hard to say goodbye

This week will be our last in Colorado.

Tomorrow the movers will come and pack our things and Friday everything gets loaded onto a truck and heads to Oklahoma.

I have never known a parting to be so bittersweet.  The friends we have made here are like family to us and like aunts and uncles to our children (you should have heard the boys' excitement when they saw them on Monday).  Saying goodbye to them will be one of the hardest things we have had to do.

It is an absolute blessing knowing the majority of the 365 days of the year will be spent with my husband and seeing him grow in his relationship with his sons (and me) because we are no longer in the Army.  Being near family again will also be a huge blessing.

I'm left feeling thankful: the closeness of our Colorado family gives me confidence that distance will not destroy the friendships and for what the future holds for us in Oklahoma, though we're moving back, it seems like a brand new place.

let the picture-taking begin

this is my favorite one

watching Daddy play Wii 

at McDonald's

Italian Cream Cake

I mentioned briefly that I received a Nikon D40 for my birthday.  I have teased Kevin that it is my new necklace.  Here are a few of the pictures that I have taken that I actually like.

the best birthday ever

I turned 27 last Friday.  Celebrating took place on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday!  First, the Colorado crew went to Mr. Biggs to celebrate with go-carts, laser tag, bumper cars, and some TGI Friday's where Emily showcased her amazing voice at the unexpected karaoke night.  We didn't take the boys and instead we were the ones running everywhere playing games and having fun.

Friday night my mom made my birthday dinner wish list: grilled chicken (a.k.a. chicken cooked outside), tortellini alfredo with homemade sauce, asparagus, Italian Cream Cake, and coffee punch.  Excellent food + my wonderful family (minus a few members) + a fun game of Taboo + a Nikon D40, the present I've always wanted = wonderful birthday celebration #2.

Sunday night, Kevin and I met up with some long-time Oklahoma friends at a pizza place called Sauced where we waited an hour for our pizza.  During that time, we had good conversation and my friend's toenail got ripped off (crazy times).  Again, another memorable birthday time.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you to all of you who made the day and the weekend so incredible!!

doctor Daddy

One of the boys' favorite activity lately is taking a bucket, putting it at the end of the couch, and doing a roll-over onto the couch.  

Ronin has realized that with the help of the bucket he can actually stand up on the arm rest.  This is, as you can imagine, a little dangerous.  He continued to experiment with ways he could mount the couch.

One of his experiments led to a fall from the arm rest to the floor.  He must have landed on his hand funny because his middle finger swelled up and he cried with tears (which is unusual for him).  After a few minutes of playing he would cry again from the pain.  Eventually, Kevin's medical training proved to be very beneficial.  He taped up Ronin's fingers and Ronin felt much better.  Thank you, Daddy.

a Mother's Day post

I have now been a mother for almost five years.  In those five years I have learned a lot simply by practice.  However, I probably learned most how to be a mother from my own, during the eighteen years I was home.  Here are a few:

1.  It's better to be a parent than a friend.

2.  Rules create responsibility and responsibility produces maturity.

3.  Each child is different and necessitates different discipline.

4.  It is important that a mother love father more than her children.

5.  And that she love Jesus more than him.

6.  Let your children take risks, but be close by.

7.  One of the goals of parenting is to inspire independence.

8.  Truly, there is no greater joy than to see your children walk in Truth.

9.  Teach your children the Bible more than you teach them numbers or the alphabet.

10. It is good to laugh and not take yourself too seriously.

11.  Always respect and honor your husband, it has an effect on children-lifelong.

12. Love your children and value them for their uniqueness.

13. Share in your children's excitement, and sympathize in their sadness.

14. Listen.  And they will return the favor.

15. It is an absolute joy to be a mother.

I could probably go on and on.  Thank you, Momma, for teaching me how to be a mother without even knowing.  You have made me a better mom.

disappointing diapers

I am a fan of Target diapers.  They come in a pack of 80 for just $13.99.  They work better than Pampers (in my opinion) and are a much better deal.

That is until yesterday.  I went to Target for the usual pick-up of the jumbo box only to find they were no longer there.  Instead I found this box:

I'm going to assume the "up & up" on the box is indicating the price, because there are now only 70 diapers in the box, but the price is still at $13.99.  If that wasn't enough, the design of the diaper is now a polka dot decoration that is the same front and back.  The old design was another perk of Target diapers (see Abraham's post) because you could easily tell the difference between front and back.  You may think this isn't a big deal, but on more than one occasion I picked up my boys with their diaper on backwards (courtesy of Grandpa).

weeds are wonderful

Davis was playing outside today and he rushed in with a dandelion in his hand.  He quickly assured me that he was not done playing, but wanted to give me this flower for Mother's Day.  I received a kiss and a hug, then he was out the door.

creativity from the cradle

From very early on Davis has demonstrated his creativity.  This morning was no different, he stood at his easel, red dry erase marker in hand, looking at what he had created so far.  

"Mommy, do you like it?"  I told him I did, and I was being sincere.  

We were made to be creative, but too many of us abandon it when we start "real life" or we abandon it because we think we have no talent.  It is good for the soul to make, to paint, to create, to exercise our imaginations.  

Start small, go color with your kids, niece, nephew, neighbor, or friend, but keep exercising your creativity (in different ways) and maybe you'll find yourself at an easel, standing back to see what you've made.

mothers are multi-taskers

Someone told me the other day that I'm not quite as good of a multi-tasker as I once was.  This came as quite a surprise to me, and for a moment I believed them.  Until I gave it some more thought.

In reality I am doing so many things during every moment of every day that I cannot add some of the things I once could.  All day every day, I am listening to two boys being attentive to each word: to possibly correct, to laugh, to encourage, to teach.  I am watching two boys: to make sure they don't hurt themselves, hurt each other, or break anything.  I am cleaning: their toys, their messes, their scrapes and cuts, our plates, our clothes.  

I am doing my best to love my husband in a way that my children can see it (even when he is not there) and to love my children in such a way that they see the love of Jesus.  There's no weekend to being a mother; the job just keeps right on going.

So Mothers, be encouraged, you are multi-taskers and you're probably pretty darn good at it.  

shout out to the Crew

Last night our Bible study group met.  We are more than a Bible study group though, we are more like family.  Our days here in Colorado are getting shorter and shorter, so time with them is precious.  Unintentionally, they each encouraged and affirmed us more than we could have ever asked.  Emily, Gary, Hailey, Joanna, Kristi, Levi, and Tony, we love you and appreciate you more than you will ever know.