Morning in the Meadow

Usually we have feet of snow. Instead we have patches of snow every several feet...in some remote parts of the area. The weather is unseasonably warm so Rob suggested going to Toiyabe National Forest for a drive, a walk and lots of pictures. Here are some of the moments I captured on film....

Bonding

I have a confession....I was nervous about Rob being home for 3-4 months straight. I've gotten used to doing things on my own, running our household on my own. When he's out of town it always takes a few days to get used to each other when he comes back...only to leave again.
BUT, I'm HAPPY to say I was wrong in being nervous. We have drawn so close in this past month, the closest we've been in awhile. We've become the team I dreamed about when we first got married. We laugh together, cuddle, co-parent, stay up late talking. Rob has helped around the house tremendously! If you know me, you know I HATE doing dishes. So he has stepped in and has taken over doing the dishes most of the time. He has also been a huge help in dealing with P's "Terrible 2's", especially at bedtime. We're a family who runs errands together now, a family who makes family trips, a family who plays and laughs together. Rob being home is soooo much better than I could've anticipated. I've loved every minute of having my best friend around and seriously dread the day he has to head out of town again. Until then I will continue to enjoy my time with him!

Merry CHRISTmas!

I didn't know how I was going to make it to Christmas with such a busy week. But, with the help of Rob and me learning how to let go of unimportant things, I did! Rob, P and I did our family Christmas Friday night. Rob spoiled me and went above and beyond with the gifts he got me. He put thought into each gift, which meant more than the items themselves!
Yesterday we got going early so we could get to my parents' in time to see my brother, sister in law and close family friend. We exchanged gifts before Josh, Ashley and Scott left. After lunch at Chick-fil-A we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. It was nice to just sit without worrying about what had to get done. Rob, P and I went to the park and played for awhile since the weather was so nice. P and I decorated cookies for Santa and a cake for Jesus's birthday before calling it a day.
Today seemed a little rushed because my parents' church started an hour earlier than usual. Between that and P actually sleeping in, we had to hurry to make it to church on time. After church we enjoyed a nice ham dinner and another walk to the park...this time to try out P's new wagon. P is still under the weather so Rob and I thought it'd be good to get on the road. It was hard to say goodbye but it was such a nice Christmas celebration.

P is at such a fun age for Christmas! He seemed to understand about Santa coming last night and bringing presents but what made me happy is when he talked about today being Jesus's birthday. He got it and that made my heart happier than any present I received! All in all, it was a great Christmas. I hope yours was just as fun and as memorable, one filled with joy and laughter! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...........

I'm Weird!

My name is Jennifer and I'm weird. I know it and I'm okay with it. Rob teases me (I think he's serious though) about all my little "rules". I think of them as quirks. Today got me thinking about my quirks when I was driving to work and saw 2 Christmas trees in the back of trucks. Really? You go through the effort of finding one, putting it up and decorating it with only 2 days before Christmas?? What's the point? I guess I understand if you keep it up until well after New Years but that's just my opinion. Another opinion...don't play Christmas music on Thanksgiving Day because by the time Christmas rolls around 95% of America is sick of hearing Christmas music. And then there's the whole "decorating for Christmas" before Halloween. Let's enjoy one holiday at a time folks. So, there you have it. My Christmas quirks. I'm sure I can think of more, given time, but I'm exhausted and my brain is no longer functioning.

Frustratingly Funny

My mom likes to tease me that I wanted a boy in the worst way and that's what I got...ALL boy!! Today P has either been making me mad or making me laugh. There hasn't been much middle ground. It started this morning when I had to take him to a meeting with me. He frustrated me to no end when he wouldn't listen. He climbed on the secretary's chair to spin on it. Then while I was distracted with the lady I was discussing a fundraiser with he got on her chair and started playing on her computer. He dumped things all over and spilled my Starbucks on her desk. From there I had to buy an inexpensive trinket at a speciality store because P broke it while I was placing my order. I had to drop what I had in my hand to chase after him when he ran out of a different store. By that time I told him he couldn't sit on Santa's lap that was at the store because he wasn't minding. That seemed to shape him up....with only 1 store left on my "To Do" list.
Once we got home I was exhausted. I couldn't wait for him to nap so I could lay down. I blocked him in his room (a new thing I have to do lately to get him to sleep) and read for awhile, hoping he'd be asleep by the time I moved the blockade. When I went to his room I thought I heard him by the door but I wasn't certain. Sure enough, as soon as the door wasn't barricaded he came HOBBLING out. I looked down at his feet and he had covered them both in train stickers! I was laughing so hard.

Fast forward to this evening. He came out of his room with his Winter jacket and his cowboy hat. He informed me he was going to go look for coyotes. I told him to put his slippers on so he did. Then he headed out to the balcony to play in the keg barrel full of dirt. When he came in he went to his room to play. Rather he went in his room to make it look like a hurricane had gone through it. Luckily he was good about cleaning it up. BUT, I had to glue the border back on 2 walls that he had taken down. While I was doing that I heard him in the dining room...spitting! He was "cleaning" the window. While I made dinner he played with the dogs. I came out of the kitchen to see Holly Girl donning his cowboy hat, a funny sight indeed. To top off the night (hopefully), he flung Ranch dressing all over ME at dinner. It got in my hair, on my clothes. This is one of the things that I was NOT laughing at. As I write this, he is chasing our poor dogs with his lawnmower (ie. his "vacuum"). Hopefully he frustrates them without frustrating me until it's his bedtime. I can handle a good dose of the funny but a little frustrating goes a long way!

