Beth's rattle and prattle

Friday, October 28, 2011

That's My Brother

So Phil was originally excited about having a baby, but as always the lustre wore off all too quickly.

Phil would ask for a baby sister often times in the beginning, cause he didn't like his brother, but I haven't heard that request in a while.

Now Phil announces "that's my baby brudder, He cries a lot", with great pride.

I have too monitor Phil to make sure he is being gentle, and not using his brother as a Pony (I wish I were making that one up), But Thomas always gets a big smile on his face when his brother comes around and pats or tickles him.

I know this is only the beginning of their brotherhood,

and time that I get to dress them all a like for church on Sunday!!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Thomas, Tommy, Tom Tom, Whatever you call him he's Pretty Darn Cute!!

So Thomas is almost 4 months old, so I thought I would update you with some pictures, and a few tidbits on Thomas.

He is a smiley baby, which is so much more cute because he has a little dimple in his left cheek.

I said in a earlier post he hated having his diaper changed, Now he loves it. He also loves after bath time, when I let him lay on the floor on his towel All Natural. He gets a big smile on his face and wiggles around.

He is all around just too cute!!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Treasure Trove

So the chest was brought back from Africa, intended for Mama, But......

How can Mama deny her little boy a treasure chest, especially...

when suddenly everyday things become TREASURE!!!!

Friday, October 21, 2011

All By Myself

So for those who don't know, I have been a single parent for the last 24 days. Joel and our good friend RC went on a Mission trip to Togo, Africa, to help build roads at a hospital compound, for ABWE.

Joel and RC driving the backhoe is Africa

So I have been alone at home with Phil (3 1/2 years) and Thomas (3 months), which has been a great learning and growing experience. Believe me when I say I have a whole new respect for military wives and single mothers. So I thought I would share with you some things I learned about myself though it all.

I have a awesome family (okay so I already knew that). Nine months ago when I first told Joel that I thought he should go, I knew that I would be okay, because I had an awesome support structure in place. With my Parents , Joel's parents and many siblings and awesome friends in 15 mile radius (some with walking distance), I knew I could count on them to help with support, whether it was a listening ear when I called, Babysitting, or an invite for dinner. My heavenly Father was indeed looking out for me when he put my family in place here.

That being said, My social life is waaay better without Joel. I never had to check with Joel to see if we could go or wait around for him to finish with work, whenever we needed to go, I just packed up the kids and went. I went to a high school football game (haven't been since before Phil was born), the movies twice, and a lovely fundraiser banquet, and again dinner with family and friends.

My good friend Joselyn and I Dressed up for a fundraiser event. (Joselyn is RC wife)

The other thing I learned... I would take up the entire Queen size bed if given the opportunity. I found myself sprawled all over the Bed entering and exiting on either side of it when I needed to get up in the night for the boys. Usually I am pushing Joel off my 1/3 of the bed, telling him to move over, so having the whole bed to myself was quite a treat.

As I say all this I sound like a self-centered, selfish, country socialite, but believe me I am not. I realize as much fun as it was to spend time with family and close friends. I really miss talking to Joel at the end of my day, I miss having someone to share in the decision making of daily life (like should I call the paramedics after a shopping cart with my infant son in it, pins my other son underneath it, and the estimate on the car repairs were a little high, how do we proceed). Our schedule was busy, very busy, and kept me shuttling Phil all around the county, after life in the fast lane, I am ready to have some time in the slow lane with Joel for a while.

While having the bed to myself was nice, I missed having someone to help me with getting up in the night(believe me when I tell you you feel torn when the baby is crying, the little boy needs a snuggle at 3am, cause he was cold and all you want to do is sleep), someone to yell at the dog when it was barking, and help me feel safe at night when funny noises arose.

While getting in the habit of having full and complete meals on the table every night of the week is going to get hard getting used to, I look forward having someone to talk to at the end of the night, to play with the kids while I am getting dinner ready and cleaning up.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Vast Improvement

So I recently turned 30, and reflecting back to my last birthday with a zero in the age, 30 was a vast improvement.

