Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Reflections

December 31, 2009
Today is New Years Eve and as I sit here in my pj's I think I need to take time to reflect on 2009 and then think ahead to 2010. So here it goes...

2009 was probably the worst year of my life. I think that I can honestly say this, it was a very bad year for me emotionally, mentally, physically. I almost feel like crying now just thinking about it. I have kept a lot of things in, some friends, some family know all that I have gone through this year and know that some days were a struggle just to get through. I am very thankful for my loving family and great friends who helped me get through this year.

Physically, is the easiest to talk about. I had been suffering with foot issues for many months and thankfully went to the doctor. Where I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, it would be a long struggle to recover, but as I sit here now I don't have the constant pain that I had been having...something good to end the year with!

Emotionally and mentally, I think go hand in hand and I think many different things in my life played a part with these two parts of me.

We started building our house at the end of 2008 and living with your family in your parents house isn't necessarily the easiest thing. My parents were wonderful, very supportive, but you just have to understand what kind of toll it can take on you not having your own space. Thankfully we were able to move into our new house in September and we love it here. The space for Thomas and I is great, the kids love their spaces and we are truly blessed to have been giving the opportunity to build our own place!

I guess for those of you who know me, I am beating around the bush, because it is not easy to talk about the thing that has hurt me the most this year. But, I am at the point where I can't reflect on this year without hitting this. I have struggled with my relationship with a particular family member a few times in the past, but this year it really hit a hard spot and some very ugly, hateful words were spoken. I have always tried to never be completely rude and hateful to someone. I do know that I am not the easiest person to understand, I am not the easiest person to approach or read, but I am who I am. I am a person who tries my hardest to help people out when needed, who will be there if needed. But for someone to say some of the ugliest things possible to me, just really beat me down. For this person to say the things that were said after I included them in my life and in my home, I struggled. Truth be told, I am still struggling, especially now when this person has made a few small attempts to get back in, I struggle with the choice of do I allow this person back with another chance to basically break me down or will it be better this time, has this person learned?

If I really believed that this persons perspective has changed it would be easier to accept this person back into my life and my families lives, but I don't believe this is the case, I truly don't believe that this persons perspective of me has changed. I am sorry, that I can't forgive or forget as easily as others have, but that's not me and I honestly don't know that my emotional state can handle another attack like the one I took this year.

As I prepare to go into 2010, I will continue to struggle with this issue of this particular family member, because it is a family member, its not somebody that I can just pass along. I want to become a great mom to my three wonderful children, I consistently remind myself that my children are getting bigger and older everyday. Sometimes, I look at them and can't believe how big they have gotten already. Just the other day, I noticed how much older Tanner seemed, just in the way he was talking to me and his expressions as he shared with me the excitement of something. And Tapanga, has started talking so much more she holds conversations with her babies and barbies, its so cute. My boys, will start school this year, just another reminder how big they are and how fast time goes by.

I wish some things could be answered easily, I sometimes wish there was a magic button to show you the best path to choose, but then I guess that is not life. That is not what was intended for us. I want to be the best mom and I want my children to be the best children. I want to do for them what will help them to grow to be productive citizens. But what do you when they act out, which path to take with them to go that right route. I struggle with this daily, because in the end I want whats best for them.

I want to be a good wife. Thomas is so good to me and sometimes I feel I don't treat him with such goodness the way he does. In 2010 we will celebrate 7 years together. I think we have good relationship, we are able to talk about anything. Thomas sometimes gets frustrated with me because I think and look at things deeper than I need to sometimes, but hey he knows that's me and he accepts it!

For those of you who have read this sorry for all the ramblings, I am sure some of this didn't make much sense or flow quite right, but these are my thoughts and feelings. As I finish up this year and look at what I hope for next I really just want happiness and peacefulness. I have some awesome friends, a great family, a great husband, and some terrific kids and without all of them I definitely wouldn't have the chance at happiness. I have to remember that even through the struggles that I most likely will go through I am truly blessed to have what I have.

