Welcome December!

I've spent the past 5 days basically hibernating...or so it seems. Rick didn't get any time off for the Thanksgiving Holiday other than he did leave work early on Thursday and we drove out to my dad's for about an hour. Friday he got up around 3am and was in line at Toys R Us at 4:15. Bless him...makes for a long day when he doesn't get home until 7:30pm. I've basically been working on the Christmas tree. It's DONE. Abby was a great helper this year. I know- you are curious about the outside lights. I'll post pictures later this evening.
We're having dinner out tonight and taking the kids to see the zoo lights. The rest of the week is work work work and getting ready for our boy to turn TWO!!

Funny of the Day

This morning we are in the kitchen and I say, "Ok... who wants what for breakfast?"
Abby replies, "I want what for breakfast."

It just doesn't end...

Don't Ask

Seriously…DO NOT ASK. Yes, this would be my husband using my hair dryer on our new LED Christmas lights. This little fiasco- er… uh “project” has taken approximately two weeks, although seems much longer in my book. These lights have been in bed with us, strung all over our bedroom, perhaps even down the hall, and now he’s taken refuge in our master bath.

Don't you wish...

you could be an almost two-year-old and lay on your 'nigh-night' on the floor without a thing to do??? I pondered this today as I tackled dishes, laundry, ironing, bathrooms, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, dinner and running. Running... my husband and his newfound competitive streak has been running for two weeks now and was boasting to me about his 11-minute miles when it took me many many months to get mine down to 10 minutes. Two words for you dear...BRING IT.
Do you ever mentally argue with yourself? The beginning of the week I told myself that I was going to run 20 miles this week. After 12 I was thinking-that's plenty. I'd rather just do other things (like popcorn, tv, and a girlie magazine) Friday night I said- ok I'll just run 2 and I'll end the week at 14. Well... it was a really good run so I hit 16. Can't hit 16 with being so close to 20 so I ran my last 4 today. That sad part is- a new week starts tomorrow. And a nice short one at that :-)
I am cooking our Turkey dinner on Wednesday. Rick is working on Thanksgiving- most likely just a half day. He's worked the past 3 Thanskgivings so I asked him if he could leave early so we could see my Mom if she isn't working and then visit my Dad's side of the family. While he is back at work Fri and Sat I'll start on the tree...
Abby got an award at Gymanstics for "Amazing Tuck Jumps." Aidan is still having separation anxiety. More later.

A Prayer from a 4-year-old

Last night Abby says to me, "Mom, if I pray tonight and ask God for snow, will he make it snow for me?"


Keep praying baby cause He hears you. All in good time right?

Wednesday... not as planned

Here is what my cyst looks like now. Gross I know... I saw the Orthopedist/hand surgeon this morning. Rick met me at St. V's because I needed someone to watch the kids- he tells me on his way over that the alternator is going out in the car. (Remember the catalytic converter story- like $2,500 worth of repairs- yeah still haven't gotten that fixed). Anyway I have my appt and then get xrays. I am on the wait list for surgery. He prefers to put me under, it's a 1.5 hour surgery and they have to put a frickin tourniquet on my arm because the thing is so close to the radial artery. Isn't that encouraging??? So any prayers you can say I would appreciate it...
Abby had to miss ballet so I could follow Rick out to Hillsboro to drop our car off at our mechanic's house and then I took him back to work. Drove back to Wilsonville to get gas- which by the way $1.95. When has it ever been that low? In the 1990's???
Rick is hoping to get a ride back to the car so I don't have to drive out there and then *hopefully* he can make his physical therapy appt.
We are still having separation anxiety issues with Aidan- so my stomach is in knots about leaving him tomorrow. Plus he's not feeling 100%.

'Tis the Season to be Jolly

This Year 2008


Last Year 2007

Aidan's First 2006

Abby's First 2004

For some reason we didn't take her in 2005

Happy Weekend!

