Crunch

My children are crunching apples. The three oldest...sitting in a row...huddled over the same book...and crunching apples. I love the sound! They are taking a break - we are between outside playtime and indoor schoolwork time. They think it's so wonderful to have their very own apple and not have to cut it up to share. Love it!

Countdowns

Apparently, I love a good countdown. This is one reason I LOVE Advent. I absolutely adore the countdown leading up to it. Each day finding out another piece to the puzzle. And each day getting more and more excited about the end result! As a child, I remember opening those doors to pull out a piece of chocolate. Oh the joy! As an adult, I cherish the meaning in a different way. I look forward to that Christmas Eve service, holding the candle, and seeing my family do the same. And then, the Christmas morning miracle. Oh the joy! I even love counting down towards fun outings. I always like to know plans in advance so that I can "get excited" about doing something fun! So, it's not surprising that I recently bought a countdown for my kids that included Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. We don't really need another Christmas countdown...but who says you can't have more than one?! We've been counting down to Thanksgiving now and I'm not sure who loves it more...the kids or me??? Each day we get to pray for something new. Your home, your country, family, and today is our Church. We are so thankful!! And in about an hour, my parents and little sis will be driving down to LA to spend Thanksgiving down here. I.Cannot.Wait!! A week full of laughter, food, fun, and rest await me! Oh...and of course 2 of my children's birthdays too!! It's birthday week in our house!!! We are celebrating Addelyn the day before Turkey Day and Luke the day after. What a week to countdown to!

Back in the saddle...

I had given up on blogging. Mainly because I ran out of space and time. Also, my routine was cut short by our move and maybe it has taken me 18 months to find a little bit of normalcy in our lives again! But, just this week I opened up my blog. I went back to the very beginning and was able to read stories and see pictures of my little ones. My little 4 year old baby girl who has now grown up into a 9 year old young lady! It was so fun to remember that time in my life and I realized I'm not quite ready to stop. The kids even enjoyed hearing their own stories read aloud. So, maybe I'll keep going. It will be sporadic most likely. Our life is full and even at this moment I am taking time away from what I should be doing in order to take time for this. But, that's okay. Life in Louisiana has been different for us. It has been a huge transition and one that isn't over yet. Just when I think things may feel normal again, one of the kids will start talking of how they miss home. And the things that were normal to them. Generally, that can be dismissed by a little chat and a lot of lovin'. We are determined to make many memories here - taking every opportunity to drive to my Grandmother's house or experience South LA activities. (which is it's own unique culture, by the way) We are Homeschooling again also. After trying out the local Public School for 5 months last year, we were forced to realize that it just wasn't going to work for our kids. It wasn't a good option and we couldn't put our faith and trust in the school to provide what they needed. Simply put, there was little JOY in this school and we were watching the joy being sucked from our daughter's life. So, here we are schooling two of our kids now -- 4th grade and Kindergarten. God has given us moments to hold onto. Where I am reminded that they are young and being together is good. Life will not always be this way - but it is right now. So, we are happy with how things are going. We've also connected to a Homeschool Group that helps us a ton. We will be going on several field trips throughout the year and have already been on two. (One to a FireStation and another to a local theater for a children's play!) We are slowly finding out things that are happening around us and are able to get involved and be a part of them. Our baby boy is 10 months old and nearly running around the house. He has a new bruise each day and is just as tough as his big brother. I didn't think it could be possible to have two boys that had so much energy! But, it is! Mackenzie and Nate are playing soccer and really enjoy it. They love all team sports tho! It is SO FUN to watch 5 year olds play any sport. Yesterday, Nate was goalie and the other team scored a goal. Ryan hollered out, "Nate! Keep your eye on the ball!" Nate yelled back, "I am Dad! I just watched it go right in the goal!" He also stopped at mid-field to yell at me, "MOM!! Check out that awesome rainbow! It's BEAUTIFUL!" Until next time...

Changes? Yes, please!

Lots of changes are in store for our family! We found out a few weeks ago that we will be moving to south LA in May! It all happened very quickly, but we feel God's hand on our situation and we are excited about the next journey. (For those of you curious...Ryan will be a therapist at a Children's Home....right along the path of his calling!) The best part is that we'll be much closer to family. I have dozens of relatives in a short radius, including my Mimi. We're so excited to be heading back there. Ryan's family will be a short 12 hour drive. (short, because it is currently 24 hours!) And my parent's will also be 12 hours away.

