Christmas Recap!

The Christmas weekend was a beautiful whirlwind of faith, family, friends and food!  All was as it should be.  The highlight of course was the debut of my very own little drummer boy at our Christmas Eve service playing the Mercy Me version of The Little Drummer boy.  He did such a fabulous job and astounded us all with his maturity in playing. 

His drums were covered like a giant wrapped present.  When it was his time to play, the worship team unwrapped his drums, and he walked up with his drumsticks, sat down and joined the band in playing the song.  The ooh's and aaah's from the rather large crowd was too much.  I'm going to gush here:  his timing was on point, he maintained the kick on the song, he built up his playing at the appropriate times, and amazingly for an excitable little boy, brought it back down at the end for the finish.

He was soo sweet as people came up to him to tell him what a good job he had down.  So properly he said "Thank you. Merry Christmas".  This mama was proud.  So very proud.

Of course he is three years old, was tired and overwhelmed after all of the hoopla, and didn't make playing the second service.  Although as they uncovered the drums the second service you could here a little voice from the back saying, "I don't WANT to play the drums!" followed by crying.

That's okay little one.  You did awesome for your first time, in front of a large audience, and after all those rehearsals and the nervous energy from the rest of the team going on.  You are only 3 after all, and we love you.

Through all of this I realized so many things: 

• My children are their own persons.  Gifted and anointed by God with talents and abilities that have absolutely nothing to do with me.  He has a plan for them and will bless others through them. 
• Children do not have the fears, anxieties and self-doubts that we adults carry in ourselves, or for them! How awesome!
• Sometimes you need to let go and let your kids do what they were made to do.  The are much better equipped than you think to do really great things.
• When you start to wonder if you're doing a good job with your children, they display a maturity, kindness and behavior that is beyond their years.
• And just when you think maybe they're growing up faster than you're ready for, they fall apart and need you to just hold them and tell them it's alright. 

Through it all I know I am blessed to be a part of their histories and have the awesome privilege to do some good for them, to love them thoroughly and make sure they know of a little baby born one day to give His life so that they could live their own to the fullest.

For all these reasons, I am sitting back by the Christmas tree today, sipping my coffee and knowing I am truly blessed.

Merry Christmas to you all.  I pray you are all reflecting and feeling the warmth of your blessings this day.

Yes, Peas!

Ok, first this post has nothing to do with peas, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with peas, really - go eat some fresh snap peas right now, just do it.

What this is about is a new cookbook that I recently nabbed , Peas and Thank You.

I am slowly easing my family over to a primarily vegetarian diet. We're at about 80/20 right now. But with the transition the consumption of cheese in my house has become nearly obscene. And since that stuff is pretty much saturated fats, well we're not getting anywhere. Most requested in my house is mac and cheese. And boxed or homemade variety, several times a week is just not going to happen.

I am beside myself over her mac and cheese recipe. I have tried to pull the switcheroo on the kids before, and since they are connoisseurs of mac and cheese, have not had anything close to success. But Mrs Pea has saved the day - this stuff is AMAZING, and sooo easy to make, which for a busy mom is sometimes first when you're running to swim lessons, dance lessons, music lessons, church groups.....yeah, busy!

If you don't believe me, try it - you can find it here in all its creamy loveliness. Comfort food indeed.

Want something else to try to use up all that garden zucchini coming out of your ears? Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna is another recipe that surprised me, and is no less delish! I substituted brown rice, just 'cause I had a batch of leftovers that we needed to finish up, but I am sure with quinoa it is incredible!

As my 3 year old would say - there's a party in my tummy! so yummy, so yummy!

Fairwell Summer

As usual the summer was a whirlwind, so welcome, so busy and leaving us all too quickly. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler and the tree's are showing hints of the dazzling display they'll put on before taking they're long sleep over winter.

To be honest, I'm not a warm weather gal. Unlike all my latina humidity loving, sun worshipping cousins, I am a true midwest girl that endures summer days just for the glorious, crisp, cool fall that follows.

But this year has been different. Maybe because I wasn't knee deep in baby gear, diapers and well let's just admit it, chaos. Maybe it's because I didn't give two hoots about how my overgrown flower garden looked compared to my retired neighbors perfectly placed and manicured space. Maybe it's because we packed up the cooler almost every weekend and spent our days on the beach, in a state park or visiting family.

I have to admit that this year I am actually sad to see summer go. So long summer, it was a great season.

Hello Happiness

Mother's day weekend has been tough for me, for about the last 15 years - since I lost MY mom, and the day became full of self-pity, bitterness and a little bit of anger. When I talk to other women that have lost their momma's I find that they feel the same way - so of course we have to douse those feelings with a bucket of guilt.

So let me say -to all you gray haired ladies with their white haired momma's out at restaurants or shopping, who get this slightly annoyed look from a usually pleasant latina stranger - I'm so sorry. You see - for so long I've been jealous. And honestly, I still may be from time to time. Cause I really haven't been able to grasp why you and your momma were blessed with a longevity of life, that escaped my line of women. And it became almost unbearable when in the next 7 years I lost my dear grandmother and great-grandmother.

