Christmas in the 'Cello

                                          

My mom, Nonna, with Grace and Callie

(Check back for video...trouble uploading!!!)
While we were in Monticello for "Christmas", Grace sang a duet with my 5 year old niece Isabelle (at church).  She did really well, to be so young!  She got up there infront of 100 or so people and sang away!  Check it out.  The video is blurry, unfortunately, but you can hear them pretty well!  Mom said all she wanted for Christmas was for the girls to sing with her (she played the banjo) and they gave her what she asked for!

This year was the last year to celebrate in the home I grew up in.  My parents sold their home to my brother and his wife.  They bought a neat cabin with about 15 acres and plan to move in January.  I'll remember many Christmases at my childhood home with warm memories, food, lots of singing, sitting around the fireplace, looking out at the land as it snowed, talking, laughing, lots of joking and picking on each other, opening gifts, and more.  This year as we drove in, it started snowing about 20 minutes before we arrived so the ground was white.  It was perfect.  I cried myself to sleep the night we arrived.  What triggered the crying was that dad went out to check on one of his horses very late, near midnight.  I noticed that the kitchen door was opened and looked out at the barn for him.  Shortly, he turned the lights off in the barn and I watched him walk the lane back to the house (in the snow).  I watched him and welled up.  How many times have I watched him walk that lane....I can't even begin to guess how many times...and this time was so special because of the snow and the realization that my childhood home's story has come to an end.  In it's place will be many stories for my my brother, Amanda, and their two (soon to be three) children.  I read something recently that fits perfectly, so I'm going to close with it.
"Home is the magnet...We rely on home not to change, and it does not, wherefore we give thanks, Again Christmas:  abiding point of return, set apart by its mystery, mood, and magic, the season seems in a way to stand outside time.  All that is dear, that is lasting, renews its hold on us:  we are home again.  Is it not one of the mysteries of life that life should, after all, be so simple.  Yes, as simple as Christmas.  Journeys through the dark to a lighted door, arms open.  Laughter smothered with kisses, kiss smothered laughter.  And blessedness is the heart of it all.  ~ Elizabeth Bowen

Thank God for the truth of this.  My childhood home, at Christmas, stood still in time this year as it did every other year that I recall the last 25 years.  I have returned there from undergrad at UK, an internship in Columbus, OH, grad school in Johnson City, TN, and presently from WKY.  Despite being married and now with two children, what I always held dear as a child...I found again and again there at Christmas.  I'll miss it...my journey through the dark, from different places, always took me home at Christmas.  I know how blessed I have been to have it there, with two supportive and caring parents inside, always ready to welcome me in from the cold.  A new story will start in a couple weeks and I pray God's blessing on it and thank him for the memories and love in my childhood home.

Sippy Cup

Post Coming....

Ribbon Cutting at the farm store!

I keep trying to upload a picture of the ribbon being cut but am having trouble!  Technology~grrr.  The ribbon cutting at the store went over well.  We had a moderate turnout and sincerely thank those who stopped by! Since the store's opening in early October, we have hit the floor running.  The Christmas season has proven to be good for business, because customers have been coming out to get quality foods for the holidays.  I'm still doing ordering and inventory and enjoy it, but doing more is not something I have time for or want to do.  I need to learn how to enter inventory into the computer, because right now Shawn is doing it.  When the spring and summer are here, it is going to be utter MADNESS as his hours pick up drastically w/ sod and planting and harvesting and markets....I have to learn this inventory stuff so that I can do it then! 

Bragging Rights

Post Coming.....Noah John started crawling and Grace put together a 60 pc puzzle by herself straight from the box

MOPS Christmas Float

This year, the MOPS group I'm in decided what better way to advertise than to have a float in the Christmas parade.  What we also inadvertently decided (ha!) was we would see just how cold we could get and the low temperatures we would expose our little ones to.  It was fr-eezing.  I have to say, I have some great MOPS friends.  They handed out 500 flyers that night.  5-0-0.  Wow :).  If that doesn't get the word out there, what will!?  (Quoting Brooke, friend/coordinator) (I had an injured ankle so I was in the back of the truck, without Grace might I add!  The firetrucks scared her so she got in the truck cab before it even started!  Typical! My idea to do this and my kids are either a) way too little to be out in frigid temps or b) too scared by all the commotion to sit snugly in my lap and enjoy! Sigh!)  My favorite part of the Christmas parade was actually the decorating part before it started.  I had a great time chatting while working on the float.  This last pic show Grace's dissatisfaction at being stuck in the back of the truck while we loaded the other kids onto the float.

