Advent

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent. Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation of something amazing. 

The dictionary definition says the word advent is "the arrival of a notable person, thing or event."

I'll be honest that it is hard to prepare and anticipate something excitedly when someone notable in your life is not there to prepare and anticipate with you.

Yesterday at church we heard this, a familiar verse.

And Pastor Ben talked about our dark world and how we can take this opportunity to be a light. WE are given the POWER to BE lights in this world.

It is the 30th today, which means it has been 7 months since Dad died and our world fell apart. I have spent a lot of time talking about and thinking about and seeking out light the past 7 months.  

But this season is a reminder that the world can always use a little (lot) more joy and light, and how I choose to live my life can help with that. 

I'm thankful for Advent and the opportunity to gain a new perspective on light. And the reminder, once again, that light always overcomes darkness.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Sunday!

Chris had to work ALL WEEKEND LONG...so the girls and I stayed pretty busy.

On Saturday morning we met Pa at Bachman's to see the Santa show.  Neither of the girls wanted to actually SEE Santa and talk to him, but he did wave at us at one point when he was on stage.

After dance and nap time, we headed to the condo to see the Johnson cousins- Amy, Peter, Andy, Beth, Donald and Frederick.  The kids together were ADORABLE.

Donald (4), Callie (5), Frederick (2), Maya (2)

When I got home on Saturday night, I found a picture of me and Andy around the same age that Callie and Donald are now...so it was probably about 28 years ago!

Kind of crazy, huh?

Other things from the weekend...

My mom introduced me to "Classical Stretching", which I have done (with "help") the past couple mornings.

This helper is not actually very helpful.

Speaking of my helper, she also is very unhelpful when I'm trying to get ready in the morning.  Like today, when she sat on the counter and played with the wedding rings.

But she looks so dang cute...

Before nap time, we had a sweet moment (with the iPad).

Tonight I went to see Sister Act at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater with my mom and sisters!

Lastly, guess who made their appearance for the first time this season?!?!?!?!?!?!

REMEMBER US???

Yep- Coo-Koo and Loony are BACK!  And a certain almost-6-year-old was PSYCHED.

So you can look forward to pictures of the elf antics each Sunday during December until Christmas.  Since it is the first Sunday in Advent today, I thought I'd get out some of our Christmas decorations.  I didn't have it in me to do as much as last year, but I got our front table and mantle decorated a little bit.

I still love my Grandma's ceramic tree.

 It is hard to believe that December is in a couple days, and there are only 3 weeks left of work until winter break.

Have a great week.

A Picture Update

Happy Friday all!

It has been quite a week in our household...from sickness to Thanksgiving. And now even a little snow. 

Callie was off school all week, so she got to go do Maya's usual day care routine. On Monday they went to Boom's house, where they got to go see the Elf Show for the first time this season. Callie also wrote Boom a note. And fell majorly asleep on the ride home.

Cal had swimming lessons on Monday night. 

On Tuesday Chris had the girls, and he took them on rides at MOA.

G-ma and Pa had the girls on Wednesday.

Other random pics from the week:

And now, Thanksgiving. We did brunch at G-ma and Pa's house with G-ma, Pa, Boom, Auntie Cat, Uncle Dan, and Hanna. There was lots of good food and lots of fun activities.

After Maya's nap, we headed to the Suurmeyer's for a wonderful evening with friends and family. Again, there was delicious food and fun activities!

Today we went to Boom's house to play and have lunch.

Maya and I went home for nap time, but Cal stayed with Boom. They went for a beautiful (snowy) walk.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Happy Thanksgiving

I can't say too much today, besides I'm overwhelmed. 

Overwhelmed with being thankful for all the good in my life. And overwhelmed with missing my dad.

But I know that by having an attitude of gratitude, it will be a good day.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Timehop Wednesday

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I'd do my Timehop post early.  Here you go!

Two-year-olds: Callie in the left, Maya on the right.

The girl who is almost SIX:

And because the picture on the left popped up from EIGHT years ago:

28-Months-Old!

Ok, so I know I said yesterday that this post was going to be all about Maya, so here she is:

 

Oh that face! And look how big she has become in a year:

It is unbelievable. Anyway.

