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Date night....rescheduled.  Dressing up, and actually doing my hair and make-up.  A few Cosmos, a bottle of wine, an AWESOME fancy dinner and desert.   Browsing our favorite bookstore. a perfect care-free evening thanks to our AWESOME babisitters:)  

I'm Home
By Cathy Anthony

(follow-up to the original Welcome to Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley)

I have been in Holland for over a decade now. It has become home. I have had time to catch my breath, to settle and adjust, to accept something different than I'd planned.I reflect back on those years of past when I had first landed in Holland. I remember clearly my shock, my fear, my anger, the pain and uncertainty. Inthose first few years, I tried to get back to Italy as planned, but Holland was where I was to stay. Today, I can say how far I have come on this unexpected journey. I have learned so much more. But, this too has been a journey of time.

I worked hard. I bought new guidebooks. I learned a new language and I slowly found my way around this new land. I have met others whose plans had changed like mine, and who could share my experience. We supported one another and some have become very special friends.

Some of these fellow travelers had been in Holland longer than I and were seasoned guides, assisting me along the way. Many have encouraged me. Many have taught me to open my eyes to the wonder and gifts to behold in this new land. I have discovered a community of caring. Holland wasn't so bad.

I think that Holland is used to wayward travelers like me and grew to become a land of hospitality, reaching out to welcome, to assist and to support newcomers like me in this new land. Over the years, I've wondered what life would have been like if I'd landed in Italy as planned. Would life have been easier? Would it have been as rewarding? Would I have learned some of the important lessons I hold today?

Sure, this journey has been more challenging and at times I would (and still do) stomp my feet and cry out in frustration and protest. And, yes, Holland is slower paced than Italy and less flashy than Italy, but this too has been an unexpected gift. I have learned to slow down in ways too and look closer at things, with a new appreciation for the remarkable beauty of Holland with its tulips, windmills and Rembrandts.

I have come to love Holland and call it Home.

I have become a world traveler and discovered that it doesn't matter where you land. What's more important is what you make of your journey and how you see and enjoy the very special, the very lovely, things that Holland, or any land, has to offer.

Yes, over a decade ago I landed in a place I hadn't planned. Yet I am thankful, for this destination has been richer than I could have imagined

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My winter bus stop.

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Not a good week. Sometimes....Motherhood feels like you are in the middle of a war, just hoping for pure survival of the day, sometimes taking things minute by minute. Today, we almost had to put Lucas in the hospital. He was still sick a few times because his digestive system is not working properly (the virus is long gone). BUT, after I called the doctor and was waiting for a call back, he did go pee finally. He may be turning the corner, but it is VERY slow going. He still is not eating or drinking much. He will nurse however, so I think just that little bit of a baby's perfectly digestable food might have saved him from the hospital. Honestly, this has been almost as stressful as Bre's heart surgery. Atleast with that, we knew that it would be over in a finite amount of time and knew what to expect. this, well has been horrible. God, please help my baby, I just want to see him running and playing (and EATING) again.

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what I have out from the library right now....and really inspired by the 7 habits.

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Lucas is still sick (took him to the doctor, but not much we can do).  I'm beside myself getting this kid to try to drink fluids or eat a little.  Sometimes it's so hard to stay optimistic about things when you can't get a break from the stress of it.  Trevor went to school half day today and as we were walking back from the bus we noticed how beautiful our house looked with the snowy background and all that sticky white stuff on the trees (I wish I had my camera with me.) But here's a little fun shot of these two and their newly discovered tea set.  Hey, you need at least one smile a day, right?

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What we have learned.....

1.)to stay calm no matter what.

2.)Things can ALWAYS be worse.

SERIOUSLY,  Let's just say that ALL the kids were simultaneously ill at exactly midnight last night.  Poor Trevor was up sooo many times.  That's night number 3 with no sleep for me and I just couldn't bear work today. Secondly, a ranging snowstorm was going on outside all night and we lost power at 2 in the morning.  Thirdly, the second Josh pulled in with our rented backup generator, the power went back on (are you laughing yet?!?)  

Today....the kids are eating a little soup, crackers, noodles, drinking juice, listening to quiet music, resting  and getting some energy back.  And me...about 10 more loads of laundry, and going from one child to the other getting needs met.   Most of all, I hope they are finding comfort being carried and hugged by Mommy's arms...tired arms, but arms that are there just the same.

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Two more down for the count. Let's just say that Josh and Breanna had a "touch" of what Lucas and I had, and just needed ALOT of rest today.  Lucas was still feeling bad, and was VERY needy.  After Bleaching and Ousting every touchable surface inside, Trevor decided we needed to head out for some fresh air before the next snow storm rolled in.  And Yes, he got Lucas' boots, jacket and hat on too:)  Love this kid :)

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Doing better, but just sticking close to home today, in my jammies and resting (and watching the Star Wars movie that Trevor was supposed to watch with a babysitter), more plans cancelled with cousins and a haircut.....

