Well, THAT Snuck Up On Me!

I started this li'l ol' blog three years ago.  That's so hard for me to believe!  I scanned through old posts tonight and was struck by how much Nolan has grown and changed and by how much Nolan and Soren look alike at this age (15 months.)  It's really quite uncanny!  On the contrary, I was NOT struck by my "techyness."  This blog has looked basically the same since day one, other than a background change here and a font change there.  Big whoop.  Todd's the techy one but I bet he doesn't know the first thing about making a blog look cool because the blogosphere isn't his forte.  And I'm not gonna ask him 'cause we SO wouldn't be talking each other's language and we'd probably just get on each other's nerves.

ANYHOO...it is so very true that time flies.

So, happy blogiversary to me.  And stay tuned for more bloggity goodness (and pictures of my amazingly cute kids!)

First Fieldtrip!

Nolan's cute little class went to the pumpkin patch today and Soren and I happily tagged along. They had so much fun traipsing through the piles of pumpkins and feeding the animals. I rarely get to see Nolan interacting with the kids in his class so it was a real treat. We all had a fabulous time!

Fun with friends on the hay bales!

Soren LOVED the pigs!

 

A pumpkin among pumpkins!

  

What a wonderful fall day!

Renewing My Relationship With Jesus

I've been a Christian my entire life.  I was raised in a Christian home where we attended church services and church activities weekly.  I don't remember ever missing church unless we were really sick or on vacation.  I knew about Jesus from a very early age and made the decision to accept Him into my heart at eight years old.  I chose to be baptized shortly thereafter and have made an effort to live for him since then.  Yet I currently find myself in a spiritual wilderness like I have never before experienced.  It's been a slow moving away on my part, as I wholeheartedly believe that God is steadfast and never moves.

Looking back, my drifting began shortly after I became a mother.  When Nolan was first born I was on my kness hourly pleading with God for direction for this new phase in my life.  He faithfully drew near when I needed Him and helped me along the path of new motherhood.  As Nolan got older and I gained more confidence in my parenting I didn't "need" God as much...but Nolan needed me.  The little "me time" I had was precious and I ended up making my time about me alone, not me and God.  In the last year or so with two kids in tow my "me time" has become even more scarce and even more coveted.  A nap or time in the Word?  Sleep wins almost every time.  I am humbled and embarrassed to admit that God has gotten the shaft.

Although I love my children and my family life and am enjoying this stage in my life, my spirit has been so restless and lacking in true joy.  As much as I give give give of my time and energy, I've wanted to get get get some sort of "compensation" for my role as wife and mom.  I find that I have become self-indulgent and self-focused more than I should.  Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, but when God gets cut out because it's all about you then YOU are the one with the problem (and not the answer.)

Only God can truly fill me up.  Only God brings real joy.  Only God gives purpose and perspective.  By shoving Him aside in my moment-by-moment life I have robbed myself of fullness, joy, purpose and perspective.  This morning I dusted off my Bible and sat in quiet and listened for God.  I haven't heard Him a whole lot lately because I haven't taken the time to listen.  I read and prayed and read some more and prayed some more.  Today, for the first time in a good while, I am excited for my relationship with Jesus and I have renewed joy.  It feels good and I am so looking forward to this next phase of the journey with Jesus at the wheel.

Hearing From A Hero

Last night I had the privilege to attend an event at our local high school where Captain "Sully" Sullenberger spoke.  Just a reminder who he is...Sully is the pilot who successfully landed the airplane in the Hudson River in January 2009 after hitting a flock of geese just moments after take off.  His testimony of what transpired that day was truly amazing and I was awed by his humility and integrity.  From the time the flock of geese was hit and downed the engines, there were only 208 seconds...about three and a half minutes...before the plane plunged into the icy river.  Quick reflexes and preparedness were essential in order to preserve the lives of all 155 people on board.

Sully is from Danville, the town next door, so not only is he an international hero, he is a local hero in the purest sense.  His daughters attend the high school where he spoke last night.  I recently finished reading his book, Highest Duty, and although I can't say there were many "laughable" parts to his story, I literally laughed out loud when I read that he chose to give his first print interview NOT to The New York Times, NOT to The Wall Street Journal, NOT to The Washington Herald ...but to the Dougherty Valley High School student newspaper!  As a former reporter for my high school newspaper I love the thought that a 16 year old kid scooped some of the top journalists in the nation.  Ha!

The story of flight 1549 was incredible, but I enjoyed hearing about his life prior to being thrust into the spotlight.  From a very early age he was incredibly driven and disciplined, a deep thinker and a goal seeker.  The crux of his message last night was that every person should do what they do with their all and be prepared for the best and the worst in life.  He is an advocate of lifelong learning and sharpening your skills continually...and I like that!  He stated very clearly that, to him, education is of utmost importance and then applying what you've learned with precision.  There were quite a few high schoolers in the room and I really hope they heard his message and took it to heart.

