2013 In Review

As 2013 closes, I have been doing what most people do this time of year. Remembering and reflecting on the moments of the past year. The good and not so good.  All in all 2013 was a pretty great year for our family. 

Ryan began the new year with a change in his job. After many years in construction, he took an office job with IDOT around the beginning of 2013. Also in January 2013, Ryan and I traveled to Las Vegas.  It was an early 10th anniversary trip (we celebrated our anniversary in May).  It was also our first "adult only" trip since having Jackson.  We had a great time, but were ready to come home. 

 Vegas selfie.

March 1, 2013, became an extremely momentous day for me: I got to see Adam Levine (and the rest of Maroon 5) in concert.  What a great night!  Definitely makes the top moments of this year! And possibly 2014 too!

 
                                                                        Pre concert
                                                                         
                                                                                                                    

 

Our man Adam <3

 

 

In April of 2013, I took up a new hobby: running.  I have been bitten by the running bug and ran in two half marathons (one in September and one in November).  Running has become a place of calm and reflection for me. It pushes me to my limits and has allowed me to accomplish more than I thought I ever could.   For now, I plan to train for more halfs this year (I am shooting for 4 or 5) and maybe someday a full marathon.

 

Great group of gals after my second half. One word: hills. Ugh. 

 

                                                Ryan and me after my first half marathon





The summer months brought long days enjoying the outdoors. We spent many hours swimming, paddling around the pond in our new paddle boat and just playing outside. J took swimming lessons again and continues to be a water bug.  He spent the summer going to daycare and having fun with his friends there.  They attended bible school, library programs and plays at Timber Lake.  He had so much fun, in fact, that he was hesitant to leave for school in August!

J started kindergarten on August 21, 2013 and turned 5 the next day.  After a bumpy first few days, he now enjoys school and is doing very well.  He has made some good friends and has improved so much in his reading and math skills. We celebrated J's 5th birthday with a Batman themed party.  J loves super heroes and dressing up in his super hero gear.

 

"I am Batman"

 

First Day of School 2013

 



 

J's first school pic.

In September, we adopted another fur baby, whom J named Froggy.  Ryan was hesitant about adding another cat to the household, but it has turned out to be a great addition. Our 12 year old cat, Max, started out skeptical of the new cat, but now enjoys having another cat around.  And J is enamored with Froggy. I think I have said "Jackson, put that cat down" about 1,000 times already!  Nothing makes J happier than having Froggy sleep in his bed with him or to have her play with him. 

 

J and Froggy when she moved in.

 

 

With Froggy on Christmas.



In October, our families welcomed more additions: two new nephews!
My sister had her baby boy on October 22 and Ryan's sister had her baby boy on October 27.  Everyone is doing well and it is nice to have babies around to snuggle again.

November 2013 brought the start of our kitchen remodeling project.  This has probably been the biggest change of the year for our family. And the most challenging. We have been living out of a makeshift kitchen (located in our great room) and are very anxious to have running water and a sink hooked back up in our kitchen (target date is in 7-10 more days for that)!  Currently, we have most of the furniture back to its proper place, but we have a bit to go until all is back to "normal" around our house.

 

It begins.......

 Our makeshift kitchen.

 

 

All torn up.

 

 

Progress!

 

 With December came the holiday season with all of its usual fun, hustle, bustle and, yes, some stress! This was the first year that J really got the concept of Santa and he wrote his own letter to the Big Man this year.  J wanted a Packer uniform, Minion Monopoly and a boat from Cars 2.  Santa came through and J had a wonderful Christmas.  J also decided to redo his room in Packers colors and decorations.  As a family of Bear fans, we are unsure how his love of the Packers happened, but we love him in spite of it!

 

 J in his Packers uniform on Christmas.  Yes, those are Bears socks.

We were instructed to pretend they were Packer socks

until he got some real Packer socks:)

 







J posing with his Aaron Rodgers Fathead.  His prize

Christmas Gift.  J even wrote a fan letter to his idol:

 

 



We are anxiously waiting for a response!

 

All in all, we have had a fantastic year.  Here's hoping that 2014 is just as fantastic for us and for you all as well.  Cheers!

 

 

 

Happy 2014 Everyone!

Running

Earlier this year, I decided to take up running. In the past, I have run here or there, but was never a committed runner. My "runs" generally consisted of some running with A LOT of walking in between. I have many friends that run and I always sort of thought they were nuts.  But, in April, I decided I would try to get ready and run a 5k over Memorial Day weekend.  I have walked the event for many years and decided to give running it a shot. Many reading this won't understand why I run or even wanted to try. And I probably can't adequately explain the running addiction, so instead I will share my experiences so far.

Why do I run?  

