I've been thinkin....

Photographer's note: Tucker ALWAYS has his ankles crossed- it's his signature move.
So everywhere I look I see this "life is good" emblem. This week was a tough week. Nothing major, we just seemed to have bad news after bad news and bad moods and miscommunication. And I thought about how we are living in the shadowlands and only see through a mirror dimly. We aren't experiencing the perfectly "good" world that God created in Eden. We are living in a fallen world with troubles left and right. And I wonder how people like my sister-in-law, who are living a parent's worst nightmare, feel when they see the "life is good" stamped on tire covers, t-shirts and overpriced mouse pads. The truth is life is tough- it's marching through sand- and the rain falls on the good and the bad just alike. GOD is good. And HE can make life good too and give us Divine peace, but LIFE is tough- just wanted you to know that- and know that I know that- in case I ever seem like I have it all together and have no worries- it's not true. We are all of us on a journey with mountaintops and valleys.
P.S. I'm posting this b/c I've been told by more than one person that it seems I have it all together- I'm not sad or anything- in fact, I would probably say I'm in a "mountaintop" time of life right now, but that's not to say that there aren't troubles in my world just like yours. :)

Ever find yourself....

yelling very loudly at your children "STOP ALL THIS YELLING- WE DO NOT YELL INSIDE!" and while the irony is not lost on you, you continue....?

Moving on....

Hello friends. Tell the truth, did you miss me? :) I missed you. I'm just trying to figure out how to manage my time better and the blog has suffered. We've had a great January. We went to Virginia two weekends ago and had the BEST time. We went up to the Peaks of Otter and saw tons of snow and the kids played and threw snowballs and had the best time. Then we went in the lodge and Paw Paw, Marc and Marky played checkers by the big fireplace, while Memaw, Julia, Tucker and I played with blocks. I love spending time with my grandparents- they really enjoy our kids and I'm so grateful. And yes, I forgot the camera card and have no pictures of that precious time.

I could write a book on how blessed I've been this month having all my babies home all the time. You can feel the difference in our home now that we are less rushed and I'm less stressed. I just enjoy motherhood so much more when I'm not rushed. The kids have gotten less needy because their love tanks are full, and they are less clingy. (All except Mr. Pacifier- he's mommy's lap baby). And I'm doing weight watchers and have lost 5 lbs- only a million to go. :)

A great blessing with being home is that my friend Catherine did the same thing at the same time so we can help each other. Today we spent the morning at this wonderful park with lots of trees and a creek. We were the only folks there and the kids had the best time being out in the sun. And we had a picnic.
Our bambinos-

My friend Catherine and her beautiful babies-

So, that's a quick update. Still looking for a home. I'm on the verge of moving to the country- if we don't find a great house in town soon, I'm outta here. I just have this urge for land and go carts and camp-outs and REAL trees. I know I'm a city gal at heart, but don't you have the urge to up and move away sometimes?

Coming back...

So it turns out that having us all home together all the time has messed up my ability to keep up the blog. Not sure where to fit it in. Sorry for the lapse- hopefully we can catch up soon- and I'm sorry I probably haven't commented on your blog or responded to e-mail- I've got to get plugged back in!!!!

Go Tucker- it's your birthday....party

Today we beat the cold, wet weather by jumping climbing, and sliding like maniacs at Pump It Up for Tucker's first birthday party! This may go down as my favorite b'day party we've had. We had two different private rooms to jump and slide in.
And they had cars and walkers for babies to play in....
Even Daddy came (before work) in his suit and slid with the best of them....
Real men slide in suits with their babies....
Tucked loved watching the big kids...
The crew-
And I loved playing with MY playmates....
Our happy family in our socks...(yes, I jumped and slid too- and even managed to twist my ankle. As I type this my foot is up on a pillow with an ice pack- sheesh!)
It wouldn't be a Donna-planned party without my co-party-coordinator Aunt Shana. She's been there for everything and is always SUCH a HUGE help!
After all the jumping we went into the party room where the workers had already put out pizza and poured the lemonade for the kiddos- so much easier than when I do it at home.
Goodie boxes for the kiddos-
The cakes-
Little guy is so happy to see his punch cake-
A worn-out wittle one-year-old boy- Happy Birthday little Buddy!

Thoughts for a change

I know, I know...too many baby pictures, not enough "tawlk". The blog is shifting into full-on scrapbook- but I already told you that's priority #1 with this thing so it is what it is (as the celebrities say incessantly). Here are some thoughts that almost could have been blog posts in and of themselves- but I've consolidated. :)

1. I'm rich. (okay- just better off than last week) Yes, in one week Julia quit sleeping in pull-up$ and Tucker switched from formula to whole milk. Cha-ching.