At the end of his talk there was time allotted for Q&A and I was chosen to ask him a question.  I asked what his emotions were when he got back into the cockpit again for the first time after Flight 1549.  I assumed he'd have some hesitation or nervousness at best, and downright fear at worst, considering what he had been through, but he said "It was just like coming home."  He was born to be a pilot and basically "dusted off his wings" and went back to what he loved and excelled at.  Inspiring!

If you want to know more about the "Miracle on the Hudson" and how an oridanry man did an extraordinary thing Captain Sully's book is a must read!

Fall...Finally

The weather has taken a turn and I couldn't be happier.  We have most definitely experienced an "Indian Summer" the last six weeks or so up here in the Bay Area, with temperatures in the 90's for days on end.  On Saturday it was a cool 70 degrees so the littles and I headed out to the pumpkin patch for some fall fun.  Todd needed a couple of hours alone (ie: quiet!) to catch up on work that piled up during our vacation so he wasn't able to join us.  However, we planned to visit a different pumpkin patch after church on Sunday as a family...but it rained!  We will hopefully have the chance to all go together this weekend, but the weather forecast is calling for rain on Thursday and Friday so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.  Anyhow, here are a few shots of the boys in pumpkin heaven...

Nolan likes the little bumpy gourds best.  He calls them "popcorn pumpkins."  Adorable, no?

All good pumpkin patches have no shortage of tractors to climb on!

The Storm Before The Calm

We spent last week in Palm Desert with Todd's step-mom, Billie Jean, and my parents.  It was a wonderful week of true relaxation in the sun...but the week prior was a DISASTER.  Why is it that the week leading up to vacation is oftentimes a whirling vortex of utter chaos?  In "the storm before the calm" of much needed R&R in Palm Desert, this is a sampling of what we were faced with:

• Todd traveling four out of five days
• Both boys had diarrhea
• Nolan was a vomit fountain
• I was nauseous from cleaning up all the ick
• Three appliances on the fritz--garbage disposal, then hot water heater, then washing machine
• Soren spiked a fever of 103.3 for two days right before we left

As we headed out of town (possibly against my better judgment...but I digress) Soren broke out in a horrible rash.  We dumped our bags off at the resort, left Nolan with the grandparents, and within two hours of arrival in Palm Desert we were in the ER at Eisenhower Hospital attempting to figure out what plagued our sweet baby.  Poor Soren had a whopper of a case of roseola and felt horrible.  Unfortunately, there's no treatment for roseola other than keeping the child comfortable, so we kept the tylenol coming.  By Tuesday afternoon Soren was his happy little self and I came down from the perilous cliff of a near nervous breakdown. The rest of the week was spent soaking up the sun, creating family memories, enjoying each other's company, and indulging in lots of delicious food.

Happy baby!

 

First time on a waterslide = apprehensive at best!

Birthday With Buzz And Bob

Nolan turned 4 on the 25th but our little lucky duck had nearly an entire week's full of celebration.  He was very excited for his birthday this year, and especially the cake!  My parents were here visiting us for a few days so we had a small family party with them.  And of course Nolan wanted to take cupcakes to school for his friends.  Lastly we took him to the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum to see the special Bob the Builder exhibit.  What fun he had!  It was difficult to leave and he has already told us he wants to come back again "tomorrow."  (Everything is "tomorrow" with Nolan!)  Here are a few snapshots of his birthday fun!

Nolan is very into Toy Story right now so he was thrilled to receive a few Toy Story toys!

Bob the Builder is a second "love" so meeting him at the Children's Museum was a huge hit!

There's so much fun to be had!

Brave Boy!

Nolan had surgery earlier this week to remove a growth on his lower left jawline.  It appeared right around age 2 and I have had a dermatologist watch it since it emerged.  At our last derm visit we were referred to a special pediatric dermatologist because the growth's looks had changed and it had enlarged since our last exam.  This new doctor decided it would be best to remove it so we went forward with plans to do so.  If this growth were on an adult it could be easily removed under local anesthetic in the doctor's office.  However, with children, a trip to the outpatient hospital and general anesthesia are required.

Nolan was so VERY brave!  I stressed over how he would do because he doesn't like doctors all that much and is quite obstinate when asked to do something he doesn't want to do.  We prayed a lot, as did so many friends and family members, and God CLEARLY heard and answered our prayers in such an amazing way!  When we arrived at the hospital Nolan was greeted by the sweetest nurse who had placed a teddy bear on his bed.  The teddy bear (who Nolan named "Beary") had his temperature and pulse ox taken just like Nolan.  Then we played a little game to coax him into the gown and sox.  Then he snuggled down into the bed under the warmed blanket.  He drank down a sedative with very little fight and then was wheeled off to the OR waving "Bye!" to us.  Todd and I couldn't have been more relieved!

