this hour long process, Tate decides it's his turn and he pukes all over the floor at Advantage. Thankfully, all of the people there were moms, so they totally came to my rescue and lent a hand.

Ok...now we're in the car. Littleton is in sight. Kirsten (Ethan's sister who we were staying with for the night) knows we're sick and wants us anyway. We make it to her house by midnight... or 2 am our time. We're exhausted. I tuck Ev in bed and he just falls out. Tate, however, refuses to sleep unless it's on top of me...Well, at least he's asleep. Me? I got about 2 hours of sleep, but hey, we had made it and survived.

Thankfully, on Sunday, everyone seemed just fine, so we left the boys with Kirsten (who insisted we go no matter how sick the boys were) and drove off to Ft. Collins. I spent my first night away from Tate and missed my boys, but we slept like logs! Ethan interviewed and I spent the day with my cousin Molly. She showed me all around town, and her daughter Claire was a great sport the whole time. What a great day!!! That night we had our dinner with the group and it was good. A fun time and great people for sure. The next day, we drove around with the realtor and then make our way back to Littleton. It's been a good time, except for the fact that now I know I've miscarried. I'm weepy and emotional, but God grants me a strong husband and a sense of calm, thankfully.

The boys have been just fine; no one is sick...until I get there and Tate wakes up from his nap covered in vomit.

NOT AGAIN.

So, we spend the day cleaning up poop and vomit, and get back on the plane the next day. Everyone is FINE. No sickness, no nothing. We make it to our car (which REEKS of old vomit) and clean it all out, change diapers and get going. We stop at Burger King on the way home and everyone is hungry and eats to their fill. About half an hour away from home, Tate decides he didn't like his french fries and vomits yet again. *sigh* We'll never eat fast food again. We pull over, clean him up and make our way home. We finally make it here by 10pm and crash. I mean, we totally crash.

It's good to be home.

And yes, we're getting a refund.

What's the saying, "It's the little things in life..."

Out and About

2008-09-25T03:35:00.000-07:00

Life is exciting sometimes. Every now and then, all of the excitement piles up on top of itself and happens nearly all at once. Kind of like a banana split...all of the good stuff in one bowl. :) We're leaving on Saturday for a few days in Colorado. Or, as Everett says, Codorado-where-Auntie-Kirstie-lives. Ethan has a job interview for a position in a group in Fort Collins. It's an exciting time for him...starting out on a (as he puts it) "real job". (So...what he's been doing is fake??) :) But this is sort of the end of the road for school for him for a while. Something new and adventurous...and a little scary, too. We'll be there until Wednesday...and we're hoping to see my family and his family too. Then we'll be home for a week and a half...

...and we're off to Dallas! Andy and Shelley...if you're reading this, we got your message, and we totally miss you guys...and someday...we might be neighbors!! Ethan has an interview in Plano as well as a few other places in Texas. I'm not *sure* which ones yet, but I think Baylor, Ft Worth, Arlington, San Antonio and maybe Kerrville. So...definitely a time ripe with possibility and hope for what is to come. And it won't be long, either. July isn't all that far away!!

And, I thought I'd add this for your viewing pleasure:

A thought for a friend

2008-09-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I wish I knew who was reading this blog!! :) I have a friend who I hope reads this quote. You'll know who you are.

"We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul and closer than our most secret thoughts." --A.W. Tozer

Maybe I'm writing that for my own good!! :) This was in our Church bulletin last week, and I just read it last night. It made me think of a friend who had asked me to pray for them since they weren't so sure God was going to hear them. I feel that way a lot. Sometimes I wonder if my prayers hit the ceiling and no one hears. Yes, I feel like Orual now and then. But, the truth isn't always what is obvious or right in front of us, or even what we feel.

Yeah, this might be more for me!! :)

Unanswered Questions

2008-09-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

So, this morning, Ethan and I were lazy and went to the class closest to where we were standing. OK, not really; we'd talked about going to the Westminster Confession class before, but were going to the Romans class. We decided to give the Confession class a chance...just to see if we should change. Of course, this was the week on predestination. Neither of us are really great Calvinists, so we had a lot to talk about. And, of course, there are never ANY answers. I keep going back to what Orual says in Till We Have Faces..."And now I know why you don't give any answers. You yourself are the answer. Everything else is words going out against other words..." Yes, I'm paraphrasing, but I DO think that most of these things are unanswerable until we see His face. Until then, we have to hold on to our faith in HIM. How we got it doesn't matter as much as the fact that we HAVE it. Anyway, so I thought about all sorts of unanswered questions I have:

How is Matt over there in Iraq? When will he REALLY be home?
How's Rachel? How are her folks and how is their time together?
What's up with Jonathan? How's he doing...especially recently, and what happened?
How's David? I never hear from him...I hope he knows how much I love him!!
How is Lisa?? I hope their house held together with IKE, and I hope their kids are OK.
When will Ethan know about a job? Where will we go? When will our house sell?
When do kids grow out of the terrible twos? He IS three and a half now...
How much will I miss C'Ville when we go?
What if we DO move to Colorado?
How are David and Sarah and Ryan?
Do our friends know how much we miss them?
I wonder what Ryan would say if he knew Ev says, "I want to see Ryan soon, OK?" just about every other day?
I wonder what the McCavits would say when Ev asks for them and Miles all of the time?
Grandmas would be surprised to know that Ev asks for them on a daily basis.
Grandpa and Papa, too.
I wonder what ever became of some of my old friends? I wonder what I'd say if I saw them?
I wonder...
I wonder...
And some questions will be answered, and some won't. That's OK...I'm learning to live with unanswered questions.

Band-aids

2008-09-07T04:59:00.000-07:00

Bandaids come in all shapes and sizes, I've decided. After our rough day on Friday, we decided to have a low key day at home on Saturday. It was raining, anyway, so it was probably best that way, anyway. We watched Saturday morning cartoons (ok, we watched Caillou and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood...) and played out front. I took the boys with me to the gym and I took a tough yoga class...Ethan stayed home and made a lot of calls and made contacts for jobs. Then we decided to go apple picking.

There's an orchard about 10 minutes drive from our house, right next to Monticello. Yes, THE Monticello. It's on top of a beautiful mountain and we could see just about everywhere. It was nice to get outside. Everett LOVED picking the apples, and actually ate 2 for dinner. I think he may have had a bite of spaghetti, but the apples were the main dish. They were absolutely delicious and at 99 cents a pound, a great deal! I can't wait to go back and get a whole bunch and make apple butter...my favorite.

On our way up to Carter Mountain Orchard, the Ft. Collins contact Ethan had, called! He said they might add another position and would Ethan still interview? Of course, he said he was still interested, so that's back on. Whew. But the good thing that came out of it is that Ethan now has made contacts in lots of other places, too, so that he'll have options. :)

So, my boo-boo's are better thanks to the band-aids of a low-key day, a great yoga class, apple picking with my boys, the call from Ft Collins...well, and I guess God may have had a hand in all of that to begin with. :)

Let's be blunt: Some days are horrible.

2008-09-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

And I'd rather move to Australia. It's been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

First, the boys were up very early. Ethan had to go in to work early and so we were all up. And we were all grumpy. And no one wanted to obey or pay attention or be calm or sweet. Even Tate tried to break our lamp and pull it over on to the TV and thought it was SO funny. Blah.

