Who has a neglected blog? WE do! & A new tradition

It is no secret that life is hectic in our house! I have made attempts at reminding myself to blog. Thinking of great blog titles and posts, but it just hasn't happened very often, or at all. I am going to make a goal of blogging every day in December. That way I will close out the year with a bang and hopefully capture at least a little glimpse into our lives.

We are so very blessed and I really wish that I had more time to write down all of the kids' little and big milestones, their funny sayings and all of our adventures! Maybe someday I will have more time, but for now these few and far between memory chronicling posts will have to suffice. So this is my plan to blog EVERY night about something important to the family. Can I do it? Of course I can because I am a mom and everyone knows that moms have super skills!

Tonight we started a new tradition. The family met "Sandy" (Zac named her after the squirrel) our not so secret, Christmas angel! Let me give a little background on how Sandy came to live with us. You see I had shopped around a zillion times to find an elf, but was never successful. Then I began thinking maybe I didn't want an elf after all. Maybe I would just make something that would remind everyone in our house about the real meaning behind Christmas. Fast forward to Saturday night. I was googling the night away and somehow found My Secret Angel and Me.{Really it isn't fair to say somehow. It would make more sense to say divine intervention:)After talking with the author and hearing her grace, wisdom and happy voice I quickly realized God wanted this book in our house.} The website said they were all sold out. I was sad, but figured the tradition would just have to start another year...Then thanks to a fortunate chain of events, started by a facebook wall post, a quick phone conversation and some help from our mail lady, Sandy arrived in our mailbox today!

I hyped up our special present, the kids and hubby all sat down in the living room and then we read the special story. I will be honest that the kids were not nearly as excited as I was, ok as I still am. You see, for me, this whole holiday season is so focused on buying presents that the real gift, the greatest present ever given is often lost. I struggle because I want my kids to experience the fun and excitement of giving and receiving gifts, but I try to balance it all with traditions that return the focus on remembering the birth of our Savior. Because in my opinion it truly is the gift that never quits giving!

My prayer is that this little angel Sandy will help our family be constantly reminded of what matters most... And I must admit I will have fun hiding her so that she can check up on the kids!

Here are a few pictures of our new tradition. I ♥ my family!!!

Out of Words-Wednesday

This picture is a self-portrait of the two most important kids in my life...We were at the Truck Pull (a whole different post). Emily had my camera, Zachary had just had a ring-pop and tada, this is the result :)
I cannot wait until Sunday when I can see these two goofy faces this close! Zachary has really had a rough time without Emily here the past few days...He has cried, pouted, and counted down the days! The day counting is actually really distracting, it is cute, loving and just on the edge of annoying. He doesn't understand, he just misses his sister. I must admit: I do too!

We've only just begun

Today is my wonderful husband's thrity-sixth birthday. Last night, as we were chatting it up before bed-which is what we've done every night that we've slept together for the past eight, nearly nine years-he mentioned the fact that this birthday will tip him closer to his forties. As much as I hate to admit that I know too well, exactly, what he was thinking... We're getting old! Instead of sharing in that line of thinking, I pointed out this is really just the beginning! A couple at our church recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! Talk about amazing, anyhow, I pointed out that this man is also more than twice Jonathan's age. Which to me means, we still have at least half of our lives ahead of us! At least there is that chance...
I love birthdays, I think it is awesome to celebrate the passing of another year, but more importantly I think it is a perfect time to remember that our days are not guaranteed and it makes sense to treasure them.
I am so proud of my husband. This year marked a big year for us, I think my "love-o-meter" has reached a level I never knew was possible for us... In May, he was baptized, making an outward statement of faith, that more importantly symbolized a shift in his heart. I didn't expect this shift, I didn't beg for it... I must admit I did pray for it, repeatedly! Together we have accomplished so much. I am so grateful for every day that we share together. Especially the special days, like birthdays and holidays, but even more important are the days when I see us act as a couple and as a family in a way that deepens my faith and strengthens our love.
So this birthday, I celebrate so much more. I know that we share something new this year that we didn't before! You could even say this is his first birthday, but I won't. Who knows what kind of trouble that might mean?
So to my wonderful, amazing, husband:
Happy Birthday! This is only the beginning. I am still learning to love you and I know that we have a gazillion years ahead of us to experience life, make new memories, but most of all to share those special "trying to solve every problem in the world" before bed chats! I love you, so much more than I ever thought possible♥

To eat meat or not to eat meat: That is the question?

Last week was a first for this "cook!" Every dinner I planned was "meat-free." The boys obliged every, single, one of my attempts and even asked for a repeat of some of the recipes in the future. Since I was lazy this weekend, today became grocery day. I had to decide: meat or no meat? I knew that the boys were ready to eat meat again, but I wasn't so sure about me!?! I made the grocery list and meal plan, but could not decide what I was going to eat. I have never been a fan of cooking more than one meal based on people's likes or dislikes! But wait, this is different, right? Maybe? Kind of!?! The thing is, I didn't go meat-free last week based on cruelty to animals or worries of what is injected into the animals, although those reasons do really bother me sometimes! The main reason is when I eat meat, mainly beef or pork, my stomach generally revolts! This also happens when I eat fried foods, but I am not sure if I can "quit" french fries, ha ha. In any case, I made it to the grocery store and still hadn't decided. Then I walked to the meat section and instantly made my decision. I don't know why, it wasn't the smell or even the look of things, I mean I still picked "choice" cuts for the family dinners, but I just felt like I didn't want it. So I quickly, readjusted my list and set out to go at least one more week meat-free. Tonight's dinner was relatively easy(after grocery shopping, I almost want to go on strike!). For the boys it was grilled chicken salads and for me it was grilled mushroom salad. It was so tasty. It was a win, win. All of us eat healthy foods and I was able to grill their chicken and my mushrooms, side by side. It did look a little strange, but who cares, right?
So, now the fun will be figuring out how to make dinner one time, while still making "Mommy's" portion sans meat! This should be exciting!

