Easter Morning

Banishing the Holiday Madness

www.sheknows.com

One day in mid-November, while playing taxi for a couple of really cute little boys, I heard my first Christmas carol of the season. And then something happened that I did not expect: I cringed. And I was met with the irresistible urge to change the station. What?! Breathe, I thought. It's just too early. I'll start feeling the holiday spirit after Thanksgiving is over. But that didn't happen either.

First week of December. The random assortment of dusty storage boxes with aged red and green labels stands like a skyscraper in my living room. And I plop down on the couch, exasperated -- exhausted just looking at the tower. Nooooo, I plead. I'm not ready!

In 31 years of Christmases, I don't remember ever feeling this Grinchy. I love Christmas! Everyone LOVES Christmas, right? Well, maybe not everyone. But I've certainly never considered myself to be on the "Scrooge" list. And then I realized, it's not Christmas that I am overwhelmed with. It's everything around it. It's all the "stuff and fluff" as Pooh Bear so eloquently put it. I'm bewildered and exhausted just thinking about keeping track of all the stuff and fluff around Christmas. And apparently I'm not the only one. When I googled "holiday stress," I had more than 7 million hits in 0.16 seconds. Nope, I'm not exaggerating.

Here are some things I've realized that are helping me to slow down, chill out, and maybe enjoy the season a little more this year:

bodyquirks.wordpress.com

-It's okay to stop and enjoy a cup of cocoa now and then. With lots of marshmallows. Yum.
-I'm not more important than all the other people in line or in all the other people stopped in the mall traffic. Sometimes it's nice to let someone else go first just because.
-If I want to go to an event, I can. If I don't want to go, I don't have to.
-Changing it up a bit can be fun. There's no reason to force myself to do something just because "It's tradition, and we always do it that way."
-It seems like there is an awful lot of waiting this time of year. Waiting in line, waiting for packages to come, waiting for Christmas Day to come. I've decided the best present I can give myself this year is to be present and take each moment as it comes. Waiting in a long line becomes savored time with my little boys. Listening to a long ... long story about my 5-year-old's imaginary friend and what she wants for Christmas brings a smile rather than an exasperated sigh. It's all about perspective.
-I don't have to bake. Guess what? Our neighbors are getting some of our handmade soaps this year, instead.
-One easy way to avoid some holiday pounds is to avoid cookie exchanges!
-It's not really about the presents. I remember lots more Christmas carols than I do gifts I've received over the years.
-Even if I don't mail out Christmas cards, people can still know I love them and am thinking about them.
-It's likely that my boys will remember the fun stuff we did, not the stress that surrounded it.
-I don't have to go to every single Christmas party, concert, and get-together. It's okay to say "no, thanks" even before my schedule is completely saturated.

One of Trent's beautiful creations, in our etsy store.

-It has been a pretty rough year for us, so there isn't a lot of surplus for gifts, but that's okay. It actually feels kind of good to simplify.
-Things don't have to be perfect.
-I don't have to do it all this year. There will be other years and other chances to to everything all over again.
-And last of all, (but it probably should've been put first!) I know it's cliche, but I've had to re-focus on the "reason for the season." It's this: A little baby was born in the humblest of circumstances. He didn't have to come to earth and suffer for us, but he did. Because he loves us. At Christmastime, we show our gratitude for his sacrifice by remembering him and by showing each other a little more love than we usually do. Love was his gift to us, and it is the most precious gift we can give to each other.

Well, I'll bet you want to dip into that great wealth of knowledge that I found amongst the 7 million "holiday stress" hits on the net. ;) Here's one I really liked: It's a great list of 12 articles on the topic.

So, if you see me (or don't see me at a party), and I seem to have unplugged from the "merriment" for little bit, don't think I'm Scroogey, 'kay? Just trying to stay sane. ;)

Merry Christmas!

HAH!

Wow. I really adore my crazy boys. But this is so me right now. 

Worth it? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. :)

If I could freeze time ...

My little Liam's tiny toes.

Having a small baby seems to make me hyper-sensitive to the passage of time. It happened before with Camden and now again with my little Liam. They change so fast, right before your eyes. It really is a miracle. And I love that I'm a part of it.

