Friday again already!

I loved how Caris' hair turned out this day. Make a braid out of a small portion of hair toward the front, then make a ponytail off to one side. Braid the pony, secure with a clear rubber band. Wind into a bun and secure to the head with bobby pins. Curl the loose ends with a flatiron. CUTE!

Malachi scored the first goal of the game (and of the season, for him!) at his last indoor soccer game. Way to go, son!

We also had our first swimming day of the season at Papa and Gigi's house. Here Malachi was carrying Canaan around the shallow end. He is such a sweet brother! Today Canaan was running around nakey-buns and I said, "who gave you those cute little buns?" He said, "papa gigi give me cute buns." LOL

Sometime I should do a post with all the pictures I have of Caris like this from each year, just for growth comparison. She is such a sweetie, and man has she grown!

I thought Graham and his cousin Garrett were so cute all snuggled up in one chair together. They won't be able to do this in a few years! They're getting so big!

TS Days

It has been a difficult - no, tiring - few days. Having Tourette Syndrome is one thing. Having a child with Tourette Syndrome is another. The last few days have been what I will call TS Days. TS doesn't worry about other children in the home. It doesn't mind that it's annoying everyone nonstop, all day long. It is a cruel master. Thankfully, it ebbs and flows. I know reprieve will come soon. But right now we're in its grip and at the end of the day, I am tired.

Coming up for air

The last couple of weeks my family has been sick. Malachi got it first. He laid around feverish for daaaaaays. It just went on and on and on. Then, four or five days in, everyone else got it. It hit Graham the hardest, poor guy. It wasn't anything horrible and awful, but it was just so LONG. I feel like we're on quarantine, so working out how to get to the grocery store or anywhere else we need to go has been tricky.

So here are some (probably completely BORRRRIIIIIING) highlights:

Our air went out. SUCK! It's fixed now. YES!

Malachi scored a goal in his last indoor soccer game of the year! Go Malachi!!

Two nights in a row I left soccer pizza parties in a HUFF because Alif was talking WAY too long. Mature!

I'm sewing Caris a Littlest Pet Shop skirt for her to wear at her Littlest Pet Shop party. It's going slowly because I am lazy and I can only do it during her naptime. I can't wait to show you though!

Yesterday we were at my in-laws' house, which is empty because they're in China right now. We were putting their AC to good use since ours was on the fritz. While we were there I was feeling exhausted and sick and Animal Planet was on. Canaan watched with me while otters bound across snow (seriously!) and made their way to a river, where they went fishing. Canaan goes, "what that monkey doing, mommy?" It was one of his longest sentences - at least, with the words all in the right places - and also totally hilarious. I can't stop thinking about it and I laugh every time.

Also Sir Canaan did not enjoy sleeping in the extreme HEAT. I wonder if he thought we were doing something really awful to him or what he must have thought about our lack of ability to provide a comfortable sleeping environment.

Graham's tics are in full force right now, including one where he nods. His vocalizations are also on the annoying side. They never tend to be too bad for too long so hopefully soon they'll all calm down. I have to fight the urge to tell people everywhere we go that he has Tourette Syndrome. I just don't want people to think he's being annoying on purpose. I told Alif or my Mom or somebody that he & I make a great team because I have a nose-flaring tic and he keeps yelling, "happy birthday - to - youuuu!" Super freak, super freak, we're super FREAKY!

One day when Canaan was super sick he fell asleep on my bed eating a sucker. He was sitting up enjoying it, then he laid down while I read, and then he just fell asleep! Look - I have video!



Alright, I guess that's enough of my boring rambling for now. xoxo

Weight Loss Motivation

I know . . .
that I am abusing my body
that I am not honoring my body as a temple
that my body will eventually grow weary of the way I'm treating it
that the changes I need to make are possible
that changing my diet will be hardest at first and then get easier
that becoming more physically active will be so rewarding
that I want to be a good example to my children of how to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle
that I want to feed my family a steady diet of nutritious foods
that I don't want to waste money on fast food or junk food
that the Lord can help me make these changes, because it's clearly in His will for me to be healthy
that I have a TON of support from my family and friends
that I can wear cuter clothes if I'm thinner
that my self-confidence skyrockets when I'm eating well and exercising
that exercise is a mood enhancer
that libido is also improved by exercise and a healthy diet (sorry Mom)
that I don't want my kids to worry about my weight
that I don't want to think about my neck rolls and tummy fat when I am talking to people
that I stay home from functions I'd otherwise enjoy because I feel too fat
that I hate how my clothes feel when they're too tight
that my feet won't hurt in the mornings if I lose weight
that losing weight reduces my risk for heart disease, cancer and any number of other ails
that being fat makes me feel totally unlike my real, core self
that I feel like a duddy person when I am feeling extra fat
that I hesitate to meet new people because of my weight
that you are probably tired of reading this list, but I just might come back and add to it as I think of more reasons I want to change my life.