Then, I get a call from our realtor. She's worked SO hard to sell our house and we had had a contingent offer on it. Along came a better offer, so we dropped the contingent one and took the new one. The new guys had their inspection yesterday and terminated today. They had a structural engineer come over and he thinks that the house needs significant work. Why, after 60 years, it needs it is unknown to me, but I don't know much. Anyway, that sank my heart. I knew it'd be so hard for Ethan, too.

Then the boys didn't nap well, Tate's been screaming bloody murder due to his teething and...well, you get the idea.

Ethan just called....the interview and possible position at Ft. Collins (much desired by him) is probably out. A co-fellow of his is likely to take the job, since he's been in contact with them for many years. His wife dropped out of her fellowship here and that means he needs a job for next year...and they only have one opening for the position. So...there's that, too.

And...to top it off, I'm out of gin.

Edited to add: I DO realize that this isn't the end of the world and that there are many out there with significantly worse things to deal with than I have ever faced or will ever face...it's just that this is hard for me at this moment. I'm sure there will come a day when it will even be comical, but that day is not this day just yet.

Is this hamburger music??

2008-09-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Labor Day, and in honor, we decided to make hamburgers on the grill with Everett. He's in love with the grill (thank you, David!) and loves to help Ethan out with all of that big boy stuff. So, we had all of the windows and doors open, we're eating our delicious dinner and Ethan puts on some good music to help celebrate. Ok, Dad, don't roll your eyes, but it wasn't classical music. :) It was good old mix of stuff like Van Morrison, Aaron Neville, CCR...that sort of stuff. So, Everett gets up to dance to the music (with hamburger in hand) and promptly asks, "Is this hamburger music??" Very astute, if I may say so. Yes, it IS hamburger/Labor Day/all of the windows open on a gorgeous day/we're tired because we had so much fun sort of music.

Today my little smarty-pants went to preschool!! I took a little picture of him as we were leaving for school. He doesn't have his way cool backpack yet, since it's still being shipped out here, so I'll take another when it comes. Anyway, we're walking up to preschool and all of his friends are having pictures taken with their parents and whatnot....So I ask him if I can take another picture of him by his school or with one of his teachers. "NO, Mommy! I'm a big boy now. No more pictures." ACK! He can't be THAT big. :) Needless to say, I'll take more as I can. It's fun to see him grow and put things together. New ideas and new thoughts and relationships. I asked him on the way to school this morning, what the letter C said. He made the "ssss" sound and said, "But the C makes two sounds, Mommy. It says 'ssss' and it says 'k' too." Then he thought for a minute and said, "The letter S makes the 'ssss' sound, too. It's a little confusing." :) Yes, it is. And you're bright for putting it all together, Ev.

Time really flies...and I'm glad for hamburger music to listen to as it goes...

Tate's Haircut

2008-08-31T05:47:00.000-07:00

Well, apparently, little boys in our family who have hair before they're 2, don't do so well with the whole haircut procedure. :) Tate had a haircut about a week ago, and as I was telling my dad the story of how he wailed and screamed and wiggled throughout the whole thing, he laughed and recounted the time when my brother did exactly the same thing!! Maybe it's genetic?? :) Either way, it makes for a funny story. Here are the pictures to go with.

Somehow, I can't edit where the pics go...sorry. Maybe it's because I've not had enough coffee! :) Anyway, that first pic up top is my brother and my mom...the next pic is Tate. I had to hold Tate and watch Ev, so my picture isn't nearly as dramatic, but you get the gist with the tear on the cheek. :)

When you want something

2008-08-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Ethan and I are on different pages about another child. It's been a little rough lately, because I have that strong desire for another and he has a strong desire to be just where we are.

It's hard to be a woman sometimes...and have to listen to someone else's opinion on what we should do for our lives, and then have to submit to that, especially when their decision is so entirely permanent and life altering. This is somewhere where not submitting would be a disaster...

So what do you do?? I don't know...I'm kind of glad it's a rainy day, though: I'm going to have an ultrasound today to make sure it's OK to go on birth control. I'm going to need some hot chocolate today...

My sister...AKA: The coolest woman ever.

2008-08-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

No really, she is. When I "grow up" I want to be just like her!! She's thoughtful, kind, hysterical, generous, fit, gorgous, emotionally and spiritually mature...and I don't want to brag, but she IS my sister. :) Seriously, though, she's rather amazing, and I can only hope that I can be that cool. She came for a visit this week and totally spoiled me with great conversation, with help with my boys, with great wine, with lots of laughs, with noticing things that only another mom notices, and for just being here with me. We went to King Family Vineyards: Veritas Vineyards:to the famous Downtown Mall:to include having lunch at Cafe Cubano and yummy ice cream:...and time for the boys at the Discovery Museum:We went to Fridays after Five to let Ev dance, and to City Market the next day:She loved on my kiddos:she let me take a shower, she washed my dishes, she took pictures, she bought lunch and ice cream and all sorts of goodies:...AND NOW SHE'S GONE! Can I cry, now???!! There's a big part of me that just wants to live near her. It might be possible for us to live in San Francisco, but if we can't, Ethan and I have already planned to take a bi-annual trip there as part of our future lives. :) When someone is that much fun, and that influential in your life, you've just gotta make a way to be together.

Fun family! Fun days!

2008-08-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Wow. Just wow. It's hard to capture with words how much fun we've had over the last few days. Tim and Megan came to visit us on Sunday night. Having family here is so great; it makes our little place here feel a little more like home, instead of just camping out. There is a sense of wholeness when your family knows "what it's like" where you live. They know where you are when you say you're in the basement...or in the kitchen. It's kind of fun to have your space be known like that. Anyway, we weren't sure how the boys were going to fare with visitors and going places and doing things, but man, it couldn't have been better! On Monday, we took them to Bodo's for breakfast and then we took them around campus to see what that was like.

After that, we went to Little John's for lunch, which was...as usual...delicious and cheap! :) Then that afternoon, we braved Monticello with the boys. And it was SO great. Monticello is beautiful. The views are spectacular, the history is great, the tour guides are fun and knowledgeable. It's expensive...so we might not go back all that much! BUT, the boys were great, the company of our family and friends was delightful.

The boys loved "exploring" the grounds, in their own way, of course, which included digging in the dirt and making mountains, eating grass and leaves, and collecting rocks and sticks of various shapes and sizes. Having Tim and Megan with us was so much fun. They are great company and great friends. After Monticello, we went to Bizou on the downtown Mall for dinner. Without kids. :) Dinner was delicious, but the best part was that we sat outside and the weather was perfect. And the conversation was interesting and fun, too.

The next day, we braved going to vineyards! We went to King's Family Vineyard first. Oh. dear. We might go broke living here. The wine is so good and the vineyards are beautiful. Manicured, gorgeous. The owners were there and talked to us like we were old friends. They are Texans, by the way, so maybe that's why. :) At King's Family, they have polo games on Sundays, so we'll go back to see one sometime soon. We definitely came back with a few bottles of their wine. The Meritage is sooooo delicious, but they are all fantastic wines. We went to Cardinal Point Vineyard, too, and for a young winery, they are outstanding. Their Quattro wine is to die for.

That night, Tim and Megan left for Colonial Williamsburg. It was tough to say goodbye. We really enjoyed their company and can't wait for them to come back. Hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge. :) We can't wait for our next scheduled visitors, either: Susie in a week, and my mom and dad at Thanksgiving! It's going to be a great time.