Noah John at 6 months old

It is hard to believe that Noah John is already 6 mos old.  If I thought time flew with Grace, well it goes by in a WHIRRRRRR now.  The good thing about having a second child is that I do know this though...I know that babies go through phases and stages...and not to waste lots of time worrying over the sleepless nights or the endless thumb sucking...because before I know it, that stage is gone and another is entered into.  Noah John is a good baby, by any standard.  Recently, Shawn gave him the biggest compliment one could fathom.  Last Friday night, the two of us took Noah John to dinner and Christmas shopping (Evansville).  Bless his heart.  For the first time since his birth, he had his daddy and me all to himself!  (Grace went to The Nutcracker Ballet with Shawn's parents).  Anyway, while we were having dinner, shopping, then driving home, Noah John was so easy.  He never cried like you'd expect a 6 month old to do.  He was just very pleasant...and other than the fact that we had to haul his heavy carrier around :), he was no trouble at all.  So, Shawn said, "I wish there was two of him."  I said I liked having my boy and girl.  He said, "Oh, definitely I like having a girl and a boy...."  I said, "You mean you wish he had been twins?"  He said yes.  Isn't that a great compliment?  I don't think I can describe here, or anyway, how my heart has changed since having my children.  They are wonderful blessings and I am reminded of that daily.  God has a plan.  He has a purpose.  For all of us.  Even for the least of these.  Last night, I stumbled out of bed and prayed for each of my children.  Neither woke...they just slept peacefully...near to the heart of God I'm sure.  I want them to always know that prayers have always followed and encircled them, since before they were born.  This world is not always easy, but God is always there.  So, as I celebrate Noah John's 6 month birthday :), I thank God for giving him to me to parent.  As far as what he's doing right now...starting to crawl a bit, saying Momma, Da Da (a loooot), and eating!  Boy loves some rice cereal...and all his other babyfood too.  He weighed 18 lbs, 2 oz at his check up today.  That's what he weighed 2 months ago, so I have to take him back for a weight check in 6 weeks.  The pediatrician said she thinks that he is just leveling off though.  He is still nursing every 3-4 hours and still sleeps at least 8 hours at night! 

FOOD!

On Thanksgiving day, Noah John started eating rice cereal! Shawn started feeding him before I walked into the room...that is how much the man wanted him to eat (I think he probably thought I would not go through with it!) Anyway, Noah John LOVES his cereal! He literally takes his little hand, wraps it around the spoon, and shoves the food in his mouth. It's cute. This tells me I did the right thing by waiting to feed him til right at 6 mos old...Grace did not like her food at the wee age of 4 mos and I think it was because she was too little and still just needed breastmilk! Anyway, Noah John is now in a new phase...never to return! And I'm sure it makes his Papa David happy! I think he would have loved to have given the baby steak from the start! (after his jokes about it, I think I'm right) :) ha On Thanksgiving night, Jonah spent the night with us...the next morning, he and Grace helped me decorate a gingerbread house. We tried our hardest...but the picture on the box makes it look a lot easier to do than it actually is!!! I will have to say that both the kids really tried too...until we got the last gum drop on! ha I'm sure it helped that I let them take little bites of the candy decorations along the way. ha Dipping candy in h20 This one is funny The gingerbread shack lol ;)

Thanksgiving

Chelsea & Dan leaving the family cemetary.

Uncle Henry telling us stories about our ancestors.

Classic! Cornhole.

Nonna and Poppa's=SWINGS! (Grace and Isabelle Grace)

Nonna and Poppa's=more SWINGING

Indian Summer

I can't believe the weather we've been having. Nice! Dad told me it's called an Indian Summer when the weather is nice and warm this late. I took advantage of it and took the kids to the park today. Plus, I took the opportunity while everyone is mostly well.... Noah John got to swing for the first time. I wish I had my camera there! He looked so small in the swing, which is so unusual b'c at 18.8 lbs, he is such a big baby! I can hardly believe he's a little over 5 mos old. I love love love this stage. Tonight, while Grace finished supper, he sat really still and let me hold and rock him for a little over an hour! I tried to video tape him sitting up the other day. I'll see if I can get that attached.

My mom (Nonna) came last week and stayed 5 days. It was good to have her here to help. Grace was heartbroken when mom left. The next morning, she walked out of her room and headed to "Nonna's/Noah's room" like she always does when mom's here. I called to her from where I was nursing Noah John and reminded her that Nonna had left. Instantly, her little lip quivered and she softly cried. She told me she wanted to live where Nonna lives. That is one of the hardest things about not being close enough to see my parents, brother and his family every week. Luckily we are heading there in a few days to celebrate Thanksgiving early. As usual, several of my aunts and uncles and cousins will be there. It should be fun. I can't wait to see everyone, and to show off our newest addition.

Noah John has almost recuperated from his chest cold! Thank you mom (who stood in the sauna/shower with him many times!) Now he just has an occasional cough. I guess it's Grace's turn now! For about the last week, she's said she can't hear us. I took her to the dr Wed. who then referred us to Audiology. There we learned that she has fluid in her ears but that her hearing is not affected (yeah right). Nonetheless, she is now on an antihistamine to help her ears drain. She keeps saying she has fluid in her ears! Ha. I'm glad to know that there is a reason she has been acting like a 3 yr old going on 16! So moody and irritable! I KNEW something was off with her. So glad I trusted my instinct (and listened to mom who pointed out that she kept saying "What?") The store has been a little slow the last couple weeks. It's deco'd for Christmas now and looks really nice. After 4 mos of figuring it out, I have decided that my heart's desire remains to be a stay-at-home mom. I want to contribute and be involved but to a lesser degree. I hope everyone understands! I'll wait and talk about that with the family after Thanksgiving....too much going on right now.