Christmas Day

December 25, 2009
Thomas was first up, he says he was awake at 4, then at 5, and finally up at 6. When I felt him get out of bed I popped up too! I mean its 6, time for Christmas morning, why aren't the kids up yet? So, out we go...Santa has visited!
Tanner was first up, when he walked across the walkway Thomas and I called up to him, "Merry Christmas, go wake up your brother and sister." Of course, he did and it was on! Tanner was very excited about the Handy Manny work bench.Tyler didn't know where to start.Oh, look, Santa ate his cookies and drank his milk! Look, its my pony! Tapanga is ready to take care of S'mores her pony. Stocking time! What is in your Santa bags boys? Transformers helmets! Optimus Prime...Tanner. Bumblebee...Tyler. Tanner was very excited about getting a Transformer!
Tapanga got a collection of Princess dolls and doesn't quite know what to think...
there it is... the excitement! What a cute picture.
Of course, no Christmas would be complete without playing in the paper!
There we have three very happy kids!Wow...its snowing on Christmas!
Grammie and Grandpa came over and the boys got cowboy boots from them, probably their favorite gift. Just look at Tanner...
Two happy...good looking cowboys!
Tapanga really enjoyed her princess dress up clothes from Grammie. She had to dress up and then dance with that princess she was dressed as, here she is with Sleeping Beauty.
My princess and I reading books with her new Tag junior reader.
What a picture this makes, a cowboy with his boots and stables.The princess was all tuckered out and fell asleep amongst it all!
I love Christmas. After becoming a mom, I love it even more, because of the excitement in the kids and the experience of it with them. The build up of it, the buying of presents your just sure everyone will love, but every year I have to deal with the big let down of its over, just like that. This was a great Christmas, I have a loving family and three wonderful kids. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2009
Thomas was off today, actually he was able to take yesterday and today off. Yesterday, he and I went out shopping and spent the day together getting some last minute things taken care of. But today was to be a family day, we were going to take the kids out, out to lunch, then a special treat and a few other things.

So, I ran to Walmart really quickly to get some last minute meal stuff, back home to get the kiddos and daddy and off to lunch we went...Chili's! Mmmm chips and salsa! After lunch we took the kids to the movies to see the new Disney flick, The Princess and the Frog. We loved it! Tapanga enjoyed the music and was dancing about, what a great time.

After the movie, we decided to drop in and visit Grammie and Grandpa, where the adults played some cards and the kids played with their toys, but at 5:00 we had to leave, we had reservations for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner...Hananoki. We decided to go check out the new Hananoki in Sango and had a great dinner, as always. Good night Grammie and Grandpa, time for us to go home.

We have one more thing to do before calling it a night, we need cookies for Santa, so when we got home it was time to back some cookies! This year Santa would be getting a special treat, peanut butter cookies with Hersey kisses! So, the kids set work unwrapping the kisses. After mixing and putting the cookies in the oven to cook, lets take a moment to feed the reindeer. It was a really windy night, hopefully the reindeer's food doesn't blow away!Time to put the kisses in the cookies. Tapanga got a taste of a little chocolate. Thomas got to pour Santa's milk. I am sure Santa will be happy with those great looking cookies and yummy glass of milk! Now, off to bed to see if Santa brings you gifts!
Thomas and I stayed up till about 12:30 waiting on Santa, just in case he needed our help. :) And at about 12:00, I here a cough and steps coming down the stairs, its Tanner...what are you doing baby? It seems he woke up and thought he would come down and see us! Back to bed, its the only way Santa will come!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Shopping with the boys

As the holidays have gotten near, I have been thinking about the boys getting older. This year I think they are old enough to pick out gifts for the most important people in their family. Now, I don't trust them enough to give them much money. So, the other day I took the boys and my mother in law to the Dollar Tree with a list of people to buy for.

Before going we talked about choosing gifts for our family based on what those people like. For example, I asked them what Tapanga liked and the boys both replied Princesses. I asked them what Papa liked and they said something like tools. So, ok it seems we have the idea.

I took Tanner shopping and Diann took Tyler. Tanner was pretty quick he would see something and pick it up for a particular person. Tyler had a pretty good idea about the people he was shopping for and wanted to get a few extras, he had to buy presents for the grandparents dogs and cats.

It was a lot of fun to let the kids shop for the family and some of the gifts are pretty funny. For example, Tanner got PaPa a kitchen sponge and Tyler got someone a piece of rope. It will be fun to hear them tell the recipients of the gifts there reason for choosing that gift! I will have to re post with that later!