My 5k training (if you could call it that) consisted of a run here and there and sort of training. In all honesty, it was a pretty half-hearted approach at training. But, I ended up running my first 5k in 30 minutes.  To say I had been bitten by the running bug is an understatement.  I immediately started thinking of my next run. When could I do it? How far could I go? What route should I run? How fast would I be? Could I even run farther? Then I saw this: 

And I decided that it didn't matter how fast I could run or how far, as long as I ran. Because not everyone can, and not all who can will. So, if I tried, I was already winning.

For about a month, I did runs maxing out at about 6 miles.  Each time I ran, I was shaving big chunks of time off of my finishing time and starting to find my pace. It was exhilarating! I was reading about running, nutrition for runners and training programs any time I had the chance. And of course I got some cute new racing attire. I mean, it is about running, but why not at least try to look cute, right? But in reality, I probably look like this:

Yep, that's me! Running with a candy baton:)

I ran a second 5k at the end of June and finished in 27 minutes.  I was elated. That was 3 whole minutes faster than my first one! A few days later (on the 4th of July), I was invited to run with a group of incredible ladies.  I did my first 8 miler. And I wanted more.  I decided then that I wanted to train to do a half marathon (13.1 miles for you non runners). These gals became my go to running companions.  They are all experienced runners who had tons of good advice, great attitudes and were almost always up for a run. They have helped me immeasurably.

The best way I can describe my running gals. You are the BEST!



I started looking at races at the end of October because I didn't think I would be ready before then. 
I decided on a training schedule of 3 runs during the week and long run on weekends. Each week I would hit up my running friends to join me on a long run. Each long run taught me something as did each runner who participated. With each run, I felt stronger and more sure of myself.  I was steadily improving my endurance and dropping my times.  By the time August rolled around, I couldn't wait until October to try a half. So, I registered for one on September 8. 

The weeks leading up to September 8 were busy and tiring!  But, my long runs were going great and I felt ready for my half.  On September 8, I woke up and was immediately excited and nervous. I got to the race and was relieved to see a couple familiar faces in the crowd, which helped calm my nerves.  The atmosphere was electric. Everyone was ready to go and excited to be there.

Now, I won't take you mile by mile through that race.  But, I will give you some highlights:

~The awesome volunteers at the water stations and along the route who were cheering and whooping it up for every runner who came by.
~The elderly woman sitting in her yard around mile 4. The lady who was thanking US because she liked to watch the runners much.
~The kids at around Mile 10 who had made signs that read "This is the worst parade ever!" and "You better run faster....because we all just farted!"
~The sign that read "If it were easy, everyone would do it - keep going!"
~The friends and families along the route with cowbells and cheering kids.
~The sign in someone's yard around mile 12.5 that said "Your legs are not giving out, your head is giving up - keep it up!"
~The incredible, scenic views from Eagle Point Park.
~Other runners who were super friendly, chatty and enthusiastic, including my new race buddy. Whose name I don't know, but who kept pace with me, laughed with me and even complained with me a little. She was awesome (even if she was a Packer fan!)
~My family waiting for me as I finished.
~Seeing the finish line!!!!

I can't say enough about people who watch races and cheer.  It means THE WORLD to the runners. Even if they don't know you. It doesn't matter.  Every cheer and smiling face makes it easier when you think you want to give up.  Even though giving up isn't really an option.  Not because anyone would judge you if you did but because you would never forgive yourself for it. My goal for my first half was to finish. J asked me several times if I would win the race.  Try explaining to a 5 year old  that finishing really is winning. Because it is. Whether you are first or last.  You are a FINISHER.

 

See, I am a finisher. And I have a medal to prove it!



So, in a nutshell, my "serious" running career has spanned about 5 months so far.  My only regret is not starting sooner!  I have met so many great people, developed many friendships and achieved many goals.  I have proven to myself again and again that I CAN do what I put my mind to. That the only thing stopping me, is me.  I have had awesome support along the way from friends, family and even a few strangers. But, what I love about running is that it comes down to me. I have to put in the training time. I have to run through cramps or blisters.  I have to pull myself out of bed at 5am, even when I don't really want to.  Because in the end I have to run the race and no one can do it for me. And not matter how tiring it is, how sore I may feel after, good run or bad it is worth it.

 The end is in sight!

 So close, don't pass out now!!!

 Yay! Made it!

Me and the hubster. I can't believe he stood that close

to me. I was offensive (smelling), to put it mildly!

   

Happy 5th J!

Happy 5th birthday to:

The reason I get up at 6a.m. on weekends.

My little Batman.

The most wonderful little boy laugh I have ever heard.

My shopping and errand partner.

The reason that getting vomited, pooped or sneezed on doesn't bother me anymore.

The reason I try to watch my mouth (I said TRY!)

The reason that my car is NEVER clean. Ever.

The sweetest little face I have ever seen.  

The reason I know every character from Thomas the Train, Fireman Sam and Bob the Builder.

The best cuddler ever.

The reason I see the humor in silly knock knock jokes again.

The reason my meals now include all of the food groups and the reason why cereal is no longer an acceptable meal option.

The reason I go on ranger rides, have water gun fights and go sledding.