But, even bigger than this job change is more news we received. We're having another baby! We are thrilled to wait for our 4th to join us in Nov!! The kids are so happy and already guessing boy/girl, red hair/blonde hair, etc. I am feeling sick and wishing for the 2nd trimester to get here!

It is so wonderful to feel God's love on our family. Shown in many ways for us this year!

A smile goes a long way

For Christmas, my parents bought us an Ipod touch. In our house this was a pretty big deal since we are always way behind the newest technology! Since December, I have fallen in love with this toy. My favorite part about the Ipod is it's docking station. It sits in our kitchen and I'd like to credit it with at least 67% of the reason we have made it through yet another KY winter. On days where we can't seem to get enough energy, due to our lack of Vitamin D, I turn up the tunes and we dance our blues away in the kitchen.

My sweet little one, who is now a solid 2 year old, has been quite the little stinker lately. In a last resort moment the other day I swept her up and danced with her to the song, "Smile.....ladi-can't remember the name-da". At any rate, we SMILED. Music - my first love - has come back around to find me this winter.

And, today, I bought my 4 year old son a light up Spiderman t-shirt at our local consignment sale. You would have thought I had bought a 16 yr old a shiny red convertible by the number of thank-you's he has given me. It made his day! And the best part, I only paid $1. And that made ME smile!

I overheard my oldest looking out for her little brother today. There was an older kid being a little ugly to him. The best part was that my girl was incredibly kind to this stranger, but gave him other options for talking to her brother. I could tell, without even seeing her face, that she was smiling at this kid.

And, my true love, has managed to keep fresh flowers in a vase for me for the past month. Maybe he knew that looking at them would put a smile on my face and remind me that I'm loved.

These are the people I live with. They make me smile, we make each other smile. So, pass a smile out. It really does go a long way!

A Melancholy Kind of Day

I have much to blog about - a 10 year Anniversary trip with my love, another year of Campmeeting - but that will all have to wait. It will take more time than what I have now.

For now, I'm listening to the last of 10 loads going through the dryer. A few items remain in small bags here and there that need to be unpacked. But other than that, there are no other signs of vacation. It's all behind us - and I think I could just cry. I look forward to June each year for so long, that when it's over it feels hard to breathe. Back to the reality that life is. It was fun having others help me care for my kids. Fun knowing that people were loving on them as well. Nice breathing thick, humid air. It was even nice slapping a million mosquitoes away. It was wonderful taking a break with my husband. Wonderful sitting under a coconut tree with a drink in one hand a book in the other. As we drove the 20 hours away from my Mimi and Papa my heart was a little sad. It's just too far away.

Post-vacation days stink and that's all there is to it!

Race Ramblings

Saturday, April 24, 2010 I ran my first Mini Marathon! (Don’t know why they call it a “mini”….13.1 miles does not seem mini to me!) What an amazing experience it was!! It wasn’t quite what I thought it would be in some ways, and it surprised me in others.

Friday, the night before, my friend Sarah and I left Wilmore around 4pm to drive to Louisville. We stopped at Buca di Beppo’s to eat dinner out! This was WAY exciting – as Sarah and I never get to eat out together, let alone BY OURSELVES! (Plus, I had a $10 off coupon, which made the meal even tastier!) The company at dinner was splendid and the meal divine. (For those food lovers out there: We ate an amazing Granny Smith Apple & Walnut Salad and Gnocchi: served family style) I tried to get Sarah to stay on a “race themed” evening with me…throwing race lingo into our conversation at unexpected moments, but that didn’t last too long. One enjoyable part of the restaurant was the bathroom – they have hilarious vintage posters covering the walls. We stood in there and laughed for quite a while!
After dinner, we drove on to the Expo to pick up our race packets, which included our race bibs. When we parked and started walking in the nerves began! It was exciting though. I felt a bit out of my league with some of the people there, but most of the people looked pretty normal! We picked up our packets and walked through the vender tables. Sarah and I both bought a running belt to wear – it has 2 zipper pockets to hold your phone, key, Mp3…whatever. I like to call it my Running Fanny.
Then, we decided it would be a good idea to drive the race route to get a feel for what to expect. Maybe that wasn’t a very good idea, actually. The route was very FLAT. Driving it made it feel pretty long and Sarah and I may have both had the “deer in the headlights” look on our faces. Not to mention the small little detail that we managed to get ourselves lost around Iroquois Park. Thank goodness for a GPS!!
We spent the night at my cousin’s house in L’ville. Jennifer had a guest room all ready for us! Sarah and I were thankful to sleep in her house vs a hotel. Not to mention it was seriously the most comfortable bed either of us had ever slept in. The comfy bed made it into many a joke for the remainder of the weekend. (calling it “the happy place”) Unfortunately, neither one of us slept more than two hours that night in that wonderful bed - - nerves are an awful thing to try to sleep through!

