Snow day!

Finally enough snow for school by the fire, snow playing, rosy cheeks and hot chocolate!!

Have & Have not

I've been thinking about this for awhile now.  You know, having and not having. And I should really just go to bed.  But....it's another night shift for my better half and it's hard to go to bed by myself.  

So here is some incoherent ramblings.

 I don't have a dishwasher.

Now, maybe that is not a big deal.  But it was to me 6 mths ago when we moved here.  

Gasp. no dishwasher! And 5 mouths to feed 3x a day.  Plus I'm a scratch kind of girl - which inevitably means more bowls, pans, etc.   

Mostly I have just been spoiled? 

Living in this old Midwest house has been like living in a bad relationship.  As soon as I forgive it for one thing up pops another something (and with it all past grievances) that push me closer to the edge of my sanity.  I am always closer to the edge of my sanity when I am pregnant - which I was for the majority of these grievances.  

So, I don't know if it's because I'm not pregnant anymore or because my efforts and prayers to fill my heart with thanksgiving and gratitude have drowned out the "have nots" in my life.
Maybe it's because the end is in sight and in 6mths we'll be living in a different house.

Whatever. The point is.

I'm grateful for no dishwasher.  

I have miraculously found that it doesn't bother me at. all. 

I enjoy having a moments peace to stick my hands in warm sudsy water and think.

I enjoy setting my 2yr old on the wheat bucket beside me and having him wash dishes with me.

It's hard to find me and him time.  Washing dishes is me and him time and we enjoy it. 

I think that not having is sometimes better than having. 

Because it forces us to see with greater clarity that we actually DO have.

We do HAVE everything we need.

Feeling entitled to have "things" can creep up on us so sneakily.  

One of my greatest fears is to be blinded by the "happiness" of stuff and forget where 

true happiness comes from. 

My sweet Zina said to me last night.  "Mom, I thought about just reading my book, but it didn't feel right."

I love my life with no dishwasher.
:)

Entertainment.

Tonight my kids were full of creative energy.  They surprised me with 3 entertaining dances.  The first one was directed by Zina.  It was the "girl" dance and she had everyone decked out from head to toe. :)  

They danced to Gustav Holst, The Planets - Jupiter.

 Presenting Wilson. :)

Who felt quite sheepish dressed as a girl and spent most of his time hiding behind the treadmill.  Can you find him?  

 Sammy.

 In true 2yr old fashion had no qualms whatsoever about being dressed like a girl. 

I'm pretty sure he hand picked the dress. :)

 And Zina. Who loves to accessorize (everyone apparently) these days. :)

 The adoring spectators. :)

The 2nd dance was directed by Wilson.  It is the boy dance and I had to laugh when I saw the outfits he picked out for their costumes. 

Wilson wears shorts and a t-shirt everyday.

 sometimes he even wears them over his pajamas when it's bedtime.

He picked out Dynamite for his dance music.

 Somehow Sammy got away with camo instead. :)

The 3rd and final show was "superheroes"  and they chose to dance to Rascal Flatts, "Life is a Highway"

 Meet Super Zina Batgirl.

 Captain America meets Luke Skywalker

and Super Sammy Spiderman

Sammy says, "Mom, can I dance with a mean face?"

I love that he asked first. :)

I love these kids.  Best evening entertainment ever.

Too bad Mark's working the night shift in the ICU and missed it.

Last one though so we'll be danc'n tomorrow!

Mission Call!!

Last night we gathered around the computer on a google + conference call with my family.  These happen a lot, but this one was special!!  We were so excited to watch my little sister open her mission call.  She was called to the Canada, Halifax Mission and is going to be a rock'n missionary.  

We love you Attena!!

- for all you American readers Halifax is the capitol city of Nova Scotia which is a Province on the East Coast.  Her mission includes a bit of Maine, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island.  

