Edventures

I love the word "edventures" and I am borrowing it from an article in a great home schooling journal.  Taking trips and living life so that our kiddos can learn is such a fun way to be a family.  A couple of weeks ago, we headed to Dallas for Jason to attend a conference and for me and the kiddos to find some excitement.  It is about a 6 hour drive - if you don't have to stop to avoid baseball size hail (yes, baseball) and tornadoes - which makes it closer to 8 hours.  Other than the sever weather- we had a blast.  Here are a few photo highlights:

This is one of the biggest steam engines ever built.  Yep, it's really big.  They nick named it "Big Boy" and we checked it out at the Railroad Museum.  It was just perfect for my little engineers!

Sam had a great time playing in the sand at the Children's Museum.  It was more like making a mess with sand....

The cutest astronauts ever.  Sam didn't agree. 

The kids would push a button to heat the air in the balloon for about a minute, then watch in awe as it would fly to the ceiling!

Met an African Tortoise while we were out for a walk.  It was out for a stroll as well. 

Sam enjoying the running room in the Butterfly Garden. 

Ella relaxing at the Butterfly Gardens after checking out the amazing butterflies and a pond with turtles and fish!

Ella always wants to take care of her brothers...

The sweet man. 

One Whole Year

I was 39 weeks pregnant as Jason and I were driving home from a prenatal visit with our midwives.  A big thunderstorm had just roared through the twin cities.  As we neared our home, the song "Healing Rain" by Michael W. Smith was playing on our cd shuffle in the car.  And then it appeared, the most perfect rainbow we had ever seen.  It was the symbol of all the healing we had done and what was yet to come....a classic "God moment" as we have come to call them. 

Preparing for Samuel John to be welcomed in to our lives started long before I was carrying him in my tummy.  There was so much junk to work through; fears to overcome from Owen's dramatic entry and questioning our own ability to be good parents.  I could write a book about that period of our lives.  I am so glad we took the time to prepare for him and to open ourselves fully to the wonder of a new life in our family. 

He was born at 3:22 a.m. in our living room, surrounded by 7 amazing women, his loving daddy and proud big sister.  Our home had the feeling of The Red Tent - a book I had read while pregnant with him. Midwives with an incredible gift to offer, low lights, my favorite prenatal yoga cd on repeat, lots of love and calm were just what Sam and I needed for the journey. 

My sweet Sam,
I love your big smile.
I love your chubby legs and cheeks.
I love how you want others to smile back, then bury your head in my chest when they do.
I love that you jump in to your daddy's arms when he walks in the room.
I love that you have been saying "Dada" for months, even though I secretly would love to hear "Mama".
I love that you show sympathy by hugging your siblings when they cry.
I love that you kiss and hug those you love.
I love that you love trucks and trains just like Owen.
I love that you love books just like Ella. 
I love that you clench your fists and shake your body when you see something that excites you, like a dog.
I love that you are opinionated about what you like and don't like.
I love that you play with your brother and sister, laughing and wrestling.
I love that we get to watch you change everyday. 
I love that you are part of our family. 

Happy Birthday, my little love.  We are so blessed by your presence. 

Ode to Grandma Sue

It is Grandma Sue's birthday today. She is one of the few people who read this blog, so she just might see this post..... Here is an ode to her love in our lives:

She is the most patient and kind person.

She selflessly loves her children, children-in-law and grandchildren.

She is full of energy and excitement. 

She knows how to ask a million questions and really get people to talk.

She is a great listener.

She opens her home to us and is so incredibly welcoming. 

She has the ability to do many things and never seems overwhelmed by them.

She sews the sweetest clothes and items for the grand kids, even does requests. 

She writes great letters and keeps our family informed, despite the miles. 

She always comes up with the best activities for the kids and would read to them for hours.

She lets the kids use glitter whenever they want. 

Happy Birthday!  We miss you very much!

Here is a picture Ella drew for her today.  She wrote "Ella and Sam" at the top but you can't read that :)

Here is a photo of the most recent Sue Tracy creations for the kids.  They love showing off the items that she gives them.  She even made Owen a John Deer blanket since we live in Kansas.  She is so talented.  And personally, I don't know how she finds the time to be so giving!

