blessings (in disguise) and week-in-review

Gracie wearing a dress my mom made for my kid sister, Thea, some 15 years ago. A little treasure I unearthed from the basement this week.

This week has been b.u.s.y. and full of blessings- though some were easier to see than others.

I finally built up the energy and desire to clean out our basement. How did we accumulate all this stuff? Moving all the time, as we do, has the built in benefit of going through one's things fairly often. But still, the piles grow. The only boxes I haven't minded toting through the many homes we have lived in are those full of all our books. One day we'll have shelves to house them in...

This is neither a before nor an after shot. It is a work in progress.

"We have, like, 19 boxes of books downstairs." Really. We do.

Cori has been on a 10% pay reduction for most of the year. All the employees in his division have been. We found out this week that the pay reduction is finally getting lifted. A welcomed development. As if on cue, all sorts of financial responsibilities came knocking. The largest and loudest solicitor being the transmission in the Accord which has to be replaced. I also got my hair done, and I got a speeding ticket. It has been an expensive week. But I'm grateful that this week didn't happen 3 weeks ago when our means to finance such events was much more questionable.

I got pulled over on my way to meet friends at a local apple orchard. We messied ourselves with apple donuts and cider, visited the lamas, sheep and chickens and the kids got to sit on bona fide tractors. And I got to enjoy civilized adult conversation in the middle of the morning. (Thanks again Sarah!) It was pretty much worth the ticket.

Around here the days of the week are mentioned thusly: Monday-Friday, Family Day (Saturday), and Church Day (Sunday). We had a lovely family day this week. Cori got to sleep in. The kids ate their breakfast at the 'little table'- a treat indeed. We finished winterizing our yards and emptied and washed out all our patio planter stuffs. There was a Cougar football game. Cori cooked. And after the kids were in bed, Cori and I shared a hefty workout downstairs. Church days always feel more special after busy family days.

we ran with bells on

On Saturday, we competed in the Jingle Bell Run for arthritis. Participants are encouraged to dress... festively. And many did. There were a lot of Santa hats, and even a couple of elves. We simply donned the jingle bells received in our race packets.

We both had time goals. Cori wanted to get his run in under 22 minutes and I wanted it under 28. The night before, we drove the race course. I plotted out my pace and felt ready.

We both pushed hard, and with results. Cori ran it in 21:40 and I ran a 26:06. I was so surprised- and elated! Cori took second in his age group and I took first. What? I know. Again, I was completely shocked. (About my award, not Cori's) Cori's time is pretty darn great regardless of who you are. Mine merits no acclaim in the world of running- there were women in their 30's and 40's who smoked me by whole minutes. But in the world of my reality, that time means a lot.

For me, this 5K was a bookend to the reproductive roller coaster that started nearly a year ago. When we learned that we would have to wait for about a year to attempt pregnancy after our last miscarriage, I determined to make the most of it. At the time, my attitude wasn't that of turning lemons into lemonade. I think I was desperate to exert control over my body which was behaving in uncontrollable ways. At that juncture, I made two goals: I wanted to run a 5K in a 27 minute range, and I wanted to return my body to the weight it was before I had Grace. They were lofty goals. Especially considering that I hated running. But the year ahead seemed so long. And for the first time quite a while, I had my body to myself. Not being pregnant and/or nursing, and having kids that sleep through the night replenishes all kinds of energy and ambition.

A couple of weeks ago I had my final post-what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-your-body-?-! checkin with my doctor. I've been completely normal for 6 months now. And we have the green light to try again.

And I ran my 5K in 26 minutes.

And I've lost 17.5 pounds.

I don't want all of my emotional dribble to diminish the fact that Cori made a lofty race goal for himself, worked hard for it, and achieved it as well. We were so happy!

Here are some more pictures:

After the race. We had time between the race and the awards to pick up our kids who had been hanging out with friends that morning.

Waiting for the awards to start.

Me picking through the crowd on the floor to collect my award from Santa.

Cori took a hug with his plaque.

Blessings

I learned how to use the light meter on my camera this week. It makes me very happy.

The last couple of weeks have felt like the closing of one chapter and the opening of a new. I didn't really appreciate this so much until my solo drive to Stake Conference early this morning. (Cori woke to an eye swollen nearly shut, and thus opted to stay home with the kids) I spent the 45 minute trip listening to the hymns of zion and it was whispered to my soul how much my Heavenly Father had been looking after me and my family these last several months. I am so very grateful.

And Stake Conference was completely encouraging. The talks, or rather the themes that spoke loudest to me, focused on striving for excellence and the importance of preparation. These subjects have been in my heart recently, pertinent to myself and our children. It was reassuring to hear points bulleted by so many of the speakers today that have been part of recent discussions between me and Cori about our family.

And I got to sing in the choir.

Cori and I ran our last 5K for the year yesterday. The weather was perfect and it was a great race. We actually got a few pictures this time. I'll post more about it tomorrow.

gracie these days

on crazy hair day

Grace loves going to preschool. It has given her a much needed social outlet and has rekindled her interest in (age appropriate) scholarly endeavors. With no provocation from us, she has become very conscious of speaking properly. Currently, she is focussed on making her 'l' sounds- they have been rather 'w'-ish. Also, she has regained interest in completing her reading lessons and has started sounding out words. In turn, this has made her very curious about finding rhymes. Her questions make me a wee bit anxious with inadequacy. How will I ever help her with trigonometry homework in 11 years when I can't even think of a decent rhyme for zebra? or acorn?

