This past Sunday, our kids woke up with the sniffles, so we decided not to take them to church which would expose everyone to our germs. We had been thinking about hiking Roxy Ann again since we enjoyed it so much the last time. It turned out to be a beautiful day so we decided to pack a lunch and head up the mountain, figuring the sun would do us all good. We had a wonderful time, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do as a family!
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
The Sweetest Baby Girl
I have the sweetest baby girl ever. Seriously. She is the best. Not only is she the sweetest, she is also so funny and smart and strong. She is at that age (10 months) where she is really starting to explore the world around her and discover new and exciting things.
Today, I was sitting on the couch and she was playing on the floor. I got distracted and then realized that I couldn't see or hear her any more. I said her name and looked around the couch toward the front door thinking she was investigating the shoes and chewing on one of them. Then something caught my eye just to the left of the door, and it was her. In Elphie's dog bed. She was just sitting there. All cute and quiet and adorable. She even laid down in it at one point.
Like I said...the sweetest.
Today, I was sitting on the couch and she was playing on the floor. I got distracted and then realized that I couldn't see or hear her any more. I said her name and looked around the couch toward the front door thinking she was investigating the shoes and chewing on one of them. Then something caught my eye just to the left of the door, and it was her. In Elphie's dog bed. She was just sitting there. All cute and quiet and adorable. She even laid down in it at one point.
Like I said...the sweetest.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Feeling Overwhelmed
I am feeling so overwhelmed this morning, and have been for several days now, and here are the reasons why.
First of all, as I mentioned in a recent post, we were getting ready to put our house on the market. Well, as of Tuesday evening, it was "live" which means that it went up on all the real estate and property listing web sites. Yesterday (Wednesday) morning at 8am I got a call from a realtor saying he had clients interested in seeing the house, so we arranged for them to come by at 4pm. This morning (Thursday), Sean called me saying that our relator called him to say that there would be an offer coming in on our house tonight! Now, this of course doesn't mean that our house is sold, but it is amazing how fast everything has happened in the past few days. I just feel like it is a whirlwind all around me and I can't even catch my breath in order to let everything sink in. And this situation is especially overwhelming because we have no prospects on a place for us to move to. We've been looking, but have yet to find anything that works for our needs, wants, and budget.
On top of all of what I just mentioned, I have decided to get a cyst on my ankle removed. It appeared out of nowhere last Fall, I had it aspirated, but it came back, so the next step is to surgically remove it. Until yesterday, I was under the impression that it was a fairly minor operation where I would go into the Orthopedic doctor's office, he would numb the area, quickly remove it, and I would walk out of there within a matter of minutes. Well, I found out yesterday that the surgery will be about a half a day ordeal where I will have to be put under general anesthesia. Then I will have to wear a boot on the foot and not be able to do anything for about a week afterward. I also wouldn't be able to nurse Inara because of the pain meds I would most likely be taking. Sean and I talked a lot about it and have decided to push the surgery out to the Fall. We have asked my mom to come up for a week to help out, and also, Inara will be much older (about 16 months) at that time and possibly already weaned from nursing.
So, all of this is just weighing heavily on me and I could really use some prayer as I walk through these decisions and situations.
Thank you friends and family! I appreciate you all!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Life with Declan and Inara
Life with a 2 1/2 year old and a 9 month old is fun. Well, not every day is fun. And on good days it is typically not fun all day long. I am definitely not going to pretend that it is all sunshine and roses, because let's face it...some days just SUCK. There are some days when I cry. There are some days when I call my husband, frustrated and upset. And then there are the days when the moment Sean gets home I say, "Dinner is ready, help yourself. I am going to take a shower," because I just need a few moments of peace and quiet. But all in all it is a really fun life, and I am SO very blessed by the children that I have been given.
There are a few things in particular that Declan and Inara have been doing together lately that make life with them especially fun. Such as, playing well side by side. They are too young for interactive play (especially Inara) but they both seem to thoroughly enjoy each other's company as they play by themselves. They also LOVE taking baths together. We do a bath every night as part of our bedtime routine and I think it is their favorite part of the day. The splash and laugh and almost become different children while in the water. It's adorable.
