As we woke up (remarkably late for my kids, 830) to the joys of Christmas and Santa and stockings and gifts, I had a whole jumble of thoughts running around my head.
I thought of the families in Newtown, CT. I can't imagine what today is like for them. Then again, I guess every day for them is now a Groundhog Day-ish nightmare of wondering "What would she look like today?" or "What would he ask Santa for next year?" But I can't imagine even getting out of bed or acknowledging Christmas if I were one of them today. And many of them have to put on that brave face for the children that are still here.
I thought of the Christmases past that I spent without Jay. Does there ever come a day when you stop remembering those holidays they missed? I was so grateful to wake up and have him in the same house, to share the memories with. To have someone to put batteries in one toy while I put together another. To have him here for Christmas eve, and Christmas pajamas and "Twas the Night Before Christmas". I thought of my friends, who are missing their deployed spouses today. And the men and women who are making good on the blank check they wrote to the US Armed Forces, and are protecting our freedom to worship and celebrate as we please.
Then I thought about my friends that have adopted children this year. Can there be a greater gift than to give a child a forever family, and a first Christmas? And the joy on the faces of the parents of Ben, Blake, Jade, Turner, Tabor, Natalie, Ella Kate, Lincoln, Mary Connelly, Kizzy, William, Everett, Peter and Liam as they watched their babies experience their first Christmas. I thought about the anticipation Sam and Watts must be feeling as they look to next year, with new babies to celebrate.
We have been back from Germany for over two years. We've moved, bought a house, started jobs, started schools, welcomed a new baby and a new dog. We've had many beautiful memories. But today, stirring sausage gravy and checking on biscuits in the oven, listening to the kids play with Lila's new table...I felt truly at home for the first time. There's a peace that comes from knowing you're exactly where you're supposed to be, and that everything is complete.
Geez. That's a lot to take in before your first cup of coffee.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas Eve
We had two families to celebrate with on Christmas Eve, but they were both later in the day so we woke up and spent the day getting ready for the events that were to come!
We headed to Eric's house for dinner, presents and family time. Hayden earned a few boo-boos after an unfortunate scuffle with one of Eric's dogs, but he was super tough about it.
What a good lookin' bunch! Lila was content to sit in the laundry basket most of the night, as long as someone was pulling her around the house in it. The kids opened presents and played until it was time for us to head out.
There was a lot of chaos, and a lot of mess, but everyone had a good time. Lila loved her vanity set and Elaine showed her how to use all the pieces to it!
After we packed it all up, we headed to Gloria's for snacks and cider, and more gifts! Hayden was SO excited to get his "scary Batman castle" and couldn't wait to get it home to play with it!
Always my eater, Lila was most excited about the gingerbread cookies! April snatched one from her, but we quickly got her another one...and she quickly made a mess!
After that, we took two tired kids and got them home and in their Christmas jammies. Lila went right to bed, but Hayden helped me put out cookies and milk for Santa and then we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas." He went to bed (and stayed there!) so Santa's elves could get to work!
We headed to Eric's house for dinner, presents and family time. Hayden earned a few boo-boos after an unfortunate scuffle with one of Eric's dogs, but he was super tough about it.
What a good lookin' bunch! Lila was content to sit in the laundry basket most of the night, as long as someone was pulling her around the house in it. The kids opened presents and played until it was time for us to head out.
There was a lot of chaos, and a lot of mess, but everyone had a good time. Lila loved her vanity set and Elaine showed her how to use all the pieces to it!
After we packed it all up, we headed to Gloria's for snacks and cider, and more gifts! Hayden was SO excited to get his "scary Batman castle" and couldn't wait to get it home to play with it!
Always my eater, Lila was most excited about the gingerbread cookies! April snatched one from her, but we quickly got her another one...and she quickly made a mess!
After that, we took two tired kids and got them home and in their Christmas jammies. Lila went right to bed, but Hayden helped me put out cookies and milk for Santa and then we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas." He went to bed (and stayed there!) so Santa's elves could get to work!
Friday, December 21, 2012
11 months old
Getting closer and closer to the big 12 month mark, and boy she isn't slowing down! Five teeth, walking like a pro and drinking out of the cup. #secondchildsyndrome
But look at that gorgeous girl!
But look at that gorgeous girl!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Visit to see Santa!
This year we went to see Santa early, and couldn't believe that Hayden was willing to sit on his lap! We waited patiently in line (except for Lila, there is nothing patient about her) for about a half hour to see the man in the red suit. He did not disappoint! He listed to Hayden's whole list, and even Lila was intrigued by him!
