February: Nursing homes and Chocolate Martinis

One of the things I still love about the Pacific Northwest is the early springs. This is my 10th spring here, but I still get so excited in February when all the flowers start to bloom around me. Growing up in the Midwest,  we would still be buried in below zero snow for at least another month or two.

Blooming in our backyard

February has had a lot of activity.
My mom was here visiting and we got to celebrate her birthday by going on a Portland chocolate tour. Yes, you heard that right..a three hour tour of sampling, drinking and learning about all that is chocolate.
I can now tell you the difference between Belgium and Swiss chocolate and what makes white chocolate white. AND, I can tell you that the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland makes the BEST chocolate martini.

4:00 chocolate martini...I could get used to this.

And it wouldn't be valentines day unless we had a bag of cheap cartoon valentines. Evie had her preschool  party. Luckily Grandma was here to patiently sit with her at the table while she signed each of her 18 valentines. I can't even imagine the amount of valentines we will be buying, signing, and delivering when I have all four in school. 80 maybe?! Anyone want to come over and patiently sit with the boys while they sign theirs?! ;)
Speaking of cheap cartoon valentines, when did those go out of style? This is the second year that Evie has brought home a bag of  elaborately hand crafted,  witty, candy-laden heart-shaped masterpieces. Ok moms, when (and why) did you spend so much time on these?
I hope everyone enjoyed the beauty of Evie's  Disney tear apart ones that I bought the day before because I got them for 70% off at Fred Meyer.

Speaking of Pintrest Mom, I admit, I can not judge because I do have a bit of that in me too.
I did do one slightly creative valentines day project/surprise this year. After all were in bed,  I decorated the outside of everyones bedroom door with hearts. On each heart I wrote things I loved and appreciated about them. (However, like the handmade valentines,  I think I appreciated my effort more than anyone else did...;) 

Ok, I'm realizing that I might not be able to complain about the Valentine Diva Moms after I write about this next activity...
 When my mom was here, we baked heart shaped cookies and the kids (well, really Evie) passed them out at the local nursing/ rehabilitation home. (I know...I know...I still have that teacher in me and I feel like my kids need meaningful field trips...)
I didn't really know how Evelyn would act around older people in wheel chairs who really had a hard time hearing, talking and moving. Nonetheless, I knew it would be a great experience for her and would get her out of her pink and red heard shaped, sparkly bubble.

I have to say it was a delightful, meaningful experience for everyone. The residents all really enjoyed seeing the three boys run around and they loved sweet Evie politely asking if they wanted a cookie.

Evie did so well. She seriously LOVED  walking up to every person and handing them a cookie. This is something we need to make more of a habit of doing in the community.

"cookie anyone?"

The boys really just wanted to eat the cookies themselves

Speaking of community, we are enjoying our neighborhood even more this Spring. John and I took the four kids out for a walk around the block the other night and to our amazement, no one wandered off or needed to be chased! It was really MANAGEABLE! We even stopped and talked to our neighbors while the kids played together on their driveway for about 30 minutes...all without any meltdowns, attempted escapes or catastrophes!

Life is changing folks!
There is light!!
The chains are slowly breaking!
We WILL be able to do family outings without being stressed out of our minds!!

Yet another reminder that life is but a series of Seasons....the "three baby and one toddler season" has ended and we are now in the "three toddlers and a young child" chapter.

Still terrifying and exhausting...but it promises a little, tiny, teeny, bit of more sanity in the house ;)

Happy 2nd Birthday!

To my three two year old sons,

A message from your mother.

You are two now. 

When I had you, I sobbed in your daddy’s arms because I was so overwhelmed and the future seemed like too much to handle. 

Having you was not part of my plan.

But now as I think back on the past two years, I couldn’t have dreamed of better sons or a more blessed life. 

Daddy didn’t really know how to comfort me when I cried and worried. He only said, “Let’s just focus on surviving for two years."

Two years seemed like an eternity away. 

The “day in and day out” of life just seemed like too much at times. 

It still does. 

But here we are. 

Two years. Day by day.

Love is powerful. Love fuels sacrifice. Love changes people. I can say that my love for you has changed me. It's an extremely painful, exhausting, excruciating chipping away process; a chiseling of my former self. Sometimes I don't know who I am anymore.

 I feel lost in it all. 

But I know that in it there is a plan and a greater purpose evolving. 

It's all worth it. 

You are all worth it. 

Dear Caleb,

My firstborn son. My joy. The one who refuses to let a day go by without smiling or laughing. People were afraid you wouldn’t walk, because you crawled last and you couldn’t sit up like your brothers. However you shocked us all by taking your first step first and navigating the stairs standing all by yourself. You love people. You smile at the ones who usually don’t get a second glance. You love the outdoors and exploring and talking to neighborhood cats. You insist that I don't take myself or life too seriously, as I’m prone to do. You give me hope that one day there will be a lot of laughter around our dining room table. 

