29

Is it really possible that I am only one year away from 30?

It's been a busy day of birthday celebrating and we are all excited about Gigi's [my mom's] arrival tomorrow to continue the celebration.

On our way home from our birthday date night tonight, Jason played this song for me on the ipod in the car...

Thy Mercy
Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divineSeals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divineSeals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.

It's a beautiful song, and I found myself lost in the lyrics and feeling so blessed by His covenant love! Since it's also the song we had sung at our wedding, it is a song so dear to the memories of my heart.

All I have to do is listen to the song, and I can be 22 again, getting ready to walk down the aisle :) Hmmmm...I'll have to remember that for next year!

Tradition

J always says that one of his favorite holiday memories was going to a tree farm when he was younger to chop down a fresh tree. We had one experience cutting down a tree together before there were children in the picture, but we decided this was the year to venture out with the family and find a fresh tree. It was a little chillier this morning than it has been all week, but we braved the cold, and it was totally worth it! We had a great time together as a family and found a beautiful tree :)

Here we are getting ready to head out onto the 50 acres of trees for our adventure.

Can you tell Bo was eager to get started?

Ella really enjoyed holding hands and walking with daddy.

Bo declared himself the "leader" of the group, and here I caught him turning around and telling us to "come on kids!" He was so excited to be out in front.

Here's the tree!

Jack and mommy did most of the picture taking, but we did manage to get in one shot.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend enjoying the holidays. We'll be decorating this beauty tonight!

Thankful

My legs were burning today as I bounced the kids endlessly on my knees. When I finally declared I could do it no more, Bo enthusiastically squealed, "but please mommy, I still want to be a cowboy."

I tickled him and watched him giggle and squirm in his cowboy hat. Ella jumped in for a tickle as well and Jack cooed and laughed in the exersaucer. I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude in that moment and the countless other moments like that during this day, this week, this month, this year.

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship wth Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness contnues through all generations.

Extinction

We've been talking a bit about dinosaurs lately, and Bo is so fascinated by the idea that dinosaurs are extinct.

The other day, I asked him if he understood what that meant:

"Sure mom, it means they are really gross. You know super gross like they need a shower. All gross and stinky so they cannot be alive anymore."

I can see how stinky and extinction are confusing!

Whirlwind

Time is not my friend lately. It is slipping away at warp speed, and I feel like I am breathlessly trying to keep up.

My time in Florida was fabulous, amazing, wonderful, a cool drink of water, exhausting, and perfect all rolled into one. Now that I'm back in the "real world" I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and Christmas is a mere month away. I am still trying to process the end of summer!

Seriously though, J did a great job keeping up with the blogging while I was gone, and I've been so exhausted these past few days that it's all I can do to keep up with laundry and kiddos. Since we're not going to be visiting family for Thanksgiving this year, I guess I'd better get cooking...

The Lord's Prayer

While Mom has been out of town, I've been working with Bo to learn the Lord's prayer. We both love the ending of the prayer, and we say it with some enthusiasm. Check out how Bo is doing...



I'm not sure about 'the light bulbs' comment. I guess his little mind is confused on something. Oh well, he seems to get the big picture.

Football Night!!!

With Dad in charge of the weekend, Saturday night became FOOTBALL NIGHT!!! I wanted to watch the OU - Texas Tech game, so we got dressed in our p.j.'s, made some pizza, moved the coffee table, and set up for some real fun.

Note: See the 19 inch T.V. in the background? I had some friends over last month to watch The Office, and they were underwhelmed by the electronics. One of them said, "I feel like I'm waiting for my car to get serviced at Jiffy Lube."

The kids love the fireplace... We had to pose for a quick picture. (The fire is on if you can't tell on this picture).

Daddy Day Care

Mom is away in Florida with Jack, so Daddy has been filling in this weekend. We had a lot of fun with some cowboy hats...

We also did a lot of running around...

I wish I could say it was all fun and games, but we did have our bumps in the road. Bo threw up at the dinner table on Thursday night (not pictured), and Ella seemed to have a series of meltdowns throughout the weekend. Having a weekend alone makes me realize how awesome my wife is!

104.4

When the thermometer jumped over 104 this morning, I burst into tears. I know there's some exhaustion contributing to the emotion, but I just felt so overwhelmed to see that number.

Ella felt so small and hot in my lap. I know control is an illusion, but sick kids really make feeling in control even more elusive!

We managed to get an early appointment with the pediatrician, so we packed it up and headed in. Imagine my relief when the doctor told me the problem is simply an ear infection!

In retrospect, I can't believe I didn't see the signs. Ella's been congested and coughing, and all day yesterday she kept pointing to the right side of her head [the infected side] and telling me her head hurt. I'm so thankful that it's something so easy to treat and diagnose.

My morning felt a little crazy, but now we're one dose into our antibiotics and laying low. Bo asked if he could please put on his pajamas when we got home so he and Ella could have a pajama party! Pajama party it is! Jack fell asleep before I could get his lunch together so he's taking a random nap because he missed his morning nap.