The one person who likes it when I sing songs in the car super loud and off key.

The reason I worry constantly.

My little buddy.

The reason my floors are sandy, the fridge door is sticky and I can't find anything when I need it.

The reason I have watched Toy Story 1,000 times.

The reason that doing "old" things are new and exciting because they are his first time.

The reason that Iron Man is on my nightstand, Batman is crammed between the couch cushions and the Millenium Falcon is parked in my closet.

My greatest pride and my deepest source of joy.

The reason I do homework again.

The reason that I am a better person (because I know he is watching constantly and I have to set a good example.)

The best thing I have ever done.

Happy 5th Jackson!

Today Was a Great Day

Today, July 18, 2013, was a pretty darn good day.  I mentioned in a Facebook post that it had started out far better then yesterday and it only went well from there.

The reasons today rocked are:

1. I didn't oversleep my alarm. 

    I rarely do this and it happened yesterday setting a sour note for the whole day.  Today, I was up right on time and ready to go.

2. I got in a great run.

     When I overslept yesterday, running didn't happen.  I prefer to workout first thing in the morning, so oversleeping really messes up my world. A morning workout fits in perfectly before J gets up, it gives me tons of energy going into my day and I just plain feel better for having done it.  Today I ran.  6 miles.  In the fastest 6 mile time I have ever had.  Some days running doesn't go well. You struggle and cramp and just plain feel lousy.   But, even attempting a "bad run" feels better than not doing one at all. So, when a run goes well, it feels AWESOME.  Today's run was a great run.

3. I got to see the sunrise.

    Since taking up running, I have discovered numerous perks (if you will) of running that I hadn't considered.  This is one of the best.  It was mostly dark when I started my run, but on the home stretch, the sun was creeping up. And it was incredible. I have seen sunrises before, obviously. But, it has been too long. Or maybe I just haven't been paying enough attention. But, today, I watched the sun come up. Really, truly watched it.  There was just something about being outside alone in total quiet and seeing it that was breathtaking. 

4. J got his Kindergarten Physical

     This morning I took J to his first school physical.  It was quick and uneventful. They weighed him, measured height, checked his hearing and vision.  All were great.   J was all smiles, totally cooperative and Mr. Personality while there.  The nurse even commented on how happy he was. And that is why it rocked.  Because I have a healthy, happy kid. And I need to be thankful for that more often because some people aren't as fortunate.

 5. It is H-O-T!

     Finally! I have been waiting for hot weather!  I haven't had to turn on the space heater that I keep under my desk on even one time today.  That is nothing short of a miracle.  I have experienced one of the two or three days this year that I will not be cold.

6. We swam.

     And when it is hot, the best thing to do is SWIM! We are lucky to have a great friend who lets us use his pool anytime we want.  The water was warm, but incredibly refreshing.  J has vastly improved his swimming strokes and loved showing off is cannon balls and other fancy pool moves.

7. We cuddled.

    Okay, I admit that we do this every day.  But, it has always been and will always be one of my favorite parts of each day. J loves  a cuddle when he wakes and up and before he goes to bed. And I am more than happy to oblige.  I hope we always end the day sitting on our bed watching a silly move relaxing as a family.  I know J won't want to forever, but today he did. And with those cuddles, today ended as awesomely as it started.

10 Years

Today marks the 14th anniversary of my first date with my hubby (yes, that's actually a thing).  And Friday, May 10, 2013 marks our tenth wedding anniversary.  Which to me, seems like a huge deal. My darling husband is less impressed with our milestone, as men tend to be, I suppose.

So, I decided to put this in perspective for him.

To date, our marriage has lasted longer than the marriages of:  Courtney Thorne-Smith and Andrew Conrad, Shannen Doherty and Ashley Hamilton, Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman, Charlie Sheen and Donna Peele, Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock,  Lisa Marie Presley and Nicolas Cage,  Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson and Evelyn Lozada, Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman, Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas,  Axl Rose and Erin Everly, Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds, Cher and Gregg Allman, and Britney Spears and Jason Alexander.  COMBINED.

If you count the time we have dated, we have been together during 3 different decades and two different centuries. 

We have been married longer than J-Lo has been and she has been married three times (totaling 9 years and 3 months.)

We have been married for three different summer Olympic games (together for 4). 

Our relationship has spanned three presidents. 

Since our first date in 1999, the world has endured 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Invasion of Iraq, the fall of Saddam Hussein  and Osama Bin Laden, the launch of Facebook and the earthquake in Haiti.

During our marriage, the Bears went to the Super Bowl (had to sneak that in there!)

Over the last 14 years, trucker hats, diamond grills, bling, crocs and man bags (AKA: murses) have all reached the height of their popularity, and (thankfully) faded away.

When my hubby and I started dating, the world had not yet seen the ipod, the Wii, You Tube, the PS2, HDTV's or thumb drives. 

