{Christmas tidings}

I have been remiss in writing for a while. Last week, we went down to Farmington, New Mexico for my brother's wedding. It was beautiful. I had a great time meeting up with all my friends I grew up with. Bruce and Marissa are now happily married and missing the snow by honeymooning in Florida. Jon brought me back home for my surgery on Tuesday. The rest of the family got here Christmas Eve night. I now have all my wisdom teeth out, lots of stitches, and 2 little kids begging me for the ice cream I'm eating.

And yet, despite my chipmunk cheeks, numb lips, and inability to eat any yummy Christmas delectables, I am happy. I love my cozy home, children's laughter, making Chex mix (although I can't taste it), having all my family here (except the newlyweds), and holding an ice pack to my face while I play games with the fam... We also experienced a miracle. When we were given the estimate for this emergency surgery, it was $530 we had to pay up front right before Christmas. Monday we received a check from someone for $500. Unbelievable, except that our God is amazing.

On a side note, for 3 years, I've been joking about our Charlie Brown Christmas tree, and the fact that I wish for a beautiful tall one. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, when Jon and I went to the grocery store to get last minute food stuffs, there was a big "free" sign on all the leftover trees. We looked at each other like "What in the world?" So we brought the 10-foot tree home and put it in our other living room. How elated the kids were when they got to decorate it with candy canes. I hope all of you out there have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas...

{or what do you say to this?}

I was doing Katie's hair Sunday and she wasn't too thrilled. Trying to explain, I coaxed, "But you're my little girl, and I want to make your hair pretty..." (something she could care less about-I know)
She looked at me with consternation, "I'n not your dirl. I'n your yadybud. And yadybuds don't have hair!"

Later that day, she asked me for some milk and took that opportunity to drop my cell phone in my own cup when I got up from the table. Little stinker! I came back, took a sip, and the phone hit me in the lip. It's totally destroyed. Been through cream-of-wheat swimming, toilet dunking, couch hiding (for 3 months), dizzy spells in the kitchenaid mixer and bread machine, and multiple dropping. Just couldn't live through a milk drowning. I think she's going to be a fiasco/genius in chemistry lab someday.

{what do you say to that?}

So, I walk into my Chad's room to find the bag for his library book and CD to be cut with pinking shears all the way around. Quite a nice design actually. Incredulously, I pick it up, look at my son, and query, "Why in the world did you do that!?!"
He unflinchingly returns my question with another question: "Mom, why in the world did you leave the scissors on my dresser?"

For 4 weeks now, we've been waking up around 5:00 and leaving at 6:00. The kids wake up somewhere in between. However, we have not yet been able to teach them the difference between workdays and weekends. Saturday morning rolls around and yes, they're both in our room at 5:45 asking for breakfast. Cheerios in fact. Neither of us can find it possible to get up. We tell them to go in the playroom (which is right by our room) and play for a while. Soon we hear little feet padding down the stairs, some rustling, and padding back up. Ahhh, we close our eyes and try to enjoy the fleeting thoughts of sleep.
Later, when we descend upon the kitchen, we immediately notice the entire remains of my birthday cake gone! There's no way my 2 little children could have finished off that much. I fix breakfast. They don't want it. Instead they sneak back up to the playroom. Out of curiosity, we follow only to find them pulling the cake on the cardboard out from under the toddler bed and a bowl of popcorn out of the closet. "Shh!"...Chad reminds Kate. "Mommy and daddy need to sleep."
We are in hysterics at that point. At least we know our 2 babies can fend for themselves! Reminds me of Crosby's "Chocolate cake for breakfast"...

{cappuccinos and lattes}

You might say I am not a coffee person. I detest the cheap flavored stuff they brew at work. Could never tolerate Folgers or CoffeeMate. Have only used my 4-cup coffee maker (that I got as wedding gift) when my dad visits. Went through 5 years of night shift without drinking the stuff. Jonathan drinks coffee even less than I do. However, I do have a certain, perhaps expensive, taste for a good mocha or cappucino-if you remember my entry about OZO's coffee shop. So it was to my fantastic surprise when I came down to the kitchen one morning to find a Breville espresso machine. An early birthday present to me from Jonathan...the best one he's ever gotten me. After many fun experiments, I've settled on my favorite combination: about 1/2 teaspoon of chocolate syrup (from Whole Foods) in the bottom of the heated cup, 2 shots brewed Mocha Java from Caribou Coffee, steamed whole milk, and raw sugar sprinkled on top. Amazingly, even with one hand, Jonathan has become the best at steaming milk to the perfect froth. It's become quite an enjoyable art for us. So, we invite you to come enjoy one with us anytime.