Communion of the Saints

2008-08-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

We've been "breaking bread" together as a family here in so many fun ways. I've been making my favorite Oatmeal Bread from my favorite cookbook ever. Yes, Mom...I still have YOUR copy of More With Less. Just in case you were wondering where it was. So, yesterday, I took the boys to City Market and we saw a vendor who had fresh honey with the honeycomb included in the jar. YUMMY. We love honey, and it's especially good on the bread I make. Toasted. With a little dab of butter...and fresh honey. That honey is so delicious, that we ate a whole half of a loaf of toasted bread slathered with honey within 20 minutes. Mmmmm...if it's this good here, I can't wait for heaven.

So, while we were at City Market, we gathered up some goods to make dinner for the evening. We made plans, thanks to our neighbors who told us about it, to attend Starry Night at Veritas Vineyards. Every month, they put on an outdoor concert...you can bring a picnic and listen to music in the beautiful setting of their vineyard...right at the base of the mountains. Ok, so words don't express how gorgeous it is. The weather was perfect, the scenery was to die for. The music was a live band covering swing. They were excellent. Everett and I danced for a long time, and Ethan and Tate joined us, too. The dinner? Well, we got fresh roma tomatoes, fresh basil and delicious artisan parmesan cheese, and combined it with pasta, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, chicken, for the best dinner ever. We bought peaches and made peach cobbler, and had delicious blackberries to boot. It was heavenly. And the wine from Veritas was fantastic. I'd highly recommend it. But mostly, if you get to come visit us, come for September 13. We'll take you back to Veritas and we'll listen to live Bluegrass music. I might even make dinner again!!

Attention

2008-08-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Maybe I should change the gist of this blog...It seems I kind of use it as a jornal to write about all sorts of things, not just our little family. :)

So, this morning I was in Isaiah 42. I've decided it's OK to let Ev watch TV while I spend time in the Word. Tate's asleep, so I get a minute to myself. A much needed minute. I really love Isaiah, thanks to Kim Ransleben. She's the most amazing mentor I've ever had, and I've really only had 20 or so conversations with her. All of them with a huge impact on me. That woman knows and loves the Word...and knows how to speak harsh truths into other lives in a loving way. Anyway, she's the one who has encouraged me to read Isaiah to learn to love WHO God is! I've been reading it with that bent...

Except this morning. I walk upstairs and all of the sudden, I'm bombarded by all of the things I have to do. Toys here, dishes there, laundry everywhere. Dusting, windows, bathrooms, grocery lists, plans for lunch. It all invades my brain and takes over like a horrible alien show. It's something that I'm struggling with, because I tend to make my "to do" list my idol. I put it above all things...above my kids, above my husband, above myself...above the Lord. So, I pray that the Lord will give me a still moment. And up runs Ev to ask me to play with him. What do I do now? It seems there are challenges everywhere...I tell Ev that I'm spending time with Jesus and that I need him to go back downstairs. I tell him I need this time so that I can be a good mommy. He says, "I want you to be a bad mommy!" *sigh* Anyway, I read through and then I come to these convicting verses:

"You have seen many things but have paid no attention; you ears are open but you hear nothing." This is on the heels of "But those who trust in idols...will be put to utter shame."

Oh, man. I see so much. I see toys, I see dishes, I see dirty clothes and unmade beds. I see dust and finger prints. I see grapes on the floor and trash that has to be taken out. Have I paid attention to the Lord? No. I have made an idol of my pride. Pride in a clean house, a well cooked meal, a routine to the day, "nice" children. All of these things are important, but secondary. I need to push the idols aside so I may pay attention. No wonder I feel so ashamed at times. I've made first things last and last things first in a bad way. Everything is backwards. No wonder my ears are open but I hear nothing.

So, here's my prayer for the day: "Open my eyes and mind to YOU, Lord, and CLOSE them to the clutter in my house and the pride that consumes me."

I know...

On Perfection

2008-08-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, I indulge myself in a runner's chat board. I am a has-been and a will-be-again. Someday, I'll run marathons again and go on my 6miler in the morning. But until then, I sort of live vicariously through my online friends who run. There was a thread in there about moms who have plastic surgery after having children...just to put things back in place.

I'd like to do that some day, to be honest. I'm feeling the pressures of perfection. And you know what? They're pressures coming from the wrong places and for the wrong things. I know this, and yet I still bow to them and give them power. I want to be the perfect mom, the perfect wife, the perfect neighbor, the perfect daughter. I want to LOOK the part...but BEING the part is entirely different. BEING the part is much harder than looking the part, because being the part requires that I BE in God's presence. It requires that I humble myself before the Lord, confess my sins, repent and live in light of His salvation for me. That's much harder than having plastic surgery. A quick fix is what I'd rather have. A little medicine, some microdermabrasion, some snip here and tuck there. It's so much easier to clean the outside than the inside.

I know all of this, and yet I still struggle with what I KNOW will make a difference. It's too hard to change. It's easier just to accept my mediocrity.

And yet, I still desire to be perfect. Perfect in what is important. I want to spend time in His word, in His presence. That will be what gives me the strength to do what I need to do. And yet, I turn to coffee in the morning. Coffee and a little checking of e-mail to see if anyone thought I was important enough to write to. *sigh* I'm chasing my tail.

I keep telling myself, if my children would just sleep in the morning, instead of wake up at 5:30 or 6, then I'd wake up and spend time in the word. As though I can bribe God instead of just waking up, letting them play and I'll just be in the word while they make a mess of the house. Oh, but if they make a mess, then I have to clean up...and the house isn't perfect. See? Tail chasing.

Andrew Peterson wrote a song...The Chasing Song. It's a little corny. It sounds like "Christian" music, which can bug me a little. But his words are spot on:

Now and then these feet just take to wandering
Now and then I prop them up at home
Sometimes I think about the consequences
Sometimes I don't
Well, I realize that falling down ain't graceful
But I thank the Lord that falling's full of grace
Sometimes I take my eyes off Jesus
And you know that's all it takes
Well I wish that I could say that at the close of every day
I was happy with the way that I'm behaving
'Cause Job, he chased and answer
The wise men chased the Child
Jacob chased her 14 years and he Captured Rachel's smile
Moses chased the Promised Land
Joseph chased a dream
David, he chased God's own heart
All I ever seem to chase is me
Well, they say a race can only have one winner
And you know you've got to pull out front to win
God knows the only time I'm winning
Is when I'm chasing Him
Well I wish that I could say that at the close of every day
I was happy with the way that I'm behaving
'Cause Samson chased a woman
and he chased the Philistines
I'm not quite sure what Jonah chased
But I know he caught the sea
Cain, he chased the harvest
While Abel chased the beasts
David, he chased God's own heart
All I ever seem to chase is me
And Jesus chased the moneymen
And he chased his Father's will
He chased my sin to Calvary
And he caught it on that hill
Saul, he chased the Christians
Till his blindness made him see
David, he chased God's own heart
All I ever seem to chase is me

....more thoughts later...I've been as honest as I can this morning...

It's going to be a crazy day!!

2008-08-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

So, last night, the boys had a horrific time going down. Sundays are always hard that way. No one got a decent nap, we played really hard and by the end of the day, we were ALL over tired and cranky. Tate went down easy, then woke up at 7 and cried until 8:30 or so. :( Ev just refused to sleep. So, at 5:45 this morning, Tate wakes up...and didn't go back to sleep. I discovered that Ev was in Tate's room, playing with him! YEEPERS. That didn't fly well. I kept my cool, though...and now the day is going to be packed...We've GOT to go get milk and a few things at the grocery store, then to the gym for yoga (a MUST!)...then it'll be 1pm. And Tate has a doctor's appt at 2...so guess who isn't going to be napping again today???!! :)

I guess no one ever died from lack of sleep, but I'm getting close. :) I'm burning the candle on both ends...I stay up late to spend time with my husband, and making dinner, cleaning up... and then crawl in bed at 10:30 or so...and then I'm up in the middle of the night when Ethan can't sleep for about an hour or two...then I'm up at 5:45. PASS THE COFFEE!! With lots of sugar, please, to make me sweet. :)

So, wish me luck and pray that my kiddos cope with the crazy schedule.

