Around December 20th, I took a look at the week and a half of Christmas break and had grand ambitions.
~Paint the back family room, a lofty goal indeed
~Get my website updated and organized
~Bag and Tag 200 bags
~Clean out the storage room
~Clean off my desk
~Get my Christmas pictures of the boys in frames
~Actually write a Christmas letter
~Add the three new wetbag styles I have had sitting downstairs for, oh, months
~Watch a few movies with Josh
~Start exercising
~Do my Bible lesson for the next coffee break...so I am not doing it the night before
~Clean out the playroom
Such grand, grand intentions. None of this list has been accomplished, but it is only Wed. right?
I have been doing lots of fun and relaxing, so I suppose that is a good thing. Playing with the kids' new toys, going to Chicago, hanging with extended family, and pretty much everything except working or cleaning the house. It is Toys R' Us over here.
Maybe I should just concentrate on one or two of these as opposed to trying to tackle the entire list?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas
Lots of fun, laughing, and relaxing. Kayden was far less concerned with what was inside than ripping open the package as quickly as possible and begging for the next round. He loves to open presents. We ate well. Dieting starts Thursday, right?
My little guy has been ready to crawl for a while. The picture above is taken four weeks ago. Content to just sit and watch, his easy-going disposition is an even trade for being a late bloomer.
One glance at him, and this is what I get in return-
.....except when trying to get Christmas pictures in the sleigh.
Going
Going
GoneHope you had a wonderful Christmas as well! Rejoicing over the birth of our Savior with family and these two precious boys was joyous indeed.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Happy Anniversary, Josh.
Most of you know how Josh and I met, and someday I will actually sit down and write it all out for those of you that don't. For today, though, I want to fast forward to Christmas, the first time we saw each other again after I flew out to CA to meet him.
He had just met my family, and was standing in the kitchen of my mother's house with my brother. It was late in the evening, I want to say even early morning, and Josh was just headed back to his parents house to sleep. After he left, I overheard this conversation.
My brother turned to my mom, and said he really liked Josh.
Mom: Why do you say that? Is there something that makes you say that?
Brother: Well, every time Jamie is in the room, he is watching out for her. He can't take his eyes off her. I can just tell he really loves her.
Thank you for moving to Michigan when you really (really) did not want to.
Thank you for holding my hand in the airport, obsessing with me as I clutched that tiny ultrasound picture of Kayden after his twin was lost.
Thank you for not taking the two stunning prostitutes up on their offer in Hawaii.
Thank you for always being willing to help out in any way that you can. I never hesitate to offer your services because I know without a doubt you would drop anything to help someone.
Thank you for letting me socialize (sometimes at great length) after church.
Thank you for these two wonderful beings that are my life. You are a good dad.
Thank you for supporting me every step of this beautiful journey.
9 years later. Thank you for still loving me like that.
He had just met my family, and was standing in the kitchen of my mother's house with my brother. It was late in the evening, I want to say even early morning, and Josh was just headed back to his parents house to sleep. After he left, I overheard this conversation.
My brother turned to my mom, and said he really liked Josh.
Mom: Why do you say that? Is there something that makes you say that?
Brother: Well, every time Jamie is in the room, he is watching out for her. He can't take his eyes off her. I can just tell he really loves her.
Thank you for moving to Michigan when you really (really) did not want to.
Thank you for holding my hand in the airport, obsessing with me as I clutched that tiny ultrasound picture of Kayden after his twin was lost.
Thank you for not taking the two stunning prostitutes up on their offer in Hawaii.
Thank you for always being willing to help out in any way that you can. I never hesitate to offer your services because I know without a doubt you would drop anything to help someone.
Thank you for letting me socialize (sometimes at great length) after church.
Thank you for these two wonderful beings that are my life. You are a good dad.
Thank you for supporting me every step of this beautiful journey.
9 years later. Thank you for still loving me like that.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
TEMPTED
Confession: Tonight I was tempted to dig out the Melting Pot Certificate and use it. MMMM...chocolate. Maybe we should set a date in January?Saturday, December 13, 2008
Oh, but it hurts....
Tonight we went to a basketball game, first of the season.
As soon as we sat down, Kayden spotted kids playing on the court that runs parallel to where the game resides, so I told Josh to watch and we headed down so he could run around.
After a few minutes of standing shyly by, soon Kayden felt comfortable enough to start running the length of the court. A little while later he spotted a group of all girls his age, and I settled in with Bryce to watch the game.
I watched as three of the girls ran under the bleachers and Kayden hesitantly stood at the entrance. I got up and walked over.
"Can I go find the girls, mom?"
"Yeah, that is fine with me," I said, glancing into the darkness. I ticked off in my head all the things that could go wrong with letting him go.
What if he gets to the other side and does not know how to come back, what if he hits his head on a beam, what if he gets scared of the dark, what if , what if, what if.
He turned to me, weariness in his eyes seen through the shadow of the bleachers. "You come," he pleaded, teetering on the edge of independence.
"No, go ahead, honey."
I watched as he hesitantly lifted his foot up and jumped over the metal divider, his little shadow hopping into the darkness, a small piece of dependency slipping by.
I almost started crying.
