Reminders

This week is one of those crazy weeks before Christmas. There are Christmas cards to send, gifts to buy, laundry to be folded, holiday baking to do. Not to mention I should probably take a shower and get out of my pj's at some point. I've been feeling stressed and overwhelmed with so many things to do in general, so when Beck woke up early from his morning nap, I admit I was annoyed. I was determined to  get him back to sleep so we sat in the rocker and started rocking. At first he was trying to claw his way out of my arms and I could practically hear him saying "I'm NOT tired!" but as we kept rocking he started to settle down and so did I. We both took deep breaths and started to relax. As I sat there holding him, his cheek pressed against my chest, his chubby fingers on my face, stroking his soft little bald head, I started to remember that I didn't want to miss this. I might never get my Christmas cards out but I know I will never get today back with Beck. He is growing so quickly and as I think back over the last year, I can't believe how much everyone is changing. All 3 kids are getting so big and I feel nostalgic. And humbled. I sat with Beck and I thought of the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus birth. I thought of how I often try to claw my way out of Jesus arms the same way Beck tried to get out of mine. I thought of how thankful I am to have a savior. I  thought of how thankful I am for the little things. Walks around the block in the cold to look at Christmas lights as a family, apple cider after school, my floor being littered with scraps of paper as my kids cut out snowflakes, Tully walking around singing Hark The Herald Angles Sing and reading the Christmas story before bed. I'm also thankful for gentle reminders in the form of a baby. Merry Christmas!

It's been a fun week at school. The kids each had a trip to the pumpkin patch with their big buddies, a costume parade and fall carnival. Yeah October!

6 Months!!

6 months, 182 days, 4,382 hours. In many ways it seems that Beck has been with us forever and in many ways it seems so short. It's hard to remember what life was like before him. But this I know for sure, he brings more joy, more laughter and fuller hearts to our family. We could not have asked for a sweeter baby. At 6 months, he laughs and giggles, but only at Tessa. He rolls all over the place, is about to crawl, has discovered he can stick out his tongue and wants to be around people!! He likes loves food of any kind and try's to grab anything you are eating or drinking out of your hand. He coo's, goo's, ah's and generally just "talks" all day. He is squishy, chunky, soft and bald. And very kissable. And me? I am blessed, thankful and head over heels in love. Happy 6 month birthday Beck!

Tully's Lego Party

Somehow I blinked and Tully turned seven. I'm really not quite sure how this happened.
I like parties, and I like throwing birthday parties for my kids, and I like them to have themes.  This year though, Tully's Birthday kind of snuck up on me. We had a crazy couple of weeks, and had been out of town for Gigi's memorial service last weekend followed by the flu making it's way through our entire family (besides Beck, thank goodness). I had been planning on just taking Tully and a few friends bowling but when I looked into how much it would cost, I couldn't pay so much for so little. So, on Wednesday before his Saturday Birthday, the Lego party was born. I put aside my fears that I couldn't pull off something fun in 4 days and got to planning. I quickly dropped off invitations to some friends, spent the night printing out decorations and making lists. I went to bed Wednesday night prepared to get up and shop  on Thursday for everything we would need. Instead I woke up with the flu. Fast forward to Friday, I was up early, preparing for MOPS, baking and frosting cupcakes to take to Tully's school and trying not to panic about how much I had to do. All the while in heels of course. After MOPS, Beck and I headed out to run a hundred errands, Beck was a trooper! He finally had a meltdown at 5:00 in Trader Joes, and I must admit that so did I. Trader Joes on a Friday night with 3 kids while still in heels was just a little to much for me! But we got everything done and Tully said it was his best party ever! :)
We had a lego relay race, lego treasure hunt, lot's of junk food and a few impromptu games that Matt created.

Tully

This captures Tully perfectly. Love that crazy kid.

Well it's finally happened. I now have two kids officially in school. I have been looking forward to this and dreading it at the same time all summer. I have been so excited that Tessa would have Mrs. Ball, the same teacher that Tully had, whom I absolutely adore. I knew that would help her to feel confident and secure. I also knew that she was SO ready for kindergarten and it's challenges. I am thrilled that Tully has Mrs. "M" his teacher of choice and even more thrilled that he will be challenged, have structure and hopeful that his love of learning will continue to grow.
So why was I up at 4:30am the morning that school was to start, tossing and turning? Because they're gone!! I'm not in control! The house was quiet and I didn't know what to do with myself. Nobody was fighting, trying to sneaking sugar cereal or yelling "Mommy!?" at me. I'm not with them to help them make good decisions, tell them to eat all of their lunch, to wash their hands or to be a good friend.
I have to trust that the things I have tried to instill in them these last 5 and 6 years will be enough to carry them through while they are away from me for 5 - 6 hours each day. I want to be there to tell them not to make that mistake, or to be nice to that person, and don't even get me started about my fear of what Tully might hear on the big kid playground! I have to trust that God is taking care of them and continue to teach them the values that are important to our family at home. Phew, feels like a big task!
Oh, and all of the things I thought that I would accomplish at home while they were at school? Um, yeah that hasn't happened yet.

I do have to mention that as a kid I did not like school at all. I am so happy that both kids love school so far! Last year Tully used to be sad that it was the weekend because he just wanted to go to school (we'll see how long that lasts :)