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! :)