You see my matriarchal line was wiped out. A line that I loved deeply, and dearly. A line I relied on for their wisdom, who's love sustained me in this unreliable world.

But God is good, and in his mercy - he gave me hope when he blessed me with a daughter - the 5th in a string of first born daughters. It was his reassurance, and she was my reason to celebrate mother's day again. And then, because he's so generous, he gave me a second.

So in homage to my momma, and grandma - two posts for years ago. And to my beautiful daughters - thank you for making Mother's Day happy again.

Food for thought

you have to read this post - save the world

well said

ministry couple saying amen here

hubby and I work to keep this balance as well

its the ministry God permanently placed at the top of the listwhen he made us parents

stewards of most precious talents

if we don't get it right - what does the rest matter?

Home sweet home

I am blogging to you tonight via my lovely pink palm.

We're heading back to the hometown to visit family & friends. Cruisin' down the I94, listening to some smooth Salvador, kiddies are all snoozing in the back, with full tummies. It's all good.

The past week or so has been all about connecting with old friends.
And when I say old, well we're all older, but two people I reconnected with I've known literally since I was a babe.

There is nothing more invigorating and refreshing as the mental throwback that goes on when you reconnect with the people who were there when IT all began.

All that hope, excitement and exuberance all come flooding back with the nostalgia of going back to your roots..

Can you tell I'm excited and happy to be heading out for a visit to the land of my youth? :)

The Weather Outside is Frightful

After a few false starts, and a few 70 degree days in November (!), the cold winds have blown in. Running a few errands with a 6 and 4 year old, with a 10 month old on my hip, has taken on a whole new level of challenging.

So forgive me if I tell you that we cut our errand trip short, Mommy treated herself to a book buy, and we ran back home for an evening watching Ratatouille, and munching on fried chicken, bread and cheese. Yum.

But then back to my book. I could barely store away the groceries when I picked it up to delve into the first chapter. I am loving Sam's Club and the lovely low price they had on a book I've been waiting to read - Home to Holly Springs a la Jan Karon.

I jumped on the wagon years late after eyeing her first book at rummage sales across town. But I quickly caught up. pillaging every second hand store and yes, even WalM*art when desperate until after only a year, I had read through every last volume.

After a summer of selling a house and an autumn of getting settled in a new one, its so delicious to read a fiction book again. Stealing moments here and there, between "Mommy's?!", dirty dishes, laundry and my apparent career as a short order cook, the read is welcome.

What is better than curling up on the couch in your flannel PJ's, warm knit sweater, and a good book on a blustery and cold day.

All I need is the large and lovely sectional that we are expecting this week, and then the kiddos cold feet and squabbling over who's taking up more room on mommy's old college days plaid love seat - which was perfect when it was just me and hubby- will be a distant memory.

It is so lovely. Dark and leathery with a chaise on the end, just asking for lovely cozy throws. Something I've wanted for years and years and finally had an excuse to splurge on. Thank goodness for buy now and pay later deals. Believe me when I say it will contribute greatly to my keeping insanity at bay and the improving family contentment. Whoever had such high hopes for a piece of furniture?! :)

Moving on

I hadn't shared that we had moved to a new house early this fall. Perhaps because I was traumatized by it all.

Our home was small, but we loved it. We knew, however, that we had to say goodbye to it. We were outgrowing it quickly and couldn't have friends and family over often, because it ended up being an uncomfortable standing room only wall to wall gathering.

With 3 of the 5 of us having winter birthdays, it was becoming frustrating having to set limits on who exactly we would invite to celebrate with us. Any edits or restrictions we placed on our party lists never seemed to be quite right.

Anyway, after a few months of limited effort to sell our house, we decided to actually de-clutter the very small house and have an open house. We really were only trying to prove to ourselves that there was really no interest out there. I mean, the housing market is what it is. So, much to our surprise, a few days later one of the people who walked through the open house actually made an offer. Our plan had been to take the house off the market and get creative about how we could continue to make the house work for us.

Of course, all this came right before our church's tenth anniversary. Something hubby and I were coordinating, as well as hosting the special speakers that we had lined up. I was also leading the choir for the event and was directing a youth drama. Needless to say, that along with the everyday business of taking care of three little ones, a household and a near full time job, well it was a lot to handle in a short period of time.

We received the offer, accepted, got serious about finding a new house, made a few offers, entered into some negotiations, bought a house, packed and moved all within a period of 2-1/2 weeks. Our realtors were so great. With hubby's odd work schedule, they were actually showing us houses at 9-10pm and trying to get us everything on our wish list. Quite honestly, knowing how the market was, they encouraged us to look higher than our price range so that we could get the best house. Ultimately we really did get a house that we just laughed about when the realtor first asked us to go see it. Really, it was above what we would have ever looked at.

But having been on the market over a year, the sellers were very very motivated. It was truly a blessing that they met us on an offer that was much, much below what they were asking, and what the house is worth but within the price range we had decided could work for us.

