Sunday, December 27, 2015
Raising Boys
The other night I found this going on in my bathroom. Darren is teaching them all the correct positions for flexing correctly in the mirror. Notice Paul isn't there- he has no interest in such foolish things! lol. I wonder what Luke will be like?
Double Digit Kyle
Kyle just turned 10! Having a kid with a birthday the week before Christmas is not easy! It just adds so much to do on top of Christmas. That's ok though because Kyle is such. a. good. kid. Seriously the boy is a dream child to raise. He never gives me a hard time, he does whatever I ask the first time. And he is the best babysitter ever. He is soo good with Gabe and Luke. In fact, we call him "The Baby Whisperer". He is so positive and outgoing. We love having Kyle be a part of our family. I don't know what I would do without him!
For his birthday I picked him up from school early and took him to Tri-cities with me. We don't go up there often so I thought it would be fun to take him. Plus, he wanted a Patriot's hat and I wanted to make sure the one I bought fit him. We went to the mall and got Panda Express, and did a little Christmas shopping. It was such a fun day. We went to Clair's and Gabe found these glasses and put them on. He loved them and didn't want to put them back. I didn't really want him to either- cause he looked so darn cute in them! Guess what he got in his stocking?
The next day we had a Minecraft birthday party for him. It was pretty easy since I had one for Paul and just saved the stuff. I whipped the party together in just a couple of hours. Phew. He invited a bunch of twerps over and they played Minecraft games. They had a great time. Them Kyle wanted a piece of cake smashed in his face. Kids are weird. Then the party was over and I was thrilled.
For his birthday I picked him up from school early and took him to Tri-cities with me. We don't go up there often so I thought it would be fun to take him. Plus, he wanted a Patriot's hat and I wanted to make sure the one I bought fit him. We went to the mall and got Panda Express, and did a little Christmas shopping. It was such a fun day. We went to Clair's and Gabe found these glasses and put them on. He loved them and didn't want to put them back. I didn't really want him to either- cause he looked so darn cute in them! Guess what he got in his stocking?
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Sunrise, Sunset
It's Christmas day evening. I'm feeling rather nostalgic. Today was great. It was better than that, it was wonderful. After presents and a nap Darren went to play ping-pong with some guys. The kids were all playing quietly in their rooms, and Luke fell asleep on my chest. I was looking for a Christmas movie to play in the background while I cleaned up. In the pile of Christmas movies I found a DVD of old family videos. I put it in and started watching.
I was enthralled. I sat down and couldn't take my eyes off of the TV. I watched the DeBry Christmas party from when I was 14. My dad went around and talked to everyone there. Nana looked so young. I saw my aunt Pat, and uncle Bob who have both passed away since. I saw all my cousins and aunts and uncles. I watched films of Christmas's at my house, Easter, birthdays, pets, Laura dating Gordon. I saw Christina, Laura, and Marilyn all pregnant with the first grandchildren.
As I sat and watched I was just so overwhelmed with love for my family. My dear sweet mom and dad and all the hard work they went to raising us kids. I felt so much love for each one of my brothers and sisters. I thought about our house and how great my childhood was. The fire in the fireplace. My fathers kind, loving words to us. My mom and dad's love for each other. In one scene my dad recorded my mom asleep. You could tell my dad thought she was so beautiful sleeping there. She was always so embarrassed in front of the camera so she didn't like being recorded. But he could record her asleep. He could show us all how beautiful she was. I was amazed at how beautiful my mom was. I never noticed that as a child. I was amazed at how kind all my brothers and sisters were to each other. We all love each other so much now- but really it's been there all along. I noticed how much work my mom and dad went to for holidays and birthdays. My mom always did so much to make our house beautiful and fun. My dad always appreciated and supported her. I felt blown away by how good my childhood was. As a child, I never once heard my parents fight. They always were so kind and loving to each other.