Me 30 years ago!

I say this, because All I remember doing for My 20th birthday was that my sister, and my two best friends Tiffany and Colleen, came over at an ungodly hour, of I'd say 6:30am, woke me up, blindfolded me, and put me into the car and drove to an undisclosed location. The Location was a local coffee shop for breakfast, In my Jammies, no make-up, no hair done. The only thing I was allowed to put on was shoes. Now I am sorry to say there is a picture of this event, but I could not locate it. Believe me I tried.

Joel and I on my 25th Birthday in 2006 (top) and on my 30th birthday 2011.
If I may say on my 25th birthday we had gone to a friends Kegger Party (our first and only), and I was slightly inebriated, not Joel.

So back to my most recent Birthday. So Tommy slept from 10pm 'til 5:30am, then went right back to sleep until 8:30am, (Phillip was at his Grandma's house), so right off the bat the day started out good. Then Joel and I went to Birch bay for Breakfast. We sat and enjoyed a quiet meal over looking the Low Tide. Then We went to the Beauty shop. Where we did a trade off, My mom was there with Phil. She and I were had our hair done, and Joel took Phillip ( I should Mention that my mom and I have birthday's 3 days apart, so we were celebrating hers as well).

Later that evening We all went down to Seattle to enjoy a wonderful meal with our family (minus Older Kiddos) at Sazerak. The food was So Yummy and such a wonderful time. We opened Presents. Then the three Girls, My Mom, sister Maran and I went off to Key arena to See Josh Groban in Concert!! We got there a few minutes late and missed some of the Opener. Then there came an intermission, and Maran and I quickly Jetted to the ladies room. Mom Decided not to go, cause her feet hurt and she didn't want to walk that far. We got back to our seats and told Mom that the Ladies room was really close, just around the corner, So she decided to go. While she was gone My sister and I just sat in our seats, the seats were very high up (almost nose bleed), and there were several Empty seats around us. All of the sudden some gentlemen with the Arena came over and asked Maran and I if we were the only ones in our party? We replied "no there was one more, she was in the restroom". They then asked if we wanted to move down on the floor, in front of the Piano. At this point I started to Hyperventilate. We quickly responded Yes, and were given tickets to sit on the floor.

Me, Maran and Mom in 2001 (top) and Mom, Me and Maran in 2011

Our seats were at the back of the floor section right in front of the mini stage Josh played on when he came out. He played several songs out on this stage and we were like 20 feet away from Josh. Way too Cool!!!

The Night was so amazing. Alas the concert ended and then it was time for the long drive home.

Note: I am sorry I have no pictures from the concert. they are all on my Phone and I not very good. Sorry, if I had A) known I could bring my camera and B) known I would have had awesome seats, I would have brought it.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

My apologies

OK I know that I have been hit and miss with Blogging lately (yeah I know way more miss), but if I can explain that our Summer has Been Crazy!! When I say crazy, that is without the new little Thomas Being added to the mix.

With Parades to be in and company picnics, Prayer Vigils at church, trips to Saskatchewan, anniversaries, Big Birthdays, Shooting parties, and trying to paint the House and Get Joel ready for his trip to Africa coming up. We have been Very busy.

But I am going to relay you a funny little story. This happened Just Yesterday, Phillip and I made a batch of snicker doodle cookies.
Later in the Day Phillip asked me "can I have another cookie Mama?"
Me: " Yes Bring one for mama as well"
Phillip went and got two cookies and went back in the living room a minute later he said "Mama I think I ate your cookie"
Me: "how many cookies did you eat?"
Phillip: "just one"
Me: "what is that cookie in your hand" Referring to the uneaten cookie in his right hand.
Phillip: "that's MY cookie"
Me: "well Just give that one to Mama"
Phillip: "No it's Mine, I'll go get you another cookie"

That is when I quickly made a interference play between the cookie jar and Phillip, and was able to ascertain My cookie.