Category Archives: Life in general

Currently…

Posted on December 23, 2013 | 4 comments

Outside my window it is a winter wonderland. This is the first December in 13 years where it has snowed since Thanksgiving and not stopped (do not be impressed with my ability to remember the year it last snowed this much – I only remember because I had just moved back to town and I drove from one end of 28th Street to the other to go to work so never really noticed exactly how much snow it was until I drove home at Christmas and my parents had snowbanks taller than my car next to their driveway). I love how gorgeous it is but I do wish there wasn’t ice included in this scenario and power outages – that is less than ideal. But still, pretty. White Christmas here we come!

I am thinking of what needs to get done before Christmas and the end of the year. I love this time of year more each year! The break from school and regular things to celebrate with family and friends. Each year I find more magic in the reason for the season and love sharing that with my kids – teaching them the true meaning of Christmas and making new traditions for how we celebrate Jesus’ birth (and revisiting our old favorite traditions).

I am thankful for our “new” house, our health – despite getting older (and more decrepit) every year, my four boys that I live with – they are the best in every way despite how crazy each of them can make me – and the friends and family that round out this pretty wonderful life (don’t worry – it’s still got stress and bad things – I’m not trying to gloss over anything, I’m not one of those bloggers who is out of touch with reality – at least I don’t think I am).

I am wearing pajamas (changed from the pajamas I was wearing for the past three days – why change if you aren’t going to be seeing people, that’s what I say).

I am remembering to get all the gifts wrapped and tucked into boxes.

I am going to run some final errands and then get things packed up for our trips to Lansing and Cleveland in the next week. Am also finishing up any work that needs to be handled in the next week – I am so looking forward to time off, not thinking about work at all!

I am currently reading a bunch of books, including two on Christian marriage and how maybe its true intention isn’t to make us happy but to bring us closer to God (which ultimately is what makes us happiest). I’m about to start Beautiful Ruins for January’s book club.

I am hoping 2014 won’t bring any bad surprises (it can bring all the good ones it wants to), that Liam will continue to enjoy wrestling, that we’ll turn a corner with the boys and their {in}ability to listen and follow directions and that Simon will get a first shift job at work – it’s nice having him home since his knee surgery last week (oh yes, he had knee surgery last week and he’s doing marvelously… seeing his doctor today for follow up and to learn when he’ll have to start getting injections since he is missing some key cartilage in his knee – darn rugby, ever the giver).

On my mind work, life and how to get the boys to stop arguing with each other and pushing each others’ buttons. And what we’re going to have for dinner.

Noticing that my nails are in serious need of some TLC… my last round of at-home shellac left them very sad. I love how it looks when it is on but getting it off is not my favorite thing.

Around the house Liam is playing iPad, Pandora is playing the Family Christmas station, laundry is going in the washer (though not well since it keeps going out of balance), George is out of sorts because I am sitting at the kitchen counter and not someplace he can sit next to me so he keeps getting up and circling around for a place to curl up and I have finally remembered to drink my second cup of coffee. You know… boring, wonderful life.

In the kitchen butternut squash and garlic are roasting in the oven and the counter is filled with goodies to be packed up for the holidays.

One of my favorite things is listening to Liam read books to Jack. It’s a rarity but one of the best things in the world to witness.

From my photo archive (4 years ago)
Jack was still adorable (and a baby)

And Liam, while cute and chunky, still had amazing bed head.

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Posted in Life in general

Our Life Via Instagram

Posted on December 7, 2013 | 4 comments

Confession: It took me way too many attempts to correctly type the four-word headline to this post so there will be typos in the following words you read (it also took me three attempts to type “words” – I am winning at blogging today).

Welcome to those of you who got our Christmas card this weekend and thought to check out the bloggity blog – I haven’t been as diligent about posting this year but there is still plenty to read! I also added three new sections: graphic design work samples (in case you are in need of a designer), inspirational artwork I’ve done related to posts on the blog (in case you need some words of wisdom) and information about the laid-back book club I started this fall (in case you like reading, talking, wine and good food – and happen to live locally). And for those of you who didn’t get the card (if you are out of the country – they are still coming, I didn’t have enough foresight to mail them in advance), well, thanks for reading and stopping by – I love having you here and am sending you a virtual hug (and card). Now for the pics – I was very Instagram happy in the last month!

