Spring Break Thoughts & Rearranging

I've been working on an "everyday" scrapbook which has been good to reflect on...the everyday. (However I have decided digital scrap booking is not for me...not therapeutic oh well.) Like everyday lessons in life, and everyday routines, and everyday stuff we do. And it's been good to look for that because it can so easily be missed...like the joy of sharing an oreo with Micah that he already licked most of the mint frosting off of. And then at that moment realizing I just ate an oreo that was half eaten and not even caring (official mom badge earned for that one.)

But being out of routine this week was interesting. We get a lot of security from routines (especially me) and it is always good to get shaken up a little. On that note...if you like to rearrange stuff (your decorations, your furniture, etc) what does that say about you? Are you a person that likes to have control? Does it mean your life is out of control? Does it mean you just like to decorate? I have had some interesting discussion on this and will defend my point after I hear others...

Good Stuff of Today.

Love to make lists of stuff to celebrate. Here's this week's...

1. Longer days. (Well the days are the same but the daylight is longer, you know what I mean.)
2. Good conversations between Jeremy and I.
3. Playing board games with Aidan.
4. Eating Little Ceasers Pizza on the sidewalk with the boys.
5. NOT freaking out about van repairs...ok only a little bit.
6. Understanding volume displacement problems...geeky I know.
7. Cheesecake.
8. Micah's deep head back laugh...ah haaaaaaa!
9. Friends that you just click with.
10. Watching Christmas Movies at Easter time.

Everyday Life.

Waiting for daddy to come home.

Micah has turned into my helper these days...mopping has turned into soaking.

Aidan's job...cleaning up the shoes. (Not really, he took that on himself...)

Daddy and Aidan making ALL of his legos. He literally thinks, sleeps, and eats legos these days. He has quite the little mind :)

Superwoman, Growing Young , Shamrock Shakes, and Life.

So I took a little break for a bit. Had a couple Shamrock Shakes. Needed some time to realize that being superwoman doesn't prove much just causes stress for superwoman's family. So yeah...learning. Love the lyrics to an old Rich Mullins song called Growing Young...

"'Cause I've been broken now I've been saved
I've learned to cry and I've learned how to pray
And I'm learning I'm learning even I can be changed
And everybody used to tell me big boys don't cry
Well I've been around enough to know that that was the lie
That held back the tears in the eyes of a thousand prodigal sons
Well we are children no more we have sinned and grown old
And our Father still waits and He watches down the road
To see the crying boys come running back to His arms
And be growing young
Growing young
Growing young"

So friends grow young with me.
I'm thinking I"ll post some pics soon. Taking pictures of "everyday life again".Boys helping me mop, waiting in the window for daddy to get home...stuff like that. Superwoman...I mean Rach will be back soon.

Priceless...

i-pod shuffle $70, Running Shoes $90, Running shorts $5. A Colorado sunny Saturday morning run that refreshes your soul...priceless.

Or...

new Lincoln Brewster Music $10, Huge Diet Coke $2, Time alone to listen to it...priceless.

A Mastercard Ad

I'm back...So yep a little sunshine and some peace and quiet has done wonders for me today. So here is my inspiration...

http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

And she quotes from the mastercard ad, " Are people who discover the priceless things in life looking harder?"

And I am wondering if I (you) were to write an ad what would you say?
You know...2 tickets to the zoo $, 1 stroller $...discovering a day of exploring with your children...priceless (that one is for you Tina).

So I'm thinking on it and will get back to you...Let me know if you have any "priceless" thoughts (you know all you who have no life :))

"The Hummer"

Sure enough Aidan already has a name for the newest member of the family. "Daddy's hummer." Not much we can do to convince him otherwise. So if you hear us talking about a hummer know that we 1) Haven't gotten another car 2) are aware that it's an xterra, not a hummer .

On another note I must defend my friends...If you read our blog it doesn't mean you have no life. Jeremy is just jealous of all my deep thoughts. (Which in this last week have been non-existent.) I'll be back soon, maybe some Colorado sunshine and time at the park will give me some inspiration.

The new car

I'm guessing that if you read this blog a couple things are true:

• you have no life
• you think it's Rachel's blog
• you sometimes tear up while reading it

Well, it's time for a manly post. After quite awhile of trying to sell the Saturn we finally found a buyer. They were a great family and I really hope that car works out well for them.

I won't bore you with the entire saga of my hip pain and the frustration that goes along with it. Long story short, if I sit upright in a car I'm fine. If I sit lower down with my legs straight out (and using a clutch) I keep re-injuring my hip. It sounds nuts, but 5 months of frustration and semi-scientific experimentation has proved it.