We have weathered the Twilight, 6 of those darn Medea movies, Justin Bieber, and snuggies.

Since meeting my hubby, some of the biggest names in sports have turned in the most courageous, incredible and mind boggling sports performances ever, only to later be part of huge scandals (Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Kobe Bryant, Barry Bonds, Michael Vick). And some athletes have just set the world on fire, and we were lucky enough to see it together (Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Drew Brees, Payton Manning, Gabrielle Douglas).

Not bragging, but our relationship survived Y2K AND at least three apocalypses predicted by ancient Indian cultures.

We have been married 50.69 times longer than Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.

And on a personal note, our years together have included many fun vacations, running two businesses and building our home. They have included the development of two successful careers, the loss of some very special loved ones as well as the birth of the most special little loved one either of us will ever have. There have been some tears, but there has been exponentially more laughter. 

So, maybe it isn't a huge deal to my hubby, but to me 10 years is nothing to sneeze at and I can't wait to see what the next 10 (or 20 or 30!) years brings! Happy anniversary Ryan!

The Contents of My Purse

Last week I was discussing the contents of my purse with a friend. I can't recall exactly how the conversation began, but I started to think about before I became a mom and how, back then, I rarely (if ever) carried a purse. Since having J, I have gone through several phases of bag carrying which has evolved into what I tote around now. 

First it was the diaper bag packed with items for every possible baby scenario: diapers, wipes, baby toys, a change of clothes, a bottle, some bottled water and a travel pack of formula (just in case!), orajel, bags for diaper disposal, an extra hat and blanket (in case of winter car trouble) and Desitin.  Once we could do away with diapers, the diaper bag was replaced with a smaller travel tote. This was filled with little snacks, emergency pull ups, books and more little toys.  The wipes were still in there too.  Now, I still find myself carrying one large bag everywhere I go.  I decided to really take a look in my bag to determine what I could possibly require that would fill such a large bag.  Turns out, I need a lot! Most items in my bag are mandatory.  Others could be and have been purged. 

Bag Item 1:

A travel coloring book and crayons. Actually three or four packs of those little travel crayons that you get at restaurants to color on the place mat.  You know the kind. They are boxes with only four crayons - yellow, red, blue and green.  However, in my supply of crayons the greens are all missing. Seriously.  Not a single green crayon in the bunch. Coloring can be a lifesaver during long doctor office waits or in church, so they stay in the bag.

Bag Item 2:

The medication pouch.  A small zip up pouch containing a small pharmacy: children's benadryl, antacid, kid's Tylenol, band aids, hydrocortisone cream, Neosporin and some excederin migraine.  I feel prepared for just about any emergency. Except maybe a stomach ailment. Note to self: pick up some Pepto for the pouch upon next visit to the store.

Bag Item 3:

Wipes. Yep, still carrying the wipes. Because kids=mess.  Pretty simple. Also, sister item to the wipes: hand sanitizer.  Because you just never know what kids might touch. I don't see these items becoming obsolete for a while. Well, ever really.

Bag Item 4:

Boys size 4T Star Wars undies.  Yeah, I am not sure why those are in there either.  They are clean, however.  So, back in the undie drawer they go!

Bag Item 5:

Coupon Organizer.  Because if I keep the coupons elsewhere, I will inevitably forget to take them along to the store.  And nothing burns me more than paying full price for Cheerios when I know there is a $.50 coupon at home. Carrying a cumbersome plastic organizer is totally justified by saving money.  Makes me feel like I am sticking it to the corporate money makers by saving a buck or two. I can also rationalize things with my savings. For example "I saved $.75 on t.p. and a buck on laundry soap, so I can afford these new shoes. And this scarf. And these jeans." Thus, it stays.

Bag Item 6:

What I like to call "the crap catch all".  It is a zip pouch (larger than the pharmacy) that I apparently fill with every piece of junk that I don't have any other place for.  But, upon closer inspection, I actually need all the stuff in there. Really, not a single thing in there that I could in good conscious be without on a daily basis.  Currently occupying the pouch:
*a nail file
*nail clippers
*ear buds
*mini no water needed toothbrushes (for those times that you realize AFTER leaving home that your child didn't brush)
*small mirror and brush
*floss
*deodorant (Helpful hint: Don't leave this in the car in the summer, then attempt to use. Liquid deodorant = not cool.)
*FHP (am I right ladies? Never leave home without it!)
*AA and AAA batteries. 

Bag Item 7:

6 Plastic Ziploc Baggies.  Because I always think to myself : "Self, baggies come in handy when doling out snacks or for disposing of things, better stick one in your purse."  Then I forget I did it. I have reduced the supply of baggies to 2.

Bag Item 8:

3 Tubes of chap stick.  Same problem as item 7.  Maybe I ought to have my memory checked out.

Well, the bag isn't really much cleaner after taking inventory. It is marginally more organized, which I guess is something!

Vegas baby!

Back to life, Back to reality....