that is Grant sleeping, no bars on his crib, and Gracie's bed juxtaposed

One of the newest developments around here is the rearrangement of the kids' rooms. The whole thing started about a month ago. Grace started waking up multiple times a night, complaining about bad dreams and refused to be left alone in her room. Sleeping became a bit of a problem for all of us. We worked hard to identify the source of the change. I took her off the bus. I revamped our night-time routine- she responds really well to military-like routines. It helped a little. When I complained to my mother about our situation, she quickly reminded me about myself, years 4-14ish. I was incurably frighted of the dark and my hyperactive imagination was an impediment to say the least. I was consoling Grace with this information when she asked me what I did when I was afraid. I truthfully replied that I would climb into Sara's bed. We shared a room until I was in High school. In this moment, Grace began plotting her way into Grant's room. A couple of weeks ago we took the bars off Grant's crib and Gracie took her cue. She pleaded with us to put her bed next to his. We acquiesced and Grace has slept through the night nearly every night since.

catching lady bugs

Her life is a musical. She sings songs all the time. This comes in handy for me when Grant makes requests. Last night he wanted a song about trucks. I was thinking about this when Grace cleared her throat. She then favored us with a moving rendition of the Grace original, I Like Big Trucks and Small Cars. Somewhere near the bridge there was a verse about pink ponies with wings, but the chorus pulled it all together. And Grant was satisfied. And I was off the hook.

singing a song about orange leaves by the river

Grace got some money for her birthday this year. She was completely excited about it and knew just what to do. We figured out the 10% amount to set aside for tithing ($0.90). That Sunday she shook the Bishop's hand and handed over her envelope. He said, "You know, you are going to get a lot of blessings from paying your tithing." She shrugged and said, "I know."

I gave her a little pep talk before we went to spend it. I just wanted to be sure Grace understood that she was working on a budget before we hit the toy isle. After reviewing the prices of every toy that was pink, and/or pony/princess/animal related, she made her choice and even picked something out for Grant, with change to "spend on something later."

Grace still obsessively fills baskets and boxes with carefully chosen and organized items. She has added lashing to her organizational repertoire. I have spent more time than I care to mention untying things from bars, table legs, and drawer pulls all over the house. When she catches me prematurely releasing her things from their bondage, she frantically tells me the very purpose that she tied them thusly. It is usually part of an intricate scheme, and I don't always have the heart to continue my interference. We had a stuffed lion lashed (about the neck, no less) to the banister of the stair case for a couple of weeks. And then, once he had served his purpose there, Grace brought him down and moved onto the next big plan.

happy halloween 2009

I started on costumes at the end of the summer. At that time the kids were on a serious 101 Dalmations kick. Gracie's original plan for Halloween included Cori dressing as Roger and myself as Cruella. I told Grace that if she could help me loose 60 pounds by the end of October, I'd do it. Cruella is quite thin. Needless to say, I was not Cruella for Halloween this year. But Grace and Grant had fun as Pongo and Perdita. Thanks are due, once again, to my mom who was in town whilst I was in the middle of all this. (I think we need to make a tradition of this mom!) She helped me finalize plans and shop for materials.

The festivities began Friday afternoon. Grant and I went to school with Grace to help with her class party. The preschool/kindergarten building is located on the community college campus. The kids had a huge costume parade and then went trick-or-treating through one of the college buildings.

Grace's class (plus Grant) with the school librarian. Seated next to Grace is her best friend, Shelby Anne.

Grant didn't mind missing his nap to join the party. He got to cover himself in cupcakes and play with lots of new toys. That night was the Church Fall Festival. They had a chili cook off, activities for the kids and, of course, a trunk or treat. There was an icy, angry wind that night. I think it was the quickest trunk-or-treat in history. The kids still made out like bandits in the candy department and loved using the trick-or-treat bags their Grandma Sandy made them.

Halloween night, the kids got their costumes back on to hand out candy. Later Cori took them around to a few of our neighbors. We ate home made pizza, had ninja fights in the kitchen, and watched Monsters vs. Aliens with the kids. After the kids were asleep Cori and I got under a blanket and watched Van Helsing.

We got to do some other fun Halloween things this month. Our friends, Sarah and Katie, brought over a haunted gingerbread house to decorate with the kids.

We also got some fun Halloween books. The kids' favorite was Can You See What I See? On a Scary Scary Night. It is a book of picture puzzles. There are dozens of hidden objects to find in each of the spooky pictures. Almost every night this last week, the kids would bunch around the book with Cori the moment he got home from work. Hope yours was a happy Halloween too!

halloween 2006

call me opportunistic

Last Friday, I took advantage of Cori's offer to take a half day at work so we could go on an extended and overdue date. We went to Rockford where we did some Christmas shopping, went out to dinner, attended a Stake choir rehearsal, and then went out for shakes with some friends.

On Saturday, I took advantage of a break in the rain and Cori's presence at home to take an afternoon run through our neighborhood. The last month on the treadmill has softened me to street running. Between the pavement and the hilly terrain, I was one sore chica come Sunday. There are only a couple of weeks until our last 5K for the year... gotta get out there more often. (But it is so chilly!)

Then on Sunday, we took advantage of the sunshine once more by snapping pictures at the park. We've had so much rain lately, the leaves are very quickly being pummeled from the trees. I couldn't go another day without some pictures. We invited friends to come along so as to get a picture or two with our little family together.

Yesterday, I took advantage of the fact the the fridge was empty to bleach it down before restocking it.

Then, I took advantage of the missionaries' company at dinner to make loads of Cafe Rio food. So good.

Today, I plan on taking advantage of Grant's newly returned appetite to send everything I can into his tiny tummy. The poor guy has had all kinds of reasons not to eat lately. But this morning we seem to be in the clear- and he is hungry. For breakfast he had two pieces of cheese toast, half of an apple, a sippy of milk, the last half of my yoplait, and a yogurt of his own. This is roughly equivalent to half of what he has been eating in an entire day.