Fill in the Blank Friday

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1. I wish I had the energy that Alif does.  And that I could speed up the weight-loss process.  ;-)
2. Yesterday I went to WIC, took my car to the shop, went grocery shopping as a whole family - FUN! - and went to the gym.
3. Today I woke up late after a late night last night, went to the gym, met with our resource teacher and made lunch.  Later we'll go to Target and decorate the Christmas tree, and catch up on our Jesse Tree devotionals.  (Is devotionals a word or should it be devotions?  Hmm.)
4. Tomorrow i will watch Malachi play soccer and pray for my brother-in-law who is GRADUATING COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!
5. Maybe someday I will be an excellent housekeeper.
6. Someday I will hopefully have tons of grandbabies and sons and daughters in law who love me.
7. I love God, my awesome husband, my children and family and friends, internet connection, breastfeeding, going to the gym, being creative and laughing.  And food.  ;-) 

ebeanstalk.com review

Check out my review of www.ebeanstalk.com here.  :-)

Beach Trip 2010

Once a year my Dad rents a big ol' beach house and we all pile in - my family, my sister's family and my Dad & his wife Georgia.  It is amazingly fun and a wonderful way to bond and create tradition and memories for my kids.  If you're not into complete photographic overload, feel free to step away now.  ;-)

I'd never noticed a playground near the beach, but there it was - such a cute one, too!  We spent an hour or so there and let the kids run off some energy.  (I should have joined them - I came home having regained 5 of the 12 pounds I had lost!  Ooops!)

Love - my - nephew!!  GORGEOUS!

Also love my brother-in-law Jason, who completely took my kids under his wing when Alif was a day late in joining us.  We love you brother!

This may well be on our Christmas card this year, so if you and I are address-buddies - sorry to spoil it.  But how cool is this tree?  We each noticed, one by one, how it has a cross on top.  :*)

See this beautiful beach access?  Well, one morning Malachi and I went on a walk - a fast, fitness-style walk.  We went down and up each and every beach access.  Whew!!  When we were down one of them, I was wishing I had my camera to capture Malachi, so I suggested we pretend to take pictures of each other.  I was taking a darling one of Malachi when he goes, "WATER!  WATER!"  In a couple seconds I was soaked up to my knees.  Oops!  High tide!  LOL

No, it was not warm enough for this - but they were having so much fun!

Caris & Malachi got out pretty deep.  It was so heartwarming to watch because when a wave would come and knock Caris over, Malachi was right there to help her back up.  Sweet brother!!

Canaan tried to boogie board after watching Malachi.  He'd set it up like this, get on and stand there.  Finally he came over and said, "I get on and nothing happens.  It just stays right there." 

There is just no place I am more at peace than at the beach.  Add some music and some yoga, and it's totally over the top!

 

Graham worked long and hard to make this huge hole - pool - whatever it is.

For you, Mom.  Mr. Shiny.

Graham's 11!

I think it's a very good idea to take pictures of the Birthday person at EXACTLY the time they were born however many years ago.  Here's what Graham looked like the moment he turned 11 years old this morning at 8:15am.

Ok first of all, how nice am I that I didn't rouse him from a peaceful slumber so I could get his cute face on film?  And second, how weird is he that he sleeps in this mummified state?  Not long after this picture the kitchen aromas woke him up and he joined us for cinnamon rolls, orange juice and the actual breakfast he had requested, bean and cheese omelets.  Alif had to get Malachi off to soccer practice so I wrapped Alif's omelet in a big tortilla and he was so happy about his bean and cheese breakfast burrito.  ;-)

Later we got the house all ready for the big event: The Duct Tape Party.  Graham is totally duct-tape obsessed so this was a dream come true for him.  He has been working for 3 days straight, doing nothing else, making items out of duct tape for all of his friends who would be coming to the party.  He made wallets, bows, one-dimensional balloons for party decorations, a real working checkers board, duct tape flowers.

I, in turn, provided the duct tape. Oh - also green and yellow party supplies (his favorite colors).  And I made him a duct tape cake, which actually made him laugh and laugh.  Dude!  He is not a child who gets outwardly excited.  His laughing and laughing was a BIG DEAL, man!  He L O V E D it.  LOVED.

We totally covered the cake plate in black duct tape too.  This was such a fun party!! 

He had a ball opening his gifts and told me later that it was such an awesome party and he got everything he asked for. 

And the only time I even came close to losing it was when I saw him sitting there with a cake in front of him that said "11".  What I wouldn't do to snatch one of those 1s off and have him turning 1 again.  But dang, he's a neat kid.  Happy Birthday, sweet boy!  Mommy loves you!

Dear Graham 2010

11 years ago today I thought I might be in labor, even though it was one week before my due date.  I was - you were my only baby to come early!  You were born 12/4/99, face-up and purple, but healthy as can be.  7 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches of pure bliss.  You were an easy baby right from the start, son.  You seriously slept pretty much every minute of the day - to the point that I became worried and asked the doctor if it was normal.  He said you'd wake up around two weeks, and you did.

Until this year, I haven't had a terribly difficult time with any of your Birthdays, Graham.  With a brother 20 months ahead of you, I've been prepared each time.  At one I thought I would fall apart, but other than misty eyes, I was really just excited to see you smash your first cake and loved watching you take your first steps - to Papa, for some Cheetos.

All this time I've seen you as my baby.  I know, it's kind of weird since I've had two babies since I had you, but you were my baby for 3.5 years after Malachi, and you just sort of always held that place in my heart.

But now?  At eleven years old?  It's undeniable.  You're growing up.  I long for the days that our days were spent reading books, nursing, cuddling with fuzzy, doing crafts, going to storytime.

But at the same time, precious, my heart leaps to see you grow.  This year has been absolutely incredible.  We found out that you have a special set of skills and personality traits known as Asperger's, and we're all understanding one another so much more now.  You met a counselor and bonded with him from the very first meeting, and several months in to counseling and neurotherapy, I feel like I'm getting my Grammy back.  You talk to us more, you enjoy life more, you're more confident, and you're making friends!

You are brilliant.  You are creative and sensitive and hilarious.  You are generous and giving and your sense of justice is amazing.  I am so proud of you, son.  I love you.  I LOVE you! 

Happy Birthday, Nay-nay.  You're mama's big boy!

Fill in the Blank Friday

1.  Holiday spirit I'm always a little saddened by the commercialism associated with Christmas.  At the end of the Macy's parade at Thanksgiving, Matt Lauer said, "And now the REAL hero of the season - SANTA CLAUS!"  I couldn't believe my ears, but that's just what Christmas means to a lot of people.  To me and my family, Christmas is primarily a celebration of Jesus' birth - a time to be deeply grateful to a God who loved us so much that He sent his very SON to die for us.  WOW.  
2. The holidays are incomplete without lights, baking smells, gifts, Christmas music and my family
3. my favorite things to do around the holidays are listen to Christmas music and make neat memories with and for my children
4. A holiday tradition my family and i have is decorating the tree together over hot chocolate and Christmas music, reading the story of Jesus' birth many times over, church Christmas musical, watching Christmas specials on TV, and time with family
5. Holiday music is absolutely awesome - but ONLY after Thanksgiving is over!!
6. This year, I'll be spending the holidays with family as usual
7. Holiday wish list camera, workout clothes,  gift cards etc (hey wasn't this a question last week too lol)  Make sure to go see more FITBF entries here!