Grace

When I debated between wearing dress pants or jeans to church I should've decided on jeans because it would've made the service less traumatic for me and P. Let me start at the beginning........
When we got to church this morning I asked P if he wanted to go to preschool church or big church. He said he wanted to go to big church with me. But, once we got in there he was being very disruptive, especially when Pastor was talking about the relapse he was having with his neurological disorder. So I decided I'd take P to the preschool service for the first time ever. He was crying when I dropped him off but I assured the teacher that this was normal. As I was walking back to the adult service I saw 3 firemen messing with an alarm panel in the kitchen area. I heard them discussing it so I wasn't worried when the alarm went off as soon as I sat back down in the pew. Pastor Joe didn't know it was an alarm though so he called for an evacuation from the pulpit. I figured P would be panicked so, knowing it was a false alarm, I set off to find him. Since he was having such a hard time in the preschool class the teacher had taken him to the nursery since he knew Ms. Julie (the pastor's wife). I picked him up and tried to comfort him to no avail. I knew the firetruck was out front and figured that'd help cheer him up.
When I walked outside I caught my right heel in the left cuff of my pant leg. I fell, dropping P in the process. He went down, head first, slamming the back of his head on the cement walk. The look on his face was horrifying and all I could think was, "Oh no. I cracked my baby's head open and the firetruck just left when I needed them." Praise the Lord his head DIDN'T crack but it scared both of us really bad. I was shaking as I picked him up and examined him. Then I carried him to the kitchen to get a bag of ice. Thankfully a very nice lady assisted me with that and a sweet boy gave P a candy cane in hopes of calming him down.
It wasn't until I was back in the foyer and P was somewhat calmed down that I noticed I had ripped my pants and my right leg was sore. I pulled up my pant leg to discover 2 pretty good scrapes on my leg. Then I looked down and realized that not only had I ruined my new pair of dress pants but I had ruined my heels as well. (For the record I would've been okay ruining my entire wardrobe if it meant that P walked away unscathed!)
P recovered from the incident faster than me. After about 20 minutes of icing his head, eating his candy cane and cuddling with me he was off and running again. An older gentleman, who was with his granddaughter in the foyer, befriended him and made P a paper airplane. P had a blast throwing it while I calmed my nerves. It wasn't until the service was over and I was talking to my mom that the magnitude of what COULD'VE happened hit me. I started crying as I retold the events to my mom. Then I called the pediatric after hours advice nurse to ask about P having a concussion. She was very nice and told me things to look for for the next 24-48 hours. He seems no worse for the wear but I'm keeping my eye on him none the less.
In fact, I don't know who is more worried about who. My SWEET boy seems just as worried about me. When we got home he brought me his Scooby Doo bandaids for my scrapes. Then, when it was naptime, he told me I could sleep with elephant, baby elephant and doggy... his prized stuffed animals...so "Mommy feel better".
It was a morning I could've done without, one we'll both remember for awhile. P wants to tell everyone about how he fell telling the firetruck bye-bye and how he got ice for his head and a candy cane. I'll probably forget certain parts about what happened as time goes on but one thing I doubt I'll forget is the look of horror when P's head hit the ground. I am so very thankful that he walked away without any blood.
We MAY go back to church for a concert tonight but one thing's for certain....I will definitely be wearing jeans and flats. Oh, why did God have to bless me with beauty instead of grace?? (KIDDING!! But, I do wish I was more graceful!)

To the Rescue....Like Always!

On my way home tonight I was having a mini pity party. I was in a funk because we don't have any Christmas parties to go to this year- for any of us. In years past we've been so busy that we don't even get to enjoy the Christmas season. Then I was thinking about how much I miss Rob and how I wish he was here to enjoy the last week before Christmas with us.
BUT, then I became thankful. Thankful that my parents came to the rescue and made this a fun weekend for both me and P. When Rob's uncle passed away I called my parents and asked if they'd come this weekend to enjoy breakfast with Santa since Rob wouldn't be here. I love celebrating Christmas with P but sharing the experience with others makes it that much fun. Plus, my mom and I both have child like excitement when it comes to celebrating birthdays...whether it's our immediate family, friends or Jesus's. So that adds even more to the fun!
My parents came in yesterday after work. Last night we enjoyed watching an AWESOME light display that was synced to a local radio station. I seriously think my mom and I could've sat there all night watching it. It was beautifully designed. But we needed to get home and rested up for the big event that took place this morning....breakfast with Santa.
Having breakfast with Santa brought back childhood memories of when my brother and I did that at Weinstocks. I think P enjoyed it as much as we used to, hopefully making it an annual tradition. The buffet was ok but my favorite part is when Santa and Mrs Claus came to every table to greet each child and spend a personal moment with them. P was ecstatic and told Santa about how much he was enjoying the bacon and how he wanted cars for Christmas.
So, just because we don't have any Christmas parties to attend doesn't mean we can't enjoy the holiday season. We've done family activities every weekend this month to make it memorable for us and P. In fact, by not rushing around and experiencing Christmas through a child's eyes has made it that much more fun....plus, I won't gain the weight from overindulging! :)

A Turn for the Better

This week will not go down in the books as being one of the best. P and I have been at odds most of the week and then last night, as I was putting him to bed, I got the stomach bug Rob had had a few days earlier. I can deal with sinus infections and strep throat but I'm a baby when it comes to stomach issues. I was up all night, only sleeping an hour or so in between bathroom visits. At 2:30 am I emailed my principal to tell her I wasn't coming in then spent an hour writing up sub plans. I was bummed not to be going to work because this is my favorite time of the year to teach. Instead I spent the day in bed, something I rarely do. I'm still not feeling 100% but at least my life doesn't revolve around the toilet anymore. And besides, it's a great weight loss program right during the holiday season! I ate a bowl of cereal at 1:30 and a piece of toast at 6pm and I was stuffed...seriously. Hopefully tomorrow I will have my energy and stomach back to normal.
Today was a fun day despite being sick. Correction: tonight was fun. P and I got a much needed break from each other today and by the time I picked him up from school we were back to enjoying each other's company. We went to the bank where we looked for varmints by the parking lot. We went to Walmart where he rode the elephant. Then we came home and cuddled while watching an episode of "Curious George". Then I got extra cuddle time when a coyote started making noise outside, scaring P. We ended the night making a gingerbread train. Although he ate more than he decorated, the train still turned out cute. There's no way on God's green Earth I'd eat any of it because of all the slobber and half eaten candies that went into making it. But it was still a lot of fun for the both of us.
I have no doubt that this weekend will continue to get better. My parents are coming to town tomorrow after work and we're going to have breakfast with Santa on Saturday. Fun times! Have I mentioned lately how much I love the holiday season?