Monday, December 10, 2012
A Trip Down South
When we found out Megan and Jake were having a party, we jumped at the chance to head to Georgia to see our old Army family. We packed up the kids and Onyx (Oscar spent a relaxing weekend at home) and headed to 85 South. I was terrified of the trip, as Lila is not known for enjoying long car rides, and Hayden is a talker. I was pleasantly surprised when Lila slept for almost the entire trip, and Hayden of course, talked nonstop.
Meike was excited to finally meet Lila! And we finally had a baby for those pink socks ;-)
And *I* got to meet baby Blake! He is so sweet and adorable, and is a little mini-James. I adore this little guy!
And then there was this sweet girl, a nearly exact replica of her sister, and at the same age as I last saw her sister! She was a sweet baby and opted to sleep for much of the party.
Blake is soooo lucky we didn't get the picture of him trying to put his hand up Lila's dress!
Yeah nothing has changed since we left in 2010.
The kids had a blast helping Uncle Jake with the fire pit! Hayden said it was "too hot on my face" but he still had fun helping and sitting around the fire.
Jay obviously stands out as the "one who doesn't have to shave", and Gabe is nearly as tall as I am. Give it another year and he'll tower over me for sure!
Lila got a little bigger from the last time she saw her uncle Jake in May!
The next day we headed on post to see the Pollards, the Bakers and the Millers. I forgot what it was like to live on post, but then again I never lived on post in the states so it's definitely different.
Lila and Jade are about three weeks apart, and Jade was born on my birthday!
After we hung out a bit, we headed out to get something to eat. Our group of four families now numbers 17, with one on the way (Sam, not me!) and I laughed because normally when I go out to eat with 16 other people, there's a week of planning and an Evite involved! But on this lovely Sunday, it was just lunch with my family.
After lunch we headed back to 85, but northbound this time. We made pretty good time, and the kids were awesome on the way back. It was good to be home, but I missed my Army family so much. There are a lot of things I don't miss about the Army (field training, deployments, dirty boots) but I really do miss the people. Luckily, they're just a phone call, email or 8-hour car ride away!
And *I* got to meet baby Blake! He is so sweet and adorable, and is a little mini-James. I adore this little guy!
And then there was this sweet girl, a nearly exact replica of her sister, and at the same age as I last saw her sister! She was a sweet baby and opted to sleep for much of the party.
Blake is soooo lucky we didn't get the picture of him trying to put his hand up Lila's dress!
Yeah nothing has changed since we left in 2010.
The kids had a blast helping Uncle Jake with the fire pit! Hayden said it was "too hot on my face" but he still had fun helping and sitting around the fire.
Jay obviously stands out as the "one who doesn't have to shave", and Gabe is nearly as tall as I am. Give it another year and he'll tower over me for sure!
Lila got a little bigger from the last time she saw her uncle Jake in May!
The next day we headed on post to see the Pollards, the Bakers and the Millers. I forgot what it was like to live on post, but then again I never lived on post in the states so it's definitely different.
Lila and Jade are about three weeks apart, and Jade was born on my birthday!
After we hung out a bit, we headed out to get something to eat. Our group of four families now numbers 17, with one on the way (Sam, not me!) and I laughed because normally when I go out to eat with 16 other people, there's a week of planning and an Evite involved! But on this lovely Sunday, it was just lunch with my family.
After lunch we headed back to 85, but northbound this time. We made pretty good time, and the kids were awesome on the way back. It was good to be home, but I missed my Army family so much. There are a lot of things I don't miss about the Army (field training, deployments, dirty boots) but I really do miss the people. Luckily, they're just a phone call, email or 8-hour car ride away!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Letters to Lila: Marriage
Dear Lila,
Your father and I have a great marriage. It's not perfect; some days we want to claw each other's eyes out. Some days we go to bed without speaking. And some days, we're perfectly content being alone (he works nights). But at the end of the day, we love each other. The reason we fight sometimes is because we love each other. We want the best for you and your brother, and sometimes have to hash that out. Sometimes we are in bad moods for no reason.
But we always say "I'm sorry". We always say "I love you". There are some days when we see a glimpse of the "us" we were in 2004, before deployments, before Germany, before children and before we had to truly grow up. We get to be silly and laugh, make jokes, pick on each other and give kisses (even in front of you). We remember why we work so hard to make our marriage work; it's because we love each other through the fights, the bad days, the disagreements and the dirty laundry.
Something people don't tell you about marriage, Lila, is that it's work. It's hard. You have to work at your marriage every single day and don't ever let anyone tell you any differently. You'll go through what they call a honeymoon phase, where you want to kiss and be lovey and snuggly and you overlook every flaw, every possible disagreement because no one, anywhere has ever been as happy as you two are right then. No one has ever loved anyone the way you love each other. But then the newness wears off, and real life sets in, and the work starts. So here's some advice from your mom, an old married lady who hopes to be married to your dad for the rest of your life.
