Blogging Binge

Blogging Binge:  When you have neglected your blogging duties for over three weeks and finally sit down to chronicle the memories of the last month.  Hope you enjoy!

LOSER

Colby can't just enjoy something himself. If he finds something he really likes, he wants EVERYONE he knows to experience the bliss as well. Last year he read a thought-provoking book and purchased copies for thirty people. You probably were one of them! The latest joy has been his Nike Plus running watch. For months he told me that I needed to get one.

I refused. Haley's princess watch that I bought her for Christmas two years ago will suffice.

He BEGGED me to let him buy me one. I told him that if he bought me one....I would return it.

Last month he bought me my own Nike Plus watch and hid the receipt.

I love it.

I know, I know...call me a laggard on the innovation bell curve, but I am not quick to try new things. I need a Colby in my life to force me into putting off the old and trying the new. If you don't have a Nike Plus watch, you should. I'm not going to buy one for everyone, but just take my advice. Because I know my pace and how far I'm running now, I can set goals and work my way up. I'm already at 5 miles and am training for a 10K next week.

In this picture, Colby is showing his Dad some of the exercises we've been doing with Jillian Michaels and her new SHRED workout. I gained a lot of weight with this last pregnancy and Jillian has been whipping me back into shape. Not only have we done the workouts, but we have really gotten into watching THE BIGGEST LOSER on NBC.com. Addicted actually. It has actually motivated me seeing how 400+ pound people can lose weight. If they can, I can too, right?

More Grandparents!

Nonny and Poppy drove their new car "Desmond" over 1,000 miles to come see us (Grandkids have a way of making you do absurd things). The weekend included bike rides with my Dad on Rt. 234, a trip to Old Mine Ranch to ride horses and feed animals, eating out, going to the 3rd annual Pelt Catanament, and listening to Gracie coo. The highlight of their trip was when Colby and I discovered a green sticker my mother had put on the back of her cell phone. It read "PLEASE...IF YOU FIND THIS PHONE, PLEASE CALL ME AT (###) ###-####." Colby and I looked at it, looked at each other and said, "Isn't this YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER that you're asking them to CALL?" True Story. We love you Nonny! Don't lose your cell phone....you'll never get it back!

Reformation Day

We like to celebrate Reformation Day by getting free candy. Some of Haley's friends at church must have explained proper Halloween etiquette to them, because they came up to me Sunday after church saying, "Wow! All you have to do in America is knock on the door and say 'Trick or Treat'! That is SO EASY!" Last year in Iceland, the kids had to go up to complete strangers and sing a song for them in order to earn candy (Darcy made up a rap and that seemed to pass.) This year was easier and we racked in a lot of chocolate to make up for the black licorice and other foreign candy from last year.

P.S. Haley's Mulan costume: $1.00.  Gotta love Northern Virginia yard sales!

Great Grammy and Great Grandchild #11

Fall Fun Activity

There are few things nicer than returning home after a run on a cold, windy morning to the scene of your kids making homemade applesauce with their grandparents and the house smelling better than a Yankee Candle.

6.

Haley Jane is 6. It's happening...everyone says it, but now we're experiencing it. Colby and I were both emotional as we recounted how quickly the years have flown and how unbelievable it is that our baby is a first grader. To celebrate the big day, we went to church and brought back eight girls with us. Haley had made out an itinerary that we executed quite well...right down to the princess pinata. After a princess lunch, princess pedicures, pin the jewel on the crown, a princess treasure hunt, and a princess cake we were ready for presents. In this picture, Haley is opening the Jasmine Barbie she had been asking for all year long (that I found at a yard sale for $1.50). Score.

A Celebration of Haley Jane

To celebrate the life God has given to Haley Jane, I made a slideshow that documents the last six years.

Lennie

Darcy ADORES her little sister. Sometimes a little too much. If you have been around our family for more than 90 seconds, you've most likely witnessed Darcy diving into Gracie's carseat, smothering her with kisses, and gritting her teeth and shaking because of how cute she is. It's a scene straight out of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck ("We know you love them, but don't hurt the rabbits, Lennie..."). Gracie just blinks and tries to suck on Darcy's chin.

Gold Rain

Today I decided to step out of the tornado and sit outside to write.  It’s been a while since I’ve aired out my head.  I’m learning that it is not selfish for me to take out time for myself but rather NECESSARY in order to be who I need to be for my kids and my husband.

Right now I am sitting outside watching red, orange, and gold rain down all around me.  The evening light catches the leaves at a perfect angle and illuminates the tree like one grand, stain-glassed window in this outdoor sanctuary.     

We moved again.  This is the 8^th house we’ve lived in during the past two years…the adventure continues.  Today finds me in the suburbs of Washington D.C  in a subdivision named Montclair.  Our friends, Tim and Amanda Long, are graciously letting us stay at their vacant home while they are in Florida for the next six months.  It is a perfect place for this stage of the journey.  “Our” new house has 3 levels, 4 bedrooms, a perfect adventure playland for the kids in the backyard, and even a fireplace.  We are beyond blessed. 

In some ways, I feel like God brought us out of America to bring us back here with new eyes.  After spending 15 months in Iceland, I am now enamored with the most mundane, simple things.  All summer long I couldn’t stop staring at the trees  and vegetation here…each  leaf a different shape, ivy climbing and decorating, making a mosaic of worshipful green.

I really feel God’s eye upon us.  I’m not worried about the future because I know God has something up His sleeve.  Too many things have happened.  It’s so obvious that God has a plan and I’m learning to just kick up my feet in the passenger seat and trust that the Driver knows where He’s going.  The more I travel through life, the more I’m realizing that God determines our steps.  Even our choices somehow fit into His mastermind puzzle that we can’t even begin to figure out.   So, we don’t.  We just submit, trust….and then REST.