Bathtime and making rainbow loom bracelets are the two times my boys always get along. Too bad we don’t let them take more baths.

The boys decided to make George a comfy spot for hanging out… doesn’t every 9-pound dog need a dozen pillows and assorted blankets?

While I was in the shower, Jack colored his entire hand red… can I just say that from inside the shower red marker does not look much different than blood!

I purchased this wine for the label. The bird with the hat on reminded me of my father-in-law, who, fittingly, was the bird man for the national parks in Australia.

My ninja, ever in constant motion.

The tree outside our front window. My favorite.

Watchdog, always hoping to see something in the backyard.

Perfect capture of both their personalities.

Date night with my main squeeze… sushi, dark beer and Thor. We’re wild and crazy like that.

Oh Liam, you crack me up.

Packages from Australia contain LARGE amounts of Vegemite (the jar on the left is the biggest we can get here in the States and costs 2- to 3-times as much as the larger jar on the right).

Throwback picture to me in high school. I loved a good sweater vest.

A get together with local-ish fellow “lucky fins,” a.k.a., a room full of kids with various limb differences similar to Jack’s little hand. What a treat to get to meet everyone!

They love their daddy best.

The tree just over a week later… winter is coming.

And winter took out the power… this screen cap was taken on Monday… note they say the power will return by the 21st which was a THURSDAY. Thankfully they are not so great with predicting such things and the power was restored that evening. Now, whenever Liam sees a prediction for bad weather he says he hopes he doesn’t have school again.

Liam’s hair is its own entity. While Jack can go to bed with wet hair and wake up with it perfectly straight… this is what happens when Liam wears a hat on dry hair for 10 minutes – that’s not static, it’s just a mess.

Liam and the neighbor boys had to sit at the big table to talk about important club matters. As far as I can tell the club doesn’t do anything but collect dues from anyone who wants to join that is older than 7.

Jack is also not in the club.

Someone has a hard time remembering who is in charge.

My Thanksgiving day game plan.

How can I ever say no to this face? Well… I do find it in me, much to his chagrin.

Pinkie up, hot chocolate on board. I miss our weekly afternoon dates, but the occasional Saturday morning will do me just fine.

Yes, I talked about Thanksgiving yesterday, but I included this so I could tell you about the Cheeky Churro, the drink pictured in the top right corner… it is just like drinking a delicious churro. Here’s how you make it:
Cheeky Churro
1 oz. Cinnamon Sugar Vodka (Smirnoff)
1/2 oz. Bailey’s with Cinnamon Vanilla
1/2 oz. Triple Sec (or Orange Liqueur)
1/2 oz. light cream/half and half
Shake with ice and serve with a dash of cinnamon.

The cousins made it through the holiday without being naughty (they define the term double trouble).

My husband cannot resist cleaning any time I tell him someone is coming over. This is a valued trait, but has a tendency to drive me batty.

Duplos can still provide entertainment.

This kid can turn up the pout like nobody’s business. A second prior he was laughing (or “lapping” as he pronounces it) and a second after this he was trying to tackle his brother. Do not fall for the face.

I adore hearing Liam read out loud to Jack (or out loud in general). These moments erase so many of the frustrating ones (not all, mind you, but many).

I ordered our cards back in October with grand plans to have them ready well before Thanksgiving so I could mail them on time because for once I had a goal of beating my childhood friend, Crista, to the punch with sending out cards (her’s is always the first one I get) and lo, her’s arrived Wednesday and mine still needed mailing labels on them.

