Minnesota MarchI wish the hail-sized snow of today was uglier so I could hate it more. You can’t really see in the picture, but those are some big, beautiful flakes! Of course, all the Minnesotans know this, but I thought I’d share for our out-of-state friends. I shoveled once already because it’s SO heavy. Happy Spring. We’re still in good spirits though because we got to spend the morning with Mackenzie, Olivia and Ellorie. They’re such good friends. Olivia (Livy) Ellorie (Ellowie) Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
I had a conversation recently about attachment disorders and how they start with a lack of love, bonding, and attachment in the first three years of life. These are the kinds of topics that raise the hair on my neck and start the spin cycle in my stomach. Then I am forced to take a deep breath and remind myself that I don’t ignore my children or intentionally withhold love in any way. Neither does Ryan so I think we’re okay. Maybe the dog hurts their feelings sometimes with her flippant snubs, but I’m hoping that’s different.After the deep breath and return to reality I’m usually okay, but sometimes the big worry monster wants to keep rearing her over-sized and sneaky head. She is usually just napping somewhere close enough nearby that if I walk by her, she snaps right up and hops on my back. Or maybe my shoulders. Then I carry […]
My birthday isn’t until the end of May, but I’m already super excited for it. I’m usually not, but this year my birthday falls about a week before the International Justice Mission’s Minneapolis banquet. I don’t think I’ve been this excited about going to something in a very long time. My Mom and Dad made it possible for the four of us (mom, dad, my sister, Shelly and I) to go! And I consider this the best birthday gift ever. Mostly because I’m such a believer in this human rights organization. But secondly, Sara Groves is the musical guest, and everyone knows I’m more than a big fan. Also, there’s no way I’d be able to spend the money to go, even though it’s well worth it in my mind. So I’m more thankful than words can say. I thought I’d share a little more about IJM today. So the first link is […]
1. Because he wrinkles his nose and blows like there are birthday candles while changing poopy diapers.2. Because he ran red lights (carefully) and wouldn’t stop praying out loud when Miles had a bad reaction to being introduced to formula at four months old. This reaction caused excessive vomiting until the wee one became listless and pale. At the ER he improved and we went home, relieved and stronger than we had been before we arrived.3. Because he can act silly and play right along with any imaginary game Miles can come up with.4. Because he’s always thought Asher was just perfect, even when he screamed all the time.5. Because he gets up in the morning, every day that he’s here, to be with Miles and lets me “sleep in” a little with Asher. No questions asked, just out of the goodness of his heart.6. Because no matter what errand he needs to […]
I was just standing in a doorway, using the angle of it to rub my aching back. The middle of it is going numb. I figure that’s not such a good thing. I’ve noticed that all the lifting, bending and carrying of these two sweet and hefty boys doesn’t bode well for my already questionable posture. I try to stand up straight and can actually hear every muscle in my back screaming, “Yeah right! We’re stuck in a hunched over curve, unable to loosen and stretch! Leave us alone to atrophy here!”I just got an email from you dear friend, Tiff. You implored, “please tell me this gets easier,” going on to say that Chloe won’t listen and Sam can’t nap because of sharing a room with this somewhat disruptive sibling. I wanted to write back and say that it does get easier. But I had a second thought because I didn’t want […]
Miles and Tia like snowy Easters: This was the first time I have ever made an Easter meal. It was just so so if you ask me and just wonderful if you ask my kind and careful husband. Uncle Kevin was our guest The party got out of hand when Miles stripped and asked why he has nipples. Then he punched Kevin. So it was time for the Easter party to come to a close. Had we been at a bar (or drinking for that matter), we would have been asked to leave on account of being naked and rowdy. Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
“He longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” – Isaiah 30:18 I have to admit that the true meaning of things is sometimes lost on me in the repetition of it all. I used to feel guilty about that. I would stand in church on Easter Sunday wondering why I didn’t really FEEL all that much. I’ve heard the story so many times. Usually what I got out of this story wasn’t enough. I didn’t truly know how it applied to me in a very tangible way. I understood the whole dying on the cross thing, and believed it too. But recently I heard something that changed my apathetic mindset.Beth Moore said something like this, and I definitely paraphrase:It can be easy to ask questions about the Crucifixion. You can understand that it was a horrible death, but there’s a part of you that’s still saying, in a […]
Miles is working on winking: He’ll get there! Asher LOVES Tia. Tia is indifferent. Thankfully, Tia is a gentle giant. Miles made up a little song when Asher was crying the other day: “Asher don’t cryyyyy, Cause I’m not bye byyyyeeeee.”Cause I don’t want to leave you here…Or heeeerrre.” I couldn’t believe that he made it rhyme. Kids really are amazing. Asher now has four teeth. He pretty much got them all at the same time (yow). He also rolls around to get where he wants to go (which is usually to try to grab things he shouldn’t have). Miles has learned how to act out the true tantrum (kicking, hitting and screaming included). I’ve heard that age three is like that no matter how you try to make it go away. We’ll get through it. I’m not sure that I’ll be sane when it’s over, but what parent is? We are trying […]
We’ve been super busy, which is wonderful, but geez I’m tired! I won’t go into great detail about all that we’ve done, but in the last two days we’ve hung out with …Kate, Caleb, Benjamin and Ella (twice). Uncle Kevin. Moms and their kidlins at church. Heather. Grandma Mary. Neighbors Bob and Kathy…. I thrive on socializing, just ask my parents, I’ve always been this way. So it’s been a good couple of days for me. There are about a million different reasons why I love to be around other people. Here are just a few of the reasons why…My heart’s desire is to be in daily motion with others. To lend support and receive it too. To laugh and cry with other people who can feel along with me. To talk about what really matters and share memories. To just sit and be with someone who knows my heart, even when no […]
