Family + Holidays = A Good Life

I love holidays, but who doesn't? I love them because our family gathers together to celebrate every single holiday...we can thank my mom for that one. She has always been big on decorating for holidays and makes extravagant meals. She things of every detail and makes every gathering special and heart felt. It can be felt from the moment you hit the driveway...today, eggs hung from the tree by the road and a big blow-up bunny waved a welcome.

We started off today, gathering together at church to give thanks and to remember the sacrifices that were made for us. I am always filled with this overwhelming love when I leave church, and today was no different. We then headed to my parents house for a ham dinner.

I couldn't help but take a moment to look around and savor the blessings in my life. As I sat in my chair, sun beating on my back and glazed ham wafting through the air, I marveled at what I saw. I was surrounded by 9 family members (plus a baby chilling in her chair) and was tempted by a bountiful feast. My boys faces have matured so much since the last time we gathered at this table...their manners and kindness radiate from them. Outside, the sun shone over a landscape of snow covered Olympic Mountains and the buzz of hummingbirds could be heard racing past the screen door. Easter baskets sat at each seat around the table...filled with goodies and thoughtful gifts for each child. Everyone of these things is something to be celebrated, treasured, and thanked for...but my favorite part of the day was after lunch/dinner.

After the table was cleared and the baby was fed, everyone headed outside to the huge backyard. I rocked A in my arms and stood on the back deck, looking down toward the bottom of the yard. Horses played tag on the other side of the fence but my eyes were on the crazy boys in front of the fence. Blow-up hammers and balls flew around...laughter and giggles echoed up with the breeze. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. J pounded away at my brother with the blow-up hammer while T launched the ball at Grandpa. No one held back and the giggles and devious smiles could be seen and heard by everyone. My brother raced after my dad, ball in hand and sinister laugh ready as he pegged my dad in the head. Not to be outdone, my dad scooped up the ball and giggled his way to a direct hit on my brother. It was the perfect way to celebrate Easter. Pure joy was being had by all and I couldn't help but feel blessed to have amazing men surrounding my boys. Life is good!

Poetry in Motion

1 month already

Olive skin with a pinch of rose on the cheeksPerfect button nose...ideal for Eskimo kisses and nuzzles
Pile of brown fluff and stuff piled on top of her head
Nibble worthy ears
Bright and attentive eyes, always ready to take everything in
Newborn blue eyes with a touch of brown and grey stealing the attention
Shar Pei wrinkles to kiss and cuddle
Long, slender toes and fingers...ready to explore
Perfect pink petal lips for frowning and smiling
My little girl is poetry in motion

My Almost Sister

I am blessed to have amazing people in my life. I have a dad who helps me with house stuff at the drop of a hat, a mom who gives everything she can to whomever is in need, a brother with a big heart who rough houses with my boys, and many others. Today, another one of those amazing people stepped back into my life.

My cousin J is in town for a week and it is an absolute gift. I have always thought of her as a sister. We are a few months apart and are the only girl cousins on my mom's side of the family. We never got a ton of time together growing up, but when we did...it was always memorable.

J is one of those people who makes you a better person when you are with her. She is always a listening ear and constantly turns the attention away from herself. She is genuinely interested in everything that is happening in your life and is excited to learn more about you. I have always wished that we lived closer to each other. If there is anyone that I would like to be like, it's her. Her positive attitude and zest for life is contagious. Is she truly a beautiful person inside and out.

J is due to have her second child in June. Our little ones will have a similar spread to the two of us. She is having a little boy but I hope that my little girl will have a close bond to J's son just like we have together.

It was so fun catching up with her today and I look forward to the time we'll have together this next week. Time always goes quickly but I am always left with a smile on my face when she is here. She truly is my almost sister. 

Pause

I am incredibly blessed to have an amazing younger brother. He is big hearted, kind, hard working, a playful kid at heart, an incredible dad, and a stupendous uncle. I am constantly reminded of these qualities when I am able to spend time with him. Today was one of those days.

 

His wife and daughter are away visiting family, so I asked him to come over for dinner. The least I can do is make sure that he's eating a good meal while they are gone. After a long work day, my brother came over to the house. Now Uncle J is very popular with my boys because he rough houses with them. What boy doesn't love that?

