Lend an Ear....

I love music.  I love how it can cheer me up, I love how it can motivate me, I love how it can vividly bring back old memories, I love how it can make me cry and I especially love how it can teach me and touch my heart in ways nothing else can.

I've heard that men and women hear music differently.....men usually hear the rythym and beat--the sound of the song.  And women generally pay attention to the words of a song first.  You can a ask a man what a song is about and he might not know, he might just like the song because of the way it sounds.  And a woman might say that she loves a song because of the message.  I definitely follow this pattern.....when a new song comes on the radio, the first thing I do is listen to the words.  Maybe this is why I love music. Right now there is a song on the radio that chokes me up every time I hear it. It gives me a reality check and really motivates me to "live in the now."  It's all about how life goes by so fast, so we just need to enjoy every moment and every phase, especially in our kids' lives because it won't be like this for long.  This is something that can easily be overlooked in our busy lives....I know it is for me. Anyways, it touched me and I wanted to share.....

To listen, look to the right and scroll to song #17 on the pink playlist.

Tooth Fairy--You're Fired!

A few weeks ago, Dallas was eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast and broke down crying....I asked him if he bit his tongue--"NO!", or cheek--"NO!", or lip--"NO!", so I asked what in the world happened?  He answered that he bit his "tooth."  Since this is something everyone should see for themselves, I proceeded to investigate.  Lo and behold, when I peered into his mouth, his bottom tooth was at an awkward angle and sure enough, it wiggled back and forth {sqeak, squeak}  I reassured him that he didn't bite his "tooth" after all {whew!} He found this very amusing and went from tears of sadness to tears of laughter!  He had been waiting for a loose tooth for quite a while and it was a momentous breakfast for him.

Well, while we were in Leavenworth last weekend, Dallas' tooth had gotten to the point that was just ridiculous and he came into the kitchen to show me.  I put down the knife, {don't jump to any conclusions, it was just a salad, sheesh!}, grabbed onto his tooth....and Yanked!  I dropped it into his hand and he marveled at the fact that is was really out. 

I love these milestones in my kids' lives....to them, it is the most amazing thing, and I love being a part of that amazement.

 

So in true lost tooth protocol, he placed his tooth under the pillow and went to bed while visions of coins and bills danced in his head.....  

We {the parents} woke to the sound of a sobbing 6yr old boy that was devastated that his tooth was STILL under his pillow which meant that the tooth fairy did not come. {oh, shnighkies!}

We explained that the Tooth Fairy must have visited his bed in Port Orchard and discovered that he was on vacation, and that she would surely come the next night after figuring out where he was.  But Dallas wasn't going to take any chances.

This is note that he had me write to ensure that the Tooth Fairy understood where to find him, and then the Tooth Fairy's response:

The next morning we woke up to a wonderful sound.  His squeals of delight were music to our ears.  And can you believe the Tooth Fairy left him five dollars?!?  Hmm...could she be over-compensating...

Lucky for us, Dallas forgave the Tooth Fairy for the err of her ways and harbored no hard feelings...but something tells me his confidence in her will only return in time.

Silly Tooth Fairy.... 

{LOVE} Weekend

In the last month we've taken a couple trips to Leavenworth, WA where you can always count on good times and lots of snow.  

In January we stayed in a little hotel-cabin right on the Wenatchee river and went to the annual Icicle festival where they have an icecube scramble for the kids {equivalent to a easter egg hunt, but with trinkets frozen in ice}, dogpulling competition, ice-sculpture contests, and fireworks. If you ever get the chance, we highly recommend it....it's GREAT fun!

{Hard to read, but it says: Leavenworth Bavarian Ice Fest 2009}

When we weren't drinking our hot chocolate or caramel apple cider, enjoying the festivities, you could find us sledding at our favorite spot.

And in true Alec character, {he never ceases to amaze us} even though it took him forever, Alec had to tromp his way up to the tippy-top of the hill because sledding from half-way up was just way too easy...

On this run they all hooked their sleds together and started from the top....

Before we left, we set the self-timer on the camera to get a family portrait....