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Posted in Family, Holidays, Instagram, Life in general

Thursday Randoms (post-Thanksgiving edition)

Posted on December 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

I for real hosted Thanksgiving this year and it went surprisingly well… no big drama, unless you count the brining bag bursting open the night before when I (as directed) tried to turn the turkey over in the liquid to ensure even brine distribution. I mean it’s not ideal to have to sop up 4 gallons of aromatic liquid but on the plus side, I hadn’t yet cleaned my kitchen so it just moved up that task by a few hours. It also wasn’t on my Thanksgiving Day checklist but Simon helpfully added it for me. Though I want it noted that I did NOT drop the bag… it exploded in my sink and again on the counter. Clearly my 29 pound turkey was asking too much of a bag with a 25 pound capacity.

It was an early morning… and I just had to get over the whole touching a formerly living but now dead bird. But really… still gross.
Funny story: When I was pulling the pieces out of the bird after bringing it home, I removed the neck from the body cavity and Liam instantly asked, “Do turkeys have penises?” I could not help but laugh.

And though it got done two hours early (the Internet failed me with its handy timetables), it turned out pretty perfectly and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Though if that size bird is in our future again, I might have to get a larger pan… this one was at capacity. For reference, I highly recommend soaking cheesecloth in melted butter and white wine and then wrapping all that deliciousness around your bird and basting it again every 30 minutes. Cheesecloth is not something I have ever had a need to buy but it made for one moist (ick – worst word ever) and scrumptious bird… and I’m not just saying that, I hope my dinner guests would concur. My gravy, on the other hand, could have used some help… it was a little anorexic.

Even George got to enjoy the turkey the next day when, after we carved up the rest of the turkey to make soup stock, I put up on the counter and let him go crazy with all the pieces we hadn’t yet washed up. Doesn’t everyone have a counter-sized dog? Don’t worry – I thoroughly cleaned the counter post puppy snacking, I have standards.

We did not really do Black Friday shopping, at least not like we have done in the past. Simon went out at 9 p.m. to Target for some movies and my beloved Vampire Diaries season on DVD (only $10 – an annual deal) and the next morning we went out and bought a mattress because ours is embarrassingly old…
We are now the proud owners of a bed that is almost too big for our bedframe. I feel like I am sleeping on a throne. Poor George has to take a running leap at the bed and even then he doesn’t make it to the top but can at least scramble his little paws and pull himself the rest of the way up. This might be the thing that he ends up hating us for in his old age (he’ll be 9 in April), first the children that never leave and now a bed that he’s bound to break a hip getting onto or off of (scratch that, I won’t let him jump down on his own, the height of the leap almost ensures a face plant in his near future).
But for real, is the mattress not comically large? Our old (albeit very old) mattress only reach the top of the inside circle on the foot board of of our bedframe – a good 6-8 inches below where it is now. We are literally moving up in the world.

And, unrelated to anything Thanksgiving, a text exchange from watching The Voice results show… we were not pleased with the person America voted to save. (hint: one of the ladies).

The most wonderful time of the year

Posted on December 4, 2013 | 2 comments

It is December. I feel equal parts prepared and unprepared. I have been purchasing gifts on Amazon on a daily basis and stuffing the boxes that come a few days later into one of our front closets… furiously shouting at the children to look away whenever I open the accordion doors keeping all the treasures at bay. I need to assess where I am sometime soon, for all my advanced shopping, I am fearful I going to end up scrambling the week before Christmas because I have forgotten someone important (not you, Simon, you are taken care of… also, stay OUT of the front closet).

We decorated the house for Christmas over the weekend, putting up more Christmas lights than we ever have before thanks to the many handy indoor and outdoor plugs that are everywhere around the “new” house. Yesterday afternoon I wrapped the bannister going downstairs in garland and lights and when Simon got home he said, “I see Christmas threw up on the stairway.” What a scrooge.

I think I am a closet Christmas-aholic, I just never lived up to my potential in previous years but the “new” house as brought it out in me – I nearly gave in an got an Elf on the Shelf for the boys, but I held back because we already have an advent calendar (Star Wars Lego from last year), an advent book and Christmas books that we read daily but I was almost won over by the cute postures and posts I saw on Instagram. I’m not trying to be an overachiever, but cashing in on a little Christmas wonder is a beautiful thing.