I looked back at my 28-months-old post about Callie had to repost part of it, because a lot of it is pretty much spot on for what is going on with Maya right now.  Here is some of what I posted on April 22nd, 2012:

I'm telling ya, this 2-year-old business is so great and so hard all at the same time.

The great:
*Watching her vocabulary development and all the learning and thinking that takes place in her head
*Watching her start to interact more with other people and other kids (though she is still REALLY shy, it is getting better)
*Getting the hugs, cuddles, and kisses (when we can slow her down enough to give us the time of day)
*Her yearning for independence and being SO proud of herself when she does something by herself
*How much she loves our family and how much they love her
*The fact that she is still little enough to want me the most when she is upset (unless it is me that made her upset, then I'm out)
*When I look at her beautiful little face in AWE that this little person came from me

The hard:
*The mood swings (O.M.G...the mood swings!)
*Her yearning for independence when it is for things that are still just too hard for her (and she doesn't understand that they are still too hard)
*The way she pushes boundaries, making us really work hard to be consistent and not give in (even though it would be So. Much. Easier.)
*The way I sometimes feel like Jan Brady from the Brady Bunch Movie when she says "Am I invisible?  Do I not have a voice?" (shout out to my sisters- they are probably the only ones who will know that reference)...basically, more often then not I talk to her or ask her do something and she either ignores me or does the exact opposite

So, there you have it.  The great and the not-so-great things about 28-month-olds.  Thankfully, the great things FAR outweigh the hard.

The only major difference I can think of at this point is that Maya really isn't that shy, especially compared to what Callie was like back then.  But the language development is amazing, her hugs are the best and her moods are erratic, and most of the time I feel like no one can hear a word that I say. 

So then I had to go back and look at pictures of Callie at 28 months.  Because, this:

I'll leave you with a video of Maya reading one of her favorite books, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."


IMG_0582 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Weekend Wrap-Up

I guess you could say we spent the weekend recovering.  All of us.

Maya slowly dug out of the feverish pukey hole she was in, thanks to two different antibiotics.  Because of course the two different infections she has can't be made better by one drug...it had to be two.  So for the next week, we have to give her two doses of two medicines...and she hates it EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Her favorite new phrase is "NO MOMMY!  NO!"

Exhibit A:


IMG_0723 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

She also seems to have reverted back to her terribly sleeping self a la 2013 to early 2014.  The days when she would wake up multiple times a night to be soothed.  Of course, Chris of I flew to her side the few days she was truly sick, at all hours of the night.  Now, she seems to be in that habit again and we don't appreciate it.  Hopefully it won't last long.

Come back tomorrow, the 23rd, for more things Maya.  I'll have some funny and adorable videos, since she'll be a whole month older than the last 23rd.

Also, we are exactly ONE MONTH away from SIX with the other one. Unbelievable.

Anyway...other things about the weekend...

Saturday morning was a crabby morning.  Notice Callie's red moustache?  Of course she has a cold.  Also, she insisted on wearing Maya's 24-month-sized cow costume.

Thankfully G-ma and Pa came to the rescue (again) and took the girls for most of the rest of the day.  I was able to clean and get a massage.  Then Laura, Craig and my mom brought over our "new" bed.  My mom decided to get a new bed, so Chris and I got their old bed.  It is perfect for our space, and special that we get to have it.

Thanks to Craig, Laura and Boom for the manual labor- taking it apart at the condo, renting a moving truck,
moving it, and putting it back together at our house. 

On Saturday night Boom and Auntie Mari came over to babysit so Chris and I could go out for a bit after bedtime.

Today was super chill.  I spent the morning with Cal while Chris and Maya went to Sunday school.  We went to get her a haircut (she FREAKS out when getting her hair washed and brushed and I'm over it).  The hair cut lady cut it WAY short though (I said a cute bob...and it is definitely a bob, a very short bob), and Callie doesn't like it.  I guess it is a good lesson in:
1) if you want longer hair don't make it miserable for others when it comes to bathing and brushing
2) hair grows back, so hakuna matata

Left: before hair cut
Right: hair cut- it is even shorter in the back

Auntie Cat came over this afternoon to hang out.  Then Chris and Cal went to watch the big game at the Wicks' while Maya and I did errands, laundry, and tried to continue to take it easy. 