Last week, Ryan and I took our first parent only vacation since we had J.  Our destination? Las Vegas!  Ryan had never been and it has been about 10 years since I went, so we decided to head out west.

We planned to meet our vacation buddies there (a couple whom we met on our honeymoon and have since taken a couple trips with.)  As always, we had a great time!

Our first day started out with a day trip to Hoover Dam.  We were lucky to have a rental car at our disposal, so we took off for the day.  The dam is pretty incredible. It also elicited a myriad of corny "dam" jokes, which we still chuckle over.  And now the Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is open.  From atop the bridge, the views are spectacular!

Hoover Dam as seen from the Pat Tillman bridge.

 

The Patt Tillman Bridge. 

 

We followed up the dam with a drive into Red Rock Canyon.  This was probably the most unexpected bonus of the trip to me.  When I think of Vegas, I don't usually think of gorgeous scenery and breathtaking landscapes.  But, right outside of Vegas are some incredible sights.  Had we been better prepared, we probably would have spent a whole day out in the canyon hiking and taking it all in.  We saw as much as we could and marveled at all the people who go to Vegas and never know what they are missing only a few miles away.

 



After a full day of sightseeing, our first day of Vegas was far from over!  We went for dinner at a lovely litte cafe inside the Venetian Casino.  We ended up eating dinner there every night of the trip.  The selection was large, the service was great and the food was delicious! 

 



 The Venetian.  Ryan's favorite Hotel (by far) and home to our

favorite dinner destination!  Beautiful!

 

After dinner we hit the Beatles Love Cirque De Soleil show at the Mirage.  I don't know if any description that I would write here could do this show justice! The music of the Beatles was brought to life through gorgeous lighting, dancing and costuming.  It was breathtaking. I enjoyed it very much and received a few jabs to ribs from the hubby for singing along at a volume that he must have deemed too loud.  Apparently he didn't appreciate my rendition of the Beatles classics.  Sadly, picture taking and videoing at Love is strictly prohibited (they had an usher on hand whom we dubbed the camera nazi), so I have no pics of the show.  Which is fine since it is etched into my memory!

 

Our second day in Vegas started with a trip to the Mandaly Bay to see their aquarium.  It boasted having the world's only hammerhead shark.  Which we never saw.  But, we saw a variety of other interseting sea creatures and it was a fun activity for the morning. From there we headed to the Luxor. Ryan wanted to try the "best burger in Vegas" at The Burger Bar (as seen on Food Network).  The burger did not disappoint and Ryan left full and happy.  That evening, we made an impromptu decision to see Mystere (another Cirque show) at Treasure Island.  Mystere was also an incredible show.  Very different from Love and I think we picked two shows that went together well.  They both featured different things and had a totally different style.  I immensly enjoyed them both. 

 

And as if seeing an awesome show wasn't enough, that was the night I fell in love.  With a pair of shoes.

 



Now, my husband was not thrilled with these shoes.  But I adore them.  I am actually wearing them now.  After much agonizing over whether to bring them home, I pulled the trigger.  So glad I made them mine.  But, I digress.....

 

Our last day in Vegas was spent exploring the strip.  Our hotel (the Vdara in the City Center) was located near the Bellagio.  A brief walk from our lobby over a sky walk into the Bellagio and we were on the strip.  We ventured as far North as we could and then doubled back to the South.  We played $1 on penny slots in each casino.  Ryan was the big winner.  He won 900.  Pennies that is!  I don't think we will ever be mistaken for high rollers!  I think we walked for about 4 1/2 hours that day (and boy, it felt like it too!)

 

All in all, it was a great trip.  We got a break from the harsh mid west winter.  We saw incredible sights.  Ate too much and laughed too hard. But, as always,  it was good to come home too! 

 

 The strip at night.

 Paris all lit up.



The cheesy pic that Ryan took as a joke that ended up being

the only good pic of me from the entire trip. Go figure.

 

New Year's Resolutions

It is that time again.  Time for a new year and new resolutions.  I am not typically a big "resolution-er" (that is my new word, you may use it if you choose). But, by golly, I was going to do one this year.

I listened to friends and family tell me their resolutions hoping I could just use one of theirs (maybe I should resolve to be more creative?).  But, I soon found flaws with every one of them.

I couldn't start exercising.  I already do that. Every morning, 7 days a week.  I figured I am good on that one. And going hand in hand with that was eating healthier.  Well, I don't eat much junk.  I tend to snack on fruits and veggies or protein bars. So, that was a no go as well.

Another I heard from friends was to quit smoking.  To accomplish that, I would have to take up smoking and then quit.  It seemed counter productive.

