Easter

We had a nice Easter. Finally, it was a Sunday where we were all healthy, so we began the morning with 7:30 mass. The kids were well-behaved (at least as good as it gets for them). I was especially proud of Alex since he was really excited to find his basket. The Easter Bunny left him a treasure hunt, and the first clue was under Mom's pillow for him to get only after church.

Best memory of each kid:

Julia - Looked so grown up in her Easter dress and headband (she slept most of the day, and we were grateful that she was just resting rather than having the sleepiness be the lead-in to some kind of bug)

Erica - OOOooooh - what she said about every item in her basket.

Luke - Kept telling us the "Easter Beagle" had been here. Also told us over and over that Jesus died on the cross to take away our bad choices.

Alex - Thought Mom was the Easter Bunny until he discovered that was impossible - the Easter Bunny came back while we were in church and hid Alex's basket in his bed. He's at that age where the Easter Bunny and Santa just don't make sense to his logical brain, but he still wants to believe.

All four - they all got "Crocs" in their baskets. It will make me happy all summer to see those cute shoes on their feet.

As always, Easter brings special memories of the days that Alex and Julia were born. It's still amazing to think that we've been given two of our very own Easter miracles.

Thank you, Jesus!

MER

More Hints

One of my favorite activities in high school was being a part of the yearbook staff. You would think that it would have dawned on me that I would like scrapbooking many years before I figured it out - after all, what is the yearbook besides a collective scrapbook?

And, the yearbook was also my first taste of what I would do in the career I chose - marketing. Putting together the yearbook is very similar to creating a promotional brochure or press release...strong copy, good pictures, a story to share.

Now, crazy as it sounds, I never realized back in high school that I should look for a career and a hobby that would build off what I enjoyed doing. Lucky for me, I eventually stumbled on marketing, and then years later, scrapbooking.

Lesson learned - do what you love. Work can be fun. It's possible to make a career out of doing something you really enjoy.

Winter Camp

Last weekend (Leap Day Weekend), Alex and I went to Camp Rokolio in Kiel for Winter Camp. We 'power hiked' through knee high snow, we went sledding, we slept in really uncomfortable bunks (Mom shared a room with three other ladies, one of whom was a very loud snorer), we played games, we shot mini marshmallows with a shooter made from PVC piping...we had a blast! Alex is now claiming it was just 'okay', but it was really a lot of fun. I really enjoyed spending time with Alex, and it was also rewarding to spend time with other adults (we played games after the kids went to bed).

Sign me up for Winter Camp 2009!

MER

Ji-Normus

What's that, you ask? Why, it means that something is really big in Luke-speak. When gigantic or enormous just doesn't quite do it, you say "ji-normus".

And, speaking of Luke, here's an update on the potty front. Grandma E bought him a Thomas calendar, and he gets a page to put on the top of his bunk bed every time he uses the potty chair. Four pictures since yesterday (and at least that many diaper changes, so we've got a less than 50% success rate so far.) But, it's progress.

There Were Hints

For the longest time, I thought that the woman I have become was not very much like the teenager I was. That girl was going to be a career woman, and here I am - mother of four. But, when I think about it, the stuff at the core of me now is very much like that girl I was. Here's what I mean:

Pro-Life - Way back in middle school, I did a research paper about abortion. I was very much against abortion then, but I didn't know that I would someday be tested in a way that rocked my very soul. When we found out that Julia had some brain abnormalities at our 20 week ultrasound, one of the options we were given was to terminate the pregnancy. And, I was so shaken and scared about what we'd learned, I felt like I just wanted to run. To further complicate things, we had to make a decision quickly because we could not terminate the pregnancy once we reached 22 weeks. So, for a couple of days, I felt like I had this enormous decision to make. Crazy thoughts went through my mind - could I be sedated if I terminated the pregnancy? Could the baby be sedated - after all, I'd felt her moving... For me, those awful days of trying to 'decide' still remain the most difficult part of our journey with Julia.

Then, I finally realized that there was no decision to be made. Although abortion was an option we'd been given, it really wasn't a choice for us at all. No matter what, we already loved this baby. And, it hit me - having this baby might change my life more than I could even understand then, but aborting our baby would destroy my life. So, yes, even when my faith was put to the test, I can say with 100% certainty that I am pro-life!

Part 2 and more to come.

Gotta Get It Done 'round the House

Editted to update on 10/6

1. Growth chart - to hang in the hallway just outside the kids' rooms - No Progress
2. Artwork Display - Wire and cool hangy thingies in the hallway just outside the bathroom - No Progress
3. Area by the cubbies - new light, paint the garage door, shelf with basket for stuff to go downstairs, better shoe/boot storage, maybe a solar tube - No Progress
4. Master bedroom and bathroom - complete decorative overhaul to include new flooring, new furniture, painting, new bedding - Nearly completed
5. Kitchen - remove wallpaper, paint back wall, decorate above cabinets, knobs for cabinets, under-cabinet lights, new canisters (and, it wouldn't hurt to re-organize the cabinets), new light over the kitchen table, maybe a solar tube - Purchased knobs for cabinets
6. Main bathroom - Shelving by mirror, knobs for cabinets, new flooring - Purchased knobs for cabinets and new toilet

Quote of the Day

"I wish trains could hug," said Luke longingly.

That boy sure does love his trains. We go over the tracks every day after dropping Alex off at school. Most people hope that the gates are up and the lights are not blinking. Not us. It makes the day if we actually see a train. Kids sure give you a different perspective on things.

Whooo, whooo - see ya down the tracks.