Las Begas

My kids think that "Las Begas" (as Brynn says it) is the coolest place on earth. I can't say that I concur, but I think it is so wonderful that they had so much fun on our little family vacation! I think their love of Las Vegas has a lot to do with the grandeur of everything. Even Brynn was talking about the princess castle (the Excalibur) and the water (the Bellagio) and the M&M's (the M&M factory) and the sinking pirate ship (The pirate show at Treasure Island...p.s. that is not really a kid friendly show, unless you want your kids to be interested in pole dancing) for days after we got home. But I really think it was mostly due to this...

Fun hotel + Amazing Beach Entry Pool + warm sunshine + time with Daddy =

HAPPY KIDDOS

It was truly magical to spend so much time together playing, even if I did look like a beached whale in my maternity swimsuit. I was a major camera slacker since Seth was in his conference most of the days and I was on my own with the kids, but I do have a few more pictures. Hopefully I will get around to editing/posting them soon!

divas...room for one more?

My girls are divas.

I had Chloe get dressed in a long sleeved shirt and jeans today and she came out of her room fully accessorized...it was raining buckets, but I guess it was still too bright inside.

And yesterday, Brynn was playing outside with the big kids while I made dinner. They snuck popsicles (thus the chocolate face) and then she decided to pick my flowers. Chloe came in to tattle notify me of the misdeed and Brynn picked another plant out of the ground just to be a stinker. So I made her take a time out. She rubbed the fake tears out of her eyes, pouted her lip just so, and looked at me, just to make sure I had noticed the signs that she wasn't happy about it.

I am 38 weeks. 6 days ago, I was dialated to a 2 1/2, partially effaced and the peanut had aready dropped (less heartburn, more potty trips, still no room for air in my lungs). The next day I lost my mucous plug (sorry for the TMI). I have been awoken at 4 am to time contractions 2 minutes apart for 40 minutes and then stood up to go gather my things and the contractions went away. I have taken LONG walks, pushing Brynn in the stroller, up steep hills...nothing. I have done squats repeatedly...nothing (but sore leg muscles). I have taken all the kids to Costco twice in one week...nothing but sporadic contractions. I have cleaned the house...and cleaned the house again...and vacuumed...and picked up toys...and done dishes...nothing...not even a clean house.

Despite my Doctor thinking I probably wouldn't make it to my next appointment (which is tomorrow), this baby girl is proving to have a mind of her own...sounds like she takes after her big sisters. Is there really enough room in this house for one more DIVA?

and they all lived happily ever after

This week marked graduation and the first week back to Seth's normal work schedule (3 - 12 hour shifts and 4 days off - heaven). He worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and we had him home Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In essence, I have had a perma-grin on my face since Thursday and a whole lot of mental reality checks wondering if I am dreaming. So many pieces of the puzzle are still working themselves out: house still for sale, interviews still happening, waiting for the word about whether I get to join Seth at his conference, etc. BUT the only thing that really matters to us right now is time. Much needed time together as a family. Time to play and work and dream together. We have been filling our days with fun and adventure...just like it should be! In four short days, we have had picnic lunches, fed the ducks, played on the slip n' slide, planted our veggie garden, weeded the flower beds, ridden bikes and roasted hot dogs on the fire pit. We have been grilling corn on the cob and watching movies, piling into our bed in the morning for snuggles, tickles, and soaking in the happiness of spending time together. We have colored with sidewalk chalk and blown bubbles and given lots of hugs and kisses.

Even though we haven't even gotten to the part about enjoying the fruits of the labor of the past few years, we are enjoying the sweeter fruits of appreciating each other more than we ever could have before. To me, happily ever after isn't a state of perfection, it is a state of love and I am so happy to be enjoying our happily ever after!

I hope that you are enjoying the sweetness of your own Happily Ever After on this beautiful Mother's Day!

Light and Love

edited to add: apparently the quote I saw on my friend's blog is only half by Martin Luther King, Jr.. The first sentence is actually from a woman who teaches English to middle schoolers in Japan. (thank you to my brother Michael for sharing this article with me so I could set the record straight...and double thanks to him for FINALLY being my friend on Facebook! Woot Woot!) Regardless of who said it, the quote(s) still ring true and give me even more hope that many regular people out there share the same ideals as I. 