Saturday morning we stumbled out of bed at 4:45am so we could leave by 5:15am. We were parked in downtown L’ville and on the bus for the starting line by 6:15am or so. They were calling for RAIN on race day. Actually, thunderstorms. I was mostly nervous about the rain. I was terrified of running in soggy conditions for so long. It was pretty rainy as we were preparing for the race, but I was really praying for it to clear up! I was not prepared to see the Porta-Potty lines. WHA?! There must have been 50 stations set up – with about 30 lines of people waiting. Sarah and I were in line for 30 minutes waiting. During this time it POURED on us! We stood there huddled together, shaking from the cold, and wishing we had purchased the $7 poncho from Rite Aid the night before. (Both of us were too cheap to spring for something we’d end up throwing away) The rain didn’t last though, and by the time we found our “corral” to start in, the rain had stopped. (Praise JESUS!)

Sarah and I were in Corral C and were soon joined by Lindsay Aja – another Wilmore running buddy. Lindsay decided to torture herself and run the FULL Marathon! Wow! – 26.2 miles!!! She did an amazing job, too. We stood there waiting, stretching, praying, and texting. I had heard that my fam had just made it to L’ville and were planning to be around Mile 10. (This included Ryan, Mackenzie, Nate, Addelyn, and Mom & Dad!)

I divided the race into 5 sections – for my own mental state of mind:
1. Iroquois Park – first 4 miles. Hilliest section
2. Miles 4-6
3. Mile 6 – Churchill Downs
4. Miles 7-10 – Looking for family during this section
5. Miles 11-13 – the final section – thru downtown.
I was hopeful that this would help me mentally tackle this race.

The race began at 7:30 – and we crossed the Starting Line at 7:44am. About the time I crossed the start line, I heard the loud speakers announce that 11,000 runners had already crossed. That’s a lot of people, folks! (There were 15,000 people registered to race) My feet were soaking wet from the Porta-Potty rain episode and they felt gross – it doesn’t get much worse than wet socks! It rained off and on for the first 4 miles, then was overcast until the last 20 minutes full of sunshine. I did all my training in Wilmore, which is littered with hills. The first 4 miles of the race was in Iroquois Park – supposedly the hilliest part of the race. I felt great throughout this part. The hills were not a challenge at all, I actually loved this part because it was gorgeous through there. I had thought a lot about how it would be running with that many people. But, I really wasn’t quite prepared for how frustrating it would be. Throughout the first 4 miles there were so many people walking or at different strides, that it made it incredibly difficult to find a good pace and we spent a lot of energy trying to dodge in and out of small pockets.

Once we exited Iroquois Park people were able to spread out much more. This led to a new problem, though. Flat Streets! Who knew that running on flat streets could pose itself as a problem to me?! Maybe it was boredom, or maybe I really DO appreciate climbing a hill for the sole purpose of finding some reprieve as I go down a hill. Anyway, I would say that miles 4-6 were very mentally hard for me.

At mile 6 we got to go into Churchill Downs and run the inside track. (Where the Kentucky Derby is run) The only good thing about this was that it was a nice distraction to the aforementioned Flat Streets! We did get to see some horses running the track a little bit, but mostly we couldn’t see much of anything. I saw the big bell tower and told Sarah to remember it, because in a week when they ran the Derby we’d be remembering this run! My Dad is from L’ville and I grew up watching The Derby, so that made this part pretty cool to me. At this point, I could feel that my wet socks were creating new blister points. They were slightly annoying, but not super painful yet. My mind kept going back to the fact that my feet were wet – it was a struggle to try to forget about it.