As I've sat during many hours of nursing and waiting in doctors' offices these past weeks, I've had time to ponder this phenomenon. And it's led me to wonder ... If I could freeze time, would I? I've decided that the answer is "no." If a little elf appeared on my doorstep and offered me this magical power, I do believe I would decline. Here's why:

Many things in life, including parenthood, are such a mix. You get the good with the bad, the easy and the tough. And I think the Lord did that on purpose. For instance, each phase of a child's life (at least that I've encountered so far as a parent) is abundant with fun things as well as hard things. The cuddling and cooing of a newborn are close companions with poopy diapers and sleepless nights. The newfound independence and self-reliance of a toddler are often coupled with major attitude and temper tantrums. I'm convinced if it were one way or the other, it just wouldn't work. If having children were all hard, no one would want to do it. If it were all grins and giggles, I'd never want my kids to grow up. Instead, childhood is sprinkled with a good deal of both: enough fun things to keep me sane and enough hard things for me to be okay with a baby passing to the next phase.

I've heard it said, that
Living in the future begets anxiety,
Living in the past begets depression, but
Living in the present begets true joy and peace of mind.

As I've sat gazing at tiny newborn Liam, I've been trying to apply this philosophy. I seize the moment and live in it and relish it. But I'm okay with it not being that way forever. I know that soon enough, he'll be wiggling off my lap and sassing me. But I'm okay with that. In fact, I take joy in the thought of my boys progressing to the next phases of life. That's my job as a parent, isn't it? To prepare my boys for the world, to nurture them so that they will become well-adjusted adults who contribute to society.

So, to those who say, "They grow up too fast," I heartily disagree. I say they grow up just right: slow enough for me to enjoy each day, but fast enough that we're not standing still. I choose to view time with my children not as a handful of sand slipping through my fingers, but as a stone that I can grasp and hold each moment of the day. I hope that someday I'll smile as I watch it skip across the water.

When the boys are away, the mommies will play!

While Nora was here, we decided to run away for a little while and celebrate our birthdays (mine is 4/17; hers is 4/30) "time-out" style. It was fabulous. The two of us cruised to Boulder, hung out at the Celestial Seasonings Cafe and sipped tea for about an hour, and then took the factory tour. Even the drive was so ... quiet. Except for our rocking out to '80s tunes, that is. (And nobody even complained or covered their ears.)

I love my sista-from-anotha-mista.

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving 


Between my Lord and me.


I cannot choose the colors


He weaveth steadily.


Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;


And I in foolish pride


Forget He sees the upper


And I the underside.


Not ‘til the loom is silent


And the shuttles cease to fly 


Will God unroll the canvas


And reveal the reason why.


The dark threads are as needful


In the weaver’s skillful hand 


As the threads of gold and silver


In the pattern He has planned.


He knows, He loves, He cares; 


Nothing this truth can dim.


He gives the very best to those


Who leave the choice to Him.

~Benjamin Malachi Franklin

Really?

Trent lost his job unexpectedly Friday morning. Corporate politics. Who knew that Wells Fargo post a couple weeks ago would end up being basically an "Ode to His Time There"? Ah, the irony.

Even though it's a hard transition, a feeling of peace has settled on our family and on our home. I know we will make it through this together. We are a great team, and at least at the end of the day, we still have each other. In the long-run, that's what's most important anyway. My boys. I love them. Also, peace comes from knowing we can still put food on the table, literally. Thanks to following our wise bishop's counsel, we have at least 6 months worth of food preserved from our garden, filling our pantry, and dry-packed, as well as a year's worth of laundry detergent, plenty of TP and toiletries, etc. Here's to emergency preparedness, even when you don't know what you're preparing for! Turns out a blizzard, earthquake, or other natural disaster isn't the only emergency that can come a-knockin'.

My Trent is talented in so many ways and so extremely hardworking, and I know he'll find something. (Maybe even something he enjoys a little more!) In the mean time, we are just so happy to be together. Even before he got his traveling position, for the past 8 months he's been working 12- to 13-hour days and 6-day weeks. We've all been putting on brave faces for a long time. But the truth is: We've missed him. And for now, we don't have to. And I've decided ... I'll take it.

Really, it's kind of an adventure in so many ways. I mean, don't we all get kind of tired of the mundane daily grind once in a while? Not us! Not now! We're partying on powdered milk and hunting for a mysterious unknown future together. And me? I'm trying not to hobble around like an old lady 5 weeks after major abdominal surgery, and mostly it's working. :) Life is most d e f i n i t e l y not boring. Mundane? Nope. Not a bit.