Fast forward two quarters. Kayden has now linked comfortably into group of said small girls, two of them daughters of another coach. Kayden has shared his cars (no small feat in my book, as they are prized possessions), and they have been chasing each other around most of the game using the floor lines as roads.
At one point, the girls huddled into soccer nets positioned against the walls proclaiming they were "girl forts". Two of the girls linked their faux fur coats into the holes of the nets, hanging neatly in the "closet". Wanting to be included, Kayden climbed under the netting to induct himself part of the club.
You know when you sit back and watch as a parent, and it is so hard to NOT step in? This was one of those moments.
I look and Kayden is standing in the netting, and by that I mean he had his nose mashed into the goal post, part of his upper lip being lifted by the bright yellow netting. He is staring at the game, singing some sort of odd tune only he can hear shifting side to side.
One of the little girls yelled, "Get out of here, only girls allowed".
"Leave him alone, I know him." said one of the siblings.
It took all within me to let them work it out.
I look back and all the girls start filing out from said fort to jump to another goal.
Kayden still standing with his mouth in the net. Oblivious.
"It kills you to see them grow up, but I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't." Barbara Kingsolver
It is hard to let go.
As soon as we sat down, Kayden spotted kids playing on the court that runs parallel to where the game resides, so I told Josh to watch and we headed down so he could run around.
After a few minutes of standing shyly by, soon Kayden felt comfortable enough to start running the length of the court. A little while later he spotted a group of all girls his age, and I settled in with Bryce to watch the game.
I watched as three of the girls ran under the bleachers and Kayden hesitantly stood at the entrance. I got up and walked over.
"Can I go find the girls, mom?"
"Yeah, that is fine with me," I said, glancing into the darkness. I ticked off in my head all the things that could go wrong with letting him go.
What if he gets to the other side and does not know how to come back, what if he hits his head on a beam, what if he gets scared of the dark, what if , what if, what if.
He turned to me, weariness in his eyes seen through the shadow of the bleachers. "You come," he pleaded, teetering on the edge of independence.
"No, go ahead, honey."
I watched as he hesitantly lifted his foot up and jumped over the metal divider, his little shadow hopping into the darkness, a small piece of dependency slipping by.
I almost started crying.
Fast forward two quarters. Kayden has now linked comfortably into group of said small girls, two of them daughters of another coach. Kayden has shared his cars (no small feat in my book, as they are prized possessions), and they have been chasing each other around most of the game using the floor lines as roads.
At one point, the girls huddled into soccer nets positioned against the walls proclaiming they were "girl forts". Two of the girls linked their faux fur coats into the holes of the nets, hanging neatly in the "closet". Wanting to be included, Kayden climbed under the netting to induct himself part of the club.
You know when you sit back and watch as a parent, and it is so hard to NOT step in? This was one of those moments.
I look and Kayden is standing in the netting, and by that I mean he had his nose mashed into the goal post, part of his upper lip being lifted by the bright yellow netting. He is staring at the game, singing some sort of odd tune only he can hear shifting side to side.
One of the little girls yelled, "Get out of here, only girls allowed".
"Leave him alone, I know him." said one of the siblings.
It took all within me to let them work it out.
I look back and all the girls start filing out from said fort to jump to another goal.
Kayden still standing with his mouth in the net. Oblivious.
"It kills you to see them grow up, but I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't." Barbara Kingsolver
It is hard to let go.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Great Wolf Lodge
After seeing Chelle's excellent adventure to Splash Universe, we thought we might like to travel there for an overnight visit for my 30th birthday.
Until we read the reviews.
Something about how the water looked like "a sea of people" in almost every comment gave us pause.
Off to Great Wolf we went instead. That place is an experience.
We were so blessed to arrive to an empty hotel. Rows of vacant chairs and lifeguards waiting for us to ride. I even got an hour "just Kayden and mom" time late Friday night. I love that.
Bryce decided against sleeping during the night, so Josh was wandering the halls with him. The night manager was slipping bills under the door as Josh turned the corner. Needless to say, he was not expecting a 6'8" dude. Bribery ensued when he brought Wolfie as an apology.
I have heard wonderful things about Great Wolf, and I could not have been happier with our stay. It is an experience. From the rooms to the hallway decorations, the water park, the milk and cookies brought by "Big Wolfie". We loved it. Already planning a trip back.
A few pictures:
Until we read the reviews.
Something about how the water looked like "a sea of people" in almost every comment gave us pause.
Off to Great Wolf we went instead. That place is an experience.
We were so blessed to arrive to an empty hotel. Rows of vacant chairs and lifeguards waiting for us to ride. I even got an hour "just Kayden and mom" time late Friday night. I love that.
Bryce decided against sleeping during the night, so Josh was wandering the halls with him. The night manager was slipping bills under the door as Josh turned the corner. Needless to say, he was not expecting a 6'8" dude. Bribery ensued when he brought Wolfie as an apology.
I have heard wonderful things about Great Wolf, and I could not have been happier with our stay. It is an experience. From the rooms to the hallway decorations, the water park, the milk and cookies brought by "Big Wolfie". We loved it. Already planning a trip back.
A few pictures:
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Overheard....
Santa: What would you like for Christmas, little boy?
Kayden: Um, like, I think I would love chicken nuggets for Christmas.
Granted!
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