Christmas Crazyness 2014

Christmas is such a special time for us now... before kids, it was just another time to spend too much money, and I couldn't wait to see what my husband got me, it was all about presents... NOW...I get such joy out of seeing Christmas bring magic to my boys.  I love seeing how excited they get and how much there eyes light up about Christmas... the way that they count down the days until Christmas and how they almost don't sleep on Christmas Eve because they are so excited! 

This year, Kyle and I didn't do gifts, we instead let the kids do shopping for one another.  I took the boys to the sports store and they picked out a machete, roasting stick, and some sweatshirts with a tractor on one and Seahawks on another for their daddy (they actually know us very well) and when Kyle took them to the store, they found me some nail polish, a frying pan, garden clogs and a garden magazine... we thought it was so fun, and I think that we will always do something like that... I kind of showed us that they pay attention to more then we thought...

Christmas is a very busy time of year for us, and we still aren't done celebrating.  We had 6 Christmas's in 5 days... Last Saturday was the only day that we didn't have something going on and we just sat at home and played, organized,  and took down Christmas in our house.  I hadn't done laundry in 6 days and I ended up with 8 loads of laundry that I did all day yesterday, we took a load to the goodwill, and returned some things to the store that were duplicates.  Whew... starting to gain back some control on schedules, and chores. 

We are so lucky to have so many loving family members that we get to spend the holidays with.  Although it is hectic, crazy, loud, and exhausting, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.  I am enjoying this because I know that someday, we wont be going to grandparents and great grandparents homes, and my kids might be off in other states or I will be sharing them with their girlfriends or wives families, and I am okay with that because I know that its just part of them growing up, but as for right now, I am enjoying this crazy time knowing that it wont always be like this.  I have always loved Christmas, but I love it even more now!  Christmas magic in your kids eyes is priceless!!!

Luke LOVES tools!!

 

I Should Have Been A Farmer!!

In a previous life, I think I was a farmer... I love having my chickens and more baby chicks are in the near future!  I want Turkeys next and someday, when we have more land, I was goats and cows!!  I love it!!  I have really enjoyed growing my garden and harvesting for the winter, and the kids really enjoy it too, which is always a plus :). Every year I am learning and improving this little hobby farm we have going.  I LOVE having my chickens!!!  They are the ugliest, most prehistoric looking things, but they have a face that only a mama could love :)  There are two of them... I call them "the twins"... well, there about to go chop-chop in the pot!!  Little brats got nasty, and they weren't ever super social, but man, they have started to irritate me... those little beaks are sharp!!  The kids still chase them all over and carry them around, and most of them are as sweet as can be. 

Next project; I am figuring out how to grow mealworms for the chickies... they love them, and I just found out that you can "raise" worms in a Rubbermaid container and they multiply like crazy... it might sound weird and yucky, but I have boys, remember, and bugs, worms and buggers don't phase me!!  We might turn it into a science project? :)

I would LOVE 10-20 acres to turn into a little homestead... grow my own food, raise our animals, make my own soap, collect rainwater, pee in an outhouse... you know, all that hippy homestead stuff!!  I bet I could do it, and really enjoy it.  Ahhh... maybe someday, but for now, chickens it is!!!

Spoiled little ladies... they were coming after me because I had warm oatmeal for them... they know what the pot looks like :)

NO-NO-NO-NO!!!

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!  That's Luke's favorite word...

Luke, are you ready for breakfast - NO!
Luke, do you want to color - NO!
Luke, you need to pick up your dirty clothes - NO!
Luke, please let the dog out - NO!
Luke, we are going to Starbucks, do you want a chocolate milk or apple juice - NO!
Go get me your shoes because we need to take Blake to school - NO!
Lucas, get off that bike and get in the car - NO!
Luke, time for the shower - I DONT WANT TO!
Screaming fit at the grocery store because I didn't give him a balloon (he has never gotten one)
Mom, Lucas bit me!!  - drew blood on Blake (Blake kind of had it coming)
Then he'll do a 180...

"Mama, I love you"  Mama, can I have kisses?"  Mama, Your my best Mama ever"  Mama, your so cute"

This little boy is sure testing my patients lately, and its been hard not to just argue back and get in a yelling fight with a 2 year old... sounds pathetic, but there are so many times that I just want to yell right back at him, but I have seen how engaging in this battle just fuels his fire.  He spends a lot of time in timeout, and dealing with the consequences of his desire to say "no" all the time...

At the Starbucks drive-through and I ask him what he would like, and he yells "no" at me.  So, I ask Blake what he wants (an apple juice) so I got Blake his apple Juice and didn't get Luke anything.  I don't know if that was the right choice... maybe I should have asked him differently, or gave him another chance, but his yelling is something that I do not tolerate nor will I reward it.  Let the screaming fit begin!!  He bawled the whole way home, he tried to take Blake's juice, and then he refused to get out of the car.  So... I left him in there.  I could see him the entire time, and watched him just sit in there and cry... about 10 minutes went by, and he got out of the truck and came in... told me that he was sorry and asked if we could go back and get him a juice.  I told him no, but next time we go, and I ask you what you want there, you should use a nice voice and tell me what you want instead of yelling at me...then Blake shared his juice with Luke :)

Luke is such a sweet boy...at times, but the little darling can sure test me.  I know that he will learn eventually, but goodness gracious he can make my blood boil.  He is stubborn, defiant, bold, aggressive and confident... He also has a tender heart, a gentle touch and the sweetest smile.  how can all these characteristics be one boy?... Oh, yes... he is only 2 :) HAHA  Let the games begin!!!