I soon realized that I don't have many of the  "usual" bad habits. Not that I don't have any - mine are apparently just a special kind of "bad" and most people don't suffer from them. I don't drink. Don't chew my nails. Never done and don't see the point in doing drugs.  I don't gamble.  I am not a big spender or shop-a-holic. I mean, I love shoes (who doesn't?) and fun new things, but if they are too pricey or not in the budget, I will pass them over.  Apparently, I am practical to a fault. Maybe I should give up caffeine? I do drink a lot of caffeine.  But this is a resolution to improve myself and, by extension, the world around me. An uncaffeinated me wouldn't be able to spell resolution, let alone form any coherent thought or function each day. Back to the drawing board..........

I read alot, so reading more was out.  I don't like to cook, so cooking more just wasn't happening.  Trying one new thing each day?  Boy, that seems like a lot of work. Get organized? I am just one D shy of being OCD. 

Then it dawned on me.  Perhaps my biggest "fault" is that I am pretty regimented.  I like things to go according to plan. Why? Because that is comforting.  That is easy.  That makes life enjoyable to me because I know that I have taken care of all that I need to for that day. Work is done, my family is fed, their clothes are clean, homework is done, my house is tidy and we accomplished it all on schedule, allowing plenty of free time to just hang out together.  So, how is this a fault? Well, lets just say that when things don't go according to plan, I can be a little ill tempered.  I feel out of my element and a little out of control.  And from that fact came my resolution:

"To be more flexible, more patient and to let go when things don't go exactly as planned."

Yep. It is a lofty goal. But if you know me, you know I don't like to start small or build up to something. I want to go full speed, 100% and accomplish the heck out of things.  It is only logical that my resolution fit that pattern.  So, here we go 2013 - the year of the less rigid me!  Wish me luck.......

Christmas Traditions

The Christmas season is making me very nostalgic.  I have been thinking a lot about the traditions we had when I was a kid and the traditions that we are starting with J now. 

As a kid, the first tradition of the season was getting our Christmas tree.  We always had a real tree at our house and my mom was always the judge of which tree to get.  We would don our coats, hats and boots and trudge around a tree farm until we found just the tree she wanted.  She would slowly walk around the tree deciding if it was full enough and had no big holes.  We would cut it down, strap it atop the car and drive it home.  There were a few years that the tree was pretty big and I imagine it was quite comical to see what appeared to be an evergreen on wheels driving down the road.  We would get the tree home and almost always had to cut at least six inches off of the bottom for it to fit it the house.  We never seemed to be able to judge the size of the tree well and it inevitably occupied most of the living room.  My dad even had to create his own homemade tree stand to accommodate the size of our trees. The standard store bought stands weren't cutting it.  Several 2 by 4's and some guide wires later, our tree was up and we were in business. 

Then my mom got out the ornaments.  This was almost ceremonious each year.  Each family member had their own ornaments to add to the tree and unpacking them each year was exciting.  Every ornament had a story or a reason behind it.  Many of those ornaments still hang on our tree today.   Once the tree was nearly done, my dad would put the angel on top and my mom would add the three Wisemen ornaments (ornaments kept from her childhood).  Then the tree was complete and it was time to put the Nativity under it.  I always thought our trees were beautiful.  The ornaments weren't color coordinated or themed.  But, they were our family history. Each Christmas that our family celebrated was represented in ornaments on the tree (including the construction paper ornaments made by my parents for their first Christmas together when they couldn't afford real ones).  When J and I decorate our tree, I tell him the story of each ornament, many of which my mom gave me when I moved out.   I can look and find at least one ornament for each year from the year of my birth to the present.  And just like my parents got an ornament for me each year, I get one for J and when he has his own family and tree one day, he will have those ornaments to share with his family.

One of my other favorite traditions was writing our letters to Santa Claus.  My parents still have our letters and every now and then they pull one out on Christmas and read it.  The ones penned by me and my sister are usually lengthy and quite detailed. We elaborately listed and described each toy that Santa should bring.  Then there are the ones for my brother.  It is clear that for the first few years of his life, mom and dad let my sister and me write his letters too.  Our letters typically read like a thesaurus.  They are full of adjectives and run on for pages.  My brother's letters say things like "Dear Santa, I want a ball."

Then we would mail our letters to the North Pole and a couple weeks later, one would come back to us from Santa, whose handwriting looks a lot like my dad's!  Last year,  we started this same tradition with J.  We wrote a letter and mailed it.  And my dad wrote one back to J from Santa.  This year, J wrote his letter all on his own.   He listed out the items of choice and drew a picture of each one, just in case.

On Christmas Eve, we would start our holiday celebration with dinner at home. We would have spinach and salmon soup (among other things) as those were traditional foods that my mom would have on Christmas as a child. I love spinach soup, but I am certain no one likes salmon soup except my mom and grandpa. After dinner, we would head to church for the Christmas Eve service, which always ended by candle light with the singing of Silent Night.   After church, we would drive around looking at Christmas lights before heading home.  Once there,  we would leave cookies and milk for Santa and we do this with J too. Although we also leave oats and carrots for the reindeer.  After all, they are working had and get might hungry too!

