Allergies and Attitutdes

Man is anybody else out there dying these days? We are all puffy eyed and sniffling around here. Aidan seems to handling spring time allergies especially tough which means he isn't so easy to live with. Well I hope that's what is contributing to the attitude because I am out of energy as a mom, however I did get a special moment with him tonight just laying in bed and cuddling. Good reminder.

So that's my whining for now. All the other deep thoughts I have would wear us all out so I'll come back later...
Crysti, your shed sounds appealing can I move in for a couple days? :)

10 Cents

I've been meaning to post this blog for a while but life has been full. Micah ended up in urgent care on Friday night, Jeremy's dad came into town for the weekend, we cut down trees...

I'm writing this more for a scrapbook journal for someday but those of you that humor me can read on.

Anyway, as you know we have started chores around the house for Aidan and he makes money so he can buy legos. He had $19 saved in his piggy bank (still some left from birthday money). And so we went to the store on Friday to pick out his newest purchase. He chose a Mars Mission space thing for $9.99 and then he decided that Micah also needed something so he preceded to help us look for a Woody (from Toy Story) for Micah. All him. No prompting. Just a little boy taking care of his brother. And then to top it off when Micah wanted some Goldfish he offered to pay for that too. When we went to check out he had .10 cents remaining. Man I wish I had a heart like that. To give willingly. And give all I had. I love that my little boy can teach me lessons, I still have a lot to learn.

Good Stuff Snow and all.

Despite the snow here are my top 10 things to be thankful for today.

1. Coffee. Always coffee.
2. A new girly fun summer purse.
3. Flowers budding randomly all over the nasty front yard.
4. Homemade salsa by Jeremy.
5. New music from my cousin.
6. New green socks from my cousin.
7. Truly trusting in God's provision.
8. Watching the final Biggest Loser winner. Yeah Ali!
9. Jeremy getting to enjoy his new mountain bike (finally!)
10. Running to randomly selected songs on my shuffle and hearing some music I had completely forgotten about (and Christmas music in April).

Good stuff. Here's to life.

Spontaneous Blessings....again and again

Wow what a weekend.

Friday morning I was just done...you know those days when you are yelling before breakfast is done (assuming any of you actually yell :)) So when Jeremy came home early on Friday afternoon from work I was delighted (and also knew he had hit the wall too). He had been going nonstop for the last 2 weeks between church and work and we were both in some need of rest. But with 2 boys where does rest come from? Especially rest and time together?

Well, Friday night we were leaving the Barnes (our Pastor's) house after a meeting we said "ok we are outta here "...and they said yeah leave the boys here. Aidan and Jaime (their 4 year old) will have fun and Micah is already sleeping so just come back in the morning. And you know what we did? We took them up on it and ran to the hills!! We went out that night and then we went out for breakfast in the morning. When we picked up our kids they were completely worn out so they rested most of Saturday afternoon while Jeremy and I picked rocks in our backyard. And even though it's rocks... it's time together again. (A much longer story than that but I'll spare all the details.)

Then...
Saturday night Jeremy's sister came and watched our boys and we got out again. Pappadeax need a say more...

Then...
Sunday after church we had a staff meeting and I had nobody to watch the boys and so I thought no big deal I'll just not go. And somebody volunteered to watch our boys for us...again. Then we got the afternoon to pick rocks together again.

And today we got more time together again to pick rocks as Jeremy was able to take vacation time so we can get some landscape work done while the sun shines.

Lesson? I have wonderful people in my life. Thank you. Thank you. And a wonderful God who takes care of us.

On another note please continue to pray for my friend Kim's little 2 year old, Lu-Lu. As some of you may (or may not) know she had heart surgery at the end of last summer. Without giving you the full blown story I will say she is in need of prayer to stay strong thorough some rough weeks lately. She has had coupe and because of so much flem she was throwing up...some with blood. Kim updates at... luludavis.blogspot.com when she isn't completely exhausted. Pray for some encouraging days in the midst of this journey for them.

Bored.

Yep you read that right I'm bored. Not at home but in the gym. It's been 8 months since Jeremy's heart scare and so we both started running with the intent to work toward running something BIG and long (and painful). Well the painful came through for Jeremy with a hip injury that he has been battling since early on. And let's just say the elliptical isn't the same as a long night run outside and the weather hasn't exactly been cooperating with mountain biking. So Jeremy is struggling finding ways to workout. And I want to run something with him so I too am looking for ways to stay in shape other than the treadmill. (And strength training is SO boring I could just scream.)

