Imagination

Kids amaze me with their imaginations. I mean, take a look at this:



Just looks like a bunch of cushions and pillows and.....well.....a mess, doesn't it?!?! But to my boys it is a super amazing spaceship with all the cool controls and weapons to protect themselves. See???

I have many different creations scattered around the house at the moment.....there are energy boosters made out of pillows and a big wheel, a shrinking ray that resembles a foam bat sticking out of a cloth bin, an invisible grow ray (just in case you shrink something you weren't supposed to), and many other things I haven't fully learned about yet. And, as a mom, when you see this.....

it completely warms your heart. Brothers working together to have fun. I don't even care about the "mess" they're making because it can all be put away but they are making memories that will last a lifetime.

The pity party is OVER!

Yes, it's true. I hate to admit it but the last couple weeks I have been throwing an exclusive, only-for-me-in-my-head pity party. See, Jeff started a new job a few weeks ago which we were all ecstatic about. However, that means he takes the only working vehicle we have and leaves me at home with nothing. I've been without wheels before and it really wasn't bad. But that was in the fall of the year when you could still go outside and not freeze.

I had grand ideas of bundling Eli up and taking him outside for walks everyday in the stroller. After all, he loves stroller rides. I found out quickly that, yes, he loves stroller rides but not when it's freezing cold outside! The last day I took him out he cried the last stretch of the way home because he was cold. I felt horrible!

So a few days ago I had a heart-to-heart conversation with myself. I know you're probably thinking "is that even possible?" Well, for me it is and it has been life changing. I realized that I need a schedule. I can't operate everyday on a "fly by the seat of my pants" whim. I wish I could.....but I can't. My mom is probably saying "finally, she's taking my advice!"

I also realized how much I need other people in my life. I need women to have coffee with, playdates at my house, Eli needs to play with other kids his own age. I can't do the everyday stuff on my own all the time. This week I have already had 2 playdates at my house and they were wonderful!!! If you ever want to come over and play, please let me know!!!

I know I've been away from my blog for awhile again but blogging is now part of my new schedule....so you should be seeing much more from me on a regular basis. And the next "party" I have, will not be a pity party!!!!

Celebrate good times, c'mon!!!

We have had lots of celebrate around our house this past weekend. Eli turned 3 years old, we celebrated Jeff's birthday (early) with my parents, and we celebrated Jeff's new job!!! Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and with us over the last several months. God is good!!! He had his first day today and it went better than we could have imagined.

"Happy Birthday to you....."

1, 2, 3, BLOW! And again! And again!

Aw....sibling love for the birthday boy.

A birthday muffin at the mall

You can do it! Just..a..little...further....

Gotcha!
Hiding from Mommy under the "tree" with Daddy.
My little...ahem, big...monkey boy.
Whee!!!!
Fun! A place just for me -- because my brothers and sister can't fit! Mwhahaha!
Happy Birthday, precious boy. We love you so much!!!

Look who's 3!!!

Happy Birthday my precious BIG boy! We're off to have some birthday fun. More pictures to follow.

A boy and his pet

This is what I came down the stairs to see this morning before getting ready for church. Eli loves loves LOVES our cat, Oreo. And this is one of the first times she has cuddled up with him. She must know his birthday is tomorrow!

Depression SUCKS!

There is no other word that sums it up better than that. I have dealt with my own depression and I have watched my husband battle the "terrible monster" as well.

This morning I heard about a good friend of our family, "D", who lost his battle with depression (suicide) last night.

The first question is always "What was he thinking?!?!?!". But the truth is that he wasn't thinking rationally....you can't when you're struggling.

The part that gives me chills, causes me to hit my knees in thankfullness for my family but in grief for his family, is that his story mirrors Jeff's story. My family could have had this same outcome. Let me explain.....

Jeff has struggled with depression for years....but there was such a stigma attached to it that no one wanted to think it was happening to them. I mean only "crazy" people take anti-depressants and only "insane" people are hospitalized, right?!?! WRONG! Anyway, I digress. 2 years ago, Jeff had lost a job and had gotten so incredibly immersed in the game "World of Warcraft" that he felt suicide was his only option.

Thankfully, he told me what he had been planning (he had it all set up) and I was able to get him some help.

BUT I NEVER SAW IT COMING!!!

When you're in such severe depression you believe you are doing what's best for everyone. As I battled post-partum depression, I thought it would have been best for my kids that I leave (move away) and allow them to get a "better" mom. It made complete sense to me. I was seeing a therapist 2 times a week at this point so I never acted on it because we talked in depth about it. But it was an intense feeling.

I am praying for everyone struggling with depression and those watching loved ones struggle. Please know you are not alone. Reach out. PLEASE! Email me if you feel you have no one else. I've been there. I understand. No judgements.

Technology -- too much too fast???

Ok.....this probably won't be a "popular" view on the technology available to our kids but I am taking Jennifer's challenge on blogging boldly.

I posed a question on my Facebook page about why young kids (less than 13 years of age) have email accounts, Facebook pages, MySpace pages, etc etc. I got some interesting responses that helped me understand why kids have email accounts but nothing that really explained the Facebook/MySpace pages. But here are my thoughts on it......

Email: I understand now the use of email accounts when keeping in touch with family that lives out of town. However, I kept in touch very well with my out-of-town family using "snail mail". It helped me learn how to compose a letter, penmanship, spelling....not that you can't do the same thing in an email. I guess it's just not something I'll be doing with my kids --- no judgement for you that do. Just wanted to get that out there! :)

Facebook/MySpace pages: This I simply do not understand. Facebook has a policy that kids under at 13 cannot have their own page. And if parents allow their kids to have their own page, they have to lie about their age. What is this teaching our kids??? Why are parents so opposed to saying "NO" these days??? At least, that's what it seems like! Kids come home and say "but my friends have one" are we give in. There are age limits/guidelines for a reason!

Some will say that Facebook has some great games -- even educational games -- on it. So do plenty of other safe internet sites that are appropriate for kids that age.

Why are we (as a society) ok with letting our kids grow up so fast? Will we regret it in the next few years?

I guess Jeff and I feel ok about being labeled "mean parents" when it comes to this technology. Anyone else with us???? Any other thoughts???