On Christmas morning, we would wake up and run to the tree to see if Santa had come.  Mom and dad always made us sit in front of the Christmas tree for a photo and then we would open our gifts.  Once we had them all unwrapped, we would spend the day assembling new toys, playing new games and watching new movies.  Usually all while wearing new p.j.'s, socks or other clothes.  We even spent a few Christmas mornings standing out in the snowy yard clad only in jammies trying out new toys that couldn't be used indoors. 

All in all, my childhood memories of Christmas are great.  We didn't get every single thing our heart desired, but we always got more than enough.  And I know now that what our gifts were didn't really matter anyway. Because as you can see, what I remember isn't any one gift or toy.  It is the traditions and the time together as a family.

Giving & Getting

Once again, Christmas is upon us.  Like every kid, J is super excited.  He has a list for Santa and we will soon be writing a letter to him.  And like every kid, J wants just about everything he sees.  But, he has limited his list to four very manageable items this year.

This year J wants: a Darth Vader, a General Grievous (also a Star Wars character), an excavator and a game for his Mobigo. I have it on good authority that Santa has this one in the bag!

But, with receiving gifts should come giving.  Too often the focus is on what we get and we forget how fortunate we are to get anything at all. As adults, we know there is nothing better than seeing someone open a gift that you have given them and seeing their face light up with excitement. For kids, that is a harder concept to grasp.  And one that has to be taught.  Yes, it is fun to get gifts, but having a giving spirit is important too.  I personally believe that this is an idea that is taught and that too many kids are taught to be greedy, selfish and entitled now days (imagine me talking in my best old curmudgeon voice here).

With that in mind, we have been trying several ways to get J into the giving spirit.  One thing we do annually is Toys for Tots.  Each year we donate a few toys for kids who otherwise might not get any Christmas Gifts.  This year was the toughest so far for J.  He REALLY liked a couple of the toys we were planning to donate.  At first, I thought we were going to have a meltdown of epic proportions over donating the toys, but J pulled it together, put on a brave face and was okay with leaving the donation in the bin. 

Each year I allow J to be in charge of filling his dad's Christmas stocking.  He gets to choose the items for the stocking and we make a card for his dad.  Then on Christmas Eve, we sneak the stuff into the stocking to be ready for Christmas morning.  Last year, J had a blast picking things out. So much so that we overflowed the stocking.  He was so excited that I couldn't tell him to stop!

Also, at J's school they have an annual gift exchange.  Each year I have taken J to the store and let him choose the toy he wants to get for his friend.  I am sure some of the other parents have thought "why did they choose THAT toy for my child?" The answer is simple: by letting J choose, he has to think about the other child, consider their likes and dislikes and choose a gift that HE thinks will make them happy. I think that is important for him.  I could pick it myself, but this way, he is involved and gets to really consider giving a gift.  He is also in charge of wrapping it himself.

But, the most fun project we have done is a new one this year.  J has a love for cutting, pasting, coloring and creating "projects".  This year, I directed that into Christmas Card making.  We took wrapping paper scraps, stickers, ribbon and bows and glued them to construction paper.  I helped, but J did most of the work and he signed each card with various greetings: Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas or Peace, Joy, Noel etc.  He made about 20 cards total.  I then brought the cards to work and contacted family members.  We wanted to sell each card for $1.  The money collected would be sent to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.  The response was overwhelming! People were asking for 5 cards or more each!  The donation hasn't been sent yet, but currently he has made over $50 to send in.  If you ask him, he will tell you that the money if for "sick people".  And he has proudly stuck each donation in the money envelope that I have kept for him.  I hope to do something of this variety annually so that in the season of "getting", J will keep in mind that giving is important too.

Over the next few weeks, I have big plans for projects: cinnamon tree ornaments, salt dough ornaments and decorative cookies.  Some will be attached to gifts, some will go with J to share at school and others will be shared at work.  Hopefully we are laying the foundation for J to grow into a generous young man.

DId I really say that?

I was reading a blog written by another mom earlier today.  She wrote about the things she has said to her children during their lifetime and how she never thought she would say certain things to them.

I think we all have those "mom" phrases on our list that we vowed never to say, but have had to utter at some point. For example:
"Because I said so."

"Eat all your food, there are starving kids in China!"

"Don't make me pull this car over!"

We have all been there.  Your child is acting up, you are frustrated, tired and the first thing that pops into your head are the tried and true momisms that you hear during your childhood. 

But, raising J has prompted me to say some things that I never would have thought I would say.  Here are a few of my faves:

"Are you kidding me? How did you fit that Ipod in there? Well, we're never getting that back."

"J what is this brown spot on your carpet? Is it dirt? It had better be dirt!"

"You aren't wearing underwear? Why aren't you wearing underwear?" (This one was when the dr. asked me to pull his pants down for shots only for me to discover he was going commando.

"Why am I sticking to the floor?"

"I don't care if your friend "so and so" doesn't have to wear a stocking cap. His mom apparently doesn't care if he catches pneumonia."

"Well, if you didn't drool so much, your chin wouldn't get chapped like that.  So, stop drooling so much."

"You have been chewing that same piece of pork chop for 15 minutes. Just swallow it already!"

"If you are hungry enough for ice cream, you have room to finish your green beans/chicken/potatoes/taco/spaghetti/corn."

"Jackson, you may not start another activity until you pick up the last three that you had out."

"You have a choice. You can do it by yourself. Or, I will count to 3. If I get to 3, and you haven't done it,  I will do it for you. And you won't like that."

"Ugh - don't put that paint brush your mouth!"

"I know you are excited, but you need to calm down a little. You are hopping around here like a monkey on speed."

"Don't growl at people. You are boy, not an animal. Speak with words."

"If you are going to pee outside, Pee downwind and not near where you play."

"Jackson, mommy is not a jungle gym."

I am going to have to start keeping track of some of the more interesting things I say.  I am sure I would have blog material for years to come!

Topsail Island Vacation

Last week was Jackson and my first real vacation together.  We have taken short weekend trips here and there, but this was our first real time away from home (9 days!!!). Unfortunately, Ryan couldn't travel with us due to work. But, that did  not stop us from having a fantastic beach vacation!

Our traveling caravan departed on September 7.  My sister and I drove the kids  (Jackson and cousin Anna, age 2) in our Flex.  My parents and brother hauled all of our junk in their car and led the way!  It was a long drive (20 hours), but for the most part, the kids did really well.  We packed everything but the kitchen sink to keep them occupied and distracted.  Eventually they fell asleep and we decided to drive as far as we could while they slept.  We arrived at the beach on the 8th around 1p.m.

It was really hard waking up to this for a week (HA!)

 

We weren't able to get into our rental house at that time, but we had access to the beach. We unpacked some sand toys and introduced the kids to the ocean.  J was in awe!  He loves digging in his sandbox, so an entire beach was like heaven to my little boy!  The waves, however, took a little getting used to.  When he first set foot on the beach, he ran right up to the edge of the water to check it out.  He clearly didn't understand how waves work because when the tide came rushing back in at him, he let out a yell and started sprinting up the beach with a wave hot on his heels!  By week's end, he would wade out into the surf and liked to try to jump the waves. 

Our humble abode for the week.

Playing in the waves.

The week started off with visits from two cousins who live in North Carolina.  It was great catching up and visiting with them.  We also spent the first few days just playing on the beach.  We tried boogie boarding, built sand castles, searched for shells and tried to find crabs. We walked to the nearby swimming pool a couple times too.  Jackson liked finding the crab holes on the beach and would often be seen with his face stuck over a crab hole seeing if it was occupied.  Luckily, none were!

J looking for a crab. I suggested he not stick his head in the hole, but

he thought it would work this way!

Trying to boogie board.

On Wednesday, we headed out for some mini golf and dinner. We found a great putt putt place and played 18 holes. J scored about a 176.  We would report our scores to the score keeper and when J was asked, he would claim anywhere from 10-30 strokes per hole.  He apparently didn't grasp that the lower scores are better :)  Afterwards, we decided to drive the go karts.  J loved this! He is definitely a speed freak and loved passing the other go karts.  And since I can be a little (okay a lot) competitive, we cut off a lot of drivers too, which he also thought was hilarious!

On Thursday, we chartered a small boat for a few hours.  Captain Phil took us all over the Intercoastal Waterway in search of dolphins, turtles and gators with no luck. But, he did take us to a small secluded beach crawling with Fiddler Crabs.  We also found a few hermit crabs. After fashioning a make shift box, we were able to tote them back to the house and keep them for a couple days.  My dad braved the water in a kayak at the end of the week in order to return them to the wild.  I am sure they were quite relieved little critters!  J loved the boat ride. He loved checking out the shrimp boats, looking for shells and wading in the water. 

Cheeeeeeese!

 

Boating crew with our fearless Captain Phil!

 

We relaxed for the day on Friday before packing up and heading home on Saturday.  We were sad to leave the house, but I was ready to be home.  When we arrived home, J was super excited to see his dad.  I don't think he left his dad's side for the entire first day we were back!  The next day, J came out of his room dragging a tote bag stuffed with books and toys.  He announced that I needed to load them into the Flex because he and his dad were going back to the beach house for another vacation!

All in all, it was a great week. We were blessed with incredible weather (80's and sunny all week!). We had no major problems traveling and everyone made it there and back in one piece! Sure we had a few bumps in the road: Anna had a tummy ailment and fever for a couple days, we battled biting flies on the beach and we all had cranky moments here and there. But overall, it was a wonderful time.   I think J was the perfect age to really enjoy himself at the beach.  He was big enough to brave the waves, loved digging in the sand and everything was an exciting new adventure for him!  Can't wait for our next vacation adventure!

I think this sums up his feelings on the trip! Two thumbs up!

All smiles on the boat :)