A look back...2010

This year was a year of first's for all of us.  That sounds exciting, just what you want to do in life...well, some of it was.

We will start with Hotrod.  He has it made and everything he did for the first time was exciting!  Started pre-school, learning to read, in a parade, snow in SD, on a beach in GA...he has had a great year!

Princess...well, she is just about to turn two. How can you have a bad year if you are a healthy, happy baby??

Matt and I?  That is a toss up.  Many of the things we did for the first time involved the kids or major decisions for our future life.  Good Gracious!  Matt ran for office this year, he is considering a side business in reclaiming old barn wood, his book is being edited, he works two jobs...yes, he has a family.  I don't know how he works it all in.

Me?  hmmmm. God choose this year to teach me in new and dramatic ways that it is not all about me and that I am to be completely dependent on Him.  He has plainly showed me that yes, He does hear my cries and He does answer.
I did not run for office, nor have I written a book, but I did drive three days w/two kids and my MIL to hear from my Heavenly Father.  He did not disappoint. 

What have I done this year?  I have become even more involved in my community than ever before.  I have supported my man in all the ways that I know how, I have continued to raise my two little ones, I have been on my knees learning all over again how to be dependent on my God.  You would think I have I learned this lesson in years past...apparently I tend to forget...or maybe I am learning new levels of dependence, but that sounds proud and arrogant.  Two things I am trying to work on.  hmmmm.

Let's see what 2011 and my 35th year holds for my family and I!!!

Evil Laughter...Waahaahaaa!

There is a special bond between mother's and son's, and every wife of one of these sons knows what it is!  Momma's cooking!!!  It doesn't matter how good mom's food was...it was the best!  Ask any son and he will tell you.  "My momma was the best cook!"

Well, I am now passing on that tradition, bond, forever connection to mom....that's what it is ya know.  It is the mother's way of staying in her son's heart for all his life.  It is the evil plan of all mother's of sons...if you have a husband you know what I am talking about!

The young, new wife will cook her little heart out just to hear, "Did you get this recipe from Mom?? Why don't you get her recipe??"  And all you hear is "Waahaaahaaa!" from somewhere in the distance.

How do I know I am continuing this evil plan?  Hotrod is constantly telling me that I am the best cook.  I make the best _______________.   Fill in the blank, unless it has beans.  These are the tastes of his childhood that will be remembered as he leaves from college and will drive for hours to get a taste of...waahaahaahee!

I cemented it tonight...from scratch cinnamon rolls....not my recipe, but the best in the land!  Hotrod downed two, before I stopped him. Oh yeah!!!!

Royalty??? Of course!!! :)

As most of you know, the imagination is free flowing on Planet Swordland. Between Chief Protector, Matt and son, Hotrod, things stay pretty interesting!!  Here lately, Hotrod has been telling everyone that he is the king of the universe.

Most kids go for king of the hill, king of the class, etc., not mine!  He attacks the world in one big chunk...the universe.  To solidify his position, tonight he made me a crown. I am now Queen Mommy.  He didn't stop there!  He made Dad, Princess and himself a crown, as well.

He really is creative.  He has a brand new, flexible race track that comes apart. So, he took it apart and flexed the track into a ring and then reattached it.  This produced a true crown looking thing that I tried my best to wear all evening.  Of course, it fell off when I cooked, did the laundry, and decorated the Christmas tree, but I put it back on.  If I forgot to put it back on, Hotrod would come by and remind me that he made me the crown as a present and that I looked beautiful with it on.  Well, how could I resist walking around with a 3in, white crown looking thing on my head???  Wouldn't you wear it with that kind of endorsement?

Blue Robot Donkeys at the Manger Scene???

As I tuck in Hotrod every night, I sit and talk with him for a few minutes.  It is our end of the day ritual.  We all four pile on the bed, Daddy prays, Momma loves on Princess and Daddy loves on Hotrod, Daddy puts Princess to bed and Momma sits and talks with Hotrod...every night.  It can take a while! 