Toddler for Trade

As a parent, I sometime wish there was a trading system for kids. When your child is having a really "off" day you can trade them with a better behaved kid for the day. Then you get your kid back when they mind again. Today I would've gladly traded P for a nicer model. Not that I don't love him to pieces but there are a few rare days where I don't find his antics humorous.
Let's take today for example. It didn't start out good and it sure isn't ending on a positive note.(Actually it still hasn't ended as P is still up- an hour and a half past bedtime!) Rob woke up with a stomach bug and spent most of the morning in the bathroom. P decided he'd wake up early, which never starts the day out well for him or me. He fell and banged up the side of his face at some point this morning while he was playing and I was doing laundry. Then we worked on potty training but that was not successful in the least! He dropped his piggy bank, after being asked to put it away, and it shattered into 100 pieces.
This afternoon I was hoping he'd do better after his nap but no such luck. He ALWAYS acts out when Rob initially leaves. Since Rob's Uncle Billy did pass away this evening Rob went to my parents' to catch an early morning flight tomorrow for the funeral. As soon as Rob left, P turned up the orneriness 10 fold. He dropped a Connect 4 checker down the heating vent then proceeded to take apart the vent to get the checker. From there he broke the stereo, which was already on its way out thanks to P trying to "fix" it a couple months ago.
At bedtime things didn't get better. He wouldn't listen so I told him I wasn't going to read him any books if he didn't mind. He didn't so I didn't, which messed up his whole bedtime routine. He plays this game where he constantly comes out and asks for his "Blanky covers", meaning he wants to be covered up again. Rob only has to go in once- twice tops- to do it and tell him to go to bed before he goes to sleep. I, on the other hand, get a nice little battle when I have to do it. Tonight I stayed in the living room until I thought he was sound asleep and then I drew a hot bath. I was into my book when all of a sudden I heard the phone beeping. Since it was lying on our bed I knew P was the culprit. I got out of the bath, turned off the phone and went out to the dining room to find that P had used his "Cars" chair as a ladder. He had proceeded to get his Advent calendar down and had pushed through a couple numbers to obtain the little chocolates behind them. After I took his stuffed animals away for constantly misbehaving he screamed for several minutes before coming back out to ask for "Blanky covers". I hesitate saying this but I think he FINALLY went to sleep because the house has been gloriously silent for the past 5 minutes. Let's pray that tomorrow is a better day all the way around. Otherwise, I'm trading for a nicer model!

Prayers Needed

For some unknown reason it seems that friends and family are usually hit hard around the holidays with bad news, illness, financial woes and even death. This year, unfortunately, is no exception. On Saturday a dear friend of mine texted me that she just found out that her unborn baby has spinal bifida. It's her and her husband's 5th child, an unplanned pregnancy just like their 4th. So this baby has been a bittersweet piece of news from the beginning. My friend was just coming to grips with the fact that she'd be a mother of 5 when she received the devastating news from her doctor. We have yet to talk because this is such a difficult time for her but I've been lifting her and her family up in prayer ever since I received the text.
Then last night Rob was playing on FB when he found out his uncle had had a heart attack and was septic. Through FB and talking to family a little, he's found out that his uncle's heart had to be revived so many times that the doctors fear brain damage. He's also in a diabetic coma with low blood pressure and a high sugar count. Rob's uncle has had many health issues in recent years, including having his leg amputated. But, even given his health complications, it still doesn't make this any easier. Rob's aunt (Bobby's sister) will be faced with many difficult decisions in the upcoming days.
This is not an easy time for our friends and family. It makes me count my blessings...and pray with a vengeance! If you are a praying person please lift these families up as they need as many prayers as possible. Thank you!

A Kid's Kind of Weekend

Yesterday we headed to California for a fun filled day with my parents. When we got to my parents' we tried to get P to nap but he was way too excited for the rest of the day to sleep. And who wouldn't be? We were going to take a train trip to the North Pole to see Santa on the Polar Express. We got downtown early to get good seats. Luckily, a family in front of us told us about the good seats so we had a great view of Santa. While we looked for Santa we got to enjoy Snicker doodles and hot cocoa (even though it was 60 degrees out and was not cold in the least). We were also entertained by a man "with dirty hands" (P's observation) and dancing waitresses. The train ride was topped off with a visit from Santa, who passed out jingle bells so we could prove we BELIEVE!

After the Polar Express we went to a Southern style dinner then ooohed and aahed at the Disney themed Christmas light display in a wealthy neighborhood. P thought it was great that there were "Cars", "Thomas" and "Mickey Mouse" light displays. He kept saying, "I see more lights." Needless to say, he was disappointed when it was over but, alas, it was time to end the fun day.
We all thoroughly enjoyed our family time, making memories and experiencing all the fun of Christmas!

The Meaning of Christmas

What does Christmas mean to you? I can tell you what it DOESN'T mean to me. It doesn't mean being PC, wishing someone a "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Xmas". In the past the "Merry Xmas" has bothered me but "Happy Holidays" hasn't been a big deal. For some reason, this year, every time I hear it I cringe. In fact, at some point, I had bought a "Happy Holidays" window cling that I ended up throwing out a few days ago. Yes, it is the holidays and yes, I want people to be happy during this time. But, the Reason for the season has been taken out of CHRISTmas in fear of offending people.
To me, CHRISTmas is all about just that...Christ! We celebrate His birth and the sacrifices He made for us while on Earth. It's nice to get presents and I'm not at all opposed to all the Christmas fun such as Santa, deocrations and parties. But I think there needs to be more focus on the real Reason, instead of being PC. Christmas is celebrated because of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem to welcome their son, Jesus, into the world. To me personally it means enjoying church more, getting closer to God. It means taking time out of each day to focus on the Reason I'm celebrating with loved ones.
So, I encourage you to take a minute to think about what Christmas means to you and how you greet someone during this season..."Happy Holidays", "Merry Xmas", or "Merry CHRISTmas"?? Until we meet again, I am wishing you a wonderful Christmas season!!

