February 12 for 12

Happy Leap Year!  I find it very amazing that every 4 years we get one extra day a year.  One whole 24 hours - It's like everyone's prayers have been answered about if we only had some more time. Amazing...and since I have subconsciously purged every bit of knowledge I learned in grade school, I had to look up the reason behind leap year.  Of which I found out that "leap years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun." Ok then...

Since its the last day of the month, I'm posting my 12 pictures taken throughout February that really speak to me. 

There were lots of birthdays this month!  Lane turned 3, which I still can't seem to understand.  He couldn't talk yesterday and today he's telling me to give him privacy.  If you are interested, you can read my birthday letter to him.

It was also my dear mother's 60th birthday!  Though, I think you will all agree she doesn't look it at all.  She is the definition of one hot momma - or grandmomma :)  I was lucky enough to see her a few days before her birthday to celebrate along with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.  In my eyes, 60 is just a number.  If you know my mom, you know her optimism, enthusiasm, and love for life is the same as that of a 20 year old.  The world is full of new opportunities, experiences, and people and she is out to see and do as much as she can.  I admire that in her and pray that I'm as content as she is when I'm her age. 

Mom and me when I was one, I think

Lane had a few friends with birthdays this month too.  His good buddy Keen turned 3 early in the month and we were fortunate to be able to celebrate with him.   Though these two can argue enough to make me want to rip my ears off, they can also bring out the best in each other by being kind and loving friends.

Lane and Keen in their matching Elmo hats

My dear friend Michael, whom I rarely get to see, invited Jason and I to a bone marrow charity gala that his sister put on.  I was honored that he chose us to sit at his table.  It was a "Mad Men" theme, which meant I got to buy my first (and probably last) vintage dress.  It was a black 50's cocktail dress, that surprisingly enough, I could easily wear again to a regular cocktail party.  Pieces like this is where the definition "classic" comes from...they never go out of style.  However, the best part of the entire evening was when a bone marrow donor got to meet the boy whose life he saved.  This man's story was something I had to share...He was at a convention or something and stopped by the bone marrow booth because he said he thought they were giving away free t-shirts.  After talking to some of the bone marrow representatives, he signed up to be a donor.  After not hearing a word from them for three years, he received a call one day saying they thought he was a bone marrow match to someone.  At the time of this call, his wife had just had triplets (or quadruplets - either way, there were a LOT of babies involved).  His wife was still in the hospital due to a complication and he was at home taking care of all his new baby boys.  Yet, he agreed to come to the hospital to see if he was indeed a match.  After further testing, it turned out he wasn't.  Three years later, he got another call about being a potential match.  He went in and, the same thing...it turned out he wasn't the best match.  Two years later, he gets another call.  By this time, he's thinking that he'll go in but knows he'll be sent home shortly thereafter.  However, God had a different plan.  It turned out he was a perfect match for a 15 year old boy with a life threatening disease that only a bone marrow transplant could save him.  This man started asking himself questions about the boy.  Does the boy go to the movies with his parents?  Does he play sports?  Has he ever kissed a girl?  He decided to go through with his bone marrow donation, which is a painful process.  Today, the boy is 20 years old and looks like a star athlete.  He and his entire family walked into the dinner where his donor and his family (including his 6 or 7 year old triplets) got to meet.  That night, a whole new kind of family was created.  A family where giving is a selfless act you do out of the goodness of your heart.  A family where hope is not forgotten.  A family who knows the true meaning of blessings and thankfulness.  I was completely inspired by this man.  This man who proved to me that there are kindhearted and love-filled people in this world of greed, selfishness, and mayhem.  People who would give up a piece of their body to help a complete stranger have a chance at life.  People who don't think about their own pain but rather someone else's well being.  Absolutely inspiring...

Michael and I

When we were in Kansas City, Lane got to play with his second cousin Jude the dude.  During a break, they sat down at the bar and drank some chocolate milk.  They started making silly noises and faces like kids do and a barrel of laughs began.   They could not contain themselves and I'm so fortunate to get this picture of them in the moment.  In the moment of pure innocence and joy.  Because of a silly face and some chocolate milk...kind of makes you want to be a kid again, huh?

Flying to Kansas City was an experience for Lane.  This is the first time he's flown when he's really understood what is going on.  While at the airport, all he wanted to do was sit at the window and watch all the airplanes.  He looked so peaceful and happy...

Lane in his element

For Valentines' Day, Lane made cupcakes for all of our neighbors and some other special people in our lives.  I'm not kidding when I tell you he made them all by himself.  He was so proud of himself and I was proud of his will power to not lick the mixer things or the icing.  My wish is that my kids grow up wanting to do things for others just because.  There doesn't have to be a reason to do something kind for others.  Do it because you never know what kind of day the other person is having or how special that one little Betty Crocker cupcake can make someone feel.  I challenge you to do one random act of kindness...chances are, you'll like it so much you'll do it again and again.