Does anybody read this stuff?

2008-08-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling like I'm just wasting time here. We'll see...

YEAH FOR POOP!!!

2008-07-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

I mean, poop in the POTTY!! Everett did it today...all by himself! I'm SO proud and happy. He told us he had to go this morning and asked for a diaper. We said, "No, let's go in the potty now." He protested and we did that whole thing about 5 times. Then it was Tate's naptime so I took Tate upstairs to put him down. When I came downstairs, I heard Ev in the bathroom and I rushed to see him!! He was in there, all by himself, SO PROUD I might add, goin' poopy on the potty! And he's done it again 3 times. I think it's for accolades now, but hey...I'm willing to give if he's willing to poop! :D WOOHOOO!!!

Funny Stories

2008-07-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

So, a few funnies have been told lately...I thought I'd retell. :)

As we're having lunch the other day, Ev climbs up on my lap and says, "Mommy, you're such a lucky mommy!" And so I respond with, "Why, yes, I am. Why do you say that?" And he says, "Because I'm your boy!" :D Too cute!!

Then I was telling Ev how much Tate loves him...because, of course, Ev had Tate in STITCHES! Ev can crack Tate up like no other. So I asked him if he loved Tate too, and he says, "Yes, but I love Temple Texas better." ?!?!!!?!! :)

THEN...He was standing on all fours with his rear end waving around in the air. He's making a "pppssssstt!" sound, to which I said in shock and astonishment: "EV! What are you doing??!" He says, "I'm being a skunk and I'm squirting Tate with horrible smells!!" Well, OK, sorta! :)

I just had to write them down. I'll remember a few more, I'm sure, but I thought I'd share these while they were fresh on my mind. :)

Pics of New Memories! :)

2008-07-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Shucking corn with the Oltrogges while they were here...that was fun! David and Sarah grilled for us while they were here and it was delicious. They of course helped us move here and then spent some time in D.C. after that. It was SUCH a blessing to have them along; Sarah was a HUGE help with the kids, David was amazing with logistics and unpacking, Ryan kept Ev busy, and it was fun all the way around. I can't tell you how glad I was to have family with me while we made the transition to Charlottesville. Having people who loved us and with whom I was entirely familiar and relaxed was the coolest thing ever.

Tate and Daddy playing on the couch:

Eating the dinner David and Sarah made: SO DELICIOUS!!

Everett swimming at Mint Springs today. It was Helen's birthday party and that was way too much fun!! Helen turned 4, and had a wonderful party with a pinata! We swam, made sand castles...if you get a minute, google Mint Springs in Charlottesville VA. It's gorgeous out there. I'm sure we'll go back again and again.

Tate thinks Noah is good eats! EVERY time he takes a bath, he immediately goes for Noah and puts him right in his mouth. It's rather hysterical.

Just had to post some fun pics. We're enjoying the time...even though we do miss TX now and then. :)

Thank God for new friends!

2008-07-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

So, adjusting to Charlottesville has been good...and hard. It's not Texas! :) I say that with a grin, for sure. Texas has a little different flair than Virginia does...not that either one is bad or better, just that they're different. Meeting people has been harder than I thought it would be...I guess that's because I don't work anymore, so I don't automatically have a group of people to meet with whom I might have something in common. We did go to Church last Sunday; it was so great. The service was wonderful, the preaching was awesome. But...no one noticed us. No one greeted us. It was quite lonely. I know Church isn't all about meeting people and all, but...Anyway, I'm sure we'll meet people as we go, but I think what's different is that WE will have to do the reaching out. Which is fine...just...different. Not what I'd expected...

Anyway...So, last Saturday as we were coming back from the City Market (which is FABULOUS, and which we've been to every Saturday so far...) there's a family in front of our house. She's from Oklahoma, so she's had to learn how to adjust to things being different, too. They have 2 kids that are 6 and 5, but they love Ev, so that's fun.

Today, she took us to a WAY cool swimming park in town. It was fantastic. She is gregarious, fun and a great resource, too. She was a missionary for a little while, so she understands me a little. :) We're different people in many ways, but it's been nice to have someone reach out and show me around. I don't feel so alone in a new town, anymore.

The pool was awesome and the boys totally enjoyed themselves. And it was nice for me, too. I got to talk with her for a little as our kids played, and that was fun. It's hard being away from the friends I have "back home" ... I've missed them immensly and calling isn't as frequent as any of us would like; being so far away means no coffee breaks together or going to the gym together. But I'm going to enjoy the ray of sunshine I've got, even as I miss my friends back in Texas.

As I type, Sufjan Stevens' rendition of "Come Thou Fount" is on. "...Come Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy Grace. Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!! Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the Mount; I'm fixed upon it. Mount of Thy unchanging love!!"

So true!! My streams of mercy are showing up everywhere. Even in little things. Today at City Market, we had a homemade crepe with Nutella in it. YUM! The gentleman who plays music brought his banjo and Everett LOVED it! Tate had a fantastic time throwing Cheerio's and charming the pants off of everyone. Strolling around in the sunshine made us all feel happy and special. Like the sun was shining just for our enjoyment of it. And it was. It was a stream of mercy...

"Oh to Grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be..."

I'm all mushy now. :)

Our new digs!

2008-06-29T12:11:00.001-07:00

OK, so I'm going to try and add some pics. Please note, I stink at this, so give me some grace. :) Here's the view from my kitchen window...gorgeous, no??

This is the front window: Those green things out there are the hostas...

As you enter the house, this is what you see. In the pic above, you'd have your back to the wall where the crosses are here:

The fireplace, and entry to the dining room:

This is the view towards the park from our back yard. You can actually see the park from here.

This is the cave where I do laundry:

The view from the dining room towards the deck and back yard:

The yellow guest bathroom sink and stuff:

My ENTIRE kitchen is right here:

Someday, I'll get pics of the rooms and basement..... So, that's a preliminary view, anyway. Enjoy. :)

Where to start?

2008-06-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Oh dear. It's been forever and SO much has happened. The sale of our house fell through, I've packed everything we own, we've moved to Virginia and now I've almost UNpacked everything we own in a new (much smaller) space.

I must admit, I was totally spoiled in our home in Texas. My kitchen and laundry room were fantastic. The storage space was NEVER even half full, and the bathrooms, while a little dated with green tile or smaller than we'd like...well, they were not THAT dated, they were clean, and there were 2 full bathrooms...

Needless to say, my kitchen here is the size of a small closet. Everything is avocado green and the fridge is so old that there is literally rust on the front panel. The 12" of countertop space is that cream colored laminate with brown swirlies in it. There is no room for a microwave, no dishwasher and no disposal. The laundry room was an afterthought and feels older than dirt. And feels kind of like a dirt cave, actually. The guest bathroom has a yellow-gold countertop and sink with brown cabinetry...with blue wallpaper on one wall...and there is only one shower.

