Thursday, January 14, 2010

Enough is Too Much

Balance is impossible. This is my lesson of the week. Actually it's my lesson every week. I know this fact, but it's amazing how it is drilled into my life so constantly.

The kids and I have been getting pretty lonely around here lately. With the crazy cold here for the last two weeks, our only options have been to stay home, go shopping, or go out to eat. And each of those things gets old. Really old. Plus, it would help to have some distractions as we count down these slow, final days of Brandon's trip.

So I was looking forward to a little action this week. On Tuesday we went to church for Mom-to-Mom, which was lovely. And yesterday I worked while the kids hung out at Grammy's, then we went to church.

I originally typed out most of the gruesome details of what made yesterday a frustrating, utterly exhausting day. But I've deleted it to spare you. The point is that it was a seriously stretching experience. I'm actually thankful for it, and was slightly aware of that during the suffering, because it's the only way I grow. I actually saw a speck of extra patience in my dealings with the kids when we got home late, hungry, and pooped last night.

After all the craziness we could cram into two days, I was ecstatic about a day to hang out at home with the kids today. I've come full circle! I was dying to get out of here just 48 hours before the madness broke me down. I'll never be satisfied.

But that's really the point, isn't it? Life on this earth will never be just right. It's a world of extremes and frustrations. Thank you, Jesus, that this is all just a shadow!! I actually wasn't planning on there being a moral of my story, but there you go.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Baby Bear's Firsts

It's been a week of many firsts for Baby Bear as we've broken into the new year.

Well, today she may or may not have swallowed her first foreign object. I talked to the doctor's office and they gave me advice. I cannot be sure yet if she even ate it at all, but time will tell. I'll post a photo when I know. Just kidding!

Her first park trip in 2010




Last weekend she had her first girls' day out with Mommy and Nana. Where else, but IKEA! This time she did not eat through the pamphlet.



Her first tunnel exploration mission


Her first trip to IHOP (Not her first makeout session with a stuffed animal)



Her first nude photo shoot of 2010


How could I almost forget to include today's first, my inspiration for this whole post?

That's right, her first taste of chocolate. I don't think we gave the boys any until they were at least one, but I'm not sure. She wasn't too sure about it at first - same as with any new thing - but she ended up seeming pretty pleased with it.

Oh, and see the hairclip keeping her locks out of her little eyes? Yeah, that's our foreign object...

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Sibling Revelry

Okay, not really. But we did have fun as most of us siblings on Brandon's side gathered for our Secret Santa swap and to watch our kids in another frenzy of gift-opening. Garrett, Chris, and Brandon were missing, but it's the best we could do.

Almost none of the pictures of "adults" came out very good, not sure what was up with the camera.

Steve showing off his awesome new shirt


Madness


Super-cool cape Aunt Jen made each of the boys. They love them.

Can you tell I'm a little obsessed with my collage feature? Which one do we like the best? (Oh, good job on the mini photo shoot, Aunt Brianna!)




Sunday, January 3, 2010

More Christmas Fun



We had a great time at both the grandparents' houses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Enjoy!





A very cool car train. An important Christmas Eve project of the boys'.