Hotrod and I talk about all sorts of things; cars, dinosaurs, friends, school, etc. Well, tonight, we talked about school and the crafts they did.  Santa and Jesus crafts, apparently.  They made a Santa face with cotton balls and colored a coloring sheet on the wise men going to see Jesus.

Somehow in the conversation about the wise men, a blue robot donkey was mentioned...a what???  I asked again about the blue robot donkey at the manger scene.  Hotrod got tickled, which got me tickled and we laughed and laughed about a blue robot donkey with the wisemen.  He finally clarified that he had drawn a blue robot donkey at the bottom of the page. OHHH!

As we continued the conversation, we were discussing that Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas.  Jesus is real and discussed the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus.  Hotrod then turned to me and asked, "to play with??".  Now there is a child's mind for you!!  I wish I knew what Mary and Joseph did with the gifts.  I have oftened wondered that myself.  What did they do with the gold, frankincense, and myrrh that they were given? Something to ponder...

What makes a sick day better? Molasses cookies!!

 Yesterday, both of my little ones woke up with enough of a cough to keep them home for the day.  They have both been sick all week, so it was just better to keep them in for one more day.

Hotrod cried and cried when he found out that he wasn't going to school.  So, I made a phonecall to Grandma and got her molasses cookie recipe.  The kids were thrilled and we spent all morning making cookies.

Hotrod loves it when we roll out cookies.  He does most of the work on his own and has a great time.  Princess was not happy when she realized that she did not get to roll out the cookies just yet!  All was well when she got her first cookie.

I attempted to get a pic of the three of us...you be the judge of how well I did!! ;)

So, I thought it was a compliment...

This afternoon I was in the bathroom getting ready to brush my teeth and  put on my makeup for the Chief Protector, Matt.  Hotrod came in and said, "Momma, you are as beautiful as you can be".  Well, just make my heart melt!!! But there was more..."but I know how you can be even more beautiful".
 
So I just thought it was a compliment, instead he has learned the southern backhanded compliment method. Ex. "Well sweetheart, of course your new haircut is great!! Now you just might want to comb it a little different, that's all."

So I asked, "And how is that?"  To which he responded, "Well, you just need to put something on your face".  Huh...I told my son that I was getting ready to do just that. 

After I finished my make up, Hotrod showed up again.  "Momma, you look beautiful!! But I know how you can look even more beautiful!"  Ok, really?  A critic at five??? Do I need more of those in my life? So I bit, "and how is that?"  He replied, "You should put more stuff on your face then you would be even more beautiful!!"

This is where my son got a lesson in the beauty of girls.  "Son, you don't want a girl to put too much makeup on her face.  All she needs is a little." To which he replied, "Oh, does that make her look yucky?" 
To which I said, "Well, sometimes, yes." 
He seemed to be content with that answer and the amount of makeup I chose to put on.  :)

What? You didn't spend Thanksgiving night in the ER??

Come holiday time on Planet Swordland, we fly off to see family. Depending on which holiday depends on which family.  Well, Thanksgiving we were with my family at my grandmother's house in the lovely town of ......  At 3a.m. of Thanksgiving day, I was lying in bed unable to sleep when I heard my son take a breath...no, I heard him wheeze.  Instantly, I knew that the next night I would be in the ER.  That's how it works when Hotrod comes down with Croup.
So, as all the family and kids showed up, Matt took one for the team and took Hotrod to my Aunt's house for the day.  No, he was not happy about it, but what can you do?  Hotrod progressively got worse during the day, so at 8:30 that night we headed to the local incompetent ER. 
Unfortunately, it was the worse that he had ever been.  This is not new for us, we go to the ER, get a breathing treatment and steroids, we go home in two hours, he spends the next few days recovering.  Not this time.  It got to a point, after the first treatment, that he actually could not breathe or talk.  Yes, I was scared.  I called the Chief Protector, Matt, to come sit with me. 
The doctor finally gave him a large dose of steroids and the breathing treatment that we normally get....who listens to the mom anyway????
We were in the ER for six long hours.  He finally recovered and is doing much better.  Of course, now Princess is sick with a cold while cutting molars...

How do you come in last place in the kid parade???