So, meet the new member of the family. Rach and I don't have a stellar car purchasing record over the last 12 years of marriage (this is car number 12) but we think this is a good one. It's a 2007 Xterra and we love it. We haven't named it yet, but I'm sure Aidan will think of something :-)

The Good Stuff.

Always good to stop and reflect on the good stuff. The ones that come to mind today...

1. Lego guys and Aidan's imagination
2. Making Lasagna (from scratch) and liking it.
3. Learning that bringing snacks along brings no less joy than stopping for one.
4. Micah's laughter.
5. A healthy husband.
6. Enjoying breakfast out with Jeremy two days in a row. (Thank you Crick and Mindy.)
7. Discovering little treasures by using what I have. Old jackets and sweaters.
8. Just being at home more.
9. Being educated in politics :P (or at least a tiny start.)
10. Hearing Micah pray...with hooray at the end.

More Theology From Aidan...

Last night we were reading about Moses and crossing the red sea. And as I was reading the story and the Israelites were waiting to go across Aidan asked, "why didn't God give them a boat to cross?"
And I thought...I bet they were thinking the same thing. And yet a boat wasn't in God's plan because he was getting ready to do something bigger. Way bigger.

So to those of you that are looking for a boat to cross whatever it is that you facing, know that God is getting ready to send you a parting of the sea. Get ready for bigger.

Partied Out

It's now Thursday and I am now getting to recap the BIG open gym bash.
So I realized a couple things...

I need to hire a photographer for events in my life. (Dad we missed you!) Because I barely took any pictures, but boy did I have a blast!

The chicken dance is way more fun than I remember.

Our boys (and us) are blessed with amazing friends and family.

Kids will eat cupcakes flaxseed and all if you put frosting and sprinkles on them.

Big boys (aka dads) play more than little boys when given the chance.

We should always party like we are 2 and 4. (Eating mini marshmallows, jumping into foam pits, jumping wild, and dancing like chickens. )

Life is good. Thanks for celebrating with us.

Jeremy and I are off for a weekend of relaxation...woo hoo. Will be back soon...

Birthdays Take 1.

Aidan is now 4 (Feb 5th) and Mikey 2 (Feb 4th). (yes...we planned it that way in answer to the question we get often get...not really but fun to be sassy.)

This has been the week of the birthday celebrations.
...Aidan's "school party" on Monday with Daddy Jeremy playing guitar at school for him.
...Micah's family Birthday dinner on Monday night at Buffalo Wild Wings.
...Tuesday lunch for Aidan at the "lego store" to pick out gifts with Birthday Money
...Family party on Tuesday for Both Boys with Aunties and Uncles and Miss Jess. (And cheesy bread, chocolate chip cookies, graham cracker sandwiches, cake, and cupcakes.)

I feel blessed. I really do. (Although I'm already "cup-caked out" and we still have the BIG open gym bash on Sunday.) I won't get too deep though since I'm already catching flack for my Spider man entry :). Here' a couple pictures instead of my ramblings.


The best mac and cheese in town (yes, there is such a thing.)

The purchases. He looks afraid, but really he's totally excited. Just not up for pictures.

My helper. Testing as we go.

A Hero...

Was watching Spider Man 2 tonight (got it for Christmas and it's taken me this long to get to watching it) and remembered why I loved this movie (well at least some of it, some was long and boring but that's besides the point).

It's because of this quote...long quote but worth reading...

"He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero—courageous, self-sacrificing people setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them…cheer them...scream their names. And years later, they’ll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them to hold on a second longer. I believe there’s a hero in all of us…that keeps us honest…gives us strength…makes us noble…and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most – even our dreams. Spider-Man did that for Henry and he wonders where he’s gone. He needs him."

I highlighted the part about giving up our dreams rather than the part about a hero in all of us, because I think this is the part of being an everyday hero that is tough.

I believe I am a hero to my son when I give up "my time" to play legos...again. (Jeremy does this the best, true Dad hero right there.) Or give up my expectations, my plans, my money, my "mys". All these sacrifices are what heroes are. Real heroes. Which come to think of it I really doubt Jesus went into his life saying...man it would be great to be betrayed and to die brutally on a cross. (He did it though. I think sometimes we get so caught up with knowing that he did it out of his love for us that we forget how much it wasn't what he wanted to do, rather it was what he chose to do out of sacrifice.)

And so when we choose give up our dreams...to have a perfect kitchen, to go on dream vacations, to go back to school, to...to sacrifice that which we desire. We exchange them for playing the steady part of the hero ...which sometimes, wait...never, is very glamorous. But I believe that's what God wants for us. I believe Spiderman isn't all theologically correct (in case you were wondering) but it did get me thinking. And I know I have a long way to go before I release all the "mys" in my life. But I hope I can stay steady. For my husband, for my boys, for what which I am called to right now to be a hero to.