Once we exited Churchill Downs we knew that we could start looking for our families – this gave us a reason to look around and get excited! We saw Jason & Cora, Sarah’s family right at Mile 8 – it was SO fun seeing them! We clapped and cheered and it really gave us some much-needed energy. I spent the next 2 miles searching for my family. My coworker and Saturday morning running friend, Kelly, gave my kids little windmills to hold in the air. It was a great idea and gave me something to look for as well. I was searching so hard and was afraid of missing them. Right when I was starting to freak myself out that I wouldn’t get to see them - -there they were! Around mile 10.25!! I saw them pretty far out (thanks to the windmill) and threw my hands in the air waving! Didn’t want them to miss me or anything. ;) They cheered for me and I cheered for them! Mackenzie was first in line, holding her sweet sign that she made for me! (“Way to go Mom!” and “You Rock A Lot!”) Before I could stop myself I grabbed her and kissed her, then kissed each and every one of them! It took all of 3.2 seconds and I continued on my way. What a rush. That was my very favorite part of the race. Knowing they came for ME. Stood on the side of the street and watched for ME. Cheered and encouraged ME. I loved them immensely in that moment and was SO thankful that I was able to see them. I really felt the hard part of the race was behind me and there was only a little bit left.

And here they are: The family waiting at Mile 10:


The first spotting...

Mackenzie was out front and waiting!

My "run-by kissing"...


And I'm off again.

And this might be where the mental breakdown began. There were no milemarkers during the race. I only saw two of them actually, and I heard afterwards that some of them were stolen. Either way, they definitely weren’t even big enough for runners to see. That was a huge challenge. I had no idea where we were in the race and it also made it hard to stick to a pace. Around mile 11, we thought we were at mile 12. That’s not a good thing! So, the last 20 minutes or so felt so painful. Around every turn we were expecting to see the Finish Line and had no idea where it was. I remember my body aching. It started with my feet. At mile 8 they started tingling – as if they had fallen asleep. (maybe the wet socks?!) By mile 11 they were hurting incredibly bad. The pain crept up to my calves. Then at mile 12 or so, my back started aching. I tried to find a new mental ground – I could tell this was going nowhere fast! I pulled myself together a bit, or at least tried to, and thought about how far I had come. I really couldn’t believe what I was accomplishing, when just 4 months earlier I couldn’t run a mile. Then I thought of all the early morning runs I had put in. This led to how thankful I am to the Lord for being with me during EVERY run. For running every mile with me. For encouraging me and giving me strength. For allowing my back the strength needed to run this, when only 7 years ago I could barely WALK. The tears began to brim at my eyes. Then, my throat began to constrict and I realized that I wouldn’t be able to run and cry at the same time. So, I quickly shut off the tears.  I started thinking about Meredith, aka “Coach”. Another Wilmore friend and running mate. She is always SO encouraging and I knew that she had full confidence in me. (She was running her Full Marathon in Nashville at the exact same time.) It wasn’t too much longer before we rounded the blessed corner and saw the Finish Line waiting for us. I don’t know what took over me. Maybe it was a Churchill Downs flashback and I felt like a horse out of the starting gate, maybe it was the tingly feet…I couldn’t really feel too much, or maybe it was desperation. I took off! I ran faster than I ever have before! I hardly touched the ground! I could hear crowds of people cheering and clapping. A smile reached my lips and I couldn’t stop the cheesy grin even if I tried. And then I passed the Finish Line! 2 hours and 25 minutes after I started. I wanted to cry, but couldn’t. (once again, choice of crying or breathing – breathing won.) I wanted to hug my family, but couldn’t. (trying to maneuver 2 strollers and a 6 yr old through crowds takes a while. Plus, it wasn’t the greatest layout for the fans there.) Instead, I held onto my medal, grabbed a Powerade, and sat on the curb. I had done it. I found a goal, trained for it, and reached it. I'm honored that I was able to complete it and so thankful to Jesus for being with me.

Once Sarah and I were able to hobble out towards the crowds we found some of our group. Then sat by a playground and waited for the rest. I imagined a tearful reunion with Ryan. We had both anticipated this day and moment for so long. But, I was so tired and hungry that all I needed was to hug him. He said all the right things, once again. I’m so lucky to have been matched with someone who is so supportive of anything I do. I hugged my parents and felt blessed to have them as mine. I’m still stunned that they realized the depth of this accomplishment of mine and came to support me. And, of course, I hugged each of my children. I am so proud of them and could see that they were proud of their Mother. Maybe that is what I wanted to see all along.

World's Greatest Husband and Kids:


My parents and I:


Sarah and I wearing our medals proudly!




