A Letter to my Love

Dear Love,

8 months ago we banded together and decided to cancel our cable. It as a bittersweet moment. We mourned the loss of easily accessing our favorite shows, while eagerly embracing the idea of more free time and the freedom from the pull of the DVR. It was a good time and we truly did feel free. Sadly, our antenna didn't work causing tons of interference as we tried to watch the news, and all non-cable options to fix the problem were just too costly and difficult. So, we did what any normal couple would do in our situation, we sucked it up and called the cable company. Not only have our favorite cable channels returned, but you were so wonderful to have the cable man install it in our bedroom. For this I thank you. You have combined two of my favorite pastimes, hanging out in bed and watching TV. Yes, I know that I was able to do that before, but not with so many options! It has been heavenly, and although I know that you have been a bit lonely as you sit downstairs doing whatever it is that you do, you know where to find me, upstairs, snuggled in bed, watching Food Network.

Love,
Me

Sledding

We took the kids sledding today. It was awesome because they are now all old enough to do it by themselves which means that I can watch them have tons of fun all from the warm confines of my car. It was highly enjoyable. 

Snow Time

Last year we didn't get any snow. This was wonderful for me, but not so great for my little snow bunnies. We were a little bit nervous that this year would be much of the same, but fortunately yesterday the weather gods smiled upon us and sent down some of that wonderfully wet, white stuff that the kids love so much. It didn't take long before they were dressed and out the door, only to be dragged back inside hours later, wet, cold, and happy.

 

A Christmas Review

I have many thoughts swirling about in my head this Christmas season. It has been a fine Christmas, but by no means has it been the best and by that I mean that sadly, I let the busyness of the season overshadow what is truly important and I can feel its effects. I admit this just to make sure that I never make this mistake again. My oversight has made me feel just a bit "off" as well as a bit guilty and has prevented me from ensuring that this Christmas season was as magical as it could have been for my three little people. Lucky for me they all claim that it was a fine Christmas and that they are happy, but I know that they felt that something was missing as well and that it could have been better. Well, I will just have to make sure that next year I do it right. With that said, here are a few highlights from our holiday.

 A tree waiting for kids.

 A boy ready for Christmas.

 These kids love their Christmas jammies.

 Two brothers

 One sister

 One silly boy

 "Hey mama, get a picture of my whole body."

 "An orange sweater!! I can't even believe it!"

My sweet Tiger has been making huge strides towards reading this year and so as her present to him, Woo made a special book full of words that Tiger can read all by himself. Tiger absolutely loved this special book and spent quite a while reading what Woo had worked on so hard. This was probably one of my favorite moments, especially since Tiger has been having such a hard time these days and Christmas day in particular was quite difficult and so it was so wonderful to see him just having a quiet moment and enjoying himself.

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We're expecting great things this next year, so we'll just have to wait to see what comes our way.

He makes me feel so good about myself

Tiger: Mom, are you going to take a shower today?
Me: I'm not sure. I don't think I feel like it. Why?(Knowing he really just wants to play video games)
Tiger: Because your hair looks yucky.
Awesome.

That's my boy

This boy of mine is a piece of work who constantly keeps us laughing and on our toes. However, I am quite frustrated with this little boy at the moment and so I thought I would share something funny that he said the other night so that I remember not to string him up by his nose hairs.

Doug: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Tiger: *Sigh* I just want to be a guy. . . a guy with a hairy back.

Also, the poor boy thinks that there is going to be a puppy wrapped up in a box and waiting for him under the tree this Christmas morning since he saw that it was possible on America's Funniest Videos. Sadly, he is going to be extremely disappointed for there will be no puppy coming to this house on Christmas.

Tying into the puppy on Christmas theme, last week his primary teacher at church came up to me and asked me if we really had a bunch of pug puppies at our house. It seems that this boy totally convinced his teacher that for Christmas he had gotten a box full of pug puppies. He had them all named and described each one of them in detail to his teacher. *Sigh* The boy lives a very detail-oriented imaginative life. Also, he is obsessed with pugs.