BUT...BUT...BUT...the surrounding area is gorgeous. There is a park about 20 steps from our back door, and a little river with minnows in it right round the corner. It's gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! We have 2 cherry trees out front under which grow and abundance of purple hostas, and there is a mimosa tree in the back yard. The basement is a great play room and we have two fireplaces. It's a great place and the views out of each window are to die for. I can put up with a teensy, ugly kitchen for that. :)

I'm excited to be here, but I do miss Texas. I miss knowing that I was a 2 hour drive from family (north or south along 35) and 30 minutes from one of my dearest friends, Laura. And a short drive from any number of friends. I'm excited to make new friends here, but it's a little strange knowing that we may leave them in a year...Tons of mixed emotions for sure.

We're all a little stressed, but are looking forward to days ahead when the house is in order and there is time for exploring around town. We are really looking forward to visits from friends and family! David and Sarah helped us move here, and that's been awesome. They're in D.C. now and come back tomorrow for another 2 days with us. It's been nice to have familiar and loving faces here. Megan and Tim come in August, my folks come for Thanksgiving. We miss them so much but anticipate their coming!!

When I get a moment, I'll take some pictures and post them.

Meanwhile, I'm going to embrace my inner green and enjoy my tiny, ugly kitchen for the beautiful view it gives. :)

A contract!

2008-05-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

There is a contract on our house! WOOHOOO!!! We are so thrilled. Our house has been on the market since January, and we've been praying for the right family to come along at just the right time...

Well, I'm sure that God is at work here, since the family who is buying our home is amazing, and they want to take possession of the house on the day we leave for Charlottesville! I'm so excited! I'm sad, too...I really hate to leave our home here; I've become so incredibly attached to it...BUT, if I have to leave it, I leave it in good hands now.

The Good Days...

2008-05-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

And then there are days like today. My two boys are playing side by side. The sun is shining. The coffee is hot. We found a slug and played with it. Ev has made dirt hamburgers for us. Tate is playing and laughing. Days like today make me feel entirely satisfied.

I'm not sure if it's related to the fact that I spent yesterday taking care of me...maybe when I do things for myself now and then it makes me more patient, more tolerant of kid behavior.

Yesterday, I went to College Station (WHOOP!) to see my good friend Azra, her husband Anees and their little boy Nadeem. It was amazing. I knew Azra when I worked for Arthur Andersen. She was my senior on many projects. She knew me "when." When I was cool. When I made money. When I was skinny. When I was interesting. :) The thing that was nice is that even though "all I do" is stay home with my boys now, she still thinks I'm cool. And interesting. And smart. It is reaffirming to know that, somehow. I'm not sure why, but it's as though a link between who I was "when" and who I am now has been made, and they're not entirely foreign to one another.

So, thank God, again, for old friends. For affirmation. For my two boys playing side by side. For the fact that they did SO well yesterday as I dragged them around Texas A&M campus and had them make new friends. Everett is still asking for Nadeem this morning...I love that about him.

Make new friends, but keep the old...

2008-05-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

Since college, I've been in the "make new friends" mode, but haven't been too great about keeping the old. I'm not sure why, it's just been a function of where I am, what kind of time I have...

A few weeks ago, I started to meander down memory lane and think about my old college buddies. Suzanne and Jennifer and I keep up, but not as well as I'd like to. I think we're all a little swamped with life's big changes, having kids and very busy husbands...given the circumstances, I think we do OK. I got to see Jennifer a few weeks ago, when she made a special trip up here! She brought Sammy, who Everett loved and now asks for on a daily basis. :) That was fun. Although I only got to see her for a short while, it was definitely meaningful, and I feel like we can just pick up where we left off...and be painfully honest still, too. A good trait in a lifelong friendship. I get to see Suzanne at the end of May, too! I can't wait and I think that will be so fun...

So, I decided to call up a few of my other old friends...I found Kevin and Sharon and their two kiddos, as well as Anna and Kevin and their three little ones. I've got another call to make to see if I can find Reed...Anyway, Kevin and Sharon live in Austin and when I called, they were making plans with Royce and his new wife Bea to have a visit. I got to intrude and see my old friends. It was so reaffirming and encouraging. I'm not sure why I've been so bad at keeping up...but I'll be better from now on. :) They ARE gold, after all.

It was fun, even though we only got a short chance to hang out, and we had our very busy and demanding kids with us. :) Kevin and Royce are much like I remember them, and I have always loved Sharon. It was a treat to meet Bea, and I hope we can all keep up in one way or another.

Aww...Maybe something is sinking in??!

2008-05-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

So, I went to lunch today with my great friend and partner in pregnancy, Meredith Alexander. She delivered her little boy about 3 weeks after Tate was born. We worked out together and had our big boys play together that whole time, and have continued on working out and being great friends since then. She's an amazing woman with 3 boys and a good example to me!! Anyway, we decided to meet at Chick-fil-a for lunch today, to let Josiah and Everett play together while she and I had a chance to catch up.

While we're sitting there, I hear Ev cry out. It's a painful cry, so I go grab him from the playground. He has 3 huge scratches on his face. I asked him what happened and he told me that the big boy hit him.

*INSERT MOMMA BEAR COMMENTS HERE* I was really, really unhappy, and the mother of said big boy didn't do a thing about it. Stuff like that makes me angry at the mom...sometimes kids don't know how to control themselves, but moms should always step in when their kids are being violent towards someone else. Granted, the kid was about 7 and Ev is still only 3...but Ev was probably as big or bigger in size.

Anyhow, I asked Ev if he was OK, and he said he was. Then I asked him if he hit the boy back. And he said that he hadn't. I asked him what he did and he said, "We don't hit." WOOHOOOOO!!

Ok, so honestly, there's about 1/32 of me that wished he'd smacked the kid in the head, but I'm so glad he didn't. He took the high road for a 3 year old and did a great job when faced with a hard situation. I'm SO proud of him!!

And yeah, he got ice cream as a reward for doing the right thing. :D

ACK! Boards!

2008-04-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

So, Ethan has been studying for his oral board exams...today he has mock orals. He should be in the middle of them right now! I hope he's doing well and that he comes out of this feeling more confident in his abilities.

His real board exam is on June 3, and between now and then, I think I'm going to be a single mom!! :) I'm grateful that he's so diligent, but I'm already ready for the exam to be over and done with. I'm sure he's ready for that, too. And in the meantime, I get to pack, sort, store and label. And manage 2 kids.

One thing I've been trying to manage is eating. Don't get me wrong, Ev is a fantastic eater. He'll try anything once, and he usually likes it when he tries. It just takes him an AGE!! Tonight, he sat (ok, not really) at the table and "ate" for an hour and a half. When I finally declared him done with dinner, he was SO mad that he didn't get to eat more??!?!!! WHAT!!?!! You've been staring at your food for an hour and a half! *sigh* What he likes to do is take a bite, get up and play, take a bite, run around the house, take a bite, pitch a fit when I ask him to sit down, have me feed him a bite, go play with his airplane, take a bite, go potty, go to his room and put on his pants, go check the mail, take a bite, complain for juice...you get the idea. :) It gets old, so I often miss Ethan when he's out studying...it's nice to be able to take a 10 minute breather when he can fill in!!

BUT, he needs to pass and I'm glad for him to study...I think we're just ALL ready to be done with this part! :)

My sister sent me a book...

2008-04-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

...I love it when people send me books. I actually take the time to read them!! Maybe out of obligation to the giver, but no matter the motivation, I sit down and read, and I like that.