This picture is a good indication of how Annabelle has felt this month - and me too for that matter.  This was taken at her 15 month doctor's appointment (this was taken before her shots - she just wanted to leave).  However, I wanted to capture this face because I know there will be a day when she won't be as irritable as she has been or felt.  Regardless, I still think she looks cute as a button.  But this month has been especially trying because she is getting her first molar.  The girl. is not. happy.  This too shall pass...I know.  I just feel bad for her because she's so miserable.  Let's just say there have been a few days this month when I look just like this (in a very non cute way) and I wish I could say my demeanor was because I was getting a new tooth.  Seriously...

Self indulgence...My friend Jessica is taking an online business course.  One lady wanted to expand her current photography business to include "makeover" sessions for women of all ages.  I know, my first thought was Glamour Shots too.  Anyways, the woman invited Jess to come to Houston for a makeover during her test shoot so she could get some shots for her website.  At the last minute, a woman canceled and so she told Jess to bring a friend.  And Jess chose me.  And I thought why the heck not.  And I went.  We left for Houston one Saturday morning, drove 3 hours to Houston, drank mimosas, had our hair and makeup done, participated in the photo shoot, and then drove 3 hours back to Austin.  It was nothing short of fun and fabulous!  Oh, and the best part...it was free!  Now, what I'm going to do with these pictures I have no idea.  But I was thinking about how much I enjoyed dressing up when I was a little kid.  And the only opportunity you have to do that when you get older is your wedding.  So I decided to nurture that little girl inside of me and play dress up.  Regardless of how cheesy others might think the pictures...I would do it all over again!

Last Wednesday was fellowship day for our women's bible study group.  One of the women in my group is a 71 year old woman named Nina (pronounced Nigh-na).  While our group was discussing what we should do, Nina offered to have us to her house for tea as having/serving tea was one of her favorite past times.  When I showed up to her little bungalow on that Wednesday morning, words can't describe the peaceful, happy feeling I had.  First of all, her house had the most beautiful antiques, yet was so welcoming rather than having that museum feeling.  You wanted to walk around and ask her the story behind everything in her home.  But her backyard was the most tranquil part.  She had cancer a few years ago and she said that her backyard became her therapy.  She went outside and worked in it every day.  Boy, can you tell.  I have asked her if I could come back to take pictures at a later date of which she agreed.  So more pictures on that later.  But I just loved her artistic expression and the beauty that she created from the most unusual garden ornaments.  THEN she served us the most beautiful tea.  She made tea sandwiches, pastries, lemon cakes and fruit to go with the tea.  And each of us had our own unique plate and matching tea cup.  Our leader Susan really got it right when she said that "tea is a lost art".  The whole experience was so beautiful and inviting.  It forces you to sit and enjoy yourself rather than succumb to the hustle bustle of the every day.  The picture below is of Nina sitting on her swing in her backyard.  If I had to name it, it would be called Contentment. 

My friend Jessica, who I did the photo shoot with, is my artist friend.  She is extremely talented and gives me great ideas and motivation.  She recommended this book called The Artist's Way.  Naturally, I bought it without knowing anything about it.  It is supposed to unleash your creativity - which I KNOW sounds super hokey to most of you.  But the exercises it has you do are completely therapeutic to me.  One of the author's key rules is to do your "morning pages" every morning.   Morning pages consists of you waking up and writing down your stream of consciousness until you've filled three pages.  You don't reread it.  You don't think about what you are writing.  You just write.  And can I even tell you how this small activity has changed my life?  It has produced some indescribable clarity into my thoughts and life which I had never thought before.  I also feel less irritable during most of my days.  And it happened by just letting my hand write while my brain spins its wheels.  It has just been an overall wonderful experience.  The book itself is really interesting and I look forward to where this could take me.  But even if nothing comes out of my photography or writing, I've enjoyed this experience. 

One art project I'm working on is an inspiration deck swap.  It's a long story...to see more about it, check out Jess blog.  But the picture below shows the Artist's Way with part of this project, specifically highlighting one of my favorite quotes that I found and wanted to share.  The quote is "Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls, and interesting people.  Forget yourself." - Henry Miller. 

And last, but certainly not least, the highlight of my month was getting to spend time with my grandparents in Kansas City.  It is so hard being away from them and not having them a part of my every day life.  So I cherish those precious few times I do get to spend with them.   Besides, who doesn't like to spend time with the people who are your biggest cheerleaders in life? 

Happy 3rd Birthday, Bubbies!

Berger artwork on our driveway

Bubbies,
Today you turned 3 years old...where has the time gone?  It seems I have known you my whole life.  As if you've always been a part of me.  But I guess you have...because from the beginning of God's plan, you were always meant to be entrusted to me.  And I thank the Lord every day that he chose me. 

