31 January

This boy.

Has been so excited to do his own weaving projects at home ever since they learned this little craft in art at school. Today, he asked to go to the craft store to buy some yarn (yep, you heard it right, he didn't ask for the latest video game, app for the ipod, sports equipment or movie....YARN people!). He was so busy doing this during ALL his free time yesterday that he forgot to eat lunch. It's so therapeutic to have a hobby no matter what your age, especially one where you can make something with your hands and see the results. More than that, I think I just really love seeing him work hard at something he loves. See, they still do teach kids valuable things at school:) I'm so proud of him. Love this.

30 January

One of our favorite little girls is turning three next week. Today, we celebrated her birthday party. One of my favorite things about their family is that they are 100% all about kids having fun over anything else in life (hence the man-made snowblowed huge giant sledding hill in their backyard, and I think last year it was an ice rink). Good times.

29 January

Just a fantastic day out on the slopes for Mt. Abraham's 50th anniversary party (the four of us skied the whole day, both mountains for 20 bucks total). Here's a few things that I've learned about teaching skiing and skiing with little kids

1. Before skiing with any such whiny three year old, downing 1-2 microbrews in the lodge is a must.
2. Never eat lunch at noon.
3. the ski harness is probably the best invention on the planet (even though it's really hard on the knees, it saves your back)
4. bribery with candy......it's good stuff
5. be sure to eat the worst food possible even though your brought your own healthier food (ie red hot dogs, pizza, brownies) and wash it down with another microbrew at snack time
6. with little kids it takes 1-1.5 hours to start enjoying it after you get there and it takes 45 mins to an hour to prepare to leave
7. Just let them sleep on the way home, even if it makes them go to bed later than they usually do.
8. With older kids, it's good to let them develop A LOT of confidence before they take even one fall on a harder trail.
9. If you just get 1/2 of a good fast run down (because you were thinking of yourself for one millisecond and you allowed yourself to speed ahead of them) before you have to pick up a crying kid off the ground, then it was a good day.

28 January

Out of the mouths of babes.....

Lucas: Dad, Can I help you fix the stove today?

J: Well, I'm not sure you will know what to do.

Lucas: I know what to do.

J: How do you know what to do?

Lucas: Because I'm a genius!

27 January

You gotta love winter driving (and walking), and the mud and the sand and the salt and the slush.........

26 January

Somehow....these little electronic devices have made their way into our home and into the hands of our little ones, it was inevitable (and they are kind of cool-I especially like some of the photography apps for the ipod touch, maybe someday, I'll get to have one).

25 January

Dinnertime around here. It's a madhouse (a very LOUD madhouse)....Joy.

24 January

::On Monday, it was a bitterly cold morning, -10.5 to be exact, the kind of cold that freezes your nostrils together and takes your breath away when you step outside.

::On Monday J was traveling, so I got to take an extra day off of work to take care of things at home, it was a good thing.

:: On Monday there was lots of crying in the morning by the littlest which made getting ready for two buses a real chore.

:: On Monday, I had some time to sweat through a great kick boxing class.

:: On Monday, I had a special lunch date with the littlest after preschool at the local coffee shop. He picked a cranberry muffin and a strawberry milk. I picked a curry chicken sandwich on homemade whole wheat bread. We ate and I read him some books I brought from home.

::On Monday, We sat by the stove (which was cranked up almost to the max) and played animals all afternoon

:: On Monday, Liana came over in the afternoon and played games with B and L while I made fish for dinner

::On Monday, the time between the morning and afternoon buses seemed to go by so quickly.

:: On Monday, Breanna got home and watched her Thomas.

::On Monday, Trevor got a ride to swimming lessons. I love that we're old enough for carpooling now (I just read that ages 8-12 were considered "tweens" Really? I have a tweenager?!?)

::On Monday, I felt like I had the strength to be a good Mom and handle whatever came my way,

On Monday, my heart felt happy and full.

journaling inspired by this post.

23 January

Today....was about remembering, a service for our dear Eckart, and Nanny on what would have been her 87th birthday. No one would have guessed the sudden passing of these dear people. But no matter what you do, life, as Eckart always said...."just happens". Both your lives and service to others are so missed.