 Today our town on Planet Swordland had a Push, Pull and Ride kid's parade, which included Santa and goodie bags!  Matt was working so I took the kids.  Hotrod had a choice of his bike or his monster tricycle.  He chose the tricycle, so I managed to load the thing in the trunk of the car and off we went!

Now you have to understand this tricycle.  Hotrod is five, a tall five, and he is just now able to ride it.  I didn't realize that the tires were half flat, and the seat will not stay up.  Keep all this in mind...

I unloaded the trike and the stroller and found our friends on the square.  The kids rode around waiting for it to start. One of Hotrod's many girl friends is A.  She is a beautiful little girl  and enjoys playing with Hotrod.  Well, today her and Hotrod got a little too cozy!!! I was talking with A's momma when I looked over to see A standing on the back of Hotrod's trike catching a ride as if they were on a motorcycle going down the street.  I ran around and had to get pics!  It was so cute!  I think you will agree. :)

 It was finally time to line up behind Santa, and as you can see from the pic, Hotrod is in front right behind Santa....well, that is where we started.  Once all the kids got going, I started pushing Princess in the stroller.  I thought my son was right behind me, when A's momma called my attention to him as he got further and further from the group.  The thing is, he had no clue.  He thought he was doing great and having a blast! But that trike is heavy, the wheels were half flat and he kept getting stuck on the hills.  He never gave up or complained! 

As we were about to round the last corner, the nice lady with the medals, stopped Hotrod and apparently felt sorry for him.  She asked if she could push him, and he informed her that he knew how to pedal! She then said, "Well, you are a winner! Here is your medal!" And put it around his neck.  Now he wasn't finished!!! This was a pity award!!!! My son receiving a pity award!!!

Well, apparently my son has some standards. He looked at her, took off the medal and said, "I am not finished!" He then continued to pedal and finished the parade without complaining or realizing that he was last.  He then went and got his medal!:)

 As you can see from the pics, Hotrod and A then compared medals...

They had fun getting their pics with Santa and getting the candycanes!
Although Hotrod looks really cozy with A, what you can't see is him running or pedaling after a pretty little schoolmate that was there...



This is my favorite one. :)






<><>

<>

<><>

Please notice that there are no other kids around!!!









 



 

Mom

Today is one of those days when after all this time, you still ask God, "Why?".  Mom would have turned 64 today.  She passed away over 12yrs ago, and there are still days that I cry for her.  I guess that is something that you never truly get over.  She should be laughing at Princesses's temperfits  and astonished at L's uncanning likeness of her. Or how Amy and I can switch kids and no one would be the wiser.  And how proud she would be of  the man Matthew has become and the fact that Sid finally got his baby girl!!  So many questions for when I see my heavenly Father some day. But something tells me that none of it will matter at that moment...:)

Hotrod Makes His Debut

Today, Hotrod and I had the opportunity to ride in the local Veteran's Day Parade in a firetruck.  Hotrod was extremely excited!  We hurried to the firehouse, made it just in time, hopped in the back, and then sat and waited fifteen minutes to go anywhere.  Hotrod quickly made his acquaintance with the rookie firefighter and the Chief, and spent the next fifteen minutes talking their heads off and asking questions about everything.  I am not quite sure there is anything he didn't touch in that cab! The other family arrived and we were finally off for the parade.

We drove the five minutes to get in line and waited another forty-five minutes!!!  I was fine, my antsy five yr old was another matter.  He asked more questions, complained some, whined some, managed to get a bottled water and candy, and hopefully did not annoy anyone too much.

The parade finally started and Hotrod sat in my lap to look out the window and throw candy at the kids.  As we began rolling down the street he started singing a song.  It took me a couple seconds to realize what he was singing..."(insert real name) Swordland's Parade......(insert real name) Swordland's Parade......(insert real name) Swordland's Parade...  apparently someone forgot to inform the town that this was Hotrod's parade!!!  I chuckled and then proceeded to explain the reason for the parade.  He quickly understood that we were honoring those who had fought for our freedom and was impressed that Pappy and Grandpa had also served.

Hotrod had a blast and several times down the street I heard my son's name being called out by people we knew.  Boy, we live in a small town!! :)

You can never tell what your child will tell his doctor!!

