Magic Moments

This is my 600th post here on blogger. Technically this is my 921st on a blog site. Tom started a blog (on xanga) way back when...way back when I had just finished my undergrad and was working for Lutheran Social Services...way back when he must have been the manager at American Eagle (or perhaps he was working at Pizza Hut? I can't remember)...way back in September of 2005. My, how many thoughts our blogs hold. It's so strange to think that our blogs hold documentation of our move to Minnesota, of Tom's first ministry job, of my graduation with a master's degree, the birth of 2 children, the move into our house, the changing of Tom's career, birthdays, summers at the cabin...and the list could go on. I suppose in some sense this blog has become one of my good friends. It holds frustrations and happiness, challenges and accomplishments, and most of all memories of every significant or boring thing we've done. Never did I think that this blogging thing wou...

In case you haven't noticed, our lives just aren't that interesting. I'm quickly running out of material for a post everyday. I'll try to keep up this trend, but no promises. However, my 600th post is coming up. Any suggestions? Today started off as business as usual. Tom was up at the crack of dawn (or a little before). I barely mumbled "I love you" before I fell back to sleep as he headed off to work. I woke an hour and a half later to the sound of keys in the door. And I kind of freaked out. Who was trying to get into my house and why were they using keys? Low and behold it was Tom. Evidently he didn't need to work today. So he had the day off. We both got that feeling we had as kids when you wake up and realize school is cancelled because of the snow. :) It was an unexpected surprise. We didn't do much but for me the day was extra sweet. I got to take a nap and Tom went grocery shopping with us....you have no idea how much easier havi...

You just never know what you're going to encounter at breakfast. Always be on guard.

If you haven't heard of the book Llama Llama Red Pajama you must be living under a rock. :) Aiden got this book for his first birthday from Grandmommy and Grandpa and the book has been well loved. So, when I discovered that the Stage Theater in Hopkins was doing the World Premiere of Llama Llama Red Pajama: The Musical, I knew Aiden and I had to go. The show did not disappoint! The music was great, the acting was superb, and the musical was well written and very cute...it even had a few jokes that adults found funny. The show very much played up the bedtime drama that every child puts on (it's not just my kid, right?) and the relaxing that Mamas desperately try to do (which usually never happens) when the kiddos finally fall asleep. The Stage theater has some more upcoming shows that I know Aiden would love. He and Tom are already looking forward to Suessical. And I just found out that tickets are half price for home-schoolers (which right now we are) so that makes a ...

I went back to work today. "Work" is a term I use loosely since I only worked for three hours (not even). Nonetheless, it was the first time that Daddy, Aiden, and Sage had to fend for themselves. And since Daddy has changed a whopping 2 diapers since Sage has been born I think all parties involved were a bit worried. Sage must have thought it would be funny to have his every-four-day-diaper- blow-out while I was gone. I came home and found Tom had managed to clean up both boys and give them a bath but could only find a newborn sized jammie sleeper that Sage out grew long ago. Tom stuffed (and I do mean stuffed) him in anyway. He looked so silly! I just laughed and laughed when I saw him. Tom also must have had no patience for cloth diapers because the disposable stash of wipes and diapers had been broken into. However, the children don't look any worse for the wear so all is well that ends well. This is going to be a weekly event so the boys will have lots of bondi...

Today's blog is brought to you by my friend, Jill . Credit goes to her for this yummy recipe. Aiden and I made these this morning and they were delicious. Even Tom, my pickiest who refuses to trade in his Quaker Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars for something healther, liked them. Next time I will probably skip out on the cranberries and try adding coconut. I didn't put nuts in this time, but next time I will try adding almonds for extra nutrition. Since the boys don't like nuts I think I could probably grind them into a fine powder using my awesome blender (thank you SO much, Tom!) before adding them in. Be creative and add in what you like. Aiden added extra chocolate chips. Since there isn't any sugar in these and they are full of healthy stuff I don't mind that Aiden's already eaten 2 today. Ingredients: 1/3 c. honey 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted (or canola oil) 1 mashed banana (or 1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce) 1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce...

