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..........