(Sung to the tune of Edelweiss)

May the Lord, mighty God

BLess and keep you forever,

Give You Peace, perfect peace,

Courage in every endeavor.

Lift your eyes and see his face,

Full of grace and love,

May the Lord, Mighty God,

Bless and Keep you forever.

Shirley T. Prager

January 23,1924-January 12,2007

You will always be in our hearts.

A copy of this poem (old and yellowed) was found on Nanny's bulletin board, this is how she would want to be remembered for it was the giving to others that gave her the most joy.

To Remember Me--A Poem by Robert N. Test

by Robert N. Test, American Poet

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face, or love in the eyes of a woman.

Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.

Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.

Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.

If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and all prejudice against my fellow man.

Give my sins to the devil.

Give my soul to God.

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.

things about her that I'll never forget.....

The way she loved her family so much with all her heart and soul, and how she cherished every minute of them

The way she never threw anything away---she saved every plastic cool whip container and every plastic bag

The way she gave of herself, even when it was hard or she was tired.

How she was so involved in her community, church and neighborhood, she had too many friends to count.

The way she always remembered everyone's special days.

Her home cooking, her card playing, her conversation

The way she always sat on the end of the table so she could get up if anyone "needed anything"

HOw she always told everyone how much she loved them and how special they were to her.

How she spent time with me when I was a little girl, teaching me to sew and cook and do girl things (I wish you were here to teach me more things now...)

The way she loved music and played the piano.

The way she hugged and never wanted to let go.

The lunches she packed "for the road"

I miss you Nanny....your life touched mine in so many ways, ways that I am still realizing to this day.

We rejoice you and your long, beautiful and meaningful life
:)

22 January

Today....was all about a new Dance class session, new electronic devices (namely an iPod touch) and working all afternoon with some ladies from our church on a memory scrapbook album with words and photos and memories (one of the most meaningful projects I've ever done).

21 January

I Love you Daddy (even if you are mad at me for licking the bus window)!

AND another snow day today.....I'm convinced it only snows on my work days:(

20 January

Only a three year old would need to sleep in his new light up car sneakers.....

19 January

And Just like that...another workday/school day begins.

18 January

Today, swimming lessons, grocery shopping and SNOW! Unfortunately, when you get to this time of year life does not stop for it anymore. Everyone was out and about trying to get all their to do list finished before the kids got out of school (early!). This boy, is the supreme helper (after he gets his snack, drink and gum) at the grocery store every Tuesday. He's too big for the cart now. When I remember, I make him bring his own money to pay for the gum, just so he thinks that he's not going to get things every time we go to a store (that would be a disaster) . I think I'll miss our little shopping trips when he goes to school.....

17 January

Our first ski trip of this year.

It was Cold...really COLD, 12 degrees cold. We did OK, we had all the gear even hand warmers and boot warmers, and it wasn't windy.

Liana watched Bre all day.

It was Lucas' first time on skiis, he was the cutest little thing. He had ALL his gear on and he was proud...he was a BIG boy. He started out very whiny, then sort of got the hang of it. By the end of the day Lucas even rode up on the chairlift twice, skiing down with Josh holding him under the arms. After we were done however, Lucas had a full out meltdown about having to give the rental skiis back, and then soothed it with the fact that he got to "keep his goggles". He then got a snickers bar for the ride home, but instantly fell asleep with it in his hand.

Trevor is even going too fast for Josh now on only his third time out ever, they took a wrong turn on their last run and had to WALK back on the road to our lodge (there are two lodges) 1/2 a mile, they WERENT happy.

All in ALL, aside from the the driving, the cold, the meltdowns, and the wrong turns .....it was so worth it. Swishing down the side of a mountain, breathing in the fresh air, seeing the moon come out during in the day and taking in that view. I LOVE this sport:)

16 January

Last night, when watching the football playoffs a commercial came on for a video game , Josh said, "Video games, those are a total waste of time, what you need to do is build a luge track in your front yard..." Yeah, Josh and Trevor spent all day building a Luge track in the front yard and if you know Josh, you know it was a really BIG production complete with water from a hose to ice everything down and make it real fast. Well, Trevor spent all day on it, Lucas took a couple of turns with his helmet on (and it was so cute how Trevor helped him), and Bre, well she had to be bribed to take this one and only turn. Good times.

