update

All is well here in Auburn! We have had a great Christmas season (so far). It has been very neat to see Aiden really get into the Christmas spirit. This is the first year he has really enjoyed it and has asked so many questions regarding Christmas. He seems to be growing up so darn fast and I just want it all to slow down! Yesterday after he woke up from his nap, he asked me if we could just sit on the couch and share a blanket. It was so sweet! It is hard to believe that he is almost 4 years old. He is still a daddy's boy though. He is in love with his daddy. I could not be happier with that! Chad is a fantastic father and truely loves being with his boys.

The boys love going to Chad's basketball games. It's a bit stressful though. Watching 2 very active boys and at the same time trying to watch a basketball game can be a little difficult. Chad's team is quite young and has been hammered by injuries. All is all they are doing great, but there have been lots of challenges!

This last week I had the volleyball team over and we decorated sugar cookies and then made plates of various cookies for shut-ins and other various people. We had a great time delivering cookies and it was a very humbling time for me. These elderly women were gems. Not only were they godly woman, they had a way about them that made me want to stay and talk to them, as if I'd known them for years. I wanted to hear their stories of their lives and listen to their advice. They encouraged ME, even though we were trying to encourage them. They were leaving such a godly heritage. I was once again aware what a great family I have. I am so thankful for the legacy my parents have left for me and my children. I always want my kids to know ALL their grandparents and see them often and see how they live.

It's been a little hard for me not seeing all of my family this year. I miss all of the laughs and special memories of us all being together. Part of me is afraid that the relationships won't grow and we'll become distant. But then I realize that God has placed us all at different places and as much as I would like us to all live nearby, that isn't going to happen (at least not right now). It takes effort to keep relationships going; however, its an effort I want to give! Now that we have moved, it's hard to continually keep in touch with people...even though I want to. Life just sorta happens.

I have been in a very contemplative mood recently. I feel as though I am constantly evaluating myself. I have learned quite a bit and am working through lots of stuff. I am so thankful for a God who hears me when I'm feeling irritated and irrational and is patiently molding me into a better wife, mother, and child of God. I am definitely a slow learner and that really frustrates me! I want to "get it" quickly.

I am still struggling a little with not having much of a network of friends here. At times it's hard being a stay at home mom and not having women to get together with or someone to watch the boys if I want a haircut or have an appointment. Still we have much to be thankful and that's what I must choose to focus on.

Our Christmas will be quite busy. Tuesday after Chad's game we are going to my parents for Christmas and then Christmas Eve are leaving for Rochester, NY to spend Christmas with his family. We'll come back the 30th and then he has a basketball tournament on the 2nd and then we'll celebrate Chad and Aiden's birthday on the 3rd! We hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

18 month checkup

Kian had his 18 month checkup today (yes he is 19 months though). The kid's head is huge! He is 93% in head circumference! He is 33 in. tall which is 60% and 25 and 1/2 lbs which is 39%. He hates the doctor. I mean HATES the doctor. He basically screams from the time the nurse comes in at the beginning until after the nurse gives him his shots at the end. He just doesn't like new people very much. I think it freaks him out. The doctor said this is normal for his age, but this "stage" has been going on for about a year! Kian also has meluscum (Aiden had it too). It is a viral infection that manifests itself on the skin. It can last for years and is very hard to get rid of. Aiden went through a long process to get rid of his and he still has some. Kian also has eczema and might have croup. All in all he is quite healthy. I think both of my boys just have sensitive skin.

Needless to say, with Kian crying a lot and Aiden not obeying well, it was a long appt! I am glad we are finished with it, but am very thankful for healthy kids!

oh man, I'm in trouble.

Kian is now 19 months old. Crazy how time flies. He is quickly flying into terrible two! We are realizing the child has quite a temper. He is my little mischevious little booger! Yesterday Chad was sleeping on the couch and I was on the other couch. Chad had set down his soda can on the floor. Well, Kian picked it up and poured it all over Chad. Obviously, Chad woke up with quite a start and flung the blanket and jumped up. Soda was everywhere, on the computer, blanket, couch, carpet, Chad...everywhere!! We have about a 8-10 in. stain in the carpet. I have tried to scrub it with Resolve, but it is still bad. Any ideas of how to get it out? It was really very funny, but I would prefer no lasting damage!

