Holidays

I love the Holiday Season.  For me, it starts in October with Halloween.  I start to get excited about the upcoming holidays.  I love Thanksgiving.  It might be my favorite.  It brings family together.  I have fond memories of sitting by the fire, eating good food and the anticipation that I still have Christmas to look forward to.  Then, of course, there is Christmas.  Christmas is fun, and although I used to be sad when Christmas and New Years were over, now I look forward to what comes after those holidays...Spring!  With Spring comes Valentine's Day.  I love the hearts, the candy, the flowers...all of it!  The next holiday I like to celebrate is St. Patrick's Day.  Not that I'm Irish, but in the past couple of years I've had fun preparing a "green" meal for my family.  Last, but not least, for me is Easter.  Of all of the holidays, Easter is my favorite candy holiday.  But I also enjoy coloring eggs and hiding them.  I suppose I can't write this without mentioning July 4.  I do love that holiday too, but I don't think of it as part of the holiday season.  I see it as an added extra in the middle of summer.  I love celebrating all of the holidays.  And I've enjoyed celebrating them with my kids now. 

Recent Trip

Jeff had some time off this past week, so we decided to go visit my family in Coeur d'Alene, ID.  It's about a 6-7 hour car drive away.  This was Simon's first road trip, and he did pretty well.  He only fussed a little.  While there, we got to see my parents.  We also got to see my sister Cheryl, her husband Kent, and her kids Justin and Emma.  It was fun to let the cousins play together.  We enjoyed yummy food together, hanging out on Sunday and watching the Super Bowl together, and playing in the snow.  I even went with Cheryl to one of her kickboxing classes.  It was great to see our family again.  I am reminded once again how happy I am that we moved closer to my family and can now see them more often.

Daniel & School

I'm so glad that Daniel is enjoying school.  When I first thought about putting him in preschool this year, I was so worried that he wouldn't be able to be apart from me for that long.  It's only 2 1/2 hours a day, but I still feared the worst.  I was also worried about his behavior.  He's so outgoing and bubbly, but I worried that others might see this as annoying instead of his enjoyment of life and other people.  My fears have been put to rest.  He loves school.  He loves going each day and doesn't want to be late.  He likes his teacher and his classmates.  I can't believe how quickly he is growing up.  And I find it fascinating what he is becoming.  Here's to my "biggest" and loving life!

My Love/Hate Relationship

I have a love/hate relationship with exercise.  There are many reasons why I do exercise.  It keeps me healthy.  I get to eat more.  I feel better mentally and physically when I exercise.  I like how I feel when I exercise.  It's time that I can spend on myself.  But I have to be honest, most of the time, I really don't like to exercise.  Very rarely do I look forward to exercising.  And when I am in the actual act of exercising, I just can't wait to be done.  So to you exercise, I just have to say, I love you...but I wish you were easier to live with sometimes. 

What Is Normal?

As I watch my children throughout the day, I often ask myself, "What is normal?"  Is this behavior that I am witnessing normal for children?  Normal for boys?  Or are my boys cut from a different cloth.  I often hear words such as "poopy", "yuck!", or watch them attempt to play a game called Monster.  And while I try not to force them to be any other than who they are, I do want them to be respectful and love one another as well as those around them.   It amazes me that I have created these new beings with a will to have their own opinions and be uniquely independent of me.  But sometimes I just have to ask, "Why can't they be a little more normal?"

Friends

The older I get, the more I value my friendships.  I feel lucky to have these people in my life.  I hope they know how much they are loved and appreciated.  At times in my life, I've had the privilege of living close to some of my friends.  And at other times I've had to live far away from my friends.  I am having to say good-bye to one of my dear friends, Kristin, as she and her family move to Australia.  I wish them all the best, but secretly hope they move back to the states soon. 

Although my communication with my friends is not as often as I'd like, these people are still so important to me, and I don't know what I'd do without them.  Thank you friends, for the wonderful impact you make on my life.

Losing Someone Is Never Easy

from left to right: Donald, Jeff, Brandon, Craigan, Chad

Yesterday Jeff and I attended a funeral/memorial of a friend that Jeff went to school with.  He was too young to die.  He was a father of a 10 year son and a 2 year old daughter.  He and Jeff had many memories from high school, college and many fun times since then.  I met him twice and liked him immediately.  He was just that kind of person.  He was respectful, kind-hearted, genuine.  It was hard to say good-bye.  I know that death is a part of life, but I look forward to the day when death is no longer an option.  Good-bye Chad.  We will never forget you.