Our little elf

Last weekend we put our tree up. Tiger was bursting with excitement the entire day. Bursting to the point that I thought his little body just might explode with sheer Christmas spirit and he has been bouncing off of the walls ever since. As soon as we were done with the tree, Tiger decided that he was going to be an elf. So he put on his Santa hat and his Superman jammies, but backwards because he wanted to be dressed all in red. He then proceeded to run around the house spreading Christmas "cheer", which was really just more chaos and noise.

Once he had gotten a fraction of his energy out he looked down at the floor and noticed that it was dirty from all of the ornaments and tree fragments. This was not to be tolerated by this elf. He immediately got the little vacuum out and proceeded to vacuum the floor. What a helpful little elf.

Yep, Christmastime with a 6-year-old is mighty fun.

A literary masterpiece in progress

This little morsel was found on our laptop when Doug was cleaning up old files. So, of course I felt that it must be shared. Now presenting, in all of its unedited glory:

The best book you will ever read

By Woo

One day there was a humming floob. He was very floppy. He liked trains. He worked at a swimming pool. He loathed it. One day Santa clause left him a present. He screemed. He opened the present. I don’t like muffins or fruit cake. It is my least favorit thing in the whole world.

December 1 - A day of pain

Back in October, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to run a 5k with her on December 1. "Sure," I said, because I don't run and so choosing to run a 5k when it is cold outside seemed like the logical thing to do. These are the things that I learned from this experience:

1. Running when it is cold outside is really quite nice because you don't get all sweaty and nasty.
2. It is really hard to convince yourself to go outside and run when it is cold outside because all I want to do is stay inside, snuggled up in a warm blanket, watching Hulu and catching up on all of the shows I have missed.
3. I really need more than a month to train for a 5k. This has a lot to do with #2, I might have missed a few days of running because I am weak when it comes to the cold.
4. I have old lady feet and they require really expensive running shoes. On the bright side, since I have bad feet, and have bought really expensive running shoes, I wear them all the time because they are the only shoes that I can wear without complaint which means that I am totally getting my money's worth. Plus, they are bright, blazing pink.
5. I think I have shin splints.
6. I got my worst time ever on a 5k race, but I had more fun at this race than any of the others I have done because the company was so good and it's just more fun to run when you are wearing jingle bells. If I do this next year, I'm wearing Santa shorts and striped socks.

Thankful #26, 27

November 26: Today I am thankful for the Internet and the fact that I could sit at home, unshowered and in my pajamas, and shop for Christmas presents all day long without having to go outside or enter a store. If I have to shop, this is the way to go.

November 27: Today I am thankful reminders to be kind and loving to everyone I talk to, especially my family. If nothing else, I should always be kind.

Thankful #25

November 25: Today I am thankful for my wonderful mother who is the best mother in the whole entire world and universe, especially because it is her birthday. I am also thankful for this crazy boy of mine. He is bursting with personality, loves and audience, and isn't shy in front of the camera. He also has a ridiculous amount of energy for the amount of coughing that is coming out of his little body today. The boy is seriously bouncing off of the walls!

Here he is posing for the camera after bowling. I have no idea why he chooses the poses that he does.

Thankful #21, 22, 23, 24

November 21: Christmas music, sunshine, and baking

November 22: A wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family, food, and love.

November 23: I was not thankful that I ended up in the craziness at the mall, but I was thankful for an evening spent out with my love and a boy who is old enough to babysit so that I can have a night out with my love.

November 24: A wonderful day spent with good friends whom we haven't seen in a very long time.

Thankful #17, 18, 19, 20

Wow, I am having a hard time keeping up with this. Busy life, blah, blah, blah.

November 17: Thankful for an absolutely beautiful day, kids who do jobs, and that so much was accomplished around the house.

November 18: Thankful for lazy afternoons and dinner with the family.

November 19: Thankful for a patient sales person as I spent a good hour and a half trying on a million different pairs of running shoes only to choose the first pair that she brought out for me.

November 20: Thankful that I could go to my boy's Thanksgiving feast at school, watch my girl tap her little heart out at dance, and then end the day celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with friends by eating a delicious hot fudge sundae with peppermint ice cream.

Thankful # 14, 15, 16

November 14:  I am thankful for left over apple pie that I can eat for breakfast because I am an adult and there is no one to tell me that I can't.

November 15: Today I had Tiger's conference with his teacher. I was very nervous, but it turns out he is doing great. I am thankful that he is working hard to overcome his challenges and that his teachers like him and are willing to work so hard with him.

