Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Yuck

We really have been blessed with fairly good health and I am extremely thankful for that. I have been surprised with how little we had all been sick this winter. We have picked up the minor cold and couch a few times but nothing horrible. So I guess we were due for something nasty. Ellie got hit last week with a sinus infection, pink eye and it all came with multiple other unpleasant things. She has been on antibiotics for three days and looking MUCH better. She was a stud and kept everything contained and didn’t touch her eyes. I followed her around and changed bedding and pillow cases daily trying to keep it from spreading. Well Blake woke up this morning with pink eye. At least I already have the drops on hand. Now they have sore throats and coughs to go with the colds and pink eye. Even though this has been quite a trying week I think I would take our bout of sickness all in one fail swoop instead of over the whole winter. I know many of you have been fighting illness for what feels like the whole season and – I AM SO SORRY! It’s just not fun to have sick kids. You feel so bad for them and it’s so hard to get a three year old to understand why he has to wash his hands so much and why HE CAN NOT TOUGH HIS EYE! Thank goodness Viola’s mom and dad were on Spring break the she was not exposed. It’s her 1st birthday today and I am so happy she is not sick. Happy Birthday Viola! We love you!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Thanks Daddy!

First off...why is it even an option to put pictures on the left! I thought I would try something new and I am SO annoyed with this whole blog. Every time you try and move something around or add a new pic it totally ruins my previous pictures. Ok, I got that out - thank you! So I am going to post this even though the pictures are a mess because I just can't handle moving them around any more!
Michael brought home a 3D transformer puzzle from a co-worker for the kids. It started out fun and then the kids (and me) got very stir crazy while we waited for Daddy to read the next step in the directions, pop out the next pieces and instructions on how to put them together. Something I have realized about Mike and I, we work very differently. I want to stay busy, get the work done, move, move, move! Michael is a planner, reads instructions (because they were written for a reason and "it will save time in the long run it you do it right the first time"), and moves at a steady and strong speed. It must be the engineer in him. So needless to say 15 mins into the puzzle the kids and I were long gone. Mike worked steady and consistently and finally was done! Thanks babe for stickin it out :)












Thursday, March 5, 2009

New Territory

Our beautiful compassionate daughter Ellie has a big heart and with that gift comes worry. She worries a lot and also gets very embarrassed over just about anything. This morning I accidentally hit her in the head with the door at preschool. It hurt and she started to cry, we waited outside until she composed her self and then headed into class. As soon as someone asked her if she was okay she burst into tears and ran after me. I picked her up and realized we were going to need a minute. I told her teacher that I was going to take her out to the car and when we were ready we would come back in. As she sat on my lap in tears in the front seat I asked her if it really hurt still...her response just broke my heart. It didn't hurt but she was so embarrassed. She was worried about what the boys in her class were going to say and if the "boy teacher helper" saw her. I tried the whole, "Ellie would you make fun of someone if you saw them get hurt or would you just be worried if they were okay?" Looking back that was not the answer. Of course she would be worried that is who she is. And, there are kids who are just not very nice and they will make comments. This is why she is in school...so she can learn and I can learn how to deal with all these issues. I came home and googled, "what to do with kids who get embarrassed easily." After reading a bunch of ridiculous stuff I realized I missed a wonderful opportunity! I should have prayed with her. I should have given her a scripture like Philippians 4: 6, "Do not be anxious about anything...and the God of peace will be with you." I know I have to teach her skills to deal with people and feelings but the most important thing I can teach her is to turn to God in these moments. Now that I am crying at my computer and praying for my little girl at school right now I think I will go cuddle with my Blake. I am so thankful for this little struggle because I realized one of the most important roles I have as Ellie's mom. I think I will have to pray with Ellie when she gets home and give her some extra long hugs.

***Update - Ellie was just fine when I picked her up today and told me she, "Got over it and had a good day." I think this might have been more of a lesson for mommy then Ellie.***

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Rockaway Get-a-way

We just spent a very relaxing fun weekend at our favorite beach, Rockaway. One of the best parts about this trip was we didn't over plan anything. Food was good and simple, (except for GG's famous pies...she baked her heart out this weekend), Michael's Grandma Viola (GG) was able to come, and we just rested, played & laughed.
The beach was beautiful Saturday - NO WIND!
Just had to throw this one in there
Blake has NEVER wanted to get anywhere near the water before. He got more and more brave as the day went on. They started throwing rocks into the ocean and then running away from the waves. Blake must have decided he was ready to get a little wet...unfortunately the ocean always wins and he got drenched! He waited a little too long to run away and a little wave took him right off his feet. He didn't cry just walked back to the car ALL WET and told me I better drive home, dad and he would walk. He did not want to sit in his seat all wet. We finally talked him into taking his wet clothes off and wrapped him in daddy's sweatshirt. Good thing for the outside hot shower back at the house!
Little family tradition - homemade ice cream - yum!
GG's famous apple pie!
waiting....
waiting some more...
DONE!
We had a great view
Lot's of games
Ellie played Operation for the first time. She was so focused that when the buzzard went off it scared her to death. Thank you Uncle Ivan for covering her ears so she could get serious about the game.
Guess Who
Viola is now on the MOVE! Baby Viola
Great Grandma Viola
Did we mention how much ice cream we ate this weekend?!?
You just have to go to the Tillamook Factory, once...or twice!
For some reason when Blake is tired he starts closing his eyes when he eats. Not in between bites just when he's crewing...we saw a lot of that this weekend.
Poor kid we wore him out!