Dream On

I am having troubles writing anything so far this year. Maybe it's the shiny newness of Facebook, where I can just plop down any old thought that comes to mind in one sentence or less. Maybe it's because I had strep throat and an ear infection last week. Or maybe it's just because I haven't had anything good to share.

Not true. I had a horribly scary nightmare a few days ago. I was dreaming that Ethan and I were asked to help the marching band here in our new town. So we go to the practice, which happens to be a dress rehearsal, and the colorguard (my people), are dressed like VEGETABLES! I'm not kidding. This was their actual costume. I remember seeing a carrot, brocolli spear, and an onion before waking up in a cold sweat.

Does anyone else think that's weird?

Luckily, this doesn't seem to be a recurring nightmare. Maybe it had something to do with the pain pills I was taking for the ear infection. Or maybe I have a deep-seated fear of healthy food.

That's probably it.

December Happenings

I can't believe how crazy and busy this month is already. This was definitely not the time of year to move, but I'm happy we're here. Just had to share a few recent pictures . . .
Ryan loves our new front-loading washer and dryer. I love that he loves it; keeps him busy. On this particular day we were washing his favorite blanket so he was REALLY interested!

Emily wanted a Princess Annaliese birthday this year. The only reason this cake even looks halfway decent is thanks to my friend Liz, who must have a cake-decorating gene. Before she came over and rescued it Barbie had her legs straight up in the air -- so improper!

This last picture is from right after Halloween. I had to get a picture of Ryan with his candy. The first few times he was allowed to have a candy he just held it and looked at it. :) I don't think he knew what to do with it.

Today we had a field trip with our homeschool group to a retirement home where we sang Christmas carols and gave cards to the residents. It was so sweet. Well, it was sweet until Ryan crawled under the Christmas tree we were standing next to and activated the "snoring Santa" decoration. I thought I would die of embarrassment. One minute we're singing Silent Night, the next thing I know there's this loud sound of snoring and the whole group turns around to see Ryan on his hands and knees, smiling from under the tree. It was great.

Wow

Emmie surprised me today. We were talking about this drama I'm a part of for our Christmas program and the girls kept asking me questions about it. I told them that the story is about a woman who is too busy with all of her holiday plans to spend any time with God. I told them that it was "really important" to spend some time with God every day. Emmie asked me why, and I told her it was because when you don't make time for the most important relationship in your life, your life "just kind of falls apart". Here was her thought on that.

Emmie: "But mommy, our life already falled apart when baby Isaac died!"

Wow. I was shocked. We had not been talking about Isaac that day or even recently. Plus, I'm sure she never heard us use that term in talking about what had happened. She really surprised me.

Our life really did fall apart when it happened and it's never going to be the same. But like I told Emmie, we never would have made it through and even had some joy on the other side of this without our relationship with our Saviour. He alone is our source of hope and peace!

Finally

My posting lately has been truly PATHETIC. But then I felt better tonight when I realized we have lived in our new home for 9 days and have had company over on 5 of those days! I don't know what we're thinking. Anyway, more posting to come as soon as I download some new photos. Stay tuned . . .

Happy Birthday Emmie!

Happy 4th birthday to my little firecracker! Emmie has been so fun since day one. She is the kid who always cracks us up. She also asks me questions like, "Do pretend bugs have bad dreams?" (Yeah, I'm still working on the answer to that one!)

Calling All Chocolate Lovers!

Found this recipe recently and thought it looked intriguing. I would try it, but with moving I'm not exactly Betty Crocker right now. :)

Chocolate Cake-in-a-Mug

1 - coffee mug (microwave-safe)

4 T. - cake flour (plain, not self-rising)

4 T. - sugar

2 T. - cocoa

1 - egg

3 T. - milk

3 T. - oil

1 - splash of vanilla

3 T. - chocolate chips (Optional)

Add dry ingredients to the mug; mix well with a fork. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in milk, oil, and vanilla, and mix well. Add chips, if using. Put mug in the microwave, and cook for three minutes at 1,000 watts. Cake will rise over the top of the mug -- do not be alarmed. When finished, carefully remove mug from microwave and allow to cool a little. Tip onto a small plate prior to serving, if desired. Yields one generous serving or two "more virtuous" servings.

Three Months

Well, it's the 19th again. He would have been three months old today. My current state of emotional health? Fairly good, I think. I'm sad when I think of Thanksgiving or Christmas and what we're missing with him gone. But I keep remembering that we will see him again someday.

We got the key to our new home today. It was so exciting. I haven't been there yet but Ethan stopped in and turned the heat on. I like how he thinks. :)

Today's conversation with Emmie:

Me: What are you grateful for this year?

Her: God

Me: OH, that's SO sweet honey! What else are you grateful for?

Her: Nothing.

Sigh. What else can I expect from my silly three year old? At least she's thankful for God.

I think we might be making progress on the potty training front. Ryan tried wiping his own bottom while I changed a dirty diaper tonight. It was not helpful. We actually haven't begun training him yet because he's not real interested. Oh well. He's my third kid. I'm not trying to set any records with this one.

Seattle was good. I forgot my camera. We went running the first morning on HILLS. I haven't done that before. Here I was all proud of myself for being able to run with my hubby, but the first time I have to run uphill I age fifty years. Running uphill bites. I'm glad we're moving to a flat town.