Here's one of her son, who I think is pretty great.  I am so thankful for her wisdom and love that she gave him which has made him the wonderful husband that he is today.....and another sweet grand baby. 

A Good Day

We have a family full of wonderful mamma's.  We love them because they have loved us so much and taught us how to be parents.  We are who we are because of all those fantastic women.  We are thankful for them everyday.

My Mother's Day love started yesterday, with beautiful bouquets of wild flowers picked by Ella from the fields around our house.  Perfect.

Last night, Jason took the baby monitor and slept in the living room so that I could get 7 hours of sleep. Perfect.

I woke up to Owen snuggling in bed with me and kissing my cheeks.  Perfect.

We ate out at a "kids eat free" restaurant for lunch and fed the family for 10 bucks then had leftovers for dinner.  I didn't make food all day.  Perfect.

We listened to some great worship music at church- with Daddy on percussion - and watched Sam clap with joy.  Perfect.

We spent time walking around the property that we are buying with the current owner, learning the ins and outs.  The kids tramped through the "forest", watched the birds and admired the blooming iris and peonies plants.  It is going to be so much fun to live there.  Perfect. 

We enjoyed the evening with our community life group at church (small group) with laughs and study.  We are so lucky to have adults to spend time with and to encourage us as individuals and as parents.  Perfect. 

I am so blessed to be a Mom.  Each day I say to Owen, "How did I get so lucky that God gave you to me so that I could be your Momma?" and he responds, "How did I get so lucky that God gave you to me?".  I don't think it was luck at all......  What a great honor. 

 

Exhaustion

I am so tired.  I am exhausted.  My body doesn't really want to get up from where I plant it, but I move out of necessity.  Don't get me wrong, I am not sick (a bit mentally, but that's for another post).  I am just so tired. 

Most who know me well know that I am an introvert.   Many are surprised by this since I love parties, visiting with friends and such.  What challenges me is that I find fuel in my alone time - and having a family rarely allows for that time. 

I don't need much.  This quiet time blogging is enough.  But I need a little each day. 

When we were newly married, Jas and I figured out ways to make this work as a couple.  Having three kids adds a whole different dimension.  He helps me get what I need.  Some days are easier than others to fill my tank. 

Today we had another spontaneous garage sale.  Two more families with 6 more kids running around the house and I am zapped.  They are all wonderful people.  So why am I drained? 

What fuels you?  What depletes you? Can you do anything in the moment to prevent yourself from becoming exhausted? How do you deal with the "Mom guilt" of taking the time you need to feel energized?   

Thankful

Each day, I am thankful for so many things.  Here are a few of those items on my mind since we returned from our whirlwind trip to Minnesota:

• Our wonderful family and friends who gave us love back in Minnesota.  We miss you all.
• Our wonderful family and friends who we didn't get to see when we were home, who love us enough to understand that we can't do all that we want to in 36 hours.  We miss you all too. 
• My amazing husband who drove every mile of the journey and never complained, managed to entertain kids while driving with funny stories and shared a bag of Twizzlers with me (a road trip splurge). 
• My two big kids who traveled like champs, despite the fact they don't sleep while in the car (what is wrong with them??). 
• My baby who made me smile each time he would practically leap out of the car seat when we stopped. 
• Our sweet little niece who gave me some love and smiles. 
• Our friends who met us at a park yesterday, reminding us that Newton is a great place to be right now. 
• My dear friend who I live 480 some miles away from.  Her voice on the phone encourages me and her journey inspires me. 
• The proud new owner of a pretty yellow house in Robbinsdale.  I hope he enjoys that home as much as we did - although he may not ever have a baby in the living room. 

It is hard to keep the perspective of thankfulness, especially on days like today, when Ella is having a terrible time with transitions, Sam isn't sleeping well and Owen doesn't seem to hear my voice.  But there is so much to be thankful for.  Praying that I remember these little and big things on a daily basis. 

Here are few photos from the Minnesota trip-


Getting ready to swim at the hotel we stayed at in Des Moines

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Grandma Sue with Sam

The kids with their cousin, about to deliver May Baskets

Sam with my aunt Joanne