Today was Hotrod's five yr check up at the doc's office.  We prepared for it by praying, Hotrod crying, and even a dry run on the shots.  How?? I took his arm out of the sleeve, rubbed some rubbing alcohol on it, and then pinched him....Yes,  I know!!!  It wasn't too hard!  He still didn't appreciate it. So the deal was we don't have a repeat of last year and we can go get a blizzard. What did he do last year?  He screamed and yelled to such a degree that he scared a veteran nurse and kicked her!!!! It was horrific.  He told me all day he didn't want shots...
We get there and do all the typical things, weight (gained five pds), height (grew almost 3in), heart, etc. What I was not expecting was the doc to start asking Saul all the questions. Up to this point, Mom and Dad have answered all the questions.  What would he say?  How would he answer?  I know my son... Mind you, he was in character while he was doing this.  I am not sure what he was, a bird maybe?  So if you could imagine him on the examination table, in his undies, acting like an animal and answering the questions, you get the idea.  It was humorous!
He had his hearing and eyesight tested and it was time for the shots.  The nurse had given him a piece of gum for doing a great job with everything else, but I held it in my hand until the moment that shot was to go into his arm.  DISTRACTION!!! It could have been worse, it could have been last year, but I still had to put him into a headlock with that big wad of gum in his mouth.  I just knew he was going to choke with all the screaming he was doing!!!
Thankfully that was over, but wait! Apparently, he has not had lab work in three years!  Oh yes, time to get the finger pricked!!!!!!!  We walked over to the lab to sit and wait.  Matt asked me if Hotrod knew what was going to happen.  I certainly had not told him!  While we were waiting, another child was having the same procedure done, unfortunately there is no divider or greatly insulated wall to protect your child from seeing this!!  Hotrod's eyes grew large and Princess grew restless.  Since I handled the shots, Matt handled the bloodwork and I took Princess to the car. 
They came outside a few minutes later with Hotrod crying and waving his poor, little, bandaged finger.  Well, it was over.  Yes, Dad had to hold him down for the finger prick.  Matt and I decided that technically it was not a repeat of last year and suffering through all that definitely needed a blizzard!!

Views from South Dakota...

Ps. 118:5 (NAS)  From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in large place.

This is the verse my heavenly Father gave me the second night I was in SD.  I laughed and laughed!  There is nothing like confirmation from your Abba Father telling you that you are exactly where you are supposed to be and that your cries are heard.  Everytime a new experience was offered to me, I took it.  That was why I was there, to get away and experience, and to pinpoint my current restless spirit, which I did. The kids and I had an awesome time with Matt's family, and I had so much help I was able to get away and walk in the vast open spaces offered to me.  It was wonderful! Hotrod actually went with me on several of my walks. He seemed to understand that we where there for new things and new adventures, he had just as much fun as I did!  Here are some of the pics that I took....Enjoy!

Hotrod turns five

My son, my optimist, Hotrod turns five today!  He woke up this morning to me singing "Happy Birthday".  He then said, "Hip, Hip, Hooray!!! I'm five!!!  I can now run faster than G_________!"  He then continued to list all the things that he could now do because he is five. There is nothing like that feeling of sheer joy and hope of things to come and new adventures. 
On the flip side of that, Matt, the Chief protector of Swordland, also has his bd today.  After I sang to him, he pretty much grunted and went to work his 14hr day.  I guess at 36, with a family to support and raise, and responsibility always over his head, he didn't jump up and say, "Hip Hip Hooray!"  Oh, how life changes!!!  Well, now to go and make cookies for Hotrod!

Thankfully there were only two lipsticks....