You have grown up so much in this last year.  You are talking 90% coherently (100% from my point of view but I have a slight advantage) and your vocabulary has grown by, what seems to be, thousands.  The words that come out of your mouth never cease to amaze me (or others, for that matter).  My favorite part of this year was when you started to tell me you love me on your own.  Hearing you say "I love you" is music to my ears, warmth to my heart, and food for my soul.  Its because I know you mean it...your innocence is still prevalent enough to say things like that only because you mean it.   And the fact that you then started to not only tell me that you love me but that I was also "gorgeous"...well, let's just say that you've taken some good notes somewhere :)   You are absorbing everything around you like a sponge...cliche, I know, yet true.  Your favorite songs are My Hometown (Charlie Robison) and People are Crazy (Billy Currington) and you sing along to them!  You can recite books to me now without being able to read.  And your spelling...you've got Lane and Annabelle down.  And just yesterday, I told Jason that I wanted to take you and Annabelle to the "P-A-R-K" but decided not to because Annabelle was fussy.  And you replied with, "Well, I want to go to the H-E-B".  (For those of you not living in Texas, HEB is our grocery store and is pronounced H-E-B.  You knew I was spelling something and through out the only word you knew how to spell other than your name.  Very smart, my friend.

When Daddy asked you what you wanted to do for your birthday, you said, "I tink I probably want to...put things in the attic".  Of course you said that...you want to do anything that Daddy does.  You and Daddy have spent a lot of time together this year doing "boy" things.  Whether it is going to check on the boat, running to Home Depot, helping him pick up the yard, putting things together with hammers and screwdrivers, mowing the lawn, cooking, playing soccer, or peeing in the yard.  You guys are two peas in a pod.  You even want to dress like Daddy...you like to wear your hat "back-sards like Dada".  From a personality perspective, you are like Daddy too.  You like to help anyone and everyone.  Remember that time you went next door with your wheelbarrow and helped the neighbor haul his new grass into his backyard?  Or the time you helped the construction men at our house haul sand from the driveway into the backyard?  You love to help out whenever you can (and even when you can't).  And you have a sense of humor like Daddy.  You are constantly being silly and trying to have fun.  All I can say is that you have a great role model and I can only pray that you will turn out as wonderful as a man as he. 

You have made some great friends this year.  Evan and Jackson, Keen and Levi...You are still learning your social boundaries yet are enjoying this brotherly companionship tremendously. The happiness that explodes out of you when you are with your friends is contagious.  It is soothing in a world where craziness seeps out every where you turn.  I wish I could keep you in that bubble of happiness forever.  You boys are an example of true friendship...you fight and then immediately forgive.  You share your joys (and toys).  You are honest with one another - sometimes a little too honest ;)  Don't lose these life lessons...

We are celebrating your birthday next weekend, however, we still hoped today would be a special day for you.  We woke up to Evan, Jackson, Andrew, Mr. Dan and Ms. Claire painting our driveway in chalk to wish you a happy birthday.  And they brought donuts!!  This was a complete act of love as the Bergers are not known to leave their house before 8 am...and they were at our house at 7:45. 

After donuts, Daddy took you to get some cinnamon rolls at Upper Crust Bakery. 

You forgot you were 3 years old and had hands

 Then all four of us went to a bouncy house.  When we got home, you played with your new scooter that Grandma Jonnell got you and we had lunch. 

 Then Aunt Jessie, Uncle Waggs, and Gibson came over and brought over all the ingredients to make ice cream sundaes.   Which means you had a years worth of sugar in a span of 4 hours.  

Next, sugar coma (i.e. nap time).  When you woke up, we went to Levi's birthday party.  You and Levi were in your own little world chasing each other around and playing trucks in the sand.  You guys were too cute for words.  And yes, you had cake.

Lane and Levi

You have grown into a compassionate and loving little boy.  Annabelle poses as a challenge to those characteristics sometimes but I know we will work through them.  Our family wouldn't be complete without you.  My days wouldn't be as bright without you.  My heart wouldn't be at peace without you.  My love wouldn't be as great without you.  My joy wouldn't be as abundant without you.  You are my little boy, my one and only Bubbies...my favorite little boy in the whole world.  I love you to the outer galaxy and back...and more.  Happy Birthday, Lovebug...I look forward to many more.

Love,
Mommy-O

Some Wings and a Prayer

On February 7, Lane, Annabelle, and I flew to Kansas City to visit my grandparents and my mom who drove up to meet us.  My mom is turning 60 on the 17th, so I wanted to be able to celebrate that milestone with her and the rest of my family. 

Lane woke up at 4:50 a.m the morning we were leaving for the airport saying his nose hurt.  Awesome.  I put him in my bed and miraculously, his nose felt better and he was able to go back to sleep.  One thing about me is that once my brain "wakes" up in the morning, there is no stopping it.  Which means it is virtually impossible to go back to bed once my thoughts start.  So I started praying.  Selfishly praying for myself and the other passengers on the plan for patience.  Selfishly praying that my kids would both behave.  Begging both my kids to behave.  Please behave.  Please no screaming.

We get to the airport and the next 3 hours of my life were actually completely fine.  So fine, in fact, I had to take a picture to prove it not only to others but to myself that I wasn't dreaming.

