Welcoming 2008 -not looking back

The time of year has come when we feel compelled to make grand claims and promises....I'll lose 10lbs, I'll workout more, I'll eat right, I'll watch the news, I'll stay in touch with friends better, etc. I have the same compulsion, but I'm hesitating. I want to really commit, commit to something. I just haven't figured out what.

2007 was an eventful year for us. Any roller coaster park would envy the ride we had. I would love to have a smoother ride this year. However, with one possibly 2 moves, advance pilot training, and 2 active girls, I am going to just fasten my seat belt a bit tighter and hang on the best I can.

I predict that 2008 will bring many and big changes for us all. In just days, Iowa will hold the first Caucus, and in a blink of an eye, we'll all be faced with a challenge as to who to vote for, who might be a great leader for our country, and how it will personally impact our lives.

Here is one goal: To be an informed voter. I have 11 months to complete this one. With moving, I need to remember to register to vote, and I'm sure there will be local elections to consider also. I rarely watch the news, I never read a newspaper, this could be more of a challenge than I think.

Another goal, to find balance. Wearing many hats, I have noticed that some are looking more worn than others.

I wish for peace on earth, but I haven't managed to referee peace between my own girls, so I'm not holding my breath.
I wish for health, for my family, friends and myself.
I wish for more time, but often wonder what I would really do with it if I had it.
Same with money.

So I'm going to keep it simple, and work little by little on 2 goals, and break them down into smaller ones, be grateful for what I do have, and face each day and its challenges the best I can. How's that? If I lose a few more pounds, gain a couple of friends, and find peace in my heart along the way, it will be a stellar year!

Happy New Year to ya'll!

Too Much Fun!!

Sending you a hug in her new rain coat, getting its first use.


We have been having so much fun with all of our company, and it's not over! Here are a few highlights. We have been very blessed this Christmas.

Santa!

The blocks were one of the biggest hits with all the girls! CJ even got a different set at her quick bday party while the gparents were here.
Gma Martha having just as much fun as the girls at Bounce U! We then had a Bday party, complete with an orange frosting cake. The binoculars were a big hit, with everyone.
Sad to say good-bye already. Wish we could see you more often! We miss you.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! CJ has developed a bit of a tic, and will randomly and VERY loudly shout "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" It is rather jolting at 6:30 in the morning or while driving, but I love the fact that she is so excited about the season. She has really been excited about wrapping gifts, picking out gifts for others, and having visitors. She also loves Christmas songs and her current movie is How the Grinch stole Christmas, the recent Ron Howard movie starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch. Even as she goes to bed, you'll hear her calling out to "Mr. Grinch", thanks Amy.
We are doing well, and the weather has returned to more normal temps for this time of year. We are very excited about both of our parents coming to visit along with Eric's brother and our niece. They will be here for a week or so, and we have other visitors stopping for a day too. Our blessings this year have been bountiful and we thank God for them.

Eric has been doing very well in the simulators and will do a couple next week while most are on break. This is the last part of training for us here, so we are all anxious that he finishes strong and quickly.

CJ got really good news at speech this week, in 2 months time, she has made 6 months worth of progress and is now scoring at a 2.7 level. It is still articulation errors that are lowering her score, as her understanding of language is very strong, and her social language skills are advance. She should continue to make up ground and be caught up soon to her peers. We have noticed a huge improvement in being able to understand her, and that has led to less frustration for all of us.

Laurelei is doing well and playing more and more games with us. She has enjoyed the tree and decorations. She likes to get in on wrestling matches with Daddy and CJ, which seems like a risky move to me. As she turned 10 months, she began to sleep 8hrs at night, most nights. A HUGE improvement over the initial 4 she would do then only 90mins the rest of the night. I am relishing the sleep!

We wish you all a very blessed Christmas and 2008.

Busy

CJ insists on sharing everything with Laurelei...including gogurt, what a thoughtful big sister
Fun time at the park, notice barefoot and short sleeves, we've had some really nice weather
Helping with the Christmas tree
Taking a ride and helping Daddy.

Look at the pretty lights
An early gift from the babysitter.
Again, CJ shared with Laurelei

Some sunshine to warm you up

I know many of you are in the icy cold of winter, and I would love to have a cup of hot chocolate with you, but we are having gorgeous weather and would rather share the sunshine. These were taken today. It was 81 when we left the beach. We are having unusual weather and don't worry, it will cool back to more normal temps starting tomorrow, but we didn't let the sunshine go to waste today!

How do you do it?

