Thursday, January 1, 2015

On the Brink of '15


Well Hoot Dang!


Somehow we happened upon the brink of 2015, and I realized it has been nearly a year since I have touched base with this blog.
A year. As in 365 days since I have found the time to sit down and reflect on this crazy little family story we created. It is not that I haven't thought about sitting down and writing all the comings and goings of 2014. It is just, well, I haven't. Not yet, at least. And I figure now is the best time to start - or re-start. So here we go...

2014, aah, what a good year!



It is hard to believe I survived a year that brought me two-year old twins and an overly active  and inquisitive 4 year old! I think I have questioned my maternal instincts hourly. But somehow we made it thru. Somehow Trips to the grocery store became even more difficult with the introduction of those God-forsaken Race car carts, a simple 'bite out to eat' were bogged down with 3 high chairs, bags of crayons, toys, and sippies. Not to mention the major increase in tipping since you little rug rats started eating table food! Most restaurants had to call a HAZMAT team upon our departure! ...and then there was the screaming - the blood-curdling-no-holds-barred-2-year-old-temper-tantrum times two (ok 3)! I am not sure how any of us made it out of those alive! But we did. It was definitely a year to remember - even at times we would rather forget!

My best big boy Isaac turned 5 this year. I am not sure how that happened so quickly! One day you were Daddy's little shadow who lived for Cailou and then suddenly you became this big kid with a (unfortunate) love of all things guns, camo, and army! Of course the little baby with the big mouth just grew into a big boy with a bigger mouth! Your questions and quips seem to catch me of guard daily! I love that about you! 2015 will be a big year for you! We will say goodbye to Cookie Corner ( :( )We start Kindergarten (gasp!!!) and we will start to watch you (finally) embrace your role as Big Brother. It is a role designed perfectly for you - and I am so glad Lucy and Jake have you in their corner. You have a very special gift of gab Isaac, and I hope you learn to use it to your advantage one day! It is so fascinating to see you all fall into the sibling hierarchy you all have created. I love sitting back and watching you all develop these bonds that are completely independent of any real plan I could have ever imagined for any of you! You are all growing into your own roles of this family and it gives me great pride to know that your Daddy and I have a hand in shaping such fine characters!

Oh my Jakers. It is so hard to put into words all the ways you have amazed me in such little time. You and Lucy have gone from my little 'things' to 'little humans' this past year! It just blows me away to look at pictures of how far you have both come! Your independence, your strength, your ability to put a smile on any and every face you come into contact with fills my heart with the purest joy I can imagine.
You are a Rockstar in every way little man. You let nothing stand in your way - and heaven knows you know how to work a crowd! I am so very proud of you Jakey! I wish nothing but the world for you in the coming year! Dare I say 2015 will hold a haircut in your future?....I would rather not say because I think you look perfect, lion mane and all! :)


Lord have Mercy on me Lucy! You are every gray hair I have plucked out of my head and 99.9999% of the tears I have cried alone in a dark closet with a bag of chips and a bottle of wine! When God was handing out Strong Wills my Little girl,  you must have grabbed the whole bag! Oh my Goosey you are everything I want in a Force -to- be- reckoned- with- (grown) daughter, but as a 2year old - you may just be the death of me! Ironically you have taught me so much about patience and independence. And you have taken me to my knees for every time I (pre-kids) had muttered "My kids will never do that!" or "well I would never put up with that if I were a parent" because I guarantee you - you make me put up with it! Unbeknownst to me I also have a "bat-shit-crazy" high level of tolerance for nonsense. If anyone has every seen me try to dress you in anything other than a princess dress they would completely understand. Oh my Big Girl, I can only hope you use your super powers for good and not evil someday! I have no doubt my little "Cray-Cray" will end up exactly where you want to be!

Well I have been at this parenting thing for a whole 5 years now and I can't say that it gets any easier. If this past holiday season is any indication of the future, I can say that time is flying by - and  I don't like it. Not one bit. I constantly find myself stopping in my tracks and reminding myself to take it all in. That these fleeting moments are the ones I will want back. The kisses, the hugs, the tears, the constant "mommy I hold you" wont last for long.  I keep telling
myself to put down the little screen of my phone and enjoy the big picture playing before me. Because that is our goal right? To not lose track of the Big Picture.

As one year ends and a new begins we are reminded of the constant cliches of the New Year's resolutions. As if tomorrow is some magical day that will wipe our slates clean and allow us to begin a new life. I have learned a little secret kiddos - EVERY DAY is that magical day that will allow you to begin a new life. Every morning when you open your sleepy eyes you need to thank God for the chance to do it all again - and make today better than yesterday. 2014 has been a great year for me. Other than the obvious Victories in surviving Motherhood, it has personally been a year of personal Awakening as well.  Earlier this year I had put to bed my angst of living "back in the Valley". I decided to embrace my current spot on the map rather than use it as my anchor. It has been one of the most liberating decisions I have ever made. Sure I still say "I live here for now" when people say "So you're back for good?" but I have to admit I kind of like it where we are at (please don't tell my mother that!). I like knowing people and having that sense of community that you can't get in a big city. I like my house and I love my neighbors and I love knowing my parents still think Dallas is too far to jump in the car and go! ;) I have realized we have a good thing going here - and I am not going to rock the boat....just yet. :)

SO farewell 2014 - you have served us well. We will fondly look back at all you have done for us - the blessings, the triumphs, the tribulations and the memories we have made. We hope for nothing less in the new year. As for you 2015, you have a lot to live up to! We look forward to seeing where our story takes us and the chapter we will write along the way!

Happy New Year my precious little snowflakes! Remember Mommy loves you to the Moon and Back!

Love, Mommy