Whew! I'm praying we're on the road to recovery...

Deep Thoughts

THREE small children.

TWO of said children sick!
Jack's working a nasty cough, and Ella's rocking a fever right around 102 even with tylenol.

ONE trip to the grocery store.

Does it really matter that I went $15 over our grocery budget for the week?

Familiar Faces

Jack was playing on his changing table the other day and having a great time.
As I watched him giggle and squirm,

and then he found his tongue!

I was instantly reminded of these moments from the past:

Bo right around 6 months old.

Ella right at 6 months.

I'm so glad I have the photos to help me remember.

Peek-A-Boo with a 7 month old!

Excuses, Excuses

Dear Blog,
I am so sorry to have been short on words this week. I decided that it was time to change the kitchen color from this:

to this:

It took me an entire week of prepping, priming, and painting during naptime and bedtime, but I'm finally finished. I hope to hang out with you more next week!

Quote of the day

J noted this morning as we were getting all the kids changed and dressed for the day:

"Wow, you sure do spend a lot of time managing the kids' excrement."

That pretty much sums up a lot of days!

Pros and Cons

I'm working a pretty nasty headcold over here. I guess it's just the time of year.

The pro is that I really can't smell all that much of anything. Jack had an absolutely toxic diaper and I missed out on all the smelliness!

The con is that I'm not sure how long he hung out in the toxic smelliness because I couldn't smell it! I could tell it had definitely been a little while...

Just me and my shadows

Ella pushing Bo around the driveway on his tricycle.

Jack and I hanging out while Ella runs around after Bo.

Knew, Know, What?

This is what I knew:
Jack has a runny nose.
Ella is enamored with "boogies."
Ella loves wiping her runny nose.
It's easier to let her get her own toilet paper and wipe her nose on her own. Otherwise, I'm in and out of the bathroom every 10 minutes for one square of toilet paper to wipe her [currently non-runny] nose.
She likes to throw the toilet paper in the potty after wiping her nose instead of the trash can.

This is what I now know:
Ella was getting her own toilet paper to wipe her nose, but she was getting wet in the toilet before she wiped her nose with it. She was then pulling out the soggy shreds of toilet paper out of the toilet to wipe the non-existent boogies and redepositing them in the water for disposal.

WHAT?

Well

This morning, I was encouraged by these words from one of my favorite hymns, "It is Well,"

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul.

CHORUS
It is well
With my soul
It is well; it is well
With my soul

My sin--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought:
My sin not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall re-sound and the Lord shall descend,
"Even, so," it is well with my soul.

There is an urgency in my life lately. I know it is short, and I know tomorrow is not a guarantee. I am overwhelmed that it truly is well with my soul.

J and I had a grave reminder of this fact this week as one of the doctors J works with was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. He has a maximum of six months before the inoperable cancer will take his life. This is a healthy 50 year old with 3 small kids. This is a man who J respects and admires and has really enjoyed working with and knowing.

Many days it feels like tomorrow is a guarantee, and I know this is not the case. I pray I am able to live each day with an eternal focus!

He got it!

We got the call today; J got the MSK radiology fellowship!
We are so excited and so overwhelmed at how God orchestrated the situation for us. It's an amazing blessing.

Kathy M., get excited! We're headed your way summer of 2010!

J is on call tonight, of course, so the kids and I took him a sonic blast and had a little mini-celebration in the radiology library.

We also attempted a family photo.
Almost...

And I think this is as good as it gets...

Kids in the Hood

It's a little chilly this morning and we're headed to the park. Jack and Ella both ended up with hoods this morning and Ella has insisted that she wear hers!

Jack seemed happy to comply for a few pictures as well.

Monster Mash

Our neighbor brought the kids some music making Halloween cards, and it's been one non-stop dance party since!

Bo does a mean "Monster Mash."

*Sorry for "Walk Like an Egyptian" in the background. Ella really wanted her card to be making music at the same time!

The Red Sports Car

I tell Bo often that I am loving him as a 3 year old! Now I love a newborn, all wiggly and snuggly, but this walking, talking boy is a whole new world for me. I just have so much fun with him.

I love all the questions. I love to see his little mind breaking things down and figuring things out. I love the fact that when we have our "school" time he calls consonants "accidents." It's just such a fun age to experience!

Case in point: The Red Sports Car

Remember the '93 Ford Taurus?

Bo always referred to it as the "red sports car." It was actually a little embarassing when we were at the grocery store one day and he announced, "my daddy sold his red sports car and bought a truck, a big truck!" I felt halfway compelled to explain to those in line with us that my husband was not having a midlife crisis. We simply went from a '93 Ford Taurus to an '02 Toyota Tacoma, a modest upgrade in my opinion.


Anyways...there is a point here, promise...Bo was playing with one of his toy cars the other night.

This particular red car just happens to be a Mercedes convertible.

"Hey look dad," he shouted as he zoomed around the room. "It's a red sports car, just like the one you used to have!"