November 16:  Today I am thankful that the kids have a day off of school so that we didn't have to wake up to an alarm this morning. I love lazy mornings.

Thankful lucky #13a, b, and c

Today I am thankful that I could have a lovely lunch with my parents and my sister. Sadly my love was stuck in meetings and was unable to join us, but the lunch was wonderful.

Also, I am thankful that today I don't feel like ripping my head off and throwing it against a wall, I just feel like banging it a little bit. Life is much better today.

Also, I am thankful for my love and that he is graciously letting me bombard him with birthday salutations all day long even though he would rather the day just be forgotten.

Thankful #12

Today I am thankful for Diet Dr. Pepper. It cheers me up and makes me happy. Plus it just tastes really good.

Thankful #11

Today I am thankful that my kids are adventurous and that they love to be outside. This also causes me to go outside of my comfort zone at times, which isn't a bad thing. I am also thankful for Sunday walks.

Thankful #10

Today I am thankful for beautifully pleasant weather and that my kids could be outside playing all day long and not inside making noise as I sit in bed with a head that feels like it is being squeezed in a giant vice grip.

Thankful #8, #9

November 8: I am thankful for my small house that cleans up very quickly when necessary.

November 9: Today I am thankful that when Tiger wanted to play with me this morning, he chose to tell spooky stories instead of playing Lego guys. I love my boy, but playing Lego guys, although loads of fun for my boy, is quite mind numbing for me and just puts me to sleep. The kind of knock you down sleep that is hard to shake off. Playing Lego guys should always include a Diet Dr. Pepper.

 

Thankful #6, #7, and salami

November 6: I am thankful that I was able to vote. Also, the kids and I went to the dentist and there were no cavities in any of our teeth. I am scared to death of getting a cavity and thankfully I never have. The dentist says that I have my German heritage to thank. I don't know if that's true or not, but I'll take it.

November 7: I am in a bummer of a mood today and so I am very thankful that the sun is out and shining brightly.

On a different note, my kids do not lack in personality and Woo proved that once again the other night. We were hanging out in my bedroom folding laundry and out of the blue she said, "I am going to list the top 10 reasons to buy salami." So here they are:

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Salami
1.  They are circular
2.  You can fold them up
3.  They are yummy
4.  They go great on sandwiches
5.  They have dots and are red
6.  I like to eat them
7.  They might be historic
8.  You should just buy them
9.  They taste great with pepper jack cheese
10. They are good just plain

She's also working on a list of reasons why you should buy Red Velvet Cake flavored yogurt.

Thankful #5

Today I am thankful that my little man slept almost all night long and is feeling much better. In fact, today is one of my perfect kind of days. Tiger is too sick to go to school, but feeling well enough that he is perfectly happy to do his own thing and I don't have to sit next to him all day long. This means that I get to stay home and do whatever I want or need to without having to feel like I am ignoring my little man. Plus the sun is out, bonus. Plus, I get to have left over risotto for lunch. Plus, I am listening to Christmas music. Today is good.

Thankful #4

Last night my little Tiger had a rough night, which means that I had a rough night. He sadly came down with a nasty cold and a bit of a stomach virus and I learned once again that I am far too old to stay up all night long and function normally the next day. Although I am not thankful that I was up all night with a sick boy, I am very thankful that this happened on a Saturday night and not a school night and that I even had the added blessing of an extra hour with the change in time.

Thankful #3 and help needed

November 3: Today I am thankful that we didn't have to be at soccer in the freezing cold at 8:00 on a Saturday morning and that I could just snuggle in my bed as long as I wanted to this morning. I love to be in bed.

On a completely unrelated note, I need a little assistance from those of you reading this who know me and have been to my house. My house is cold and unforgiving and it depresses me every winter.  Well, that and the fact that the sun disappears for months at a time, but there isn't anything I can do about that. I would like this winter to be different and this is where I need your help. I have been attempting to decorate a bit in order to make my house feel more lived in and less sterile, but I am not sure what else to do for a decorator I am not. What can I do to make my house feel more warm and welcoming and less cold and unforgiving? 

 Two reference pictures snapped as is this morning.

