It's About Time

When you have to use two attempts to enter your password to log in to blogger, it's time. When your child's photo doesn't look your child today, it's time. When your baby was nearly bald the last time you posted, by golly, it's time. It's about time I take pause, reflect on the life I lead, and allocate time to documenting the chaos joys and challenges of life.

Where has the time gone? To that chaotic life, I suppose. You settle into life as a mom of three, working outside of home, working inside of the home, effectively managing barely juggling the family calendar, getting involved with PTA. . .did I just say involved with PTA?? Have I become that Mom? You get hooked on FB, and spend your time there instead of here, reading about others lives instead of posting about your own. And well, on occasion, you do 3 loads of laundry a day, and SLEEP. Yes, occasionally, one sleeps. I sleep. Not much, but I do.

You begin to create a to do bucket list. You realize life is short. You have grand plans to do it all! Having lost my mom at a young age, I'm always preparing for my kids to lose me, so I want to make sure everything, and I mean everything is documented.

Organizing the kids photos since birth or arriving home. You create folders on your hard drive and begin to weed through over thousands of images. You aspire not only to select those special photos of each child, but you want to make sure each child has the same number of photos, and heaven forbid you use photos straight out of the camera these days. On the bucket list - EDIT/Post-Process Photos. Right. . .

I can't even post a few nice photos from our Family Vacation, or a few candid shots from Gracyn's first season of Soccer, or maybe just one shot of Gracyn's 5th birthday and Addi's 2nd, and I think I'm going to not only sort, but edit, and then print or put into a photobook? All before Christmas and that offer for a discount price expires, of course. . .

Not realistic my friends. . .not going to happen. It's too much. And frankly, unless we all get amnesia or suffer from extreme memory loss simultaneously, it's not necessary. We live life for the experiences. Yes, in perfect world we'd have some tangible item to remember it by. But seriously, do we enough gigs or back up storage in place, or shelf space for albums, and a fire proof safe to hide them in? Really? Can we safe proof everything? Including all those photos so carefully planned and shot and post-processed?

Computers fail, files corrupt, albums collect dust, and there's only 24 hours in a day. I could spend more time preparing all of what I don't want my children to forget, or I can accept that I'd rather spend my life living it. No, I'm not making excuses for not having baby albums for each child, or a memory book for each with a swatch of hair from their first trim, or molds of their tiny hands and feet. In fact I think I do have much of this - who knows where it is in our house, but it's here! And only someone who can perform DNA testing would be able to tell my kids' hair samples apart, because after I cut, preserved, and made a mental note of the very day I snipped it off and carefully placed in a safe place, I have no clue what happened to these precious clippings. . .

(INSERT LONG PAUSE)

The above was written back in November of 2011. I'm just now getting to finishing my post. I'm not even going to re-read it or edit it. . .whatever I wrote was important enough to sit down and type, so, it stays. AS IS.

The holidays were busy. Busier than I would have liked. I, am to blame for that. We also got sick. . .so, uh, I played Santa by myself on Christmas Eve, and that involved moving very heavy objects by myself while trying to convince 2 of my 3 kids to STAY IN BED. . .I also subjected myself to an Elf on the Shelf. Clark's his name. Clark Trouble something or other. Clark wasn't too creative this year. I've seen some really crazy elves. . .Our Clark made as high as the ceiling fan, and we live in a one-story house, so, uh, how 'bout an A for effort? Hopefully next year Clark will get into some real trouble!

For now, I must get to that load of laundry that's been in the dryer for over tw hours, and then eat dinner, do homework with Peyton, and find time to go to Costo.

But in case I forget something down the road my three sweetpeas. . .

This was us us in Maui, HI back in May of 2011. . .we can't wait to go back.

Here's are the collages I made for you for Christmas. . .Sorry they weren't full blown scrapbooks or anything spectacular! Know that I love you all the same!

Gung Hay Fat Choy! It's the Year of the Dragon. . .and Mommy's a Dragon, so it's MY year guys. . .