I had plans to get caught up on school today with Aiden. But it snowed. I think we got a whopping 1.? inches. Normally it wouldn't have even been enough to make me watch the weather report. But I must admit that when you are used to getting quite a bit of snow in the winter time you kinda miss it when you hardly have any snow at all. So it was understandable that Aiden was pretty excited this morning. I was forced to call a Snow Day when Aiden was trying to put his boots on over his footie pajamas. He made snow angels and "shoveled" my steps. Sage opted to stay inside and take a nap and hang out with Mama. Can you believe that this goofy face is the closest thing to a smile that I've been able to get on camera?

1. If you have to choose between food and sleep, you choose sleep. 2. If you miss the 10 o'clock news you figure it's no big deal because you can just watch it when it's replayed at 2 AM...after all, you'll be awake anyway. 3. You respond to emails at 3 AM. 4. When it would normally take you some time to fall asleep, you now fall asleep the instant your head it's the pillow. 5. You had an argument with your husband (who has worked the last two weekends until 2 AM and everyday in between) about who was the most tired. (Both of you secretly know that Mama won the argument hands down. ) 6. It no longer matters to you that you have 4 loads of laundry to fold and put away. 7. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon you admit defeat, text your husband, and tell him to pick up an order of take out for dinner at the Chinese restaurant down the street. 8. At 4 AM, as a last ditch effort, you actually tried to help your baby find his thumb to suck on the off chance it might he...

My cousin, Mikelene, came up with this yummy breakfast idea. 1. Butter both sides of a piece of bread like you would for grilled cheese. 2. Choose a cookie cutter and cut the shape out of the middle. 3. Put the bread in a hot frying pan. 4. Fill the middle with an egg (I scrambled mine up a bit since Aiden doesn't like runny yolks, but the egg did ooze out of the hole a bit. A fried egg might stay in the shape a bit better). 5. Fry both sides and fry up the shape cut-out. 6. Fry both sides till egg is done. 7. And there you have it....A Toad in the Hole!

Have you ever read The Birth Order Book? After having two children it is every clear to me how two children raised in the same family can have two completely different personalities just based on birth order. Of course God has wired each of us differently, but birth order plays a role in our makeup. I was just telling Tom that parenting a second child is so much different than the first. With Aiden I was so anxious for him to do everything. Smiling, cooing, talking, crawling, walking....I wanted it all to come so fast. I probably pushed him a bit too and spent hours "developing" these skills. With Sage, things are a bit different. I know exactly how fast the time goes and how fast little babies grow up. I spend a large part of the day just starring at my sweet baby and thinking, "Don't change! Don't do anything! Don't learn anything. Just stay a baby...just stay little...just let me spend the day soaking you in." Those early weeks when their litt...

There are many moments when I second guess myself as a mother. The philosophies that I firmly believe in sometimes seem ridiculous especially during seasons when life seems chaotic or when my children are being naughty or uncooperative. There are times when I look at others who seem to have a perfect life and wonder what I'm doing wrong. And it's in those moments when I need the Holy Spirit the most. I need him in those times to remind me to follow my heart, to ensure me that my sacrifices are worth it, and to help me remember what is truly important. We aren't a family that lives by the clock. We'll soak up an experience before we think about what time it is or what we're late for. We don't opperate like a well oiled machine. From the outside we look unorganized and helter-skelter. But we try our best to nourish our hearts. We live for the moment and the experience. We overlook spilled soap in the name of curiosity. Our house isn't always clean, ...

My one three year old little boy often seems like 3 children rolled into one. I can't keep up with his endeavors, his curiosities, or his mischief. I find things around the house that are quite funny (although sometimes messy, naughty, and unnerving). I've seen Aiden do things that make me cringe. Just the other day right before my very eyes I saw Aiden get a running start and do a hurdle over Sage (who was playing on the floor). I asked Aiden what on earth he was thinking (we are trying really hard to learn the concept of "think before you act"). Aiden told me he was trying to be Jack Be Nimble. When you are three this is a perfectly acceptable reason to jump over your baby brother. What was I to say? I finally just told Aiden that jumping over babies and candlesticks were just not a good idea. I couldn't be too mad because I hadn't ever told him not to jump over his baby brother. This week I found my face soap squirted out all over the tub and last ...

