Like Father Like Daughter

This little girl is a bit like her Father.  She can not go to bed at night unless her bed is perfect. 

They are both a little OCD.  And oh how I love it.

Lonely

Two weeks ago one of our kitties died.  It was in the middle of a blizzard and Jeremy found her in the garage on the floor.  She wasn't cold, she wasn't hungry, she just died.

We got our kitties, Gracie and Sandy, Memorial day weekend 2008.  They are brother and sister.  While they didn't always get along, really they fought a lot, they were friends and loved each other.

In the days that have followed Gracie's death, I have found Sandy wandering aimlessly.  He goes out to the garage and lays in her spot by the door.  I see him sniffing around for her, feeling a bit lonely and lost without her.

Today I realized that I am feeling a bit like Sandy.  My partner in crime is gone and I just kind of wander around a bit and feel lost.  Even though Jeremy is only gone for 4 weeks, I am so used to him and I just miss him.

Only 16 days...

Giving Thanks

I do love this time of year.  I love reflecting on all of my many blessings.  I love gathering with family and friends and sharing good great food.

I love the sights, smells and sounds of the season.  I love every part of it.

I love that Seth is starting to understand more about the holidays.  He came to me right before Thanksgiving and said, "Mom, I have a great idea.  How about after we eat, we all sit in a circle and say what we are thankful for". 

I want to share a few of the things I am thankful for with you.

These people make my heart soar and my days bright.  They keep me warm at night (by all crowding in my bed) and help keep my feet on the ground.

I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving and take a moment to remember all that you have to be thankful for.

I am so grateful for each of them and the joy and peace they bring into my life.

Epiphany of the Man

Jeremy sat me down the other day and said, "Honey, I think I finally get what it's like for you to be home with the kids all day".  I looked at him a bit in disbelief and, as if reading my mind, he continued.

"When I was working all day, I got to leave the house and get away from the kids.  Even though I was still working, I had some variety at least.  Sure, I  had to come home everyday and do my work at home, but I didn't have to do it 24/7".

I looked at him again with tears in my eyes, I think he actually gets it, I thought.

"So, I've decided that you need to have girls nights out or whatever you need and I will take time during the day for myself to go hit some balls or something.  We both need time away from the kids."

Wow.  That is all I can say, wow.

I have been struggling with this since I became a Mother, almost 8 years ago.  It just took him losing his job for 3 months for him to finally get it!

Husband losing his job = SUCKTASTIC

Husband being home everyday to help you with things = Less Sucktastic


Husband FINALLY understanding what it is like to be you = Awesome.

What Do You Do?

What do you do in your first full week of unemployment?

Why tear apart the kitchen of course!

Jeremy spends the day going between researching companies he might want to work for and helping me tear apart the kitchen. 

We are doing what we've always wanted to do, painting the cabinets, painting the walls, putting in a new countertop, sink, stove and microwave hood.  

All so we can sell this house we love so much.

I just pray that it sells quickly and easily to a family that will love it as much as we do.

New York

I have started this post so many times.  I wanted to tell you all about New York, Blogher and my many adventures.

However, life has taken a turn and while we are all healthy, things are just not right. 

I can't stop thinking about the amazing time I had with my sweetheart and how absolutely grateful I am that we had that time together.  Time to be carefree, enjoy the city and each other.

 Getting ready for our Tutu's for Tanner 5K.  Yes, Jeremy wore a Tutu in Central Park.  He is awesome!

I loved seeing the sights, Radio City Music Hall, 30 Rock, Time's Square, Broadway, Madison Avenue (you know, because I loooove Mad Men!), the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island...the list goes on.  We rode the subway just about everywhere, so we got to see a lot of the city that way.  We went to Union Square, Chinatown, Washington Heights, Central Park, and the Temple.

 Cool building in Union Square that had smoke coming out of it and a timer on the other side.  

 best donuts ever. seriously. we ate 4. YUM!

We ate great food, saw good friends, had great adventures and just had such a relaxing time.  I am forever grateful to Mabel's Labels for picking my name out of the hat and sending me to New York for a trip that won't soon be forgotten.

Oh, and thank you to my darling for giving me the best souvenir ever...even though I won't get to see it until late April/ early May.

Ouch

Unless you are a small child, don't ask me to apply sunscreen to your body.  I really can't be trusted.

Honestly, I am lucky he still loves me.

Sorry again Babe.  Love you.

He

It's 7:30 pm and I am itching to leave.  I want to bolt out the door.  It feels strange to still be here, in this place, in my home.

I rock Libby to sleep.  Something typically saved for Daddy, but tonight it was my turn so I sit and sing to her, rock her, love her.  I soak in the sweetness of my baby that really isn't a baby anymore.  And she is asleep.  I carefully lay her down only to have her wake right back up.  At that moment, Jeremy comes in and trades with me.  At this point she won't go back to sleep for me without nursing.  We all know this.  He rescues me.

I head out to the living room and find the other two ready to read.  I haven't done this in so long, I've missed it.  I've missed smelling their smells while they sit on my lap, long limbs tangled up, them trying to be as small as they can.  I've missed the sounds of their laughter at funny parts of the books, feeling their bodies relax into mine, and talking with them about what we read and their days.  While we do this, Jeremy does dishes and cleans the kitchen.  He rescues me.

