1 week and soon we're off. Again.

One week with family and it flies. It always does. There isn't ever enough time to do e-v-e-r-y-thing, or spend an adequate amount of time with each person.


It was a good week though. A whole lot of nothing. Just bumming around.


I've made it to Caribou coffee twice. (not bad considering its a half hour from here)
I went with my dad to purchase his new vehicle today. A Yukon Denali XL. Totally makes me never want to cave to the minivan trend.


We'll be here through the new year, were going to head home Saturday. 600 miles back across the map in the opposite direction. If the miles could talk. Baby C is 18 months, I counted the other day, and this was her 8th road trip. Ranging 300-700 miles one-way. And we obviously always have to go round-trip, so this will be her 16th long haul on the road. In 18 months of life. That averages almost one trip each month of her little life. And theres plenty more to come. It makes me smile, but it isn't always easy.


So far I've been against the portable DVD players. My kids have never until now had handheld devices. (The oldest just got a Nintendo DS from Santa)


My family is aware of the trend. My Grandmother just gave us 100 things for little Children on a journey. Im excited to get it out. It wont be much for the tiny tot, but I think the oldest will enjoy.


I should write memoirs. Memoirs of our miles together, as a family, chugging along at interstate speeds. Rockin' out to a wide assortment of tune-age. Maybe I'll get there. It would definitely be a fun project. *gears turning*

Traveling with kids in tow; must haves:

• Music. Of all kinds- Sound variations help hold their attention. C only loves songs she already knows, it has never proven successful to try new songs while on a trip. We use our Microsoft Zune. Its got everything at the ready. We have a couple fail-proof playlists on reserve.
• Books!
• Dim lights. For drawing and reading.- This one from Ikea is our favorite, its rechargeable and it doesn't interfere with the driver's vision.
• Snacks and sippy cups
• Look out the window games-- like "how many red trucks can we count?" We also identify every "Welcome to ___" sign at the state lines. We even wake the girl up to make sure she sees it. We travel the same roads often, so hunting for the landmarks of the trip is always a fun challenge for the girl.
• Notebooks & writing utensils (a variety of pens, pencils, crayons, twist crayons. Markers not recommended)
• Open ended imagination toys- action figures or little people, the possibilities are endless. Polly pockets are super. Egg shakers and mild instruments are great for singing along to a song and engaging the kids.One time we played with and fully opened an umbrella in the backseat. It served as a little tent.
• Digital Camera- The girl has her own Canon Powershot, she loves taking pictures of things she finds interesting.
• Blankies & Pillows
• Toy cell phones- conversations via the "phone" from the front to backseat are always fun.

Lastly:

• Patience
• Tolerance
• Good Sense of Humor
• Conversation (all kinds of course, but teaching interesting tidbits about the location is always fun too. My oldest child has been familiar with the ins and outs of the Mississippi river since she was 3.)

Slippers are comfy in the car, We have a Bundle Me in the baby's seat so she doesn't need a jacket, or lose her blankie. I love the Ergo as well. Its not used so much on the way there, but once were there, we rarely have to pack a stroller. I have an oversized zip up hoodie that fits over the baby and I. Totally cozy, lovable and convenient.


I will always cherish these memories we're making, even when we're frantically pulling off for a potty break and have to use the nastiest restroom known to mankind. Or pumping milk in the backseat flying past semi trucks. 

Its all good, and its all fun.

The coziest Christmas.

This is the tale I have to tell.

Of the coziest Christmas.


Sitting in my Daddy's kitchen, relaxing in my fleece lounge pants and perfect fit Old Navy tee, I have an african grey perched high upon my shoulder. Hes fluffed and calm, occasionaly nuzzling close to my ear. He is unusually gentle today, and is bursting with love and affection. Most often after the lovies are given out, theres but a drop or 2 if any for me. The complexity of our relationship is quite difficult to word. I think the only creatures that can even understand it are the bird himself and I. Most often he understands more than I do. He sets the speed, he calls the shots. Some days its love, some days its hate. I just have to take what I can get and stay committed. Its hard to not take his bad days personal, especially when its blatantly obvious and he singles me out. These little moments make up for all the bad. For all the sneaky, conniving trickery he often demonstrates.

And right now I get him. The *best* of him.

This morning my oldest daughter woke up in bed next to me exclaiming "Its Morning! Did Santa come? Can I go check?" I opened my eyes for a quick second to confirm that there was indeed light, I yawned and sent her forth to do the checking. As I laid in bed I delighted in the sound of her feet *scampering* down the hallway to the tree. It was silent for a few moments and then the pattering of her little feet came racing back down the hallway. She bursted into the bedroom and with immense excitement went on in great detail about the presents that were all wrapped under the tree. The ones that were not there last night; the ones that were wrapped the same. We got daddy out of bed. We got Grandpa out of bed. We went in the basement to wake up Uncle Josh and Uncle Jordan. She waited patiently for the livingroom couch and chairs to fill in with the entire family. The moment the last person took their seat, it was *rip rip roar!* She was in the middle of her first present and the baby woke up jabbering. Grandpa walked down the hall to get her for us. She entered the room in his arms with squinty eyes and severe bed head. Frizzy curls sticking in every direction, like a child's art depicting rays of sunshine. Little curls, going this way and that.

