My first birthday party this year.

http://celibateinthesuburbs.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/birthday-fun/
Thanks for posting about our really fun party. And for not mentioning that I fell asleep during the movie. :o)! LOVE YOU!!!

Lent.

Tonight we started adding objects to our Memorial Box. See this post for an explanation of what a Memorial Box is : http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2010/02/memorial-box-monday-giveaway.html We also made some family decisions about what our "secret" projects are going to be for this season for fasting, praying, and giving (see Matthew 6). It is a joy to be taking this journey together and we are looking forward to seeing what God does to build their faith and understanding. Mommy is quickly trying to figure out what our schedule is going to look like for the rest of Lent (especially since we are going to try and make a trip to see Great Grandma in Seattle sometime soon.)

Quote.

Anytime you've found a simple solution to a complicated problem you've heard from God. Albert Einstein

Lent.

Last year Abby and I started talking about Lent. We grew up celebrating Advent at home, learning about the promises and prophecies in the Bible. And how God keeps his promises. All the time. Every time. He never forgets. And his time isn't like our time. He is patient. And Loving. He is Love. Made flesh. And he lived among us. But the most important holiday in the Christian calendar is Easter. We need to make sure we are celebrating with our families in just as specially as Advent. So we set about collecting ideas and had a lot of great conversations about what we could/would do. And then suddenly it was Ash Wednesday. We were taken by surprise because we have never celebrated it before.

Our family started celebrating a week late. We stripped down the dining room mantle. Took down pictures. We want to be reminded of Jesus. Yesterday we started by making a wooden cross. We put the Christ candle (the center candle from our Advent wreath that we light on Christmas day) with it, and light it each night as we read some of the Lenten readings from my copy of the Common Book of Prayer. We are splitting up the weekly passages into one each night. And learning a hymn. I got a great little book about Lent for kids. It has some great introductions to the different traditional practices of Lent, as well as some fun activity ideas. This week we are going to focus on Remembering. Joshua had the Isrealites set up a monument of stones as a sign of God's faithfulness and as a tool to pass on the memories of what God has done. We talked about the stones that we have in our living room and where they came from.

Just like a stone can be a reminder of someone/something, we are starting to collect meaningful objects in a Memorial Box. There are a few things in it already, and we want to add to it so we never forget all of the things that God does for us. We also read Matthew 6 about praying, giving and fasting in secret. So we are excited to come up with some family "secrets" and see what happens during this first Lenten adventure. I am really excited to see what happens. And I found out that soft pretzels are a traditional Lenten treat. I feel a cooking day coming up in our future!

Boys.

The boys helped me bake cornbread tonight to go with our soup. They don't always cooperate with getting their picture taken, but they always like to look at their own pictures. I sure love them and can't believe how quickly they are growing up!

Sugar.

I LOVE sugar. I have been addicted to sugar since I was a small child. I used to sneak into the sugar cannister and eat a spoonful of brown sugar I craved it so much. I got my addiction honestly. My grandmother had candy stashes and introduced me to Corn Pops and butter and sugar sandwiches.

I made a decision since our family situation is now stable I have decided I need to take care of myself for once. I have been exercising regularly again since the beginning of January. C25K (Couch to 5K) training with my friends makes it simple to push myself with cardio, but it is NOT easy and I have only been doing the workouts 2 times a week instead of 3 so I am falling behind a bit, but still doing something else more enjoyable for exercise once a week. I started a nutritional program that includes sleeping more, eating really healthy, exercising, and taking some nutritional supplements. I was thinking that I needed to give up eating so many sweets, but they are EVERYWHERE, and I didn't want to. But I knew I should. But I didn't want to. But...

So at our Bible Study last week I hear, "Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and we are all going to give up something for Lent and learn about what Lent is for group 2 weeks from now."

OK.

I give up the sugar. See I have this understanding of sacrifice: giving up something of value for something of GREATER value. I didn't feel like my health was of enough value to give it up. But Jesus is more than enough.

But I am addicted to sugar. And I discovered that I have been using sugar to self medicate a LOT of my stress and feelings. It got bad over the last 3 stressful years. I rewarded myself with sweets. The boys are finally asleep? Ice cream time! Emotional eating... not so great. I know it. But still that sugar.

So I gave it up. And all that emotional stuff that I had been stuffing - well lets just say I came unstuffed all at once. And it was messy. And my amazing husband loved me anyway. And he listened and heard my needs. And took me on a date to buy a new winter coat, Outback, and Big Lots. He is a good man. And a week later I am feeling a lot better, more mentally clear. And I am learning to be thankful for all the good things all around me. And tasting sweetness in foods that I never thought of as sweet before.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is. And I am learning all over again to rely on him. Not sugar. Not anymore. And I am very thankful that I am not walking this hard journey alone. I have some amazing friends.

Skating with Nana and Guido.

Nana and Guido got to visit for a few days after a being at a conference in our region, so we took them skating at the rink that Daddy plays hockey at. They brought Gavin his birthday gift - a new hockey helmet!!! He is soooo happy to have a hockey helmet. When he is playing around the house (and he plays hockey with anything he finds - a pencil and a cough drop for example) he will run over to me and make sure I know he is wearing his imaginary helmet. Isn't he adorable? I am enjoying the last of those adorable little baby cheeks as they melt away into "big boy" cheeks. Seth wants to skate by himself. Slowly. He is serious about his skating. And can't wait to go again. Now if we can just wean him off the cart and get him to trust himself a little bit more. :o)!