What my children think

I have been meaning to do this for awhile, but being behind on the blog wasn't the right time. So what do my kids think? Here are their answers to a series of questions:

(I tried to ask Tapanga but all she kept saying was "No")

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Tanner: smart stuff
Tyler: reindeer fly

2. What makes mom happy?

Tanner: hugs
Tyler: being good boys and flowers

3. What makes mom sad?

Tanner: people being bad
Tyler: no flowers and when the lamps are not working

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Tanner: doing silly things
Tyler: tickle me

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Tanner: I don't know
Tyler: sisters

6. How old is your mom?

Tanner: 20
Tyler: 5

7. How tall is your mom?

Tanner: 23
Tyler: really tall

8. What is moms favorite thing to do?

Tanner: making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Tyler: play

9. What does your mom do when you are not around?

Tanner: go to work
Tyler: come back

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Tanner: turning 20
Tyler: flowers

11. What is your mom really good at?

Tanner: computer
Tyler: making presents

12. What is your mom not good at?

Tanner: doing lights and stuff
Tyler: not finding flowers

13. What does your mom do for a job?

Tanner: play the computer
Tyler: work at schools

14. What is moms favorite food?

Tanner: chicken
Tyler: meat

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Tanner: kisses
Tyler: being nice

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Tanner: rabbit
Tyler: Mickey Mouse

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Tanner: going to Hananoki together
Tyler: hugs

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Tanner: tickle eachother
Tyler: same skin

19. How are you and your mom different?

Tanner: eyes are different
Tyler: freckles

20. What does your mom like most about your dad?

Tanner: I really don't know
Tyler: making him be good

21. Where is your moms favorite place to go?

Tanner: work
Tyler: Nashville

22. How do you know your mom loves you?

Tanner: cause you give us kisses
Tyler: cause you give hugs

Monday, December 21, 2009

Movie Night

We recently purchased the newly released Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian. The boys loved the first Night at the Museum and we were excited to let them see the 2nd one. So, we did something we never do which was set up a table in the living room and eat dinner in front of the t.v. It was pretty fun for the kids and they were excited about eating dinner in the living room. They enjoyed the experience and the lasagna!

Riding a bike

On a recently warm day, Tanner decided he wanted to try and hide his bike without training wheels and he did! It didn't give up, he kept trying and did a great job!

More funny things said around our house!

Most of you all know how our family operates and that we often go out to dinner, which makes this pretty funny:

The other night at dinner Tyler asked where the bread was. I told him we weren't having bread with dinner tonight. He replied, "Well we need an appetizer!"

We were at the house, I guess we go out way to much!


Tapanga came to us crying tonight, saying Tanner pinched her belly. We sent her away, saying she was fine. Maybe 15 minutes later Tanner comes and says, in his sweetest voice, "I didn't mean to hurt my sister." My reply, "Is she alive?" Tanner, very matter of factly, "No."

How funny, I guess you need to know what alive means. I yell "Tapanga!" She replies..."Tanner did you hear your sister talk, that means she is still alive."



Also tonight, Tyler comes to the rail calling, "Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy!" Thomas says, "What Tyler?" Tyler replies, "Your not my daddy (Big surprise to us!)," and runs away. Thomas yells after him, "TYLER come here, whose your daddy (said in the tone of the famous quote, but completed unintentional)?!"

CPOM Christmas Party

The annual CPOM Christmas party was a lot of fun! Laura was able to use her church, which has a nice wide open space for the kids to run around and the adults to visit. Each year we have had a visit from Santa, which the kids really like.
Santa has arrived, look the boys are right there to greet him!
Tapanga was very excited to see him also.
All of the kids were eager to see him and give them their lists.
Tapanga enjoyed her cookie first when eating dinner.What good looking kids visiting with Santa.
How many kids can fit into one box? The boys and some of their best friends, the Nelson girls and Nolan twins can all fit into one box. They loved playing with the box, they would take turns pushing each other around and hiding in it.
Tapanga enjoyed other peoples plates also.Tyler was the first to receive his gift from Santa...and was very excited to show it off!
Tanner was excited to get his gift.
Tapanga waited patiently for her name to be called and excitedly jumped up, but I missed the picture! She is such a big girl!
After all the kids received their gifts we tried to get a group picture, this is about as good as it got.
The moms also took a picture with Santa, I bet he enjoyed that pic!Joy, Laura, Kelley, Melissa and I also took a picture with him, because we have become good friends thanks to this group!Tapanga really enjoyed her gift, she and Julia colored many of the pages in the book that night!
She did put the coloring book down to take time to decorate her cake. We love our multiples group, we have some really great friends from this group and are truly thankful for all we are able to do together! Merry Christmas CPOM!