We had a warm, cozy, safe house full of people who love each other and take care of each other. What more could someone ask for in life but to create the same environment for their own children? I noticed how much I am like my mother, but could improve in so many ways. I noticed how kind and soft my dad always spoke to us. How his words to my mom were always like he was talking to the love of his life. She was always working hard making things beautiful. In one scene it's Christmas eve and my mom is wrapping a present. She had 7 children and Christmas was no small task. She lovingly put out an array of beautifully arranged gifts out for each one of us. She would never go to bed Christmas Eve. She would stay up all night making sure everything was beautiful and perfect. Christmas morning would always be magical. It was always over the top. A Christmas tree full of beautiful decorations. Music playing softly in the background, and a fire in the fireplace. After presents my mom would lay down in front of the fire and sleep all Christmas day. She went to so much trouble for each one of us. How could I help but be filled with love as I watched her? How can I learn to be more like her? Thank you mom and dad for all the wonderful memories you created for us kids. We had a wonderful childhood.
At the end was a movie someone had made from home videos from when my dad was a child. It blew me away to see my dad about 9 years old- the same age as my son. He was hopping up and down on one leg. He was the cutest kid. There were his brothers and sisters: Jim, Paul, Pat, Mary and Mark. Running around and looking so cute. There was a scene of Nana sitting on Opa's lap, probably in their 30's or 40's. Looking so young, vibrant, and in love. I couldn't keep the tears back as the song came to the chorus, "sunrise, sunset" My dad always says that. And now I find myself saying it to my kids, watching them grow older. I wish we could just stop time. We can't. So I do the only thing I can do , and that is to try to soak in every moment with them. And make their childhood as magical as possible.
Jim Nabors – Sunrise Sunset Lyrics
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When, did, they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they, were, small?
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
Now is the little boy a bride groom?
Now is the little girl a bride?
Under the canopy I see them
Side, by, side
Bless the gold ring around her finger
Share the sweet wine and bread per glass
Soon the whole circle will have come, to, pass
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness, and, tears
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk3rS8Yh-SI
I was enthralled. I sat down and couldn't take my eyes off of the TV. I watched the DeBry Christmas party from when I was 14. My dad went around and talked to everyone there. Nana looked so young. I saw my aunt Pat, and uncle Bob who have both passed away since. I saw all my cousins and aunts and uncles. I watched films of Christmas's at my house, Easter, birthdays, pets, Laura dating Gordon. I saw Christina, Laura, and Marilyn all pregnant with the first grandchildren.
As I sat and watched I was just so overwhelmed with love for my family. My dear sweet mom and dad and all the hard work they went to raising us kids. I felt so much love for each one of my brothers and sisters. I thought about our house and how great my childhood was. The fire in the fireplace. My fathers kind, loving words to us. My mom and dad's love for each other. In one scene my dad recorded my mom asleep. You could tell my dad thought she was so beautiful sleeping there. She was always so embarrassed in front of the camera so she didn't like being recorded. But he could record her asleep. He could show us all how beautiful she was. I was amazed at how beautiful my mom was. I never noticed that as a child. I was amazed at how kind all my brothers and sisters were to each other. We all love each other so much now- but really it's been there all along. I noticed how much work my mom and dad went to for holidays and birthdays. My mom always did so much to make our house beautiful and fun. My dad always appreciated and supported her. I felt blown away by how good my childhood was. As a child, I never once heard my parents fight. They always were so kind and loving to each other.
We had a warm, cozy, safe house full of people who love each other and take care of each other. What more could someone ask for in life but to create the same environment for their own children? I noticed how much I am like my mother, but could improve in so many ways. I noticed how kind and soft my dad always spoke to us. How his words to my mom were always like he was talking to the love of his life. She was always working hard making things beautiful. In one scene it's Christmas eve and my mom is wrapping a present. She had 7 children and Christmas was no small task. She lovingly put out an array of beautifully arranged gifts out for each one of us. She would never go to bed Christmas Eve. She would stay up all night making sure everything was beautiful and perfect. Christmas morning would always be magical. It was always over the top. A Christmas tree full of beautiful decorations. Music playing softly in the background, and a fire in the fireplace. After presents my mom would lay down in front of the fire and sleep all Christmas day. She went to so much trouble for each one of us. How could I help but be filled with love as I watched her? How can I learn to be more like her? Thank you mom and dad for all the wonderful memories you created for us kids. We had a wonderful childhood.
