Christmas, Part 1

So starts the season of Christmas -- this year, I vowed to make more traditions and memories with my family and I think we have -- lots of cookie baking, Christmas movies, projects and decorating!  If I get motivated enough, I'll post more of those photos!

 

To start the holiday, each year we celebrate Christmas early with my family -- since my parents head to Arizona before the actual holiday and attempt to steer clear of any possible snowflakes.

 

It's always fun to spend time with cousins!

 

the littlest boys....

CRAZY!!!

deep-frying the turkey this year -- it turned out GREAT!  The men felt they needed to 'watch' the turkey - in case any wild animals came and attempted to knock over the vat -- my dad claimed he had to fight off a squirrel, but not so sure I believe that...

COUSINS!!!

all this boy wants is super heros for Christmas (last year it was sports, he's moved on, I guess)

 

the girls had the most fun playing with the boxes!

where oh where was my brother for this photo?  Not sure, he doesn't care for photos, so he was probably hiding -- but, it's a great photo of the rest of his family!!

My Video 9/24/12 at OneTrueMedia.com

I often don't have time to edit and play with my own personal photos...but, look what I found time to create today!!!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Friday Night = Family Night

We've initiated a "Family Night" tradition in our house now for the past 4-6 months.  It started out as 'movie night' on Friday nights after a long work week/school week -- as a chance to snuggle, bond and spend time together as a family.  We've ventured out a bit to include a sleep over once and yesterday a family bonfire!  It was a blast!  Just the 4 of us...

 

a loooong stick for the kids to roast their marshmellows -- do you see it there dangling above the fire?

the 'infamous' marshmellow on fire!

 

being goofy!

How Superman eats a marshmellow...

 

Here's to many more Family Nights!

Su-Su-Summertime!

We are working on enjoying our summer -- the hot, dry weather and all!  We are finally at a point in our family dynamics that we can go places after work, after a long week and the kids can run around and entertain themselves for a while and the Daddy and I can relax a bit.....it's nice to be at this stage.

Playing hide-n-seek at a community wine and music in the park event....

listening to the music at the park...

more hide-n-seek

spraying water on ourselves on a hot, HOT day!

and spraying each other!

Father's Day weekend we went to 'higher golf' so Little Brother and Daddy could hit golf balls off the tee and see how "high" and "far" the ball goes....

A very, VERY fun way to stay cool and create family memories:  'Water Wars' -- where you shoot water balloons at each other!!

Here's to some more fun activies and memories for the Summer of 2012!

Easter Break

 For Big Sister's Easter break from school, we headed to Door County with Mae Mae and Papa and Lolo and Fuzzy and our family for some time away and some FUN!

Little Brother brought his frisbee with him EVERYWHERE and wanted everyone to play with him!

 He didn't care for his picture being taken all the time (but, I need to practice for my new venture: The Candid Camera)

Showing papa how far his frisbee flew in the air!

Big Sister LOVES having her picture taken, "Can you use it on The Candid Camera's business card?" is her usual question!

Hikes to the beach were usually a daily event....it was chilly, but so much fun!

They even convienced Fuzzy and Lolo to join them on a hike...

Two beautiful girls!

Her Easter egg collection...

A "real" laugh -- gotta love that!

Where does the time go?

Where does the time go these days? 

 We seem to be busy working (these economy allows little room for flexibility and time off!), dance classes, after school homework, Sunday church, Wed. kid's programs at church, cleaning the house (I'll admit, I'm failing at this one!), tending to the yard (this is daddy's passion).

But, I have committed to being more 'available' to my children, not being stuck in the house or at home because my 'to do' list isn't all checked off.....BUT to ride our bikes to the park, blow bubbles, swing, draw with sidewalk chalk, paint on wood, pick flowers in our yard (even the 'good flowers'), get dirty (even if that means a shower EVERY night!)

a contemplative Big Sister at the park...

The Big Brother is getting bigger -- note the super cape ("It's Batman, mom!"), the bike helmet and the large blue band aid on his elbow -- he's all boy!

A typical day...

I had a moment (okay, several moments) today -- I wanted to run away. I wanted to escape my current life situations in order to be alone -- is that even possible?  I actually was at one point raising my hands up in the air and repeating, "I look to you Jesus, I look to you Jesus, I look to you Jesus" when my 2 kids were talking on top of each other and each's need seemed like the most important to them at that moment and then Little Brother started screeching -- like all 'almost-3-year-olds' do when he was trying to get attention on top of his sister talking. 