2. We finally wised up and bought off-site storage today to clean out the garage and other rooms to make our house look better for selling. WHY oh WHY didn't I think of this before. It looks SO MUCH BETTER. Marky was amazing in getting rid of his stuff. He said, "let's give all these Thomas the trains to someone who will use them. And all the knights and the castle too." Um, I plan too- his name is Tucker. :)

3. The snow was a big downer- I had even bought snow gear and it barely even dusted the grass. We did drive though it with the windows down at one point just so the kids could swoon and giggle. We are going to Virginia soon and will probably see snow up there.

4. Did I tell you we pulled Julia out of MDO and Marky out of his 1/2-day school? And our once-a-week babysitter moved away to go to college. You'd think I would be going crazy with all of us on top of each other in January- but I'm not. I actually feel FREE. What? Yes, it's true- I actually feel SO FREE and happy now that I'm not on a forced nine-to-one schedule. I LOVE it. I find that waking up and not having to rush around for cute clothes, lunches, show and tell, etc. is much better for all of us. I'm less stressed and not running around screaming "where's your other shoe!" We take our time, enjoy the morning, read books, and let our family's needs dictate the schedule of the day- not the school hours. Several folks have already seen the difference in Marky's personality now that he's not in school. He's less grumpy, less bossy, and just more joyful and simple. I'm not sure why- I think when we are together MORE we get along better. It's kind of opposite of what you would think. And I love that when Tucker is sleepy I can put him down. Before he would get sleepy at say 12:30 and I had to keep him up until 1:30 so we could pick up the kids. I'm just thrilled and honestly shocked at the blessing this has been. I was so fearful that we would drive each other crazy, but it's working great. And schooling is going much better now that I'm not tired from the morning of running around crazy. I have so much to say about this, but I guess I'll save that for later.

5. Are you keeping up with Noah's blog? I really hope you check it out- they really need your prayer support. This week was an extra tough week. I can't tell you how much I wish I lived closer to them. Families need each other.

6. To end on a lighter note, have you heard the talk that the State of the Union was potentially going to overlap the season premiere of Lost? In the words of Liz Lemon, "that's a dealbreaker!". Thankfully, the good folks at ABC and the White House know what we want and have moved the speech.

How to eat First B'day Cupcake (by Tucker)

First, remove the plate- that's just superfluous-
Yes, yes, this is working perfectly....

Smash cupcake with plate-

Plate on the floor. (Rennydog says gracias) Use two fists to grind remaining cupcake into table, clothes, and whatever else you can reach...

Take a bite. "Hey Daddy- this is DEWICIOUS!"

Oh, I'm so happy!

But now my hands are a big mess-

I can't stop staring at them....

All gone! Thanks for wiping my hands off, now on to another cupcake, pwease.

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

...A precious and chunky baby....at least that's what I got last year. This year I got a FIRST BIRTHDAY for my BABY. My itty, bitty, fresh-from-God baby is a YEAR old! How is that possible? What a fun year we've had together!

You have been sweet, happy and just a JOY to mommy's heart.

I kiss you all day every day because you are just so darn kissable.

And now you are one. You are almost walking- you climb stairs by yourself- we love your swirly double-crown- You walk around with your push cart...

...and keep a happy disposition all the time. Your laugh is hysterical and you are a tough little guy! God knew exactly what we needed. You are still so small- yet you fill our entire home with your sunny personality.

You must be what George Macdonald had in mind when he wrote his poem, Baby, that ends with "But how did you come to us, you dear? God thought about you, and so I am here." Thank you, Lord, for remebering us and bringing our family this precious soul to love.

Ring in the new year Port City style...

Made a very quick trip home this past weekend so Daddy could get lots of work done. Sissybug slept in the car, which was unusual. I have three kids who don't get sleepy on car rides, I mean, wouldn't you think one of them would? This sleep lasted about 15 minutes.
Off to the mall for extreme trampoline-

Fearless...

Even Little Bit got in on the action-

Not Mr. T- even though he technically weighed enough!

In other news, is it cold or what? They say there' s a 60% chance of snow Thursday? Good thing I raided my favorite second-hand store and got "new" snow boots for the kiddies! I also got a new table and chairs for the kids that I'm in love with- although it has to be painted and doesn't fit in our home. I bought them for our new home, which as of right now, is only a figment of my imagination. We had a contract and closing date on a new home and the people called and said they had family circumstances that meant they'd need to postpone selling until May and asked to get out of the contract. So we let the contract expire and are on a lookout for a new dream home, although we may end up in the first house after all if we can't find one. Hope deferred usually makes the heart sick, but in our case, I'm so grateful for our blessings I won't complain.

It's so sad...

that we can't let our kids watch the Rose Bowl Parade anymore- I could NOT believe the commercials they put during a flower parade- Victoria's secret...really? Why don't networks think about these things?

Happy New Year

For the gifts and burdens of the year that is past,
For the promise of the year that lies before us
We praise you, O Lord, and we bless you.

Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega. All time belongs to Him and all ages. To Him be glory and power through every age forever.
(from Easter Vigil Liturgy)