Let's hope Mommy does a better job of keeping her blog updated this year.

Just because. . .

Because sometimes I just want to blog, and not FB. Because sometimes I don't want to open a program to edit photos. Because sometimes I just love to see how much Gracyn has grown. Because she's turning 5 soon. Because I'm so far behind on blogging. Because I love her! And because. . .my goodness, she is so beautiful and posting here is far better than storing a jpg on my computer waiting for the perfect post.

 

 

 

 

Little Sister Steals Tutu (5.12.11)

So there are benefits of having two girls. Plain and simply, you get double the use out of everything you buy. But, more importantly, as a girly mama who still has her own tutus, the greatest benefit of two girls is that it took the baby no time at all to actually put a tutu on. . .Gracyn took two years. Addi. . .two seconds. In fact she stole it from her sister before and after the "show". . .

 

 

 

 

She also steals lens caps. . .

 

She steals my heart with her silliness. . .

 

She steals everyone's shoes - including Daddy's. . .

 

And last but not least, she steals a kiss. . .from herself!

 

What's wrong Addi??

 

Stinky shoes. I think she's headed for my heels now!

 

My Ballerina (5.12.11)

Gracyn has been taken dance at school and she loves it!! I was so bummed to learn that we'd be missing their year-end demonstration, but luckily her teacher allowed her to wear her costume and we all got to watch her do her stuff!

While this isn't a dance studio and it lacks the full blown recitals I yearn to watch, she is gaining a lot from it. Coordination, confidence, and she's all about tutus. . .FINALLY.

 

 

 

 

Addi's Tale of the Hunt

This morning while we were getting ready for church, Mommy spent an awful long time doing Jie Jie's hair. Wish I could have had mine curled. I guess it's because Jie Jie was singing at church. Isn't she cute?

 

Mommy told Buh-Buh get up on stage and test the mic. We have one of these at home. I've been waiting for my turn, but the big kids never want to share.

 

And now I understand why all week long mom's been singing Open the Eyes of My Heart with us. And here's my Buh-Buh's line from Jesus You Are. . .He spoke so clearly - "You willingly gave your life. . ."

 

After we had lunch, we had to hurry outside. Here's my big brother and sister waiting to go on the Hunt! Still not sure what this is all about.

 

I got to go first because I'm the smallest. . .Still not sure why.

 

Here's my sister. Not sure if she's getting ready to hike this thing or what. Not too "GRACE-ful" GRACyn!

 

My brother is on a mission. I think Mommy had a hard time trying to find all of us running around!

 

My brother means business!

 

Thank you Daddy! I needed some help and the lady I call Mommy is chasing me with a camera.

 

Like this??? Pick it up and put it in, right?

 

Whoa - needed to wear a hat today, my hair is going to blow away! Can't lose any of that. . .I barely have enough to keep my head warm.

 

I think I'm getting the hang of this. . .

 

This is kinda fun!

 

Man, I missed out last year!

 

Um, excuse me. . .that's MY basket you two are fighting over.

 

Thanks Jie Jie! Put it in here. . .I promise I'll share.

 

Hmmmm. . .wonder what's inside these things???

 

If I show you, can I keep it?

 

Hey guys, how much candy did we get?

 

Daddy, you better help. . .there's a lot here!

 

Jie Jie looks for the candy!

 

Buh-Buh looks for the money!

 

And, Buh-Buh likes to keep track of the loot.

 

So, let me see if I've this down. . .You put these things in the basket.

 

And then you pour them all out and crack them open?

 

Very interesting game here. . .

 

By golly, I think I've got it. It's all about the EGGS! So, that's why it's called an Easter EGG Hunt. Still not sure how that's tied to Jesus, but I'll just accept it for what it is.

 

Hopefully next year I'll be able to get my hair curled like Jie Jie's and get up on stage and sing. And that's my story of the Hunt.

Signing Off,
Addi
(Second Easter, First hunt, Some hair, Not enough to curl.)