This Christmas....

So I have a moment to do a quick post.... Elle is sleeping and Jack is busy playing with his farm. It seems like just yesterday i was so excited for Thanksgiving to come and now it is gone. Time flies by so fast I can't believe it. I'm focused on enjoying the season this year. I love so many things about Christmas but it seems like every year I have this let down because I was too busy with this and that, and by the time it is over I'm left with the feeling that I didn't enjoy it like I wanted to. So I'm focusing in and ready to just be in the feeling. Elle started me off the other morning, we were lying in bed and she rolled over and said "Mom, you know why I talk about Christmas so much?" and I said why? and she said "Because I LOVE Christmas". it was too cute and the way she said it just made me laugh. I love too that she loves Christmas, I just need to make sure that she understands the meaning behind it. It is exciting to see her eyes light up when she sees all the decorations going up, as well as her ideas on what gifts she is going to give people, and honestly what gifts she hopes she is going to get. So in the end I think having that Christmas feeling will be a little easier with my little girl around, because you cannot deny the spirit of Christmas when you get to experience it through a childs eyes...

On To Winter....

So I need some help... As winter approaches I start to get really worried about how I am going to keep Elle occupied without a TV on, so I am reaching out to anyone who may see this to get ideas on what you do when kids have to stay indoors, that can be done with the TV off. Now during the holiday season this is hard for me as I LOVE all the little Christmas movies so I give in due to my own want to watch them, they just bring back sooo many memories. So many times I had to make sure I was home and schedule my night around when one of the Christmas movies would be on one of the 4-5 channels we got on our TV. Yes during my time at home we got 3 sometimes 4 local TV stations and the wonderful PBS channel, of course as soon as I left for college, the parents get a dish-Thanks Mom and Dad... Those were the days... but anyway, seriously please send in some ideas on things you do, I want to make Elles time indoors just as fun as when she is free to run crazy outside : ) On a side note... I know this song is not that new, but every time I hear the song "I Just Call You Mine" by Martina McBride, I start to tear up because it sooooo reminds me of Jack, I know many of you might think Jack not Steve, but yes... it reminds me of my little man Jack. I'm sure its meant for a hubby or something like that but the words just scream Jack to me.. you'll have to listen to it sometime, oh and Steve don't worry there are other songs, that are just as good that remind me of you : ) hahaha I laugh because I know he really wouldn't care : )

8 Years and Counting.....

So it's here... today is our Wedding Anniversary and we are celebrating 8 years! We sometimes joke that it's actually longer than that due to the fact that we dated forever so in reality we've know each other for more like 12 years, crazy!! Today I keep thinking about the first time we went to Colorado together. It was in the beginning of October and the weather going over was fine. That is always the big issue the driving conditions... well anyway we get there and I think we picked up my brother Matt and went into Pueblo where my mom, dad and sister Maureen were. We went to Crackle Barrel for dinner - my dads favorite and at that point it started to snow outside... by the time we were done eating the snow was falling pretty hard but the plans at that point were to go to the Harvest Ball - the Stake Dance. Getting there was a little scary as the roads were turning bad, but once we were finally there it was hilarious as there were very few people due to the weather, so there was music playing but no one dancing, our group was by far the biggest, so if we weren't dancing it was like an empty dance floor / gym. My dad made some phone calls and we found out they had closed the highway, so we were not going to be going home. We decided to make our way across town to a friends apt. where I think we were thinking we would just stay the night. We barely made it there... yes this wasn't a little storm it was a full force BLIZZARD!! So it turned out that night and the days to follow there were 6 adults and 2kids staying in a 1bd apartment. I was shocked the power never went out, but the next day, Saturday, Steve and my little brother Matt decided they would try to walk to some stores - what they were thinking I'm not sure, I guess they were just trying to get out of feeling claustrophobic... It was still snowing and Steve did not have any kind of snow clothing at all, he had a jacket/coat and I think some running shoes? When they finally returned they told of how they went to the hotel lobby across the street to see if there were any snacks there and of course the machines were empty, so they continued on across the other way and found the one and only store that was open, they bought a shovel and some snacks and I think Steve got some socks or something... they said that as they were walking Matt was stuck a few times up to his hips in snow, so Steve had to dig him out.. it took them forever to get back. Then on Sunday we were still waiting to hear if the highway would open so we were watching the news and my mom decided to put together a little family home evening lesson, on ETERNAL MARRIAGE... I was horrified, this was Steves 1st time meeting my family and my mother does that... i just rolled my eyes the whole time. We watched a Bronco game, where Steve got to see more of my family in full force as we love the Broncos and finally, we were allowed to go home. Getting up our road after all of this snow and no one had really plowed was an experience. I was very grateful for our Jeep and 4-wheel drive that day..... So I'm sure after that experience Steve was thinking what did I get myself into.. but here we are. It's been a crazy road, but amazing. Besides when we were married my favorite moments were when we had Elle and Jack. With Elle it was just the look on Steves face as I was delivering her, and then after as he held her for the first time.. oh it was something to see. Then of course when we had Jack, this was a little different as we were told of his diagnosis right after delivering him so the first few days were filled with tears and questions, and I know Steve was struggling with a lot, a ton, but he was there to comfort me and helped me get the needed jump start to this whole new world we would be experiencing with Jack. I look at Steve now with the kids and I just can't give it justice with words. He is an amazing dad, and he loves his children more than I can believe. In the end I couldn't imagine going through this journey with anyone else!! Happy Anniversary : )

November and the Blue Button...

So November is here... Christmas decor in every store, snow on the way-possibly Sunday, and thoughts of Thanksgiving dinner in my head... I can't wait!! Hopefully I can get a post in before Jack rolls over to the computer and turns it off : ) He is a fast one, and gets to where he wants to go, not by crawling - which is by choice, his choice- no instead he will roll, and it is so interesting to watch him go... he will move forward if needed but if there is a way to roll to it he will do it. He is very quiet and fast so if I'm not fast he gets over to our computer which sits on the floor and he will push the blue button and I can do nothing but watch my computer tell me its shutting down... But back to November... I love thinking of the smells of Thanksgiving morning, and even though it's crazy to see Christmas decor in the stores I love that as well, it gets me really excited. I love the first "real"snow, the kind that is big and fluffy and covers your grass... but then after like Jan 1st I'm done and would love to have spring come for the next 3-4 months, I guess living where we live doesn't help much so I will just have to go with what comes my way... November will also bring my 8yr anniversary, which is crazy to think about even crazier to type, but that is where we are at and looking at everything it has been a wonderful, unbelievable ride, I will have to post more about it once the day comes but for now I have to be going as my little rolly polly is making his way over, and Elle is yelling "He's coming after your computer!!"