Oh Sweet Summer Rain

There is nothing like the beautiful smell of summer rain. Or maybe it is the sound of the thunder and the chance of cooler weather. Whatever the reason, I am a sucker for summer rain! I used to be a lover of all kinds of rain, but then after the whole house flooding incident, I have become not so fond of the torrential downpours, especially in the spring time. Wait! Back to the summer rain... For the past week or so, I have been dreaming of the sound of rain splashing against my windows, but until today, dream was a close as I got.
Today, was hot! I mean way too hot! Unbearably warm. In fact, at one point this afternoon I checked the weather website and it said the temperature was a nasty 101 degrees, with a humidity intensified heat index of 126. That is the hottest I have ever seen a prediction here. It may have been an error, but in any case, it had me once again dreaming of rain. The summer rain storms here are amazing. They come in, drench everything, and then just like that, they are done! Maybe that is part of why I love them so. I know they are fleeting, they will be gone soon and so maybe I savor them more. It might also be the fact that summer rain here lowers the temperature, it takes the humidity from unbearable to beautiful and usually is accompanied by a rainbow. I didn't see one today, but according to my friends on facebook and their picture posts, there were, in fact, rainbows spotted after this summer rain.
The summer rain storms make me feel giddy! I want to go run in the rain, maybe even dance in the rain. Which I have actually done a time or two. I didn't today because the storm had some pretty gnarly lightening, but I did dream about it. I opened the back door and listened to it... I burned my dinner because of it. Well, I don't know why I did that. I started dinner, a nice healthy stir-fry and rice and somehow walked away with the veges on way to high and tada a few minutes later the discovery of burning broccoli. No worries though, my husband suggested pizza and I was happy this meant a trip out in the rain. Usually, I wouldn't be that excited to drive in the rain, but he said he would drive and Zac and I could just go along for the drive. So, that's what we did. We ran in the rain, to the truck. We laughed because we were drenched. We drove through the water filled streets and Zac and his Daddy talked about how good this rain was for everything that is growing... This was a truer statement than either of them were thinking- This rain was good for this mommy too! I needed it, just like the flowers and the fields. It was just what my heart needed to take a break from this heat and remember the beauty of a summer rainstorm ♥

My Bestie

There are some days when I would give anything to be back in California, just to hang out with my friends. Today, could be one of those days, yesterday and possibly tomorrow too! The hardest part of having been blessed with the type of awesome friendship that Randi and I have, is sometimes you just wish you could hang out.
I know that many people take their friends for granted, but not me. Especially not "our" Randi, Auntie Randi as the kids call her. She has always been supportive of our family, she is the first to point out when I may need to rethink things, but she always supports us. She is one of the strongest, most loving people I have ever known. I thank God for the role that she has in our family, she is so much more than just my bestie. If I could somehow build a portal where we could swap places and spend time together I would! And I would travel back and forth as much as possible, I know the kids and Jonathan would join me too.
I think of her at so many random times:

• Corn, especially grilled


• Home Depot


• Pork Chops, especially grilled


• San Francisco


• Red Trucks


• French Bulldogs


• Sports, pretty much all of them


• Vanessa Carlton


• Tyrone Wells


• Eat, Pray, Love


• Drag Queens


• Kate Nash


• Blackberry Cell Phones


• Radish


• Angels Baseball


• Pat Summit


• WNBA


• Fedex-Kinkos


• Basketball shorts


• Visors


• Fish Tanks

Really, I could continue this list, on and on, but I won't! The point is I have been blessed with the best bestie in the entire world! I love her and miss her everyday, but I am so grateful to know that I always have her in my corner♥

Missing Emily!

Dear Emily,
When you aren't here, we are boring! I admit, we don't know how to be fun without you!
The moment I met you, I knew I loved you, but I didn't expect to ever miss you like this!!!!
I know that you are having so much fun in Louisiana, but our lives are a little empty without you.
We go through the motions, as we always have, but something is missing! You are missing!
Some step-moms may dream of a break from their step-kids, but not me! I know that you make life so much fuller... You add excitement, smiles and love! And when you're not here, I feel as if all of that is missing!!!
Your brother is really missing you. I know that it has only been 1 week and I know that we have over a week left, but I must admit: we really miss you!
On the most positive note I can think of: When you come back it will be awesome! You will be starting 7th grade and we are so excited to experience life with you!
My prayer is that God is gracious with you.... I pray that you make good, life long friends! I pray that you are surrounded by people that make you see that the sky is the limit! Most of all though, I pray that you know how much we love you and how much we treasure every, single thing about you!!!
Love you Emi Anne ♥