A Day in the Life...: 2010

Thursday, December 23, 2010

So Proud...

There are moments as a parent when your heart feels so full and you realize that your cup runneth over. Today I got to experience one of those moments and I am blessed as I saw Jesus in my 3 yr old. For several weeks now, we have been talking to Braden about how there are many people less fortunate then us who will not have a Christmas this year. Braden has always had a compassionate, tender heart, I've noticed that about him long before now, in fact it is one of my favorite things about him. It's nothing we've done, it's simply who God made him to be. One of those beautiful qualities that will hopefully stay with him his whole life. Ever since we've talked about the "poor kids" as he calls them, he has wanted to role play that he was giving his toys away. In fact if you came to my house on any given day, you would probably experience his "Good Will" store set up where he wants me to sit on a chair at the store and he drives his riding car over to the store and gives all of his cars and trucks away. This game could go on for hours. Quite frequently when we talk about his Christmas presents, he asks what the "poor kids" are going to get for Christmas. So this week, I told Braden that we were going to go to the homeless shelter to give some of our stuff away. I was amazed when he quickly ran to his toy basket and picked out a few of his best toys like his carwash (which if you know Braden, you know this is one of his favorite things). This morning when he woke up, he told me that we needed to go give the "poor kids" his toys. I was pleasantly surprised at how interested and concerned he was that we go to the shelter. As Austin and I were loading everything into the car, Braden ran back into his room and said, "I need to give them a baby car (his word for matchbox cars)...again, a very generous heart. As we headed to the shelter and as I watched Braden generously hand his toys over to the people at the shelter without batting an eye, I was reminded about how much God loves a cheerful giver. Austin and I were so proud of him, I mean my heart was so full of love for a compassionate little boy who thinks so highly of others and cares for them. I found myself convicted as I thought of how many times I have selfishly held on to things I didn't need or how often I have not given my very best when I had the chance to give. So thankful that a little boy showed me how to be like Jesus today.

Friday, December 17, 2010

My little camel...

Braden had his Christmas program this past Thursday and it was called "Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child." Unfortunately everyone in my family including Austin was busy, so I was the only one who could be there to see him. We spent the week talking about, practicing, singing and dancing along to the words of the songs he would be singing. He was a camel this year...a shepherd last year and I had told him earlier that day that I would be out in the crowd watching him and cheering him on. When he came out on stage, I saw his little eyes hidden under his camel hat...they were watching, searching the crowd, person by person trying desperately to find me. He couldn't. He had this forlorn look on his face...sad, confused. As I stood there waving my hands, hoping so badly that he would find me, I felt my heart sink for him. I wanted him to know that I was there, proud of him, excited for him. And then, just as the first song was starting, he locked eyes with me and his face lit up with the smile I have fallen so deeply in love with, he waves his hand and I hear those sweet words leave his lips, "Mommy...Hi Mommy" and in that moment I find myself tearing up. As I watch him continue to wave and so intently sing the words "Oh what happy news, Jesus is here to stay" I have to fight hard to stop the tears. I love this boy, he is so small, so innocent...I long to protect him, to hold him, to stop time. He smiles again and waves. My heart feels like it is about to pound out of my chest because I am so proud of him. He loves me. He just wants me to be there watching him...nothing else matters in his little world. Austin and I often talk about how these years are so short. A 3 yr old's world revolves around his parents. As the days quickly pass and the months turn into years, there will come a time when Braden doesn't light up when he sees us like he used to, when he won't long to sit in our presence and be with us, when the conversations will be had with other people instead of with us and once again the tears fall. I know these children grow up. I know these years are passing quickly. These moments watching my baby sing his heart out on stage, dancing without any insecurity, waving and smiling without a care in the world are so sweet to a parent. I hope to tuck these memories deep in my heart and remember them when the years have come and gone. Here is my sweet little camel the moment he spotted me -

Singing and smiling -

Cheesing for the camera -

All I can say is thank goodness for Veggie Sticks. With a new double ear infection and a sleepless night the night before, asking Asher to sit quietly in his stroller during the program with no extra hands to help was sure to be a recipe for disaster. Fortunately Veggie Sticks, a paci and my cell phone kept the boy happy -

And Veggie Sticks for all! -

Asher wanted to try on the Camel costume in preparation for his shining moment in a few years -

After the program, Braden had a pajama party, complete with cookie decorating and pin the nose on the reindeer. Asher even got to sit at the table with the big boys and have lunch. He was loving it!

