Small Joys

Sometimes I wonder how it is that kids find wonder in such small things.  I like some simple things - like sitting on my couch reading while a breeze blows on me from the open window, or drinking a cherry limeade, or seeing duck bums in the air.  Every once in a while I will think that I'm seeing through the eyes of a child.  I do that a lot when I go to the aquarium.  Some of those creatures are amazing, and I am always in awe of how beautiful the little jellyfish can be.  Sometimes I giggle like a little girl at things that I think are cute, which I will admit that I did when we watched The Land Before Time as a family a few days ago.  There are still some things that baffle me though.  And although I don't always understand, I'm glad that I get to be part of that wonder and joy for my daughter.

Rise and Shine!

Breakfast around the Lee house is usually a simple affair, but I think the kids enjoy it all the same.



Snow Day (For Everyone Else)

While the rest of the United States is buried in 19 feet of snow and sheets of ice are covering the roads and causing school to be cancelled, here in my little corner of Oregon we have been enjoying the weather, which has been 65 and sunny for the last several days.  So what do we do during that time?  The only thing there is to do arond here: go to the beach.

Noah hasn't been to the beach before at any point when he was mobile, so this was a new experience for all of us.  I assumed that he would get some sand in his mouth, but I didn't expect him to be shoveling it in by the handful.



I guess dad needed to let his inner child play a little too because he needed to do a little bit of digging.  He lost something in the hole though.

Of course, Noah didn't mind one bit.  He was loving being dirty and being buried.  On the other hand, Kennedy was telling Brett, "Don't bury Noah!" or "Don't get sand on me!"  She was also squatting down to avoid actually putting her behind in the sand.  She sounds a lot like me as a kid, wearing pearls to the beach and playing in the sand from a chair.

Although it does seem like the beach is the only outing we ever really have around here, I have to say, it really can be a beautiful one.

Deception

This boy has given me the worst night's sleep for the last 4 nights in a row.

He screams bloody murder and will not stop for anything unless I give him a bottle, but I know he can't be hungry and that he can sleep for 11 hours without eating.  He's done it before, though not consistently.

I feel like tearing my hair out.  He's such a little terror.

Don't you believe me?

2010 in Review

Time for the yearly look back at the events of the whole last year!

What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Became a military wife, and my kids became military brats.  Not something I was ever expecting!

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes!  This is the first time that I have even remembered what my resolutions were and I kept them all!  I'm trying again for this coming year.  I'm going to learn to can/preserve, read at least 2 religious books (not including the Bible and Book of Mormon), and make and stick to an exercise program.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Me!  Noah was born in March.  I also had some cousins and friends, like Rachel who just had adorable little Elinor, who gave birth too.

Did anyone close to you die?
Once again, I am happy to say no.

What countries did you visit?
No different countries, but we moved to a new state this year that I had never spent any time in!  Yay for Oregon!

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A 3 bedroom place.  It was ridiculous having only a 2 bedroom with 2 kids.

What dates from 2010 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
February 2 - Brett went into boot camp
March 23 - Noah was born
March 26 - Brett came home from boot camp
End of April - We pulled into Brookings, our new home for a couple of years, for the first time
End of July - My dad got married

What was your biggest personal achievement of the year?
Giving birth without my husband there.  The other would be losing all of the weight I gained with Noah and then some.  Also, getting out of debt completely and building up a 6 month supply of savings.

What was your biggest failure?
Not being grateful enough to my parents, sister, and sister-in-law for everything they did for me while I was big and pregnant and without my husband for 2 months.  They really made a huge difference for me.  Thank you.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing out of the ordinary, although I'm sitting here sniffling right now.

What was the best thing you bought?
The computer that I'm typing this on right now.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Brett's, just like last year.  He went through boot camp and excelled, even though it was hard.  He has made some serious life changes in the past year, and he has done it with grace.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Lucy.  She won't go potty in her litter box anymore and it's driving me crazy!

Where did most of your money go?
Into savings.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Brett coming home from boot camp and Noah coming into our family.

What song will always remind you of 2010?
I've Got a Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas.

Compared to this time last year are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier, thinner, richer - the trifecta!

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading to Noah, camping, taking the kids to the park.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying

Did you fall in love in 2010?
Of course, with Brett, who I spend so little time with now, with Kennedy, who is growing up so fast, and with Noah, who is so sweet and I love having him in our family.

What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who by far.  But I enjoyed finishing up Lost too.

What was the best book you read?
Mockingjay and Stiff. (See previous post for a full account of what I read this year.)

What was your greatest musical discovery?
I only just now found Vampire Weekend.  They are way fun.

What did you want and get?
A Dutch oven!  And a safe move.

What did you want and not get?
A 3 bedroom place with a backyard.

What was your favorite film of this year?
I saw so few, but I really loved Harry Potter.

What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I turned 25, and my dad took me out to lunch with the babies and my mom made me dinner that night.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If Brett had been there when Noah was born.  That was hard on both of us.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Nothing special, although in the past few months I've realized that I still dress like a teenager, so I'm working on fixing that.

What kept you sane?
Brett, as always.  My family and Kennedy while Brett was in boot camp.