Orange

It's really not my color. But today I proudly wear it. At least a version of it. Today we are a family of orange.
All in honor of Stellan!

Heaven, Dylan and babies.....

Caleb has dealt with the concept of death and heaven from an extremely young age. 14 months to be exact. Not exactly the age I would like my children to learn about death. Of course at 14 months Caleb was a college scholar and fully grasped and understood death. Yeah right. At 14 months all Caleb knew was that mommy and daddy were sad and mommy cried a lot. But somehow, he knew. He was extra cuddly, hugs and kisses were over abundantly given out by him, he was extra funny, always trying to make us smile. He was our joy during an un-joyful time. Caleb didn't know or understand that he had a baby brother. Nor did he understand that his brother was in heaven, or what heaven was.

Fast forward...

One year ago my Grandma passed away. She had a long hard life filled with pain and suffering because of Multiple Sclerosis. After she had gone home to be with Jesus, we went over to her house to help with picture boards for her funeral. When we were getting in the car Caleb and I had an interesting conversation.

Caleb: Mom, I wanted to see the Grandma who's always in her rocking chair, the one in all those pictures, where was she tonight?

Mom: Well baby, she died, so she's in heaven now.

Caleb: But mom, I didn't want her to die.

Mom: I know sweetie, I didn't want her to die either. But she's with Jesus now.

Caleb: What city does Jesus live in?

Mom: Jesus is in heaven.

Caleb: What state is heaven in?

Mom: Well Heaven is it's own City and State. Heaven is up in the sky, farther than we can even imagine.

Caleb: (as he looks out the car window) Mom, I don't see a city up there, I only see clouds.

And that was that. He asked his questions and moved on.

Fast Forward....

About six months ago Caleb asked me when Dylan was going to get better so he could come home from heaven and live with us. Wow. What a hard one to answer. I mean it's not hard, because I know the answer. But hard to explain for a five year old who is still trying so hard to figure out death and heaven and all the stuff that five year olds really shouldn't have to figure out.

Fast forward....

Yesterday after leaving the Childrens Museum we were getting the kids loaded in the car and there was a truck parked next to us that had a full back seat in it, which would probably be a dream vehicle for my husband. I said something about if we only have one more baby then we could probably get a truck like that someday. (For a while now Caleb has been saying he wants two more babies in our family and not just one, so I told him he would need to pray for twins since I am only going to be pregnant one more time, so he consistently prays for twins for us) So he said he didn't want us to get a truck like that because he wanted two more babies. And then he said "Mom, when you have another baby in your tummy I want that baby to come out instead of going to heaven like Dylan did"........wow. Tear jerker.

Caleb has come a long way in his understanding of life, death and heaven. Just the other day we drove by the cemetery where Dylan is buried and he said "hey I know that place, it's where we go to see Dylan. I mean not really Dylan, but his picture that's on the ground, because Dylan is in heaven"


There really is no specific reason for this blog, other than I want to be able to remember these conversations with Caleb and I want him to be able to come back and read these entries someday.

And no, I am not pregnant with twins, I am not pregnant at all.

Easter!!

Right off the bat, I'll apologize right now that I have no pictures to share. I mean, I do have pictures to share, I just don't have the ability to share them! I forgot my camera cord in Texas, so the pictures are all trapped on my camera until the beginning of May! My kids looked adorable though, trust me. We were actually able to get a great family picture which I was really happy about! We needed an updated one!

We had a great Easter!! We are watching our four nephews for the week, so I was in charge of hiding their Easter baskets! They said to make them hard, so I did. They needed clues to find them, so I guess I did it too hard! We don't hide our kids' baskets so they didn't have to go on a hunt. Church was great. It was very nice to be home and go to our home church again. It was great to be in a place that truly celebrates Easter and not some bunny that came hopin into town! After church we went to my sister in law's parents house. (the nephews' Grandparents house) The boys all had a great time being with their cousins. David & I had a great time as well. They all feel like family so we didn't feel out of place.

After our big lunch we headed back home (our current home, which is David's brothers house) and I started on the one thing I dread EVERY year. Taxes. Yuck. The one financial responsibility I wish I could give to David. However, I love him too much to do that to him. Anything related to finances is not his strength. But they are done. Now I don't have to think of them again for another year. Maybe next year we'll get a refund....instead of the other way around.

Hope you all had a great Easter.

100

100 - Nothing like having a $100 bill in your wallet!