Dear Levi,

You have such a sensitive heart and spirit. I love the way you love your family. I love the way you talk to me and explain exactly what you need and what is really going on. Yes, you can be a bit dramatic at times, but I know that you just have a strong sense of justice. As a newborn you observed the world around you and were very interested in how the world worked. Even now, you help me to see the world with a fresh perspective  You give me hope that I will always have someone who will want to hang out with his mama.

Dear James,

It took awhile for your personality to come out because you slept  a lot as a baby. Even now, you prefer to lounge, drink juice, watch TV and have your back scratched. However, I see that assertive spirit in you, and I know that it will be channeled into something incredible. Basketball will undoubtedly be a part of your future, and I’m so excited to sit on the sideline and cheer you on at all your games. I know that deep down inside you are a team player, and I'm so grateful you are on our team. 

First haircut!

I couldn't imagine my life now without doing everything for "four." 

Happy 2nd birthday boys. You are loved. You are cherished. You are my boys-my Caleb, my Levi, my James-forever.

Love, 

Your mama

Evie's Mom

Being fully entrenched in full-time "momhood", my job has me frequenting various SAHM oasises around town. These sacred wells offer the possibility of a few uninterrupted minutes of communication with polite, reasonable human beings during a normal weekday.

 For example,  there's Freddy's Playland----offering free childcare while you shop-err-do a espresso shot at the Peet's Coffee that's attached to the store....
(Confession:  My friend and I did check our daughters into Freddy's while we had a kidless coffee date one Saturday afternoon...)

or there's  ClubSport, the gym with exceptional childcare so mama can get her workout on-(or happy hour on-)...

or, if all else fails, the play gym, a magnificent gymnasium in the basement of a church offering toys and activities for tots of all ages-added bonus: a small cafe. 

Now that Evie is at a preschool in town, I am starting to see the same half- smiling, yoga pants wearing, coffee cup clutching mamas dropping off their kids at preschool Monday morning who then make the Tualatin circuit of Fred Meyer, New Seasons, library story time, gymboree and ClubSport.

 Most of the time we greet each other with a vague smile of recognition, usually wresting and negotiating with other small humans that prohibit us from communicating on any other intelligent level.
However, lately though some moms have been breaking past the obligatory eye grin and greeting me excitedly, suddenly realizing that I am: Evie's Mom. 

I feel as if I'm becoming my daughter's social secretary.

Examples of these interactions.....

Random, half familiar mom at Costco, nearly plowing people over with her overly full cart of fruit snacks, parking next to my totally full cart of irritated children:  "Oh hey, you are Evie's mom! My daughter Karlan just loves Evie. Can we set up a playdate? I'll find your address in the preschool directory and email you. Bye." 

From another woman at the gym in her super trendy yoga pants while I'm sweating like a pig on the stair climber: "Oh hey, you're Evie's mom? My daughter Kim talks about Evie all the time and loves going to the gym because she gets to see her. Here, let me give you my phone number. Text me so we can set up a playdate. Thanks!"
 (Sidenote: Super awkward a week later when I run into her again and haven't texted her...)

Over enthusiastic email in my 'in box' on a rainy Monday morning: "Hi! Just to let you know I sent your daughter Evie an invitation to my daughter's birthday party. We are new to the school and don't really know anyone but my daughter really wants Evie to come and talks about her all the time. "

Text message. 8pm. In my sweats eating a bowl of ice cream watching a "diet competition show": "Hi! What are you guys doing tomorrow after preschool? Want to come over for a playdate? My daughter keeps talking about how she wants to see Evie."

Seriously...not trying to brag or anything, but my daughter is becoming a social butterfly.

And I am getting a reputation of "Evie's Mom."

I knew she would thrive at preschool with the other kids, and I knew that she would have lots of little friends, but I didn't know I'd have to create a separate app just to try to squeeze in playdates and birthday parties for my 4 year old.
However, the problem with these polite inquiries into the social availability of my daughter is that many of these moms don't realize I have THREE two year olds at home to add to my juggling act.

Don't get me wrong, I try and really want to give Evie all the social opportunities as humanly possible...but I am one human with four little humans attached to me.
You want us all at your house?!! hehe

My friends and I were reminiscing about the days of long ago when we'd pass our mornings toting around our single child accessory, attending "playdates." Sipping vanilla lattes, we'd vent about our parenting struggles or boast about the latest trick our darling child has preformed.

One child each...three years later: 2, 3, 3, 4 each!

Evie is getting to an age too when moms are talking about signing their kids up for sports, and gymnastics, and swimming, and music lessons, and this and that and playdate number 58....and ahhh!
What's a mother to do in a world with so many potential relationships and wonderful, enriching childhood experiences?!
 How does one sift through and figure out who/what to invest time in, (AND balance three other toddlers?!)