Then for the Valentine's Day/Pres. Day 3-day weekend we took the kids back to Leavenworth to learn how to ski. We decided we needed something a little roomier than our hotel-cabin and this time we found a 2-bedroom condo right in town that was so cozy and warm and nicely stocked with games and movies. 

So it's been a while {oh, say, 10 years!} since Angel and I last skied.  Let's just say our bodies were well aware...our muscles are almost feeling normal again...but despite the aching arms, legs, etc. it was SO worth it because we had the time of our lives!  The kids were so excited to ski and we attempted to explain that it might be a little harder than it looks, but that's almost like telling an engaged couple that marriage is harder than it seems, you just have to try it to find out!

And try they did...

They each had their share of spills and falls in the beginning, but it wasn't long before they got the hang of it and started having fun.  We were so proud of how they kept on persevering even though it was tougher than they expected and they couldn't do it on their own at first.  Grace was especially frustrated with the rope tow {it was a small hill, so no chair lift, just a rope that you grab onto and it tows you to the top} Angel and I would position the kids in front of us and take them up individually, but Grace saw many kids younger than her doing it on their own and she wanted so desperately to be able to do it too.  

Time after time she would try.....sometimes she would make it a little ways up and other times she would fall the minute she grabbed on to the rope.  Angel was bright enough to use it as a teaching moment to tell that there will be many times in her life when it seems like everything keeps going wrong and she will get tired of trying, but there is always someone there to help her when they feel like she can't do it by herself, whether it be Mom, Dad, or our Heavenly Father.

After a few hours, we decided to take a break, so we went back to the condo and ate some lunch. Everyone had a chance to re-energize, and we hit the slopes again with a vengeance! They all seemed to have a new found confidence on their skiis and the second half of the day was full of cheers and praise all around. 

We kept cracking up all day long because everytime Alec would fall down, he didn't get back up, he just stayed there....why, you say?  He was perfectly content to lay there and eat snow!  We kept telling him, "no more snow" {it was causing more trips to the bathroom and all that gear is a pain get off and on!} but it made him so happy so we usually let him eat a few bites before we said anything.  {don't worry, it had snowed a couple of inches, so it was new snow}

At the end of the day, Grace was ecstatic to finally master the tow rope and have the freedom of going both up and down the hill {grace}fully.  Dallas watched her success and also tried, but to no avail. 

Maybe next time Bubs....

{notice the snow in Alec's hand}

Here's the picture we took with the self-timer on the hood of the car {how else would we ever get family shots?} on the way out of town:

It was definitely one of those weekends where you feel like "this is what life is all about." We were spending time together, enjoying every minute, encouraging one another, laughing together, and loving each other so completely and unconditionally.  It really reinforced our family ties and we made memories that we will have forever!

Why, oh Why?

I've been thinking.... (dangerous, I know, but beside the point)

Sometimes I think life is a little backwards...Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you: Lately Grace has been totally into helping do the dishes after dinner.  As soon as we finish dinner, she jumps up and takes everyone's plates over to the sink where she attempts to rinse them off and put them in the dishwasher. Sound pretty good? Yeah, except that then the dishes take twice as long as they normally would since she needs help rinsing everything off and then help on where to put each, individual item.  Don't get me wrong, It's not that I mind helping her, or teaching her how, but this is where the backwards part comes in:  

Why is it, that now, when she WANTS to do the dishes, it's a painfully long and drawn-out process, but by the time she old enough and able to do them on her own, and I ASK her to do them, she WON'T WANT to and it will still be a drawn-out painful process?  If anyone knows, please--do tell.

Okay, so enough complaining from the bitter mother....

Gracey-girl, We love you!

Simple pleasures...

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find myself so wrapped up in everything else going on that other things get overlooked or neglected....and in this case, downright ratty!  I have had these shoes for WAY too long, and even though they were super comfortable and the soles were still intact, it was definitely time for a new pair!  Now, I have to admit, this isn't normally a subject I would consider blogging about.....after all, it's just "shoes"!  But in my quest for new shoes I found a pair that made me so happy, I just couldn't keep them to myself. They're super comfortable and not to mention....FUN!  
Check out my new and improved shoes: