Birthday Boys

January 30th is one of my very favorite days of the year. I not only get to celebrate one special guy but two. My two favorite guys ever share the same birthday. Don't get me wrong. I love celebrating the birth of all my lovelies but something about celebrating my two favorite guys on the same day gets me a little emotional every year. Maybe, it's because there's two of them that I spend more time reflecting on what they mean to me. Maybe, it's remembering the 18 hours of horrible back labor I had with the little man. That was quite an accomplishment if I must say so myself. Anyway, words can't come close to expressing what these two guys mean to me. I have never loved anyone the way I love my dear hubby. He's a rare jewel that I try never to take for granted. Then there's that boy of mine. So full of life, spunk, energy, endless words,...exhausting for this mom but when those husky arms wrap around me or the almost too big little guy tries to fit on my lap or the random, "I love you mom" comes from his mouth this momma melts.

So, happy birthday to my two favorite guys in the whole wide world. Happy 35th my wonderful hubby and happy 8th my sweet little man. My life is truly blessed to have you both in it.

It's a love, hate relationship

If my husband can't keep me guessing (cause men are different than we women are) then my kids take over. One moment they're playing beautifully together. The next minute they can't stand to look at each other. Why?!! I can't figure out what changes from one moment to the next.

Well, anyway today was one of those days when they absolutely love each other. Thank you Lord! I needed it today. Oldest and little diva spent time this afternoon playing. Oldest dressed up the little diva make-up, hair, jewelry,... That's heaven for my diva. After dressup they decided to play house together. They played all day absolutely wonderfully together. I love it! It makes my heart glad to seem them love each other. Then, little man got home with dad. The fun continued. Oldest and little man were spies in training. They made up their own secret codes for the walkie talkies. They even had training sessions and scored one another. Love, love, love watching them play together and used their imaginations.

Today was one of those days. The ones at the end of the day when the kids are in bed you smile as you reflect on the day. And you hope and pray that maybe, just maybe you'll have another just like it tomorrow.

Happenings

Oldest and I started about a week ago doing a quick devotion together every night. It usually consists of a verse, a short paragraph to read and think about, and then a short writing about your thoughts. It's been great! I live spending time with the Lord but don't STOP long enough to really be with Him. That whole "be still" thing...yep, that's my struggle. This time every night has given us the chance to talk briefly about life, right and wrong, how we should live our lives and so on. So, we started because I knew it would be food for oldest. Turns out it's really good for me.


We celebrated little man's bday today. Yes, it's 8 days early. I know but winter weather is generally cold and miserable. The temp today was suppose to be 73. 73 in January?! Wow! Must enjoy and relish in the beauty. So, we planned a trip to Devil's Den to picnic, hike, go caving, ride bikes, and have fun with cousins. Well, the weather didn't turn out to be that nice. In fact, with the windchill it was just downright cold. So, we changed plans. We were going to give little man several options to make the day fun and special. Turns out he just wanted everyone to come to our house to eat lunch and play. We had a great, relaxing time. Wonder if he'll always be this easy to please.

Precious Boy

Little man is sick tonight with a stomach virus that's going around. In the midst of being miserable and losing his dinner he says, "I'm sorry for keeping you up all night mom." I'd give my life for that boy.

Drained

It's been a long week. It's been an emotionally draining week. A week ago yesterday someone I knew from high school was killed in a tragic car accident. She leaves behind a husband that loves her dearly, two kids (15 and 12)who need their mom, parents that are broken and aching. What a wonderful day for her. She's with our Savior and the pain and heartache this world brings is forever gone. But my heart aches. It aches for that husband. It aches for her children, and it aches for her parents. There has been lots of thinking this week reflecting on the things that really matter in life. Her life was a testimony of her love for Jesus. Could that be said of me if I were gone? Would others know that I was gone to be with the Father because my life was a reflection of Him? All those little things were put into perspective this week. It's time to be a reflection of Him and stop merely existing and living day to day but living like it's forever.

Funny Thinking

I looked over to see Oldest licking her itouch. Totally grossed out I asked what she was doing. Her reply, "I'm leaving my DNA so if it gets stolen it can be traced back to me and returned."
Blonde cousin heard of this from his mother. His reply, "Is there an app for that?"

Practiced quiz bowl questions with Oldest tonight as she is on the 4th grade quiz bowl team at school. Question: Spell the name of the building where representatives meet. Answer given:
o-c-t-a-g-o-n
Made for a great laugh. That would be Pentagon but the correct answer is capitol.

Sentimental Young Man

Today I was helping my little man clean and reorganize his room. We went through all toys and clothes and got rid of those that needed to go. While sorting toys the rescue hero box was getting quite full. Little man said, "I know I have too many rescue heroes, but I can't get rid of any of them. I love them and am saving them for when I have kids." I love that boy. He's a sweety. He's going to make a great daddy someday. Of course, I would expect nothing less with the fine example he's had to learn from.

Attitude?! I would say so.

This evening the little diva wanted to help me make biscuits. Of course, I couldn't say no. I love good help. As she helped she said with all the attitude within her, "Don't freak out Mom." What a mess she is but I love every minute of it.

Memories that come up in everyday life...

While getting kids settled into bed today Oldest said, "I miss Grandma Betty." I was thinking about how much I miss my grandma. Laura said,"After all she's the reason I'm a master at ski ball." Oh 'tis true. You could always find grandma at the ski ball machine during birthday parties at Chuck E Cheese. And Little Man said, "Yeah, she's the reason I dream of Oreos." Oh, how my grandma lived her Oreos, cream horns from the bakery, Rocky Road candybars, pink marshmallowy coconut covered snowballs, and never turned down a trip to Braum's. As I think back "Wow! She was a sweet eater/lover. That must be where I get it. Yep, we'll go with that. I inherited it. I love you Grandma Betty and miss you. How I wish you could have met my Little Diva. You would love her. She's really missing out not knowing you personally, but you better believe she know you from the memories I share. Can't wait to see you again!

Thoughts for a New Year

What are my new year's resolutions? Let's see...wake up early every morning to spend time in God's word, lose that extra 20lbs, start a regular exercise routine, have more patience with my kids...and the list goes on and on and on. It's nearly the same every year. So, I've been doing some thinking this year about one thing I can really do to improve. The little diva asks on a regular basis to be held, to be rocked, to help with whatever I'm doing. Unfortunately, the answer I give the majority of the time is 'not right now' or 'in a minute' but honestly that one more minute leads to one more and one more and one more. Quite frankly there is ALWAYS something that needs to be done, picked up, fixed, or cleaned. Come to think of it those very same things "need" to be done all the time. So, it's going to be very difficult I know as I am a bit OCD. I'd rather call it organized and orderly (Everything has a place and everything in it's place.) But my need for organization has become my curse. My kids are growing too quickly. I'm missing too much. So deep breath in...deep breath out, I'm letting some things go. I will sit down and rock the diva, I will lay down for one song with my oldest at night, I will read from the big book of stories on the nightstand when little man asks. I will enjoy my children. I will stop and live instead of letting life pass me by. Already today I have succeeded and failed all in the same day. I read two books to my little diva, but I said not right now when she wanted to help with dinner. I said not tonight to my oldest and not right now to little man. Tomorrow I will not let these moments pass me by. And I'm starting TODAY.