My daughter....my son never did things like this...my daughter...Today, I put my precious Princess down for her nap in the Pack in Play. (since we are not at home)  I did not hear from her for two hours.  Saul and I rested, jumped on the trampoline, and then I sat on the front porch.  R&R!, or so I thought... Olivia started screaming, so I headed in to get her.  As I was walking upstairs, I could hear her saying, "BooBoo! BooBoo!"  I turned the corner and took in the scene.  My Princess was covered from her nose down to her toes in what looked like dried blood.  It was everywhere!  On the sheets, her palm prints on the pack in play, everywhere!!  I screamed for my MiL.
As I looked closer to find the source, it was then that I noticed my brand new purse with all of its contents spread about in the pack in play.  My MiL came in at this point, before she could freak out I said, "it is not blood...it is my lipstick!!!"  Apparently, my Princes had woken up from her nap, had seen her mother's purse on the bed, and helped herself to it.  Thankfully she was only in a diaper, but when we took the diaper off, she looked sunburnt!  You would have thought someone had painted her with the lipstick from head to toe!  Not only did she destroy two tubes of lipstick, but she took her little fingers and dug them out of the container.  OH YEAH!!!  I scrubbed for an hour.  The pack in play no longer has any resale value and yes, I had to go to walmart to buy new lipstick.  The irony...when my MiL came home, I was so excited about the nap that Olivia had been taking.  No wonder she was so quiet!!!!

Escape from Planet Swordland

My God is awesome!!!  There has been twice that I have looked to the heavens for a spiritual rescue, and both times an answer, with an escape, has come within 24hrs.  What am I running away from this time?  Ordinary life.  The same thing day in and day out without a change in sight.  Don't get me wrong, I am involved in some amazing things and I am surrounded by the most loving friends and family, but sometimes I get so restless.  I sink in those times.  My God is always gracious, but this time was serious.  I needed away for awhile....Don't fret, there is nothing wrong with Matt and I!!  I just needed out.  So where does He send me??? South Dakota, of all places!!!! (for those of you who love it forgive the next few words...) The most flat, desolate, empty place I have ever been in, and yet...it is where I want to be.  Nothing holding me in, or back.  I can run and run and run with nothing in sight. No walls, no boundaries, and a loving family around me for when I come back to reality.  Yes, my little ones are with me, but that is OK.  They love a  good adventure, and a good roadtrip. Look for the awesome pictures when I return!!! Love you all!

A Note from Dad

I just thought everyone might enjoy seeing this.  I write short notes to put into Hotrod's lunch on the days he goes to school.  Well, Dad was home today, so he put the note in Hotrod's lunch. My notes are what you would expect  from Mom, but Dad's notes are extra special!  Of course, I have blanked out the name and there is a water spot on the note. OH Well!!! This is great!

Box heads

I like to think that on Planet Swordland we only breed smart and intelligent children, but I am starting to wonder...
Today, Hotrod and Princess walked around with empty diaper boxes over their heads.  Now this sounds funny and cute, which it is, until they stop paying attention and start running right into walls.  Of course, then you really have to laugh!  To add to the curious and questionable behavior, Hotrod beat two hammers on the sides of the box.  Yes, he still had it on his head!  I really questioned his intelligence at this point.  What got me though, as he was walking and banging he fell right over a small chair!  Ok, I am not supposed to laugh as I give boo boo kisses, but come on!!!

My Mirror Image

You know, having a little girl is a different experience than having a boy.  They somehow dig deeper into your heart, into your psyche.  Normally, it is cute to have Princess copy everything I do, in a way that Hotrod did not.  Carrying my purse, putting lotion on her legs, putting on my perfume, etc., but when she seems to be a copy of my personality...then we have problems.  It doesn't help that somewhere in God's plan Mom was to leave this world at an early age.  I don't have her to call and ask, "Ok, did I do this, this and this?? And what did you do to handle it??"  My sister and I seem to have girls that are similar in personality, so we go back and forth on what to do.   I was in tears tonight as I disciplined my strong willed, headstrong little girl. Not because of the discipline, but the fact that I can't call Mom and say, "really??? My attitude was this big at this age??? My temper was this strong early on??"  It gives you a new perspective on how God must see us when we are learning our daily lessons in faith and obedience. I am not looking for advice...just venting a bit.  There are some times that I miss Mom more than others and tonight was one of them.

It's time for pumpkins!!!!

Today the Swordland hero family took time from their busy schedules to go pick out pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch.  A good time was had by all, especially Hotrod!  He gets excited about everything of this nature!  Enjoy the pics!!