Me and my lover. He is amazing. He has put up with a lot from me in the last week. (Refer to Sugar post.) I love him so much and am thankful for him sharing his life with me.

Gavin and Nana.

Guido and Seth.

The whole clan. (This is the first time Nana has gotten on skates in years - she must love us an awful lot!!!! Thank you, Nana!) We had a great time with them here.

We also visited the Amazing Pizza Machine in honor of Gavin being a big boy and going potty all the time. We had a great time running around doing lots of rides and games. (I think Andrew is going to take just me sometime because I turn into a little kid in that place!) We hope they come back to visit us again, soon.

Breakfast with Cousins.

The first morning after cousins arrived we had breakfast in the playhouse. Blueberry muffins and bananas. Yum. The cousins had fun playing and playing and playing the whole time they were here. It was so nice that we got to have a long visit.

Grandkids.

For Christmas this year we started in September. Abby had a great idea to make Pookie and Buzz these profile paintings. Each of the grandkids got to paint their own. 10 Grandkids in 5 years and 3 months. We waited a while, but then we all got busy! They are growing up so fast. Here is the final result beneath the Christmas tree.

I don't want my children to be happy.

http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-want-my-children-to-be-happy.html

Gavin

Driving in the car we had a conversation about getting a dog. Gavin says he is going to have 2 dogs. He is going to name his dog Cheese. And his other dog Ice Cream. Then he can have dairy. I laughed so hard. How does he think of these things!?!

Thank You, Holly!

So my friend Holly has this Walmart curse. She has a bad experience every time she goes. I have never had a problem at Walmart, and am very glad because it is the closest place to home and one of the least expensive options for groceries around here. Holly gave me a great purse for my birthday from the Water for Christmas etsy site.

Promotion for Water for Christmas: Cut and past the link to visit the site - I still have 2 jewelry sets for sale on there, and they are way cuter than the photo. If you want you can buy them and have them mailed to me cause I don't have any of my own jewelry. :o)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Water4Christmas

Anyhow, I have discovered that Holly has passed along her Walmart curse so I don't forget her after she moves. Yup. My purse. Every time I go in or out at Walmart it sets off the alarm from the magnets that hold the bag closed. Yup. Thanks! :o)! I won't ever forget you.

Still here.

I have oodles of things to post about, but have been so busy that they haven't gotten done. And now I am so far behind that...
We are really glad to have Daddy home again. Gavin is instantly better and in love with all the time he is getting to spend with Daddy. Seth has been prickles and stings and ornery as all get out about everything since Daddy got home. This morning we had a long talk about being angry with Daddy about him being gone and learning to forgive him. He did better today. This stuff is soooo hard for the boys - they don't understand why Daddy leaves. They just feel abandoned. It is very hard for me to watch as a mom. We want to protect our children and give them the best. And yet my boys are learning to deal with hard things at a young age. And life has a lot of hard things.
I had a great birthday, and chaotic week, and a busy weekend ahead. Tomorrow is cooking baking for my "big kids" and skating as a family. Then a chili dinner with friends. Then a big morning at church where I am singing a song (not ready yet!) and potluck lunch. The church I go to MOPS at offers free childcare on Sunday night for Valentines Day, so I think Andrew and I are going to take advantage of that. And mixed in between lots of Olympic sports. The boys are very excited about the previews they got tonight before bed.
Oh - I have been working on something for the last 6 weeks that has consumed a lot of my emotions and thoughts, and it looks like it is working out, but there is a big hurdle ahead next week sometime. Please pray. This is one of those learning to be more obedient and having no idea where it is going to take you things. :o)
One last thing - after watching a clip about a skier that started skiing for the first time at age 7, Seth asked if Daddy could teach him to ski when he is 7. The power of seeing people do what they love and do it well is amazing!

LOOT!

So can I say that I LOVE my MOPS group. I always laugh and have fun. The ladies are awesome and I love getting to know them. They have childcare available so I can go whether Andrew is available to watch the boys or not. The speakers have been interesting and challenging. The crafts and activities have been fantastic. And there are presents. I leave with something everytime. So this is what I came home with tonight - great parenting resources and tools from the speaker, a new cute orange Bible in a version I don't already have (for being a February birthday), a heart shaped dish full of chocolate covered strawberries - our "craft" for the night, and a rose from the centerpieces since it is Valentines. And they are having a Valentine party for the kids next week where we get to make Valentines for senior citizens in our area. And they open up the church gym several times a month for kids to ride their bikes in during the cold cold winter. Tonight I feel rich in every way. Blessed.

Cheater Post.

So I haven't had time to post yet. We have been traveling, cleaning, organizing, planning, exercising, making, partying...

BUT, my lovely sis-in-law posted some fabulous pictures of all our kiddos together at Christmastime in a bunch of posts on her blog.
Check them out: seidelfam.blogspot.com

More real posts coming soon.