Success

Lina plays in the dirt (I'm just happy she isn't eating it).

I guess I've given up on perfection... sometimes. Today I'm just happy that I purchased groceries, that my kids played in the dirt (even if they didn't all make it to the tub tonight), and that, after two days, I finally managed to wash the pants and undies that were smelling up the laundry room. I guess it's the little things. Happy almost weekend.

#533 - The sound of Trevor's brad nailer

Inspired by this book, I made a goal to count one thousand gifts in my life. I'll be sharing some of my list and insights with you as I go along this little journey.

It is a late-night Saturday when I hear it. This one project pulls at Trevor. He can't resist working on it. I don't blame him. I think we are more excited about it than the kids. I fantasize about all of the dreaming and playing and childhood that might happen inside these four walls. I wonder, if maybe, this house, with it's miniature doors and windows, might keep them small just a little longer... Or at least let them hold the magic of childhood while they can.

I hope so. I don't know. But when I hear the sound of the brad nailer, I'm thankful for it... and all of the magic that tool might bring.

Maybe doesn't always mean no...

Trevor after I said, "Yes."
(Just kidding)

Sometime during my 24^th year of life, I became known as the “maybe” girl. My hallmark line was from a song by Jack Johnson, “It seems to me that maybe, pretty much always means no.”

My roommates and several of our friends loved to tease me about my inability to commit to anything. Movies with our friends upstairs? Game night at Dave's? Meeting up at Cafe Sabor? My response – Maybe. Maybe. And Maybe.

In my case, however, maybe didn't always mean, no. For me it really meant maybe. I guess I'm someone who likes to think through things. Spontaneity is not my forte.

So apparently, it was no surprise that when Trevor Budge, the new guy who was just starting to seem kind of extraordinary to me, showed up at Ro's birthday party inviting us all to Yellowstone for a weekend trip, my response, was, “Maybe.”

I remember well mulling over the decision in my head. There was something about Trevor, but I wasn't really sure how I felt about him. I had plenty going on as a second-year junior high teacher, and I just wasn't sure I could afford a weekend away...

So, I did what I always do with decisions small and big. I prayed. The answer came to my mind,How will you ever know about Trevor if you don't go?

I called him the following morning (the day of the trip), “I'm coming.” I told him.

Trevor would later tell me how surprised and excited he was when he got that phone call. This time, maybe had become a yes... And when he asked me to marry him two months later, I said, “Yes,” once again, this time, with no hesitations.

Still no hesitations, eight years and six days later.

Don't we all need a break sometimes?

For the past few days, I've been alone on the parenting front, while Trevor was off on business. I had the kids all to myself.

She's kind of irrestistible.

That meant that for three days, when I heard teasing, and crying, then screaming after school, the kids were all mine.

It meant when a whiney toddler cried because her granola bar was broken, she was all mine.

And, when a certain almost-four year old wandered into my bedroom at 5:53a.m. wide awake, he was all mine. Let's just say these past two days haven't been bliss.... which is what makes the complete silence at my house, so completely blissful just now.

A happy artist.

Mostly I like Lina's constant chatter, Seth's romping around, and Katelin bossing both of them, but I have to admit, there is nothing like a little break.

Sethie puts on his pirate face, while dog sports a peg leg and a hook on his hand.

What's for Dinner...

Trevor snapped this at Barnes and Noble. Should we be worried?

A year ago...

This page is really in need of an update, so here is something, just so I have something new to look at -my kids, one year ago. At the end of 2011, I don't look back and see any monumental accomplishments or goals I have achieved, but I must have done something because, look at the change in my kids. Hope you are all enjoying the new year. Maybe I'll start blogging again sometime.

A year ago, she was barely crawling, learning pat-a-cake and winning us over with her smiles. Now she is running, digging, begging for candy, and talking nonstop.

A year ago, Katelin had just started at a new preschool, and loved it. Now she is reading constantly and writing full-blown stories.

I love this picture of Seth. In some ways, he is exactly the same, but his speaking has evolved so much. He knows the alphabet, he is climbing higher and jumping farther at the playground, and in many ways, he isn't quite the little baby he was a year ago.

#485 - Katelin calls her nose a sniffer

Inspired by this book, I recently made a goal to count one thousand gifts in my life. I'll be sharing some of my list and insights with you as I go along this little journey.

Feeling pretty thankful for these people

"Extraordinary moments often masquerade as ordinary life."

Dr. Laura Markham

I keep trying to find words to express how I grateful I am for today. For this day that promised to be too much -- too much grocery shopping, too much baking, too much laundry, too much packing.

What it has proved to be is me recruiting my kids to gather acorns, lots of acorns, in front of Old Navy. It is me laughing out loud when Katelin said, "My sniffer isn't doing to good." It is the kids putting Christmas presents together, then fighting, but then playing in the mud in my rugged back yard. And something about all of this wells up in me until I can't help but feel overcome with how blessed I am.

Tomorrow, there is much to give thanks for here.