You know that feeling, in the pit of your stomach, like something just isn’t right? And you can think it to death and still come up empty handed? Maybe it’s just that I’m tired? Maybe it’s that I talked with a dear friend who’s struggling? Or maybe it’s that I’m thinking too hard about all that I could do better? I just don’t know.Then I read a friend’s blog and she was so focused on the tangible good in her life. So I thought maybe it’s just that I’m being so negative lately? Or maybe it’s the stinkin‘ snowy, cloudy, pukiness that is my beloved Minnesota?I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but the reality is, I sometimes feel like one. I usually snap out of it pretty quickly, but it’s hard for me to do. I gave my dad a card recently that said, “sometimes you just need to take a […]
On Friday nights we have movie night. Every Friday, at some time during the day, Miles gets to take a trip to the “movie store” and pick out his own movie. He’s really quite good at it, choosing movies that are appropriate for a small person and ones he hasn’t seen but look good to him. Friday his choice was Monsters, Inc. He LOVED it. Meanwhile, I made a dinner from Martha Stewart’s “Everyday FOOD, Great Food Fast,” for Ryan and I. Gotta LOVE this cookbook, by the way. The recipes truly are simple and not all weird and stuff. But anyway, we had a super tasty chicken thingy with a Dijon mustard creamy yumminess over the top, and asparagus. I absolutely love this recipe! I will for sure make it again. Ryan loves anything mustardy and was a big fan. And then, on Saturday my parents, my sister, and her boys came. […]
I got LOST last night with Sabrina, Kelly and Kyle. It was fun. For those of you who don’t know, I’m a big fan of the TV show, LOST. So is Sabrina, and Kelly is a new member of the club. Even though she’s still kind of reluctant. It appears Kyle isn’t a fan, as he read a book through the whole show and made little snickers at the cheesy parts. We might still convince him… Other than that,earlier today I was standing in the kitchen and Miles walked up and said, “can you come downstairs with me Mom?” I thought, “who is this little person, calling me mom?” Sometimes it’s like that. I can’t figure out how I came to a point in my life that a whole new person (or two) would be around, calling me mom. Sometimes I’m still shocked by it, even though I’m going on three years of […]
“I’m too tired to sleep” What I’m learning about Asher is that he hates being awake. Even though he’ll act like putting him to sleep is a horrible thing to do to him at times, he sure seems to need a whole lot of z’s. We had a REALLY rough few days again, where he would scream about being put to bed and then wake up a couple of times an hour in the night. These are the times when I really wish there was a button on him that I could push and a little piece of paper would pop out his mouth with words on it that he can’t speak. Like, “My head hurts dangit.” Or, “geez lady, don’t you get it, my mouth is ablaze with gum breakage!!!” Or, “My belly is about to explode and it hurts and you think I can SLEEP???” Stuff like that. Then we’ll get […]
Mark your calendars! Ryan’s brother Dave and “The Bad Plus” are going to be on “The Conan O’Brien Show” this Friday night! We’re so excited for them. If you don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, “The Bad Plus” is Dave’s jazz band. Give them a listen. Good stuff-jazz trio (piano, bass and drums). Dave is the drummer. I’ve never seen anything like Dave playing the drums in my life. I’m not just referring to the funny faces he makes, working so hard and getting so involved in the music, it’s just simply amazing to see such a gift! Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
It really was his idea… Nope, still not tired…just roaring…Daddy’s hat…Uncle Kevy’s hat…Cousin Abby Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
I remember having a bit of a “quarter-life crisis” in my mid-twenties. I thought life would look so different than it did when I got there. When I was a teenager, I imagined I would have three kids by the time I was the ripe old age of 25! But when 25 actually arrived, there was another part of me that couldn’t believe I ever thought that way, since I still felt 18. And in so many ways I still wanted to be 18 and therefore acted like I was 18. I’ve always had trouble moving on to the next phase of things. I get comfortable or lazy or something. I think that’s pretty typical of my generation. I know for sure it’s typical of me. Now I suddenly find myself nearing 33. It isn’t as shocking anymore, getting older. Because once I hit 30, I just stayed there. Time froze and I […]
We’ve been away for a couple of days. To Spicer we went on Tuesday, with Mackenzie, Olivia and Ellorie. We came back today after a whirlwind of activity and time with Nanny and Bapa. They are good to us, and we are thankful.Mackenzie and I got to see friends Jenna and Kelly for dinner last night. Jenna shared her BIG news – she’s pregnant with number 3!!!! It’s so exciting. Wow. Mackenzie said, “you are so brave.” And that’s just it. She is. That is one of the many words to describe Jenna. She is brave, and she’s a great mom. Another baby will be happy to have her!The boys and I also got to see my Grandma, who was brave enough to travel snowy roads to come and see us. Thanks G’ma! It always feels so good to see her and laugh with her. This time, she gave me the giggles when […]
We recently got a Curious George book from the library. It’s one of the old ones, so George even smokes a pipe in it (the HORROR). I got to thinking as we were reading this book tonight before bed. I’ve always loved Curious George, especially since Miles came along and fell in love with him too. I realized tonight that I get such a kick out of George because he’s the monkey version of my son. The books and show on PBS always open with, “George is a good little monkey, and he’s VERY, very curious.” I love it that this repetitive statement makes sure to point out that George is good, even if he gets in lots of trouble. Because the endearing thing about George is that he is so good and sweet, you just can’t be mad at him. I love the relationship between George and the “Man with the Yellow […]
