Letting things go

Tonight for brownies we went caroling in a very nice neighborhood of colonial homes. There were many nicely decorated homes looking perfect for the holidays. The host of the evening is a decorator herself and had lavish decor and fancy holiday things everywhere. A feast for the eyes. This year I have let the esthete in me relax a little and told the kids to decorate the tree while I baked in the kitchen. They did it together without a fuss and the only guidance given was to 'space things out' When it's dark and the lights are on it still looks lovely. But there are no other ornaments than the ones the kids have been given by Santa over the years. No theme other than 'omnium gathurum' (hodge podge). Paper colored decorations with pipe-cleaner for hangers adorn the very front and center space. Soccer playing Santa is actually on his head. Not sure how N managed that one. I will admit that there is an inner voice that creeps up every now and then saying "go decorate that tree better" but there are too many other pressing matters at hand and I am stretched too thin this year. I can't even get the laundry done or the bills paid. So why am sitting here blogging you ask? Good question- to which I have no good answer other than I feel a sense of connection and fulfillment when blogging, and I don't have to find those hooky-things to do this.

I found myself looking back to our house hunting days of last summer tonight as well- thinking 'why did we overlook this street when we looked for housing?' Probably it was too 'spensive... as Ricky (aka T) would say. (We pretend to be Ricky and Lucy Ricardo sometimes when it comes to money matters).

Then I was reminded how much worse we could have done when I looked over these gems (from houses we did look at) in my digital photo album.







I am glad that after all I was enough of an esthete to refuse to make due with valor raised wallpaper of half naked women in the main level bathroom. Sheesh!

We have a nice, yet unpretentious home for which I am grateful. And someday I hope to improve things in the kitchen....

Morning Blues

This morning Baby Girl has the blues. She woke up doing one of her favorite things actually. She put on a pair of socks. She doesn't just put them on any old way. She pulls them up as high as one possibly can. The likes them high on the thigh if possible. So you can imagine her happy pleasure when she found how high a pair of Big Girls socks on her could go today. Next she went for some of Big Girl's sandals. The ones with a slight cork heel. Big Girl commented that she shouldn't be wearing these because they make her trip. I decided not to fight with my nearly two year old girl and let her take her chances in them for the morning. During the morning's flurry to get kids ready for school Little Girl actually did take a few spills in the heels. For reals! (just rhyming). But alas, busy mom still wasn't as much into safety as I was into getting kids out the door in a hurry. Plus taking them off at this point would mean tantrum time, something I didn't feel we needed to get into right now. Good thing she's so close to the floor I told myself. I did ask her to take off the big shoes and she determinedly screeched "NO!"

So there we were at the top of our split level foyer ready for morning prayer before leaving to pick up our carpool girl up the street, when I saw it coming. Baby Girl was headed for the steps in her heels. Luckily Both Little Boy and I caught her in time before another fall this season. She did start wailing out of fright or disruption. And she didn't really stop crying for several minutes. However at the end of this ordeal she did something we all found delightful. Having no kleenex handy to wipe her eyes free of tears, she reached into my purse and found a receipt from Target and wiped her eyes on each side. And now as I post this she sits by me with lunch in front of her, and a post-sleep look on her face, seeming completely at a loss for what to do next. "Would you like me to rock you?" "NO!" "Would you like some TV?" "NO!" "Would you like a hug?" "NO!" "Would you like a story?" "NO!" "What would you like?" "NO!"

Maybe a pair of longish socks and some high heel sandals... Dare I ask?