So Saturday morning I was watching the boys play at Chick-fil-a and thought...they are getting a workout and don't even know it. What ever happened to playing for exercise? So we did...Jeremy and I played some old fashioned basketball and it was fun to be a kid again. And I woke up Sunday morning super sore.

And then yesterday I went to one of those dorky classes at the gym. Again just to mix it up. (I thought I was doing a core class turned out to be a kickboxing/bootcamp/core mix something). Anyway I ran suicides just like old track days and did some roundabout moves. And yep...calves are killing me. I guess it goes to show that logging the miles on the treadmill doesn't make you invincible.

So here's to being a kid again...let the games begin :)

Puppy, Lego Chores, and top 5

Our internet is wacko...so now that it is working for 5 minutes I'll post for you all. (Especially you that are so interested in my life. You know I can't back down a challenge.)

We lost Micah's stuffed puppy for a day this week. It was truly traumatic...I didn't know I was as attached to puppy (or more) than he was. Thankfully he was at the check in counter at the Dr. office. Counted my blessings on that one.

Aidan had a rite of passage of cashing in his money at the bank and going to the Lego store (Colorado Mills mall for you Lori) and selecting his very first EARNED lego. We have started the chore chart and he is loving it. Good stuff. I only hope his enthusiasm continues. If this continues I will have more accomplished than I can imagine around here...He loves to "have a job".

And yes here is my top 5...or 6 or 3

5 things you can’t live without under 5 dollars:

1. Two Decaf coffees brewed at Starbucks with cream and sugar (under 5) and the DVD player (ok more than 5 bucks I know) in the car for the boys so Jeremy and I can talk.

2. Magazines and Catalogs.

3. Fruit.

4. Water bottles (that I keep losing and usually cost more than 5 bucks to begin with)

5. Lego guys for Aidan. He can take just one guy out of the house and be entertained for hours…now if we could only find Micah entertainment like that.

5 Favorite Movies:(in no particular order and change all the time)

Ok…favorite is too hard so these are movies that either make me think or are just good for the soul.

1. Dead Poets Society

2. A Beautiful Mind

3. Stand By Me

4. Footloose

5. Forget Paris

5 Songs (or albums) you could listen to over and over again: (again, no order)
1. Rich Mullins any song any time…except for that goofy battleship song.

2. Mixes that my sis in law Jenn gives me

3. Old Monster Ballads

4. Sarah McLachlan Christmas Album…especially “River”

5. Jennifer Knapp “Faithful”

5 people who have had a positive influence in your life:
1. My husband…who has challenged me to grow since “Country Kitchen days” and loves me more than anybody.

2. Freda…who I call my “adopted grandma”. She took in our family from the day my parents moved into the neighborhood. She lived with joy until the Lord took her home. I hope I can be an old woman like that (well and a young woman like that too!)

3. Denise…my cousin who has been a sister to me since day one.

4. Aidan and Micah…if your kids don’t have a positive influence on you I don’t know who will! Nothing like little eyes watching your actions and life.

5. My dad…who lived his vows faithfully “till death do us part”.

6. And yep my whole band of sisters.

5 things in your purse you cannot live without:
1. Cell phone/Bluetooth

2. Keys

3. Wallet

How does all that take up all that space? J

5 moments that changed your life forever:
1. Waking up at a track meet to have a phone call from my dad to hear the news that my mom had died.

2. Going to CCU in the fall of 1995.

3. Sitting on a park bench with Jeremy in the fall of 1995 and having “the talk”…my wedding day wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for that day.

4. Sitting at Macaroni Grill and realizing I don’t want to grow old and have no grandkids…and thus Aidan is in the making.

5. Getting a job as a Math Teacher with an English and PE degree.

5 current obsessions:
1. Celebrating the everyday.

2. Challenging others to grow and live with passion.

3. Finding ways to put flaxseed in everything.

4. Making sure that things are special…as soon as it becomes entitlement then it’s time to reevaluate.

5. Finding what truly fills me up in life.

5 places I would love to travel:
1. Backpacking anywhere with just Jeremy and I.

2. Touring by bike…again pretty much anywhere.

3. The beach. Just give me water and sunshine!

4. Alaska (but when it’s warm there)

5. Holy Lands

5 people who’s top 5 you would like to see:

…Ha, I’m not one to name names…Ok Crysti you are up