We are going to be okay. I know it. The Lord will watch over us. He always does.

Missing Pipo

My grandfather passed away while I was in the hospital. I miss him. I wish so much I had been able to fly out for the funeral and say good-bye. Instead, because I couldn't even see straight enough to use the computer yet, I did my best to dictate a note, lovingly typed and added to by my sweet husband, that went with him into his casket. And I thank my dear family for giving me at least that little taste of participation. When Camden learned the news, he wasn't sad at all. He simply said, "Oh. He's with Heavenly Father now."

Dear Pipo,

We will miss you, but we know that we will see you again someday because we are an eternal family. What will we remember most about our time with you? Being in the D.C. Temple together. What a beautiful day! What a blessing that we are all sealed together! Trips to the beach, crackers and margarine, Krispy Cream doughnuts, pasteles, Nestum, hanging out at the Cuban Market and all the beautiful feasts you used to prepare, always sneaking food and breaking your diabetic diet (how many cinnamon rolls did you have that Christmas?), cantaloupes ripening in every corner of the house and always a refrigerator packed to capacity, the trip home from the temple on our wedding day in your Jeep, and how Happy dog constantly followed you around the house knowing he was going to get something really good to eat, your love and dedicated visits to Mama Juana, Miami Seaquarium, driving in Miami traffic in your big car, and how you constantly wanted to know the best CD rates at the banks. Over the years, your example of hard work and industry has blessed our family in ways few can imagine. Thank you for bringing our family to the United States and for working so hard to make a life for us here. We love you. You will always be in our hearts. We will be together again soon.

Love,

Melody, Trent and Camden

This picture is from the last time I saw him and spent time with him, at my parents' house last July -- over the Fourth of July weekend '09, actually. So fun. So irreplaceable. I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am that I traveled in spite of my fresh car accident injuries. I can't even begin to explain ... I'm not sure if anyone besides Trent knows this, but on the day they left (verrrrry early in the morning: 4 a.m. I think), I felt compelled to sneak out of bed and see them one last time, even though they had insisted that all the family good-byes had been said the night before. I hugged them, kissed them, and looked them in the eye. Little did I know, it was the last squeeze. The last kiss. I miss him. Mima is in Virginia with my family now. And I have hungered so many millions of times in the past few weeks to wrap my arms around her petite frame and let her know how much I love her. My precious little abuelita. Soon. I will see her soon. And Pipo too. This life is but a moment. 

Crash

At the risk of sounding like a whiny mess ... I mentioned I've been feeling crummy lately, but I didn't say why. I wish it were happy news, but we've not been so fortunate in the past few months. Some of you already know why, but for those who are out of the loop, here's the schpiel:

It's amazing how much can change in just a small moment in time. Camden and I were in a pretty serious car accident on May 5 of last year, but we didn't know how serious until now. We were at a complete stop and were rear-ended by someone coming off the highway. Of course, there were the immediate, obvious injuries. I was rushed to the ER in an ambulance with full-body whiplash and injuries to my chest, legs, ribs, ankle, and a few other minor things. And little Camden followed with x-rays at Children's Hospital the next day for a back injury. Being the vibrant, resilient little man he is, Camden seems to be fine now. I worry, though, and I still watch him. I, on the other hand, sustained a more sinister internal injury. At my first doc appointment, I complained of stabbing pains under the left side of my rib cage, but my doc ran x-rays, saw nothing, and blew it off. However, after months and months and months of physical therapy, the mysterious rib-cage problem began to re-assert itself, this time with a vigor that could not be ignored. Long story short: The trauma to my abdomen caused damage to my pancreas that went unnoticed for nine months, and a cyst began to form.

In January, I was back in the ER, this time with excruciating abdominal pain and unexplained vomiting. And finally somebody agreed to do a soft tissue scan. (Thank heaven!) And there it was, my "baby alien" -- as my boys deemed it -- on the CT-scan. Yadda, yadda, blood work, tests, lots of different doctors, and whaddaya know, all of a sudden I'm sitting in a surgeon's office. Really. They decided that since the cyst was creating a partial blockage in my digestive system (aha! that explained the not being able to eat) and also since the pancreas was bleeding into it (aha! turns out I wasn't imagining the months of pain and nausea), we had to get that puppy out.