On individual levels, Declan continues to advance in his speech, especially sentence structure. He loves running and playing outside, collecting rocks he finds along the way. He is also exploring imaginative play, mimicking things he sees us do, which is really neat to observe. He enjoys washing dishes, helping Dada make pancakes on Saturday mornings, doing arts & crafts, and is a silly, sweet & loving boy. He adores his sister and gives her lots of hugs and kisses throughout the day.
Inara's personality is really starting to develop and come out, it is awesome to watch. She is a very silly girl who will laugh when we laugh, stick her bottom lip way out when she is upset, and clap all the time, especially when she hears clapping. She says, Dada, Mama, Thank you, Up, Uh-Oh, Elph, Hi, and she is trying to say Declan. She just learned how to give kisses. OMG. SO precious. And lately she has been putting things (mostly blankets and clothes) on or behind her head. She thinks it is really fun and will squeal in delight each time she does it. I even saw her trying to crawl with a towel over her head. She is also standing for periods of time all by herself and we are holding her hands so that she can practice walking.
So, like I said, fun. LOTS of fun, which helps balance out the times that are not so fun.
There are a few things in particular that Declan and Inara have been doing together lately that make life with them especially fun. Such as, playing well side by side. They are too young for interactive play (especially Inara) but they both seem to thoroughly enjoy each other's company as they play by themselves. They also LOVE taking baths together. We do a bath every night as part of our bedtime routine and I think it is their favorite part of the day. The splash and laugh and almost become different children while in the water. It's adorable.
On individual levels, Declan continues to advance in his speech, especially sentence structure. He loves running and playing outside, collecting rocks he finds along the way. He is also exploring imaginative play, mimicking things he sees us do, which is really neat to observe. He enjoys washing dishes, helping Dada make pancakes on Saturday mornings, doing arts & crafts, and is a silly, sweet & loving boy. He adores his sister and gives her lots of hugs and kisses throughout the day.
Inara's personality is really starting to develop and come out, it is awesome to watch. She is a very silly girl who will laugh when we laugh, stick her bottom lip way out when she is upset, and clap all the time, especially when she hears clapping. She says, Dada, Mama, Thank you, Up, Uh-Oh, Elph, Hi, and she is trying to say Declan. She just learned how to give kisses. OMG. SO precious. And lately she has been putting things (mostly blankets and clothes) on or behind her head. She thinks it is really fun and will squeal in delight each time she does it. I even saw her trying to crawl with a towel over her head. She is also standing for periods of time all by herself and we are holding her hands so that she can practice walking.
So, like I said, fun. LOTS of fun, which helps balance out the times that are not so fun.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
New Computer, New Couches, New House! Oh My!
This post may seem like I am bragging, and I am really not intending for it to sound like that at all. One of the reasons I started this blog was in order to use it as sort of a journal. To chronicle for myself the goings on of my family so that in years to come I can look back and remember the things we can so easily forget. So if it feels to you like this is an inappropriate post in any way and you don't want to read it, I totally understand and will not be offended.
So, my husband is pretty amazing and got our taxes filed early, like a boss, resulting in the fact that we already have our refund in the bank. And it's a big refund. We are so very blessed by the Lord! Sean has also been thinking smartly about how to spend our refund. Purchasing a few things we need/want, setting some aside for our Disneyland trip next year, and also putting a large chunk away in our savings.
Two of the items we have purchased are, new couches and a new laptop. We had a MacBook Pro for a few years and it was great, but we had been wanting a MacBook Air ever since they came out several years ago. So, that is what we got! It is AMZING! The other purchase is new couches. We went to a locally owned furniture store yesterday (Garrisons) and picked out a sofa and love seat and had it customized to our taste and color scheme. They won't be ready for about 4 more weeks, but we are super excited. Also, we purchased a brand that is made in Oregon, which is really important to us, we try to buy as much local as we can.
And not that this has anything to do with our tax return, but we are also putting our house on the market next Monday (the 24th) and looking at buying a different house. Something bigger and more accommodating to our needs. The house we are currently in is wonderful and we love it; it has suited us well for the past two years. But our needs and desires in a home have changed and we are currently in a place financially that allows us to look for something different.
So, lots of exciting changes currently and on the horizon. And through it all we are seeking what the Lord would have for our lives. We don't want to do anything apart from following the wisdom and guidance He imparts to us.