I'm not really sure whether to love or hate this January weather. Truth be told, since I don't leave the house much (hardly ever!) a good ole' fashioned snow storm sounds quite cozy. But since there is nothing like that in the long term forecast we're making the most of what we've been dealt. Both yesterday and today we were able to go outside.....and no matter what the weather should be it's always nice to be outside. So here it is....50 degrees in the middle of a Minnesota Winter. The Soccer Ball is compliments of Santa. I don't think we thought the soccer ball would take it's maiden voyage in January but Aiden had no complaints. Aiden could be entertained with a ball and a stick for hours. I just love little boys. And this is your daily dose of cute:

These thoughts are encouraging me as I greet this Monday morning.... "Blessings, like children, are not ethereal and weightless. Sometimes they feel like they come at you like a Kansas hail storm-they might leave a welt! But if you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil, God will give you the kind of overwhelming joy that cannot remember the details. Motherhood is hard work. It is repetitive and often times menial. Accept it. Rejoice in it. This is your toil. Right here. Those are their faces. Enjoy them. The days of your life are supposed to be full of things like this. But joy is not giddy. It is not an emotional rush-it is what happens when you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil. So rejoice in your children. Look them in the eyes and give thanks. You will not remember the work of all this planting when the harvest of joy overwhelms you." -Loving The Little Years: Motherhood In The Trenches by Rachel Jankovic

Aiden asked to play with the hose today. :( It stinks that moms always have to be the bearer of bad news. I couldn't even offer playing in the snow as a consolation prize. Playing in the sink was the best I could do. In case you were wondering, the water did overflow the sink and Aiden ended up soaked and then naked before the fun was over. Needless to say, my floor got nice and clean. :)

Sage, someday you'll realize how cool your big brother is. You guys are gonna be best friends. Aiden loves you so much!

The night hadn't started off that well. Tom was working late (and I do mean LATE), Aiden had been in bed since 7 but was still awake at 9, and I was bouncing Sage trying to keep the fussies at bay. Clearly Aiden was having a hard time sleeping (which happens frequently when he knows his Daddy isn't home). He had been out of bed to ask for water (twice) and he was up because he thought he saw a bug. He purposely fell out of bed while he was awake (twice), and he was up again because he wanted different jammies (evidently he was too hot). After I got Sage ready for bed I went into Aiden's room and sat in his rocking chair to rock with Sage and help Aiden fall asleep. Aiden sat up and said, "Mama, it's so great to be all together. We just need Daddy here now." I thought to myself, "Yes, it is so great to be all together." And in that moment I was no longer disgruntled about missing the ending to Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I sat there with my ...

I hold it very near and dear that Sage smiled for Mama first...and he only smiled for Mama for quite awhile. At 3 1/2 weeks he worked pretty hard for those first few smiles, but now they come much more easily, especially in the mornings. I even catch him smiling at the black and white wall hanging above his changing table...Silly boy! So, even though he seems to think that 11:30 is an acceptable bedtime, and even though he saves all his fussies for 8:30 and later, I'm pretty smitten with this little boy. It's proven a bit hard to catch a smile on camera. These aren't his best but here is just a taste of his cuteness. He makes my heart swoon. As do all of my men..both little and big. :) Untitled from Jenny on Vimeo .

Last week we celebrated Tom's Dad's 70th Birthday. In our true family fashion we had a delicious steak and potato dinner topped off with a bit of wine and lots of birthday cake. The entire family was able to be there and finding a date that worked for everyone was no small task and we list that at the top of our blessing list. :) After dinner the family sat down and one by one each child and grandchild shared memories and stories about Dad. For a chunk of this time I was in the other room feeding Sage, but I wasn't out of ear shot. And hearing the family laugh together and cry together over the blessings they received because of their Dad was such a blessing to me. How blessed I am to have married into a family such as this one. Sadly, I think it's rare that a family is as closely bonded as ours. I know the sharing could have lasted into the wee hours of the morning and beyond because the precious and often funny stories, memories, and lessons from Dad are immea...