Lane was an angel and entertained himself most of the time Annabelle was asleep.  So I told him he could have a special drink called Ginger Ale.  You should have seen the look on his face.  He'd never had it but he'd heard the word "special" and "drink" together in the same sentence which means whatever it is was going to be awesome.  And what he called "gale" didn't let his expectations down.  He thought it was "spicy" but "yummy" at the same time.

 While in Kansas City, we really just hung out at my Aunt Jeanne's house and visited with my grandparents.  Both the kids warmed up to my grandparents to where Lane was even referring to them by name shortly after we got there.  These are the times in your life when you know life is good.  You have your grandparents who you adore and your kids who you adore - and they are adoring on each other.

 

One night, cousin Katie brought her son Charlie over.  After a few hours of legos, dinner, and rides on Poppy's walker, we gave all three of the kiddos a bath.  What we didn't know during this whole time is that Lane was becoming smitten with Katie.  And I didn't realize it until the next morning when we mentioned Katie's name.  Lane looked at me and said "Don't say it like that.  It's cousin Katie."  Well, ok.  As the morning progressed, Lane told me he had to use the bathroom.  We're in the bathroom and he's just standing there and nothing is happening.  He said "Nothing's coming.  I'm going to try again when cousin Katie comes over tonight when its dark outside."  Um, ok.  Later on in the day, he mentioned holding his bladder again until Katie came when it was dark outside.  What in the world?!  I think that story is hilarious and so very weird at the same time.  But regardless, Lane bonded with his cousin Katie and I got to bond with Charlie :)

Cousin Katie, Charlie, Lane, Annabelle, Nano, and Poppy

Since February in Kansas City resembles Alaska in my mind, we stayed inside most of the time.  After two days, we needed to get the kids out to run around.  We didn't realize just how much Lane needed to run until we went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and the aisles turned into racetracks and bumper carts.  Jeanne told us about a community center that had a special time reserved for kids  6 and under to play from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. every day from October until March (because, again, Alaska cold is no fun to play in).  Mom, Poppy, and I ventured down there with the kids and, surprisingly, it was a REALLY cool place.  They had so many tricycles, bicycles, basketball goals, balls, rock climbing walls, jumpy houses, tumbling mats, tunnels...you name it.  Lane preferred the basketball goals and the trikes.  Annabelle preferred just about anything. 

 

On our last day there, another cousin Natalie dropped off her almost one year old Logan and almost three year old Jude so she could run an errand.  Lane and Jude immediately hit it off and became buddies.  They laughed and laughed, played trains, threw balls.  You name it and they got into it.  Around 6 that night, everyone else came over to have a little birthday celebration for mom.   There were 16 of us in one house, 7 of those being kids under the age of 7.  It was nuts.  It was loud.  It was fun. 

My grandma and grandpa sat in the living room, in the middle of all the craziness, and just watched life happening.  I looked over at one point and noticed they were holding hands.  Twenty minutes later, I realized they were still holding hands and it touched my heart.  Knowing their story of all the ups and downs they've had throughout their life together, they are still here holding on to each other.  We are never to old to hold hands.  We are never to old to love someone with all your heart.  We are never to old to forgive.  We are never to old to need each other.  When I look at this picture, I can only pray that this is Jason and I fifty years from now. 

It was a great trip and the kids were awesome, however, I started dreading the trip home. I got lucky once coming up here.  There is no way I'll be lucky twice.  And to add to my neurosis, I had to get up at 5 a.m. to get ready and get the kids up at 5:45 so we could leave by 6:30.  Go ahead and laugh - that is what I did when I realized I must have been either asleep or drunk when I bought these tickets as there is no way I would blatantly set myself up for failure.  Oh, but I did.  This go round, I don't bother bringing half of the mommy tricks on the plane because neither kids was interested in anything other than food.  So I brought a lot of snacks and threw in some stickers I found at Jeanne's.  Sounds ridiculous, right?  Well, let me tell you - those stickers entertained my kids for about 25 minutes (our flight was an hour and 10 minutes)!  We had stickers all over each others faces, bodies, stuffed animals, the airplane floor, and probably also the guy next to me...I could kiss those stickers and who ever bought them in the first place.  As we were landing, I did remember to ask the kind man next to me if I had stickers on my face that I couldn't see.  And he kindly pointed out, that yes, I had two stickers on my face.  How awesome would that have been if I forgot about them completely?

Annabelle's stickers.  I'm assuming this is what I looked like as well.

But, thank you LORD, the kids were well behaved the whole way back too.  During our 25 minute layover in Dallas, Lane had to get out his wiggles so he was running up and down the halls and then sliding on the floor.  He was rolling all over the floor.  The kid had airport and airplane germs ga-lore!  And anyone who knows me knows that airplanes and gyms gross me out with germs.  I feel the need to disinfect every single piece of skin or cloth that come in contact with an airport or gym.  Anyways, I bend down to talk to him and he gets real quiet, cups my face with those germy hands and says "Mom, you're gorgeous" and proceeds to caress my face.  For two seconds, I wonder if I should run to the bathroom to wash off the germs I feel crawling on my cheeks.  Or do I sit and enjoy these words that I know (a) he said because he was about to do something he wasn't supposed to and (b) he won't say too much longer because my coolness factor will steadily decrease from now until he starts school?  That's right, bring on those germs buddy!  I'll take 'em.

