Merry CHRISTmas!

Let the Sugar Rush Begin!

We enjoyed our annual "PJ Cookie Day" on Monday. This tradition started the year that Caleb was 2, and at around noon we were still pajama-clad and "half-baked." Why change a good thing?

 

Bad Mama?

Is this a sign of bad parenting? When my 5 year old daughter said she didn't know what to wear this morning, I answered, "Just go look on your floor."

Saturday Funnies

Around day 8 of a snow-covered yard (and yes, it's STILL there!), Caleb commented at breakfast: "Man. Snow sure does get boring fast." This is the boy that PRAYED for snow in Texas, and couldn't wait for it to arrive in Colorado. Human nature, right?

This morning Meghan prayed at breakfast: "....and Jesus, please make the days go faster so we get to Christmas sooner. Amen."

What DOES a camel say?

As we unloaded our Christmas paraphenalia this year, I thought about giving our Little People manger scene to a friend down the street with a younger daughter. Glad I didn't follow through too hastily on that idea! Meg has played with that set EVERY day since. We love reenacting the Christmas story with our own special embellishments: the three kings arrive caroling and wake the just-settled baby Jesus; Mary sends Joseph for take-out; Mary asks the three kings if they brought any diapers... God has a sense of humor, right?

Well, we have a little hitch. The cow goes "moo," the sheep goes "baa," the donkey "hee-haws"...

What DOES a camel say?

For now, ours says, "camel-camel-camel."

Sledding!

Our town gained about 6-7 inches of snow over the last few days. Today dawned clear and sunny, and our friends invited us SLEDDING! They were even gracious enough to share their sleds with us, as Caleb and Meghan are still waiting on their own sleds from Santa this year. By the time we reached the park, warm sunshine already had grass peaking through the snow here and there, and had us shedding our coats soon after!

Caleb = DETERMINATION

Part of the fun of living in a smaller town: 

running into school friends at the park!

Meghan = COZY free-loader!

Poor thing; she got pretty whiny and clingy late in the morning. 

After an afternoon nap, she woke with a fever of about 103o!

The kids can't have ALL the fun.

Do we stop playing because we get older? 

Or, do we get older because we stop playing?

SNOW!

Meg and I met our friend Amy for coffee and some shopping this morning. When we walked out... well let's just say thankfully we had our emergency blanket and engine heater.

OK. So it's really one of Caleb's hot-wheels on the handrail of our back deck. But we did THOROUGHLY enjoy our first Colorado snow day, complete with temperatures in the 20's! 

Caleb's long awaited moment: SNOW!

Clowning around with next-door friends Trinity and Paul. The kids tried (unsuccessfully) making snow bricks using a shoebox, and "sledding" on Caleb's skateboard ramp in a trash can lid (the plastic variety). They were quite successful, however, in pelting me with multiple snowballs in the face! (Thank God for soft powder!)

"What is this white stuff?" Keeper was mystified, then quite frisky!

Nap Time Celebration... and subsequent deep thoughts

Yes. We'd like to take a moment to thank our sponsor,

"Meghan-Who-Is-Currently-Napping-For-The-First-Time-In-Weeks,"

for making this blog session possible.

Ahhh. Naptime. My ?th cup of coffee for the day (at least it's decaf), washing down a single, savored square of Dove dark chocolate. This beats watching Oprah and eating bon-bons any day in my book.

Something struck me earlier today. It's so ironic all of the stress we create getting "ready" for Christmas. Don't get me wrong -- I love the sights, sounds, smells, and traditions of the season. Many of these hold special symbolism as well. Sometimes, however, there's an added 

pressure -- a sense of needing to get everything "right" for the season. But when baby Jesus came, there was none of the song and dance we have created today. There was not even "room in the inn," much less a room decked in boughs of holly. 

I am so thankful that rather than me having to get everything in order for Him, He came to put everything in order for me. He brought the Light of His innocent Presence into the darkness of my life, illuminating the Way to the Father. Thank You, Jesus.

Decking the Halls

For several years, our family had a tradition in Texas of going to Mainstay Farms in Burleson with our friends, the McDaniels. Mainstay is an awesome place -- a tractor ride to a tree-cutting area, a 3-story tree house, a ???-ft. corrugated slide (gunnysack highly recommended), pedal cars, kettle corn... Our families followed up the outing with dinner at Babe's Chicken House. You don't get much more Texan than that. We are really missing our friends this year. And transitioned to an artificial tree as well! [gasp of horror]. Still, Darin, Caleb, Meghan and I enjoyed decorating our tree in our new home this year, with carols on the radio, and "winter"-scented wallflowers almost making up for that fresh pine scent. It was Caleb's turn to have the honor of placing the star on top.