Major abdominal surgery on Feb 8. And not the cool laparoscopic kind. Full on, slit hip-to-hip across my belly kind. The cyst was the size of a softball by the time they got to it. They took the "baby alien" along with part of my pancreas, and also my entire spleen (because it was adhered to the cyst). I spent nine ... long ... days in the hospital, away from my precious boys, before I demanded that I needed my own bed.

Recovery has been very slow. My Mommy was going to come, but in another twist of fate, I lost my grandfather during my time in the hospital, so she diverted to Miami to help with funeral arrangements and relocating my grandma to VA. I ache for her. I know she wants to be two places at once somethin' fierce. Everyone has been amazing. Friends, family, and church members have swarmed around us, cared for us, watched Camden, fed us, done our laundry and dishes ... Words can't even begin to express my gratitude. It has been a humbling experience, to say the least. I'm no good at this hobbling around and sucking up service stuff. I'd much rather be the one doing the serving. But my time will come to give back. It is hard to be patient. Every day is a little better ... okay maybe every few days. :) I just keep thinking: It's only going to get better from here. And please -- for the love! -- no more surprises from this blasted car wreck!

Thanks for the love, y'all. I have the most awesome support system on the planet, bar none!

The True Meaning of Christmas

I don't remember ever feeling so "hum-bug" about Christmas as I have today. Don't get me wrong. I love it. I really do. I just don't love the shear volume of everything that surrounds it. Sometimes it just feels like too much. It's only Dec. 12, and I'm already exhausted and ready to run away ... far away. In the past 12 days, I've had something every single day. And I feel as though in the midst of all the shows and parties and shopping and singing and chores and decorating, I've lost the essence. It's almost as if I've been too busy and worn out to feel the Spirit of the season. And that makes me sad.

There have been a couple of moments, though. One was during "The Nativity." For the past two years, I've participated in a fully-staged live nativity/musical -- lights, full 8-part choir, actors, the whole bit -- during the first weekend in December. It's a lot of work to be in the show (actually the 11 shows in three days last year, reduced to 8 this year), but I know it's worth it if we touch even one heart with the true meaning of Christmas. Christ was born for us. It is such a simple, beautiful message. I know the Spirit was there at the show. And it felt good to seize it, even for a moment.

Another moment was the Joy School Christmas Program. On Tuesday, we trudged through snow and 7-degree weather to take our boys to the assisted living facility where Camden's Great-Grandma Tronette lives. Our little guys worked hard preparing their hand-made cards in class the week previous. According to the Joy School curriculum, we're supposed to go all out and have a full-fledged pageant, but we wimped out a little and just sang songs instead. (Also in part because we have 4 boys in our class, and therefore no Mary.) As the boys handed out their cards and the people beamed, I thought, just for a moment, "This is what it's all about."



And one other moment was during "Christmas with the Colorado Children's Chorale." Trent is currently serving his fourth year on the board for the Colorado Children's Chorale, and it has become a tradition for us to attend this special concert each winter. This year, they began by blacking out the entire hall, and then a young boy soprano came onstage with a candle and sang an a capella solo, "Once in Royal David's City." The Spirit of Christmas touched me in that moment in a way that only music can.

December is crazy, but I'm doing a lot of great things. I guess I'm just learning that as the years pass and my Christmastime schedule gets more and more packed, I need to be able to step back and be in the moment once in a while. Because Christmas is really about the little things, isn't it?

I'm Grateful

I feel differently about Thanksgiving this year. I really needed it. I feel like I've been complaining a lot lately, and I really needed a day to think about all my blessings instead.

Here are a few things I'm grateful for today:

a bird
Trent and Camden built a beautiful bird feeder together a couple weeks ago, and Camden has been plastered to the window since then, and has been praying, "Please help birdies to come to eat at my bird feeder." Today one did.

my boys

I adore them. They make me smile. They make me a better person. We waited so long for Camden to come to our family. Sometimes I forget about those 5 years of pain and patience. It really is a miracle that he is here.

boot camp

I finally took a week and stayed in the house with the boy to push the potty-training issue. And he did it. He's all potty-trained. Actually, he's been practicing for more than a year, and one day and 80 skittles were apparently all he needed to master the skill.

my parents

They really are amazing people. I have found that as the years pass and I gain more life experience, I gain even more appreciation for them and all they have done for me.