Anyhow, I guess what I am slowly learning is an even bigger life lesson: You've got to say NO to some really good things to say YES to the great ones. I'm not saying some friends or relationships are better or more important, but there are so many wonderful opportunities, friendships, clubs, sports, experiences...and you just can't do them all...and do them WELL.

 What I do know is I'm proud of Evie. Obviously she exhibits qualities of love, acceptance and genuine care to people and that is why a lot of people like to be around her.

 She's also a whole lot of fun too.. ;) but she gets that from her daddy.

Holiday Celebrations 2015!

Its been a while since I’ve written. I usually try to get in at least one blog entry a month!…! However, I haven’t written since before Thanksgiving. I guess the whole holiday season swallowed me up this year. 

I finally took down the Christmas decorations. I love all the Christmas lights and sparkly objects. However, the day after everything is over, they must come down. There is just a stale feeling in the house the next day, a claustrophobic feeling…an anxious feeling of being surrounded by  so many things. I have such a sense of urgency to get everything packed up. 

Let's just get back to reality!...

Besides, two days after Christmas we have Evie's birthday. 

                                                                           Let the celebrations continue!

Thanksgiving was spent with John’s brother Rob, his wife Melissa and their two girls, Cady and Geneva and John's mom and dad.  Once again, John wowed us all with his smoked turkey and a fantastic feast!

Geneva and Evie and Thanksgiving feasting

Fun Uncle Rob

The boys still weren't too excited about Thanksgiving food this year....

Food comas...

Evie's Thanksgiving party at school

Then, the first week in December my grandma flew in for a weeks visit. She helped decorate the house for Christmas, including the tree. We had a great visit with her. We also had a visit with Santa. The only person who was excited about the jolly old man was Caleb. Evie warmed up a bit, but it wasn't worth paying for the $40.00 picture. 

GG and her clan

Getting ready to visit Santa!

On Santa's trail...

On the "nice" list...

Right after her departure, our lives were just packed with activity. We had Christmas desserts, two friend’s birthday dinners, fundraising events, church events, ballet performances, cookie exchanges, gift exchanges...

Evie and Brittney at her ballet show


and of course our annual Christmas cocktail party in our basement. 

This was our 9th year putting this on. Its always a good time seeing all of our friends. This year we had a lot of new people, which was really exciting and fun. I’ve gotten to know a lot of women from our neighborhood the past few months. We’ve started getting together once a month to socialize and play bunco. 

On Dec. 20, my parents flew in to spend Christmas here in Oregon for the first time ever. 

Grandpa's here!

Evie built a gingerbread house with Grandma and Grandpa

I haven’t spent Christmas with them in two years, so it was so very special. AND, my brother Brad flew in a few days later to hang out with everyone too. It has been a year and a half since I’ve seen him and it was really good to catch up. 

Christmas Eve we all went to a candlelight service at church, which was really wonderful.  Christmas day just unveiled itself All* Day *Long. We had  both Grandparents amongst the joyful chaos. It started out early with stockings, 

and gifts,

 and then more gifts, including a jeep

These jeeps don't build themselves...

 and a wagon 

and finally a basement full of tunnels and tents to explore and climb in. 

I don't know if anything can beat this Christmas.

My brother gave each of the kids authentic instruments which included a hand drum, shaker, percussion sticks and a tambourine.

 We spent  part of the evening dancing and playing along with John as he sang with his guitar. We ended the evening by having a quiet Christmas dinner by the Christmas tree, with just the adults. It was perfect. 

The next day we went to the Portland Aquirium….tried to detox a bit…..before tumbling into Dec. 27 which is Evie’s 4th birthday.

 It was a 4:00 dinner at Red Robin kind of celebration!

 It was the very first time we attempted to take all the kids out to a restaruant. All things considered, it was a success!  Levi was a champ and sat and ate like a small adult. Caleb and James just wanted to wander around and really didn't care about the whole dining experience too much. Overall, I woulnd’t have done this with any less adults, and it’s really not worth doing it again anytime soon. 

a new bike from Grandma and Grandpa

Finally, after the wrapping paper and cake were settled and the kids in bed, John and I giddily took off for our two night escape downtown while my parents held down the fort with Amanda. Hehe..yes, I was giddy. 

John and I ushered in the New Year with Moscow Mules and Dateline, barely making it to midnight. We started off 2016 with another Christmas celebration with John's side of the family

 and an unexpected snowfall! There was just enough snow and ice to cancel church, school and Evie's birthday party. However, there was also enough to build a very small snowman.

 John also took Evie sledding down an inclined cal-de-sac near our house. 

                                                                               Onward to 2016!