{a little bragging}

Yes, I must say, I did marry my best friend. He knows me better than anyone else. Knows when I need a date. In fact, a candle-lit dinner. So last week I'm tired, hungry, work all day, get home at 8:00 at night, and find the table set for 2, the kids fed and in bed, and Jonathan lighting the candles. Lamb roast, potates, spinach souffle, and homemade chocolate mocha pudding. And all with only his right arm! (Left arm's out of commission for a while). Amazing to say the least. The meal was delicious! I am duly impressed that he was willing to betray to me the fact that he CAN do more than he makes out, and that he's definitely milking this situation for all it's worth;-) Until now! Anyway, thought I'd do a little bragging...

{halloween fun}

We got to trick or treat with 2 cousins this year. Kate was "Teeter Bell" and Chad a "ghost."

{changing jobs}

Well, I am starting a new job at a new place. Quantum change in my life. I've been in the ICU for 5 years now, and because of negative changes in the environment in which I am working, a recent assault by one of my patients, and various elements of family and babysitting, felt it was time to move on...which I'm not terribly good at, but excited nonetheless... Come November 4, I will be working in the Neuroscience Institute at The Children's Hospital full time for a while, then down to part-time when possible. The hours and campus are the same as Jonathan's, so we'll be able to ride together and eat lunch together. No weekends, holidays, or nights. It will be an improvement in many ways.

{zoo day}

Exhilarating fall weather, funny-looking animals, friends...all made for a great Saturday at the zoo. Not surprisingly, Jonathan, who is still wearing an arm cast, took some incredible pictures of fall foliage and us having fun. What was my favorite part? The little monkey with the moustache. That and the BBQ chicken pizza after the zoo, because you always work up an appetite with all that walking.

{cowboy chad and marshmallow kate}

A lesson in friendliness...This morning on the way to pre-school, Chad rolled down his window when we stopped at an intersection and said "Howdy" to the rough-looking man smoking in his work truck. The man's smile showed a row of missing teeth. Chad proceeded to ask him, "What's your name?" and "my name's Chad. I'm 3. This is my sister Kate, she's 2. I'm going to pre-school. Look at my backpack!" I'm thinking this is the last man I'd look to converse with. Kinda scary. When we start forward, Chad yells, "Well, mister, have a good day! Jesus loves you!" The man obviously was struck by that. I rolled up Chad's window to hear my son state matter-of-factly: "I like that man. He's a good man because Jesus made him too." Don't we change over the years?

After we came home, Katelyn thought she'd have a marshmallow feast. The pic says it all. She loves

maw-meyos and is into colors.

{family foursome}

...A picture of our little family surrounded by fall at Silver Dollar City...

{opposites reflect one another}

Well, vacation has ended and fall has begun. Many changes while much of the same. Sadness and happiness. I'm in my thoughtful spot right now. What do I make of life? I had a heart-wrenching day at work yesterday, caring for 2 patients whose lives, just that day, had been turned inside-out. How quickly their plans reeled out of control when that diagnosis was made. Who will be next? Why are some healthy and others sick? I am crying inside for a loved one who is facing the daunting challenges of MS. He keeps a brave face. He is dear to me though he may not realize how much.....And for another loved one who has just received a grim diagnosis. She tries to be happy for her little one, but I'm sure inside she is scared. I wish we lived closer to both families. My husband cut his arm the other day and faces major surgery for tendon/ligament repair on Tuesday. He is quiet. I looked into his eyes last night and saw the same fear I see in my patients' eyes.

The only solace I find in life is in the faith that my God knows and cares. Somehow all this works into a plan He's overseen our entire lives. There is a better place where no tears exist. As for now, I feel joy when I talk to relatives on the phone, as I teach Chad to read, when Katelyn gives me a hug, while I watch a movie with Jonathan... There is great happiness, but I would not acknowledge it as much were it not for sorrow.

