My Year and More

In February 2008 I began the journey of what I called my year. I started blogging to monitor what would be happening and really planned on making some life changes.

These were my thoughts at that time: 2/18 "Today is the beginning of a new year for me (I'm 45!) and I'm determined that this is going to be my year. I have much planned and am sure there will be quite a bit of introspection. So in hopes of remembering the details, I'm going to attempt to document it. Who knows, it might be fun to look back and see what happened. I know I'm looking forward to the challenges and whatever transformation comes from them."

It's now December 31, 2008. In less than two months my year will end. I'll be 46. I have decided however, that I'm not ready to let it go. I didn't like the challenges I faced this year and want to be able to better meet the ones that come my way next year. I want to see myself become more of that person I wanted to be by this time this year. I want to be better.

So

I'm rededicating myself and planning on the coming year being my year -- again.

I had big goals and grand dreams, but with all that happened this past year I feel I have farther to go now than I did when I started to reach for them. I want to make some changes. Big changes. I want to love more, feel more, do more, be more.

Here I go again. And here's to a new year! My new year.

Oh Happy Day!

Craig finally felt well enough today to be able to do something other than vomit or sleep. Since he's been ill he's been grumpy -- and with good reason. His vacation ends tomorrow night and he hasn't been able to do anything.

So after working on a church project for several hours this morning, he got to work on something he's been waiting to work on for who knows how long. He got to work on his Jeep!

Here's my man in his element and enjoying every minute of it!

 

May this New Year's Eve (eve) be the start of a happy and healthy new year.

A Favorite Gift

I received a set of Book of Mormon CD's from my sister this Christmas. And although I haven't started listening to them yet, I have decided they are my favorite gift.

 

I am looking forward to delving into the scriptures in a new way and am planning to gain a greater testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ and of His gospel in the coming year.

Thanks Aud.

Second and Third Christmases

We received some packages after Christmas which was great because we got to keep celebrating the holiday! The kids were thrilled when the packages arrived, they were excited to open them, and they loved their gifts! (So did Craig and I.)

Logan couldn't be more pleased with another remote control car (Lightning McQueen!) and Indiana Jones dress up clothes! Bergen is as happy as can be to wrap her bear in a blanket and prepare food in her kitchen! Clanging pots and pans make such a fun sound.

 

Thank you Uncle Eric, Aunt Jolinn, Austin, Parker and Nick, and Uncle Brian and Aunt Audrey! We love you and wish you were here...

Ready? Set. Go!

UPDATE: Craig was still sick on Monday so he's taking Logan skiing tomorrow! Thursday. New Year's Day 2009.

Craig is taking Logan snow skiing for the first time tomorrow. Is he ready? I hope so. It looks like Logan is set. And I know they're both raring to go!

 

December 26, 2008

Craig went out to take the Christmas lights off the house today and Logan went out to swing. In flip flops. Remind me again. Isn't it December?

 

Although the weather was warm, Bergen and I were content to stay inside.

 

Craig is feeling better by the way. Just a little post-holiday update.

Christmas Eve

We had a nice, relaxing Christmas at home this year.

On Christmas Eve we went out to Craig's parents house for our traditional (although not home-made this year) pizza dinner and family gift exchange. The kids were great about eating and playing with their cousins and didn't whine once about wanting to open presents because they were having so much fun without them.

We even got through the story of Jesus' birth in the scriptures!

 

Once the gifts were open the kids all played and played and played. Then it was time to clean up and go home, but not before opening new Christmas pajamas! We had our kids open them at Grandma and Grandpa's house in case they fell asleep in the car -- which they did, only to wake up the minute it came to a stop in the driveway. It was a good thing they went to bed easily after that.

Christmas Morning

Ahhh, Christmas morning. The kids slept until almost 8:00 a.m. Heaven!

About once a week Logan wakes up during the night. Sometimes he heads for the couch, but he usually ends up in our room. Craig told him not to go into the living room if he woke up on Christmas Eve because he might scare Santa (if he went out while he was there). Apparently he followed directions because we didn't notice him coming in during the night, but he was snuggled up with us in the morning.

Bergen was the one who called out and woke us. So after a quick diaper change (and a *picture) we were all off to see what the big man left.

*This is my favorite picture from Christmas: Logan sporting his new pj's in our bed. I made him hold his pose so I could run and get the camera and when I got back he hadn't moved!

 

Logan got a hot wheel track, a sled, and most importantly the remote control car he asked for. Bergen got a kitchen and a shopping cart. Both with accessories. There were Potato Heads all around too. And that was just from Santa! A few more gifts from us and they were set.

 

We relaxed, lounged around, played, and enjoyed ourselves all morning long.

Christmas Day

After hanging out at home we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Ream's for dinner. Turkey with all the trimmings and enough pie to feed an army! More visiting, playing, visiting, nibbling, visiting, playing, a little napping, a little more playing, and our day was complete.

Before going home I had to take a few pictures. The first thing I noticed when we arrived was that Jordan and Bergen were coincidentally wearing the same shirt and I certainly couldn't pass up that photo op!