Well I better close and try to act halfway interested in GI Joe (I am NOT into action movies...see my profile, lol). :-)

Noah John

I took Noah John to the dr yesterday (on his 5 month bday) because he's had a bad cough for a month. At the last minute, I was able to get a babysitter for Grace. I'm SO glad I didn't have to take her along because we ended up being there for almost three and a half hours. Noah John's o2 readings were not good, so he had to have 3 breathing treatments (the last with sterroids). Dr. Dodds kept telling me she couldn't send him home until his o2 came up. I was praying, mom and Shawn were praying...and I can tell you I was so relieved when his o2 read 94 so that we could go home and not to Regional Medical. Since we've been home, he has tolerated the treatments "so so." I have been beating on his back. He probably wonders why mommy is hitting him! (ha) Anway, he rested very well last night. Today, he has coughed some but I think he's a little better. The coughs are sounding more productive. What a trooper he is! Honestly, the little guy smiles between coughs. Such a sweet one. I can hardly believe he is 5 mos old. God has blessed us so much. He is a joy. I just wish I could hold the hands of time sometimes. :( As I quickly type-Grace is pushing him around in his walker. She has figured out how to make him laugh and we love it! There is nothing that compares to having our firstborn dote on and love our second! :) Now she is playing a song on the guitar for him. It started out with a cute rendition of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" then evolved to what she calls "Another Mary Song" in which she makes up words about a "Mary" and if you listen close she says Mary didn't pick up her toys, etc. It's obvious what we are working with her on, huh?! I am going to try to insert a video clip. Turn up the volume and listen to our musical sensation. ;)

Halloween

These pictures were taken Halloween night. We are African Safari Tour Guides. Grace is a gorilla. Noah John is a banana. The cutest part of the whole night was hearing Grace go to a door, say "Trick or Treat" so softly and sweetly and then say "Thank you." It was the "way" she did it. It was the one time she forced herself to get over being shy (she tells me she is shy around new people) because getting tons and tons of candy was all-too-important to her! We walked over half the loop in Ridgewood and ended up totally busting in on our friends, The Eveland's,! I had to stop there to use the restroom. Plus, Noah John needed to nurse. At that point, the kids were getting tired, so I sent Shawn to get the van. Thanks to Tom Eveland for taking him to get it! We were all four exhausted and hungry, so we never even went back to the Turley's costume party we started out at...instead we headed for some Mexican and then HOME! I think we did great overall, considering the kids and I had Kindermusik in O'boro that morning! Fun, yet tiring day! Thank you, God, for the reasons I'm tired.

Happy Almost Halloween!

Right after Grace was born, I decided not to celebrate Halloween but rather to celebrate "fall". Since she was young, a baby really, it has never been an issue at all (until this year). This year, she turned 3 and her imagination was born! If for no other reason than to let her imagination run wild, I have decided to take her "trick or treating" this year. Last Sunday night, we decked Shawn's truck out with square bales and pumpkins for our church's Trunk or Treat. Tomorrow, after we trek to Owensboro for our Kindermusik class, we are all four planning to dress up and attend a party at the Turley's. I can't wait to post THOSE pics! For now, see the monkey and banana (aka Grace and Noah John) at Trunk or Treat at FBC. Many people commented on how cute their matchy costumes were. Shawn was a proud dad, I could tell. On another note, Grace asked (for the first time) to have a friend over to play today. She has hinted around before or randomly brought up a friend's name, but this time she literally asked me if Isabella could come over to play. She had played with her recentl at MDO at church. Luckily, Isabella's grandma (Becky Wilson) was keeping her today so they were able to come over for a bit. The girls seemed to enjoy their happy meals and each other's company until about the last half hour when they started playing independently. Right before they came, Grace said, "Momma! I'm going to make a friend!" This came AFTER she bounced off to her room and dressed in her Disney Princess gown and shoes which she put on all by herself. I am including a picture because this was another first for Grace. She has been able to dress herself, don't misunderstand, but she has just very recently taken an interest in "dressing up" both herself and her dollies. Well, since time never stands still, I better close for now. Much To Do About Something, not to misquote the title of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. That's for any of you likeminded Shakespeare junkies (trust me, I seriously realize I may be alone on this one).

Let's give it another whirl

God is working today! One of my friends is going to church with me tonight. Or I'm going with her. Funny how that works sometimes. I wasn't going to go to a women's movie night at church (the kids have colds) but she called to invite me. I just yearn to go now! My heart's desire is for her to come into relationship with Jesus Christ and experience His fullness, goodness, mercy, and love! I don't have childcare arranged yet, but I feel like God wants me there with her, so I think He will definitely handle the childcare! Praise Him for He alone is worthy.

Let's give it a whirl

I just tried to post a blog on blogger for the first time and lost it! Grr. Trial run numero dos. The pictures were taken the day of Grace's 3rd bday party!