Santa used extra tough wrapping paper, and an excessive amount of tape. The presents were a challenge, for even the most experienced.

The goodies from the Jolly Elf were:

Nintendo DS in metallic rose (we cant decide if he picked it up somewhere or if the elves make those?)
Nintendo DS case and storage accessories
Constructive Eating plate and pink utensils for both girls
Plush Pigeon for Little C
3 pigeon books Dont Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!


Then there were the gifts exchanged between my dad, brothers and I. We all got great stuff.

My favorite of which was a book called Uncovered. (the details and awesomeness of this book are going to have to be a post in and of itself.)

Breakfast was hodge podge. Eggs and sausage for some, toast and Grandma's jam, a freshly baked raspberry butter braid, and cottage cheese. We popped in kids new movie, How To Train Your Dragon, and relaxed. And napped.

C took a bath and got dressed, the rest of us are still in the jammies we woke up in.
We went nowhere.
I stayed inside, in the warm and cozy, cuddled up and hanging out with the ones I love, watching the snow fall outside.

Right now Im enjoying the view. Looking out the picture window, the yard is completely snow covered, and deep too! Little flakes are falling from the sky in little whirls, kind of twirling about before landing. The glow of the Christmas tree is in the reflection of the glass and today feels like home.

Merry Christmas~

Gonna talk myself into it.

Christmas tonight with my Mama. :) She cooked us a delicious holiday feast. Ham, potatoes, you know. We exchanged gifts and had a really nice time, the kids played really well together. (My daughters and my 11 year old brother)

Tomorrow we will be with Andrew's sister most of the day and then do the noon meal with his dad, and evening meal with his mom.

Thursday its off to Minnesnowda. So, in the middle of tomorrows festivities I will need to be doing laundry and major packing. We've got all the gifts that need to go in already. So its just the usual, which at this time of year includes all of our winter gear. Hats. Gloves. Boots. Jackets. Scarves. Snowpants. These things always take up an unfair amount of space. *grumble*

Its going to be a minivan around the corner. Im not sure how long we can put it off really. We're guaranteed these road trips for the rest of our lives. We already travel with 2 kids and a bird. Add a third child if & when, and its game over SUV. Pretty sad actually.  Unless the SUV worked around town and wherever else and then we just rented a van for each trip. (totally a pain and very unlikely that we'd do that) Who knows.

Thats not us. Not today. So I shall stop wasting my mind on such foolish silly things. And really, who said a minivan was the end of the world? Oh wait, that was me that said that.

But really, by the time it comes, I'll be near 30, married with 3 kids. Going on trips, going camping, engaging in incredible family adventures all over the map. Im not the freak early 20's parent who ran out and bought the van because they found out they were pregnant. So I guess in that aspect, the van is acceptible. Warranted. Even expected.

Look, if I keep on, Im going to have myself talked into this in no time. Then the only question would be which kind of van? Because I really like the Hondas. And the Nissans, and even the Town and Countrys that are the more square body style. Perfect for all the places we would go. A table in the backseat. Kids can sit face to face while we cruising to who knows where. Assuming all of our luggage would fit elsewhere.

Packing the SUV tomorrow is going to be interesting. It always is. But so worth it. I am ready to go.

Breastfeeding Calendar.

Im in search of a new calendar. Its going to be hanging around the house for a year. I'd like to get one that I enjoy. I want a calendar composed of breastfeeding mothers/families.

I would like it to be art as well as some tasteful photographs. Im not going to get it together for this year, but I think I would like to start my compilation for next year perhaps.

My poor husband. Whats he to do with a woman like me? I do admit, I am a lot to handle at times. Especially when it comes to my huge lactavist side. Lactavist. Intactivist. Its probably all the better we don't have a son, because then Id probably be even more over the top about that. ;)

Anywho, C's last Kindermusik class was tonight. January starts a whole new semester in the next segment. Shes moving from the babies to the tots. Its happy sad. I did all the toddler classes with our older daughter, so its going to be fun doing them again, with C, and remember that time with Tay. I'm sad because I've grown to love the baby class.

Growing up is hard to do!

Grab Gift

Went to a Christmas party Saturday.

My husbands "man" gift was a Stetson cologne giftset and a tin of homemade chocolate covered peanuts.

Now just you never mind the stetson.

Those peanuts though, my gosh!

And of course, hes off to work today so this is the first time I've been home alone with them. Needless to say, it hasn't been going well. I have the recipe and I totally owe him a replacement batch.

They're d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.

Everything we ever wanted.

Christmas joy.