 

Then Big Sister wanted me to teach her at-that-moment how to pull her (not long enough) hair into a pony tail.  We were in the middle of finishing showers with wet towels strewn on the floor, trying to get teeth brushed, pj's on, reading homework completed, Benjamin Franklin project tackled, cleaning the table after dinner, letting cats either in or out as they were scratching at the back door, and packing lunches for tomorrow.  Oh, and the Daddy in our house was home for ~10 minutes as he whisked through the house, changed clothes and headed back out to the neighbors for his weekly 'bags' game...

 

So, I repeated my "I look to you Jesus" mantra in order to calm my attitude, calm my spirit and help me to not physically run away..... I've been studying Hebrews 12:2 recently,  "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Now, maybe I know why that verse was spoken to me in a dream (about 2-3 weeks ago)....to calm me in moments in which I desire to escape!

 

Praying that each of you have peace and calm in your lives and that you aren't feeling like running away! 

My latest adventure....

So, for my 35th birthday I was privileged to get some 'body work' done!  No, not THAT kind of body work....arthroscopic knee surgery. I injured my left knee playing ultimate frisbee at the end of October.  After about 2 months of pain and 'lock knee', I finally decided to get an MRI (you'd think that by working in the health care field, one would work a little faster than waiting for 2 months.....). 

The MRI showed 2 tears in my meniscus and arthroscopic surgery was in my future.  I scheduled the surgery for my birthday, but only because that was the only opening that they had in the month....so, you take what you can get!

Surgery went well (I guess -- I was under anesthesia), however they found that I have a rare (10% of the population) meniscus....discoid meniscus .  Of course, I am the one with some rare anatomical difference -- doesn't really surprise me!

Well, in the recovery room I was experiencing PVC which the electrical circuit of your heart isn't totally in sync (there is a much more medical explanation if you click on the link!).  During recovery I was having trigeminy and at my follow up MD appointment I was having bigeminy -- which is basically an irregular heart beat either every 3rd beat or every other beat.  So, off I go for testing....

Initially, my doctor wasn't too concerned, because he thought this irregular heart rate could be from a combination of the anesthesia and pain medications I was on for the first 3 days after surgery and he said it may just even out on it's own.  I guess there are people that have these "PVC"s all the time and don't even notice them.  I, on the other hand, can feel my heart pounding out of my chest each time it happens.  It occurs for about 30 seconds 2-3 times an hour.  On a good day, I feel them about 3-5 times throughout the day - maybe 3-4 times total.  Today, on the other hand, I felt them about 3-5 times an hour every hour.

I had an echo cardiogram yesterday that demonstrated a normal heart structure, but a problem with the electrical circuitry in my heart.  I spoke with a cardiologist today who, at first, wasn't too concerned.....until the BIG *red flag* questions:
1) "you haven't been having any chest pain recently, right?"......um, well, actually I have been -- twice in the past month -- a heaviness in my chest with it radiating down my right arm (the typical 'heart attack is down the left arm)
2) "do you have a family history of heart disease?".....um, well, yes.  My dad had a heart attack at the age of 55 (the big number -- 55 or under is significant for family history)

SO, now I go to see the cardiologist on Monday and suspect more testing....

When I turn 35, I REALLY get my money's worth with a birthday!  Also, February is Women's Heart Disease Month.  So, please check out the link and wear red to support the "Go Red For Women" campaign sponsored by The American Heart Association.

More details to follow.....as I learn more.

My New Venture

So, I've started a new venture with a great friend....check it out The Candid Camera

Happy Birthday, Mae Mae!

This past weekend, Papa Bob hosted a SURPRISE birthday party for the Mae Mae in our lives.  He did a GREAT job at keeping it a surprise, and my little ones did a GREAT job keeping their tiny lips sealed too!

I think she was truly surprised...

 A nice group of friends and family came out to celebrate a wonderful woman!

I won't tell here on the blog... 

No party is complete with a visit to the local bar "Bob and Ringo's" -- full of taxidermied animals and where you can sign your name on their wall....

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 Even the littlest party-goers had fun!

This one is for you, Mary! (I think the most avid blog follower I have!)

Happy Birthday, Mae Mae!