Not always the sharpest tool in the shed

Sometimes I think I have a loose screw upstairs..is it the lack of sleep, lack of quiet, missing brain cells or plain old not having the energy to think straight. I tried to get an adorable picture of the girls in their new jammies from Grammy. But (this is the not smart part) I left a Christmas movie on that features dancing chipmunks. Yes, Mommy vs. the Dancing Chipmunks...did I actually think I would win? HAHA, BAHAHAHA, yeah right. Here was the results of me trying in vain to get a perfect picture.

Merry Christmas from The Mater's.

Personal Space

Mom's, you know there are those certain times each year (or should I say month) where we need, crave and demand some personal space. Now we all know as a mom there is NO SUCH THING as personal space. In most societies, actually I think all of them, there are social boundaries. But for some reason these boundaries do not apply to small children. Small children touch your face when you talk to them, rub your arms, open the occupied bathroom door wide, wiggle their way onto your lap while you type, sew or read, they choose to cling onto you as you pull those hot dishes out of the oven or are balancing a stack of plates from the dishwasher, they choose to jump on your lap while you fold laundry, which made those last 20min. pointless.

But I don't mind, I know it won't always be this way and I would not have it any other way.

Eden is my little Touch, I think it's her "love language" as the Chapman's would say. Eden cannot eat, play, walk, talk, cuddle, snuggle, cry, rest, etc unless she is touching someone or something really, really close. All those comments above apply to my little Eden. When I am out of her site she is very curious to see what I am up to and she must get really close to satisfy that curiosity. I posted earlier about Eden and her "pre-dawn" visits to our room. http://materfamily.blogspot.com/2010/12/some-of-her-favorite-things.html

A few nights back Eden had a rough night sleeping..not sure if it was a sugar rush from a party earlier that evening or the cough that would not allow her little body to rest. But after several trips to reassure and check on her I finally squished into bed with her. I got comfy then wrapped my arms around her little body and drew her close. I invaded her space. Eden is my "wild child" running around, getting into things, always on a roadrunner go. Many times I try to slow her down with hugs and kisses but they only last second when I want them.

Within seconds of squishing next to her she was fast asleep. I LOVED that moment, I watched her sleep, smelled her hair, outlined her adorable face and was happy and as I was there with her I started thinking, everyday she "invades" my personal space, not in a bad way but often, so maybe she invades my personal space to steal moments with me like I did with her that night. I went back to my own bed checked her one last time and smiled, I think Eden steals moments with me just to have me hold her close like I want to do with her. I think "invading" personal spaces can be a good thing. I'm going to look for more chances to steal moments with my girls and when they "invade" my personal space I will pause, smile and think... these moments may be trying but they will fade and one day, believe it or not moms I think we will miss it...alot.

Some of her favorite Things

So I have been recording, literally writing down this daily for your reading pleasure.

Every morning Eden has a ritual it goes something like this:

First, She rises before the sun, I think she likes to go to sleep when its light out and wake up when its dark, or maybe she has a standing daily competition with the sun to be up first. Not sure, and not a fan. At least 99% of the time she dozes back off and we take her back to her bed a.k.a. the "tent" (it's the bed on the bottom of the bunk surrounded by blankets) :)

Secondly, for some reason she has a GREAT attachment to about 8 different random objects each day. The only 2 objects that have made the cut repeatedly are her paci and her blanket, now the blanket is not a cute small one but the big one made for a twin bed, and well, the Paci..that is whole different post for a different day. Can I just say...gross.

So here are some of the objects that made it into our bed this week at the crack of dawn:

- stuffed panda, dog, penguin,

-2 different Barbies

- fake food

- 7 books, of ALL sizes

- Little People Tractor

- long sleeve shirt (was she really going through her drawers at 5 in the morning!)

- Little People animals

- A Lego house..yes, the whole project got thrown onto me

- A Burger King crown

- 1 My Little Pony

- different plush Nativity characters

- coloring book from the Post Office

-pink ribbon

-empty sippy cups

and last but not least 3 pillows and a stroller, YES, a baby doll stroller!

Anyone else have a child with strange pre-dawn hoarding tendencies?

Those moments

I find myself blogging more and more as a way to finalize moments, vent, get things off my chest, and remember. Most days when I blog tears hit the keyboard and I spend half the time wiping my eyes so I can see the screen clearly. There are so many moments in life I want to remember and will also want recorded for Novie and Eden.

This is one of my favorite memories, mostly because I was laughing so hard I cried! My Grandfather trying to hold a 1, 2 and 3 year all together in his lap at one time. His 3 Great Grand daughters.. I think my cousins and I put him up to this "Kodak Moment". This picture was taken when I was pregnant with Eden Christmas 2007. Since then we have added 3 more grandkids to fit on his lap.