 

After refueling and chatting with me a bit, Uncle J ventured upstairs to play with the boys. He hadn't even reached the top step before J swiped his light saber at him. T was crouched in the corner with the Nerf gun and Uncle J was left empty handed. That doesn't work at all...so he quickly dodged obstacles and grabbed two Nerf swords. He craftily blocked J's light saber slashes and managed to jam the Nerf gun with his Jedi mind tricks. T fumbled with the Nerf gun while Uncle J disarmed J of his light saber. The battle may have just been won...

 

"PAUSE!", yells J as he drops to the floor for his light saber. My brother and I just looked at each other and laughed. In our house growing up, we yelled UNCLE but my son yells PAUSE. I wonder if video games are played at our house? :)

 

My brother 'paused' for just long enough for J to rescue his light saber...and not a moment too soon. As soon as that red Jedi tool was in J's hand, it was jabbing towards Uncle J. I smiled and turned to go downstairs. How lucky am I to have a brother who comes over to play with my kids? I couldn't ask for a better brother or a better uncle for my little ones. 

Are you sure?

We were on the way to school today when my oldest son mumbles, "Are you sure she's a girl?"

I figured that I had misheard so I politely asked him to speak clearly...it's hard to hear when I'm driving.

"Are you sure she's a girl?", he repeated with confidence. I looked in my rear view mirror to see what he was talking about. Sure enough, he was gazing into his sister's car seat with a quizzical look on his face.

"Of course she's a girl.", I replied with a smirk. I guess the lack of long hair is throwing him off.

"Are you really sure?"

"Yes honey, I'm positive. Why do you ask? "

"She just doesn't look like one, but I guess I'll trust you."

Jeez, thanks for that one kid. I reassured him that she'll look more like a girl as she gets older. That's why we are always putting her in girl colors like pink and purple...trying to keep people from being confused. I guess that I'm not doing my job well enough though if my son is questioning if he has sister.

Distractions

I tend to have rose colored glasses on a lot. I figured that having a newborn would give me plenty of time to compose crafty pieces, comment on blogger's posts, catch up on my Twitter feeds,  and devour my ever growing To Be Read pile. Yeah, who was I kidding? It is not working out that way.

I would love to say that I'm being productive but the truth is that my life revolves around a 4 week old. She is a sweet, cuddly, and easy going baby most of the time. The other part of the time is spent DEMANDING time with her mama. I am flattered that she wants my time and attention but a moment to hear my brain think would be nice.

In the meantime, my pieces will be short and sweet. Next year I will have more flair and creativity. I will comment on bloggers posts the best I can and will make up for my lack of sharing the wealth next year. I will read my fellow bloggers and Twitter friends when little eyes are resting and when the cat finds my lap before I can get to a book. I will read whenever I can and hopefully put a dent in my pile. The good thing about books is that they are always there waiting for you to return when the moment is available. Until that time, I'll let my little one distract me as much as she'd like...the days are numbered so I should enjoy the slow pace while I can. 

Dinner Time

Maroow! Maroow! 

Awhoo! Awhoo!

It must be between 5:00 and 6:00 at my house. You can always tell when dinner should be served in our home by the animal calls that echo through our kitchen.

Brownies were in the oven and the chocolaty goodness wafted through the air while I prepped the chicken and listened to the onions sizzle in the pan. Water gurgled as I trimmed the white flab that remained on my chicken breasts.

All of the sudden, my legs began to get warm. I had a visitor...one that normally hides under the bed upstairs. When Marble appears downstairs, it's only for 1 reason...FOOD! He is like clockwork and the other animals in the house follow suite. He has a deep, broken meow similar to a Siamese cat and he loudly announces that dinner is due while we weaves a pattern between my legs. As I glance at the clock, I am reminded that it is dinner time...5:46 screams out to me through the steam on the stove top clock.

I know that the nagging will not end until I open the fridge and get out the canned food. As soon as the can comes out of the fridge, my dog begins her call. Ow-whoo! Ow-whoo! She will not be left out of the dinner symphony that surrounds me. She is the oldest animal in our home so I feel guilty feeding the kittens first. I leave the can on the counter and begin scooping out her dry food. Sasha does circles to show her approval while the cats sing a little louder.

Yes! I know...I'm working on it!

Once everyone is fed, I can once again hear the sizzle of the onions on the stove and the gurgle of the water. Of course, now I am behind in my dinner routine. Hopefully everything finishes on time.