First Birthday

I cannot believe it has been a whole year since Elizabeth joined our family.  I can remember being in the hospital with her.  I enjoyed being there, having time just the two of us, knowing that when we got home just us would include 3 others.  I could not get enough of her.  I always wanted to be with her, to hold her, touch her.  Even after we got home and she had a hard time sleeping at night I loved it.  I loved holding her, sleeping next to her.  I could tell from the beginning that she was a very sweet happy girl and she has become the sweet, happy girl I knew she would be when she was born.
There is always that sadness to see my baby growing up, but I wouldn't stop it for the world.  She is so fun to play with!  She lets me read to her now, she LOVES to explore different textures and sounds.  She enjoys climbing and sitting on her brothers, and tickling their bellies.  Elizabeth has an amazing ability to pull Benjamin out of a bad mood.  She laughs at just about everything now, and is always smiling.  She loves to play with big Lego's and knock over block towers.  She has been walking for 2 months now, and when I catch her with something she shouldn't have she turns to look at me, gets an impish grin on her face and runs for it.  She is such an imp.  She is our princess, but she is an into everything, always busy, lots of trouble princess, and we love every minute of it!
The morning of her birthday came and I was trying to get the house clean after being sick for a few days.  I started on the dishes and Benjamin started crying, he had thrown up and was running a fever.  So I called all of the grandmas and honorary grandmas and canceled the birthday party.  I had already baked the cake and wrapped the presents so I decided we would have a quiet family party.  I left off the house cleaning to take care of Benjamin only to find out Elizabeth was sick too!  Happy birthday, huh?  We ended up having a lazy day and then after dinner called John in Virginia.  We got on the computer and we set up Elizabeth's high chair in front of the computer so daddy could see.  We gave her her presents and she actually tore the wrapping paper off!  She got some books from mom and Grammy as well as some Dulpo Lego's.  Then I brought out the cake.  She tore into that like there is no tomorrow.  She picked up this huge piece and just started shoving it in her mouth.  It was a lot of fun to watch, especially considering that Glen didn't want his cake because it was sticky and he hated being sticky, and Benjamin wasn't interested at all in cake on his birthday.  She was the first one of our kids to go at it and we all enjoyed watching her immensely.
Even though three of us were sick, over all it was a good day.  I am so grateful for my sweet, happy girl.  She brings us so much joy! I am also grateful for the technology that allowed us to share her birthday with her daddy, even though he is on the other side of the country.  Happy birthday to my smiley, book loving, imp of a princess.

Fun food

I love doing fun stuff with food.  I think it makes eating yummy food even more fun when it looks cool.  Holidays are more fun too because we get to do all sorts of fun stuff with food.  We always have green eggs and Ham on Dr. Seuss' birthday, pot pie on Pi day, ghost pancakes on Halloween, Pink heart pancakes on Valentines day (you can do just about anything with pancakes. :)  This month we have tried a few new things out.  We arranged apple slices so they looked like a Christmas tree, next week we will make Santa bread as well.  Today we had snow man pancakes with bacon scarves and strawberry banana candy canes for breakfast.  Then for dinner we had turkey pot pie and I formed a fun little Christmas tree on top and tried to make it green.  The green did not work out as well as I had hoped, next time I'll dye the dough instead of brushing colored water over the top, but it worked well enough for my kids, and that is what really counts in my book.
I hope that my kids look forward to holidays and find them as fun as I do.  I wanted fun food to be a part of holidays, even the silly ones like Dr. Seuss day or Pi day because I think that little things can make ordinary days into a little party.  Little things like chocolate chip eyes in pancakes, or a Christmas tree on the pot pie.  Little things mean big magic for kids.

Two boys and breakfast

Sunday morning we all slept in.  I know right?  It happens occasionally.  Anyway, Benjamin came in and asked if I was ready to wake up.  I told him I would if he cuddled with me for a few minutes.  I ended up falling back asleep and I thought Benjamin did too.  About 1/2 hour later he came back in and said in the sweetest little voice "I made breakfast for you mommy, come see."  I got up, wide awake and very curious now, to see he had gotten out his almond milk.  I asked him what he made and he said cereal, but he needed help getting out the cereal and bowls that were up high and the cow milk that was too heavy.  We got everything all set up and sat down to eat.  He then asked "Do you know why I made breakfast for you?  Because I though you might want to sleep a little more."  I just about melted into a puddle right then and there.  So sweet!
This morning I got the same treatment.  Glen insisted that he make breakfast since I was not feeling well.  I always get a slight cough when pregnant and he heard me coughing.  He went into the kitchen and made cinnamon toast, apple sauce, and carrots "Because we need vegetables" and let's not forget the chocolate milk.
Some days these two get my blood really boiling, but most days they just melt my heart.