The surgery was quick and easy but coming out from the anesthesia was not.  Nolan was irate and thrashed so much that the nurses had to restrain him until Todd and I were able to be with him in the recovery room.  I promptly laid next to him and sang to him while Todd began (the magic that is) "Cars" on the iPad.  He calmed quickly, ate a cracker and drank some water, and then we headed home.  Just as we entered the freeway on-ramp Nolan puked all over himself (and the seat and the car door and the floor) before I could get the barf bag to him.  Oh well!  When we got home Nolan took a three hour nap and then woke up his normal sweet self.

We are so proud of our big boy and are glad this ordeal is over!

Summer? Fall? I'm Confused!

The weather has been so idiosyncratic around here.  This morning when I woke up it was grey and drizzly for the first time in a good long while.  Finally.  I loved it.  Soren and I donned pants, sweaters and closed toe shoes (gasp!) and headed to playgroup.  It was a cool, crisp 55 degrees.  A perfect morning at the park. 

When we returned home I decided to celebrate the impending changing of the seasons by whipping up one of my favorite fall recipes for dinner tonight--Potato Corn Chowder.  So so good.  The aroma filled my kitchen for hours as it simmered in the crock pot.

Then, around 2:30 the sun peeked out through the dreary clouds.  A bit later the clouds parted.  Then the sun came out in full middle-of-summer force and warmed up our little neighborhood to a warmer-than-I-would-have-liked 82 degrees.  The air conditioner kicked on as it reached 77 dergrees upstairs.  Blast!  What a cruel tease!
Despite the fact that our chowder wasn't exactly apropos for the warm day we ended up with, it gave me a glimpse of what is sure to come.  Oh fall,  I love you so.

To bring a little fall warmth into your home try this super easy, delicious recipe.  It will not disappoint.

Potato Corn Chowder

1/2 bag of frozen hash browns (about 4 cups)
1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can cream style corn
1 can evaporated milk
8 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 t. worcestershire sauce

Put all the ingredients in your crock pot.  Mix well.  Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.

Ladle into bowls.  Top with fresh ground pepper and cheese.  Enjoy with crusty bread.

Ten Tidbits On Tuesday

Just a few little thoughts...

1. Nolan has been SO hyper lately.  I'm scratching my head trying to figure out where it's stemming from.  Maybe he realizes that his birthday is next week.  Or maybe...I dunno.  It's driving me bonkers!
2. Soren is into EVERYTHING these days.  Nolan never got into cabinets and such, but Soren...oh my word!  For some reason he really likes my hair do-dad drawer and even tries to put some of the do-dads on his head.  Don't tell Todd!
3. Todd turned the big 3-5 on Sunday.  We didn't do anything big to celebrate except for make an awesome dinner together.  Tri tip, homemade mac and cheese, and Millionaire's Delight for dessert.  If you've never had Millionaire's Delight you haven't lived.  It's my Mom's signature dish, and it's THAT GOOD!
4. I have decided to give running a try.  I haven't run consistently since high school when I was on the track team but I am pretty proud of myself for running the last 8 out of 10 days.  Granted, I haven't run very far but I am hoping to work my way up to about an hour's worth of running by the end of the year.  I am NOT athletic in any sense of the word and my motivation for running track in high school was the cute boy factor.  However, track was my second (but only "real") choice for cute boys.  All the super hot guys were on the water polo team but I can't swim (unless you call doggie paddling swimming) so I couldn't join the swim or water polo teams.  Oh my...the things we do for guys when we're young!
5. I just finished a great book--"Totally Desperate Mom" by Wendy Hagen.  Wendy goes to my church and has spoken to our MOPS group a few times and she's as real and down to earth as it gets when talking about "life in the motherhood."  I'm usually not all that impressed with motherhood books but this one is worth the read.  You can proceed to Amazon.com now and I won't feel neglected.
6. I'm so ready for fall.  I can't wait for the first rain where I can wear my new cheetah print rainboots!
7. I'm also dying to go to Disneyland.  We haven't been since last November and it seems like forever ago.  As soon as Soren's walking we'll be making a trip south to visit the Mouse.  Can't wait!
8. I'm also anxious for fall TV!  Glee, Modern Family, Parenthood, The Big Bang Theory and more!
9. Speaking of TV, I'm currently watching the first season of "The Tudors" on Netflix.  So good!  What a hot mess Henry VIII and his whole group is!
10. The Petty's from San Diego are coming to visit us this weekend and so are my parents!  Yeah for friends and family!