Numerals

1. I ADORE healthy children.  You know, the obnoxious, quarrelsome,  rebellious, loud kind. 
2. I revel in beautiful sun-shiny days that said healthy children can go play in.
3. I admire my daughter for being able to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies that are AMAZING with NO help from me.
4. I love it when leftovers taste better then the first go round.
5. My hip flexors hurt.
6. I cut my baby's hair. It makes me cry.  Sorry the video is sideways.
I sent this video to my dad who is the "BALD grandpa." He thought Caleb said "balls" rather then BALD.  I think balls would have been much funnier!!

I fake cried for a good hour after.mostly because Caleb would run up to me and hug me and say, "Mom, Mommy, it's ok.  I'll still be your baby."
WWWAAHHHHH!!!!

Sick babies, sleep deprivation and gratitude

We've been super fortunate healthwise this winter, if you want to call it a winter.  Hard to believe "winter" means 50 degree weather most days.
I will forever compare our illnesses to the winter of 2010-2011, which was actually a legitimate winter with snow and below 0 temps.  We were sick for 3+ months straight.  It was painful and depressing.
We've got a bout of the flu making it's rounds now and it's ok.  I don't like it when they're sick.  It means sleepless nights for us all, tears, pain and discomfort. But they let me snuggle with them and they'll get better.  We'll ride this out and be ok soon.
Having sick kids for a few days ALWAYS makes me appreciate that I have healthy kids 99 % of the time.  I may lose sleep going from one child to the next all night, but some parents do that every night for months or years. 
It's so easy to fall into the "poor me" syndrome when kids are sick, plans have to be changed and you're stuck at home for days at a time.  I've been there. 
What I've found to work much better is to hug them and kiss them, watch movies with them and thank God that they will be back to their normal, destructive, obnoxious, loud selves soon.

 

We're dropping like flies.

Elijah was sick from Saturday til Tuesday.
Good ole' fashion flu symptoms.
Achy, weak, headache, fever.
Sent him to school healthy yesterday.
Cory wakes up this a.m. with the same symptoms and Caleb joined the party this afternoon.
I'm feeling it coming on, as well. 
Not sure if it's sympathy pains or not.  Hoping so and not the real deal.
When we get something like this going on, I kinda feel like I want everyone to lick the same glass and just get it over with. 
Except for me.
And Chad.  He doesn't have time to be sick.  He hasn't taken a sick day in 5 years, so I'm gonna bet this one passes him too.

DIY

It's so easy.
All you have to do is tear out some walls, put some new walls up, lay some mastic, some tile, grout it and WAH-LA you have a newly tiled shower!
HAHA!! 
This is our first project as homeowners. 
I'd be lying if I didn't say I've lost some sleep over it.  We weren't really planning on doing this one for a few months, but a water spot on our kitchen ceiling had us running to Lowes ASAP!
I just don't want to screw it up.
It's just a tiled shower, right? 
No big deal!
This may take us weeks...I'll take a few pictures along the way.

When the tides change

Have you ever watched a tide go in or out? 

I lived near a beach for 4 years of my life and I loved it.
There is something about that ocean smell, the sand, the sound of  the waves crashing.
It's serene in it's constant movement.
Those waves are always changing the landscape above and below. 
With each rise and fall, the beach changes, the ocean changes.
Isn't that how mothering is?
These little people change us inside, outside, upside down.  
We have to wrestle with the tides that come and go. 
Every. Single. Day.
We struggle with maintaining an identity, our sanity, our relationships.  We have to weather the tantrums, attitudes and fears.
Those waves can be rough. 
What seems to happen somewhere along the line is the tides, the inevitable changes, become less worrisome. 
You know they will come and go.  You know this tide of having young children will soon turn and bring with it a whole new set of waves.
I've been through an actual hurricane and have seen how much damage waves can make. But those daily tides can wear us down too, emotionally or physically, and sometimes we have to weather a hurricane and hunker down and call in for some sand bags. 

None of this parenting stuff is easy.  Even in the very best moments, I know I'm raising these children to at some point leave me.  And at some moments, that point cannot come soon enough. 

They create the most massive waves in our lives.  We don't know how big they will be, how much they will change the landscape, or if they will create a category 4 hurricane someday, but somewhere along the line, there is a sense of peace and confidence that settles in that we're going to be able to weather whatever comes our way. 