So, my husband is pretty amazing and got our taxes filed early, like a boss, resulting in the fact that we already have our refund in the bank. And it's a big refund. We are so very blessed by the Lord! Sean has also been thinking smartly about how to spend our refund. Purchasing a few things we need/want, setting some aside for our Disneyland trip next year, and also putting a large chunk away in our savings.
Two of the items we have purchased are, new couches and a new laptop. We had a MacBook Pro for a few years and it was great, but we had been wanting a MacBook Air ever since they came out several years ago. So, that is what we got! It is AMZING! The other purchase is new couches. We went to a locally owned furniture store yesterday (Garrisons) and picked out a sofa and love seat and had it customized to our taste and color scheme. They won't be ready for about 4 more weeks, but we are super excited. Also, we purchased a brand that is made in Oregon, which is really important to us, we try to buy as much local as we can.
And not that this has anything to do with our tax return, but we are also putting our house on the market next Monday (the 24th) and looking at buying a different house. Something bigger and more accommodating to our needs. The house we are currently in is wonderful and we love it; it has suited us well for the past two years. But our needs and desires in a home have changed and we are currently in a place financially that allows us to look for something different.
So, lots of exciting changes currently and on the horizon. And through it all we are seeking what the Lord would have for our lives. We don't want to do anything apart from following the wisdom and guidance He imparts to us.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Escaping the Fog
Winters in Southern Oregon are a bit rough at times. It can get pretty cold, there is often freezing fog, and we even get fog that sometimes never lifts, even for days on end. It becomes a bit depressing when you can't remember the last time you saw sunshine.
So in order to remedy this and since Sean had the day off today, we decided to pack a lunch and take a hike up one of our local, small mountains called Roxy Ann and, oh man, it was amazing! It is high enough to be above the fog, so we were overjoyed to drink in the warm sunshine and marvel at the bright blue sky. It was glorious and we had a wonderful time!
So in order to remedy this and since Sean had the day off today, we decided to pack a lunch and take a hike up one of our local, small mountains called Roxy Ann and, oh man, it was amazing! It is high enough to be above the fog, so we were overjoyed to drink in the warm sunshine and marvel at the bright blue sky. It was glorious and we had a wonderful time!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
New Years Resolutions
I don't usually make New Years Resolutions. In fact I can't remember ever making one. I think that it is kind of silly that at the start of a new year we say, "I'm going to do such and such differently, or I am going to change this about my life". Shouldn't we be doing that all year long, every year we are alive? That's what I think anyway, and that is what I strive for.
The beginning of 2014 was no different for me, except for the fact that I decided to make some new years plans in lieu of resolutions. As soon as the clock struck midnight (well let's be honest...it was 9pm...but midnight on the East Coast) my mind started working. I started looking to the months ahead and thinking about all that I waned to do, accomplish, overcome, enjoy, and experience. It was a LONG list. But it was an awesome list. And it is a list that I am very excited about!
Here are some of the highlights on my list:
-Host a fashion exchange
-Plan Inara's first birthday party
-Take a 5 year anniversary trip with my husband
-Spend some time in CA with family and friends
-Travel up to Hood River/Portland for a weeks vacation with Sean and the kiddo's
-Clean out our garage and have a garage sale
-Start planning our trip to Disneyland (February of 2015)
-And probably the most important of all: continue to work on being ok with who God has created me to be, and to stand strong as a beacon of light to those around me
I am so looking forward to these New YearsResolutions Ambitions.
The beginning of 2014 was no different for me, except for the fact that I decided to make some new years plans in lieu of resolutions. As soon as the clock struck midnight (well let's be honest...it was 9pm...but midnight on the East Coast) my mind started working. I started looking to the months ahead and thinking about all that I waned to do, accomplish, overcome, enjoy, and experience. It was a LONG list. But it was an awesome list. And it is a list that I am very excited about!
Here are some of the highlights on my list:
-Host a fashion exchange
-Plan Inara's first birthday party
-Take a 5 year anniversary trip with my husband
-Spend some time in CA with family and friends
-Travel up to Hood River/Portland for a weeks vacation with Sean and the kiddo's
-Clean out our garage and have a garage sale
-Start planning our trip to Disneyland (February of 2015)
-And probably the most important of all: continue to work on being ok with who God has created me to be, and to stand strong as a beacon of light to those around me
I am so looking forward to these New Years
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