She sent me, The Gospel of Ruth. It's fantastic...so far. I'm learning a lot and there are some great statements in there that have already hit me square between the eyes. It strikes me that the first "evangelist" was a woman...Anna. And that the first to tell us of the risen Christ are women. I hadn't really processed that as being important, but in THAT day and age, it really was. Anyway, if anyone ever reads my blog (which I seriously doubt, which is why it's so...truthful...wrong word, right thought) I'd highly recommend it. Male or female, it's a great book and there is something to be learned. And it doesn't require sitting and thinking for TOO many hours, which is good, too. :)

Just thought I'd put that out there...and, THANKS, SUSIE!! If you're out there! :)

Oh, I forgot!

2008-04-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

Ev didn't have strep throat. He likely had herpes stomatitis in his mouth. And that made him break out in erythema multiforme. Yeah, I know. Speak in English or Spanish, right?? It was this nasty rash...anyway...poor guy. At least that's all gone now.

And this pic was taken right after I'd cut his hair! Yes, I tried to cut his hair. I'm still not sure if I was successful or not...

No rest for the weary

2008-04-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

Yikes. I hate it when days start out like this. It seems as though the deck is stacked against me. I'm tired already because I've not been sleeping well...so last night I went to bed early in hopes of a good night's rest.

Yeah. Right.

It seems every time I do just that, it backfires. Tate was awake and screaming between 2 and 3 this morning and then he woke up a 5:21. It's now 6:05 and he's still screaming. He's had a bottle and a diaper change and I know he's fine, he's just got some serious screaming stamina. Of course, this has woken up Everett. When Ev is awake at 5:30 the day is always hard, especially when he fell asleep at 9. I JUST don't look forward to hard days. I'm not sure I know anyone who does...and as I sit here and type, the dread I feel just grows and grows. And then it branches out. "How horrible is it going to be to travel across the country with a baby who still wakes and cries at night? What's that going to do to the rest of us? Should we get a hotel room just for him? How much will THAT be?" "And when we live in a townhouse, are our new neighbors who will share a wall with us going to hate us? Or report us to CPS for letting our kid cry it out?" AGH.

Just go to sleep! I know you're tired...

I think I'm looney.

2008-04-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

No really, sometimes, I get online just to make sure I'm not the only person out there!! :)

Everett now has strep throat! We just can't get past being sick, I think. The flu started it off, and I think his little immune system just is flailing a bit. Poor baby. On Tuesday his fever was up to 104.6, so I ended up taking him in. The doctor didn't even swab the poor guy, but declared it strep right on sight. Apparently, his throat and tongue were full of those strep sores. Anyway, as a result, I've been locked in my house, yet again. I just don't want to share the disease; it's no fun...so, here I am again...checking to see if anyone is out there.

Sometimes, I don't think there IS anyone out there!! I leave messages, send e-mails...*chirp* *chirp* say the crickets. At least my mom and dad call now and then! :)

I guess this is all part of my need to download...I'm packing boxes and getting everything ready to move so that all of our ducks are in a row when we need to go at the end of June. It appears to me that I'm the only one who realizes we're moving. (I'm SURE that's not reality...I'm sure others actually KNOW we're going!) But I feel like I'm the only one going through the emotions of the process of leaving. And I'm sure that's just how it is. It has hit me because it IS my reality right now, what I'm doing, what I'm caught up in. It hasn't hit others yet, and I guess this is where I feel a little alone out there. No one is sad with me yet. Isn't that selfish of me?? I want others to be sad with me so I won't be all alone. Yes, I'm certifiable. Oh well, there are worse things, I guess. :)

Download

2008-03-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

I keep babbling and babbling on and on. I wish I could just use one of those cool port thingys and download my brain onto it and then put it on here. It'd be easier. :)

I guess I just feel like there are so many things going on right now. It's definitely a busy time of life and with that come all of the accompanying emotions. For example, our move to VA is coming up. I was looking at the charlottesville.org website for parks and things to do around town and all of the sudden, I got those tears. You know the ones. The ones that really actually HURT as they exit your eyes. Why would I get those? I guess I didn't realize yet that one of the emotions running through my veins was one of sadness. Who knew it'd be possible to be sad to leave where we are now?? When we got here 5 years ago, we hated the town. And yes, it's still a dump of a town, but we've got friends here. And a Church home. And people I can call to go with me for coffee. And I know the grocery store like the back of my hand. And I have a doctor, dentist, OBGYN, gym, running track through our neighborhood...it's all familiar. And leaving what is familiar can be sad. I'm not nervous anymore; I'm SURE I'll enjoy VA. I'm positive about that. Once we get there, it'll be so fun to make new friends and explore a new town, a new area, a new state, for that matter. But the leaving is always hard. I should be used to it by now as I am an MK after all, but I'm not. Saying good bye to people and places never gets any easier.

And that's just 1mb of the junk rolling around in my brain, ready for download...

Funder

2008-03-29T04:47:00.000-07:00

Because that's how Ev pronounces it these days. (He can say the "th" sound, but he still calls it "funder.") We had a HUGE storm last night. In fact, it woke me up when it started and it was right in our back yard...or so it sounded. It eventually woke Ev up with a start and really frightened him. He was shaking all over and screaming like a banshee. I could hardly blame him; it sounded like the "funder" was right outside the window. We eventually got him calmed down a little with the help of a glass of milk and a Curious George show...it took about an hour. Poor guy!! Thankfully, Tate slept through the whole thing. I was SURE he'd wake up, but he didn't...praise God!

Anyway, I love how Ev says things..."funder" for thunder..."pam" for ham, "yeng-ow" for yellow...Somewhere he learned the word "awfully" so he says things like, "That's awfully a lion, Mommy." :) Milk is called "miiwkee-miiwkee." Tate is his "widdow bruder." He's got such a huge vocabulary and sounds like a big kid and yet still has this little toddler sound at the same time. Such a fun phase. :)

Tate, of course, can't say much at all, but he's working on clicking his tongue. He's quite serious about it, too, and spends lots of time working that out. That and crawling. :) And messing up Ev's train tracks. That's his FAVORITE thing to do.

So, often "widdow bruder" becomes, "NO NO TATER!!!" :)

Ah...this IS the life!

When it rains...

2008-03-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

You know the rest. We've been sick here for what feels like an age. Actually, since the end of February when Ev and I got the flu. And then Everett had a fever and a cough the week before last. Then he burned his hand. Now Tate has a fever of 103...

I'm not even sure where they're picking up bugs...we've barely been out of the house. *oh dear*

I know it sounds selfish, but I've REALLY wanted to go to the gym these past few weeks, but have been unable to because I can't take the kids and leave them in the nursery when they're sick. I feel unlike myself when I can't work out, and I haven't been able to go to the gym consistently in so long...that has a bunch of ramifications: I get grumpy because I feel ugly and fat and out of shape, I don't get out of the house at all, I don't get any time to myself...

I guess it's all part and parcel, huh?

Babies, babies, babies!

2008-03-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

There's good news and bad news every day around the world. It can be a roller coaster when that good news and bad news comes to your doorstep in the span of 48 hours. Three of my good friends have shared baby news with me over the last 2 days...One of them delivered a healthy baby boy on the 25th. SO exiting! He looks like his daddy and he's just precious. Everyone is doing well!! On the 26th, another friend of mine miscarried at 15 weeks. I feel her pain. I remember my two miscarriages like they were yesterday and the pain is fresh in my heart. I just want to fix it and soothe her and comfort her; and yet, in that situation, there is none of that to be had. No words or actions can make it better, and time doesn't heal wounds quickly. The next ride on the coaster was when my sister in law called me last night to tell me they were unexpectedly pregnant! Again, more wonderful news! It's so exciting and I'm so thrilled for them! Sadly, I'll be half-way across country when the baby is born; hopefully I can make it back for the delivery, or at least to be there soon after. Anyway, it's been a roller coaster of emotions for me these last few days...It makes me happy to have my two beautiful, healthy boys. It makes me want to be not pregnant and pregnant at the same time!! :)

Times like these force me to reconcile the fact that I am not alone...that God is always near and that, as my redeemer, He cares for ME even when my friends hurt, and He joys WITH me as my friends rejoice.