A Parent's Love

Parenting is hard, especially when 2 parents don't always have the same view on how to raise a child. I am WAY more strict with what P watches and his nutrition. However, Rob is more strict with manners and acting proper (yes, you read that correctly). For example, he doesn't want him standing in the booth, disturbing others while they eat whereas that's not a big deal to me.
That being said one thing that we always agree on is that P is one of the most loved toddlers around. We both try to make life special for him on a daily basis. We do little things to let him know how much he's loved, such as letting him ride the rides at Walmart when he does a good job while we run errands. We also do bigger things that are memorable for all of us. Tonight was supposed to be one of those times. Rob was all excited about having a "campout" in P's room. He went to great lengths to set up chairs and hang a blanket over them to make a "tent". When he discovered that the "tent" wouldn't provide much room he put everything back and grabbed his sleeping bag. He crawled in it and got P to crawl in after him. All was going good....until I turned off the light, wished them both a good night and turned off the light. It was at that moment that P decided he wasn't into the whole "campout". He got out of the sleeping bag and crawled into his own bed while Rob rolled up the sleeping bag. Rob was really bummed that it didn't work out but someday soon I'm sure the boys will be able to have a campout all night long. Until then I have no doubt that P will still know- every day- how loved he truly is!

BBRRRRRR!!!!

The sun is shining but it sure is cold outside. I know because I've been outside plenty this weekend. Yesterday we bundled up and went down the hill to get our Christmas tree. Luckily, I'm not super picky so it only took us about 15 minutes to pick out a tree and get it loaded on the car. I spent the afternoon decorating while the boys napped. Then last night we wore several layers and headed into VC to watch the parade. It's something I enjoy despite the cold. However, P feels differently. Even though they were throwing out candy at the parade he was crying that he wanted to go home. Poor thing wasn't doing well in the 14 degree weather. We got him home and warmed up with a bowl of soup and warm bath (not together of course). After he warmed up, he and I decorated the Christmas tree. He wanted all the ornaments up high....and bunched together.
This morning I got up, put on my long johns and headed down the hill to run a 3 mile fun run in 12 degree temps. The reason for the run was to support Jaimie and her boys. There was a good turn out for the Red-Nosed Run and I enjoyed running with our neighbors. Despite the temps, I was surpringly warm. Even if I had been cold it would've been worth it to me because the run raised about $2500 to give to Jaimie! All in all, I've been enjoying the cold temps and festive activities.

What A Week!

I feel like we've packed a month into the past week. 5 days ago we were in MS. 2 days ago Rob was having shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. And every day I've woken up sometime around 4am. To say I'm one pooped puppy is an understatement but I wouldn't change a thing about this week.
We got to enjoy a nice family Thanksgiving with our MS family. We went on a mini trip to hear Jay sing at an awards banquet. We watched 3/4 of a Disney on Ice show (The power went out before the end). We spent a couple days at deer camp. We got to spend a lot of family time together. I got to see some beautiful Fall scenery. It was a great time full of family memories.
Our vacation came to an end when Rob, P and I got up at 4am Central time Tuesday to fly back home. Of course our flight was delayed because that always seems to be our luck. By the time we got home, Rob and I were exhausted and P was wound higher than a kite.
Wednesday morning, after a restless night of sleep, we got up early so Rob could head to the surgery center. His shoulder surgery took about an hour and a half and then it took him a little over an hour to come out of it so we could head home. There have been several times when Rob has amazed me but this surgery kind of takes the cake. He has already taken a bath by himself, dresses himself daily without help and has a really positive attitude, despite finding out that he'll be off work for about 4 months (possibly 2 months if he goes back to light duty). It's been so nice having him home, helping with P, being a "family man".
So, although this week has been crazy and I'm worn out I'm glad it's been a memorable week...in a good way. As I close and get ready to go to bed early (yet again) here are some pictures from our trip..........

Blogging Blues

I've wanted to blog all day about our fun times in Mississippi and about Rob's shoulder surgery. I've also wanted to post a few of the hundreds of pictures that I've had time to edit. But, alas, grown up responsibilities took priority. Now when I have the time to blog and post pictures I am too tired. Plus I have a feeling that it'll be a rough night tonight as Rob is in a lot of pain. So please bear with me for a few days and hopefully sometime this weekend, in between a benefit run for my friend, decorating for CHRISTmas and participating in CHRISTmas festivities, I will have a chance to update you on things. Until then......

What Day is It?

If I hadn't been running around like a chicken with my head cut off the past few days I would know what day it was. But I don't so bear with me. Today/yesterday/whenever I am thankful for my friends that I have. I'm blessed to know I have friends in Sacramento, Reno and Brandon, as well as other places in the US. I have friends that care, that love me despite my faults, that want to spend time with me. I've been able to get together with some of my Reno friends this week, getting together for dinner, a walk, a soak in the hot tub. It's been nice to enjoy friend time as much as I have. I honestly don't know what I'd do without all of my friends!
I'm also thankful for the beautiful sunrise this morning. Every morning I wake up and look out the family room window. Most mornings I grab my camera because the sunrises are too beautiful not to capture on film. I watched the sun come up this morning while I enjoy the calm before the storm (My day was beyond busy!). God is such an amazing artist who knew just what He was doing when he mixed purple, orange, red and pink.
Forgive me if you don't see a blog from me for awhile. The next several days are going to be busy and then it's Thanksgiving. So, if I don't get to ya beforehand.....Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Day 14 and 15 combo.