100 - I always thought it was fun to celebrate the 100th day of school.

100 - I'm always amazed when someone lives to be 100.

100 - Not sure I want to live to that age.

100 - The # of pounds I could stand to loose.

100 - Caleb is working on counting this high.

100 - Far too hot of a temperature for me.

100 - I have never been in a car going this fast....that would be freaky!

100 - x10 is how many miles I will be driving tomorrow!

100 - This is my 100th post. :)

Just a quick update....

Our lives in Texas are pretty much packed up and coming to an end. This week we will be going to an Easter party with our playgroup, which will be our last event. I'm happy to get to see everyone one more time. I'm going to miss them all so much! That group has made our lives bearable while we've been here! We have also connected with a family from church and I am hoping to get together with them one more time this week.
Early Thursday morning (I'm hoping for 5:30am) we are pulling out of town!!! The kids and I spent last Easter without David and I refuse to do that again this year, so that was our initial reason for going up this week. But now we'll be helping out my brother in law & sister in law. They are headed on a 15th Anniversary trip to a nice sunny destination! Just what they need after a freezing cold winter in MN and super busy schedules! So I will get to see what it's like to get up and get four boys off to school while taking care of my youngsters! I don't think God has called me to be a mother of six, but I can certainly handle it for a week!
At the end of April I will be driving back down to move everything up. David will fly down a couple days after me, not sure how he is always the one who gets to fly and I am the one who gets to drive....oh wait....he's the one who works so I can stay home with the kids. :) I *think* it is going to work out for me to leave the kids up in MN when we come back down here to move, which would be a HUGE blessing! I can only imagine how much faster we can get things done without the kids here!!! I have one more day that I need to figure out where they will be and then we'll be set! Thank you Jodi & Jolene!!!! Also, David's parents are flying down to help us with the move. We are excited to see them and very thankful that they wanted to come help us!
We are excited to get everything and everyone settled in our new place! We don't plan to move for quite a while and for that I am thankful. I know anything can happen, but I'm just going to trust God that we can stay put for quite some time!!

What I've been up to.....

Only in Texas.....

This sign is at a park that we frequent. I laugh everytime I see it. Only in Texas.

Do you see what I see?

I took this picture one night while we were in MN. Do you see what I see?

Look a little closer at her feet.....I think we might have a princess on our hands. I'm okay with that.

A future in fashion????

This is the outfit of choice for Erika today.

What do you think? A future in fashion?? I don't think so, but hey, you never know!

I heart Supernanny!

I really do. For a number of reasons. 1. I can see that the few tantrums and issues I deal with are NOTHING in comparison to what some parents deal with. 2. When I feel like I'm doing a poor job parenting....I can see that really, I'm not doing so bad afterall. 3. I love all the techniques and tips that she gives! I heard a tip a while back that I wanted to use, but just kept forgetting about it until recently.

That's right. Goggles in the shower. Clever!! Works like a charm! Washing the kids' hair couldn't be easier now!

Life right now.

Wow, we have been busy! Life right now is in limbo. David has started his new job in MN and it's going really well. I have been in MN (and MI) for a couple weeks, but will be heading back to TX next week. I have come to realize that I really don't mind change, it's the transition time in between the old and the new that I don't like. But once we're done with the old and started with the new, I'm okay. Does that even make sense? Our apartment back in TX is where all the familiarities of home are at, yet it probably won't feel like home at all anymore. Especially since our whole family won't all be there again until the day before we move. I am just very anxious to get packed up and then settled in again at the new place. And quite honestly....I think I'm a little grumpy right now and that may not change until we are settled once and for all!

World Travelers!

That is what we are this week! Well, not really world travelers, but it sure feels like it! Last Friday the kids & I made our way up to MN so we could spend a few days with Daddy (who has started his new job!). This coming Thursday we are making our way to Michigan to visit Grandma & Grandpa, plus cousins and an aunt & uncle! Should be fun! The kids are looking forward to it. It's been a while since we've visited MI! We're planning to come back to MN after that trip for a week or two. I think we are going to be very sick of the car!!!

We are very anxious to get our whole family moved back up to MN and get settled!! With all this traveling we are doing the next two months will go by pretty quick!

