My Mommy Vacation

Well, I haven't left the blogging community quite yet. ;) I like the comment made by "anonymous" that said it might be good to leave the blog open for when the mood strikes to write.
This is one of those times. It is a COLD, quiet afternoon at my house--Gemma is napping and Hannah is watching "The Lion King" (for "kind of" the second time today, as she watched a short portion of it at the mall during their free movie screenings--brilliant!) I figured I could write about my trip to see Senia, since that was particularly noteworthy, and then maybe that will get my blogging moods back in swing.
I visted Senia two weeks ago tomorrow, and it was such a wonderful time! I hadn't flown anywhere in years, so it was a big deal for many reasons. I actually had the blessing of going to our church women's retreat the weekend before, so I was feeling a little teary at the thought of leaving the girls & Keith again, but I made it through the good-byes without shedding any tears! :) Getting through security was interesting, as the last time I flew, although you had to go through the security screening, they hadn't quite made everyone take off their shoes, all metal (even the metallic in my scarf!), and practically strip down to the bare minimum before going through the metal detector that felt more like an MRI machine. Crazy!
I discovered it is kind of lonely to fly by yourself. I didn't like that part. As Senia and I were discussing later, you don't have anyone around to raise your eyebrows to, make funny comments to, or watch your stuff while you go to the bathroom! I made it through the flight, and other than having to use the restroom the SECOND I got off the plane, I really enjoyed flying!
After a joyous reunion with Senia and realizing I had overdressed for the weekend, since Minnesota was currently warmer & dryer than Vancouver, we headed to her apartment to settle in for the night.
The weekend was then filled with lovely facials at the Aveda institute (highly recommended, by the way!), trips to some of Senia's favorite eating establishments, multiple french press pots, shopping, visits with friends, and walks...lots of walks. I thought I walked fast, but after being with Senia, I realized I'm like a turtle! :)
One of the most important visits was with Senia's boyfriend Kevin. I can happily tell you that I approve with two thumbs up, and that I can see why Senia is so giddy these days. They are so cute together! They both respect each other, and yet are comfortable enough in their own skin that they can tease as well. (Very important in our family, as we like to joke around just a little bit. ;) I was really honored to be able to be the first one in our family to meet Kevin as her boyfriend, and I am excited for their upcoming visit this weekend! (Scheduled after my trip was planned, but very perfect because then I didn't have to say good-bye for an indefinite amount of time when I left Minneapolis.)
So the weekend was a wonderful get-away for me. I got to sleep in every morning, we watched "The Today Show"--a rarity for both of us!--and we spent lots of sister time together. I loved seeing Senia as an adult in her own place, and I can tell she's really developed her own routine & lifestyle. She's got a cute apartment, and the area is very fun & convenient, with a Trader Joe's within walking distance! We tried out a new frozen yogurt place that I can picture Senia enjoying in the summer months, and she showed me all sorts of fun areas as we toured around. We also got to attend a ballet (a first for both of us as well, outside of the community theater version of "The Nutcracker.") Those tickets were made available to her through work, which meant they were free! :) Yay!
I was thankful to be with Senia, and I'm so happy that I got to see her as an adult in her adult life. :) She's become quite the confident, happy, healthy woman...although she's still my little sister, and it's amazing to think of all she has accomplished in the last four to six years. Love you, Sen! :)

Something to think about...

I am thinking my blogging days might be over. The last few times I think about writing on here, I honestly get stressed or frustrated even trying to think about how to describe all that has gone on in the last few weeks. There have been some positive changes to Hannah's behavior, possibly helped along by the dietary changes we are experimenting with in our family, I continue to be busy with women's ministry at our church, Gemma is almost two (WHAT?!), and Keith celebrated his one-year anniversary with Convergint. In addition to that, I am joyfully anticipating our church women's retreat next weekend and a VERY long-awaited trip to Minnesota to visit Senia. I think we're going to look back on March and think "Where did the time go?!" For now, I am trying to enjoy each day thoroughly, especially when we have gorgeous sunshine like we have today!
So what do you think? You who are reading this are the reason I continue to blog, but I'm not even sure I have many followers anymore. :) (Let's face it, Senia, if it's just you, I can call you! Haha.)
Anyway, I'll spend a few more days considering the blog community, and after that, I think I may put an end to this chapter of social media.
Blessings to each of you!