the gospel of Jesus Christ
I love my Savior. The concepts of his gospel give me direction, clarity, peace, and hope that I've never been able to find anywhere else.

freedom

My grandparents, Mima & Pipo, emigrated to the U.S. from a Communist country and became citizens almost 50 years ago. In fact, I was the first person in my line to be born on American soil. I can't take my freedoms for granted because my family members worked so hard to make sure I could enjoy them. I am so thankful for their sacrifices and the lives they have lived so that I can be here and have a good life.

my siblings

All of them. Adam, Jared, Joseph, Rebekah. I love them. We have journeyed through so much of life together, and I'm excited about what the future holds for all of us. And I couldn't have ever anticipated the joy that has come into my life with the additions of Nora and Katie to our family. They are my sisters. It is so fun to have them in my life.

this world

I am continually in awe of the beauty that surrounds me.

my nephew
Sammy. What a sweet little boy he is. I love to watch him grow and change, even if it's usually from a distance. He is my only nephew, and I'm sure just the first of many. But he will always hold a special place in my heart because he was the first.

laundry

I know I whine about it and how much time and energy it takes to get it all done. But in reality, it's really amazing that we are blessed enough to have so many clothes. I think about the poor and about people in the old days, who only had a few outfits that they'd just wash over and over, and I feel immensely blessed to have so much.

my paternal grandparents

I miss them. I was in college when both of them passed away. I try to keep them fresh in my memory by reflecting on the special times we had together and by talking about them with my little boy, who never knew them.

my home

We scrimped and saved for this house, and I think it means even more to me because of that. I am warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and I know others are not so blessed.

extended family
My aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides. I miss them and wish I could rewind time and have spent more of my life in close contact with them. I treasure the memories I have of them when I was a little girl. I am so thankful for internet and travel so that I can at least keep tabs on them and see some of them once in a while. Arizona was so fun, and I can't wait 'til March in St. George!

my body

Sometimes I take it for granted, and I shouldn't. It really is a miracle in all its intricacies.

the Feists
They really have taken me in as one of their own. I love being part of their family.

a steady job

Trent is such a hard worker and wonderful provider. Especially at this time in history, I feel very blessed that he has such a good job and that I am able to stay home with our son.

my education

It makes me feel good to know that I finished college with a degree that I can use. I enjoy working from home and the flexibility and mental exercise it provides me. It's really the best of both worlds.

my marriage

Trent really is an amazing man. Neither of us are perfect, but we are both okay with that. I am sealed for eternity to my best friend. It is difficult to put into words the serenity and stability that allows me to have in this sometimes tumultuous lifetime.

a warm bed
Slipping into bed at the end of the day really takes on a different meaning during this cold time of year. I love the soothing feeling of the warm blankets around me.

a feast

How many people in the world are able to sit down at a beautiful table and feast on such glorious, plentiful food? We are truly blessed.

On that note ... I should probably go get ready for dinner! I wish all of you a wonderful day and a beautiful holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Memory Lane

While I was in AZ, my tio took me to visit my old stomping grounds in Scottsdale. So much and so little has changed in 22 years.

Our street. It's not very long. Maybe 6 houses? This is the sign on the corner across from the park where we used to play.

My house. That white fence (left side) used to extend all the way around the yard. And the yard used to be grass. Whoah. I remember that yard being a lot bigger. And our huge palm is gone now, too. Mom & Dad, remember the baby birds?

It's so funny that the ranch style with a carport design is what I live in now, too, with my own little family. (Only we weren't such a little family. Even back then, there were six of us Harrisons.)

And at the other end of the street was our chapel. We used to walk to church. I'm pretty sure I totally freaked out some musicians that were in there practicing. But I just couldn't resist getting a peak at the chapel.

Not too far away ... my first elementary school, Yavapi. I was in Mrs. Haltigan's kindergarten class there in 1985. I get the feeling from the sign that they might not have too many English speakers there anymore.

Here's a view of Yavapai. We went looking for my next school, Tonto, where I went to 1st grade, but are pretty sure they tore it down. (Poppa always thought it was funny that they named a school, "tonto," which means "stupid" in Spanish.) And I think Meyer, where I went to 2nd grade, was in Tempe.

What a trip to visit these places. I may or may not have gotten tears in my eyes. I know, I know. What a hopeless sap I am! It really was pretty surreal to go back after all this time.

