2011 is just around the corner...

I'm relaxing in bed as I prepare to take a nap before going to pick up the munchkins from daycare...

It is the last day of 2010 and I'm trying to think of what I'm looking forward to most in 2011.

Funny thing is, I'm not a dreamer, a planner or someone who wishes for bigger and better. Don't get me wrong, in the moment of trials and pesky annoyances, I wish things were different, but in the grand scheme of things I don't plan for better and imagine my future in a different way than it is now.

What a year we've had though. It seems like it has been an exceptional year for our family.
- work life is great...I'm working on what I wanted tonwith people who value me as a worker and am treated fairly and throughly enjoy my surroundings.
- we had 2 weeks of family vacation together this summer...which we haven't done since the kids have been born.
- Noah started school and loves it!
- Noah is becoming such a compassionate and loving boy! He warms my heart <3
- Noah lost 2 teeth.
- Olivia is growing to be such a darling little girl...she is my shadow, but her personality is so much better than mine is.
- Scott and I celebrated 12 years of marriage.
- we adopted a new dog, Bailey, who drives us crazy with her puppyness, but love her regardless.
- we adopted/sponsor a boy from Bolivia
- we had a great Christmas holiday together as a family
- a great friend of mine is finally receiving the family she so patiently prayed/longed/waited for and has been blessed with twins!
These all seem like minor/trivial things, but they are my life and I'm throughly enjoying them.

I pray that all my friends and family have a blessed, prosperous, and joyful new year!

Here's to 2011!!!

We've Adopted (well kind of)

We tried to find something to do this Christmas that will help us celebrate in the true meaning of Christmas!

Since the summer when our pastors returned from Honduras where they visited Compassion, I've wanted to sponsor a child for our kids to grow up with!

Well, I found our perfect match. He shares an exact birthday with Noah and he is from Bolivia (see the hidden connection).

He is in kindergarten, like Noah, he likes cars, and he lives with his parents. His father is sometimes employed while his mom works from the home where he helps by cleaning. He has 2 siblings! I love this boy already! I thank God that he has blessed us and has allowed us to touch this boy and his family's life!

What a great Christmas! Can't wait to see how this enriches my family's life!

Best thing today - both kids praying for our new little boy who lives so far away but very close in spirit!!!

Turkey Lurkey

Today we had the great pleasure to eat a turkey lunch with Noah in his school cafeteria! What a treat!!! Two little boys from Noah's class joined us and they were darling. One was bubbly and talkative like Noah and the other was quiet and shy!

The food was great and the company was even better :) little boys are so much fun to sit and chat with!

I also got to see who Noah is going to marry. What is funny, one of the little boys said "that's Emma, Noah is going to marry her". Noah has told me before that he is going to marry Emma when he is older, but apparently, he is telling other kids as well...he has even told Emma. Now I'm wondering if I should have tried to start a conversation with her mother. I mean, she is practically family, right!?!?!

Ahhhhh Friday!!!!!

I'm so happy that today is Friday! We've had such a busy week and heading into a busy weekend. But tonight is a "me" night and I'm catching up on my favorite tv shows.

I'm having one of those quiet contemplative nights where I think about how happy and blessed I am. As we approach he Christmas season, I cant ask for anything more in my life!

- Noah is doing well at school.
- Olivia loves daycare.
- Noah is learning to read.
- Olivia is becoming a little lady.
- They both make me laugh about something daily.
- My husband is a protective, loving and compassionate man.
- We have two great, healthy family pets who are annoying at times but bring us a lot of happiness.
- Our house is messy at times, but keeps us warm, sheltered and together.
- and the list goes on and on an on...

So many things to be happy, thankful for and to just relish in how good my life is right now! I owe it all to God :)

Moms never get sick...

Ha! I spoke those words last week after my whole house had endured sickness including coughs, fevers, and overall malaise. The house has been sick-free for a week an I was sure I bypassed it - I mean what mom has time to be sick??

Last evening Scott came to bed around 10ish. I laid in bed and had this horrible feeling in my stomach. If you know me, you know how much I hate to vomit. I thought to myself, I hope I don't vomit. I tried to lay down to "just go to sleep" in hopes that the feeling would go away. After suffering for a couple hours and some sleep time in the tub, I ended up vomiting.I went back to bed and graciously found sleep.

So today ended up being a stay-at-home-get-some-rest-feel-better-soon-day because apparently moms can get sick too!

Thanks to my wonderful husband who was able to get both kids out the door this morning and also able to lick them up tonight while I get a little extra rest!

Love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres...

So this past week, we celebrated our 12-year wedding anniversary...yeh for us!

Firstly, I want to thank God for giving me an incredible man to love me forever and share my life with!

Secondly, I want to reflect on what makes our marriage work.