Lastly, one of the reasons I love weekends is because I am still home when the sun is coming up.  It comes right through the trees out our bedroom window.  It always makes for good sunrays.

Left: Saturday morning (the finger prints became quite obvious so I cleaned the window)
Right: Sunday morning (we had a dusting of snow, to which Callie said in a dramatic voice,
"Winter is coming!" and I giggled. That's probably only amusing to you if you watch Game of Thrones)

We are coming up on Thanksgiving, and it is hard to know what to think or how to feel.  But what I do know is that we will be surrounded by lots of wonderful friends and family members on Thursday, and continue to use GRATITUDE as our word to live by.

A Picture Update

I'll start by saying that Maya has an ear infection and a urinary tract infection. Both. At the same time. The past 40 hours have been pretty brutal. Lots of snuggles, super high fevers, puking up medicine, medicine refusal, 2 doctor visits, and little to no sleep the past 2 nights.

She is on the mend, but the no sleep is really kicking my and Chris' butts. 

Other things from this week:

A healthy Maya earlier in the week.

Girls dancing.

A field trip to the zoo (for me).

A dinner with Uncle Jim, Aunt Coco, Uncle Larry and Aunt Mary...celebrating Coco's birthday.

Finally, a sunrise and sunset from this week. 

I'm exhausted. Time for bed.

Timehop Thursday

We have a pretty sick and miserable 2-year-old today. Therefore I only have one Timehop and it isn't even kid related.

Oh, Kona. She lives with G-ma and Pa now and is an old lady.

But a cute old lady.

Send sleep vibes our way please... Our toddler (and her parents) need them!

My Grandpa

It was a hard day at work today. I was working with a lot of students who deal with many struggles that I'll never deal with in my life time. As a teacher these days, that is pretty much a given. We get kids who walk through our doors every day that have hard lives. It gives much needed perspective, even though it makes certain days hard.

On this day 12 years ago, my grandpa passed away. George Henderson, my dad's dad, was a math teacher and professor in a time much different than this. But I still have no doubt about the number of his students' lives he positively affected.

I was in college when he died, so I never got to talk to him about being a teacher. But I do remember that he took great joy in coming up with math problems and puzzles for his granddaughters to solve- even if it was during Thanksgiving dinner.

I'm thankful that I got to experience his passion for teaching, and that I was on the learning end of it.

Even if it was at the dinner table. :)

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy beautiful mid-November!..?!?!  I'm pretty sure it was snowy this time last year.

Yep, I checked.  This was 11/10/14:

Well TODAY, 11/15/15, was a day where we needed NO coats!

Yes, that is me upside down. I can still manage to do a cartwheel.  Somehow.

Anyway...we had a pretty low-key weekend. We spent yesterday morning downtown with Boom, playing and going to the library.

Laura and Craig were out of town so Maya and I went to visit Missy Elliott for a bit. She had the crazy eyes thing going, but seemed to enjoy playing with (and hiding from) Maya.

Then there was dance. And Maya was crazy. The little sucker probably didn't help that, but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep a 2yo happy for an hour in a small space. 

We met the Helds for playtime at Edinborough and then went out to dinner.

You can see that it is a challenge to get two 5-year-olds, one 3-year-old, one 2-year-old, and one baby to pose for a picture.

This morning I got to leisurely enjoy my coffee in peace and quiet...

Haha no I didn't! But I did get good cuddle time with my big girl.

This afternoon I got more one-on-one time with her, going to lunch and then making soup.

You may notice she is eating...bread! After almost 2 years of being gluten-free, we are easing her back in to gluten. So far so good. It would really make our lives easier, so hopefully the transition will continue to go well.

And then tonight. Where Maya dressed up like a cow (again). And we then went to Ikea where Maya picked out a cat (very Elliott-like) and Callie picked out a flamingo. And then later Callie dressed up like a flamingo.

Just a typical Sunday night...have a good week!