Yesterday seems so long ago and, as much as I'd like to blog forever about it, I can barely remember it and am too tired to write much regardless. I was sad and had woken up at 3am, not able to go back to sleep. I knew that P would wake up around 6am and would come in to snuggle before starting his day. He started out my day with a smile and lovin', which lifted my spirits. The day ended at Book Club, which also lifted my spirits. The ladies knew I was sad about my co-worker's husband so they respected me by not talking about it. They let me be and loved me regardless.
Today I am thankful that Rob and P got some much needed and long overdue Father/Son time. I talked to Rob a few times and he was really enjoying his time with P. The boys shared laughter and fun times all day! Another thing that I am soooo thankful for is the fact that my part in organizing the MOPS auction is officially. I organized 113 donated items and was so thankful to hand the binder over to the MOPS leader. None of this probably makes sense to you but just trust me when I say I'm thankful to be done with this very time consuming activity. Now when P asks me to cuddle I don't have to put him off to finish my auction tasks. For that I'm so incredibly thankful!

WHY????????????

I'm mad. I'm upset. I can't stop crying. I want to break something. I really want to punch God in the stomach. Why?? Why does a 41 year old man with 3 young boys and a wife with terminal cancer have to die a tragic, unexpected death?
Last night Rob and I went to our first UNR football game. As we walked to our car, little did we know that we were standing within a mere block of where a tragedy would take place 2 hours later. A little before midnight JK Metzker was done watching the game with his friends (Although he's a local sports broadcaster, he wasn't working Saturday) and was heading to his car to go home to his family when a stupid 23 year old drunk driver hit him and fled the scene. JK couldn't survive the injuries he sustained and passed away this afternoon. As mad as it makes me and as much as it puts a damper on my memories of last night, nothing compares to what his wife is going through.
You see his wife is a co-worker of mine and in July she confided in me that her cancer was back and this time it's terminal. She and I have kind of drawn close this year in terms of I take her rowdy Kindergarten class once in awhile to play with my kiddos so she can rest. During those times she usually comes out for a few minutes, giving me updates on her health or family life. I overheard her talking to our principal on Thursday about how her cancer's progressed so much that her oncologist would like her to leave her teaching profession and enjoy what little time she has left...with her family. Or now, I guess, her 3 young boys (Ages 11, 10 and 7). I can't even fathom the grief the family is going through, especially the boys. They have had time to come to grips with their mom's impending death, something she's talked to them a lot about. But to lose their dad, their future sole caregiver, suddenly? WHY? Why do good people have to die young while rapists and murderers and drug dealers continue to walk the streets? It doesn't make sense and right now I'm mad at God about the whole thing. Some day I'll be able to ask Him this but for right now I'm just a ball of emotions with unanswered questions!

I got this pic from her FB page and although it was taken a few years ago it could've just as easily been taken last week...

Day 13: Date Night

Today I'm thankful for the date night Rob and I had last night. It involved "couple time" as well as "friend time". We were supposed to meet a friend before a UNR football game but we were running short on time. So, instead, Rob and I went to dinner by ourselves. It was a new restaurant to me and I LOVED the sandwich I got. After a loud but good dinner we walked across the street to watch UNR defeat Hawaii. We met up with our friend and she and I had a good time catching up while Rob watched the game. It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be, perfect weather for a Fall night game. In fact the whole night was perfect. Rob and I had a great time just being a husband and wife instead of both parents and spouses at the same time. We laughed together, got caught up on life together and enjoyed cuddle time at the game together. I'm very thankful for our quality time together and with friends.

Day 12: Sleeping Beauty

To say I was tired yesterday is an understatement. Between being awake since 2:30AM, running errands, doing stuff for my Bible Study auction, being a mom and getting used to Rob being home for a few hours I was one pooped puppy. (Although I did take a 2 1/2 hour break for the spa with a friend) So much so that both Rob and I went to bed when P did at 7:45! We vaguely heard the phone ring at 8pm because we were both close to sawing logs. Although P woke me up a couple times last night, I am thankful that I got a little over 10 hours of sleep. I woke up to a beautiful sunrise and got some cuddle time with my lil man after I made him and me a big Saturday morning breakfast (Rob chose to leave at 3:45 to duck hunt). The sleep was much needed and I feel like a new person today. For that I'm thankful!

Day 11: Freedom

I know I've blogged a few times about veterans and what they mean to me. The sacrifices a soldier makes is beyond my comprehension. I've never lived in war like conditions like so many soldiers have. I have not gone months without having access to family or friends. I've not had to go without luxuries for extensive periods of times. But to soldiers this is a way of life. So today I am thankful for my freedom that so many provide for me. I'm thankful for the sleepless nights they endure so I can sleep snug in my comfortable bed. I'm thankful that they go without so I don't have to. From the bottom of my heart I say THANK YOU to all the past, present and future soldiers of America!

Football gods

I do not get vocal about many public issues. I tend to keep my views to myself unless asked. But when it comes to innocent children I can't keep quiet. Someone has got to fight for them! This whole Penn State thing has me stirred up. I get angry in 0-60 just thinking about it. As you probably already know, Joe Paterno (the football coach) and the Penn State President were fired by the Board of Trustees because they failed to take proper action against alleged sexual abuse that they were fully aware of. That's the only part of this story that makes me happy.
People are screaming and protesting, saying Paterno "followed protocol". REALLY???? He never followed through beyond "following protocol" and telling the athletic director, yet he has become the victim because he's revered as a football god. People put WAY too much stock in football. Actions are overlooked if it involves a good football player or coach. (Think back to Brett Favre)
What happened to morals? It was his moral obligation to take action beyond protocol! He has 16 grandkids and I'm sure that if one of his grandsons was raped in a locker room he'd be raising cane over it. I know I would! If I was a parent of one of these kids I'd be suing Penn State, Paterno, the Athletic Director AND the Assistant Coach. Because proper action wasn't taken and no one "manned up" to follow through several more boys were sexually abused, molested and raped throughout the years. Innocent boys could've remained innocent if one man had stepped up to the plate to follow an unwritten moral code in society.
I'm getting hot just typing this and I'm trying to be as nice as I can, while still getting my point across. But, heaven forbid, if this ever involved P. That's the way I look at it. I don't care about how many years the guy's coached or how many games he's won. What I see is that because he withheld information when questioned and didn't act more aggressively poor, innocent boys were sexually molested and raped. That, to me, is more important than any football god could ever be!
In closing here is a snip-it from the LA Times that I liked (This was published Wednesday before Paterno was fired).....