I rested for a bit and then began the trek back to the van. (I think it was at least a 5k) The kids took turns trying on my medal. We made it out of there and headed to Red Robin for lunch. Talk about delicious! (Thanks Mom and Dad!!!!) We drove home in the POURING rain. We couldn’t see the car in front of us – I was once again amazed that God had given me sunshine during my run!! Once home, I showered and fell asleep on the living room floor. I was told that Nate was climbing all over me and talking in my ear…I don’t remember that at all! Dad took us out for a Dairy Queen blizzard…what a wonderful treat!!

Addelyn was asleep before we could get back to the van...


Nate (the animal lover) was okay as soon as he found a cool piece of art.


A delicious meal at Red Robin!:



The competitive side of me is never completely satisfied. I was instantly disappointed with my time. Everyone says that your goal on your 1st race should be to finish – to not even put a time on it. Whatever. Everyone knows I can’t do that. So, I began to analyze it right away. For the next few nights it kept me awake even. How could I have done better? What could I have changed? There were a few unexpected things I hadn’t considered before hand:
-wet socks. I know that slowed me down.
-no mile markers to set a pace to.
-the crowds in the beginning and weaving in and out through them.
-miles 11-13 were so mentally challenging.

So, that made me feel a bit better in a “maybe that makes a little bit of sense” kind of way.

But, for me, it really comes down to this: I ran the race. Just like anyone, adding anything onto my schedule is a challenge. As a wife, mother to 3, and part-time employee my life is pretty full already. I came a long way – and I’m happy to have reached my goal. The first 4 weeks of this experience in January, I kept a running journal. Here’s a quote from the very first day: “Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 = Ran 1.25 mi outside in 20 deg temps. 5:15-5:30pm. Thought I might die and my esophagus did burn the rest of the night! Made it though.”



I’m so happy to have this experience to reflect on. And, it’s not over yet…this morning I went for a run.

Six days...and definitely counting

Running. It's a new word in my daily vocabulary. For some crazy reason, last Novemberish, I decided I needed to run a 1/2 marathon in order to get back into a routine of working out. Why a 5K wasn't good enough I'll never know. :) So, the first week of January I began my new running training schedule. 4 runs a week. That first run was hilarious. Not at the time, of course. I went for a 1 mile run and came home huffing and puffing. I laid down in our hallway - cheeks bright red - and felt like I was going to pass out or throw up. Happily, I did neither.

But, I DID keep going. I kept up with my schedule - with many thanks to Ryan. He has been the quiet supporter - always encouraging - always saying just the right things to make me feel strong. With 3 young kids who depend on me for most of their every need, the only time to run was usually 6am. Try that in Jan/Feb when it's FRIGID outside. That equals no fun.

My Saturday "long" runs kept me going. I loved meeting up with 3-5 other women to run the roads of Wilmore before most of the town began to stir. And each week, I ran farther and stronger.

I remember thinking that there is no way that I'll be able to run this entire race. I remember doubting what I was trying to accomplish. But, there was no way I'd ever give up. My main reasons?:

-I turned 30 this year. Ouch.

-I've accomplished a lot in the past 10 years of my adult life. Most has been connected to others. Mainly, my kids. I take HUGE pride in this fact. I am beyond blessed to have the 3 kids I have. I can't stress that enough. But, I needed a personal goal to reach. I supported Ryan through Seminary, had 3 babies...it was time for me to do something because I needed it.

-Did I mention I have 3 kids? When I began training, Addelyn was 13 mos old. I needed a fresh way to lose baby weight. Mission accomplished. :)

-To set a positive example for my kids. I want them to see what living a healthy, happy life looks like. I try to eat well. I try to exercise well. I'm sure I'll mess up at times, but I'm doing my best!

-I've never been hugely athletic. (unless you count H.S. and College Marching Band. HOLLA!!) I've always wanted to be though. It's fun to feel like maybe, just maybe, I can belong in this group of runners. Really? Me? Can I really call myself a runner? :)

So there you have it. I've trained. I've cried from shin splints, blisters, strep throat, the stomach bug, and sleeplessness. I didn't give up. And now, only 6 days stands between me and this huge accomplishment in my life. I'm so so so excited.

Saturday. April 24th. 7:30am. 13.1 miles.

Kids and All

Mackenzie.............