The death of Bin Laden is a little unsettling for me. Poor Seth has to hear my rants about it every time mention is made or I hear new information, so I turn to you, blog-readers, to share a little piece of my heart on this matter. Up front I wish to say that I am so thankful to be an American citizen. To be represented by men and women who are fighting to make the world a better place, to defend our homes, our life, our liberties and our families...and ultimately to bring peace to an unsettled world. I am grateful for the sacrifices that have been made on every front to rid the world of a man who chose to dedicate his life to mass-murdering innocent souls and I believe that the world is a safer place without him in it. I applaud our military and our President and the people who paved the way for these events to unfold.

On the other hand, I am disturbed at the way we as a nation have reacted. (To be fair, I have been trying to steer clear of reading/watching too much about it because it tends to cause me stress and frustration. It could just be select groups of people or the media portrayal of the reaction, or it could be a small representation from the limited amount that I have heard and read, so the following thoughts could be completely out of proportion. All, I can speak to is what I have seen and heard and the feelings that it stirs up within me.) It is uneasy for me to celebrate death (not that I am uncomfortable with death in general, but the rejoicing over ridding the world of someone) and to say that a life for a life (or in this case many many lives) is justice. I know that these feelings come from my own understanding of life and my religious beliefs, but I believe that we are looking to a false source for justice. Does that mean I think we should not have killed Bin Laden - no. That was clearly the right choice and it would have been crazy, inhumane and irresponsible for us to let him continue inflicting terrorism on innocent people! I just wish we would "celebrate" the positive repercussions and not "rejoice in his death" as the headlines read. I wish we could celebrate the increase of hope that peace will eventually be won and that good will triumph over evil. I wish we could celebrate the people whose sacrifices to protect unknown people in a foreign land have not been in vain. I wish we could celebrate freedom and acceptance and equality and respect for diversity and all the values that we have been fighting for. I just wish we could make it more about the lessons and the hope for the future than revenge and justice and the death of an evil man.

I did not lose a loved one in 9-11 or as a casualty in the war and have wondered if I am insensitive or if I am alone in my discomfort with our reaction, but today, I saw this quote on the blog of a friend of mine and it rang so true to me.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." -  Jessica Dovey "Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

I believe that there is only one source that we can look to for justice and healing and hope and peace and that source is God. I am grateful for the testimony I have that regardless of the circumstances we face here on Earth, that there is a higher power, a greater plan and a balance of justice that will be met in the life after this one. So, I am striving to drive out darkness with light and hate with love in every aspect of my life. I am humbled to know that so many valiant individuals now and throughout history have done the same with such influence and such dignity despite all odds! I love the message of light and love that comes through faith in God!

owies

Brynnie fell down the stairs at Grandma Tate's and scraped up her little nose. 

Even all scraped up I think she is darn cute!

sissies

With all the fighting, feistiness, drama and meltdowns these little ladies stir up around here, 

moments like this make it all worth it!

egg hunt

Just wanted to share a little Easter loveliness from our Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Colleen's house...

Oh how much I love these littles!

Dreaming

Seth's capstone was declared "passed" on Friday and now everything is officially complete for graduation. I am so proud of him for this huge accomplishment...I know I say that a lot, but it is true! I got to attend his final presentation and he did such an amazing job!

We have a couple of interviews coming up this week and they are with clinics that just feel like they would be a good fit for us, so every night before we go to sleep, we talk about the places that we could explore and the adventures we could have, the sights that we will be able to see and the vacations that we can't wait to plan. We talk about the future and the possibilities and we look up houses and flights and driving times to various destinations. We have talked often of our dreams, but now that school is really done, each night as we talk and smile and reason and imagine, it all becomes real. Those dreams of "when we are done with school and get a job" are just a month or so away! Sure we are both exhausted from staying up way past our bed time every night, but it is our time to dream together and it is time that I cherish. 

I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. This new adventure is scary. Leaving everything we have ever known is scary. The unknown is scary. Moving to another state with a brand new baby is scary. Selling the house we have called home for almost 7 years and raised all of our babies in is scary. Leaving familiy and dear dear friends is scary.

Yet, I am excited for the adventure! I am excited to redefine "normal" in a new place, surrounded by new people and new experiences. I am excited to take the kids on adventures and explore our new surroundings together. I am excited for days off, for vacation time and especially for having Seth home for dinner most nights! I am excited to be able to do the things that have been on our list for years! And I am excited to keep dreaming up a new list with my best friend and companion!

Whatever comes our way, we are excited to face it together!

 

photo by my friend Rachel of Beyond Bliss Photography