Jason met us at the luggage carousel and I started looking for my phone.  It dawned on me that it had to have fallen out on the plane.  I tell Jason to watch the kids and I run upstairs to where the security guard said I had to go to the ticket counter to get a special pass.  So I wait in line at the ticket counter.  After 10 minutes, they give me a pass but now I have to go back through security.  And it was as slow as molasses!  I have no phone to call Jason to tell him where I'm going, what I'm doing, if I'll be back in the next two hours...nothing.  I can see the baggage claim area below and there they are.  Jason is holding Annabelle and is playing catch with Lane and his stuffed animal Screech.  Not thinking about germs now...I really need my phone.  I finally get through security and run to the gate...only to see the plane door closed.  I stand at the empty gate's window by myself hoping the pilots will see me and take pity on me - yeah, now that I think about it myself that was the most ridiculous thought.  I was hopeless - and dreading to tell Jason that I have to buy another phone.  Then I hear, "Miss.  Miss."  At the next gate over, a flight attendant is holding up my phone.  I know this doesn't sound like a big deal to most people.  But remember, I have been up since 5, traveling with two toddlers by myself, it is lunch time, the kids are hungry, and yet I'm finally home free and can breathe again - but I've lost my lifeline (i.e. my phone).  However, all is good now.  I head back downstairs hoping Jason is still as excited to see me as he was the first time I came down the escalator :)  I think he was...

January: 12 for 12

I'm starting a new project this year called "12 for 12".  I wish I'd thought it up myself but, alas, I didn't.  I read someone's blog where they took twelve pictures on the twelfth day of each of the twelve months to document their lives.  The main purpose is to find the beauty in every day life instead of the really major things.  For my project, I've decided to take twelve pictures throughout the month for twelve months to document my life (like I don't do that enough anyways).  One of my goals is to find beauty in the every day things.  However, I also need to practice my photography skills in capturing every day things in a way that relay its story or beauty.  From the pictures you see below, I need a LOT of practice!

One thing you'll notice for January is that some of the pictures look different.  I downloaded an iphone app called Instagram (free on iTunes) that lets you take the pictures you capture on your phone and change them into a different look.  I chose the "1977" look because I LOVE old pictures.  While I don't like taking pictures with my phone, I gave in for this month as a trial.

Annabelle's Dedication at Church

Annabelle got dedicated at church on Sunday, 1/21/12.  Since she looked so beautiful in her dress that Uncle Dee and Aunt Kirsten bought her for Christmas, I took some pictures of her and Lane before the service which melted my heart.  Why can't they be this happy with each other all the time?!

Below is a picture of us on stage with pastor Matt saying a special prayer over Annabelle.  I didn't know what Lane (or Annabelle for that matter) was going to do up on stage.  Annabelle didn't make a peep.  Lane was pretty quiet until he saw pictures of Annabelle go up on the big screen and he said "Hey Mom!  There's Annabelle!!".

Matt's prayer for Annabelle:  "Lord, we lift up Annabelle to you.  We ask that you bless her, and bless her indeed.  We ask that You give her a greater understanding of who You are and what You are like.  I ask that her sweetness would continue and that You protect her innocence as she gets older.  I ask that she understand how to be a little sister and that she would teach her brother to enjoy sweet things.  I ask that you help her older brother treat her like a little lady.  Lord, I ask that you would protect her from evil and deliver her from temptation.  Help her mom and dad understand any weaknesses in the way that you have designed her and raise her according to those weaknesses.  Allow her to enjoy Your law and let her mind be turned towards that.  We ask that You bless her, in Jesus' name.  Amen."

Laundry

For the past month and a half or so, we have been without a washer and dryer due to the construction going on at our house.  Therefore, I've had to make a couple of trips to the laundry mat (hence, the picture of the beautiful Speed Queen below).  I have always taken the convenience of having a washer and dryer for granted...until now. 

My trips to the laundry mat actually haven't been that bad.  I've even learned a little during these excurions.  I didn't know that they had single, double, and triple size washers.  Which is awesome when you have 40 lbs of dark clothes alone.  I also didn't realize the cost of a laundry mat.  I know you probably don't care but its crazy to think it could cost $5/big load to wash and dry.  And if you have more than that, which I did, it could cost up to $10 a trip to the laundry mat.  Not that big of a deal, I know.  But then consider the income of the majority of people that go there and how often they have to go...$10/trip could really add up.  And then there are the people dynamics...all sorts of people came and went.  But I noticed at my laundry mat, the majority were Hispanic families (yep, they all came and hung out which I thought was sweet) and single men (both young and old).   One trip, there was a girl about my age who had a tattoo on her neck.  We were drying our laundry beside each other and I was dying to ask her if that hurt!  So I did, not knowing if she was going to punch me in the face or even talk to me.  She was actually pretty nice and she started showing me all of her tattoos (all over her body) and telling me which ones hurt and which ones didn't.  And for your curiosity, she said the neck one didn't hurt at all!  Will probably have to take her word on that one.