Today I went to Walmart to print out Christmas cards. Both of the boys were struggling a little bit so I gave Kian my tinted lip gloss to hold on to, not thinking he would be able to unscrew it. I was wrong! I turned around after hearing Aiden say, "mom, Kian is red!" Kian had unscrewed it and literally painted his face with it. If I wasn't using the camera for the Christmas cards, I would of taken a picture. People in Walmart just stopped and stared. I told them, "it's lipstick." Then they proceeded to laugh. Yup, that's my Kian! This is a whole new ballgame for us! Aiden never did any of this! At least I will have lots of stories and memories!

I love Christmas!

When decorating for Christmas, my sister gave me the idea of hanging ornaments from the boys room to get them excited about it too. I love it! This is Kian's room.

This is Aid's room.

Dining room table centerpiece. That's our new clock and light fixture too.

Our tree!

Seriously, it's my favorite holiday! Each year I can't wait to put up the Christmas decorations and listen to Christmas music. I love trying to find gifts my family would love and it's such a great time to focus on what Christ did for us. It's just....ahhh...delightful. Not to skip Thanksgiving... that's important too!

We had a great Thanksgiving! Chad's mom was visiting from NY and we spent the day at my Aunt Anne's. There were probably around 25 of us gathering around the food! It was quite relaxing and just nice to catch up with everyone. Chad and I have so much to be thankful for! Even though every year we have so much to be thankful for, this year seems even more so. At a time where the country is in a recession, our family was been blessed! We were able to purchase our first house, pay off Chad's braces, Chad took a new position at a new school, we have been very healthy, and so on. God has been so gracious to us!

The day after Thanksgiving, I decided to venture out on Black Friday to shop. I had a blast! Some places like Target I literally walked in, saw the lines, and walked out. However, the mall traffic wasn't too terrible and neither were the lines. I got some fantastic deals and am pretty much done with my shopping! The best thing about the whole thing was that I was able to do it by myself! I am usually with the boys when I am shopping and hence can't focus or spend time doing what I want. It was actually a relaxing day for me!

The boys are doing great! Aiden continues to grow like a weed. He has been wearing his size 4 levis for about 4 months now and they are almost too short for him now. Hard to imagine he's now almost in size 5! He just is getting huge! I can't believe that he will be 4 in January! I think he is quite ready to go to preschool. I know he will love it! Kian still won't say mommy. He says momma (but doesn't call me that). Any time I ask him to say mommy, he says daddy. Oh well, someday I will probably wish that he didn't know how to say mommy! He loves to get into everything (including the christmas tree) and is getting very good at playing by himself. Aiden did not accomplish this feat until about 6 months ago! Kian is still my lash out/temper child. Oh boy, he has a doosey! However, he also is such a cuddler and a joy. He is definitely all boy! Everyday they bring so much life to our family.

visitors

The last couple of day Chad's sister Courtney was here for a visit. It's been nice to have her here. She's the first one to stay overnight in our house with us. Aiden, we've been putting to bed, in our room and then moving him into the walk-in closet when we are ready to go to bed. It's gone pretty well. I generally haven't been sleeping well, but that's nothing new. I did convince Courtney and Chad to run with me and one other person (we hope it will be Courtney's friend Kiersten) in a Marathon relay in Buffalo May 30, NY. I am so excited. We would all run a 10k except the anchor who would run a 12K. It will give me motivation to run and what a cool thing to accomplish together!

Today we were in Picture People taking Kian's 18 month pictures. Santa was there taking pictures and stuff with other customers. Santa eventually came over and sat next to me and Aiden. I looked at Aiden all excited and said, "Aiden, who is that??" Aiden looked at me questioningly and said, "Christmas boy?" I laughed so hard! I looked at him and said, "actually he is a man." Santa I think was wondering what type of mom doesn't teach her son about Santa. I wish I would of said, "we teach him about Christ, not Santa." However, I do think that Santa will always now be "Christmas boy" to me.

