Winter Break...

So far, this winter has been just about as crazy as one of our busy summers. So I was really looking forward to spending a week in what I thought would be sunny Florida. *Yes I do say that just a bit sarcastically ;)*

This past week of vacation was not full of the warm, sunny weather I was so hoping for. It was sunny, but without the warm. And I have come back looking just as much the pasty white girl as I left. But...with less dark circles under my eyes, and a little less sleep deprived. So...I guess that will have to do. The tan will have to wait until my kids are in college. ;)

But I did come back way more rested than I expected, and got a lesson in learning to take a second to sit still.

We did have a blast, however, even if the temperatures were playing a cruel trick on us. I do realize that the temperatures are lose-a-toe-to-frostbite cold all over the place right now, and I think I'm glad that I had to deal with 50 degrees instead of the 10 degrees that would have been waiting for me back at home.
Billy and I have been talking lately about how we need to carve out more time for just being...resting and enjoying our family and the time we have to be together. I think vacation in Florida, where we were pretty much forced to remain indoors because of the record-breaking cold temperatures, was a good way to get that started. I'm not sure we would have come back nearly so rested up if we had perfect weather we were all hoping for, and had crammed every free minute full of something to do.

As usual, I'm not always the best judge of what I need. But God is always good at gently reminding me that I have no idea what is best for me. The usual run-around-till-we're-crazy that has characterized this winter took a welcomed backseat to palm trees, family time, and naps on the couch. In this case, I'm glad the weather was sunny with a chance of frostbite...even in the sunshine state.

This week's You Capture them is Your Winter. Check out the link for great photos and blogs!

Mom's a Sucker

Each morning I wake up...not willingly, but most often to the sound of Merrick kicking the wall, or Tirzah squealing her -mom wake up now or this squeal won't be so nice- squeal, and quickly forgive my kids for committing the unpardonable sin of waking me up. Simply because I think they're so stinkin' cute. I usually keep such thoughts to myself, because I know that most people don't usually think other people's kids are but so cute, and I don't want my hooligans to know that mom can be manipulated by their good looks, because they would surely use that to their advantage. ;)

So in light of that...I just wanted to share this video of Tirzah, who is learning to use her walker, backwards. Just cuz I thought it was so cute...but don't rat me out to the kids. We'll be having chocolate for lunch in no time. ;)

Another Day in Paradise

Late yesterday we arrived back from vacation to our little house in the swamp that is now frozen over. And we thought it was cold in Florida!!! Its absolutely freezing here...and I am considering hibernation, since I'm not really built for tolerating this kind of weather. :)

We had a great time, though, and I'm trying to remember that restful vacation feeling I had as I have a stare-down with my yet-to-be-unpacked suitcase. Have I mentioned before that I hate unpacking? Even the groceries. I'd rather just leave them in the car and eat out of the trunk. Not really...but I really don't like unpacking. Thankfully all the clothes are clean...we had a washer at the house we rented, so I washed them before we left to eliminate what I see as double the unpacking.

We did bring more than packed suitcases back with us though. Like, finally feeling caught up on some much needed sleep, some new experiences (bocce ball, and arctic dips in the 55 degree resort pool), and lots of good memories with our hooligans (their first trip to Sea World...I considered leaving them for a few days to see if the trainers there would have any luck with a new breed of wild animals.) We all had a fun and refreshing week (...even though I'm still annoyed with the unpacking) and I have misplaced the dark circles under my eyes just to prove it. I think we are all glad to be back home.

This week at I Heart Faces the theme is *Best Face*. Check out their site for more great blogs and pictures!

Grapes of Wrath

Lately Merrick has been doing so much better with listening, in general, and not deliberately doing everything I say not to do. I think it's been throwing me off my guard. I'm losing my edge in the battle of the terrible twos. The other day Billy pointed out that all our wrapped gifts had conveniently had their bows removed. Hmmm. Wonder how that happened.

He has also started helping himself to thing in the fridge when I'm not looking. This is not allowed. Especially when it leads to not eating your lunch later. He's become quite the picky eater...today at lunch he refused to eat his PB&J, but begged my younger sister to give him a bite of the raw eggs she was stirring. I'm pretty sure salmonella is not on the list of things I want to do this coming New Year. Usually when he raids the fridge its for things like string cheese, that he can't unwrap himself. So he has to rat himself out, and bring it to me to get it unwrapped. As my mom always used to tell me...be sure your sins will find you out. ;) I guess that applies even if it is the sin of snatching string cheese.

As you can see...this morning he was in the mood for grapes. I'm just glad that he didn't decide to help himself to the gallon of milk.

It runs in the family...

There is this sign that hangs on the wall in my grandmother's house, right behind the kitchen table. It's been there as long as I can remember. It's one of those things, that just always has been, and is a part of a lot of my childhood memories. Not directly...but when I think about grandma's house, and her kitchen, I always remember that sign. It reads: "Insanity is hereditary. You can get it from your children." Under those words is a little drawing of a person, who probably looks a lot like me right now. ;) His glasses are crooked and his tongue is hanging out, and his eyes are pointing at weird directions in his head.

Anyone who has children has probably experienced one of those "eyes at weird angles, tongue hanging out" kind of moments. I guess I just always blamed my kids for that. But then...my sister so lovingly tagged this photo of me , and my not-so-little-anymore brother, on facebook the other day. I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was crazy before I had the kids. But even if I didn't get the insanity from my children, I'm pretty sure Merrick, who is in this next picture, got his taste in sunglasses from me. ;)