The Significance of Four. My 4th Baby's Birth Story.

The Significance of Four. My 4th Baby's Birth Story.

LA Times article: Midwives Deliver

Loved this well-written article by Jennifer Block. Also, loved that it was published in the LA Times! Yeah for midwives!

Until next time.....

you know you live in a small town when....

When you go to the POST OFFICE 5 days before Christmas and there is NO ONE in line! I mean WHAT??? I was honestly in shock and thought the entire outside world had come crashing down. When I asked where everybody was while peeling my jaw off the floor, they said it was so dead at the moment because it was still early, and it's raining. Raining? So, what do people think, they are going to melt? Oh honestly. This is pretty funny to me, especially when I think about standing at the VP post office on any given day, much less around Christmas and there is a line out the door. Typical wait time is no less than 20 minutes. I can remember putting Christmas cards in the VP mail box and you could literally take your hand and grab people's mail out of the giant blue mail box because it was that stuffed! Man, where am I and how did I get here again??

For this I will giggle and leave it at that! This is a perk of living in a small town.

Spotlight On...

My Mom.

I did not forget about you today. I'm typing my thoughts out now, as I finally have a quiet moment after a bustling day that was supposed to be a little less busy. One child proves to be much more work than three....

Happy 53rd Birthday Mom! I'm saying how old you are, because you are so NOT old!! For a mother of a 32 year old and grandmother to 3, you are one hot diamond girl! So then, on your birthday - 3 things in your honour.

1. You are hands down the Queen of surprises! NOBODY pulls off a surprise like you do. You have an uncanny knack for gathering details to perfectly execute your plan and that includes getting the right people to do the right things at the right times. Everybody who knows you, loves this quality of yours. When it comes to balloon serenades at work, or planning a 21st birthday in Las Vegas (thank you again) you get the gold! I love the excitement in your eyes when you have the most delicious idea, and you decide to share it with me. Your ambition and drive are contagious.
   
2. I'm not sure you realize the extent of the legacy you have helped to carry out when you embrace tradition. I will always appreciate you carrying on a birthday party for baby Jesus every Christmas, even when we got older, or wish candles on the Christmas plates. These are nice things that add to the character of a family - and ones that I hold dear and carry on with my kids.
   
3. You have eyes that sparkle. Thanks for sharing them with me! Let those eyes truly be the windows of your soul and let the great qualities of your soul show to those around you! I love how you wish for snow on your birthday each year. I don't know what it's doing in VP at this moment, but after a nearly 60 degree day yesterday, it looks like a snow globe here, right now. As I was driving home tonight from a Christmas party with my mom's group... toasty warm car, cheery Christmas carols playing, my 4-wheel drive secured while slick, deserted roads surround me, it was almost like, despite the 400 miles between us, you were right there in the car with me enjoying the scenery on your birthday - a winter wonderland, just the way you like and always wish for!

I love you!

-Christine

The Elf On The Shelf

I just got wind of this adorable idea from Renee who flew South and stayed there about 6 years ago. Evidently, this is a very popular thing to do down there.

A little elf arrived at our house one week ago. He was secured to our living room valance with a letter tied around him that read:

Dear Christian, Kika and Tula,

I am leaving with you one of my very special elves. He will stay at your house to watch to make sure you are all being good before I come visit you on Christmas Eve.

I will warn you that sometimes my elves are naughty when they are away from the workshop up at the North Pole.

You are NOT to touch the elf, only talk to him.

I will pick him up on Christmas Eve, so please take care of him while he is with you.

See You Soon,

Santa Claus

The kids have been having a blast looking to see what the elf did last night while they were asleep. The first night our little elf teepee'd our living room (fun times!). He was hanging upside down in the Christmas tree the other night and had left the kids a treat near where he was positioned. He is always in a different spot each day, sometimes he brings treats, sometimes he leaves a mess!! The hardest thing about this elf on the shelf idea was actually finding an elf around here. I went to Hallmark, Joanne Fabrics, KMart, Big Lots, Wal-Mart and the Dollar General, all fruitless efforts. Finally on a last pathetic whim, I walked through the Christmas aisle at Lowe's where one of the little Misfits from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer hung on one of the shelving units all by his lonesome. He'd have to do for now. If you'd like to adopt this idea, I'll save you some legwork - you can purchase an Elf on the Shelf kit online, or I saw on their website that Mulberry Lane has them as well.

Initially, I loved this idea, but was feeling a little bad that there was nothing about this clever elf and his harmless tricks that had to do with the true meaning of Christmas. Then it occurred to me that I was after all in charge, and I could control what the elf did. So, tonight, when all kids are fast asleep, our elf is going to leave a note about Jesus (using an upside down candy cane to make a "J") and how He was the ultimate gift onto us. I'm going to prominently display the manger with the elf and the note alongside to make sure the focus is where it belongs! Ah-ha!

http://www.elfontheshelf.com/

Spotlight on....

My Dad.

....who is at the Bears game right now freezing his arse off. Hope these memento's warm you up when you read this later! In your honour, 3 things...








Dad, you are truly the most selfless person I know. It is never "all about you" because you are too busy making sure everybody else has what they need and your home is taken care of. I admire this about you. Your humble spirit makes your personality and good looks even more appealing to the people around you. Be assured that these qualities never go unnoticed, they win you enormous respect.

You have a 1000 watt smile that lights up a room! You gave it to me, and I passed it on to your grandkids. You are a tried & true leader, even though you may not think so. You are stable, head of household, oldest of 6 siblings, loved by all who meet you. Recognize the face in the picture? Before I got married and moved out of the house, on with my new life & new husband, I stole your little drummer boy ornament (pictured above) because he was yours from your childhood. It was a piece of you I could take with me. I'm sure he was from nineteen forty-something and he is sure showing his age, but I promise you I will keep him safe for as long as I have him in my possession. When I can't be with you during Christmastime, he stands in for you, as your proxy, until next time.

A careless afternoon in the Spring of 2001 will be a memory I will hold dear to my heart for eternity. I had so much fun with you spitting cherry seeds over the 5th floor balcony of Frank's Lisle apartment while unsuspecting bystanders smoked cigarettes underneath as we giggled in silence. I will always remember the smell of that afternoon, how the sun was shining in a cloudless sky and the random pieces of cotton drifted through the air while we listened to some soft music. If there aren't a hundred cherry trees down there by now I'd be surprised! I love you. Happy Birthday!

My Dad and grandfather share a birthday today. Happy Birthday to you too Papa! I miss and love you!

allowing the creative juices to flow

So I have been writing! I was asked to write something about fall for my MOPS group. I took the opportunity to write about a day long forgotten... probably by most but not by me. I was in about 6th grade and was involved with my school's Brownie group. Our leader Rose, hosted a taffy apple making night at her home. It was a really fun time so I decided to let it resurface and give Mothers Of Preschoolers some tips on how to make home made taffy apples, or as they were called we ordered them, Affy Tapples.

Then I was asked by my mama*ology group to write an article on natural toys. You can view it here. I'd really love to get some other thoughts and opinions out there, especially because mine are of the path less chosen, and I think it might make for some interesting reading.... so stay tuned.