All you parents out there, who have cute, adorable pictures of your kids sitting with Santa...how do you do it? When CJ was 11mos old, she just stared at him, as if to say, who are you? Last year moving, we elected not to even try it as we were pretty sure she wasn't interested, plus she didn't have a clue to the whole Santa thing. This year I signed the girls up at church for a breakfast with Santa event. I thought if CJ was shy, she would have time to warm up to him as we ate breakfast and did the craft. We talked about it a head of time. She knew what she was going to ask for --an orange and orange hair pom poms (If you have read the book, When I was Little, a Four-Year-Old's Memoir of Her Youth, by Jamie Lee Curtis; you know what she is talking about). CJ told me she wanted to look cute and directed how her hair should be done, which rubber bands to use, and what she was going to wear. CJ talked about seeing Santa and talking to him all the way there --we have a 25min drive. I asked her if she wanted to eat breakfast, she said no, she was ready to see Santa. So we waited in line. She was very excited. Quickly it was her turn. Yup, that's right, she wouldn't even walk close to him. Eric had put Laurelei on his lap --thinking CJ would join her--and Laurelei just SCREAMED at him.
Okay, I knew this could happen. We went and ate breakfast. Then CJ did the craft.

But still no interest in sitting on the big guy's lap. So I sat in the chair holding both girls and Eric stood next to it with the idea that Santa could sneak in the picture...CJ wouldn't remove her head from my shoulder, and Laurelei had been keeping a close eye on the guy in the red suit and as soon as he knelt next to her she began to SCREAM again. So THAT will be our picture we get from the event.

CJ was GREAT at being a Santa. We picked a boy off the tree at church, she helped pick out the gift, helped wrap it and here she is proudly delivering the gift. She talks about the boy as if it is a friend she will meet one day.

My very own Rudolph

Yup. She took a tumble yesterday while playing outside. Today it looks worse. The pictures actually make it look better than in person, but you can tell it still hurts today to be touched. She was fine as soon as I picked her up and brushed her off. Notice no tears...CJ on the other hand continued to cry for another 15mins. It is really sweet that she is so concerned about her sister, but her reactions can be so dramatic, it is unbelievable. I do need to give CJ credit, at Monday's weight check for Laurelei (she is back to her 9mo weight of 18lbs 8oz) CJ didn't cry at all when Laurelei got her flu shot. We talked about it a head of time and she did great!



Last night we headed out to the zoo for its annual zoolights. It was a zoo of people! Last night was for members only, and most of the members came to enjoy the evening. They had some really cool light displays and CJ had fun dancing to the Christmas music and posing with the animals.

Pictures

It's over

Today, UNI experienced their first defeat of the season against Delaware. No national championship this year.


UNI is still NUMBER 1 in the state though! What a season!

GO UNI!!!

We're bleeding Purple.....GO PANTHERS GO!!!

We have had an exciting fall, watching our college football team clean up! With an 11-0 record, everyone in Iowa is currently a Panther fan! I'm sure you have all heard of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the past, they are a part of the Big 10 Conference. Iowa State Cyclones have even made it to a bowl game in Idaho, they are a part of the Big 12 Conference. No one this year is bragging about being a Hawk or Cy fan this year, everyone has joined on with the winning Panthers --as they should. Currently in the playoffs, the championship game will take place in Chattanooga TN Dec. 14th, a mere 5.5hrs from us. I hope they make it! To show our support, I've made our blog, purple and gold.
Click on the title GO UNI!!! for more info!

She finally showed up....

the maid that is. Okay, not really the maid, but CJ LOVES to vacuum! Only the real vacuum will do! Laurelei would like to get into the action too. So I guess that might be one thing I can sit back and put my feet up while the maid, um I mean CJ takes care of it.

Zebras, apples, parrots and ladybugs

Last night Laurelei was walking around and getting into things. She is feeling better! Actually, yesterday at the doctor's office she was feeling better. As the doctor was trying to discuss RSV with me, Laurelei was babbling and babbling and we couldn't hear each other. Since I was holding her, she was talking right into my ear. I turned and looked at her, and she had her arms outstretched to the doctor. She was back to flirting!
He took her and told her she was cute and he wanted to take her home with him.
I reminded him she hasn't been sleeping and I would gladly take some sleep if he wanted to take her.
He told Laurelei about the dinosaurs and trains she would have fun playing with
I was thinking about how much CJ would like that too..
He then told Laurelei that unfortunately they no longer had any bottles in the house, only sippy cups.
I informed him that she drinks well from a sippy cup.
He handed her back to me.

The doctor suggested using the swing or a bouncy seat to help her sleep. Since she is too big for the bouncy and we no longer have the swing, I used my magical high chair. Only I reclined it and she didn't have a messy face from just eating. That went alright. I did get a bit more sleep, and since she is feeling better each day, I'm encouraged that she'll do better in her crib soon.

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About a month ago, CJ discovered Eric's Adam's apple. She asked him what it was and he explained that it was an adam's apple. Then to be funny he said, I don't have a frog in my throat, I have an apple. Without missing a beat, CJ responds, "I have a zebra in my throat". Today she will tell you she has a zebra in her throat, and daddy has an apple, mommy has a parrot and Laurelei has a ladybug in her throat. I feel like I have a parrot next to me all day, but apparently it is actually in my throat. She is very serious about this. She'll probably ask you what you have in your throat, it turns out that Grandma Strike has a giraffe and Grandpa Strike has a horse. Maybe you are wondering about Panther. She has a bark in her throat.