Mackenzie makes me laugh. So much so, that I can't keep up with keeping track of all the things I want to.
Yesterday she came home from school and told me that her teacher's (Mrs. M) grandmother had passed away and the funeral was over the weekend. She told me that Mrs. M said that the first day of spring was a faaabulous day to have a funeral. I said, "well, I bet her Granny would have liked that." Mackenzie: "Well, Mooom....(eyes looking sideways at me) it was Granny's funeral so she couldn't know." The whole thing made me laugh because she was so matter-of-fact about it.
Last night, Ryan asked her if she'd like to go the soccer clinic for her soccer league. They do it once a week during March and it's just an extra practice for them. Her response???!! "Dad, I don't know...cause I'm already really good at soccer." She is not lacking in self confidence!

Nate.....................

Nate received several smiles in the grocery store this morning. Including a man telling me that I don't need to take him to the playground - the grocery store is good enough! That is because Nate was running laps around me and the basket. All while singing the theme song to "Go, Diego, Go!" very loudly. He insists (daily) that we call him "Diego" and is irritated with us when we forget and call him "Nate".
While eating lunch today he told me that he was going to be a Dad when he grows up. For the record, he said he was going to have 4 kids. (just a little side note for his future wife) In my opinion, that day can stay far away. I rather fancy seeing my 3 yr old eat a sandwich at our table. He is constantly telling me, with a smile, "I like you, Momma". Somehow, that might be even better than the "I love you" comments.

Addelyn..................

Addelyn is a firey little thing. She stands up for herself. She is not afraid of Nate or anything he can do to her. It makes me laugh, mostly. She is also cuddly and cute. She is talking more and pointing. She's very curious. She's been sleeping better lately. However, this week she's decided the pattern had become too predictable. She's been up at night some and makes her presence known! She almost acts offended that we would dare leave her in a room all alone at night!! She loves to be outside - trying to keep up with the others. She'll hold M's hand and walk around...that is the sweetest thing.

Life is good.

and so here we are...

March 4th is here. I guess today I am 30. Whenever I say it (or heck, even think it) I cringe a little inside. Entering into a new decade of life requires a new thought process too. Even the sound of saying I'm 30 is so different from 29.

So, I meet this day with a bit of hesitation..not quite sure what to expect, but here goes...















I'm sure that surprises will come my way. So, maybe I'll be ready for them. Or maybe I won't...















Mostly, I plan to live. To relish in the days that I call my own. To do things that surprise even myself and be the person I need to be. To love my husband and kids to the best of my ability. To savor every moment of our days. I have no clue what 30 holds for me. I'm a bit scared of it. But, ready to face it head on.

So, here's to being THIRTY!!

As the saying goes

There are things I say, in my head, on a regular basis that I heard from the wise people in my life.

-"One for each person, and one for the pot"....in reference to potatoes. Most of the women in my life use this saying as they cook. But it was my mother-in-law who said it at a time when I must have been learning how to cook. Every time I make potato soup, I think of her and that saying. I'm now putting 6 potatoes in the pot for soup in the Forbes house.

-"Swap a Smile. Trade Some Cheer. Let's Be Happy While We're Here!"....this saying is on these wall plaques that my Mom has. 2 very seventies looking flowers that say this. We grew up reciting this ALL the time...as we moved from state to state with the Air Force. I find myself repeating it in my head on a very regular basis here in Kentucky. ;)

-"Bloom where you are planted." Sort of goes along with the above.

What are the sayings you have in your memory. Phrases you repeat all the time, without even knowing it. I know that I have more....but during this limited space of naptime - this will have to do. Tell me your's!!

it's wednesday night

I sit in a quiet house. The TV on mute. Kids snuggled asleep in their beds. And Ryan beating his drums at church. My eyes are burning from exhaustion...and it's only 8:30pm. My life is a continuation from the previous day, it seems. Some days my only goal is to hear my kiddos laugh. I get excited when I can cook a good meal for less than $4 that everyone enjoys. Vacuuming once a week is an overachievment. If Ryan forgets to set the coffee pot it can throw off my whole morning. And if I'm not at the grocery store by 8:30am then there is no use going that day due to kid's schedules.

All this adds up to one thing. Aging. And I don't even know how that happened! I'm turning 30 in about a month. ouch. ouch. ouch.
I recently was talking with my Mimi about milestone birthdays. This happened to be on her 80th bday and I decided to probe her mind a bit about aging. Mimi is very blunt and honest, which I admire and love about her. I asked her if turning 80 was hard..."No, I don't feel any different than yesterday". What was your hardest bday, Mimi?...."Thirty, most definitely."

