thanks for the mess

The kids are going through this phase where they think they only need about 7 hours of sleep a night, but-it's obvious from their emotional state and behavior choices-that they need more.  Even Mom is a better Mom with 8 hours of sleep.  We have tried all sorts of sleeping arrangements, and the best we've come up with is having one child go to sleep on a sleeping bag in the hallway, and then putting her/him in their bed later - because sharing rooms is not working.  This morning, I woke up with ideas of how we could make 3-beds-on-one-level into 4-beds-on-one-level. 

And then I heard my congested son -who had joined me in bed a half hour ago-ask me to pass him a "teenex".   Ugh.  Time to face reality that sickness had reentered our home after only a 2-week hiatus.  No school for Brett today.

The house had been left a disaster from yesterday's chaos, so my first goal of the day, after a cup of coffee, was to get the kitchen back in order.  With all the interruptions (did I mention we're 3-day potty-training Reggie this week?) I think I had been unloading the dishwasher for an hour when I heard from the living room, a familiar Ella Fitzgerald song come on and a sweet little voice saying, "Let's dance, Brett!"

And when Reggie joined the dance and proved three's a crowd, I was happy to steal a dance with my son. That's when I was reminded that I love this mess.

adoption isn't just for parents and kids

Our kids are fortunate to have lots of people who care about them in their lives.  Aunties, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas - all who love them very much.  But -due to geographic distance - we have no extended family active in their daily - or even weekly...and often not even monthly...lives.

Enter Bonnie.  Bonnie is our babysitter, but much more than our babysitter.  Bonnie has been consistently in their lives since they can remember.  I think she was the third person I called when we decided to adopt Reggie - right after Grandma and MeeMaw.  She, and her husband, have participated in their birthdays, dedications, and other special family days. Last week, when I was getting ready for work, I realized that -while many moms feel guilt and stress over putting their kids in childcare - I feel Bonnie actually enriches their lives.  And they agree - there are no tears when Bonnie comes, only sometimes when she leaves!  No, "babysitter" just isn't the right word for Bonnie.  My kids have adopted her as their local grandma.  And-I know because she tells me-the kids are a blessing to her as well.  I suppose the way grandkids are blessings to grandparents.

  You just can't have too many grandmas.

embracing winter

I have found that January is the time of year when I, living in a colder climate, need to be intentional about fighting off cabin fever and the winter blues.  This year has been SO much easier because (a) the kids are getting a little older (b) our house has more space and (c) winter didn't start in October.

The most obvious way to ward off those blues is to get out and enjoy those God-given elements of snow and ice.  We even adventured out to the frozen pond behind our house.

The boys were feeling a little more adventurous than the girls.

And what fun it is to enjoy a hot cup of "coffee" in our warm house.

Next, January is a great time to get to work on those goals for this year.  So far, I've successfully made from scratch: pizza crust, cheesy broccoli soup, and my first loaf of yeast bread not from a bread machine.

And, finally, another great way to keep those blues away is to have something to look forward to.  Bryan invited me to travel with him on a business trip to Dallas in April.  I'm very excited!  It will be my first time on a plane since I brought Reggie home, my first time to Dallas in eleven years (since I attended school there), and two nights away from the kids-two times longer than I've ever been away from the three little darlings.





pistachio dessert

My hands-down favorite wedding gift is a cookbook my mom purchased and passed around the families requesting that everyone include some of their favorite recipes.  Not only do I have some great recipes that have become standard fare in our home, but the recipes are written in our family members' own hand, and sometimes they included entertaining comments! 

Bryan's Grandma Lil passed away last week.  Her health had been failing her for a long while, and though she is missed, we are comforted in the assurance that she is no longer suffering.  I was fortunate to get to know her in her young and vibrant early 80's.  I enjoyed her punchy sense of humor - she was the one who would always say what everyone else was thinking at family gatherings.  She was also playfully competitive and golfing was her passion. 

When I learned of her death, I pulled out my recipe book and flipped through the pages to her pistachio dessert recipe.  She often brought it to family get-togethers, but, to be honest, I had never made it before.  When Bryan saw me making the dessert, he instantly recognized what I was up to and it brought back good memories.  It was all Lydia ate for supper.

Lil, we love and miss you, but we're a little disappointed you weren't able to pull a few strings for the Packer's on Sunday...