Overall a very good day even though Ash was a bit under the weather. Which on a side note, we found out today, after a week and a half of sleepless nights, 30 minute naps, early mornings (some as early as 4:45am) and unexplained fussiness that Asher has a double ear infection. Awesome huh? Especially since he's only been ear infection free for about 2 weeks now...and in case you didn't know, his previous ear infection took 6 weeks and 4 different antibiotics before it was gone. So after a visit with the pediatrician today, it looks like my sweet baby is going to have to have tubes put in his ears. We go to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor next week to find out more. Poor little guy. So ready for him to be happy and healthy again.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Christmas is Coming...

We are trying to get decorated over here. It's taking longer then I thought with lots of little helpers running around, but here are some sweet pictures of our decorating days...

Making finger painted Christmas trees, complete with handprint ornaments -

Hunting for the perfect Christmas tree -

Sweet brothers -

Braden had Asher cracking up...I mean, he was howling in laughter. A baby's deep, hearty laughter brings such joy to my heart -

And while Braden was doing this -

Asher was doing this -

Asher even did a little decorating himself -

So happy to see this sweet baby smiling again. In some ways I feel like we missed out on so much of him these past two months that he was so sick with ear infections -

Still so much I hope to do before Christmas gets here in a few days. Watching my children enjoy this holiday has been magical again. So thankful for them!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Plague

The vomit plague that is...it has hit and hit bad!!! It all started Saturday morning when Asher threw up, followed by Braden and I getting sick Sunday night, followed by Austin getting sick yesterday and then...are you ready...after almost 48 hours of feeling better....Braden threw up again last night. So now I've got Austin throwing up in one bathroom, Braden throwing up in another one and Asher who is aimlessly wandering about fussing and crying because he is bored out of his mind and his ears are still hurting from 6, yes 6 weeks worth of ear infections. On a side note, Asher's been on 4 antibiotics now and 6 weeks later, there is still fluid in his ears. We've been to two doctors now and they are telling me that tubes may be in his near future...boo...yet another plague!!!!

Anyway, back to Braden...what the heck, more throw up??????!!!!!!! And let me tell you, it's not like Braden picked up another bug from somewhere else because we have all sat here and stared at these walls since Saturday morning. So after feeling sorry for myself and some tears of frustration on my part, I gathered myself together and called the doctor. And the doctor informed me that some stomach bugs will linger on like this for an entire week. AN ENTIRE WEEK!!!! Huh? But what about my thanksgiving plans and what about my vomit phobia and what about the fact that I am about to be buried alive in laundry and what about the fact that we have been eating chicken noodle soup, popsicles and saltines for 5 days now and I don't think I can eat it one more night of it, and what about the fact that I have Lysoled the entire house 10 times over and I still can't stop the germs and what about the fact that I have prayed and prayed and prayed for it to end and God has chosen to let us walk through this sickness. In the end, I realized that it doesn't really matter what I want. This is life...especially life with kids. In the end, I realized that I am so thankful for a husband who loves me and helps me even in the wee hours of the morning. For a husband who holds my boys tight and loves on them while their little bodies are burning with fever. In the end I realized how much respect I have for single parents who have no other option, no one to ask for help, no one to give them a break. In the end I realized that I am so thankful to have these little boys to care for and love. In the end I realized that I am thankful for little boys who still smile even though their tummies are sick. In the end I realized that I am thankful that God blessed us with an incredible week of unseasonably warm weather which saved our sanity when we just needed to get out of the house for a few minutes. So all that to say, it has not been a fun week or one that I ever hope to repeat, but despite all the chaos I have found myself so grateful to God for all of his many blessings. Here is to healthier days...