House Addition

We are getting close!  The exterior is almost done (we're just waiting on the brick in the front and some last touches) and the interior is coming along fast.  They painted, installed the cabinets, tile, and countertops last week.  On Friday, they had to tie the new plumbing to the main water line.  This fun task required them to bring in a backhoe loader to dig two enormous trenches in our front and back yard.  Lane pretty much thought he had died and gone to heaven.  Before the backhoe loader got there, three men went in the backyard and started digging in one part of the lawn to check on something.  Within the 3 seconds it took for the dogs to bark, Lane to look outside and see the men with their shovels, I heard frantic footsteps running down the hall and Lane shout out "Dad, I need my purple shovel!", the back door opened and slammed shut.  I peeked out the window and Lane was out there with digging a hole in the ground alongside those men.  He was talking up a storm without knowing (or caring) that two of them did not speak English.  When I went outside to snap a picture of him in action, he had to show me the "correct" way to dig, which requires you to put the shovel in the ground and then stomp on the shovel with your foot to dig it deeper.  Then the backhoe loader arrived.  Let's just say Lane didn't take a nap that day and was outside until dark.

This is the new part of the house with the backhoe loader

Birthday Party Clown

Jason's cousin Lesley and Jeff had a birthday for their two kiddo's Addison and Jace.  Silly Sparkles, the clown, was the main attraction and man, was it fun.  Jason was hesitant when he heard a clown was going to be there because he is afraid of clowns.  When asked about his fear, he replied, "Haven't you ever seen Stephen King's 'It'?  And besides, there is something just not natural about a clown".   Luckily for him, Silly Sparkles was super cute and the kids LOVED her.  As did I.  Which is why she's now coming to Lane's 3rd birthday party.  

I was amazed at the way she could paint faces so artistically and quickly.  I was more amazed that Annabelle sat perfectly still and let Silly Sparkles paint hers.  I asked her how long it took her to get so good at it and she said that she's been doing this for years (she's really young, by the way) and that she just got back from a face painting conference in Dallas where she learned a lot of new cool painting tips.  Did you know they had such things as face painting conferences?  Yeah, me either.  I'm wondering what other types of conferences there are out there that we would never guess.

Mirazozo

The Mirazozo art exhibit came to Austin for the first time and I took the kids to see it.  Per the flyer they handed out, "Mirazozo luminarium is a sculpture people enter to be immersed in radiant light and color....It features winding passages of small domes inspired by repetitious forms found in the bazaars of Iran.   The luminosity of light and color inside Mirazozo is created purely by the light shining through the colored plastic.  All the pieces have been cut and glued together by hand in our workshop in Nottingham, England."  They told us inside it took them four months to make it.

To all the kids who came to see it, it looked like a gigantic bouncy house.  They were pretty strict about you keeping an eye on your kid, no running, and no sliding on the sides.  Lane and Annabelle did pretty good considering the temptation and child chaos that ensued within this structure.  It was like being inside a really colorful maze.  Lane wanted to go in the blue room, now the red room, now the purple room.  Annabelle wanted to go where ever she could.  It was definitely cool to see, especially since someone made it by hand! 

And Lane learned a new word...luminarium. 

They have exhibitions all over.  If you are interested in seeing the others, you can go to www.architects-of-air.com.

Girls Night in San Antonio

Jason, Shawn, Colin, and Dan got together and surprised all of their wives with a night out in San Antonio, including hotel accommodations.  They didn't have to ask twice as we were already on our way.  We went on a Friday afternoon and basically had a few margaritas and wine and just talked and talked and talked.  Then we decided to go to Pat O'Briens for some good ole dancing as we were all pretty rusty on our moves. 

Samantha, Miranda, Carrie, and Charlotte :)

Music Class

Annabelle and I started a music class at the Austin Lyric Opera House this month.  We are doing it with my friend Claire and her daughter Charlie, who is 2 months younger than Annabelle.  Honestly, I think she really likes it.  And it gives us something fun to do and is great one on one time together...which is what I need the most!  This picture is of Annabelle (left) and Charlie (right).  The teacher had just dumped all the instruments on the floor for free play.  It's hilarious how all the kids go for the drum sticks with the soft edges and immediately put them in their mouth.  They look like suckers/lollipops!  Annabelle was REALLY enjoying all three of hers :)

MOPs, Grouplink, Bible Study, and Fun

This month, my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Bible Study, and Grouplink groups all started up again for the spring semester.  The picture below definitely captures what I'm doing in my spare time these days.  I'm reading one book for book club within MOPS, one book for our Grouplink study, the bible for our Bible Study, and I'm actually missing my kindle in this picture that contains the one book I'm reading "just for fun".  And I'm sure it doesn't help that I just went out and bought a new book today on finding my creativity.  Now, if I could just purchase some extra hours in the day to read all of these, everything will be A-ok.