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Change in plans......Date night, rescheduled.  Today's picture was supposed to be Josh and I holding the camera out to take a picture of ourselves out getting a cocktail and then to one of our favorite resturants.  BUT, Lucas started getting sick with a stomach bug early afternoon and then I followed (all night!)--nice timing (and Josh was fine)....

Star Wars Day

and pancakes for Breakfast!

More Pics of the big day...

Enjoy!

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The REALLY big first day (an skiis!).  We spent most of the week worrying about the weather, but it all turned out fine Trevor absolutely loved it!  He took a two hour lesson and then hit the lifts.  He spent a lot of time on the ground (of course!), but never once complained, and by the end of the day he was riding the BIG chair lift and starting to get the hang of it.  Maybe next time, I'll get to go:)  We're so proud of you Trevor, We're so glad that you had such a great day to remember your February Vacation by!

25 random things

About You (4 years old).....

1.) You Love Curious George and own every book, every TV show and Movie ever made.

2.) Your bedtime is 6:30 and you have to tuck your George doll in bed next to you every night

3.) You can almost comeplete a 24 piece puzzle completely unassisted

4.) You understand that you can't talk as well as other kids your age :(

5.) You love sports, soccer, basketball and trucks

6.) You like to pretend you are a dog sometimes

7.) You like to sit at a table by yourself for meals (so Lucas doesn't bother you)

8.) You wear a 4T shirt, 3T pants and size 8 shoes

9.) you pee on the potty successfully every 1-2 days

10.) You hate getting dressed in the morning, doing your hair and brushing your teeth

11.) You don't like people being loud or telling you what to do

12.) You like therapy now

13.) Every Friday you get to ride a horse named Firefly

14.) You love getting into trouble, clearing shelves, emptying baskets and drawers, , shoving things under the couch, and writing on things

15.) You know your colors, letters, numbers 1-10, and can read some words

16.) You adore your older brother (not so much the younger one...)

17.) You usually have a runny nose, although this year has not been that bad.

18.) When we get in the car to go to preschool you always ask for your little people music and when we pull into the parking lot you yell, "school!"

19.) You hate the cold and especially the wind

20.) You can take off your own coat and sometimes put it on

21.) Most people who meet you usually adore you

22.) You are getting better at holding hands and walking

23.) Your favorite foods are cheese, pretzels, veggie sticks, strawberries, pasta, juice and you just started drinking milk.

24.) Your nickname since you were a baby has been Boo.

25.) You give the best hugs:)

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makin' breakfast...

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Days are always better when spent with friends.....at the BOUNCE ZONE!

and having two six year olds for the day was like a breath of fresh air :)

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Let the Vacation Begin!

25 Things

about you right now (6.5 years)....

1.)You are All Star Wars all the time

2.) You wake up every morning and come into our room and ask to watch Clifford the Big Red Dog.

3.) You use words like apparently and for example, and you think it is boring being a grownup b/c "you have to pay taxes."

4.) You don't eat very much meat

5.)Your bedtime is 8 o'clock.

6.) You love snow and winter and sometimes you wear your snowpants home from school so you can play outside right off the bus.

7.) You get an allowance

8.) You are reading level 3 readers

9.) You wear size 6 pants, size 6-7 shirts, and size 13 or1 shoes.  Just today, You wore MY socks!

10.) You are loving, patient, and kind and usually never fight with your sibllings

11.) You like to whine, complain and pout, especially when things are hard and you don't get your own way

12.) You surprise us.

13.) Your favortie breakfast foods are Mighty Bites cereal, waffles or cheese eggs

14.) You usually have a bowl of cereal before going to bed at night.

15.) You are so excited to learn new things at school and a delight to have in the classroom.

16.) Your best friends are Nick H., Zach, and Nial

17.) You love the game Sorry and play it at least 2-3 times a day (and you have to be green).

18.) You are so good at keeping track of your stuff at school

19.) You have lost one tooth, have 3 more wiggly teeth and are getting your six year old molars.

20.) One of your favorite perople in the world is your Gammie

21.) You can't wait to go to Disney World (neither can I!)

22.) When you get older you say you want to play the Trombone like your Grandpa b/c you can play Star Wars music on it.

23.) You fall asleep at night with your head buried in the pillows.  

24.) You are really good at Math

25.) You are thoughtful, and love to give me hugs, and handmade I Love you things:)

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Albert Einstein :

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all

we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire

world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

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a typical night at our house involves ALOT of monkeying around.....LOVE this!