At the end was a movie someone had made from home videos from when my dad was a child. It blew me away to see my dad about 9 years old- the same age as my son. He was hopping up and down on one leg. He was the cutest kid. There were his brothers and sisters: Jim, Paul, Pat, Mary and Mark. Running around and looking so cute. There was a scene of Nana sitting on Opa's lap, probably in their 30's or 40's. Looking so young, vibrant, and in love. I couldn't keep the tears back as the song came to the chorus, "sunrise, sunset" My dad always says that. And now I find myself saying it to my kids, watching them grow older. I wish we could just stop time. We can't. So I do the only thing I can do , and that is to try to soak in every moment with them. And make their childhood as magical as possible.
Jim Nabors – Sunrise Sunset Lyrics
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When, did, they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they, were, small?
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
Now is the little boy a bride groom?
Now is the little girl a bride?
Under the canopy I see them
Side, by, side
Bless the gold ring around her finger
Share the sweet wine and bread per glass
Soon the whole circle will have come, to, pass
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness, and, tears
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk3rS8Yh-SI
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Piano Recital
My kids have been playing in a lot of recitals lately, and I love it. I think it's so good for kids to get used to preforming in front of an audience. It teaches them great skills. This last one was a piano recital.
If you want to see the whole recital you can see it on Youtube.
If you want to see the whole recital you can see it on Youtube.
Christmas Concerts
Along with the Christmas season comes the Christmas concerts. I love it. I love to hear the songs and see my kids develop their talents. We had a Junior High concert and Paul played his trumpet. I am so proud of Paul and the progress he has made with his trumpet. He is getting good!
Gabe got hot running around and stripped off his shirt before I had a chance to say a thing. Then he was too cute to tell him to put his shirt back on, so I let him run around topless. Hey, it gave people a good laugh, and don't we all need to see a kid running around wearing something strange to help us take life less seriously? Yeah.
Luke's Baby Blessing
How many pictures does it take to get Darren to smile seriously. Let's count.
SEVEN. Seven pictures to get a good picture of us. It's like taking a picture with a toddler, or a cat. There is never a dull moment being married to this guy. I like it:) He keeps me laughing.
Oh, and the baby blessing was great. It was a little sad that we had no family there, and not a lot of friends. Ellie missed it too because she was sick with the flu. But it's ok- we had our little family and I love us.
The Living Nativity
I heard about a Living Nativity a church in Hermiston was putting on. I wanted tot take the kids since we missed last year. I wasn't expecting much because, well, it's Hermiston. But we went and it was awesmoe! The First Christian Church did an amazing job! We were put into groups and led by an actor pretending we were part of their family on our journey to Bethlaham to pay our taxes. We walked by King Herrod and the 3 wise men. We went through a house and were read scriptures by a rabbi. Then we went through the town of Bethleham- it was a whole set with all sorts of shops and fun people trying to get us to buy things. Then we had to pay our taxes, and the Roman soldiers were mean! It was so cool to think about how it really was. Then the angel appeared to us, and we saw baby Jesus. It was a great production! It was so good we brought the whole family and went again the next night. Good job Hermiston!
Snow Day
Snow rarely happens in Hermiston. It makes me sad, as I love snow! What's better than getting a foot of snow and being snowed in for Christmas? Not much. Here, we are lucky if we get 2 inches. Which I guess is good because they cancel school for 2 inches, where as, in Rigby they laugh at 2 inches. The school policy there was school doesn't get cancelled unless it's 20 degrees below 0. I kid you not. Anyways, it snowed 2 inches, school got cancelled, and the kids and a great day playing in it. I took Kyle and Gabe to Darren's work for lunch. And they played in the icicle fountain out front. I'm hoping for more snow for Christmas, but we just might have to go out of town to get it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)