5 Years With Dr. Oltman!

We had Blake's 5 year appointment yesterday, although his birthday was a couple months ago, his Dr. is kind of hard to get into for Well Child Check-Ups.  If he's sick, its not that big of a deal, but the Well-Child appointments are always a little further out.  I knew that too, I just spaced and when I went to make the appointment, I was like...whoops!!! 

Anyways, he is worth the wait.  Dr Oltman with Pediatrics NW is amazing and my boys love him.  We drive all the way into Tacoma to see him, but like I said, I make the trip because I trust him, and because of his heart condition, I like to have everyone in the same network, and also like that his cardiologist is right across the courtyard from his Pediatrician. 

Blake didn't go to school yesterday because, like I said, I didn't have many options on appointment times, but he had fun hanging out with me instead.  We dropped Luke off at Grandma Tammy's house to play, and we were at the Dr.'s by 8:30.  We went through the appointment and this kids is doing great.  Growing steadily in the 50%'s  :)  I wonder if he's going to be little all his life or if he will just spurt up one day?  humnmn hopefully he's taller then Kyle and I!!!  Dr Oltman told Blake that he remembered meeting him the very first time after his surgery and how small he was.  He told him that he was so happy to see how hes growing and how healthy he is... he said "Blake, your like a little superman"  Blake just beamed ear to ear with the biggest smile!  Like I said.. AMAZING doctor... and he's pretty easy on the eyes as well ;)

The Dr. is right across the street from Tacoma General and Merry Bridge, and we have a soft spot for their pancakes!  Ate them so many mornings while Blake was there... funny how cafeteria food and the smell of Purell hand sanitizer can bring back so many memories!  I talked to him about how he was taken care of there and how all the Doctors and nurses worked together to help him, and we even sat in the same spot in the cafeteria that Kyle and I sat at everyday when we were there.  When we were outside, I pointed out the corner window where his room was.  He thought it was pretty neat that we were in the same place that fixed his heart 5 years ago.  It was fun to take a little walk down memory lane and it really put into perspective how far he has come.  You would never know that he had the crazy start that he did, but he's so much stronger because of it!!!

So Much To Be Thankful For!!!

I haven't made much time for blogging lately, and I have really been feeling like there is a little something missing, and I am pretty sure that its that I haven't taken time to really reflect on our days.  We have been so busy...good busy, but never the less, still have some pretty full schedules.  Things are always crazy in our family from September through the end of the year, and then we get a few months to breath, but instead of running around like chickens with our heads cut off, I am really trying to focus on making our days memorable and not just going through the motions.

This thanksgiving was spent with Kyles side of the family (we switch off every year) and it was a lot of fun, and the Seahawks won...YAY!!! The boys did great, especially for not having a nap, and the food was as yummy as always.  I started off the day on my own... Early in the morning, right at sunrise, Kona and I took a drive out to Browns Point Park.  The 27th wasn't just Thanksgiving, it was also Dawn's birthday.  Gosh, I miss her.  Every day, I think of her, and the fact that he birthday was on Thanksgiving this year really made me appreciate my life and my health, and the time I have with my family, as she reminds me that you never know how long you have and how important it is to treasure, and enjoy life everyday!  It was a gorgeous morning... windy, but bright and sunny.  Kona and I went and took a walk by the lighthouse and brought Auntie some flowers... it made me feel good to visit her... although there isn't an actual place that she was laid to rest, I feel her the most at the lighthouse... one of her favorite places :)

With Thanksgiving, also come a 4 day weekend!!  We spent the first day organizing the garage and getting the Christmas lights out.  I took a load to the dump and we took some stuff to the Goodwill... then on Saturday, we went down to Watson's Nursery in Puyallup... they have a couple Reindeer :)  They are behind a chain-link fence, and weren't very active, but we were the first ones there that morning, so the kids had them all to themselves, and they thought it was pretty cool that Santa let his Reindeer come down for a visit before their big trip :)

I also realized how thankful and LUCKY I am to still have my 9 chickens because the little girls are pretty brainless... It was freezing cold outside, I mean, I think it was more snow then rain, and the little hens are running around outside like its nothing.  Normally, when it rains, they stay in their coop or covered run, but you would have thought it was summer and they were just playing in the sprinkler.  So we had some chickens that were wet all the way through to their skin, and it was getting dark...and down into the 20's.  Now, they probably would have been fine...heaven knows that chickens have been around way before man, but I felt bad for them.  I plugged in their heat lamp, and I made them some nice hot oatmeal... Yes, I cooked them hot food and gave them warm water in their feeder... needless to say, they survived... haha spoiled little ladies!

 

The rest of the weekends until Christmas are going to be very busy... sometimes even probably a little overwhelming, but hey... at least I have family that wants to spend time with us, and being overwhelmed with so much love and fellowship is much better then the alternative :)

And... this is how Grandpa Monty hangs his Christmas lights... The boys thought it was pretty awesome :)