 

Then I had the boys get in on the fun.

It's hard to describe the feelings I have when I see our kids with their cousins. I remember seeing my cousins on holidays and having fun with them, and seeing our kids together with theirs today brought back some great memories. What lucky kids they are to have cousins so close in age and locale.

 

Merry Christmas everyone! From the blurry and bleary-eyed Reams.

 

Christmas Night

I have to mention here that Craig starting feeling ill in the afternoon and got sick on Christmas night. So not a great end to the day...

A visit with Santa

We promised the kids we'd take them to see Santa Claus, so we headed over to the mall today. We, being the kids and me. Craig stayed home to do some pre-Christmas assembly.

We were the last in line before Santa was scheduled to take a break. (It was a good thing I called before heading over.) One of the "elves" came up and asked me to let people know we were the last to see Santa and offered to give me four free wallets for doing so. That made me happy because Craig had asked me not to buy any. The same elf also let me take a picture of my own, which turned out better than the free ones anyway.

 

Bergen was a little leery of the old man. Logan jumped right up on his lap and started talking. Typical of both of them.

After our visit, we spent some time in the play area before leaving the mall and getting lunch at Wendy's. Then we went to a friends house before heading home. (Thanks Maren.) It was nice to get out of the house and let the kids do something different than "the usual" for a while.

Gingerbread 101

Logan, Bergen and I made our first Gingerbread House this year! We used a kit, but it still counts as far as I'm concerned. I do have an old cast iron mold I'd like to try one day, maybe. It'll just have to wait until I'm more ambitious.

 

The kids sure had fun decorating -- and eating. The house would have been demolished as soon as it was built, but Logan wanted to make sure Daddy got to see it first. Craig thought it was a masterpiece! Of course.

I'm glad we waited until late in the month to make the thing. It adorned our dining room table long enough to make the chicklets proud of their accomplishment, then the candy was pulled off and eaten and the rubble thrown away. No lingering mess -- yeah for me!

Music Maker

We have a little music maker in our family. And I love it!

Bergen is drawn to all things musical. She will remove everything from a toy box to get to a piano, xylophone, drum, or other instrument, no matter how difficult it might be. She will make a bee-line for music making toys when we're in stores or at friends houses. She will go to the cupboard to get her music fix (not unlike other toddlers), when she is in the kitchen. She "moves" to music whenever it is playing. And she "sings."

Friday night was no exception.

I was cleaning up in the kitchen when she decided to serenade me on the bowl drums, and she couldn't have been happier.

 

I think Bergen will have some kind of musical ability and I would like to help her find it. I will be one of those moms who makes her kids take piano lessons. I will encourage other musical lessons. I'm sure I will be hated for a time.
I don't care.

My heart often swells when I hear music. I want my heart to swell when I hear my childrens music. To me, it is one of the things worth paying the price for.

Christmas Cookie Exchange!

I used to have get-togethers all the time. Now, not so much. It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I don't make the time. Well, I've decided I'm changing my ways. Or reverting back to my old ways. Whichever way you look at it.

When talking with my friend Heather a few weeks ago, the idea of a cookie exchange came up. Wheels started turning and before we knew it, party plans were under way.

I was excited! I stayed up late working on the the invitations. I dreamed about what refreshments to make and how I would decorate. I e-mailed Heather way too many times with minute details. There were going to be ten of us getting together. I wanted everything to be perfect.

Finally the evening arrived.

There was supposed to be freezing rain.

I was not happy, but I pressed forward anyway.

People were worried about driving in the weather.

I was going to be positive!

The bad weather held off.

I was grateful.

Eight ladies were able to make it on Thursday night, each bringing with them ten dozen treats. Oh. My. Goodness! There were so many cookies and candies on my table that it was overflowing. And they were YUMMY.

After a few hours of visiting and having our fill of non-sweets, we divided the treasure and my friends headed home. I stayed up tasting my loot and quickly decided that my neighbors wouldn't be receiving any of the goodies I had received that night. I didn't care if I became the size of ten people, I was going to eat them all! Well, not ALL. I was going to (and did) share them with my family! It's a good thing I have some of the recipes.

 

Thank you for coming Ladies. Your being here brought a little added Christmas joy into our home. Those of you who weren't able to make it, we missed you. I hope you will be able to come next year. I have decided to make the cookie exchange an annual tradition!

Who Am I?

Logan likes to dress up like other people, but not just any other people. He definitely has favorites. They are
Mr. Potts (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Indiana Jones (no explanation needed), Superman/Clark Kent (since he saw a friend dressed up like him/them for Halloween), Wolfgang (from the movie The Explorers), Bumblebee (the Transformer) ...

 

and Grandpa Lo.

 

All very strong characters.


Logan dresses up in some form or another every day and asks "Mom, Who am I?" every time. He is serious about his role playing. So much so that he regularly calls me/us (our family) the names of people associated with the person he is pretending to be -- and of course I/we play along.