My Friend is Gone

Sweet Julie

I am grieving today for the loss of a friend. It is hard for me to understand right now how someone so young, so spirited, and so full of potential could be taken at such an early age. We grew up in the same neighborhood, on the same street, and in the same high school. We became close friends in college, had some fun at the University of Central Florida and in the College Park Ward. Mostly, we made trouble working together at the UCF Student Union. We parted ways when I transferred back to BYU, and she went off to earn her degree and teach elementary school. She had so much to give. And I'm just grateful to have had the time with her that I did. If you ever met her, you'd remember. She spread sunshine and smiles wherever she went.

I know it's late notice, but if anyone out there knows her and is still in the Orlando area, I hope you'll attend the services tomorrow. Heaven knows if I were close enough, that I would be there in a heartbeat. I've included the Memorial Service information below.

Sending peace, love, and prayers to the Ellis family from Colorado...

Three beautiful sisters: Liz and twins Jana and Julie

Memorial Service for Julie A. Ellis

Host: The Ellis Family
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home – Goldenrod Chapel
Street: 7520 Aloma Avenue, Orlando, FL
Phone: 4074219368
Email: liz_ellis151@hotmail.com

Memorial services for Ms. Julie A. Ellis, age 32 of Valrico FL, will be held Saturday October 3, 2009 at 2pm in Orlando FL. Julie was a beloved daughter, sister, friend, an inspiring teacher and an artist, who touched the lives of everyone she encountered. Her passion, sense of humor, personality and soul came through in everything she did, inspiring others while making the world around her a better place. She is survived by her parents E. Taylor and Nancy Ellis; her sisters Jana and Elizabeth Ellis. Services will be held at the Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home – Goldenrod Chapel, 7520 Aloma Avenue Winter Park, FL 32792. A reception with the family will follow the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you please make a donation in the name of Julie A. Ellis to either the ASPCA (http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/honor-memorial-donations.html with the email liz_ellis151@hotmail.com) or Lopez Elementary (Lopez Elementary School 200 North Kingsway road Seffner, fl 33584).

Spouse Survey

From my sista, Katie:

♥ How long have you been together?
We have known (of) each other for about ten years (T met my family while I was away at BYU, in 1998. Someone corrected my math, so I guess that's actually 11! Hard to believe.). We've been married for seven.

♥ Where did you meet?
College Park Singles Ward, Orlando, FL

♥ Who asked who out?
We were at a church activity, and he suggested dinner for everyone in the vicinity in a general-type way. I was the only one who ended up going with him, so I considered it a date and therefore expected him to pay, which he -- I later found out -- was pretty ticked off about. Alas, if he had only known then how much I'd cost him in the long run. :)

♥ How old are each of you?
He's way older than me. He's 30. That's old, right? Um ... I'm only 29 ... 'til April.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Kind of. I was at the University of Central Florida while he was at Full Sail, which is associated with UCF.

♥ Who is the smartest?
We are both smart in different ways.

♥ Who is the most sensitive?
I am, I think, both in a good way and a bad way.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Lately, Thai Wild Ginger.

♥ Where is the farthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Farthest from here? East Coast U.S.A. Exotic, eh? Someday, Trent hopes to take me back with him to Italy and Capri. (I hope that, too.)

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
Me. No question. I seriously don't know how I ended up with someone so amazing after dating so many psychos.

♥ Who has the worst temper?
Probably me. Especially since now I have a two-year-old who routinely tests it.

♥ Who does the cooking?
I do a lot of it because of the way our schedules work out. But he's an awesome cook! My favorite is cooking together.

♥ Who is more social?
That would be me.

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Um. Me. Definitely. (I wish he could get me a pair of those glasses he wears all the time. You know, the ones where no matter where you look in the house, you can't see any messes. That would greatly reduce the amount of stress in my life.)

♥ Who is the most stubborn?
Draw.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
He does. But he says it's only because I'm too far away and he's just trying to get closer. So, mostly I have to smile and forgive him.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
He does now. New job, new 6:30 a.m. alarm. Dumb. Noooo likey.

♥ Where was your first date?
P.F. Chang's

♥ Who has the bigger family?
I do. And boy are we crazy. He's doing his best to adjust to it.