Even with all my mind's wistful reminiscing that night, when the kids were in bed and I sat in the dark looking at our tree, I found myself feeling rich in all of the right ways. The Lion, Lamb, and Dove ornament that Darin and I bought at our first house, 9 years ago. Ornaments "stolen" from friends at our Edge Sunday school Christmas parties. Kid-crafted ornaments, some with precious handprints or photos. Gift-ornaments from family and friends. Alot to be thankful for on that tree. 

And even though ours is now artificial, it still made me mindful of God's evergreen life, delivered to us that night long ago. And all of the little extras -- the special love-touches -- with which He goes above and beyond, adorning each season of our lives with so much love... 

Rollerland

Last night, Caleb's school had a fundraiser at Rollerland. I was feeling a little under-the-weather, but Darin quickly agreed to take the kids. I am so thankful for a husband who's not afraid to "get his hands dirty" (or his legs sore!) in the in's and out's of parenting. Caleb and Meghan LOVED skating with Daddy, and I loved watching from the bench!

T.M.I. - 5 year old style

Yesterday (the morning after a 12-hour stomach bug), Meghan wanted to discuss the details of her illness with me:

"Mom, did you know barf comes from here?" [gesturing to stomach]

"It has spit and food in it. I know because I threw up beans. I know they were beans because I could see the little shell-y parts."

What is it about t.m.i. that makes us want to pass it on?

Look out, [Disney] world! Here we come!

How do you measure the success of a family vacation to Disney World? If it is by thinking that you'll come back from "vacation" feeling rested... well, that fairy-tale may never come true! (Seven days reminded Darin and I that "being a kid at heart" is not the same as being a kid in body. And one of my fondest memories is the day we returned to our resort for a nap midday!) But in terms of time spent together making memories, our vacation couldn't have been better. Animal Kingdom held some of our favorites. Darin and the kids rode Kali River Rapids repeatedly. Each time Caleb and Meghan returned with shrieks of "We got SOAKED!" and mile-wide smiles. Darin and I took turns riding Expedition Everest (the coolest roller coaster ever!) because Thing 1 was a little short on courage (it is a pretty big coaster) and Thing 2 a little short on inches (she begged us to stuff napkins in her shoes).   

Caleb and I outside of Cinderella's Castle, just before he endured "Breakfast with the Princesses" for Meghan's 5 year old birthday. 

Always a princess at heart, Meghan basked in the attention of being 

a "real" princess on her birthday. (She would also share a special Disney World birthday perk: 3 cupcakes in 1 day!) Here is the birthday girl posing with her favorite princess, Belle.

Both kids loved collecting autographs in their books! 

There were characters around every corner.

Ice cream? Yes. EVERY day. 

Meg preferred anything in the shape of Mickey Mouse (from her breakfast waffles to ice cream sandwiches), while Caleb went straight for colorful popsicles called "Itzakadoozies."

Disney World has been redeemed in this boy's eyes! 

More than mere princesses and pixie dust, Downtown Disney is home to a LEGO store! 

They have several amazing models on display outside the store, such as this T Rex.

 Caleb and I on the Big Thunder Mountain coaster. 

Darin says Caleb gets his goofy side from me. I have no idea what he is talking about.

Just one of many landscape-sculptures (from Fantasia). The grounds at Disney are stunning! 

Family Sandwich

(photo courtesy of Grammie)

Grammie and PaPa Visit!

My parents arrived for their first visit about a week ago. We had been counting down the days for over a month! Mom kept saying how happy she was to be able to "picture us" from now on where we live. We shopped in Old Town, ate ALOT of ice cream (rotating our loyalties between Cold Stone and Kilwins), and played at the house. Mom and Dad brought the kids an old black and white Rin-Tin-Tin movie, and we enjoyed a few episodes each night before the kids went to bed. Darin and I loved playing card games and visiting with mom and dad late each night.

"Cheap entertainment": forcing Grammie to play MarioKarts on Gamecube with Caleb. I wish there could be sound effects for this picture. Mom SCREAMS at every harrowing curve! (mom, you're such a good sport!)

Meghan discovered that PaPa was more than willing to "share" (i.e., "take so she didn't have to eat") the hominy from her chicken tortilla soup.

We interrupt this visit to bring you Caleb's first stitches: During a run-in with an icy slide on the school playground, Caleb got a nice little 1 cm laceration to the chin. 3 stitches later, however, his smile was still up and running! Getting out of school the rest of the day, and going to a movie with PaPa and Meghan while Grammie and I went shopping seemed to speed along his recovery. 

Look who's ALMOST 5! We had a little cupcake celebration almost 2 weeks early, because Meg wanted "Grammie to be there to see my presents and meet my friends!"

Dad, Meghan, and I discovered a rather unique rock-carving at a nearby park. (reduced to mere toe-jam? ugh.)

