Considered

Dear Considerate Moms, 

Moving is hard to do. You've had a life here that is established and friendships that have taken years or maybe decades to develop. You have family who is close who can drop by on a dime if you are in a pickle or pulling your hair out. 

Thank you for inviting me to a make-up party. I think it's been months since I've had a girls night. And though I felt out of place, you were kind enough to think of me and include me.  

Thank you to the mom who emailed me to be apart of a freezer meal swap. And while I couldn't make it the first time, you said you'd let me know when you'd do it again. 

Thank you to the mom/librarian who has shared stories with me about her kids my kids' ages and books they've love. We love reading and it's nice to share that with someone else who does. 

Thank you to the mom who cheered when the boys and I had been gone for weeks from a workout class. It was nice to know you knew us and were a smiling face to walk in to. 

Thank you to the mom who came with me to the ER when one of my boys was sick and my husband was out of town. You helped ease anxiety I didn't even know I was feeling, and then proceeded to make sure we had dinner that night. I didn't expect any of that - you are a gem. 

Thank you to the mom who's challenged me to trust God and been a friend who listens - you are a kindred spirit. And I'm thankful for your three little ones who love my boys and bring joy with their hugs and smiles. 

It's so easy to feel lonely when you've come from the best community you've ever experienced. It's easy to feel lonely when other moms meet up at the park or sit together at bible studies, and you don't know a soul. And then, I recall these sweet mothers whose seemingly insignificant acts made me feel considered. 

Lately

Pictures of Jan/Feb 2014

Timothy is Four! (Pictures)

*Birthday celebration with the Hufford Grandparents - Tool Box!

*Birthday Breakfast of Chocolate Chip Pancakes Made and Decorated by Dad

*Trip to the Museum of Science and Industry per Tim's request

*He asked to decorate his own cake and was very proud! 

*Wouldn't we all want a doctor who looks like this?! Gift from Buck Grandparents

Timothy is Four! (Yearly Questions)

Timothy is Four! And here are this years answers to the yearly questions: 

1. What is your favorite color? Blue.

2. What is your favorite toy? Trains

3. What is your favorite fruit? Eggs. (You know eggs are not a fruit, right?) Yeah, Grapes.

4. What is your favorite tv show? Daniel Tiger

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Spaghetti and Meatballs 

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Clothes and a nice shirt

7. What is your favorite game? High Ho Cheery O

8. What is your favorite snack? Chips and Bunnies

9. What is your favorite animal? Bears

10. What is your favorite song? God Gave Me You

11. What is your favorite book? The no train talking book

12. Who is your best friend? Finley
13. What is your favorite cereal? Oatmeal Squares

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Shovel the driveway when it’s winter

15. What is your favorite drink? Milk

16. What is your favorite holiday? Sunday

17. What do you like to sleep with at night? My dolls and my Timothy pillow 

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Eggs

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? I want Steak and Eggs because Daddy would like that.

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A train driver.

Year Three Here: Timothy is Three!

Snow Day Round 2

What a treat to have Eric home to have a family snow day. To the boys it meant heading outside for plowing and playing in the snow. To me it meant gazing out at the snow from the warm indoors! Our friends' three middle grade aged girls came down to play with the boys! Such a treat for them! And with 6+" everyone was set.

Snow Day 2013

After what seemed like an hour to get all our clothes ready and on, the boys and I went outside for our first accumulated snow this season. It is a feat to get out the door with so many layers and not feel like you are going to over heat before you get out there. I was laughing hard at watching my boys turn into marshmallows. But I hoped once we got out there, it would be worth the time put in.

Sure enough, both boys loved it. I hardly had a chance to clear off the walk way and stairs before Timothy was requesting the shovel - we should get another, cause that boy's got some strength and was clearing our driveway (more in swirls than straight lines, you got to take the help you get!). And I was surprised to see how much Cayden enjoyed it. He was running through our yard, our neighbors yard, and even into the streets...it's hard for him to tell the difference once it's all covered with snow. I taught Tim how to make a snow angel. And we even got to see the snow plow clear our road, which meant the truck driving down our road a good four times. Such a treat for the boys.

I cleared a "driving path" for the boys to push around Little Tike cars and a shopping cart, but that soon turned to frustration for Cayden since his cart kept falling over, and I'm not sure how much of it was related to us having been outside for an hour at this point. There were many tears and I walked to the front door to open the back (so we could de-layer in the mudroom), only to get to the back 30sec later to see Tim pushing Cayden's face into the snow...needless to say, the fun snow day was over. I will try it again, but boy...boys!

Christmas Blessings

We have been blessed to have a wonderfully full holiday season! Here's a little bit of where we've been since pre-Thanksgiving:

*Cutting down our first tree with friends
*Hosting the Bucks (parents, sister, grandparents) and the Huffords (parents) for Thanksgiving amidst the stomach bug running through our families
*First day of December decorating the tree
*Celebrating the first Sunday of Advent with candles
*Riding the Holiday Train (schedule Holiday CTA Train)
*Quickly grabbing bratwurst, potato pancakes, and apple strudel at the Christkindl Market (since it felt like 10* outside!)
*Polar Express watching and then a reading over at Barnes and Noble by a "real" conductor
*Drive Thru holiday lights over in Valpo! Perfect for being in the car!
*Annual holiday dinner and tree decorating at the Huffords with family friends
*Hosting first (but hopefully annual) Christmas cookie decorating party with new friends

So many of these are spontaneous decisions which is not always my typical, but I'm thinking spontaneity is great!!