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

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.