My kiddos

January has brought some big changes to my kiddos too.  First, Annabelle decided last week to walk instead of crawl.  So, she is completely vertical these days, which seems to have helped some of her past frustrations.  Secondly, Lane is doing awesome potty training.  Well, let me say he's doing an awesome job pee peeing in the potty.  He's pooped 3 times so far but isn't too big of a fan.  We'll work on that next.  One thing at a time.  But as for the pee pee, he has even woken up during the night and during his naps to go pee instead of going in his pull up.  I wanted to capture some of my inside opinions on potty training for those who have not gone through it yet...it is a big commitment from the parents.  I mean, if you hear "Mommy, I have to pee pee", there is no finishing up what you are doing.  You stop, drop and roll.   This is all fine and dandy in the comfort of your own house.  However, when you are out in a public place and your kid has to pee and there is no potty anywhere, your calmness will be tested.  Lane is pretty easy in that he just wants to pee outside.  But that is pretty hard to do in the middle of a huge, busy Barnes and Noble parking lot.  Which is when you utter the famous words, "Can you hold it until we get home?".  No wonder mothers get a lot of speeding tickets.  They are frantically trying to get their kid home so they can pee in the potty!  I was a disgrace to potty training mothers everywhere when we were in Home Depot the other day and Lane said he had to go pee pee.  We were on the other side of the store and had a load of things in our cart, not to mention Annabelle was crying.  I told him to just go in his pull ups.  In hindsight, what was I thinking?  These are the times when the word "commitment" really needs to be ingrained in my brain.  Hopefully he's not too confused.  

Annabelle is also through with all formula and bottles.  I know this doesn't sound like a big deal to most people, but anyone whose ever had to clean bottles will know it is a glorious day when you can throw those suckers away!  

This picture was taken when they were watching Classical Baby together.  Lane said he wanted to hold Annabelle, so I put her on the chair next to him.  She immediately put her head on his shoulder and they were entranced.  This isn't typical behavior, hence the picture.  But it was sweet for the 12 minutes it lasted.  These two get along ok, but I find I'm playing referee a lot more than I want to.  Lane has his moments when he is so sweet to Annabelle and will help her do or get anything.  Then there are those times when he nonchalantly sticks out a foot while she's walking his way.  Or he might be heading straight towards her and instead of going around her, he walks into her.  Annabelle wants to do and play with everything Lane does.  But instead of playing with him (because she doesn't know any better), she takes whatever it is she wants...which is usually what Lane has in his hands.  Then he gets ticked and the battle ensues with screaming and crying.  I'm not naive enough to think this will end anytime in the next two decades but a girl can dream can't she?

Compassion

I read this Ann Voskamp's blog about 3 months ago and she just returned from a trip to meet her Compassion sponsored kid in Ecuador.  The stories she told about other children she met captured my heart and I've been wanting to sponsor a kid every since.  We wanted to wait until January because of all the house expenses but I still got on the Compassion website every day looking for a kid.  It was so hard to choose just one kid...I had to ask myself what I was looking for.  And if I was honest with myself, I didn't know.  I didn't want to pick a kid because I thought they were the cutest.  And if money wasn't an issue, I would sponsor all of them.  So how DO you choose?  Well, I chose a country first.  I chose Ecuador because one of my goals is to go to meet my sponsoree one day and I figured South America would be a good place as its not too far (and I've never been there).  Then I filtered my list to all the kids that have been waiting for a sponsor the longest.  A "long time" is defined as 6 months plus.  On my initial search, there were a TON of kids who had been waiting for a while for a sponsor.  I felt like I looked at all of them and the little information the website gives you about each child.  And then one day, I stumbled across Stalyn.  I still don't know why he stood out to me.  He just did.  So for over a month, I went to the website every day to see if he was still needing to be sponsored.  While I wanted him to get a sponsor as soon as possible, I knew that if he was still needing someone by January 15, he was the one I wanted to "join" our family.  

January 1 rolled around and I got on the website again.  There were only TWO kids left in Ecuador that had been waiting longer than 6 months.  A girl and Stalyn.  Every day, I check and checked.  Then January 15 rolled around and it was such a blessing to be able to sponsor this adorable 5 year old. 

Just to give you an idea of how in need these children are...in Stalyn's town, which is 12km outside of Riobamba, the average monthly family income is $50.  And the primary occupation is a street cart vendor.   Luckily, Stalyn lives with both his parents.  Both his parents are sometimes employed as a farmers.  

With Compassion, we give $38/month and it goes directly to Stalyn and his family.  Actually, it goes to the Compassion employees who work with these children and THEY are able to identify what specific items Stalyn and his family need, whether it be blankets, goats, chickens, clothing, etc.   Their website says "Your $38 monthly sponsorship helps provide your child with life-changing benefits that include:

• nutritious snacks or meals
• educational opportunities
• health and hygiene training
• medical checkups
• the caring embrace of a local church"

They also will send the parents to additional training to help them gain work skills and learn how to take care of their children's health.