{excursions}

I walked into the room, and Katelyn was sitting in the arm chair on the back massage cushion laughing as it massaged her head. She had figured out the controls and declared, "I'n detting my bat rubbed." We're down in Branson, Missouri for a fun week with my family. Tomorrow is "boat on the lake day" and Wednesday and Thursday "Silver Dollar City" day. YAY! We drove yesterday from Birmingham, AL where went for my cousin's wedding.

{one smart cookie}

Well, I took Kalamity Kate to the doctor's office for her 2 year appointment. The little pistol is in the 9th percentile for weight, 10th for height, and 60th percentile for head circumference! The doctor remarked, "Well, we know what her biggest asset is...she must be one smart cookie" (that we already have observed!) She looked up at him and said, I'n not a tootie. I'n Tate!" While I was taking care of the co-pay, she disappeared. Everyone in the office looking...we finally found her completely naked, sitting on the potty chair in the bathroom with pee in the potty. She's NEVER done this at home. The doc had just emphasized the importance of me not pushing her to do this. What can I say???

{fun with chalk}

The kids and I had so much fun today drawing on our back porch with Kate's birthday chalk from Nana. Chad surprised me when he exclaimed, "Mom, look! I spelled your name and mine!" Did I even know my 3 year old could write and spell?!? See for yourself...

Then he drew a triangle, colored it with "water," and let his soldier swim in it. Kate, of course, had to help.Sadly, the fun ended when Kate got stung by a bee as she plucked it from a stem of grass. Chad promptly killed it with passion, yelling, "You will NOT hurt my sister!!!"

{our garden}

Our garden did very well this year. We've dined like kings on spinach, beans, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, peppers, lettuce, cucumber, garlic, dill, cilantro and other herbs, rhubarb, broccoli, raspberries, peas (which are still producing!!!) strawberries, and more... Chad even has his very own tomato plant that produces Chadwick cherry tomatoes. Kate has picked them all green so far.

Katelyn's favorite outside pasttime (besides picking green tomatoes) has been picking pea pods, snapping them open, and plucking the peas out. She's eaten "buckets" of raw peas. I never did get to cook them, but that's okay.

Today Chad and I made carrot juice.

He was very excited about his new-found ability, but kinda deflated when he took the first sip.

Chad: "I want to taste it now!"

I poured some into a glass. After one sip, he made the funniest contortion of his face.

I tried to encourage him, "It really IS good for you, helps your eyes see better."

He declared, "THAT CAN'T be good for me. Here Kate, you can have it!" (The only time he ever shares.) Turns out, she downed the juice and asked for more. Then Chad decided that the carrots would have to be made into cake and donned his orange apron. We made a delicious carrot cake cheesecake which I tasted one time at the Cheesecake Factory. Here's the link: http://www.recipezaar.com/114575 (I did use 1/2 tofu for the cream cheese, which made it PERFECT. Not too rich. Enjoy...

{rain coming in}

Here is a picture I took near our land down in South Fork, Colorado. Just looking at it makes me want to "bring in the horses," fix some tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, curl up by a warm fire in the farmhouse, and read a good book while listening to the rain pound deafeningly onto the propanel roof. Ah, the country...can't get enough of it!

{creative thinking part 2}

This evening Chad provided me with yet another creative moment- an opportunity to see a young mind at work. We were at the park watching both kids happily play, when Chad yelled over to get our attention. He was standing at the top of a curvy blue tube slide that landed in a circular bed of wood chips. "LOOK, Mom and Dad, I'm grape juice that's pouring down a funnel (I in fact have a blue funnel) into a cup so you can drink it! I know you like this juice because you like me!" We both looked at each other thinking: "What an active little imagination..."
Anyway, now it's raining. Pouring, in fact. I like it. Fall is coming, and with it an invigorating crispness to the air. And today, after 2 long grueling days in a basement class, an intense written test, and a nerve-racking hands-on qualifying test, I became certified as a Trauma and Critical Care nurse. Then, to "celebrate" our achievements, a friend and I went shopping. We had such fun that I realized how full life is with good friends. I am happy. What makes me smile even more is coming home to my husband and kids, making them a good meal, and reading together while it's raining. And just for fun, I made Chad a tent tonight with his bunkbeds. He's camping.