Fictional characters roam around our house regularly, so imagine my delight when Logan said recently, "Mom can you make me a pony tail so I can be like Grandpa Lo?" He even donned a nice pair of glasses and found himself a cane. (My dad hurt his hip and was using a cane when we visited last summer. He's better now though. No cane needed.) I had to think twice whenever he called me 'Gigi' in a low voice and get into character before answering "Dad", which thrilled him.

 

I'm glad Logan has such a great imagination. He is a lot of fun to play with and keeps things interesting around here.

I hope when he grows up, Logan will have acquired some of his grandpa's traits and will be able to answer the question "Who am I?" for himself; without hesitation. Thanks to a couple of awesome grandpas I think he's well on his way to being able to do just that!

Drainage

I went to the orthopedist again today. My knee was swollen and has been hurting.

I was told when I got to leave my crutches behind a little over a week ago, that I would know within ten days if the surgery had been successful. If not, my knee would be 'swollen and hurting'. Today was day nine, but I couldn't wait until day twelve (Saturday and Sunday being days ten and eleven) to go in because that would have been torture!

After a quick exam and some x-rays the doctor went over everything. Things are not perfect, but they look good. Obviously I was THRILLED to hear that he doesn't think a carticel procedure is necessary! Yippee! (I doubt I could have lasted through another six weeks on crutches.)

I was also told that the pain has apparently been due to the fact that there is fluid on my knee again. The good doctor therefore drained it again. 45 cc's of drainage this time.

I half joked with the man saying I was just going to schedule appointments every other month in order to keep it drained. He laughed, and must have gotten a little side tracked, because the next thing we noticed blood was running down my leg. I think I bent it too quickly after he gave me the cortisone shot. Anyway, we both laughed and after ripping the saturated band-aid off, he replaced it with two -- crisscrossed! (Something he said he'd never done before.) It was pretty funny.

Lastly, I was given a prescription for a fancy knee brace and advised to call if I had any more problems. Could he really not have thought I'd be back? We'll see after I pick up the new apparatus on Monday and give it a go for a while. I can tell you now though, he'll be seeing me again...

What's In A Name?

I mentioned in my Coming Soon! post that I'm planning to start a little business next year. Things are coming together and I'm excited to start getting the word out. I just have one problem. What to call my little shop.

I'm stuck on the name 'Rag-a-Muffin.' What do you think? Let me know and there may be something in it for you. Not right away, mind you, and not necessarily a rag quilt. But something.

 

I'd also appreciate it if you'd keep your friends in mind and spread the word once the shop is open. (I'll be sure to make an announcement.) You never know who might need a baby gift or want something for their own little rag-a-muffin.

Thank you!

Holiday Happenings

I haven't taken much time to blog lately. I've been catching up on my holiday preparations since being behind from recuperating from my knee surgery.
So here's a sampling of what we've been up to:

Of course I'm doing the usual -- feeding the kids. Here they are enjoying apples!

 

We've been going through and attempting to get rid of some toys before the big man in red brings us even more. The problem is that we always seem to get sidetracked when cleaning up. And seriously, do you really think we need more toys? Don't answer that!

 

I did indulge late one afternoon last week and take a glass class with my sister-in-law, Nicole. She checked into it and decided she wanted to learn tack fusing so she could make some gifts. I was interested, but really just wanted to get out of the house for a while...

It was so cool! I learned a lot and apparently used that knowledge to step a bit too far "out of the box" according to our instructor. She let us do our own thing after the lesson; maybe she just hadn't planned for us to be so creative -- ha ha. The good thing is that we made a couple of nice ornaments! The bad thing is that I can see myself getting way too into this.

Thanks to my in-laws for coming over and watching the kids while I went out to play. It was fun and I can't wait to do it again!

 

Our Christmas tree is up, as you can see from the above pictures. We're still working on the other decorations. Logan has been dying to get the Nutcrackers out! I am anxious to set up the Nativities. I know I'll get to them soon, I just want to wait until all the ornament storage boxes are put away. I also want to wrap presents on a nice clean table!

 

 

I've started my baking. No picture though because the pumpkin bread and "butter cook" (a Dutch pastry) I made last night were wrapped and shipped to my Dad this morning along with six delightful drawings from my kids.

My sister Audrey, came up with the wonderful idea of doing the Twelve Days of Christmas for our Dad and all three of us kids and our families are participating. I think he'll be (disgusted and then) pleasantly surprised when the packages arrive. He has told us he wants/needs nothing, and after eating and sharing the goodies he's getting, there will be nothing.


I'm happy to be staying home for Christmas this year. I enjoy all the hustle and bustle, preparation, traveling, and visiting, but I'm really looking forward to sitting back and relaxing with my family, hanging out by the fire, running around in the snow, doing things we don't normally take the time to do locally, and sleeping in my own bed.

Speaking of my bed, it's calling my name. Goodnight.

A Princess!

I received this little book from my sister-in-law, Nicole. She stopped by out of the blue one afternoon a couple of weeks ago, visited for a few minutes, handed me the book, gave me a hug, and was on her way.

She must have known I wasn't feeling very good about myself (illness and injury can sure take their toll) and wanted me to know, as we see in the book, that I am a Princess!

 

Thank you Nicole. I needed that.