I have so many happy memories of the season from my childhood and I hope my kids will as well. I hope they remember fondly playing with their Little People Nativity, their small tree all their own on their dresser, the glee of opening the advent calendar each morning and reading the real story of Christmas from our Advent book each evening.

Jesus’ birth brings us the ultimate reason for the season and we need to remember not to forget that in the hustle and bustle. It also gives us the opportunity to celebrate the wonder and joy beyond the religious in our every day lives. Nothing beats the warm glow of Christmas lights in a quiet, still house. A glass of egg nog or a mug of hot cocoa shared with friends. Annual gatherings of friends, neighbors, co-workers and family that just don’t happen the rest of the year. Making Christmas goodies and treats to be shared with the important people in our lives. All because a tiny baby was born one holy night, giving us the greatest gift on earth… faith and salvation.

If you like the artwork above, you can purchase your own here.

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Posted in Faith, Family Traditions, Holidays, Life in general

We All Fall Down

Posted on November 20, 2013 | 2 comments

Can we all agree that there are few things as mortifying as falling down in front of people? Any people, really. I’d be hard-pressed to tell you if I would rather fall in front of a group of strangers or a group of people I know. I’d rather not do it at all. It is embarrassing. Unless you are a comedian, prone to doing pratfalls engineered specifically for getting laughs, falling down is likely something you’d rather not do. Which is funny (isn’t it ironic?) because few of us can go through life without falling down.

I have fallen up stairs. I have gracelessly tumbled down stairs. I have tripped over my own feet, my children’s feet and cracks in the sidewalk that must have jumped out at me. I have fallen on my way into daycare, outside of my doctor’s office and numerous times while enjoying nature. Each time, there is that moment where I hope and pray that maybe – no matter how many people are around – no one saw what just happened.

Liam took a dramatic spill while we were at the neighborhood Halloween party, skinning his knee a bit but more than anything, bruising his ego. Physically he was fine, but his gentle spirit was a little worse for the wear. His neighborhood buddy, a fellow second grader, approached him gracefully, putting his arm around my guy and walking him over to a chair – telling him that he was okay. I sat with him for a few minutes and told him he was fine (because he was) and then urged him to get back up and go play. I could tell he felt embarrassed, despite the fact that no one laughed at him or made fun of him, it’s just how it goes. After a semi-reasonable amount of time, he was back at it again, doing the very things that had made him fall down in the first place, thankfully not shying away from something he obviously enjoyed simply because he had taken a spill.

A few days later, I pointed out a bruise on Liam’s knee and he reminded me it was from Halloween and that fall. Which got the idea of falling – both literally and figuratively – on my mind. I started wondering how you engender in your kids the idea that we all fall down and despite how embarrassing it might be at the time, that embarrassment shouldn’t paralyze us because it (falling) happens to everyone – how much better would you feel if you weren’t the only one who fell at that very moment? You wouldn’t feel so alone… but in reality, we aren’t alone in the experience because we have all be there in one way or another, just at a different time. In this instance, Liam came around and got back to doing what he had been doing, he didn’t let it scare him off or keep him away from enjoying something simply because he had fallen. Sometimes, though, the fear of a possibility does keep us from moving forward, from revisiting situations where we could get hurt or trying new things where the ground isn’t certain. For Liam, I hope the next time it happens, he responds the same way and keeps moving forward, keeps persevering.

And what gifts are the people are who come alongside us when we fall and help us get up off the ground, again both literally and figuratively. Those people make it possible for us to lift our chins up when all we want to do is bury our heads. Liam’s friend comforted him, showing him empathy and compassion, which enabled him to get back in the game (or onto the scooter, as the case was). The people in our lives who speak truth and bolster us up are so very necessary if we want to recover from a fall; they share the burden.

We all stumble, we all fall (some of us more spectacularly so than others) and when we do, we have two choices: stay down and give up, or pick ourselves up and move forward – the pathway traversed a bit easier if we have help and companionship.

We all fall down.

And we all (should) get up again. Because we can. Because things will get better. Because falling isn’t the end of the story, sometimes it’s just the beginning.