*Marry a man who treats you like a princess. This doesn't mean he showers you with gifts and "things" but that he makes you feel important and treats you like a precious gem. Because you are. That's not narcissistic, you are a human being and one-of-a-kind and he needs to recognize that.
*Marry a man who isn't threatened when you have to be the knight in shining armor. The best marriages are reciprocal; sometimes he may run out of gas and need you to rescue him. It doesn't make him less of a man, it means you're a team.
*Marry a man who isn't afraid to hurt your feelings, or get his hurt in return. Honesty is one of the most attributes in anyone you spend your time with, but especially one you intend to spend your whole life with. And that means sometimes telling each other "You're being a jerk" because sometimes, you're being a jerk. And you need to hear it.
*Marry a man that makes you laugh. You're going to spend hours together, at the dinner table, on airplanes, in cars and in waiting rooms. That time is better spent in humor than in silence.
*Then again, there's something to be said for silence. Marry someone you're content to sit in silence with. You don't always have to talk. Be comfortable with each other, and that will speak for itself.
*Don't be afraid to let him see you sick, without makeup and in sweatpants. Marilyn Monroe once said, "If you can't handle me at my worst, you sure don't deserve me at my best." If your beauty, in his eyes, lies in your curled hair and manicured nails, he doesn't deserve you.
*Never change who you are for a man. You'll hate yourself for it. You're perfect the way you are, and someone one day will love you for all the things that you are, not all the things you're not.
*Never give up your friends for a man. If he asks you to, he's insecure. If you do it on your own, you'll regret it. Friends are there to pick us up when the rest of the world lets us down and I assure you, he's going to let you down. We're human.
*Don't be afraid to go to bed mad. Sometimes, you just need to sleep on it to then wake up and realize you were wrong. And sometimes, you have to be the bigger person and say "I'm sorry" first, even if you're not the only one at fault. Pride goeth before the fall, and no amount of pride is worth losing your soulmate.
*Don't be afraid to hold hands or kiss him in public. But have some decency about it. If you love someone, you show them. You shout it from the rooftops. But you're a lady, and what ever you do in public will always get back to your mother.
*Absolutely, positively believe in soul mates. There is someone out there that is absolutely meant for you. You may find him in the first boy you date. You may find him at 13, and not know it until 22. And even then, you may not want to believe it for a few months. You may find him at 40. Or you may find out that he is a she. I don't care who you marry, as long as you feel in your soul that it's who you're supposed to be with. I keep saying "marry a man" but that's because I did. You may find out that your soulmate is a woman. As your mother I will always want the best for you, and the best is the person that treats you like the precious soul that you are.
I wish I could tell you that life was easy, that you'd never be sad and that you'll never have your heart broken. But I'm here to be your mom and tell you the truth. The truth is, you're going to break hearts and have yours broken, and you're going to feel like nothing will ever be right again. It's been said that someone will come along one day and make you understand why it never worked out with anyone else. There's about a billion country songs about thinking you're going to marry someone and finding out later why God had other plans. Don't give up on love because you strike out. Don't be afraid to give your heart to someone. Your dad can drive me nuts with a bag of tortilla chips and he threatens bodily harm every time he finds a bobby pin in his chair; but I'd go to hell and back for him and he's already been there for me. Marriage is hard, but it's worth every bit of it.
Your father and I have a great marriage. It's not perfect; some days we want to claw each other's eyes out. Some days we go to bed without speaking. And some days, we're perfectly content being alone (he works nights). But at the end of the day, we love each other. The reason we fight sometimes is because we love each other. We want the best for you and your brother, and sometimes have to hash that out. Sometimes we are in bad moods for no reason.
But we always say "I'm sorry". We always say "I love you". There are some days when we see a glimpse of the "us" we were in 2004, before deployments, before Germany, before children and before we had to truly grow up. We get to be silly and laugh, make jokes, pick on each other and give kisses (even in front of you). We remember why we work so hard to make our marriage work; it's because we love each other through the fights, the bad days, the disagreements and the dirty laundry.
Something people don't tell you about marriage, Lila, is that it's work. It's hard. You have to work at your marriage every single day and don't ever let anyone tell you any differently. You'll go through what they call a honeymoon phase, where you want to kiss and be lovey and snuggly and you overlook every flaw, every possible disagreement because no one, anywhere has ever been as happy as you two are right then. No one has ever loved anyone the way you love each other. But then the newness wears off, and real life sets in, and the work starts. So here's some advice from your mom, an old married lady who hopes to be married to your dad for the rest of your life.