Oh, to see the world through 3 year old eyes!

Still Working...

And so, the bathroom saga continues. It has now been over three months since our master bathroom was really functional. The reality is that the hardest part of it all is done. It's just a matter of finding the time to complete everything at this point. The finishing is always the hardest part, right?

I just found these pictures of J working to close in the hole that used to be a window. I'm sure it was great to have a window there when there was a porch outside that window. [Considering the porch is now our office/study, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to have a bathroom with a view!]

So, the hole is now gone...

I found these pictures today of J doing the work and of Bo helping. He was sooooo excited to be a part of the project. Here he's waiting eagerly for his next job...

Now, watch how it's done...

Piece of cake!

The goal is to have the bathroom finished by 2009!

I voted!

Plan A: Be at the polling center right at 7 AM sans kiddos so that I could vote and be back home in time for J to head off to work.

*NOTE: I arrived at the polls just as they opened for the 2004 election and was one of the first in line. I assumed it would be the same way this time...

Reality: Jack woke up crying at 5:50 AM. When I realized he was not going to settle down, I gave up on my attempt to be at the center by 7. I didn't feel like I could leave a crying, hungry baby with my hubby who was attempting to get ready for work. I finally got him up to nurse him around 6:20, at which point he fell back asleep. SO I left him in our bed, raced to get a shower, and pulled up the polling center at 7:07 AM. I was in and out in about six minutes! The line was so long, and I knew it would be at least a 2 hour wait, so I headed right back home. Bummer!

Plan B: Head up to the polling center as soon as Jack woke up from his morning nap. I figured I could get there right around 11 AM, and beat the lunch crowd!

Reality: We pull up right as the clock tower struck 11, but I was a little overwhelmed by the droves of people heading into the building. As we found ourselves in line, I realized that this was going to be a loooooong wait. I was prepared with some snacks and games, but I didn't think it was going to be enough!
After 20 minutes of jostling Jack around on my hip and attempting to keep the big kids entertained, I was loosing faith. I half contemplated heading home and coming back after the afternoon naps with the DVD player. In my moment of reflection, Bo and Ella decided to jump off the stroller and go running in opposite directions. I was both startled and stumped. Once I wrangled them back to the stroller, a wonderful woman much farther ahead in line asked if I would like to trade places. Salvation. I still waited another 15 minutes, but she saved me close to 45 minutes of waiting. What a joy!

At the end of the experience, I couldn't help but be a little overwhelmed. What a blessing to live in a country where I can vote for our country's leader. As a woman, I know that this would not be my right in many places around the world. I felt even more overwhelmed that I live in a country where a stranger would sacrifice her time [an invaluable resource] for a frazzled mom trying to vote with three little ones in tow.

Oh, and by the way, J went up to vote right after his noon lecture, and he said there were THREE people in line! Looks like I should have waited...

Separation Anxiety

One of the tasks on my to-do list while Jason was gone last week was to change around the kid's bedrooms. We decided it was time for Ella to be in a room on her own and for Bo and Jack to bunk together. Considering this involved taking apart the cribs and putting them back together in a new space, it was a much more substantial job than I anticipated!

Bo and Ella have lots of fun together, but the fun can quickly turn into conflict. It seemed as though the nights were getting later and later. It was precious to hear them in there talking and laughing together, but some nights they were still giggling at 11 PM as Jason and I were drifting off to sleep.

We started noticing that Ella was especially exhausted [read: emotional] during the day and that her naps were getting longer and longer. Then, the games and giggles turn into trauma. Ella was upset about the way Bo was breathing, or Bo decided it would be fun to pull Ella's blanket over to the other side of her bed. It was time for them to separate.

So, I spent most of Thursday moving everything around and by bedtime Thursday night, we were all so tired no one seemed to notice the change. After a weekend out of town, last night was the first time Ella realized the change.

As I was putting her to bed we had this conversation:
Ella: I don't want to be in here.
Me: But Ella, this is your new special room, just for you.
Ella: I want it to be Jack's room. I don't like this room.
Me: Well, this is where you get to sleep now.
Ella: Mine don't like it.

It was kind of sad, but she still settled down without any problem. Tonight, they all went down without any sort of protest once again. I just checked on them and they are all out. I attribute some of this to daylight savings, but I also think that it's best for the kids to have their quiet time to unwind at the end of the day. I've also noticed a dramatic improvement in Ella's demeanor throughout the day!

I know I'll miss the chatter between Bo and Ella as they play together at bedtime, but right now the silence is, well, golden.

My little treats...

I knew we were going to miss out on all the Halloween festivities this year, so I kept the costumes super simple...I mean seriously, who doesn't love M&Ms?

Bo was soooooo excited about his Larry the Cucumber [from Veggie Tales] cape. He kept going on and on about it :)

Oh, and Ella was his lesser known sidekick, Bob the potato.
The funniest thing was that she kept saying, "I don't want to be a potato. Mine not a potato."

Jack had the distinguished privilege of being Bob the tomato.