15 January

I get his great magazine called Seeing the Everyday. It is filled with inspirational quotes and essays about the writer's memories and every day lives (no advertisements). The thing I noticed the most is that when people write about their childhoods it is about the things, "we ALWAYS did." " We always went for ice cream on Sundays or we always played games in the neighborhood." Our lives, they have a rhythm. A rhythm of doing the things we love and with the ones we love. Making those the things we "always" do. Whether it's baking bread and kneading it by hand (I call it adding the love) with Mom or building a sledding hill with Dad on a lazy Saturday afternoon. That's what they will remember, I'm sure of it.

inspiration for your weekend

this is a a fundraising campaign....but I still like the photos and the message (and her blog).

And these:

Statistics Turned Upside Down

Mean People Suck

Test of Acceptance

14 January

Sometimes (I know this) I struggle to take a step back. But I know in my heart letting you have the freedom to be who you are is one of the best gifts I can give you. You are all so different, yet the sum of you is what makes our family whole. Who needs Couch cushions to sit on anyway:)

13 January

Today a big meeting, our 7th annual to be exact. Well, I say a big meeting, knowing NOTHING is ever set in stone. No matter how much practice I get at these, I don't know if I'll ever leave one totally satisfied that I said all I needed to say, or that the plan is the best it can be. I don't know if I'll ever leave one without my head spinning, thinking about the people I need to talk to, get advice from or things I need to learn or look up. It's just a sucky process and I don't know if it will ever get any easier or ever be less work. But hey, who said having kids would be easy?

And Exactly one year ago today....My LASIK surgery! It's not for everyone (or without side effects), but It's one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

12 January

Snow Day.

Trevor: I like days off, I like being at home...

Me: Well If you didn't go to school how would you learn?

Trevor: I could teach myself things.

Me: How would you teach yourself the things you don't know?

Trevor: There is alway stuff you don't know.

I love it when you are right (and you say stuff that makes me think......there IS always stuff you don't know), and I love that you like being at home.

11 January

Hives again. Sleepless nights, AGAIN.

This poor child has been through so much in her life (yeah it could be worse), it's just not fair. I can't imagine how this feels....get better soon pumpkin!

10 January

My new favorite, my little iPod shuffle that Trevor gave me (it's his old one). I love listening to stories and "my music". I say, "Mom, I LOVE my iPod." and Most of all, I just want to be like my big brother....

9 January

Thank God we live where we do, these kids love playing in the snow!

8 January

Today.....a whole lot of nothing. I think we're true hibernators. Everything seems to move a little slower this time of year, everyone seems to be on each others nerves a little more. We still have ALOT of winter ahead of us. Right now, this is Our game, me and my boy every night for "special time" Trevor loves getting "his" music set up next to our game. It's fun. I hope he remembers "special time" forever.

7 January

6 January

saying goodbye to some favorite neighbors and friends as they pack up to make the move to Colorado. We'll sure miss them at Trevor's bus stop and for playing soccer and riding bikes after school. Change is hard.

5 January

Just the price of gas and the cost to fill up the van today....it's getting soooo expensive!

4 January

Just our weekly grocery shopping trip after swimming lessons. You make it through with an ipod listening to kids stories, taking you shoes off, eating a lemon Luna protein bar, a slice of cheese and a bottle of V8 fusion.

3 January

And TODAY......

back to the grind of school and work and a little quiet for one mama who gets a few extra days off at home :)

2 January

And every weekend morning in the winter, we walk. Last year, I remember we had two crying little ones on this trail....and this year big kids. The fresh air feels good and we have an exercising start to our day....all 5 of us and one happy muddy doggie:)

1 January

Our traditional morning sparkling apple juice toast and watching the ball drop (that we recorded from the night before.) An awesome walk in the snowy woods (it was so warm today!), a nap on the couch while we watched the parade and leftovers from our yummy dinner from last night. Cheers! and Happy New Year!