I'm still here...

...I just can't get inspired to write anything lately. There are lots of things I feel like I "should" write about, but I haven't had a lot of motivation to do so. I have a teeny, tiny understanding of the term "writer's block..."
Hannah & Gemma are busy and full of girly activity & drama. (Yes, it's amazing to see the amount of drama that a 4 1/2-year-old and almost-2-year-old can create. Lots of screaming, swatting, mean looks, hands on hips, etc. One day I warned Keith about the amount of estrogen in the house so that he could be prepared before coming home.)
This weekend we are hosting Patrick & Theresa, and the girls are both thrilled! Hannah even got to stay up a little later to see them tonight, and she was pretty good about it. I'm getting a haircut and highlight tomorrow, which is long overdue and will feel so indulgent after months & months of waiting. :) The rest of the day will be spent with the fam, and then Keith & I get to go out on a date night. Dinner and a movie; the whole works! Yippee! I insisted that it be part of my birthday celebration WEEK, because that's what you should do during birthdays!

One thing I should have blogged about earlier but didn't (and I still will...) is that Hannah & Gemma are now in one room together. I want to post more about that with pictures and all, but for now, you can know that it is actually going pretty well and I'm excited they are getting to have the experiences (good and bad) that Senia and I had growing up in a room together.

Anyway, I'm hoping that I will get into a really reflective, provocative writing mood when my birthday comes around (the big 3-0!) so stay tuned for that! :)

Girls' Seattle Trip!

After a week of Keith being gone, I decided to hit the road with my mom and get out with the girls. (Actually, we had planned for months to go overnight to visit my cousin Mary, in celebration of a couple big birthdays, and it just happened to fall right after Keith got home from his training week.)
My mom and I headed out in the a.m. and got to Seattle before noon on Saturday. Our bed & breakfast was really cute and charming, and it was even decorated for Christmas! We got all settled in our room, and it seemed as if we were all along in the house! (That was proven wrong later, but not in a bad way.)
We met up with Mary and found a fun sandwich place for lunch. It was called Homegrown, and it was a great organic soup/salad/sandwich place with delicious food. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. After browsing around in some shops (we were in the Capitol Hill area, which was super fun & felt very much like a "locals" neighborhood), we went to check out Mary's cute little studio apartment. She has it decorated very cute for Christmas, with lots of antique decorations and twinkling lights. She made some delicious french press coffee, and we enjoyed some Christmas treats while we were discussing the hot topic of a dinner place. After only an hour of hemming & hawing, we finally landed on an Italian restaurant that served homemade pasta. It was a great choice, and we loved the atmosphere at "La Spiga." That evening we went back to the bed & breakfast for a game of Bananagrams, we laughed our way through some stories from years gone by, and we just generally had a wonderful evening!
The next day mom & I went to the other house (part of the same bed & breakfast property) for our breakfast, where we met some of the other people staying at the place. We had found out the night before that "our" house was actually full (meaning that all three rooms were occupied), and then at breakfast we met the few people that were at the other house. We had a really nice visit with another mom & daughter (also celebrating a 30th birthday), and a couple other single women. Mom even got some contact info from a gal who lives in Singapore, as she & my dad are hoping to visit there next fall. Networking at a Bed & Breakfast--who knew?! The breakfast was delicious, and we were fully satisfied with our stay.
After a wonderful sunny walk and one last coffee excursion, we figured it was time to head back home. Mom and I still managed one trip to Starbucks on the way out of town--you just can't have enough coffee on a girl's weekend with Barb, Mary & Heather!--and then we had a good drive home with lots of sum-up visiting and talking. Keith wonders what I can find to talk about with my mom as often as I talk with her on the phone and in person, but there's always more to say--and inevitably we forget something! I'm glad we have a good relationship where we can (and want to) spend a few days in a row together during the week and then still head out of town together overnight. So fun!
Anyway, we had a wonderful trip and it was a fun celebration of my 30th birthday (in January) and mom's 60th birthday (this last October). :)

A Week of Single Parenting=Not the Most Fun Ever.