"This is not about Joe Paterno. This is about the eight boys allegedly molested during a 15-year period by longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

This is not about the legacy of an 84-year-old football coach. This is about the legacy of violated preteen children, including one whose alleged rape in a football locker room was witnessed by a graduate assistant who informed Paterno of the incident."


Sad situation all the way around, for everyone involved, especially the football god!

Day 10

Today I am so incredibly thankful that my husband came home after being gone for over 2 weeks. It gets hard when he's away for several reasons and P and I are always thankful when he returns. In fact, P woke me up at 4:45 to ask if Daddy was coming home. He was so excited he wouldn't go back to sleep!
This time we're very excited because he's going to be home for a few months now! This means we'll get to hang out as a family and do fun stuff (well, once Rob starts feeling better after his surgery). So today I'm not only thankful that Rob came home but that he'll be home for awhile!!

Day 9

Today's blog is going to be short because there's really not much to explain. I'm thankful for the time change ONLY on days I work. I don't like the shorter, colder days but I like not leaving for work in the morning when it's still dark. It makes getting out of my warm bed a tiny bit easier.

Super Thankful!!

Today I'm not just thankful for one thing, but two! If you know me you know how much I love my sleep. Rob will be the first to tell you that if I don't get enough sleep at night I tend to get a wee bit grumpy. (I know, hard to believe...ha!) Since we've moved P into a toddler bed he gets up 1-3 times a night. Every night, right before I fall asleep, I think, "How many times will it be tonight?". For the past two nights I haven't been woken up at all!! I've slept from 10 or 11-6am without interruption! By the time P does come into the room I'm wide awake and ready to cuddle for awhile before starting our day. That's my favorite time with him...just after he wakes up and right after breakfast, before he gets too much energy going.
Another thing I'm thankful for is all my pregnant friends. I'll be honest and let ya in on a little secret. A few months ago I would cry when friends and acquaintances would announce their pregnancy because I was bummed it wasn't me. But then I realized that that's a VERY selfish way to look at it. Some people have tried A LOT longer than we have and some of my friends that are pregnant right now have had to take different measures to get pregnant. So I'm thankful for all of their pregnancies because bringing a new life into this world is the most awesome thing ever. And if God blesses us with another child I will be beyond ecstatic! But if HE chooses not to then I'm very, very thankful for the blessing we already call our son!

Day 7: Dogs

This morning Holly Girl gave me a scare. When I put the dogs out they both come right back when it's cold. But, Holly didn't return, despite me and P yelling for her. Almost an hour later she was waiting by the kitchen door. It made me realize how thankful I am for our dogs. Yes, they both drive me crazy (mainly in the evening when they know it's close to their dinner time) but they are good dogs. When P goes to bed for the night one of them ALWAYS lays outside his door until he falls asleep. When they can get away with it, which isn't often, they lie by his booster seat, hoping he'll drop some food.
Ruby and P are the affectionately called the Dynamic Duo because those 2 get into more mischievous. Take this morning for example. I got out of the shower and opened the bathroom door to find P AND Ruby on my treadmill. P was trying to get it to turn on and said, "Doggy run!". I guess he thought Ruby needed exercise. Yesterday Holly Girl had P in stitches while he played fetch with her. In her old age she can't run too much but they both enjoyed themselves. As frustrated as the dogs can make me, I am very thankful to have them as part of the family.

Day 6: Church and Laughter

As you may have read in my blog from this morning, the day didn't start out well. I was grumpy, P was fussy and it was just a day where I wanted to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over my head. That being said, the day did indeed get better! Despite not feeling 100%, P wanted to go to church (I love that!!). We got to church a half hour early because I was all discombobulated this morning. So we ran across the street to Walmart and got the rest of the contents for our Operation Christmas Child box. We were able to turn in our box at church, knowing some little girl in the world will have a Happy Christmas.
The sermon wasn't anything new but it was nice to be in the Lord's house. P was well behaved and I was able to hear the whole sermon. Once we got home, P was running a low grade fever so I gave him some Advil and put him down for his nap. He slept for over 2 hours, which gave me time to get on the treadmill and read my Book Club book.
Once P woke up he was back to his usual happy self. It was really cute because we had bought new tennis balls for the dogs. He was adamant that both dogs each got their own ball. Then he discovered that they both wanted to play fetch with the balls. He was laughing hysterically as he threw the ball for Holly. It was a perfect match because she can't run far and he can't throw far. After we watched the final laps of the NASCAR race, I introduced P to the movie "Cars". He is currently watching it, asking questions and laughing when I laugh. This cold, snowy afternoon has more than made up for the crummy start to our day. So today I am thankful for the laughter I've shared with P and for a great church that I can call my home church, both putting me in a better mood!

Whatever!

We were supposed to get an extra hour of sleep last night, right? Whatever! Whoever came up with that obviously doesn't have young children, let alone young children that are attempting to get sick again. My lil man woke me up at 4:40am and didn't go back to sleep until about 6am, at which point one of the dogs clawed at the door, wanting out. Once we were all up, P wouldn't stop fussing and crying. He hasn't really eaten since yesterday morning and is running a low grade fever. I really want to go to church but don't want to take him out in the cold and expose him to a bunch of people. So I'm torn as to what this day will hold. Right now, because I'm so grumpy, I can't think of what I'm thankful for. But give me a few hours and check back in with me. I'm sure I'll have something then. Until then....whatever!