♥ Do you get flowers often?
Not lately. Every once in a while, he goes through a phase where he gets them all the time, though. It's funny how a lot of things in our life together go through phases.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
We travel every other year.

♥ Who is more jealous?
I am, but I'm trying to get over it. I think I've improved a lot in the past seven years.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
About four years.

♥ Who eats more?
Pretty sure I do. And that's really annoying.

♥ Who does/did the laundry?

When we were first married and both working, we'd go to the laundromat and do it and fold it together in one swoop. And play pinball, too. Good times. Now, usually I do it. But sometimes he throws in a load. I love it when he pitches in like that. It might sound funny, but sometimes the little things really mean a lot to me.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
He is. We're a mac family, and he's been using them much, much longer.

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Most of the time he does, but I do it sometimes when he's tired (or tired of driving, which used to happen a lot with his old job).

My Birthday!

Thank you to my sweet, amazing husband for taking me on a getaway, in spite of the blizzard, (Seriously, we got about 5 inches of snow in two hours.) and to Grandma and Grandpa Feist for watching our little guy. We had a very fun weekend!

First, dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on the 16th Street Mall. One of the servers built a snowman outside the window to entertain some kiddos in the restaurant. I thought it was pretty funny.

Our digs at Hotel Monaco, in the middle of Downtown Denver.

Nora, this place totally reminded me of you -- so many amazing colors and textures.

Hunny and me.

Our view the next day, after most of the snow had melted.

One last shot in the lobby before heading home.

Yes, I cut it!

I recently cut fourteen inches of hair off to donate to Locks of Love, and in the mean time, I'm having a blast with my fun short hair. Some of you who have known me for a long time know that this is not necessarily a new look for me, but it has been a while!

Before

Before

After - lovin' the natural curl!

After - Camden came with me to the salon, and when I stood up from the chair he said, "Ohhh, Mommy, your hair looks sooo pretty." To which my stylist replied, "Welp, he's a keeper!" He kept telling me in the car all the way home, "You're so pretty, Mommy." I adore that kid.

I voted!

And you should, too. (And don't ask WHO I voted for! It's "secret ballot" ya know...) Get out there and exercise your right, people. Lots of polling places are already open for early voting. But PLEASE make an educated decision. Read up, listen, watch, and research for yourself. This is not an election year when we can afford to be passive.

This is one of the best resources I found, especially for you Colorado voters:

Colorado Voter Guide: My Ballot

An excellent site! If you didn't get a mail-in ballot, it's the next-best thing.
-compare candidates and issues in columns side-by-side
-print out your decisions to take with you to the polls on election day
-clips, quotes, and answers to questions about the issues directly from the candidates
-links to proposed amendments and referenda translated into plain English
-"my notes" section to fill in as you go
-especially nice for accessing information on local candidates, which can be difficult to find

P.S. Mail-in ballots rock! It was so nice to have weeks to research with my ballot in-hand and not to have to drag my almost-two-year-old to the polls on election day or get a babysitter. If you have this option, take it!

Raspberries

This morning, I stood
in the brilliant sunlight
picking raspberries so ripe
they practically fell
off the bush
into my outstretched hands,
and I was touched
at how blessed I am.

So many people hunger
throughout the world
in so many different ways.

And I am filled.

Littleton Historical Museum

This week, thanks to Alicia and Nathan, we discovered the Littleton Historical Museum, a free and very close recreational destination. Camden loved it!



It's not so much a museum as an experience. Imagine walking through two working 1800s farms, staffed with volunteers in vintage dress and dotted with pens full of farm animals and buildings and equipment from the period.



Cam went scampering down the path after this lady, squealing "Walkie stroller!" She graciously offered him a ride in her wheelbarrow.
















Here are our friends, Alicia and Nathan, in front of one of the barns.

Aren't they cute? :)

Cool! A real blacksmith.

The blacksmith's shop was Trent's favorite part when he was a little tyke. (He's a native, remember, so this place is not new to him! Sometime, we oughta take him with us.)

Camden got a real kick out of the sheep, which were bleating very loudly! (telling each other about lunch being delivered, I suppose) The little nut kept running up and down the fence, giggling and saying, "Goodness sake." Yeah, that's a new one. Wonder where he got it...

Hanging out under the "lilies" as Camden kept referring to them. Well... at least he's got the basic idea. And in all fairness, the lilies in our yard that I've been showing him probably look pretty tall from his perspective.