A couple weeks ago, Keith had to go to a work training in California. We knew it was going to happen, but originally it was supposed to be in January. In mid-November, his boss asked him if he could swing it to go in the first week of December. While I wasn't looking forward to him going at all, I knew I would be delaying the inevitable if we waited until January. The days leading up to the departure passed with the knowledge that he'd be gone for almost an entire week--from a Sunday evening to a Friday evening. Eek!
After dropping him off at the airport (I was proud of myself that I didn't cry!), we headed home and started our week. Monday was extremely tiring and I remember feeling like "How am I going to get through this?!" "How do military wives do it?!" With some good perspective switches and lots of prayer/grace from the Lord, we got through that day and continued through the week.
The rest of the week is honestly sort of a blur, but I know that the days were long & it was hard not to have any sort of relief from my sweet husband each evening. Even if Keith is helping with youth group after work or something, I still know he'll eventually be home to be a listening ear, to offer a hug, and to generally keep me company! When he's gone overnight, there is new meaning to the phrase that being a parent is a 24-7 job!

I did have help, though, and I was so thankful for that! I know what I need when it comes to Keith being gone overnight, and that involves sleepovers and reinforcements. Monday & Tuesday night, our friend Hannah stayed overnight, and Wed-Fri the girls and I bunked at my mom & dad's. My mom and I always enjoy this type of opportunity, and we've agreed that we could totally get on board with a multi-generational household. (Keith may have something to say about that, but my mom & I are all ready!) ;)

By the time Keith got home on Friday night, I was definitely counting down the hours & minutes. Hannah was so excited that she threw up...(well, she was car sick, but I like to think it was excitement. Fortunately, I managed to get at least her head out of the car, so there wasn't a huge nasty mess waiting for Keith.) :)

Anyway, I was reminded again what a supportive, involved, loving, and patient father & husband Keith is, and what an impact he makes on our daily lives. I love my husband! :)

In Which I Remember To Be Flexible

(Yes, Afton, I am stealing one of your blog post title types. Sorry, but I couldn't come up with anything else.) :)

Yesterday Gemma and I were heading out of the church parking lot after dropping Hannah off at preschool. It had been a good morning, and Gemma & I were headed to New Seasons to meet up with Angela for a browse through their skincare/makeup section. I was really looking forward to spending some time with Angela, exploring some new fun face stuff, and possibly enjoying a peppermint mocha (because during the Christmas season, you just never know when you might end up at Starbucks.) I had just told Gemma we were going to see Auntie Angela, and she replied happily "Ah-ya," after which she promptly coughed & threw up all over herself and her car seat. (No offense, Angela!)
I was sort of flabbergasted for a minute, and continued trying to drive out of the lot while comforting Gemma & attempting to catch some of the...stuff...in Hannah's sweatshirt (the only thing I could find!) :( After she was done, I sat there trying to figure out what to do. We were a good 20 minutes away from home, but rather than strip Gemma down on a cold day, I figured it would be better to just get home. Riding in a puke-smelly car is not fun for a few seconds, let alone almost a half hour, but Gemma was a real sport! She seemed in good spirits and didn't even cry! She is such a go-with-it girl, and I certainly learned a lesson in that from her yesterday.
I called Angela and gave her the bad news, all the while mentally trying to figure out what to do about having to come get Hannah after preschool. Since it's a bit of a drive, I wasn't sure how Gemma would be doing, nor did I think I could even get her carseat cleaned up in the two hours I'd have at home. I ended up calling my mom (what a good grandma!) and asking her to pick up Hannah. She was happy to do it, and they had a fun little trip to Target to look at Christmas shoes on the way home. She was thrilled!
Gemma was fine the rest of the day and today, besides just being a little pale & obviously tired. I don't know what it was, although something similar happened with her this summer, and I wondered then (& still wonder) if it was somehow related to teething. I don't know. The point is, I'm certainly glad she is feeling better, and that none of us have come down with anything. I had just been thinking to myself--not 24 hours earlier, when my friend Lisa was telling a tale of vomit--that "we haven't had any stomach bugs in quite a while, thankfully!" Well, I'm not going to say "that's what I get," or anything, because I don't believe in "tempting fate," but I am guessing that it was just God's way of reminding me to be flexible in this ever-changing role of motherhood. Only He knows what is going to happen each day, and only in surrendering to HIS plan will I not become frustrated & irritated at these disruptions that could really end up being important lessons or blessings. The rest of my afternoon was actually really quiet and nice, as Gemma napped for a good two hours while I listened to Christmas music, drank tea, and read a book. By the time Hannah got home, Keith was also home and we all were in good moods, glad to be together.