Christmas Letter on the Scrapping Table

Just so you know this attempt never made the cut, so there is no spoiler alert needed for those of you who actually get our Christmas card.  As is our usual, I try then T says 'nice try' and comes up with something way better.  This version is good enough for the blog though- and hey, it did take me a whole 15 min to write- so now no time is wasted!  Enjoy : )

Christmas letter attempt #1: Milestones

Well hello folks. It’s been a crazy year at our home and we just can’t wait to share every detail with you. Let’s start with the day Baby Girl uttered her first words. She looked up at me and said, “I love Mom.” Then Little Boy lost 3 teeth in one day. He likes to pull them himself. Big girl got a new bike this year and it wasn’t even pink. Big Boy started High School and ran Xcountry. Middle Boy has started wearing cologne and- WAIT I interrupt the writing of this letter to make a serious announcement. Big Girl just came up to me and told me that Little Girl did pee pee on the potty for the first time- she is not yet 2! Could this be our Christmas miracle I have been praying for? Big Girl says she took care of it for me, no evidence in sight. Sometimes Big Girl likes to tell me things for the shock and awe effect and truth isn’t actually necessary every time…. Hmm. I am gonna choose to believe. Because that is what Christmas is about. Believing.

Christmas letter attempt #2 Poetry

Twas 22 nights before Christmas and all through the suite
Many creatures were stirring for something to eat.
A rustle can be heard from the pantry beneath
I wonder if I will find my favorite wreath (and hang it up today)…
Mom should make some dinner before scouts tonight
Instead she is typing by very dim light.
T’s in Iraq now bundled up in his CHU (pronounced choo, stands for cruddy housing unit)
Tomorrow he will have to find something to do.
We love and appreciate our Daddy dear
In March or April he’ll magically appear (after a long airplane ride).
So here’s hoping I make it without much of a fight (with my teenagers)
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas letter attempt #3 'Jus gettin her dun'

N 14yrs- Ran track this year; learning to do things like saw the end of Christmas trees; Likes Homestar; Sometimes angry; Plays violin;
E 12yrs- Got the priesthood; made a good friend; helps his mom; loves candy. Is calm most of the time; Walks to school; Handsome;
D 9yrs- Very smart; firey personality; takes good care of Little Girl; likes to be silly; Loves the dog; Very capable; Started the violin; Believes in things;
A 5yrs- Has a love/hate relationship with Kindergarten; Loves her mom; An artist; Rides a bike (not pink but red!); Makes up songs; Has a testimony; Puts goldfish crackers in a drink of water as a snack. (Just happened- not kidding).
E 23 months- Got stitches the week dad left; Started talking; Gives long kisses on the mouth; Smells great after a bath; Has enough hair now for pigtails; Everyone dotes on E;

Best Wishes From our Family to Yours!