Not because we do everything right, or know what to do in every situation, but because we don't and we're all still here. 

And, wow, being in the presence of those beautiful waves and peaceful breezes that come, the smiles and giggles, the cuddles and naps, if even for a moment, seem to make those waves and hurricanes bearable.

My baby

just informed me that he does not want to be my baby anymore.
Me: "Well, who is going to be my baby now?"
Caleb: "Cory or Elijah can."
Me: "I don't think they will."
Caleb: "Yes, they will say sure."
Me: "Go ask them."
Caleb runs off to ask and comes back.
Caleb: "They said no."
Me: "Well, now who is going to be my baby."
Caleb: "You can just get one at the store.  I just can't be your baby.  I'm a big boy now."
Me: "Sigh" Sad face :(

Wings

Do you remember Wings?

The 90s sitcom about pilot brothers from Nantucket.

Joe and Brian, Helen, Fay and Roy.  And Lowell. Oh Lowell.
I LOVED it.
I still love it.
The whole series is on Netflix.
I'm going to be so sad when I'm done.
It makes me LOL...
The episode when Helen gets her wisdom teeth pulled and can't talk! 
A RIOT!

Today...

is one of those days that I never forget.
In 9 years, I've never forgotten what today is.
Some birthdays, anniversaries, important dates sneak up on me.
This day never does.
Luke passed away 9 years ago.
Some Jan. 10ths have held lots of tears.  Others a heavy heart.  Some have been so busy, I don't have much time to settle in to the sadness.
I don't really know what today holds.

I miss him.

Batman

So, we've had this running theme in our house for awhile now. 
Chad is Batman.
I'm not sure how it started exactly, but I'm gonna guess Chad said one day, "I'm Batman." and Cory started to argue with him that he couldn't REALLY be Batman and Chad gave him all the right answers and therefore Cory may or may not believe that Chad is actually Batman.
And, then Caleb catches on and starts calling Chad Batman and himself BatBaby and 'round and 'round we go.
It's cute.
And just plain hilarious when you hear Cory and Caleb discussing how their dad could be Batman.
Autumn and I made this for Cory for Christmas. 

It makes me smile.
I hope he remembers that he can call his dad anytime long after he realizes his dad isn't actually Batman.

Things I always knew about myself...

1. I am a horrible passenger. 
2. I love listening to NPR while I'm driving.
3. I really like being with the hubs.  We act like teenagers.
4. I wholeheartedly trust my loved ones to take care of my kids.
5. I sleep really well in hotels with good mattresses.
6. I DO NOT like Dallas traffic.
7. I do not like cable TV.
8. I start missing my kids about an hour from home, but not too much before then...
9. I love football.
10. Being able to watch your friends be successful is just as rewarding as being successful yourself.

This weekend was great for so many reasons. 
The majority of our days and time are spent taking care of other people and working.  Very rarely do we get the chance to do things on our own time with or without each other. 
I'm OK with that.  I know it's the season we're in with younger children, activities, jobs, etc, but it sure makes those few days here and there all the more meaningful.
It's not easy to get schedules rearranged and children taken care of, but it's sure worth it!

Fabulous Frisco

Tomorrow is the day.
The day we go to Frisco.
I have way to much to do to express how excited I am.
I'm pumped.

31

This may be my all-time favorite picture of the hubs and I.

I super-love us in our 30s

 (although I think he was only 29 in this pic)

We're so much more mature at 30+.

HA!!

I think that's WHY I super-love us in our 30s cause we're not!

This picture speaks to just a few very important qualities about my significant other.

1. He lets me think I'm in charge.  

2. He clearly loves my silliness.

3. He's a lover, not a fighter.

4. Don't let the passive facial expression fool you...He's plotting on how to take me down.

5. He looks super sexy with facial hair.

6. You can't see it, but I'm pretty sure his right hand is grabbing...

Well, that might be too much information for you.

Sorry.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHAD!!