{creative thinking}

I just tickles me to see see my kids' creativity in action. Yesterday for instance...
Katelyn (who has started the "idea" of potty training) takes off all her clothes and runs around yelling, "I na nudey fadoody!"
I stop to re-dress her as she is insisting, "But I have to doe POTTY!"---oh yes, the escape route.
So I put her on the potty, she hops up after 2 seconds and declares, "I'n done!"
"No you're not! Sit back down."
"I no have to doe potty. I have to doe poo-poo."
Ok, so I will be patient enough to let her try. 2 seconds later, she hops up. "I'n done!"
"No you didn't make poo poo yet." After a minute or so, I leave to go get a book for her to pass the time. (What 'time' I don't know-she never stays still long enough to accomplish anything.) She sees her chance, runs out of the bathroom, pulls a stool over to the counter, climbs up, swipes an Oreo, and takes it back to the bathroom. I return with a book, only to hear her say triumphantly, "I did it. Yay! I dit a pize now!" I look in the potty chair to see a crumbled black cookie. What do ya say to that??? I guess she did "make poo." I'll have to change the wording...

{coffee shop}

OZO Coffee Shop. Nondescript on the outside, but inside a humming atmosphere vibrant and friendly. And with 20 different mochas to choose from, I was in heaven. I picked the Irish kiss, a dark chocolate espresso with Bailey's Irish Cream. While Jonathan and I sat there sipping and reading on the black leather couch, we couldn't help but notice the small town feel. The banter and laughter caused us to smile. It was a wonderful reprive from the average Saturday morning. We had gotten a babysitter and left early this morning on the motorcycle, headed for Boulder to get a tire fixed. It was during a nice stroll in the crisp morning air that we discovered OZO. I want to go back. Seriously, the best mocha I've ever tasted. I think even the most mundane tasks (like getting a tire fixed) are more fun when you're doing them with your best friend...

{monkey business}

Here are some pics of Kate's birthday party. The kids liked the cupcakes so much, they swiped them all by the end of the evening.

{closet catastrophe}

Well, my two-year old started out her birthday with a bang. So far, she's dumped out her oatmeal on the floor, gotten stuck in her dresser drawer (while I was dressing Chad), found a coffee candy in some hidden stash of hers, and somehow sliced her big toe on daddy's closet runner. I've gotten to play nurse, mommy, and house keeper all in one day. The toe injury displayed itself by a blood trail from our room, down the hall, and halfway down the stairs. It warranted lots of kisses, 2 Toy Story bandaids, and my holding her for quite a while. Bless her heart. She's just growing up too fast, and I know I'll look back and miss these days.

{a day of firsts}

Today was Chad's first day of preschool. The thought that I have a child in school is scary yet exciting. For a week, he's been trying to walk to school declaring "since you won't drive me there, Mom." I got him a new backpack and he's been wearing it every day. This evening, Katelyn (who will be 2 tomorrow) scattered a pack of marbles. When Jonathan told her to pick them up, she started counting "1, 2, 3..." He and I started talking together, only to realize she had gotten to "17, 18, 19, 20." At 1 year old! We moved her into a "big girl bed" this weekend and she's done pretty well. Of course calling it her special birthday bed helped a great deal. I think I'll paint her new room purple because it's her favorite color. Such a little girl...already knows what her favorite color is!

I did inform him that goggles were not appropriate eyewear for preschool. He said that they made him look wise like an owl.

{a day in the life}

Yesterday was like a vacation. "Let's go out for breakfast." It's an adventurous thought with 2 rambuctious children. In my dream world, I'd go with Jonathan to Panera for a quiet and relaxing Saturday morning coffee and conversation. When he made the suggestion, I was envisioning something more like IHOP. But then Jonathan took us to Panera. He must know how much I like the cafe mocha and egg souffle. After breakfast, we had another wild hare and took the kids to Pirate's Cove. It was such a delight to watch the kids have so much fun. This is not a normal day in the life, but it is a day like today that I look forward to.