Getting Back To Business

It's a new year and I'm ready to get back to blogging.  This little journal of mine has taken a back seat the past couple of years, but I really need to get back at it - for the sake of my children having something to help them remember their childhood!

I'll post an update later, but for now I want to jot down something I've been thinking about lately.  I am not one for resolutions every year.  But, I do like goals and those have seriously been lacking in my life.  So, I decided to give myself a one word motto for the coming year.  If I'm successful with it, perhaps that will be my new thing...give myself a word to focus on each year. 

My word for 2014 is:  BE.
Be Present
Be Focused
Be Kind
Be Honest
Be Happy
Be Patient
Be Loving
Just...BE.

So many directions I can take this and I'm thinking perhaps I will focus on one Be each month this year.  Still need to figure that out, but for January I'm going to focus my attention on Being Loving...especially with my children.  Because really?  What's not to love about these munchkins?

Winter Doldroms

It would appear that I went on an unintended hiatus from blogging. Which means, I quit journaling. Oops...I really do want my kids to have something to look back on when they are older. My memory is shot after giving birth to two children (it's true folks, they do steal your brain cells). Since my memory is shot, that means I won't be doing much in the way of re-telling their childhood stories to their children someday. So, I need this blog to help me out with that!

I guess we haven't really been up to anything out of the norm. I suppose that is a good thing for us. Means we've stayed put and are just living day to day life. Although, Dylan keeps saying stuff about 'when we move to our next new house'. And I keep getting the feeling that a change is a comin'. Whatever that means. Never have been able to quite feel settled where we're at. Guess we'll see what the future holds.

My main thought lately has been that my kiddos are getting way too big and way too smart. I try not to think about it too much, but man, it is making sad! Not sad enough to want to throw another one into the mix though! Don't go getting any ideas.

Dylan is doing so so so well in Kindergarten. He loves it! He has made some really great friends, his teacher just adores him, he is learning to read (which is oh so fun to hear him sounding out words and watching him try to spell things according to how they sound), math is definitely his strong subject, and totally important in my mind...he occasionally buys lunch and tells me he picked the salad option! *Gasp* My child who will not touch a veggie with a 10 ft pole chooses to eat salad at school.

Lena will be TWO in 2 months and I just want to die when I think about that. Aside from the fact that she still wakes up multiple times a night, most nights of the week...she continues to be the most awesome toddler. Everyone that sees/meets her is just enamored. I pray for extra Mom powers when she is a teenager (oh and perhaps the money to buy a gun to scare away the boys). I love spending my days with her. She is honestly the 'total package'.

Thankful Thoughts

Bet you can't guess what I'm really, truly thankful for! Oh wait, I only talk about them all the time so you probably can guess right on the first try. I love my munchkins. Don't know what I would do without them. Actually, I'd probably be working at some job that I hate. So, I should probably be thanking them for needing me at home.

I'm also thankful for good teachers. Dylan has had some awesome teachers, both at school and at church. I love what they do for my child and for the special interest they take in him. He loves to learn, so I'm thankful they have made it fun.

I love that Mike is finally getting his hand on some of the Brazil projects at work. He has been much more pleasant the past month. And I'm very thankful that he is gainfully employed (it really sucked when he wasn't). I'm also thankful that he is fully supportive of me being a stay at home mom. He understands the importance of what I provide for our children by doing so.

This may seem a bit worldly, but I'm thankful for my car. After years of just driving what we could afford and what suited our needs, I finally get to drive around in something that I am in love with. Seriously, everytime I walk up to my Durango I get all happy inside. Love my car!

I'm thankful for my calling at church. After years of teaching the younger kids in Primary, it has been such a nice change being with the Young Women. I love the other leaders and I love the girls. It is refreshing to attend Thursday night activities and I love the discussions we have during our lessons on Sundays.

I am extremely thankful for all those who have supported me on my new photography journey. I feel like I finally found something that is all mine. I have struggled with not having something all my own since having kids. But, I love what I am doing. It is fun, it helps me tap into my creative side, and gives me a talent to focus on. Plus, I absolutely love hearing someone say that a picture I took of their children, made them cry! Happy clients = Happy Photographer.

I have really been struggling spiritually this year. So, I am very thankful for a Heavenly Father and Savior who keep gently nudging me along. I know what is truth and my beliefs are solid, but that doesn't mean I don't need help sometimes. I always know where to turn.

I also have the best parents in the world. They are such great examples to me. I love them very much.

I hope that you all find the things to be thankful for in your own lives. We are all truly blessed. Happy Thanksgiving.

Blessed

I'm sitting here this morning just thinking about the wonderful friends I've made throughout my 31 1/2 years. All of a sudden I became overwhelmed with the thought that I am so blessed to have so many amazing and inspiring people in my life. My heart is filled with gratitude for the influence for good they have each had on me.