Joy to Everyone

CLICK HERE

Letter from Hubby

Kelly,

Dearest Friend. I hope this email finds you well rested and happy. I hope you had a good morning with the kids. As I write this it is about 2am on the 11th of December (your time). It has been 2 months today since I left you and the children standing on the walk, watching me go. It seems like much, much longer than that. I've included a picture of that event from my (Little Boy's) camera that Dave took. I don't know if you've been following any of the email on my AKO (army) account thats been coming through but the commander here has approved my tour curtailment (recall that my orders say I'll be here for 1 year.) Walter Reed sent them a memo officially stating that they were sending Dr. H to replace me. That's really good news. I don't think he has his orders yet, so I don't know yet when I expect to leave here. Hopefully that's something I'll find out in the coming weeks though it may be a bit longer.
I'm doing OK. I have to fight to keep myself from feeling completely marginalized by the Army. I've been here at COP Z for about 1 week and I've seen all of 4 patients. These were for basic things like diarrhea, runny nose, etc. One of the locals brought in an 18 month-old after she drank motor oil. There was nothing I could do except reassure them and tell them to go to the local hospital. She'll probably be fine except for some indigestion. The day they came in was Ede (?sp) which is one of the holiest days of the year for muslims. They claimed that no hospitals in all of Iraq were open. I found this highly suspect and said so. I suggested a few hospitals in the area to which they said they would not go because the father was Sunni and feared for his security. They took the baby and left. There was nothing I could do in my little aid station.
So how do I spend my spare time you ask? Well, you'll be glad to know that each morning I start by making my bed. And I think of you each time I do. It really gives me a sense of pride and well-being. After that, I get dressed. I usually then lace up my boots (which I quite look forward to). You may be asking yourself if lacing of the boots is not part of getting dressed. Well, some may consider it so but I take so much satisfaction in the lacing of my boots (for what else have I to do?) that it's much of like the dessert of getting dressed. I usually then take a breakfast of cold cereal (raisin bran crunch mostly - eaten with soy milk as there is no cow milk available). Next I start reading. Usually I start with the Book of Mormon, then Jesus the Christ or another churchy book. I may listen to my ipod for a while after that. I then try to do some professional reading (neuro-ophth textbook). By this time, lunch has rolled around. For lunch I have an MRE or some other pre-made delicacy. After lunch I may try to read for pleasure but often find myself in need of a nap due the vigorous schedule of the morning. In the afternoon I may run on the treadmill or do some more reading. I also usually shower in the mid-afternoon because by then it's warm enough outside to counter the physiologic effects of an ice-cold shower. Sometime throughout the day I try to check the internet for email, news, etc. I do more reading until dinner at 6pm. By around 7pm, I start checking the phones to find one available. If there's not one available, I may wait until very late to call you. By about 9pm, I'm starting to think about turning in and write a few lines in my journal. I usually watch 1 or 2 episodes of the West Wing before turning in for the night. I try not to watch TV/Movies during the day because I have a tendency to go overboard - as evidenced the other day when I watched most of the 7 parts of the John Adams series in 1 day (it was uplifting though - very good). There are, of course, exceptions to this rule and sometimes I indulge in 3 or 4 consecutive episodes of the West Wing.
I'm struggling to find purpose and meaning for my being here. At the same time, I'm glad the combat tempo is slow enough that the soldiers are not getting hurt (for the most part). I feel strongly that the Lord is aware of me and I hope to be of service in some way. I keep telling myself that it's by the small and simple things that great things are brought to pass.
Well, my dear. I love thee. I truly hope you are doing well. I miss you more than words can say. I can't wait to hold you in my arms, kiss your beautiful lips, hear your cheerful laugh, and see your bright smiling face. I can't wait to be reunited with the children as well. The words "I'm tumming mommy" often run through my mind. I'm sure I will hardly recognize the baby. But I get ahead of myself. I still have 2/3 of the deployment ahead of me. One can hope, though right?
Take care sweet heart. Tell the kids I love them.

Troya

Whoopsy Daisies

A little accident happened outside our house today. I had some yard workers come to clean out the gutters and one of the employees made a bad judgement call and jumped from the roof down onto our porch covering that looks like this



So that it now has a hole in it like this...




He apologized and asked that I not hold his employer responsible. That it was his fault... nice of him eh? Although he didn't sound so nice before when he was cursing and arguing with his boss outside our kitchen window. He also mentioned words like 'dry-rot' and 'needing a replacement anyways'

That's when my sneakster radar went on and I thought I might be going for a ride somewhere (he taking me that is). He also said that he wasn't covered under his employer's insurance and that he thought he'd broken a finger. This was just him trying to distract me- his finger looked fine. Under his breath he mentioned that his boss did tell him to get up there and he was the one taking forever to come and get him after the ladder fell. Hmm...

So now what I am wondering is this. Although Mikey promised to come help fix it for us in the spring, do you think I will actually ever see that come true? And do you think I should get a quick estimate on the roof before paying for the yard work?

Honey, if you are reading this you wanna weigh in here?

Matt- if you read this post you wanna tell me what one of these porch covers might cost? Just give me the Provo Ut cost and I'll adjust for the east coast.  You do that and I will forgive you for making me fall that one time at Classic Skate.  

Thanks
KT

A with a Camera

This is what happens when you let your five year old play with the camera for an afternoon. Interesting perspective I think.

A favorite Pony



That inspired a drawing



Where the magic happens




After a closer look at my foot



Don't mess with Big Girl! She's a Real Wild One!