That's right folks!! THIRTY! And here I am. She said that turning 30 felt like leaving your childhood behind and entering into adulthood. You might be laughing at that statement...thinking, "well, Angela...you have 3 children and have been married nearly 10 years! Doesn't that qualify as being an adult?!" Sure it does. But, in my mind, I'm in my 20's!! Young and free! (Well, okay, maybe not free...but young!)
Then there is the whole thought that my days are just simply flying by! I want to freeze my children at these ages....when they are young and in my care. Minimally influenced by the outside and majorly influenced by us. But, it's impossible! Time keeps ticking by!

So, since it appears that tomorrow will be here whether I'm ready or not, maybe I should just go ahead to bed. Even at 8:45pm. Because I'm 29.

for the love of a little sis!

I can remember the day my sister was born. 23 years ago today! Am I really that old to remember something so long ago?! Yes, apparently so. I remember sitting in my 1st grade class of Social Studies. I didn't particularly care for my teacher, so I was ecstatic when I heard the secretary's voice come over the loud speaker in the room to say that I was being checked out early. I quickly scooped up my belongings and ran out of the room with a smile on my face. I dilly-dallied down the hallway...unaware of what was going on in my mother's world. Halfway to the office it clicked. I suddenly remembered that my mother was going to have a baby at any moment. This must be that moment! I ran the rest of the way to the office - forgetting that we werent' allowed to run the halls of the Elementary School! (I've always been a rule breaker.) My older sister arrived at the office at the same time as I. I don't remember a conversation, but I do remember a huge smile shared. We were ready to meet our baby.
We made it home to see mom before being sent to the living room. (The baby was born at home!) I remember waiting with my older sister and 18 mos old brother.
Finally, we were allowed back into the room. I was concerned for my mother - wanting to make sure she was okay. Then we each got to hold this sweet baby of our's. Our little sister. Our real-life baby doll.
Today I say thank you to my parents for giving me such joy. Thank you to my sweet Lord for giving me the love of a sister. I love this sweet sister so immensely. We've shared fights, love, laughs, chocolate, and tears. I'm beyond grateful that I can remember the day she was born. And I'm thankful that Kathryn is who she is - what a treat to watch her grow.

Melanie and I have always referred to Craig and Kathryn as "the kids"...I wonder if that will change now that they are both so grown up? Probably not. :)

the infomercial queen

I think I've mentioned before that Mackenzie is very into Infomercials. Last year, she asked for the bulbs that water your plants for you....I can't for the life of me remember the name. But, she would. She loves infomercials and gets stuck on them and tells us all about them later.

Recently, she's been captured by the "Teach your baby to read" infomercial. She's convinced that it works and that she could do it for Addelyn. (I suppose Nate is a lost cause) So, she made cards with words on them and sat down one day to teach Addelyn how to read. Sadly, it has not worked yet, but I imagine that if anyone can do it - Mackenzie and Addelyn can.

the trashcan

About a year ago, Nate had a thing with throwing things away. I'm sure we lost several things this way. Mostly things I don't miss. Or don't know about. There were a few things that disappeared that were a bit important, and we chalked that up to Nate's trashcan tendencies.

So, the other night Ryan pulled the Christmas wrapping paper container from the attic. I started digging through it, pulling out some paper.....when suddenly I gasped! There in the bottom was Mackenzie's digital camera, a sippy cup full of water, and Nate's baby hairbrush!

First of all, the impressive thing was that the sippy cup full of water held it's seal. That's right - it even smelled fresh!

Second of all, I felt really bad about M's digital camera. All year she's been searching for it! She's even shed a few tears over losing it. She's prayed to find that thing! And I definitely remember a few "mom talks" with the topic of putting important things in their place so we don't lose them. ;) I didn't even think that her sneaky little bro had "tossed" it into the paper box!

This is so typical Nate. It made me laugh! We looked deeper to see if anymore of our lost items were in there. But, alas, they were not.

Sleep Deprivation

I can't sleep. It's 4am and I'm blogging...that's pretty bad. Don't you hate it when you have so many things to do and you're so tired, but sleep won't come? I woke up at 3:15 out of a deep sleep and am now wide awake. I'm going to blame it on the fact that Addelyn has been sleeping through the night for a solid week and a half now! A wonderful celebration. But, maybe, just maybe, my body is revolting. For a year I received nothing but sleepless nights. After my mom advised me, I even quit adding up how many hours of sleep I actually got because it was so depressing. So, maybe my body is screaming for less sleep.