I made pomegranate smoothies yesterday- soooooo good. I forgot to tell Rick his was waiting for him in the freezer when he got home from work- he wouldn't know if it was even missing now. Kidding. It's still there. Anyway we like to eat breakfast for dinner around here so it was a great 'side dish.'
Put in all the pom seeds in the blender, a handful of frozen mango cubes, banana, sliced strawberries, some milk and I put in a few scoops of frozen yogurt to make it even better. The kids loved it.
Aidan has been going through something lately- what I've termed as the infamous terrible two's. He is just exercising his independence more, has no patience, throws fits on a whim and is not sleeping. Yesterday when I took him to daycare he cried- so it was another day when I cried the whole way to work because as a mother it pulls at your very core to walk away from this little person who is holding their arms out to you screaming 'mommy' 'mama' over and over and you can still hear it in the parking lot and that image stays with you all morning long. I have tears in my eyes now just typing it. Abby, of course, being the mature one of all three of us yesterday, says (in a tone like duhhhhh) "Mom, you're going to pick him up later." She doesn't get why he cries because she LOVES school. Anyway at 9:45 his teacher calls me at work and says he hadn't stopped crying since I left. So I went to get him and brought him home. I prayed last night and this morning that he would do better today. He lasted all day- but cried most of the morning asking for mommy and daddy. I'm thinking we have hit a separation anxiety phase and I don't know if it's harder on him or us.
I asked Abby what she wants to ask Santa for and she says, "Well... I don't have any money so I'm gonna ask him for money." Now if you were Santa, wouldn't you think that the kid's parents told you to ask for that? When I was her age I wanted toys. TOYS. This morning on the way to school she was so excited the moon was still out and was saying that the moon was going to moon school. I asked what the moon does at moon school and she says it learns about what moons do in the sky and how to float.
I haven't been able to run much this week and it's making me crabby. VERY. It's not even my bad knee- it's the good one. I've been icing it have been resting it the rest of this week. I did start my Christmas shopping though.

Blog Blahhhhhhh

Oh this weather is just blahhhhhhhh. But I really LOVE fall. Not much to report really... Abby and Rick had dental appts this morning, then ballet, we loaded up on groceries, stopped at the library and then had a play date with the neighbor. She made us lunch :-) Rick headed off to physical therapy and I am mopping floors. Productive day yes indeed. Side note-he's been doing great with the running too!
I see the orthopedist next week for the cyst in my wrist that keeps coming back. Selfish request, but please keep me in your thoughts that it's an easy fix. I REALLY don't want surgery and am already having anxiety at the thought of it.
On a happy note, we learned today that Rick won't be working Christmas Day afterall. Instead they are having a two-week shut down. Nice to have him home but...it sure says a lot about the economy. I pray he remains employed and his company can weather the storm.
More later

God Bless America

my home sweet home.

'Revival won't come flying in on Airforce One. Our hope is in God alone.'

When you thought I wasn't looking

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first picture on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there was a God that Icould always talk to.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night, and I felt loved.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt,but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked....and now I want to say thanks for all the things I saw,when you thought I wasn't looking.

A Perfect Day. God is Amazing.

You're never too young...

to read the Bible.

Hallelujah

It took an ipod from Jessica and Reilly to FINALLY get Rick back to running. Amen. I've been subtly nagging him from time to time and nothing. The kids and I applauded him when he finished. Hope he keeps it up :-)
Tonight's dinner was a mish mash of things in the freezer- potstickers, mozarella sticks and pomegrante. That is pretty how much how the entire week is going to be. Quick, Cheap and Easy.
My brother-in-law Mark reminded me a week or so ago how many days are left until Christmas. I think I have been having small amounts of anxiety over that. Speaking of Christmas...not only does my husband work every year on Thanskgiving, this year he has to work Christmas Day. Yes, people on Christmas Day. And on that note I am headed to bed to read some scripture and maybe watch some tv.

Jenkins/Devine Clan