The boys have been difficult recently. Kian is going through a serious "no" stage. He has no problem looking right at me and saying, "no." It's as if he is thinking, "there is no way you can make me do that." What has been difficult is that he doesn't say yes yet. Everything is no. So it's hard to discipline. Today though I am realizing certain times that I know he means "no". Like I told him to come to me tonight and he looked at me and said "No" and ran away. He wasn't too happy with the result of his comment. He also is screaming a lot. Just to scream. No real reason. He just likes screaming. Aiden is really struggling with obeying the first time. Everything is a bit of attitude and he loves to annoy his brother, (and vise versa). Patience is coveted right now! Today was difficult with me to have that. Tomorrow I'm even more nervous about. We have to drive Courtney back to Indy which is over a 2 and a half hour drive one way. Please pray for patience and good behavior (for all of us).

exercise

I've been trying to get back on the exercise bandwagon. I have started doing Jillian Michaels DVD and it is killing me! It's a little difficult exercising with Kian trying to wrap himself around my legs as I am trying to kick them in the air! He is starting to get used to it and playing as I workout. Today he did decide to sit on my stomach as I was trying to do sit-ups...not the easiest. I am trying to decide if I should commit to a half marathon in May in Indy. I know it's a big decision. I absolutely hate running, but I love how I feel after I run. Still 13 miles is a long time to run! One of the friends from Elkhart wants me to do it with her, so we'll see! Tomorrow I am playing in a volleyball tournament in Fort Wayne. I am very excited! It's been a long time since I have played for real with other adults! Hopefully I won't do terrible! Chad has officially started basketball and it is going very well. The week however has gone a little slower now that he is gone more often. I am looking forward to games starting and being able to take the boys. I love going to Chad's games!

where is hell??

yeah, I know, I'm a terrible blogger. We've been so busy doing stuff on the house and basketball just started. It's a bad excuse I know. I can't believe that it's already November! Not just that, it's November 11! Where does time go? Kian is 18 months old! Wow..that's amazing. There was a time I didn't know if he would even make it to 18 months with how much he cried and now what a complete joy he is to our family. He has so much charisma that draws people to him. I am so blessed that God gave me such wonderful children!

The boys loved trick or treating. Aiden went as Zorro and Kian was a lion. Aiden especially had a blast!

Auburn had it's trick or treating on the 30th. After that we went to Elkhart and the next morning mom and I went to Chicago to buy a few things for the house. Our check came from the government for our house which in itself is huge! Our realtor told me that not one of her clients has received it yet. They amended their taxes in June and still have yet to get their check. We amended ours the end of September and received it 4 weeks later! I was praying that we would get it before I left for Chicago with mom so I had more freedom to purchase some things... it came 4 days before. I had so much fun! We went to Ikea, Lowes, Home Goods, and several other places. I was able to get art, pillows, other decor, a bookcase, faucet, light fixtures, etc. The light fixtures still aren't up, but everything else is! It's been so much fun getting the house the way I want it. Seriously, so much fun!

The boys and I drove past a cemetary yesterday and Aiden commented on how dead people were there. I started talking to him how it was just their bodies that were in the cemetary. Humans have souls and either go to heaven or hell when they die. We talked for a while about what each were and how to go to heaven. It was basically left there. Before bedtime, Aiden asked me, "Mommy, where's hell?" Chad and I talked to him a little more about it. I don't think he understands much yet about it, however, I am glad that the conversations are starting about God. My prayer is some day in the near future he will understand that being a Christian is not about religion, but about a relationship. I don't want him to not to want to go to hell because there is fire and burning. I want him to want to be where God is for all of eternity. Last night was a good reminder to me of how much I need to be praying for my boys salvation. It really is the only thing that matters for them. Who cares if they are good athletes or love music or can say their ABC's. Nothing matters but Christ!