Thanksgiving & Black Friday!

Well, it's been a very busy week, but lots of fun! Keith took some extra vacation, so he was off Wed through today. It has been so nice having him around, and the girls love playing with their Daddy. Even when he's just out in the garage cleaning or doing a project, they love to be out there with him because it's something new & exciting! It's going to be hard having him go back to work tomorrow, but we are SO thankful that this year he is working at a job he enjoys! In general, we were truly counting our blessings on Thanksgiving this year--jobs for our whole (even extended) family, health, provision for some much-needed appliance replacements, a delicious meal, fun shopping excursions on Black Friday and Saturday, and the joy of having family nearby to celebrate these wonderful holidays! God is so good!

We hosted Thanksgiving this year, which meant we had 18 people at our house (including our family of four.) I think it was a success, as everyone seemed full & satisfied after dinner. :) This was our second time hosting the big group, and we decided that really, it's not too hectic until that last hour, when you're trying to juggle the turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and mashed potatoes on one stovetop/oven. :) It all got done, though, and Dad got here in time to help with gravy, Grandma looking over his shoulder, as in many years past! We had everyone here except Senia, my aunt Marilyn, and my uncle Robert (sniff!) While it wasn't quite the same without them, we thought of them lots & ate some extra stuffing & pie for them. ;) After everyone left, Keith, the girls, and I all laid on our bed and stared at the wall for a few minutes. We had some little snacks before the putting the girls to bed, and then it was down to business: looking over the Black Friday ads and watching "Christmas Vacation," as is our tradition on Thanksgiving night. It was a good way to end the day, and we just barely made it through the movie without dropping into bed exhausted!

The next morning, Mary and I headed out for our shopping trip at 6:45. We definitely decided that the advantage of stores opening even earlier this year (midnight for most places!) is that by the time we got there, most of the lines were very reasonable. I still made out with some good deals, and although Mary was bummed not to get some iPod speakers, we both mostly like just being out to celebrate the official start of Christmas--armed with our old-school Amy Grant Christmas albums. We also got our socks at the Fred Meyer sale, in spite of getting there a couple hours after they had opened--there were PLENTY to choose from.
We also went to the mall, and it was fun seeing the shoppers with their treasures, although not quite heading home yet...! The craziest places there were the shoe departments at Macy's and JC Penney's, where they had some good boot sales. The lines just to get a certain size were out of the department! Definitely not worth it to me. :)

Friday night Mary spent the night and we watched "Mixed Nuts," again barely making it before falling asleep on the couches. Haha. I guess that shows we're getting older...after all, I am nearing 30...
Anyway, Saturday we woke up more leisurely and headed to the annual Prairie Bazaar. Mary and I were laughing at the fact that when we were younger and just starting to shop on our own, we would spend half the day at that bazaar, wandering around & looking at every little thing, determining the perfect purchase we wanted to make with our few dollars of allowance or babysitting money. Now we can get through the whole thing in just over an hour, and that's including some "revisiting" time. It's very nostalgic and memorable to be back there, though, even if we only spend an hour there! :)

That was about it for our shopping, and then I had Melissa over for a Christmas tea (meaning, I put the tea in my Christmas teapot for the first time this year!) The rest of the day was spent relaxing and hanging out with Keith, since we hadn't really seen much of each other the previous couple days!

Today we had a restful afternoon after church this morning and a quick stop at New Seasons to check out their new location here in Vancouver! Exciting--it is a super fun place, and I can't wait to spend a little more time browsing their skincare & makeup area. :)

Most importantly of all of these activities, to me, is that the day after Thanksgiving starts the joyful anticipation and celebration of Christ's birth. I absolutely love the Christmas season, and I am so excited to be listening to non-stop Christmas music on both secular & Christian stations alike, as they all are playing songs about our Savior! What a joy to hear "O Holy Night" on stations that otherwise would not mention the Lord. It really is "the most wonderful time of the year!!" (That's my ringtone, of course.)

Merry Christmas!!