New Year

Happy New Year!
I don't do resolutions. 
Sorry. 
I know they're really popular, but I prefer to just passively look at how much at suck at certain things and think about them for awhile and then go about my day. 
I super admire people who actually stick to their resolutions, but I have an innate distaste for not following through with something, which would make one assume that I'm a go-getter, get things done kind of gal, when in fact I often just lose interest and quit.
And so, New Years' resolutions make me go blah, but in the spirit of this 2012 here is my one resolution:
I make a resolution to resolve to resolutely every day try to not suck at the things I generally suck at.

The rest of the story...

The previously blogged incident went down something like this...
After a grueling 2 hours of Dahlke bowling in which I lost my 2 years running bowling title, we were standing around returning shoes, chatting, etc.  There was an arcade area in the bowling alley and the little kids had been playing in there for some time when one of them came running over and said, "We have a problem.  Caleb is stuck in one of the games."
My brother Gabe was closest so he walked over only to return a few seconds later and said to me, "Yeah, we have a situation.  You may want to come."
I walked over completely unsure of what I would  find. 
What I found was Caleb INSIDE the crane vending game desperately clutching a couple stuffed balls and crying.  He was sitting on the edge of the retrievel bucket looking completely pathetic.
My first thought was that he wasn't going to come out without those balls and I knew I couldn't get him out holding them so I had him drop them down and took those out.
For once in his life, he followed instructions very well.  I had him stand at the back of the bucket and then sit so his legs were out and under the door.  Then I did what any rational person would do...I pulled.
He had to lay completely on his back and turn his head to the side to get it under the door which I was pushing up on.
After some more tears and hugs, I asked him if he was scared (cause he sure looked scared!).  He, of course, said, "No. I just wanted you."
And the real kicker after this whole ordeal, when I asked him if he wanted those balls that he went up into that thing to get he said, "No.  I want different ones." 
REALLY?!?!?!
So, I returned the balls to the bowling alley and we buzzed on out of there with no prize, no picture and nothing but the image of him in a big plastic box sitting on top of all those stuffed animals with tears running down his chubby cheeks seared into my brain!

If you've ever wondered...

if it's possible for someone to get up in one of those vending claw/crane games (much like this one...)

rest assured that it is in fact possible.
If you're 3
and determined
and have no concept of stealing
or fear of small spaces
or you lack the ability to comprehend that you may not be able to get out if you go in.
Or basically if you're Caleb.

Christmas vacation

in bullet points.
* making children wait til 3:00 in the afternoon to leave for their grandparents house should be avoided at all costs.
*Putting your 3 year old in the back row seems like a good idea until he starts spitting on his sister and pulling her hair and you have to unbuckle and climb in the back with your arse in the air for all humanity to see to get your hands on him.
*There really is nothing like going home.  There is an aura around my parents house that is calming.  I doubt that is the case for everyone, but it is for me. 
*Upon arriving at my parents, K-Love says "Bye, Mom."  Huh??  I guess it has been awhile since we've stayed with him at Gma's.  He assumed we're were just leaving him there again.
*It was the year of the flashlights.  I got the boys each one for their stockings, my mom and sister-in-law got them each one .  Weird, but they love flashlights so it's all good.  Now I have to buy a load of batteries.
*I love going to my dad's church.  No Christmas is complete without hearing Away in the Manger sung painfully off-key by exuberant young children. Warms my heart every year.
*On that same note-I love my dad's sermons.  You'd think after all the thousands of sermon's I've heard over the years, they would get old.  They don't.  The older I get the more I appreciate his understanding of our Lord and his joy in sharing that gospel.
*I never sleep much at my parents.  It's almost always because I'm up at an ungodly hour with one or more of my siblings hashing out life, love, religion, politics, or just laughing til we're all in tears.  I don't mind the lack of sleep.
*I love going to Chad's parents' house.  It's WAY out in the country and so pretty.  We eat amazingly well, it's always cozy warm and I usually get a nap in at some point while I'm there. Score!
*The annual Dahlke family bowling expedition is always a blast.  I drove 2 hours this year to participate because I had won the previous 2 years and had to defend my title.  Unfortunately, I was way off my game and got beat twice.  Maybe next year?
*And of course, no blog post would be complete without a Caleb story, but this story deserves a post all it's own!
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!  I sure did!