So my girls are 5 and and a year and a half. My oldest daughter is getting everything, and I mean everything she asked for. (plus some) Im so excited for her, but then I felt a tinge of guilt. Because seriously, she has everything she ever wanted. Her life is a perfect little fairy tale (Aside from when we fight and I scream and yell over her refusal to eat things in any shade of green)

Really, whatever she asks for, she gets. Shes spoiled. Really, shes just a very good girl. And she might be spoiled, but shes not "spoiled." Shes very lucky, and very fortunate and she knows this. Shes a good kid, a good person, shes very thankful. Shes not a little brat. And really, she gets told "no." She hears "no" alot, but I try to say "yes" whenever I can. Thats my goal.

I can't wait for Christmas, until she gets the rest of her stuff, until Santa comes. Hes bringing her the "big" present. He'll get all the bonus points for now, but years down the road she will look back and smile with appreciation. I know she will.

And whats a life with everything you ever wanted? Boring? Miserable? Not all you wanted? I thought about it when I was thinking about her and this Christmas, and her future, and then I was able to turn it.

To me.

To having everything I ever wanted.
And wanting nothing more.

I mean, sure there are those silly things, theres always something I could buy... but that isn't the point.

The point is:

I have everything I want, and everything I've ever wanted. Like of the things in life that actually matter.

People matter.

I have the hardest working, and most dedicated husband. Who by the way is a magnificent father. I could go on and on about him. He seriously is awesome. He worked hard and was blessed with a wonderful job. He supports us. He supports me. He supports our girls. He supports his family. He enables what we do here. He supports this "stay at home-mom" plan we have, in his mind, emotionally and financially.

He stands tall and strong, so that everything that happens here CAN happen here.

And hes mine.

Our children. Our children are amazing. Theyre growing and blossoming into really secure, sweet people. Theyre very adventurous. I get compliments all the time on how "go with the flow" they are. How C is such a "good baby" I can take them anywhere and do anything with them. And I do! I take them everywhere! Always!

And they're mine.

We're alive, we're healthy, we're well. We're financially sound, we have a cozy little house, surrounded in green grass, with a fenced in backyard.

We have each other. And together we are strong. Not just 2 of us, not just 3 of us, but all 4 of us. Each one, with all the other 3 parts. Equally.

This is all I've ever wanted.

And it's mine......

I've realized this before. I know I've thought it before...

but each time I do -- its just "wOw all over again."

Home for Christmas

Christmas time is upon us. It really is so wonderful. We're covered in the white fluffy snow, the lights are sparkling all over town. Tonight was my little brothers first band concert, it was bouncing with Christmas tunes. The presents are filling under the tree. I have officially finished the Christmas shopping. Tonight we went for a ride through downtown on a horse drawn trolley. It was very cool. I had baby in the carrier tucked into my jacket. We shared our warmth with each other and it worked well.

Next week we're going to Minnesota. Im so excited. It feels like home. It gives me warm fuzzies. (at least the insides feel warm considering the temps will be single digit, at or below zero for the duration of our stay) And even that I love. I love Michigan. Im home here too. Home can kind of be wherever, and to some extent it is. My home is obviously my physical location. My house. My dwelling, but then theres that saying about "home is where the heart is" and my heart is really all over the place but mostly its in Minnesota. With my family, in the very place I came from. With the town I came from, with the people I identify myself through. Im a very family oriented person. I have an extremely strong bond with my family. You'd think that since Ive lived states away for most of my life it would be different, but totally not. Im probably closer to them because of that. I am so thankful. I will always know where I belong. I will always remember where I came from, no matter where it looks like I'm going, and I will always remember whats important.

Taylor is also very close to them. My dad has finally met his match when it comes to chatting on the phone. Every conversation with him is usually an hour or more. And now, with her he can hardly get a word in. She loves talking to him, and they're so close. Taylor is very close to my aunt, who is her appointed Godmother. Last year at Christmas break she spent the night at my aunts house without me. All by herself. She walks around there like she owns the place! Just like everyone else. She knows where she belongs too and its everything to me. And even though she sees most of these people a few times a year, each time is nothing but quality time, and they all take the time to invest into her little life, into her interests, into her heart. Shes a person. A respected individual. Not a pesky kid. And to a mother, there is nothing more meaningful than that. I'm glad of all the things I got from them, I got that.

"Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience, you are raising a human being."

1. I want to wake up  and walk into my dad's kitchen.
2. I want to eat my Grandma's cookies
3. I want to sit in my Grandparent's livingroom. The only livingroom from my childhood that still remains.
4. I want to fight with my own brothers.. (well not really, its just what we do. I've come to expect it)
5. I want to play that silly ol' dice game in Grampa and Gram's basement.
6. I want to go to church on Christmas eve, sit on a folding chair in the narthex and watch the program on tv because I got there late.
7. I want to breathe air that is sub zero, its fresher.
8. I want to throwdown at Apples to Apples
9. I want tap a keg of 1919
10. I want to share all of these things with my girls.

  

This stuff has been on my mind for a few weeks now. How easy it is to lose sight of what matters. I wont let that be me. Im making that promise now.

So right now Im just delighting in the anticipation of "Going home for Christmas"