Then there's that...

2008-03-26T08:09:00.001-07:00

Oh, sweet memories!!!

I was brushing my teeth this morning and Everett comes rushing into the bathroom. He's distraught! "Mommy! Teddy can't sleep!" (I think that he's working out some of his own sleep issues with Teddy, as Ev has always had a hard time sleeping...) So I asked him if he'd sung a song to Teddy yet. "Oh, that's a GREAT idea," he says.

So I'm now pulling my hair into a ponytail and I hear a familiar tune coming from Ev's room:

"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so."

From the lips of children...

Don't touch the stove; it's HOT!

2008-03-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how many times I've said this to Everett in his short, curious 3 years of life. He helps me cook all of the time; he calls it "mix-mixing". :) He's always, always wanted to touch the stove, or the boiling water or the mixer attachment (as it's going 60mph)...and of course, I've always said no.

Then there's last night. Everything is kind of busy, and Ethan is making dinner for Everett, who wanted macaroni and cheese. (Thank God for whomever invented that blue box of heavenly deliciousness prepared in under 10 minutes!!) Everett pulls up his little stool to help Daddy mix-mix the noodles. Ethan turns around for less than 5 seconds to drain the water from the noodles in question...I'm turned around as I'm feeding Tate at the table...and in that miniscule amount of time, we've got a second degree burn. He's got blisters all over his poor little hand! I'm going to take a picture and post it later...just for future reference. I think I might hang a copy on the 'fridge so that he can remember what happens...although, it's doubtful he'll ever forget that experience. SO...anyway, we put his hand in cold water immediately, and then I get the ice out and put it on for him. The ice definitely assuages his pain and he screams bloody murder everytime I take it off to inspect the blisters...to make sure it's not becoming a 3rd degree burn. Ethan takes Tate and runs to the pharmacy for some topical pain reliever and gauze...and then we have Silverdine (sp???) called in for him. It's a cooling antibiotic ointment. Oh, that was HORROR to put on. You've never heard a child scream so loudly or cry so hard. After all of the excitement, Ev fell asleep rather easily and slept pretty well, given the circumstances.

Today, he's doing well. We've got a sock over his hand so that he doesn't play with it too roughly and pop the blisters...and he's in a good mood, so that's a great sign. But oh, man...it was NOT fun to see him hurting so much...and being rather incapable of making the pain go away. Being a parent brings the greatest joy and with that the greatest of sorrows. I think that this experience is the tippy-top of the iceburg as far as the sorrows are concerned...physical pain eventually goes away...

If only we could protect and shield our boys from every pain there is...but then again, without sorrow, how would they discern what joy feels like???

I'm getting WAY too thoughtful here...time to go eat some breakfast. :)

He is risen!!

2008-03-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

He is risen, indeed!

Happy Easter, everyone! It's early morning and I'm up making hot cross buns...I like to have a special breakfast as well as a nice lunch on Easter. Maybe I just like to eat, but I like to think I'm making things fun by having good food. It must be an Oltrogge thing; I think we all are of like mind in that area! :) In any case, it's a good day to celebrate the Risen One!!

All of my boys are asleep and it's nice to have a moment to myself. Yesterday was a horrible day, so gathering my thoughts after that is important to me. Everett is either sick or something is not quite right...I know he's making his molars and he's totally annoyed about that...but he's got this cough...it sounds awful. I've been thinking it was leftover from the flu we had, but I'm not sure anymore. Anyway, he's not been sleeping well as a result, and he's always a tyrant when he's tired. So, by the end of the day, I was crying with him. GAH! It feels like he was in time out all day long...*sigh* I'm ready for him to get out of the terrible twos/threes. Tate, as usual, is still an angel baby. He's crawling, though, which has added a new layer to his relationship with his brother...one that Ev isn't so glad to have. We're working on it...but "sharing" is a 4 letter word in Ev's mind, I think. :) I can't say that I don't understand...sometimes, it's hard for me to share and I'm 33! Anyway, all of that to say that I hope today is better than yesterday; I can't imagine it being worse!!

So, the question for the day is: "How to make Easter understandable to a 3 year old?" I don't know that I can, but I hope and pray that Ev and Tate will understand as they grow. Christmas isn't about gifts and Easter isn't about candy...and yet, that's all they really understand right now. I pray that as they grow, they see themselves for who they really are, and see the Savior for who He really is.

Well, I'd better go tend to my buns. ;) Ev and I made carrot cake yesterday...he was so excited that I had a hard time not letting him have a slice, so our dessert for today is already missing a few pieces. Too fun....at least we had that, huh?? :)

I'm so lame...

2008-03-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

I can't keep up with much these days!! It seems that all I do is feed this kid, nap that kid, change this diaper and start again the next day. :) It's well worth it though, it's just that it's hard to find time for other things. Especially lately! I'm trying to find us a place to live in Charlottesville where we'll be for a year while Ethan finishes his fellowship in MSK...I'm trying to sell our house...I just came back from my sweet niece's wedding in San Francisco...I'm going next weekend on a "retreat" with my MIL and SILs...it seems that the events are never ending. FUN, but never ending. :) Some day, I'll have time to just sit and read a book...although, by then, I'll have gotten to the point where I'm so used to being busy, that reading a book might feel boring. :)

Everett turned 3!! YES! THREE! It's amazing. I can't believe he's SO big. He's in the 95th percentile for length and weight...at 3 feet and 6 inches and 43 pounds, he's a mammoth child. He's also smart...which can be good and bad these days. He's potty trained, too...and he's just adorable. When he sneezes and "stuff" comes out, he calls the "stuff" "Bless you's!" Quite cute. And when he was sick with the flu and threw up, he said, "Mommy! I had a BIG hiccough!" Eyes as big as quaters. :)

Tate is getting big, too! He's eating real food, trying to crawl, and is a total angel baby. I don't think he ever complains unless he's tired. :)

Anyway, I'll try to be better about posting. And I'll add some pics in a minute...

Christmas, 2007!

2007-12-30T06:52:00.001-08:00

Kids make Christmas fantastic...and fantastically exhausting, too. :) We spent Christmas with Ethan's family this year, and it was a great time. Ev and his cousin Miles played and played and wore each other out. Tate did a great time sleeping in a new place, and we had an all-around good time with family. I'm lucky to have married into such an awesome group...everyone is unique, spectacular in their own way and I love each and every one of them all...I can't imagine life without them as my own family.

You'll have to forgive me as I write in stream-of-consciousness form...I haven't slept much and remembering everything in order is too much. :D Some of my favorite memories: I was helping Everett take his nap, and I cuddled up with him to sing to him, and he started to stroke my hair and said, "My sweet Mommy....My sweet Mommy..." I mean, a heart melting moment...I will always cherish that memory.