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Fall Fun

What a wonderful fall we've had. The weather has been amazing, the leaves beautiful and despite a month and a half long ear infection from the littlest man, we've had a great few weeks. I treasure these times...warm days, playing outside till dark, jumping in ginormous piles of leaves, numerous trips to the park. These are some good times and I'm thankful to be home to experience them. Here are my boys playing, laughing, fighting....and on any given day they do any or all of the above all day long.

Wagon time (an afternoon must) -

Asher so kindly sharing his cracker. My boys always share so well...ha!!!!

Sweet Ash enjoying his cracker -

Love this little smile -

Nothing better then jumping in a huge pile of leaves -

Nothing sweeter then a leaf fight with your three year old -

Tyson was right in the middle of it too -

Little man slept through the first half of the leaf jumping festivities, but made it out just in time to enjoy -

And now that the weather has turned cold and it's dark at 4:45pm, we'll do a lot of recreational bathing...what kid doesn't love a bubble bath -

We'll also be doing some random art projects -

Notice the lovely finger paint job on the wall behind Braden. I was trying to fix dinner and noticed the boys were both being a little too quiet...all of the sudden I realized the lights were off and I come out to find a lovely picture on the wall, the light switch and on Braden. Nice! So thankful for washable finger paint.

Oh and there will be lots of extra reading too -

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Pumpkins, Cookies and Halloween

Halloween is in full force around here. A few weeks ago, I got Braden's old pumpkin costume out (that he wore when he was 3 months old) to see if it would fit Asher...and Braden decided it would be fun to try it on. We laughed and laughed as he literally ran laps around the house in a costume that was a wee bit small on him. Here is Braden in his pumpkin costume at 3 months old -

And here he is in the same costume at 3 yrs old. How does time pass so quickly and how do our little babies grow up so quickly -

We went to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago with our dear friends the McFarlands and the Geshke's. Both families have boys that are close to Braden's age and we all have baby boys that were born 3 weeks from each other. It is truly a blessing to do life with these sweet friends and all of our wild and crazy boys. I must say that I always look forward to the pumpkin patch. As a child, I spent every fall at an apple orchard in Pennsylvania where we picked pumpkins, ran through corn mazes, ate candy apples and played for hours on end. Those are such fond memories for me and I hope to continue that tradition in my own family. Gentry's Farm is great and we always have such a fun time. This was Asher's first year to go, as last year he was just a few weeks old and my mom had offered to keep him for me since it was SO cold. We had very warm weather this year and although Braden said he was scared of the pumpkins and Asher cried when I put him near one, all in all it was a great day!

Asher, not too sure about the hay -

Braden and Daddy on the hay ride...Braden was beyond excited that a big tractor was pulling us. Asher was with me and he loved it too, sitting so still while we were on the hay ride -

Asher and his buddies -

All seven of our boys. A small herd if you ask me. Always fun and always chaotic -

A family shot -

Asher scooping (and eating) some corn -

You can't go to the pumpkin patch w/o having some popcorn...pretty sure Austin and I didn't get to taste any -

A few weeks ago, I decided to not nap Braden on the days he is in mother's day out. He still naps the other days for 1.5-2 hours, but he is also perfectly fine to skip a nap here and there and I really wanted to have some one on one time with him since I get that with Asher while Braden is at school. I have to say, I really enjoy our time together on those days. Asher is usually asleep for his afternoon nap and Braden and I play or do some kind of art project or okay, occasionally watch a movie. The other day we decided to make pumpkin cookies in preparation for Halloween and it was so much fun.

The stirring begins -

And then of course we need to put some flour on the dough...let's just say these cookies had a LOT of flour on them -

And when you get bored, use the cookie dough bowl for a hat -

On Saturday, we headed to this little pumpkin patch down the street so we could get some pumpkins. Here is little Asher enjoying the little pumpkins -

Picking out just the right pumpkin...Braden wanted to get one for Tyson too. I'm sure all the neighbors are wondering why we have five pumpkins...I promise we don't have any exciting news to tell!!

Sweet brothers -

Braden explaining to Asher why eating leaves really isn't a good idea -

Poor Asher has had an ear infection for two weeks and is on his second round of antibiotics, but is constantly tugging on his ears...never-the-less a cute picture -