We ended up moving in a two day period. Closing on both houses on Wednesday morning. I wouldn't have closed on our new house, without the old house sale being sealed up. There are just too many horror stories about deals falling through out there. Our buyer was gracious enough to allow us a few days, fee free, to move out of the house.

But with 9 years of accumulated stuff and 3 very little kids - I had to wonder what we were thinking! I spent the entire summer clearing out every corner of the house. We had rummage sales and made countless trips to the goodwill and other second hand stores. But it seemed to be endless. Even while we were moving, there were some truckloads where we just left boxes in the uhaul to just go straight to donation.

I must be the ultimate pack rat - it drove me crazy to think of everything that we gave away. I hope someone is enjoying it all.

By the end of it all - I thought my feet were going to explode, and we were exhausted from head to toe.

It's nearly two months since we moved now, and I think we're finally getting settled. We've only hung pictures in one room, and there are still about half a dozen boxes sitting around the house waiting to be unpacked.

We've gained more than twice the amount of square footage and with that our mortgage has grown about that as well - a little scary and something it will take a bit to adjust to. Half of the rooms are empty and so are the closets, so we have room to grow.

The house is in great condition, and is basically a blank canvas for us to put our own touches to. It's definitely a place we can make home over time. Already the girlies and the boy are very comfortable here. And we can't say enough about the additional bathrooms here which are already invaluable with two girls in the house.

BTW

BTW - An announcement....




Yes it's true. We will be "A 5 Family" as Girlie 1 puts it. She is so very excited. She's drawing diagrams of the baby's room and how we should set it up. She's making up lists in her head of all the equipment we need. And she's volunteered to change the baby's diaper! But I have to buy her gloves first - yes, also according to her.

She cracks me up, my little going to be 5 soon, girl. Oh, and she's announcing the news to the neighbors, family, friends, acquaintances, strangers at the grocery store - no secret here.

Girlie 2 on the other hand, isn't taking it so well. I suppose if you've been the baby your whole life, news of a NEW baby could be upsetting. When we told her, she gave us this mean look - like we had betrayed her, and proclaimed: "But I want to be the baby".

We have had to give her extra hugs, and quiet talks. She's not quite happy about it yet, but she's warming up to it. Although she has been a little - um agressive, stubborn, and well she cries whenever she doesn't get her way - and did I mention she's stubborn?

Yes, I think we'll be taking that little - so you're going to be a big sister - class they offer at the hospital. Oh, and extra, extra, extra time, talks, hugs and kisses for the big sister to be - and lots of prayers.

Forever and A Day

And the months go by! Yes, I'm still here and have horribly neglected this little blog.

All the happenings of Girlie 1 and Girlie 2 that I've neglected to document here these past months.

It all started with an audit at work that wouldn't stop. Well this week I was finally able to put it to bed. There were some rough moments in there, but thanks be to God, I can see the light of day again.

Toward the end, hubby, girlies and I were able to escape to a lovely resort and the girls went ga-ga over the massive indoor and outdoor waterparks.

Girlie 1 practically turned into a fish, we could not pull her away from the pool and the high slides she managed to muster up the bravery to slide down on her own.

It is unbelievable how much she's stretched over the past few months. Gone is all the toddler chubbiness, and the preschool fits. She is officially the WHY-girl and ready for Kindergarden. We can't ride to the grocery store without an endless attack of the WHY this and WHY that. And apparently I don't know enough answers to satisfy her. Yes, she told me so. "Mom, you need to know ALL the answers." So much for being honest with this one, but surely the girl stumps me sometimes. I truly have no answers for the why's of some of the practices of humanity. I mean, that's just the way it is.

Of course her first concern was that she needed money to go to school (mind you, she has no idea about the concept of money- or so I thought??). I asked her why she thought she needed money to go to school, and she tells me ' "Mom, I need to get a backpack! So I can carry my books, and necklaces, my lipstick and bracelets." Oh boy!

Girlie 2, on the other hand has become extremely sensitve, clingly - oh, at a hearty 40 minus 2 lbs wants dear daddy to carry her everywhere. (My daddy tells me that I was the same - OF COURSE!) Poor daddy's arms are sore, but he's developing some big muscles! :) But we'll take it. Soon enough she'll be off and we'll long for those moments when she needs to hold mommy's hand, just because.

Girlie 2 came along to Girlie 1's kindergarden orientation. I think it was tough on Girlie 2, first being separated from Girlie 1, while she spent time with her new teacher and class - all on her own. And basically because this is the first time Girlie 1 is doing something that's all her own.

Poor Girlie 2, the tragedy of being so close in age to your dear sister and experiencing the change as Girlie 1 steps out without Girlie 2 at her side.

GOOD NEWS! They've agreed to let me cut back on work hours. So next week officially begins more time at home with the girlies to enjoy the summer. And once Fall comes around, I'll be able to drop off and pick up Girlie 1 from school, be there for the homework help - and YES!! actually have a homecooked dinner for my little pixies each night (hubby is exited about that one too ) - should be a nice relief to the pocketbook.

Exciting times. Glad to be back ! :)