It was fun to watch Everett open up gifts...he LOVED his Noah's Ark and his animal puzzle. (Thank you to oompa toys dot com for having amazing toys for kids, by the way.) He plays with his toys so well, and really uses his imagination to have them do fun things...like go to Chick-fil-a if they obey. :)

I loved to watch Everett give Tate "loves" and interact with all of his older cousins, too. He thinks they're way cool, obviously. :) I think what he really appreciates is being able to play hard and wrestle and run...and he doesn't end up smashing them because, for once, THEY are bigger than HE is! :)

Christmas Eve service was great, too. The Church obviously knew it'd be packed with families with small children, since the service was 30 minutes long; but it was great with good songs. Everett loved watching the lady play the violin. And eating all of Miller's Cheerio's, too. He was unsure of what to do with the candle, and tried to blow it out the whole time...it was quite cute, since he actually CAN blow out a candle. He thinks it's cool.

We had fun seeing our good friends, Andy and Shelley, if even for a short while. They are dear to us, for sure.

Ruth got a Wii, and we ALL had a great time playing...from the youngest to the oldest! I won in Bowling, even beating out my way cool nephews!! :) Tennis was fun, although playing with 4 can be confusing.

Ethan played rounds of basketball with the older nephews and brothers-in-law ...I think they could have kept going and going.

We ate lots of cookies, had great breakfasts, mostly prepared by the amazing Kirsten...she makes some mean eggs! Speaking of Kirsten, it was so nice to be up in the morning and have her company along with Brady! It can stink to be the only one awake for hours and hours, so having her to talk with and have coffee with was so great. She's fantastic, and I only wish I could have her disposition.

It was great to spend more time with Kathleen, too. I think I get jipped on spending as much time with her as I'd like; I think she and I have a lot in common and I enjoy her company. Her kids are so great...you should see Caleb with his younger cousins. He's gentle, fun and involved, which is a lot to say for a 15 year old.

Megan's cookie party was delectable. It was fun to catch up with some of her friends and have treats at the same time. Megan is great at bringing people together for a fun time. She's a great sister in law and Aunt to my boys. We share lots of laughs as we bring up boys together and there is a lot to be said for commiserating together, too!! :)

As per usual, we spent a lot of time at the park. That park is worth it's weight in gold. :) It was so fun to watch Everett take Bella for a walk while we were there...although, I think Bella took Everett for a walk, if the truth be told.

Everett also watched his first full-feature film..."The Polar Express"...and fell in LOVE. All he talks about is the "story of the train...chuga-chuga-CHOO-CHOO!" :) We're going to have to buy it, now. He and his daddy bonded as they watched it together for the first time. It was really sweet to see them lie down on the couch all cuddled up in blankets and watch a movie.

I did miss seeing my family, but I know that what they were doing was so important. They went to AZ to help re-do Jeff and Cindy's house. That's what we did for Christmas, instead of giving gifts and the like. I'm glad for the generosity and self-sacrifice of my family!

I can't think right now, so I'll have to come back and add more later...with pictures! :)

Poor baby!

2007-12-19T10:09:00.001-08:00

There's nothing like your kid getting hurt to make you ache all over and really just worry and worry.

Ev's not been sleeping well, so he's very tired and clumsy as a result. He tripped over his blankie this morning as we were making his bed and landed with his chin on his bed railing. His poor chin is HUGE and bloody and I've never heard him scream and cry like that. I mean, this is the kid who never cries due to being hurt physically; in fact, we joke that he feels no pain at all, much like me. :) He'll fall and just keep on running most of the time, so when he cries, we know it's for real. The crash was so loud, I thought he'd broken his jaw so I paged Ethan...Ethan came home and Ev is just fine...but...oh, it hurts! Putting ice on it hurt him, and cleaning the wound with hydrogen peroxide was horrific for him. He's got a nasty blood blister on the inside of his bottom lip and his chin is about twice as big as it normally is. *sigh* I just feel for him, poor guy. Thankfully, he's napping now. Maybe he'll catch up on some much needed zzzzz's.

And now, off to do laundry...

So, some days are just hard...

2007-12-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Today would be one of those days...it follows a string of long, hard days. I can honestly think of nothing that is harder than mothering. I've done a lot of things; canoed through level 4 rapids in an open canoe, hiked a few 14ers in Colorado, run marathons, worked at a marriage, had a successful career in Tax, passed the CPA exam...but this is the hardest thing I've done. It's not that it's just hard, it's that the emotional investment is SO much bigger than I can even begin to understand, and I'll never know if I'm doing the right thing until my kids turn 30...

Everett has a hard time sleeping, and when he does sleep he wakes up between 4:30 and 5:30 in the morning. So, we have decided after several weeks of this and me finally being so exhausted and stressed that I broke out in shingles, that we'd push is bedtime WAY back and see if that helped. So...he got 9 hours of sleep last night, which...he usually does better with 11. I thought that would mean he'd have a great nap, but to the contrary, he refused to sleep. I told him he'd lose all of his TV watching time and any special treats if he didn't sleep and he just laughed. He thought that was funny. Which just made me angry... Anyway, now he's behaving like a hellion and I sometimes just don't know what to do with that. There are days when I just want to throw my hands in the air and give my resignation. But that's just what it is that makes parenting so hard...there IS no out...you HAVE to stick to it. Not that I would want out because I love my boys to death...I just want a day or 5 by myself.

I guess it's time to take a vacation...

Until then, I'll just enjoy the 5 minutes it took me to write this and the hot cocoa I drank...

And now it's back to managing my hurricane...

*sigh*

He IS an adorable hurricane...even if he's tired.

So, I'm lying down on the floor...

2007-12-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

...because I'm SO tired. Been awake since 4:15 and am a little grumpy, to say the least. Ev is playing with his new cardboard box "car" that we made and having the time of his life. He looks over to see me and sees that I'm falling asleep, so my SWEET boy goes to get me a pillow and a blankie!! :) He's so cute, though, because he can't yet say his L's so, he says, "I go get you a PIDDOW, Mommy!" It's adorable...

Then, now that I'm waking up, he decides we need to play a game of Cagola. (Uncle Paul and Aunt Tamy Dillon got it for him when he turned 2 and he loves it!) Anyway, he takes the dice and a little piece of the game to make a chocolate cake for me because now we're pretending it's my birthday. He runs to the kitchen to grab a fork, brings it to me to give me a bite, and then pronounces in his loud toddler voice, "It's DEEEEE-WICIOUS!" I think I lauged until I cried!!

I must say, I have adorable kids. Not that I'm biased in any way, shape or form...

Although, it was a tough day trying to go shopping with two kids...it seems that if you have a stroller, you're not really allowed into anything but kid stores these days...but that's another story for another day.

:)

Tate's New Noggin Warmer

2007-12-13T06:59:00.001-08:00

I just had to post this picture of Tate wearing his new hat! My friend, Katie Cantrell made it for him. Isn't it ADORABLE??!! You've never seen a cooler kid. :)

Ev's funny for the day

2007-12-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

So, I thought I'd try to use this to keep a record of the funny things the boys are doing...

This morning, I was playing with both boys, when Ev decided to take a walk and go play by himself. All of the sudden, I hear funny noises coming from our bathroom...only to walk in and find Ev all covered in hand soap. He LOVES hand soap, it seems...

So, I go in there and clean him up. I tell him he needs to have a spanking because he knows he's not supposed to be in our room or bathroom by himself, much less playing in there. He says, "OK!" and runs to his room and lies down on his bed awaiting his spanking...and on his way, he passes Tate and says, "I disobeyed, Tate! I'm getting a spanking!" You'd think he was getting ice cream. :) It was so funny, I had a hard time administering his discipline. :)

Just Starting Out

2007-12-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, not sure how this whole thing works, but I thought we'd give it a try anyway, and see what happens. Not that the whole world is interested in what's going on in our little corner, but it might be fun just to write things down. We'll see where this goes...