thoughts about Christmas, traveling ect...

Now that Christmas is over (at least the secular holiday), everyone seems to start thinking about the next holiday. In this case Valentines day. I could probably go to the store and see a number of heart related stuff. However Christmas isn't over. In fact, Christmas day is the 1st day of the Christmas season which will last until at the minimum January 6th, Epiphany. But like everyone I'm ready for the tree to come down and the lights to be put away for another 12 months. Maybe I'm feeling this way because it's a sloppy mess outside. It was so pretty before Christmas. Granted, we were house bound because the roads were so bad but it felt nice. It was beautiful outside and we were inside listening to Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate. Now, we could be doing the same thing but it just doesn't feel the same.
I had a friend say to me that she couldn't believe I had to travel for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I told her "well I've been doing it for 15 years so I'm used it it." However, I'm starting to think we are in for a change. I don't think my family (parents, siblings, husband and kids) are ready for the change but I'm thinking that traveling 5-7 hours in opposite directions a month apart from each other in the winter may not happen in the future. We'll see. I keep telling myself what is right for MY family is what i need to do.
As I look toward the new year, everyone looks at what they can change about themselves and I find myself doing the same thing. What do I want to change about myself, better about myself.... I'll keep those thoughts to myself since I have not concreated them in my own head yet. Just know that my goals are to live life to the fullest and not view the world as what could happen or what has happened but what is happening!! words to live by!

Being a mother....

Being a mother is an amazing journey. Watching such a tiny thing develop into a person with their own personality is so neat and sometimes frustrating, but for the most part amazing. Sarah is really becoming her own person. Phil and I keep asking ourselves "Did Erik do this, or that?" and usually the answer is no or I don't remember. I know she is a different person but all kids have similarities and especially siblings. For example, both my kids are screamers but they come by that naturally. Sarah, however is much more of a "talker" than Erik ever was. He just liked to watch people. Sarah likes that as well but she will voice her opinion about whatever she happens to see, sometimes happy and sometimes mad and you never know what side is going to come out. Right now I'm watching her sitting in her rocking chair clapping her hands and watching the snow. I think she is most fascinated by the fact that she can make this chair she is sitting in, move all by herself. I would love to know what is going on inside her head. It's just another amazing thing about children.

Erik participated in our yearly church play today. He was a king who was part of the rhythm choir. I wasn't sure if he would get his lines down but in a short time of practice he got them down. Now being in front of the crowd today, I think he got a little shy because most of them came out but he spent more time playing with the crown that was suppose to be on his head but he liked looking through it and playing with a feather he found on the floor instead. I kept thinking, sing... say the line... but then I realized he's 4. I need to let him wiggle and play. It made it more entertaining for the video camera.
Watching the massive amount of snow piling up outside reminds me of my childhood. Builing snowmen, snow forts and going sledding. I'm looking foward to making memories with my children....

Winter traditions

Life in Walla Walla doesn't usually mean snow at any time of the year let alone before Christmas. Last weekend we got a treat when we woke up on Saturday morning, it was snowing. It wasn't sticking quite yet but eventually it stuck and stayed. YEAH. We were going to get our Christmas tree that day so we were very excited that it was snowing because it's not fun to pick out a tree when the grass is a sloppy mess. So we bundled up the kids and heading for the hills (literaly). It took us awhile because half way there we decided we couldn't make it there and back on the gas we had so back to the pumps we went. Once we got up there we spent about 30 minutes to find the perfect tree (or at least one that would be good for our house) and heading back home. We found a place that we get to cut our own which makes it fun. Erik had a blast being pulled in the sled and Sarah tolerated being out in the wet snow as long as mom held her. (She lasted in the snow long enough to get a picture).
We didn't get the tree up that night because just getting it home and in a stand in the garage took it out of us so we took part in another new tradition. Roasting marshmellows over the fire and making smores. It's really fun to do in the winter and we used homemade marshmallows YUM! If you are a fan of marshmallows, you HAVE to make your own. It's soo easy and very very yummy!
Sunday we were able to take the kids sledding at the park where there is a great hill for children to go down (and adults). Erik went down once by himself and crashed and burned (yes, he slammed his face into the snow and got snowburned), so he refused to go by himself again and when I bribed him to go, he screamed the whole way down. Oh well, maybe next year. My boy is just not as brave as others. After an hour, Sarah went from mildly annoyed to histaria so we headed home. That afternoon/ evening we finally got the tree up and decorated. I wanted to start another tradition of stringing popcorn, well that won't happen. It takes a lot to string popcorn and enough to get around the tree would probably have taken me days of stringing popcorn so I stopped with one strand that goes half way around the tree. Smores= doable tradition, stringing popcorn= undoable tradition.
Enjoy the Christmas season and all it has to bring. Remember what we are really celebrating and it's not how much of a deal we can get, it's the birth of Christ and we should praise him for all he gives us because if he didn't give it to you, it doesn't exist!

Yes, I'm biased!

Ok, I know that I'm her mom and all but you all have to admit, this is a cute girl! Over Thanksgiving Uncle Marc took this picture of Sarah and I think it's magazine quality. I would enter it into a photo contest but I didn't take it so I can't. Everyone tells me how cute she is and of course I agree but man, this is a cute picture.

Also, I am so thankful for both my children. God reminds me daily to appreciate my children. Today we (kids and I) with a friend and her kids. I thought Erik was hyper but man oh man, Erik is calm compared to her kids and it's great that they are so happy but I'm so glad Erik can calm down when asked (most of the time). I am greatful to God for showing me how wonderful my children are, even on the days they are driving me bonkers!

Being an outsider

We are back from a trip to Idaho for Thanksgiving. This year it was with the Auth's. It's interesting how different people are from each other. I come from a quiet (comparitivly) family compared to the Auths. Now granted, there are 25 of them to my family of 5 so its going to be louder because of the people. However, I find it interesting how different people are and yet seem to get along very well. We had fun in Twin Falls. I think the best part was throwing a shower for my sister-in-law who is having a baby in March. The hardest part was the difference in parenting with others. We like putting our kids down for the night at an early time in the evening and they don't bother. I know this post may piss off someone but these are my thoughts. Kids thrive on routine, they thrive on discipline, they thrive on being kids and having parents. Why do some parents not want to give their children what all children need to the best of their ability. I got mocked and barrated for wanting to put my children to bed at a decent hour. Why is it when an outsider (like an in-law) makes a suggestion or a request or a thought, they are looked at like they are on drugs or speaking a different language from the rest of the people in the room. If a member of the family says it, all of a sudden it's acceptable. I have heard so many times about people getting married to someone whose family they don't like and they said something like "well I'm not marrying the family" well to those people out there, if your future spouse is close to his/her family, you ARE marrying the family. You get to be with them also and have to deal with all their different behaviors and quirks. Being an outsider you see things that even your spouse can't see or doesn't want to see. Sometimes it's nice to be the outsider because the family doesn't expect the same behavior out of you or they just write it off as you being the "in-law". However, over time you will slowly get closer and closer to the family and maybe even someday agree on something but highly unlikely because you are from a different generation and a different world. It's ok to be from different worlds, but just remember sometimes different worlds don't mix well and you have to be gentle and understanding when your worlds colide, for the sake of your spouse.