Photo Tag

Photo Tag
Here is how you play. Open your photos folder or program.
Go to the first folder that comes up.
Go to the 10th picture in that folder.
Post that picture and tell about it.

Okay, so this is not my best shot, but I guess it's pretty real. Do I really always look like a chipmunk with her cheeks full of nuts? Or am I always just standing next to a nut? This is Joseph and I right after we got married, I think. We went to Las Vegas to see Rhyan sealed to her family. I look at this picture, and it reminds me of Dr. Seuss' poem "Oh! The Places You'll Go!"

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

I don't know if I can tag anyone because no one actually reads my blog- why would they if I never post?

I tag Janell, Joseph (this very same blog, third folder, tenth picture,) Mom, (yes, you have to touch the computer. Have Dad help you,) and Kenielle, and Heather M.

I know you've been breathlessly awaiting this announcement . . .

We had a new baby! You've probably read about it on everyone else's blogs or already seen him in person, but we've got to at least mention it. We've been enjoying Caleb very much. He laughs and seeks attention regularly, but he can also just sit and watch or sleep regularly enough for me to get things done. I love being forced to take time to just sit and look at him. The Lord really knew what he was doing when he made things the way they were. He knew that new mothers would need lots of time- regularly during the day, and even the night- to sit and think. Other than those moments of quiet, though, we are pretty crazy around here. And enjoying most of it. Caleb has already had his first vacation to South Carlsbad beach in California. He was a quiet passenger and only insisted on one stop every 6 hours. The sand and lack of sleep at the beach did not agree with him, but he was nice anyway. When we got home, I was releived to be able to give him a bath. We left our camera in someone else's car, so my posts in the next little while will be made with stolen photos.

Elsie

We don't say enough nice things about Elsie. I was just getting ready to put pictures of Caleb up, and I saw this one of Elsie. Elsie is the peacemaker in our home. She wants everyone to be happy, she wants to be a part of every good thing that happens, and she basically just wants to be good. We are so lucky to have her in our family

Yoga at home

Trying out my new home video showed me how yoga pioneers may have developed some of their moves- to avoid hitting and falling on children. Certain contortions could allow you to exercise and entertain your little ones at the same time. Downward facing dog is really "I'll be the tunnel." Cat/cow pose is "ride 'em cowboy" and child's pose is "Let's take a nap."

Random Kiddies

*This is now viewable by all*

Here are a whole bunch of pictures of our kiddies. Elsie is just about six, Cy is almost four, and Andrew is almost two.

Older photos

I recently joined Facebook and several people have asked to see pictures of my kids. So I was going through the photos and found this video of Elsie. As some of you may know, our family really likes spending time in the out doors, river rafting, hiking, camping, swimming...anything that isn't motorized.

It is funny to see the different kids as they start to hike with us. Andrew has always seemed too little and spends most of his time in a backpack. He likes to taunt Cy from up there.

Cy has mostly been a complainer. Recently we hiked up Mueller Park Canyon and he complained almost constantly the mile or so we hiked up the trail about being too tired and having sore legs. However, the minute we turned around to head back, he ran down the trail with so much energy that he probably could have caught a squirrel.

Elsie has always been our good hiker. She loves it. Anyway, as I was looking through the pictures I found a short video clip of her hiking her first hike (14 months).

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree . . .

We put our tree up two weeks before Christmas, and even though it was quite small, we still had to remove a couch to fit it. The kids, obviously, were ecstatic about it. As for myself, I would rather not make more of a mess. I know I sound like Scrooge, but there is only a certain level of mess that I can handle. And the tree put us over the limit since we are currently working on putting in a bathroom. You can see the drywall propped up against the fireplace, and next to that, there are some 2 by 4s. Behind that, you can see the little plugs in the wall from where we sprayed in insulation. (By the way, we got our heating bill, and it was substantially lower than what Grandma and Grandpa used to pay over the winter. And the front door blew open all day or all night two days that month.)

Well, two days after Christmas, Mom helped me take this tree down, and we have a beautiful empty space on the floor. Which will soon be filled by the couch that was there before.
Aside from my bad attitude about the tree, we had an incredible Christmas. Family parties, visits from neighbors and friends, and real-life Santas whose consideration for us was a miracle.

We have started a new property management company, and this week of Christmas was extremely stressful with basement floods and huge snowstorms. Throughout this time, the Lord showed his love to me in so many little ways. I had one woman who should have hated me call me a friend. That very same day, my aunt Julia, at the annual Christmas eve party, gave me a sampler to hang on my wall that says "What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?" I will hang that carefully on my wall and remember the tender mercies of the Lord in teaching me the power of kindness to break through barriers.

One gift that made me laugh in delight was a bottle of spray air. Our computer is getting filled with dust (not surprising, noting our circumstances.) A few nights before Christmas, Joseph and I spent an hour or so looking for the can of spray dust that we KNOW we have downstairs somewhere. We couldn't find it. So when I saw that Aunt Vikki had included in her basket a can of spray air, I knew someone cared about me. Thanks, Vikki.

I also received a state of the art wheat grinder from my mothers. I can't wait to cook more fresh and healthy this year. If I can control some of the clutter.

We received so many thoughtful gifts and so many people sacrificed on our behalf. Thanks to all those who worked so hard to make it a fun time for us and our little ones. We love you!