More then another retelling of the birth of the holy babe

Click to learn more about the story of Christmas.

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

The Story of Christmas is more than merely retelling the advent of a babe in Bethlehem. It is one of the seminal events in human history.

That babe in Bethlehem, born in a lowly manger, was Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world and the Son of God—our Redeemer.

Jesus Christ suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only through His mercy and grace can we be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, he is very literally our Savior and Redeemer.

This season, we invite you to read the Christmas story anew with your family and friends. Look for the hope and meaning it can bring to your life.

We join with the angels of old as they announced the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to the shepherds: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14

Magic

Last night the boys begged to sleep by the Christmas tree.  There is just something so magical about a tree all lit up.  So well all layed down in the living room looking at the lights and waiting for sleep to come.  It wasn't coming for any of us.  Something was missing.  Glen asked me to put on Christmas carols, so I turned some on and we all fell asleep looking at the Christmas lights, thinking of Santa, and listing to Christmas Carols.  The only thing missing was daddy.

Portal cake

Happy birthday Jacob!  This is half of his portal cake.  When I showed it to him I told him the candle sings "I'm still alive" and he asked if I was serious to which I replied, "No, it's a lie."  And that my friends are all of the portal references I will use for now.
The cake, the glowing portal, even the song are all from the game Portal.  It's pretty fun if you like puzzles, or infinite high fives, and stealing your friends robot head to use as a ball.  Ok, that was the last one, just for my husband, I promise.
Making this cake kept me pretty cheerful all day.  In the morning my baking buddy Benjamin helped me bake it and then I decorated it after the kids were all home and entertaining the baby.  :)
Since I promised not to use any more Portal references that you might now understand I have to stop writing because I can't stop making references, and I did, after all make a promise.  A promise which conveniently enough I could just delete.  Ah well, what more is there to say?  I did make Jacob hunt down the other half, just for fun.

Gone

John is gone.  He has been for almost a week now.  He is in Virginia training with a company who wants to hire him.  I have to say it's been tough, but doable.  Some days I have been just fine, and some days have been truly hard, but one thing amazes me above all.  I have discovered that he makes everything better.  Talking to him for just a few minutes can make the hardest day bearable, happy even.  He lights up my darkest days like I never imagined.  Just hearing his voice makes me want to laugh again, and get him laughing too.
It sounds silly to me when I say it.  It seems to me that after being married for over 6 years I would have figured out that he brings me so much light and so much joy, but having him gone has made it all so clear.  We have never been apart for more then a few days, so this is big.  10 weeks without him, it's HUG!
That saying "Distance makes the heart grow fonder." has been running through my head.  I never wanted to test it out, I always wanted to be with him and grow fonder of each other together.   I guess I took advantage of him.  He is such an active and attentive father and husband.  He did the dishes almost every day, often he would start a load of laundry and take out the garbage.  He was so involved with the kids, he was often reading to them, wrestling with them, and Elizabeth just adores him in every way.  Now that he is gone, we feel it keenly.  Now the house work all falls on me, except for the few chores I can get the kids to do.  He left some mighty big shoes to fill.  I am determined to fill them, but only until he gets back.  I am determined to not worry or stress him so that he can focus on what he has to do.  When I am determined, nothing will stop me.
One thing that has made my day each day is when he calls.  I love to talk to him, even if it's just for a few minutes, but there is something else, something so adorable I want to squeal.  As soon as he calls Elizabeth knows. I don't know how she knows, but she does.  She immediately crawls over to me and tries to grab the phone.  I say she is only a mama's girl right now because daddy is gone.  So when I put the phone to her ear she gets the biggest grin and starts to laugh and babble.  She only does it with John though.  If I give her the phone with grandma she will look at it and try to push the buttons or eat it.  She knows his voice and she just lights up.  John has that influence on us.  :)
I don't know if this has made any sense to any one or if it's just an opportunity to get my thoughts and feelings out, but there it is.
Tomorrow I will make a far more entertaining post about the cake I am making today.