Sweet gift

My brother Jake and his wife are E's godparents.
They sent him the neatest gift for Christmas.  The gift was as sweet as E's response to it.
They have good friends in Denver that started The Mango Project. http://www.themangoproject.com/.
It is such an amazing project.  Please go check it out!
For the god-kids, they donated a tree in their name.  E was so surprised by that and got a huge, bashful smile on this face and said, "That is so awesome!"  We looked it up and he learned alot about mangos and families in another part of the world.
Those are the gifts that truly keep giving!  Love it!

From the mouth...

of a hilarious, naughty, sweet three year old.

Early morning before I had gotten up for work, Caleb crawls into bed with me and falls back asleep.  I always make a big deal about him snuggling with me cause someday he's not going to anymore and that makes me sad.
Anyway, he woke up while I was getting ready for work and said the sweetest thing in the ugliest, gravely voice, "MOM, COME NUGGLE WITH ME!"  So, of course, I hopped into bed with him, but told him I could only lay down for one minute.  He was not happy about this and said, "No, stay.  I want to snuggle with a BIG girl and a TALL girl." 
At which point, I didn't know if I should be offended.
Next...
The other day, I plopped myself down on the loveseat and banged my foot on our coffee table.  Caleb was playing with some toys on the coffee table.  I said, "Ow! Caleb, can you rub my foot."  His response, "I am not that guy."  Huh?? 
 I started laughing and he said again, "I am NOT the guy that does that." 
And at church yesterday...
He was playing "quietly" with a stuffed bunny and bear from the nursery.  "Agh. Grrr.  Bang.  I kill you.  I shoot you.  I'll shoot your mom."
One of us may need therapy.

Basketball

Oh, man do I love basketball.
I do.
Some of my earliest memories are on a basketball court with my dad and brothers.
I love the smells and sounds of a gym. 
I had the privilege of growing up with a dad that was a basketball coach and had access to a court basically whenever I wanted.  I loved it.
I had one of those AH! moments this weekend with Elijah.  He had a tournament here in town on Saturday and they played in the championship game late that night.
Now, he loves playing basketball, but had not been getting a lot of playing time and rightly so.  He didn't play with this team last year.  He tends to be more concerned about doing something wrong then just being aggressive.  He hadn't quite gotten the feel for where to be on the court.
His play from the previous weekend to this weekend were greatly improved. 
And so in that championship game, he played alot and played well. 
With just a few seconds left in the game, they were down by 2 and he made a LONG jump shot to tie the game!! 
AH!  I was so happy for him.  I know that feeling.
They ended up losing by 1 in OT.  They were so bummed, but I was super proud of my ball player.  That was a gutsy shot. 
I asked him after the game what he was thinking before he shot.  He said, "I just thought if I made it, my team could maybe have a chance."  :-)
AH!

Good grief

My grandpa died Monday night.  My mom's dad.  He was in great health.  Active, spry, no cancer, no major health issues.  He died in his sleep.  No warning.  No, "I don't feel good."  He had bought new shoes that day.  
I'm so painfully sad for my mom and my grandma and my aunt and uncle.  My grandpa had his faults like the rest of us.  He and my mom knocked heads at times.  He was not always nice to her.  But, wow, was he loved by all of us. 
He was funny and silly and generous.  He always smelled like coffee and always wanted a kiss on the cheek.  It made his hearing aid squeal and he thought that was just a riot.  We all did too.  He was stubborn and outdoorsy and handy.  He loved my grandma like crazy.  He was quick to share his opinion and quick to give a hug.  He will be so very missed. 
It makes me think about losing my dad which is kind of silly maybe.  I have a really great dad and I just cannot even fathom what it will be like to lose him.  My heart hurts for my mom who is now without her daddy. 
Blah!  
Death and holidays are no bueno.  Death and any time of year is hard, but holidays...ugh!
A few other things have hit this week.  Our Katie had a rough weekend and is dealing with some seriously hard stuff.  I hurt for her.  A good friend is in the hospital with some health problems.  Several friends are struggling with what has been given them. 
I just want people I love to be healthy and well, happy and whole.   
What's always amazing about all of this is that our lives march on.  My life, my mom's, Katie, others...it just keeps moving along.  
Grief is a powerful force and not one easily overcome.  I've seen it so often wrapped up in a little package and quietly carried by those who grieve. 
I'm not entirely sure it ever leaves you. 
And in all of this we all have so much to be thankful for.  Grief and gratitude seem to be the best of friends.