That is all it is...$38/month.  That is bringing your lunch instead of eating out three times a month.  That is cutting out Starbucks 8 times a month.  That is opting to cook dinner ONE time a month instead of going out to eat.

There are so many kids all over this world that need sponsors.  The Compassion website has a lot of information, including FAQs, reviews, financial integrity information, etc. 

I also wanted to share the blog post that I read that spoke to me.  And hopefully, it will to you too.

Giving is too easy not to...

Stalyn, 5 years old, in kindergarten

90 Minutes

It’s amazing how the last three years of my life have flown by.  I mean, Annabelle is over one years old and Lane is about to be three.  It feels like I just had Annabelle and Lane couldn’t even talk.  The point is that I don’t understand how three YEARS can seem to fly by but a mere 90 minutes seems like eternity.

Let me paint a picture of how the first 90 minutes of my morning went.

6:25 - Annabelle wakes up
6:28 - 7:10  Annabelle goes back to sleep on me.  I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes open for some reason this morning.  I keep thinking about when I can make my coffee.
7:10 - Lane wakes up.  I put Annabelle back in her crib, which immediately wakes her up.  Lane asks me to change his pull up.  I’m confused because it is a pull up and he can change it himself.  But I haven’t had my coffee so I decide not to have that conversation/rationalization right now.  While I’m in Lane’s room I smell poop.  I asked him if he pooped and he said no and then politely suggested “Pedro might have tooted.”.  Maybe. 
7:15 - I pick Annabelle up out of her crib and immediately go to kitchen to make coffee.  I smell poop again.  Then it dawns on me that my nose hairs must be permanently singed with poop aroma.  Why wouldn’t it be?  I have been known to change 7 poopy diapers in one day.  Between that and Pedro’s gas problem, it isn’t UNcommon to smell poop.  I leave kitchen and head back to kids’ rooms.
7:20 - coffee is done brewing so I head back in there to get my little morning piece of heaven. But wait!  I smell coffee with a mixture of poop!  What in the heck?!  I start thinking of a way to remove said nose hairs and that is when my eyes wandered over to the back door.  There.  It.  Was.  It looked like someone poured a pint of diarrhea all over our tile floor right by the back door.  And what happens when you pour liquid on a hard service?  That’s right, it splatters everywhere.  Well, good morning to me!
7:20 - 7:45 - I ban the children from the kitchen and proceed to use up 75% of a new jumbo paper towel roll to wipe up the nastiness.  And this is merely just wiping up the liquid grossness.  Then I go through 5 of those Swiffer mop cleaners.  Then I break out the clorox and get on my hands and knees and wipe off the backdoor and scrub the hardened residue.  How long has it been sitting here?!
7:45 - 8:00 - I feel disgusting so I throw all my clothes in the laundry, ask Lane to watch over Annabelle and run to get in the shower.  Ah, a hot shower and soap...and two peeping Toms.  Lane and Annabelle are both observing my doings.  Lane is inquiring about female body parts.  Annabelle is crying because she can’t quite make it into the shower with me. 

Did I mention that Jason is in Dallas for work?  Or maybe I mentioned that my eye was throbbing because I think I have pink eye again?  Moot points, I guess.

While I am pretending to take a relaxing shower my mind starts to wonder to the book that I’m reading (for the second time).  It’s called One Thousand Gifts.  And last night, I read the following “...how do I wake up to joy and grace and beauty and all that is the fullest life when I must stay numb to my losses and crushed dreams and all that empties me out...As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible.  Joy is always possible.  Whenever, meaning - now; wherever, meaning - here.”

My mind starts to rewire itself and I try to think of the joy, grace, and beauty of this situation...Thank you.  Thank you that the dogs went on the tile rather than the carpet, couch, or my bedroom.  Thank you that I have really bad allergies and, therefore, the wretched smell is masked a little to make it bearable to clean up without puking.  Thank you for letting me have one sole remaining paper towel roll.  Thank you for letting my kids obey me for once when I ask them not to come near the back door - though the smell probably assisted my command. 

And then I laughed. 

It’s 11 am and those 90 minutes now seem like a week ago.  Here’s to hoping when I get home there is not a repeat offender.  ICK!

Debut

Last week, a friend who has her own kid's line was in desperate need for a kid to model some Halloween costumes that one of their clients wanted to see.  They had two days to come up with the pictures so they called me and one of their friends with an SLR camera (not a professional).  I told her not to expect much from Annabelle as she HATES things on her head.  But despite all the costume changes and head gear, she did surprisingly well.  She wasn't as "smiley" as she could have been on camera but I don't blame her...with all the whacked out "big people" (i.e. adults) making stupid noises and dancing around, bright lights in her face, and changing clothes every 3.26 minutes.  Not necessarily a toddler's dream playdate.  Despite all the obstacles, she looked freaking ADORABLE and I had to share her pics.  The popcorn cracks me up!

Queen Bee - I could seriously kiss off her face.  OH MY GOSH she's so cute!

Peacock

Popcorn

What are you putting on me?!

Flowerpot

Flowerpot part 2

Bat - hey we live in Austin, what do you expect :)