Mother's Day 2009

Ok, can I just go shallow for a minute here and say that my Mom is so gorgeous - just look at her!!

So anyway. It's Mother's Day. The day you hang out with your mom and eat quiche and cookies and exchange gifts and laugh all day (I started to write giggle, but in our family the women don't giggle - we flat-out LAUGH) and wash the dishes and go home happy and content and loved.

Most years.

This year, Mother's Day looks like this:
Poor Malachi is on day five of the flu. As the week wore on and his fever didn't go down, I came to the realization that this year I wouldn't be with my Mom on Mother's Day. We had a plan - church in the morning, then over to Alif's parents' house for a few hours with his Mom, then hop in the car and travel a couple hours to my sister's and be with them and my Mom the rest of the day, then return home around the kids' bedtime.

The best-laid plans . . .

So. I guess I thought that having such nice plans ruined by illness would be really upsetting. After all, the opportunities to spend time with my sister and my Mom are pretty rare, and we are as close as three peas in a pod. Add in a bunch of cousins and husbands who really enjoy each other, and you've got a super fun day. The weird thing is, though, I'm really not upset. I wish I were with my Mom and sister, no doubt about it. There's just something in my spirit that needs the quiet today, and I guess (I guess?? I *know*!) God knew that.

When Caris woke up this morning, she came out of her room with flowers in hand. She's been counting down the days until Mother's Day and to know that she planned that and couldn't wait to deliver them was so sweet.

I did go to church, and got happy news there that I can't share yet but will when I can. I walked hand-in-hand with my daughter and felt so loved and in love. We stopped on the way home and got donuts and a newspaper and orange juice. Caris gave me even more gifts (consisting of some of her toys and creations). Graham washed my car and cleaned the kitchen. Alif watched videos with me on youtube. Even Man Cold!

Then everyone went down for naps and Alif went to hang out with his Mom, and he's still there - well, he came home and got the three well children when they got up from naps. And hey - there's quiche in the oven.

Happy Mother's Day to me!!

P.S. Dear Mom, I love you more than words can say. You ARE beautiful, inside and out, and I am SO LUCKY that you're my Mom. Happy Mother's Day! I can't wait until we celebrate!

I did day one!

Day One, which was not actually May 4 for me but was yesterday instead, was to clean surfaces. Get rid of the clutter, in other words. I was a little freaked out by this because clutter is my main problem and I figured it would take me forever to do just this one step. Then I decided on four main surfaces to declutter, and it wasn't so intimidating. The areas I chose were . . .

The secretary desk before:


After:

The piano before:

After:
And the buffet before:

and after:
Not bad for just an hour or so of work! Next up is the living room, which will take at least a couple days! Here's my list:
mouldings
blinds
windows
couches
fireplace
entertainment center
door
floor
ceiling fan
air vent
paint window & door trim

Spring Cleaning, Day 1

I was telling Alif last night that I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by clutter. I am a clutterbug and I think probably I will always need to keep close tabs on myself in this area, because it's just my natural bent. I'm a LOT better now than I was when we first got married, but if you stop by my house unannounced, be prepared because you might walk into some clutter. Most days I keep things decently picked up, but some days it threatens to overtake us all.

I also love a Plan. So when Amanda mentioned this Spring Cleaning Party, I knew it was the place for me! A Plan already designed? "Party" in the title? A place to brag about my hard work? That's me!!

Care to join me? The party started on May 4 but I'm doing day one - surface decluttering - today.

Suffering

Sadness presses in. All around me bad things happen to people I love. People who "deserve" better.

My Mom battles cancer - over and over.

A Mommy loses a baby she hasn't even met.

A wife loses her husband and children lose their Daddy - way, way too soon.

Sadness presses in. It hangs like a cloud over all the activities, the laughter, the conversations. It threatens to bring discouragement and depression.

I woke early this morning, and despite the sadness, the birds are chirping. The sun is peeking through the clouded sky. The flowers stretch heavenward, soaking in the dawning warmth.

How do we cope, Lord? How do we counter the sadness? How do we raise our heads out of this nightmare?

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Mister Rogers and Books

This is a really sweet video clip from Mister Rogers!



Also, I ordered two books today that I thought you might be interested in as well.



This one I have been seeing on crafty blogs all over blogland, and the projects created from it are so inspirational that I finally just went - you know what? It must be miiiiiine! Sort of like every time I see a fabric I totally love, I find out it's Alexander Henry. We see eye to eye, Alex and I.



This one I saw at Anthropologie in Santa Monica when I was there with my Mom and Rod last week, and knew right off that it would be the perfect thing for Graham. It's a full book of coloring inspiration - partly drawn pictures, ideas for drawing and general silliness. Graham's gonna LOVE it. Just don't tell him I ordered it - he'll have to wait for his Birthday. ;-)