All the children are sleeping peacefully and I just can't sit still.  I decide it's time to sweep and mop my kitchen, dining room and living room.  I move the furniture and Jeremy laughs and says, "Wow, you were serious!"  I clean, he cleans, we work together.  Sometimes talking, sometimes in the comfortable silence that comes with time, experience and love.

We finish cleaning and head downstairs to watch LOST.  I tell him that my head is about to explode and if they don't start giving some answers I am going to LOSE IT.  He laughs at me.  We snuggle, drink our chocolate banana shakes, and just enjoy being together.

We haven't had a night like this in at least a month.  I have been gone every night.  I have been working hard, trying to make changes.  I have been going to the gym and attending to my church responsibilities.  I am struggling to find a balance.  Being home only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights just isn't enough.  It isn't enough time to spend with my family, the people that motivate me.  

Every night when I escape the madhouse that is my house, he rescues me.  He comes to my aid, supports me, loves me.  He encourages me to leave, to be healthy, to be strong.  He does this even though he really wants me here.  He wants to hang out with me.  He doesn't enjoy doing bedtime duty by himself every night.  He doesn't like the quiet of the house, the lonliness that comes when I am gone.

It is a sacrifice for both of us.  While we search for the balance, he keeps picking up my slack and rescues me time and time again. And for that, and a million other reasons, I know I am the luckiest.

Escalating

It's funny how quickly it can escalate from this...

to this...

I love how much these two love playing together.  It's times like this where I think this Parenting gig ROCKS.

The Boardin' Boys

Last night my boys went snowboarding.  They did this last year and had such a fabulous time.  It is great for the girls because we get to have our "girls night" and the boys get to go and have fun with each other.

My "fierce" little man

They are ready man.

Jeremy and Seth went to dinner at Fredrico's, a local pizza place, then up to Beaver for snowboarding.  They got home at 10 pm and had a FANTASTIC time!!!  Seth was so tired, but just couldn't stop talking about all the fun he had.

Amelia, Libby and I went to Pier 49 Pizza and got a veggie gluten-free pizza.  Pretty yummy, but way too small for the cost.  Anyway, we then went home and ate brownies and ice cream and watched a Strawberry Shortcake movie.  Oh, and we can't forget the painting of Amelia's fingernails and toes.  It is the highlight of girls night for Amelia!

 

It was a great night and I can't wait to do it again.  My kids love it and so do Jeremy and I.  Next up, Mom and Seth time and Daddy and girls time.  Love this parenting gig.

The Sweater

It is common lore in the knitting world that you should never make a sweater for your boyfriend.  Why? Because sure as shootin', you invest all that time and money to make it then you break up.  So, never make a Boyfriend Sweater.  A Husband Sweater on the other hand, well, that is a no-brainer!

In the 6 years I've been knitting, my darling husband has watched me make countless diaper covers, sweaters, hats, mittens and other things for the kids.  He watched me make myself socks, a beautiful scarf and a hats.  He has gotten 1 pair of socks and that is it.

Jeremy has asked me for a sweater numerous times.  I always made some excuse not to do it and it was forgotten.  Last year he turned 30.  I thought it would be such a great gift to give him a sweater for his 30th birthday.  So we scoured Ravelry in search of patterns.  When we found Retrofit by Jesse Loesberg, we knew it was a match made in heaven.  Perfect for my skinny man, and it looked to be a relatively easy knit.  Next up, finding the perfect yarn.  Working on a budget meant that I wasn't going to use an expensive yarn.  However, if I am investing that kind of time into something, I want a yarn that will 1. hold up and 2. be good to work with.  So, we went with Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks.  Being a man, he wanted manly colors (boring)...black and gray. 

I had this dream that I would get it started in January and have it done for his birthday on February 24.  His birthday came and I had the back done and was started on the sleeves.  Sleeves always take the longest for me and these were no exception.  As the days grew warmer, I justified not working on it as intensely because even if I did finish it, he couldn't wear it right then anyway.  So, I worked on it here and there, took it on our vacation this summer and worked on it in the car.

The days started growing shorter and colder and I realized that I was thisclose to finishing his sweater!  So, I kicked into high gear and finished on December 23.  Almost 11 months to the day.  I have told him he's lucky he's a size Medium, or he may not have gotten a sweater!

He loves it.  He wore it for 3 days straight.  I love it, such a fun knit.  I don't love how the zipper turned out, it puckers a little bit, but it is okay.  One of Jeremy's coworkers said that her Grandma used to knit a flaw into everything she made saying, "God is the only one who makes anything perfect".  I like that and am now making that my knitting motto.

I Love This Man

The love of my life

who, for the last eight years

has made me laugh

everyday

held my hand through thick and thin

is the best Father ever

the most amazing man

and he's all mine.

I couldn't ask for more

He is all I have ever wanted. All I never knew I needed. He is my rock, my love, my best friend.

Eight years...I love you more today than I did that windy day in Omaha.

I love you J.D. You're my favorite. For-ev-er.