This photo shoot is dedicated to our Dad, T

the jolly: thumpety thump

I just thought this was worth reading.  Have a nice laugh....

the jolly: thumpety thump

Writing the yearly letter

It was ‘Almost Heaven in 2007’. Now we are ‘Doing Great in 2008’. Can’t wait to be ‘Feelin fine in 2009’. But seriously- this years’ is a hard Christmas letter to write. The year of 2008 has had its ups and downs. Chronologically speaking the year started out great. We were thriving in Iowa. The winter was bleak but the sun finally came out to greet us. Troy finished up his fellowship in Iowa City and we got our next assignment to Washington DC with Troy being assigned as staff at his place of residency, Walter Reed. So we loaded up the truck and we moved to Ole DC. Capital Hill that is (no swimming pools or movie stars- I will be quitting that now). We moved in July and then in September the news came. Troy would be deploying to Iraq for 6 months. Sigh! So now we are about 1/3 the way through his being gone, and I have no one to nag about writing the Christmas letter. Not a problem you say? Wrong you would be! Like Yoda I am speaking....

Here is our yearly card completion ritual. I orchestrate the taking of photos. Every other year the adults are featured in with the kids. This year is an exception. Since T was leaving we had another nice photo this year. I pick out the cards, buy the stamps, make up the list and then- want that monkey off my back asap so I can enjoy the letters coming in knowing that they got mine first and therefore have to comment in their card about how great it was to hear from me. This never really happens because Troy feels that nothing motivates his creativity in Christmas card writing better than the 11th hour deadline. I can write a pretty good letter or even the occasional poem that is acceptable (to me) and he will shoot it down because it just isn’t quite what he was going for. But he won’t know what he was going for until around Dec 18th or so. Now we are apart for Christmas and that is sad, but there is no one to bicker about the card with. Sometimes there is a silver lining-less bickering.

So please forgive if our letter’s not up to standard this year (the pressure your yearly compliments add to our plate!) and know that I had complete creative control and accept complete criticism and blame. Troy says he is going to write a letter this year from Iraq and email it to me, but without me to nag him- I don’t really see that happening…. Does his reading my blog count as nagging? I’ve done the first 4 steps- it’s your turn sweetie. Turn on the letter writing juice and pretend it’s Dec 20th.

On a side note I have never and most likely never will use the headlines 'Doing Great in 2008', 'Feeling fine in 2009' and so on and so forth.

Pocket Treasures

Well it's that time of year again. The time where your fleece or denim jacket just isn't going to cut it for warmth outside. So I got out my parka that is starting to look kinda sad (hint to Santa), and found these items in my pockets. When you move as much as we do this is a serious trip down memory lane. And also a sad reminder that I use my pockets as trash receptacles. I do it with my pants pockets as well. Perhaps I learned this trick at 5th grade camp. They told us to 'sock it in your pocket' as opposed to throwing our laffy tafffy wrappers out there on the planet's surface to decompose at shockingly slow rates. So when I go about straightening up rooms I often sock it in my pocket. At the end of the day, should I remember to empty before bed I can have a pretty interesting collection on my dresser. At which point I could start a whole new organization process, putting away Legos and Polly pocket dresses, etc. Or depending on my state of tiredness, I will just head for the trash, and hope no one looks in there as I put some piece of trash on top to cover up my crime. It's all so deviant, and lazy, and efficient. (more on lazy vs efficiency: conversations with my teenager in a future post).

Well as I look over these stashed away items of my 2007 winter in Iowa City I am reminded how much warmer 2008 winter is bound to be comparatively. I am sad to know that I can no longer go to Fareway to shop for groceries. A store with the best meat dept and customer service in the land. I am reminded that I did in fact get that print I had been eyeing at Hobby Lobby, even though they were out the first time I shopped the sale. I am also made aware of the fact that we aren't taking our kids on individual dates like we used to, where each kid always preferred to go to the new Sonic that opened up on the Coralville 'Strip' (like the Vegas Strip but with less traffic, lights and hookers). I also ask myself if it's okay to eat a year old chocolate kiss and why did it survive in the first place? I think I will leave the Cheerios alone. And THERE is that missing sock! I can't wait to try on my brown church-coat and hunt for treasure!