Sound like a possibility? I doubt it. Anyone that knows me well, knows that I was falling asleep by 10pm last night.

So, after checking my email. And my facebook. And my blog. And writing a new blog....maybe I'll be able to fall asleep now.

Happy Dreaming................

Advent

It's been a while since my last blog. Don't know why. I think I was a bit tired of talking to myself about things - or maybe that the only things I had to write about were my kids...again. Not that it's a bad topic, just the same topic!! My sweet cousin, Emily, reminded me that she wanted to know about my life these days. That's all the prompting I need, apparently, because here I am!

I simply love Christmas. It is so wonderful. This year, I really love Advent. The anticipation is so exciting to me this year! The knowledge that Christmas is COMING makes me giddy inside! What a wonderful time of year - the chance to celebrate the gift of Jesus! We've shared this Advent season with our kids in a new way this year. We've been using a devotional geared towards kids - and they've loved it. Begging to read it each day. My kids have always appreciated scheduled things - so I guess they love the repetition of this too!

I've barely started my Christmas shopping - but I don't even care. It will get done...probably. I'm trying to soak in this precious season. Loving each day as we get closer to the joyous birthday of our savior.

No pictures to go along with this post. But, don't worry, Emily, I'll be back soon.

A day full of FUN

Today was a blast. It was rainy, so I met this day with a bit of disdain. We've had so many rainy days this fall, and now that I have a 2 year old son I am desperate for sunny days. I notice a difference in him when he is cooped up in this space without the freedom to run and catch grasshoppers!

But I digress...Ryan and I decided to take a chance and take the kids to see "UP" at the Dollar Movie! We were a bit hesitant to take all 3 kids - Addelyn has never sat through a movie at the theater AND the movie started right at naptime for both Nate and Adds. This could spell disaster...but, the hubs and I trotted off anyway, desperate to find a little fun on a rainy day. The movie was good, a bit intense at times, but good. I actually even teared up at a few scenes and reminded myself to seek out adventure with Ryan. (if you've seen this movie, you understand. Basically, I don't want to die before I get to have all the adventures in life worth living!) Mackenzie and Nate saw the movie with their Grandparents in July, but it didn't seem to matter to them to see it again. They were excited at all the right moments and covered their eyes when the "scary" guys came on the screen. I lulled the baby to sleep in the hallway, then was able to join the others again and sit and hold my napping baby. peace and joy. Later on, Ryan had the babe in the back while I sat with my older two - a head on each shoulder. Nate looked up at me to whisper, "i really really really love you mommy!" peace and joy.

Oh! And before the movie, we carved pumpkins! (and when I say "we"...I mean "Ryan". Neither Mackenzie or I wanted to get our hands in that grimy stuff.) And Nate was oddly occupied with other things. Mackenzie did, however, sit by her Daddy's side and "coach" him. Pictures to come soon!

Then, this evening we had our favorite sitter come over for 2 hours - just long enough for Ryan and I to run out for a quick bite. We shared purposeful conversation that was rich and vital for our marriage. I'm thankful for those two hours of time.

We pulled into our drive and were greeted by happy cheers as we saw our kids. (and Ryan quickly snuck our McD's sundaes into the freezer for after bedtime) And just like that, we entered back into reality. 10 min later I was grabbing the first clean child out of the bathtub and the routine was in motion again.

Such a full day. I'm so thankful for Saturdays to get to do whatever we want to with them.

a full week

My "kid" sister, Kathryn, has spent the past week with me. A whole WEEK with her in my house! Having a best friend around 24/7 is like hot apple pie and Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. Like heaven on earth! I'm so glad that she stayed 4 days longer than she originally intended. We had so much fun together. Sadly, we didn't really do much - since we had 3 kiddos to wrangle each day. But, I enjoyed her constant companionship. What a sweetie my sis is.
She has to head south to GA tomorrow to start her first full-time job! Watch out world - here she comes!
The guest bed is now open folks...who's next?!

Cruisin'

Addelyn has been pulling up to standing for a few weeks now. But, just today I saw her go from one piece of furniture to another. How does she change so fast?! Babies grow at an incredible rate...some days I blink too much and can't believe the change.

Won't you please slow down, sweet Addy. I want to hold you longer.