Tena reports to the MTC on March 13th which means we won't see her again before she leaves.  We feel so lucky that she came to play when Davey was born.  In fact. I don't think I can have another baby until she gets back. :)  She has been there helping out when all of my kids have been born!

Family Pictures.

I opted to take our own pictures this year.  We needed an updated one for our Christmas cards and I am much to vain to spend money on cute family pictures when I am still carrying the baby weight. 

So.... it was actually really fun.  I realize these are pretty amateur when it comes to photography.  It was the wrong time of day/wrong light + we had the camera balanced on a little table and books and there was lots of crying and laughing and running back and forth and smiling and giggling....and I think we might just try this again sometime. This is what we got minus about 50 pictures. :)

Ah. well. 

You can't beat free.

:)

New Years Eve.

Due to a "I'm going throw up" kind of headache I missed out on New Years Eve this year.  I put Davey and Sam to sleep and woke up at about 9:30.  I lasted all of one hour before I crawled back in bed hoping that sleep would rid me of my misery.  

Mark, Zina, and Wilson stayed up ALL night long playing board games, eating yummy treats ( Mark stopped at the store on the way home from work with the fix'ns for rats (cream cheese stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon) and all kinds of ideas for yummy things to snack on all night long.   Yep, he's a true Thomas.  Always ready for the next party.

 These kids are pretty lucky.  They felt awfully special too.  They stayed up until 1:30am!!! 

Their dad is WAY nicer than their mom. :)

 When I woke up the next morning this is what I found.  Three crazy's having a sleepover in front of the fire.

:)

 And of course Sammy had to climb right in. :)

Our goals for 2013?

Go back to eating the way we used to before Thanksgiving and Christmas. :)

Race to see who can lose 10lbs first. :)

Move again.

Try not to have any more kids. 

Well, maybe we'll try.......

Be more open about the Gospel & sharing it with others.

....and that's all I've got at the moment as far as 2013 is concerned.

I am grateful for my life.  I am happy to be alive. to experience. to feel. to grow. to love. to be loved.

Love.

I think that is my word for 2013.

The after-Christmas. :)

Mark had to go back to work the day after Christmas so we went back to school.  I prefer the routine of our relaxed schooling anyways.  But we were still reveling in the magic of new Christmas toys and finally those big fluffy flakes falling from the sky- which always makes the toasty fire that much more toasty.

Evening games: 

We put the kids to bed and enjoyed a rousing game of battleship. 

I won. 

:)

Beautiful Snow!!

I am really enjoying the snow....as long as I'm not out in it.  

Seriously, we stay home and inside way to much. 

Well, the kids go play and I would probably go play with them but I've got this baby to hold...

Ah-well. At least Dad's a good sport.  The kids now own their very own snow shovels.  It's a good thing too, because now that Mark is on ICU they might be shoveling the driveway with out him.  We (I) am determined to make the best of this month!

 Happy 3mths to this baby boy.  He is such a mild mannered baby.  He doesn't take regular long naps, but is so pleasant when he is awake and often just falls asleep on the floor amidst all the chaos.  The kids (especially Wilson) just love to talk and snuggle and even have "tummy" time with him.

 And 3 cheers for my Sammy!!

He is potty trained.  Hurry for only one child in diapers. :)

The last couple of months have been hardest on my sweet Sammy.  Between homeschooling the older kids and taking care of a baby I feel like my generally happy and precocious Sam has turned into a bit of a sad little boy.   He's feeling a little neglected. :(

Trying to fill up all these little people with love is a lot of work.  

Never mind seeing to their education, health, nutrition, clothing, and general well-being. 

Plus encouraging them to play nice and not kill each other.  

:)

I admit.  There have been days when dinner time has rolled around and I have realized that I have not brushed my hair OR my teeth.

Gross right.

But.

I wouldn't change a thing.  

I have been reminded over and over again these last few months that these days will be over all to fast and I feel incredibly blessed to be struggling through them.