Trip to Estes Park with Grammie and PaPa

We thoroughly enjoyed showing my parents some of the beautiful sights of Rocky Mountain National Park on Saturday. Mom had started feeling flu-ish the previous evening, but after a quick trip to the urgent care clinic (and a negative flu test!), she was a real trooper! Some of my favorite memories from childhood are of our camping trips to Tyler State Park, in Texas. We blazed more than a few trails there (don't worry, dad, I won't tell them we got lost alot, too!), and it was fun to hit the trail again with my parents. 

Sprague Lake

strong wind = cold day!

We saw several elk and mule deer. These were ambling through downtown Estes Park, evidently on their way to the liquor store across the street. (?)

Around the house...

It has, admittedly, been a long time between posts. Several conditions have affected my all-around efficiency the past week or so. See if you can relate:

1. chickenus-decapitus syndrome

2. estrogenus-overloaditis

3. plain old insomnia

Regardless, the kids have kept me smiling. Meghan was mortified to see a paper cup in the gutter as we walked home from Caleb's school. "Mama, somebody glittered!" she said in a very disapproving tone. 

God gave me a big smile today, too, as I looked up from some mundane task to see my kitchen window framing this:

Tree Squirrels

Meghan and Caleb enjoying the tree in our backyard.

(pre-construction)

Darin and Caleb in the tree with lumber and various power tools.

More to come when the Satterwhite tree house comes to completion!

(Should I worry when Darin talks about a crow's nest?)

Lest I paint too sunny a picture...

So. You've seen mountain vistas. Trailblazing kids on a winding path. Pristine mountain lakes. 

Presenting: The "Other" Colorado. (all in good fun, and in the interest of full disclosure...)

Rocky Mountain National Park is only about an hour away, but for a hike in our town, here's about what you'd see. Though our actual town has abundant and beautiful trees, the natural areas are a bit, um, barren? (Though I'm coming to see them as beautiful in their own right...)

Sign posted about every 0.5 miles on a nearby paved trail. Dog was sorely disappointed.

I noticed this sign just after we had spotted prairie dog town and Meg was scampering over for a closer look -- Off. The. Path. (Have I mentioned that I majored in microbiology in college?)

The Campaign Trail. (Posted for my good-natured democratic friends. If you are having a grumpy day, please disregard this political jab.) 

Was that P.C.?

Moments worth magnifying...

~Helping Meg try on a fancy Belle dress for our upcoming trip to Disney World... trying to "find" my little girl under so many layers of yellow... hearing her giggles of joy...

~That same princess gone pirate: clothes covered with dirt, climbing the cottonwood tree in our backyard with big brother's ninja sword clutched in her teeth...

~Under pursuit by Caleb, who was armed with two buddies and a ball of yarn, yelling, "Tie her up! Don't let her escape!"

~Going in this morning to wake up that same little wild man, brushing back his shaggy I-want-to-grow-my-hair-out hair, and catching a glimpse of my baby still in there, gently smiling...

At least a couple of times a year, I become aware (sometimes painfully!) of having fallen into a default mode of hurried living. Of frantic doing. Of staring into a day (or even afternoon) at home with my children with fear. Fear of having to shake off that grown-up mode of planning and doing, and enter their carefree world of playing and being.... Well, I thank God that at least once in a while He gives me that awareness. I thank Him that today, although there is still a ring around my tub and a list of errands a mile long, when Ashley the Polly Pocket broke her leg riding horses, and when Ariel and Eric ran off to get married at the castle, I had the privilege of being there. 

GREAT grandparents!

This post is LONG overdue. Somehow, time has been getting away from me these days! We enjoyed a wonderful visit from Darin's parents about a week ago. With the busyness of moving in, getting established in our new town, etc., I truly had not realized how very much we missed family until they pulled into our driveway. That first hug brought tears to my eyes, and our time together went far too quickly. We biked a favorite path together, showed them our favorite garden and river spots, went out to eat, and mostly enjoyed having our family collide with this new place! It was great for Caleb to be able to walk to school with his PaPaw, and Meghan loved snuggle time reading with Granma. Thanks for going the extra mile (literally) for us, you two!

Enjoying dinner on our deck the first night, Granma Judy's and PaPa Bill's effects on our kids were readily apparent!

PaPa Bill couldn't quite tough-it-out to eat Caleb's lemon sorbet at our favorite downtown ice-cream shop.

Enjoying a snuggle at one of our favorite garden spots. 

"The boys" and their bikes

Meghan learning how to cast... now that's what a PaPa is for!

"Caleb's" Tree

Several years ago, Caleb's grandparents each "gifted" money to him to buy a tree for the house we had built. Shortly after, it became apparent to Darin and I that we would probably not be staying in that house very long. Caleb has been VERY patient in waiting for his tree, and I'd say it was worth the wait. Look at the beauty he picked out! And thanks to PaPa Bill and Darin for their landscaping expertise!

Trailblazers