To be grateful

We are finally done with October and November has blown in like a breath of fresh air. I haven't been feeling super positive, friendly, or grateful lately and so I thought that I would join the throngs of people out there who are taking the opportunity to identify something that they are thankful for each day during the month of November. I am hoping that this helps my general sense of well being because I know there are a million things I could list, it's just easy to forget what they are.  So, here we go:

November 1.  After about a week of no sun and very cold and wet weather due to Hurricane Sandy, the sun shone brightly and warmed my soul. The sun is very good for me and I enjoy it immensely.

November 2.  Today as my little Tiger got off of the bus, I watched from afar as he willingly went up to his friend's dog and proceeded to allow this little dog to jump up on his chest several times while Tiger laughed and giggled. He also willingly petted this dog and continued to engage with the dog as he walked down the street towards our house. This may not seem like a big deal to a lot of you, but this is absolutely huge for my boy. He has been absolutely and completely terrified of dogs for the last few years and we have been working really hard to help him overcome this fear. It has been a tough road. You don't realize how many dogs are out there in the world until you are faced with a situation like this. So, today's reaction was especially joyful and unexpected to me because just yesterday he was completely freaking out as he tried and was unable to open the front door to our house after he got off of the bus because this same dog was starting to walk down the street and Tiger was terrified that the dog would get him. Whatever the cause of today's turnaround, I'll take it and be grateful that although tomorrow will probably be different, for today he was able to feel safe and happy.

A little adventure

Last week Doug took a couple of days off from work and so we took the kids out of school and headed south for a little fun in nature. We have been trying to do this for years but every time we plan to go the weather really does not work with us. This time we were determined to go and we weren't going to let anything stop us. Although it was cold and rainy at our house, further to the south it ended up being a gorgeous day and perfect for this kind of adventure. The kids had to miss their Halloween parties at school, but I think we all agree that it was worth it.

 

Two nature loving boys.

 



This area was our favorite and the acoustics were amazing. We could have spent all day here just hanging out and playing in the sand.

 



This boy however was racked with disappointment. Apparently, despite all of our descriptions to the contrary, he thought that we were going to be going into actual dark deep caves and spelunking or something of that nature. So, with that kind of attitude lurking about it was necessary to put him in a little pre-teen time out so that he could find his happy place again. I am sure some deep contemplation took place in this rock crevice.

 



This boy was truly in his element. Leaves to crunch, dirt to roll in, and rocks to climb.

 

Sparky loves science and nature and is a walking encyclopedia and he never misses an opportunity to educate whomever is around. Here he is pointing out various water life in this pond and teaching his little brother all that he knows.

 



Hey, here's a cute nature girl.

 



This tunnel in the rock was as close to a "cave" as we actually got.

 



In the end, the adventure itself was enough to cheer this boy up. He ended up having a great time and is ready to go back again.

 



Thanks for the adventure my love. You are welcome to take a day off from work anytime.

Phone pictures from our apple picking adventure

Once again our beloved cousins drove up to go apple picking with us. It has become a yearly tradition and everyone here in this house absolutely loves it! The apples were a little off this year with the crazy hot and dry summer that we had, but we were still able to fill some bags and have a great time in the process.

Tiger just loves Mary. At some point in their relationship they played a game where Mary was the mother and Tiger was something else. Whatever Tiger was in the game is irrelevant because ever since that day Tiger has referred to Mary as his mother or "my mother Mary." It is adorable.

Apple picking isn't apple picking unless you climb the trees, for everyone knows that the best apples are at the top.

A picture of my love and I just to document the fact that we were both present during the outing.

After an hour of picking everyone was getting a little apple crazy and that exhibited itself in the form of piggybacks and general goofiness.

Tiger was apparently completely worn out from all of the "rigorous" walking and needed to take a little break.

Fortunately there was a mud puddle to be found. We tried to get the kids to bob for apples, but none of them were having it.

Hey, here's a cute little apple picker.

A picture of me, completely unedited and in all of my glory, just because I don't ever take pictures of myself.

My three little apple pickers. Note to self for next year. Golden Delicious apples turn mushy as soon as you pick them which means they are not very tasty for eating, but they make some tasty applesauce.

Brothers who love each other.

Brothers who throw apples at each other.

All of the kids. Yes, it was another fine apple picking experience and proof that there are some great things about Fall. We can hardly wait to do it again next year.