It seems like everywhere I go, people just seem to be giving up, moving on, getting tired, hateful and apathetic! Don't get me wrong, some days it is hard trying o find the common ground and feel like trying, but I've ha te privilege of learning some great lessons in my life that make me strive to make our marriage last and be strong!

1) love is a choice. The days you aren't getting along-choose love!
2) God gave us our spouse to make us more like Him...you learn to love someone with all their flaws.
3) men and women are different - they show love and affection differently. Learn what pleases your spouse and try to display affection that way.

Something I just read today that really sums up our marriage based on 1 Corinthians 13:
Love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." in a marriage, that means when you have a chance to doubt or trust, you trust. When you have a chance to give up or hope, you hope. When you have a chance to quit or persevere, you persevere.

In marriage, sometimes these choices can come daily...I've chosen to follow 1 Corinthians 13, always trust, always hope, always persevere!

Why my bed?

Olivia had a late night last night with going to our Wednesday evening children's program at church. When I picked her up from daycare, I was advised she didn't nap today...no biggie! Its only a short ride home, she will stay awake! NOPE! She fell asleep on the way home...again no biggie, when I carry her in, she will wake up! NOPE!! She stayed asleep on our couch for 20 mins with her jacket, hat and mitts...no biggie, she will wake up when I take her outerwear off. NOPE! She stays asleep while I carry her into her room!

Crazy!!! She stayed asleep until 7:30 and woke up hungry for supper. She ate, watched a little television and went back to sleep, perfect.....NOPE! She fell asleep fully clothed in my bed...why?

Here's hoping that when I go to move her to her room, she will be as sound of a sleeper as she was earlier :s

Extended weekend...

We thought we were clear sailing...olivia's fever broke. We kept her home from church Sunday morning and she remained fever-free. Noah, on the other hand went to church for 8:45 for sound check, stayed on until second service, where he sang at the beginning, then stayed on until after the Christmas Musical practice.

When he got home, he complained he was tired, by we thought nothing of it since he had a busy day!

As he went to sleep, I kneeled down to give him a kiss and noticed that he was PIPING HOT!!!! 102 degrees out of nowhere!

Needless to say, he is home with Momma today! He is fever-free, but it is teetering around 99 degrees.

So far, we've played fun IPad games, Wii games and some cuddle time :)

Mommy is worn out and is happy for the day to relax. I will be in perfect shape to be at work again tomorrow. To top it off, I was home to receive my Aldo delivery with my steal-of-a-deal sandals for next year as well as clean my filthy oven (I'm a working mom---housework is the last thing on my priority list...especially ovens! If I can still cook with it, not q priority to clean it!!)

My cup is full...

What an awesome day! There are a few things I would have changed (like Olivia being able to go to Sunday school today), but beyond that my heart is still smiling from this morning :)

It started off with Olivia finally breaking her fever in the night...thank God! Then no rushing around while we all got ready to do our things - going to Sunday school to hear Noah sing at the beginning of both services then to hear the last of "Families at Their Best" seminar where David and Caron spoke about marriage. Very encouraging!! Scott stayed with Olivia since she couldn't go to Sunday school until she was fever-free for 24 hrs.

Noah did awesome at sound chec and both services! Every time I watch the clip, I smile! That boy just melts my heart...so endearing, loving and compassionate.

One of his teachers at school even stopped to tell me how wonderful a boy he is...I guess we are doing something right!

Liv is feeling better and enjoyed a great morning with her daddy :)

I'm just so happy today with everything! Csnt even put it into words...

So it begins...

My first blog, that is!

Where to start? Hmmmm...

A few friends have blogs and write phenomenally interesting stories about their lives, their children and their adventures...I'm jealous! I want to be able to capture my life with my family like that...so, here I am!

If it is only even for my eyes to read it, it will be worth it to write down my experiences, adventures, and everyday life with my family. I will have these memories :)

It has been a long weekend for me. Thursday was remembrance day and I took Friday off from work to have a me day. This might sound selfish, but we do what we need to do. I could keep the kids home with me...but some days it is just nice to take some time for myself.

It didn't end up being a relaxing day! We had PArent teacher interviews in the morning -which went very well; groceries at Costco; home to prepare supper. My afternoon was interrupted by a call from the daycare to say Liv woke up from her nap with a fever!

Went to pick her up, then Noah and then hubby from work.

Her fever progressively got worse throughout the evening as we cuddled on the couch while the boys went to complete some other errands!

After an Advil/Tylenol combo, her fever went down a few grades and ahe went to bed normally after praying that God would help her feel better with some sleep!

We are home today just relaxing so that she will be well enough so that the family can attend church in the a.m. so that Noah can sing "today is the day" on stage and mommy and daddy can listen to the guest pastor speak about "marriage"!

Well that is it! First blog complete!