These women (because lets face it, I'm married and guy friends kind of left the picture long ago), just amaze me with their accomplisments. I have long known that I am what some call a 'starter' but not really a 'finisher'. I have an interest in many things and I enjoy thinking of new goals/ideas. Some of the time, I even start working toward things. But, it is very rare that I finish or see things through to the end. I have struggled with this my entire life and it is something I'm constantly trying to change and overcome. Lately, I have become even more interested in trying to achieve my goals as I've watched my friends reach theirs. One just finished her first 5k (after a trying journey), another friend is getting ready to enter the home stretch in finishing school to be an ultrasound tech (all while being a mom and wife, working, and trying to maintain a home), and another friend who makes being a Mom to 5 boys (with a husband who is away for work a lot) look so easy. I won't say I'm jealous...I don't think that's what I feel. I just feel a sense of awe and also a definite feeling of proudness.

So, as I sit here inspired, I feel a motivation stirring. A motivation to sit down and figure out what my most important goals are (and which ones will fit into my life in this moment, because let's face it, there are some goals that need to wait until a different season in my life).

Thank you, friends. Thank you for being the wonderful people that you are. I am truly blessed to know you.

Words Escape Me

I have been trying for days to sit down and write a post to Lena for her 18 month update. But, as my title says, the words are not coming. I'm getting all teary eyed right this second. This little girl has made my life a million times better. And I had a pretty good life before she came along. She continues to be the sweetest little girl. She is full of sass and spunk. She finds everything entertaining and giggles all the time. She has brought so much joy to our home and family.

I am constantly amazed at how much she is learning and can understand. And even better, I can understand her! She is talking all the time and learns at least 5 new words each day. She is still a Mommy's girl and you will never hear me complain about it. Occasionally, at 2am, I might get a little annoyed, but the moment she nuzzles her head on my shoulder the agitation goes away and I melt.

Can someone please put in a special request on my behalf? Ask God to please slow down time for a bit. I keep asking, but it just seems to be going by even faster.

Field Trip!

I am loving having a child in Elementary School. It is so much fun helping out in the classroom and seeing how much my child is thriving in the school setting. This week, I volunteered to chaperone the Kindergarten field trip to Westview Orchards & Farm. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and this place was awesome.
Dylan loves Ms Slusher. As we took the tractor ride out to the apple orchard, he chatted away with her. It was very apparent to me that she genuinely loves the kids in her class. I love knowing that Dylan is in good hands all day.

I was assigned to look after four 5 (and almost 5) year old boys. Woah! Let's just say I'm so greatful to not be a mom of multiples. Craziness! The boys all loved picking their own apples. I think for every apple they picked and placed in their bags, they ate just as many. No wonder Dylan had a tummy ache at the end of the day.

Westview had the coolest set-up of any of the orchards around here. There is a 3 acre playground with a variety of cool, different sets. There is also a petting farm, a huge hay mountain, the cider mill, tractor rides, a pumpkin patch, and on occasion a bounce house (which thank goodness was not out the day we went). Dylan and his buddy, Drew, loved racing the little tractor bikes. I think they rode these for at least 45 minutes.

We ate lunch at the orchard, drank cider and everyone got a donut. If you've never had a cider mill donut in Michigan, put it on your bucket list. These suckers are to die for! I already told Mike that we need to have several family outings to the cider mills in the next month. Before getting on the bus to go back to school, we took class pictures. I love being able to see the faces of the kids Dylan comes home talking about. And more than anything, I love being able to spend this quality time with him. This was definitely a memory making day.

Whoa...

Where oh where did the past month go? Time flies when you're busy...and we have been very very busy. I have a newfound respect for Mom's of more than 2 children. I can barely keep my family organized! Two children in different activities, volunteering at Dylan's school, serving in the Young Women's organization, photography, and trying to spend time as a family...among other things. Craziness.

Lena and I started a Mom & Tot gymnastics class a few weeks ago. I can't decide yet if she actually likes it. We'll give it a month or two and then determine if we'll keep attending. I almost think the place is too big and it overwhelms her a bit. I may try and find a smaller gym that is better suited to small children. But, it's good to socialize her and get her working on her motor skills. Plus, it gives me quality time with my angel.

We spent Labor Day with some friends. Dylan just loves Abby. They don't get to see each other as much now that Dylan is at school all day. But, when they do get together, they always have a great time. Hanging on the boat is no exception.

I'm getting more and more busy with my Photography. I have several sessions booked in the next couple of months. I try to only do shoots when Mike can be home to watch the kids, but sometimes that doesn't work out. My recent session was with my friend's 6 month old son. She also has an almost 4 year old who Dylan likes to play with. So, we let them run around the playground while I took pictures of the baby. When we were finished with the pictures, I found Dylan looking like a deep sea monster. I'm just happy I had a sheet to drape over the seats in my new car! The kid sure does know how to keep himself entertained.