The Fire

Sunday night, the kids are in bed and I'm watching a movie. All of a sudden I hear a TON of sirens. I knew it sounded close, but didn't know how close. I was home alone and you just never know what the sirens are for, so I just kept on watching the movie (keep in mind, we have had a shooting at our apartments...this was shortly after we moved in...no problems since, that I know of). Then a couple minutes later I hear windows breaking. It wasn't on the side where the cars are parked, so I'm thinking someone is outside breaking windows of an apartment. Well someone was. But for good reason. The building next to us had an apartment on fire! I looked out the window and saw flames and smoke coming from a bedroom. As the firemen were putting out the fire, I am assuming that is what broke the windows since our windows are paper thin and the pressure from the hose could easily burst right through them. The fire was only in one bedroom, so it could have been much worse. After they had the fire out and the smoke cleared they emptied the entire contents of this childs bedroom onto the lawn where they then hosed it down even more. I am sure this is normal procedure for a 2nd floor apartment because I can only imagine how much more damage all that water would have caused. But let me tell you, it is absolutely heart breaking to see melted hula hoops, burnt barbies, a burnt mattress, a dresser burned so badly you can hardly tell it was a dresser, a pile of clothes barely looking like more than a pile of ashes. I know it's all "stuff", and "stuff" can be replaced...but wow, a fire changes your life in a matter of minutes. I have no clue what caused the fire to start....but this is certainly a good reminder of all the basic things we already know to prevent a fire! If you haven't checked your smoke alarms recently....please go check them! I checked ours before going to bed on Sunday night! I wouldn't have slept if I didn't!

Potty Training

First of all, if you haven't watched the video of Caleb teaching Erika how to poop in the potty, go here to watch it....I think it's pretty hilarious! We are doing pretty good with potty training, but no where near the finish line! Most days she stays dry the majority of the day. I know she'll do it fully when she is ready. I'm trying not to push it, but man oh man I am looking forward to her being done with diapers! As you can see from her chart, we are lacking on the #2 in the potty.


I took this picture up close so you could see that she is so much like her mom....it's scary. She likes order and organization....even on her potty chart! That is so me, it's not even funny!

If you have any sound advice for potty training....pass it my way!!!

We have a date!

May 8th!!! That is the big day! We plan to pick up the moving truck in the morning. Pack it up and drive to Oklahoma City. Spend the night there and then finish the drive on the 9th! On the 10th we'll go to church and then unload the moving truck. I'll get to spend mother's day with my husband and kids unloading the truck! Not ideal for Mother's day, but we'll be IN MN and I couldn't ask for anything more!!!!

David's tattoo

Last fall David got a tattoo of Dylan and I finally took some pictures of it! (well I took pictures right away, but it looks much better now that it's all healed!)

It was done from this picture by Portraits By Dana. I recommend her 100%. She did an unbelievable job!

There are a couple of parts on the tattoo that are different than the original picture that I don't like....but overall I LOVE the tattoo!!

Cinderella and her prince

The other day Erika wore her Cinderella dress all day and in the afternoon she asked me to turn on princess music so she could dance! It was adorable! She has never done that before. So I turned on princess music and Caleb came out and asked her to dance with him......yep, my heart melted.

Look what I made!!!!

That's right, homemade chocolate eclairs!!!! They were DELICIOUS!!!!!! Having never made anything like this before I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but man oh man. To die for! My husband said they were better than any store bought ones he's ever had! The recipe came from Rachael Ray. The only thing I will change up next time (because believe me, there will be a next time!) is the cream filling wasn't as thick as we would have liked it to be. So I'll add more corn starch next time. The recipe made this plate and about 10 more...and yes they are gone! The kids loved them too. :)

Slacker...

That is what I have been lately!!! At least in the blogging world! I do have a clean house though...so I guess that is good! David is heading for Minnesota this Sunday, so every moment I get I spend with him. I'm sure you all understand! Next week I'll have nothing but time to blog!!

Fire Ants

We had our first experience with fire ants in Texas today. We were at a friends house for a Valentines Day party this afternoon, the kids were playing in the backyard and the mom's were chatting (also in the yard) when all of a sudden Erika starts screaming and Caleb tells her to "go to mom" She comes over to me and there is ONE ant on her arm. A few hours later....two red welts on her arm. Poor baby!!! I feel so bad for her! I had to explain to them that the ants in Texas aren't as nice as the ants in Minnesota and that we can't play with them. Like many kids, mine are fascinated by ants. On the way home from our friends house Caleb says to me "I'm sad I can't talk to the ants anymore, I wish they were nicer"