Day 4 and 5

Day 4: I am thankful for coffee and migraine meds. I woke up at 4am with a horrible migraine. Despite taking meds for it, it didn't subside until 10am. I didn't think I was going to be able to stay at school cause I was seeing black spots and getting nauseous. But I gave my students a heads-up and they were GREAT! They worked super quiet and were ok with me turning a light down low. Between that, the meds and a big cup of coffee I was feeling much better by lunch time.
Day 5: I'm thankful for my parents. My family is so good about calling and Skyping us when Rob is gone because they know that I have long days without him here. Earlier this week my parents called and said they wanted to come to town yesterday and treat me and P to a night "away". They got a suite at a local hotel so we got to enjoy going out to dinner with them, sitting in the hotel hot tub and having fun. P was completely surprised to see them after school and was delighted that he got to go to "Gee's hotel". My parents made the trip, despite the snow, which meant a lot. My parents always go above and beyond and are very generous. So I'm thankful for them, the bond they have with P and for the fun times we share together!

Day 3: Heat

Last night I couldn't get warm so I conveniently went and grabbed some fire wood. I built a nice fire, got in warm clothes and dressed P in his footsie PJs. Then, when I went to bed, I made sure the heater was set to come on throughout the night and crawled into my warm comfy bed. (Since my comfy bed has been mentioned the past couple posts, maybe that's something I should be thankful for.) When I woke up I took a hot shower and then I wrapped up in my warm robe. I knew it was going to be a cold morning so I bundled me and P up then started the car so it'd be warm when we left for school. I started thinking about those less fortunate. I know of one student, and possibly 3, in my class this year alone that are homeless. They don't have the luxury of having heat at their disposal. They have to go without a lot of times. I really hope I'm wrong, but I'll be surprised if they'll be warm during this upcoming storm. It makes me thankful for the easy access I have to warmth and heat. I don't have to wonder what it'd be like to be warm because I know. I'm thankful for the little things in life that I so often take for granted.

Day 2: My Husband

The alarm goes off, loud enough to wake the neighborhood. It's 4:15am according to the clock. I nudge Rob and tell him it's time to get up. Once he's up, I roll over and fall back asleep in our nice warm bed while he gets dressed, ready to brave the 10 degree temps. Most people take their spouse's jobs for granted. I know I have on occassion. But, when Rob tells me stories about what his day's consisted of it makes me more aware of how blessed I am. You see, Rob's typical work schedule is 20 days on (10-12 hour days...if he's lucky!) and 1 day off. Yes, you read that correctly. For every 200-240 hours he works he gets 10 hours off. He works at a job he doesn't like in conditions that can be less than miserable, all so he can provide for his family. He works hard so I can work part time (by choice) and take care of P. Unfortunately his hard work puts him away from home and away from us a lot of the time but we manage. He's had 3 different companies show interest in him recently but the jobs have not panned out for one reason or another. Until a great job comes along that still provides me with job flexibilty he will stay where he's at. I'm thankful that he's such a hard worker and good provider for the family!

30 Days of Thankfulness

For the past few Novembers I've joined with others and have shared one thing I've been thankful for every day of the month. November is a SUPER busy month for us but I'll do my best to stay on top of this.
Today, Day 1, I'm thankful for my cameras. They help me capture priceless moments and share them with family that doesn't live close by. Being behind a camera lens also helps me to unwind, relieve stress, be creative, get away from the world for awhile.
This afternoon I had to go out of town to run an errand for Rob. I was excited about the little road trip because of the scenery. But when P decided NOT to take a nap I no longer had the energy to focus too much on photography. I took my Dad's camera along to snap a few shots, but when looking at what I captured I realized that my lack of enthusiasm was on display in the pictures. None of them are "Wow!" pictures but that's to be expected sometimes. Here are the few that I thought were okay.....

Blessed Beyond Measure

I went to bed feeling blessed and woke up feeling even more blessed. I feel blessed for many reasons but the 2 that are consuming my thoughts today are our son and "wealth". You know, people tell me I'm a good mom and I appreciate the compliment. But quite honestly, I'm just being the kind of mom my mom was to me and my brother. The compliments that mean the most are when people mention how well behaved P is or how friendly he is. Today he received both compliments. I met with our former school secretary about a cancer fundraiser that I'll be putting on to help local kids with cancer. While there she was amazed at how much P had grown since she'd last seen him. She was also amazed at how well he behaved while she and I were talking and how affectionate he was with her. At gymnastics, he did pretty good and even had his coach and me in stitches during the trampoline workout. She commented on his fun personality. At the grocery store the clerk secretly pushed the conveyor belt button, making P think he had done it. She was getting a kick out of his enthusiasm and mentioned that he had a fun personality as well. Hearing all these things made me feel even more blessed. Yes, the twos and threes are hard but lately we've had many more good days than bad. He makes me laugh several times a day and we thoroughly enjoy hanging out together.
The other reason I'm feeling blessed is because we, as individuals and as a family, have so much. We don't need anything and there are very few things we want for. When the holiday season approaches I realize how much we have compared to others. We have a nice house in a beautiful area, a healthy family, good food on the table, newer cars, more clothes than we know what to do with.... I understand that people in our community and all around the world aren't as blessed. That's why I like to "adopt" people around the holidays. To me, Christmas is not about getting but giving. If P never receives another Christmas present, but learns the importance of giving back I will be happy. We are donating most of his Halloween candy to troops overseas. We are also participating in Operation Christmas Child where we give to a child in another part of the world that doesn't have much. Depending on the troop status, we may send a box to a soldier for Christmas or we may adopt a local child through my school to provide for. To me, this is way more important than the presents with my name on them under the tree Christmas morning. If you have a little extra to give and would like to adopt a child or soldier for Christmas, please let me know and I'd be happy to make that happen. Feeling blessed is a good thing. Doing something about it is even better!

And the Winner Is..............

Thomas the Train!!!!