A couple theological questions...

So we are reading Aidan's Bible at night before bed and here are some questions that came up just tonight. If you have some insight on these let me know...

1. Is Jesus going to take us to the rainbow?

2. How does he fly? Does he have a cape?

3. How do all the children get there? Do they have capes too?

4. Does little Jesus or big Jesus live in our hearts? Because our tummys are small.

And yep, we are still thankful for Santa (he's still going strong, Christmas or not) and that Jesus is going to make us taller so that we reach our legos without dumping them over.

Gotta love a child's heart. Hope your night is filled with deep thoughts and thankfulness for the wonders of life.

Inspiration at Target

So I saw this today and thought it was a good quote...

"Wouldn't it be great if we all lived a little everyday?"

(Also...I did it! I didn't get suckered for clearance junk that I didn't need. I returned some stuff that didn't fit and had a gift card burning in my pocket from Christmas. And yeah, I walked out with nothing. Ha! Go me!)

And thanks for all the sympathy today after a very sad night at the Porier house yesterday. What can I say? It's painful to be a Packer fan.

Special Treat?

So lately we (Jeremy and I) have been talking about entitlement...ours, our boys. Things that used to be special are now deserved or expected. Getting a shake at McDonalds, riding the toys at the mall, getting presents, shopping clearance (that's mine, obviously), etc. We see this creeping up in Aidan and we want to nip it right away, but how do we nip it if we are the ones that go through the drive-thru because it's easier? What has happened to discipline?

So that's it...that's our word for 2008, discipline. We are going with the word thing rather than the resolution thing. Because that's a lifestyle to change. And it's not going to be easy. Discipline in money, fitness, choices... It means saying no just because. It means being obedient to a lifestyle that is against what the world says. "You deserve it, you earned it, you had a bad day, treat yourself." We strive so much to give our kids more than we had but what happens when the more just leads to more?

Making things special again. Starbucks isn't special if you get it everyday (sorry guys, true). I really realized this at Christmas time...Christmas is special because it's not there everyday.

And the cool thing is discipline can be good...it means things will be special again and that's something worth working towards. (Yes honey, you can bring this post up when I'm really wanting things done NOW instead of waiting :))

So I ask, will you join me on this adventure?

All four of Us.

In one picture, can you believe it? Merry Christmas 2007.

Wag More, Bark Less...

Saw this on a bumper sticker during our Christmas travels (which always seem to be an adventure, more to come once I catch up, hah!) and made me think. What a great approach to life. I know this is the whole "new year resolution and goals" time of the year, which I'm not super hype about. I'm more about the whole year/life change that you can start March 12th or November 9th or December 1st...(so you get the idea). Because I believe life is now. So I'm going to stop barking (yelling, complaining, whining) and start wagging (smile, sing, laugh)

So yeah, on a daily basis I hope I wag more and bark less. More to come. I'm trying to upload my 155 pictures I took.

The Blessings.

Aidan's prayer tonight. Thank you Jesus for Santa (he's made the cut every night for a while now not just at Christmas), and all the great stuff, (something else Aidan?) and the blessings you give us.

How precious. Blessings. Do we stop and think of all the blessings we are given? I know I don't enough. I am cranky when the van is in the shop (Monday), when I don't get enough sleep, or just when I feel like life isn't fair(umm, yeah a lot). But, man...I I don't want it to be just thankful at thanksgiving or those cliché times but as a lifestyle. You know those people, that are just joyfully contagious? I want to be that. Not in 20 years from now, but today. Anybody else with me?

The Jeep.

So as many of you know Aidan has been going to speech therapy for a little over a year now. Currently he is loving it but a while back we were having a rough go with him cooperating, behaving, etc. So as an incentive we make a chart for him and every week that he worked hard for Miss Patti he colored in a box. The chart was for a jeep. And the whole time I'm thinking, dang, how are we going to afford one of those jeeps? So I had been watching on Craigs List (online classifieds) and go figure I found one last night that I emailed on, and today he filled up his chart! So I drove and drove and drove to this person's house (which Aidan called the desert, also known as Thornton) and picked up the jeep for our hard working boy. I love it. You can just see the excitement on his face. What a guy. And Micah was happy to ride along. So now we made a new chart for a TRAILER to add to his jeep. Keep working buddy, we believe in you.

Daddy would be proud of his jeep boys.

One proud boy with brother in tow.

And they are off. Someday it will be on the real road.