*Marry a man who treats you like a princess. This doesn't mean he showers you with gifts and "things" but that he makes you feel important and treats you like a precious gem. Because you are. That's not narcissistic, you are a human being and one-of-a-kind and he needs to recognize that.
*Marry a man who isn't threatened when you have to be the knight in shining armor. The best marriages are reciprocal; sometimes he may run out of gas and need you to rescue him. It doesn't make him less of a man, it means you're a team.
*Marry a man who isn't afraid to hurt your feelings, or get his hurt in return. Honesty is one of the most attributes in anyone you spend your time with, but especially one you intend to spend your whole life with. And that means sometimes telling each other "You're being a jerk" because sometimes, you're being a jerk. And you need to hear it.
*Marry a man that makes you laugh. You're going to spend hours together, at the dinner table, on airplanes, in cars and in waiting rooms. That time is better spent in humor than in silence.
*Then again, there's something to be said for silence. Marry someone you're content to sit in silence with. You don't always have to talk. Be comfortable with each other, and that will speak for itself.
*Don't be afraid to let him see you sick, without makeup and in sweatpants. Marilyn Monroe once said, "If you can't handle me at my worst, you sure don't deserve me at my best." If your beauty, in his eyes, lies in your curled hair and manicured nails, he doesn't deserve you.
*Never change who you are for a man. You'll hate yourself for it. You're perfect the way you are, and someone one day will love you for all the things that you are, not all the things you're not.
*Never give up your friends for a man. If he asks you to, he's insecure. If you do it on your own, you'll regret it. Friends are there to pick us up when the rest of the world lets us down and I assure you, he's going to let you down. We're human.
*Don't be afraid to go to bed mad. Sometimes, you just need to sleep on it to then wake up and realize you were wrong. And sometimes, you have to be the bigger person and say "I'm sorry" first, even if you're not the only one at fault. Pride goeth before the fall, and no amount of pride is worth losing your soulmate.
*Don't be afraid to hold hands or kiss him in public. But have some decency about it. If you love someone, you show them. You shout it from the rooftops. But you're a lady, and what ever you do in public will always get back to your mother.
*Absolutely, positively believe in soul mates. There is someone out there that is absolutely meant for you. You may find him in the first boy you date. You may find him at 13, and not know it until 22. And even then, you may not want to believe it for a few months. You may find him at 40. Or you may find out that he is a she. I don't care who you marry, as long as you feel in your soul that it's who you're supposed to be with. I keep saying "marry a man" but that's because I did. You may find out that your soulmate is a woman. As your mother I will always want the best for you, and the best is the person that treats you like the precious soul that you are.
I wish I could tell you that life was easy, that you'd never be sad and that you'll never have your heart broken. But I'm here to be your mom and tell you the truth. The truth is, you're going to break hearts and have yours broken, and you're going to feel like nothing will ever be right again. It's been said that someone will come along one day and make you understand why it never worked out with anyone else. There's about a billion country songs about thinking you're going to marry someone and finding out later why God had other plans. Don't give up on love because you strike out. Don't be afraid to give your heart to someone. Your dad can drive me nuts with a bag of tortilla chips and he threatens bodily harm every time he finds a bobby pin in his chair; but I'd go to hell and back for him and he's already been there for me. Marriage is hard, but it's worth every bit of it.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
I made this for wine club on Saturday night and it was a HUGE hit!
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
4 cups chicken broth
½ bay leaf
½ cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup butter
2 cups half and half, warmed (or skim milk if you’re trying to cut some calories)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1. Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to a large slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.
3. About 30 minutes before serving prepare a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper. Add additional basil and oregano if needed (the slow cooker does a number on spices and they get bland over time, so don’t be afraid to always season to taste at the end).
4. Cover and cook on LOW for another 30 minutes or so until ready to serve.
........
I left out the carrots because I didn't have any. Next time, I'd drop the chicken broth from 4 cups to 3 for it to be a thicker soup but this was a super easy and tasty dish. And the roux was BEAUTIFUL. Enjoy!
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
4 cups chicken broth
½ bay leaf
½ cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup butter
2 cups half and half, warmed (or skim milk if you’re trying to cut some calories)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1. Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to a large slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.
3. About 30 minutes before serving prepare a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper. Add additional basil and oregano if needed (the slow cooker does a number on spices and they get bland over time, so don’t be afraid to always season to taste at the end).
4. Cover and cook on LOW for another 30 minutes or so until ready to serve.
........
I left out the carrots because I didn't have any. Next time, I'd drop the chicken broth from 4 cups to 3 for it to be a thicker soup but this was a super easy and tasty dish. And the roux was BEAUTIFUL. Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)