I made P's costume this year and have been stressing about it nonstop because he didn't seem to like it. I figured out that it was too heavy for him so last night I tore it apart and tried to make it lighter. When I realized I couldn't do that I pieced it back together the best I could and went back to Square One. This morning, while eating breakfast, I spotted the neighbor's wagon. It turned out to be the perfect (well, almost but I'll get to that) solution! After he realized he didn't have to carry it on his shoulders, P loved his costume and talked about it all day!

We got to VC, ready for the parade this evening. I thought I had parked close to the registration area but after starting up the hill I realized we were further away than I would've liked. Checking the time, I decided to pick up the pace. If you've been to our little town you know that it's uneven to say the least. Unfortunately, the unevenness and lack of time caused my little train to derail. He fell out of the wagon and scratched up his face a bit. It scared him more than anything and I thought he wouldn't get back in the wagon. But, like a trooper, he did. When we got to the registration area I realized that his costume was all messed up. Luckily there was a stapler that a lady let me borrow so I "bandaged" up the train to the best of my ability.

My hard work and P's personality won us 1st place in the costume parade! He blew his whistle all the way to the front and let everyone know he was Thomas. He looked absolutely adorable and I was so incredibly proud of him!! After the parade we did his favorite part....getting suckers. He trick or treated at some of the local businesses and got enough candy to feed an army (which is great because that's what we're going to do with most of his candy- send it to troops overseas). Once we had tons of candy he asked to go see the local train. It was the least I could do so that's where we ended the night.

It was a lot of fun for the both of us. He made me one proud mama all the way around! It was indeed a very Happy Halloween!!

Fall Pictures

Since I already blogged earlier today, this one will mainly be pictures. Several bighorn sheep were supposed to be released this morning but P and I couldn't find them. Instead we saw a dirtbike competition and followed a train for quite awhile. After church we enjoyed the beautiful Fall weather by taking a walk and looking at the ducks and geese. Here are some pictures from our time together....

Fun Day All Around

I have long since learned that if P has fun he'll talk about something for days. Well, I have a feeling that I'll be hearing about yesterday for days! The morning started with us meeting up with some friends at Scheels, where the boys played and the mamas caught up on life. Then we went over to the park and had a picnic, enjoying the beautiful Fall weather. After P's nap I carved his pumpkin. I asked if he wanted a Curious George pumpkin or a Thomas pumpkin. After much going back and forth he finally decided on a Curious George pumpkin. He didn't help with it but he liked to come check on my progress every 5-10 minutes. He was very excited when it was done but the best part for him was the candle inside the pumpkin. When I lit it he kept saying, "George on fire!". We got cleaned up and got in our costumes for our neighborhood Halloween parties. I dropped P off and made my way-as the Real Housewives of the Highlands-to my party. I didn't stay long because it was way past P's bedtime. But the time I was there was fun and I know P had a great time at his party. He was covered in orange from eating chips and he kept talking about his buddy, Eddie, and the movie they watched. Even this morning when he first woke up he said, "Fun Eddie". I'm sure I'll be hearing a lot more as the day goes on!

Although you can't get the full effect in the picture my costume consisted of dark circles under my eyes, food in my hair, food stains on my shirt, the local poison control phone number in my pocket as well as a diaper and puzzle piece in other pockets. Topped off with 2 mismatched shoes. It wasn't elaborate but I was comfortable and people laughed when I told them what I was.

Animal Lover

P has loved ALL animals since he was a little tyke. I think he knew more animal sounds than words for a long time. Well, yesterday I had to go to Petsmart to get Ruby some new dog food. I was going to do it while P was in school but figured that's one errand he'd really like to do with me. I was right! We got there and checked out the fish. Then he heard the birds and got all excited. We watched the birds "play" for a long time before he discovered the cats at the back of the store. I am not a cat fan but P loves them. So I take any chance I can show them to him without actually having to own one. He could've watched the cats sleeping until the store closed. But I finally pulled him away to get what we had come for. P asked if he could get Ruby a toy. He decided on a monkey only to change his mind at the register and get an elephant instead (That's his latest animal obsession). He was so excited to give it to her and it hurt his feelings that she didn't want anything to do with it. He continues to find it, carry it over to her and lay it down by her. Eventually she'll realize it's hers and play with it. I love how he loves animals so much!

Halloween Mayhem

As I write this, I can hear P in his room, playing. It's past his bedtime but I knew tonight would be a challenge. Why, you ask? Because this evening we went to 2 Halloween events.
Ever since he woke up this morning, P has been talking about wearing his costume and getting a sucker. But when it came time to go to school he flat out refused to wear any of his costumes (Yes, he has more than one!). I had told him that if he wore his costume to school he'd get a treat (That was my understanding from his teachers). He was bummed, to say the least, when we found out I was wrong! I picked him up early from school and told him if he took a good nap we'd go to our church's trunk or treat and get candy. I think he didn't really believe me after he didn't get a sucker-or any treat-at school but he played along. Lucky for him because the first thing he was given when we got to the trunk or treat was a sucker! He was so excited and proudly held it up for everyone to see. After playing a few games I talked him in to wearing his costume so he could get more candy. He'd go to each car that was giving out candy and said, "Trick or treat. Sucker!". It worked because that boy has more suckers than he'll probably be able to eat. He already ate 3 for dinner and had 1 for dessert. Hence the reason he's not going to bed.
From there we went to his school for their Harvest Festival. It was fun but super crowded. P tried to wear his Thomas costume that I made him but he was having trouble moving around. So we took it off and he wore his signature cowboy hat instead (although he now calls it his bull hat). His favorite part of the Harvest Festival was the bouncy house with the slide that his teachers were manning. I believe that he would've gone down it all night had I let him. But, alas, I told him it was time to go. I was so proud of him, how well he listened and how he acted like a big boy all the way around.
Tomorrow we'll continue the Halloween festivities by carving one of his many pumpkins, going to a neighborhood Halloween party and eating a sucker or two.