Here we are all together Christmas 2007

This morning my Grandfather passed away, Grandpa Taitt I guess it's only been a few hours... He has been brave these last 2 years battling cancer choosing not to go through chemo and other treatments but fight with sure will and courage. He was really young... too young. This past May he turned 71 years old. The doctor's predicted he would pass away before last Christmas, I praise the Lord for giving him and us another year.

Times like this is when it really feels like there is an ocean between my family and I. Sometimes, very briefly, I forget how far away I am because of the technology we have through e-mail, phone, Skype and internet. But today I'm feeling the miles, every single one. I want to be home, to hug my Mom, Dad, sister, brother, and all my family.

Our last time together at Sarah's Wedding Reception Oct. 2009.

Christmas Banner

Felt makes the cutest things! A few strips of ribbon, and cute little felt designs added such a warm Christmas feel to our living room.

This is one Proud Momma!

Last night we had our Annual Christmas Banquet here at WOL Hungary. We invite local vendors, the town Mayor, Doctor etc. The "Prestige" of our village. The Banquet was wonderful, the food delicious and the singing beautiful.

Here's why I am a proud Momma :) I received 1 Skye message and 2 e-mails from individuals telling us, "that i greatly appreciated your parenting tonight", "Thank-you for keeping your kids seated", "It was good to see some staff kids behaving".

Yes, I teared up!! Andy and I are the youngest parents here on staff (until March) :) and I feel like I am forever receiving comments about my "lack of experience", for those of you who REALLY know me, that is a good way to get the steam rollin!!

Well, today I am going to brag on my two beautiful girls!!! When I read those e-mails this morning all I could do was find Novie and Eden and shower them with hugs and kisses and try to keep the tears in check. They are 2 and 4 sitting still for 10min. is hard much less 2.5 hours! A BIG thing we are working on, and it has given our home a "boot camp" feel to it, is having our girls obey the 1st time we tell them NO hesitation, NO excuses, and NO attitudes. I'm not sure about the girls but being consistent in this area is plan ol wearing me out! But the girls are doing great and now if they disobey they can tell us exactly what their punishment will be. Last night they did well and someone noticed. "Pride goeth before a fall!" OK, this is definitely rolling around in my mind right now, but may I continue on without being judged?... my girls did well and someone noticed! not only did they notice but they told me! PEOPLE, this is the ULTIMATE form of encouragement for us young mom's out there. If ours kids do something well, used their manners, behaved, were a blessing to you, please, please PLEASE tell us!! It helps us know those long hours of discipline, hair-pulling moments and tears were soooo worth it!

Being a parent is HARD work and you will NOT ever understand until the Lord blesses you will children of your own. It's joy, tears, heartache, frustration, sleep apnea, headaches and laughter all rolled into the best thing that has ever happened to you!!!

Novalie and Eden, I have these e-mails forever ingrained into my brain and the encouragement they brought, ingrained into my heart. You two are a blessing to this exhausted mommy :) You are a joy to me daily. You make the most mundane activities worth it and the silliest things my favorite memories. I praise the Lord for blessing me with the privilege of being apart of your lives! Thank you for obeying "the first time" at the banquet last night...

Jesse Tree

I remember as a kid (mostly because of photos) of my sister and I in matching dresses made by Mom and Grandma, hanging up red and green construction paper ornaments on the wall. Each day we had a different shape that told a story relating to Christ and Christmas (oh and my baby brother, who is now 21 wearing an elf outfit bahahaha). I starting searching and searching..what did my mom do. I knew it was an unique way of celebrating Advent everyday. To celebrate Christ, to remember WHY we celebrate Christmas and of course a simple way to make a beautiful memory.

So...my searching happened upon The Jesse Tree. The funny thing is we've done this the past several years! Just didn't know it actually had a name! Funny...

Many people keep asking me, "What exactly is a Jesse Tree?"

In Isaiah 11:1 it says, "Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from its roots will bear fruit."

The Jesse tree is an unique Advent calendar, each day of Advent a home made ornament is added to a tree to represent the prophecy foretelling of Christ. It shows us Christ's geneology, It tells the story of God's plan of salvation, talks about sin, creation, some days you talk about events, other days people, or significant objects. All great teaching opportunities for young kids.

Today is Dec 3rd and we have NOT started yet! 6 days behind according to the "real" Advent calendar this year but really only 3 days behind on mine ;) My printer ran out of ink last night...sad day for me... but really I should have been making the homemade ornaments myself this whole time..why did this project get the one lazy fiber in my body this season?...sheesh. So here I am blogging and making a tree, world, tent, coat of many colors, 10 commandments stones, harp and ladder. Kinda exciting!

I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow, and we shall spend the morning as a family around the table catching up on our Jesse Tree!

We always hear, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", or "don't forget the TRUE meaning of CHRISTmas but it's true, plain and simple, without Christ we would not have Christmas. Start each day remembering HIM, HIS sacrifice and why he came as a Baby in a manger for us.

Pictures will come soon of our own little Jesse Tree.