The War of the Christmas Trees

6 and half years ago I pledged to love and cherish my husband. In sickness and in health. In good times and in bad times. But no one said I had to love how my husband picks out a Christmas Tree. I have now affectionately dubbed this memory as "The War of the Christmas Trees". I know the my husband is a perfectionist in some things but I don't think I truly understood this until December 3rd, 2010.

December 3rd came like any other day. We got up, ate breakfast, did some errands and decided to get a Christmas tree. So we loaded up the Jeep with straps, gloves and rope. We headed off to the Christmas Tree farm to cut down our very own tree. Yep- good ol' Family Griswold Christmas Tree fashion.

As we approached the tree lot the rows of cars at the base of the hill told us we weren't the only ones with the idea of Christmas Tree shopping. Needless to say, we bundled up and trudged up the hill. As we reached the top we stopped to catch our breath, we began to organize a plan for finding the best tree. Audra was immediately taken with running through the trees and playing hide and seek. Our family of three floated excitedly through the rows of trees shouting here's one or here's one. After about 20 minutes of walking I began to feel the cold coming through my not so warm coat. 30 minutes later, my fingers were staring to go numb and the realization that we might be here for awhile started to sink in. To add to the pain, Audra had promptly stopped in her tracks and gotten what I have come to dubb as her poop face. Yep, pooped her diaper right there in the Christmas Tree farm. Where was the Jeep? At the bottom of the hill. Was I walking down it to change a diaper and come back up? No way! So we continued our search, all the while I was thinking we will find one soon. 75 minutes after our arrival to the tree farm, I stood face to face with Paul. I was tired, cold and had a screaming 21 month old in my arms. Hide and seek was no longer a game and my fingers were blue. I finally stopped in front of a tree and stated it to be the one. Paul looked closely at it and said "I think there was another one up the hill." So we trudged back up the hill to find this supposedly perfect tree. Tree after tree blurred by and I was beginning to see red. Finally I planted myself in front of a tree, speared Paul with a a look and said "here's a good one." When he still could not make a decision I said "Fine. I'm leaving." I promptly turned myself around, picked up Audra and stomped down the hill. Yep stomped. Like a 2 year old.

Two and half hours later our blissful tree outing finally came to an end. The "perfect" tree was on top of our Jeep, Audra was screaming in the back seat with snot running down her face, and I was sitting in the front seat livid as I was thinking of all of the things I could have done in that 2 and one half hours. I looked over at Paul as he jumped in the Jeep, rubbed his hands together and said "We have a great tree!" I just shook my head and asked to go home. He laughed and I tried to look mad. I think I will stay home next year.

Shaking off November

Each night, when I get Audra out of the bathtub, she loudly proclaims- "brrrrrr" and does this cute little shaking shiver. It makes me smile. She seems to find comfort in the acknowledgment of stating that she is cold. I quickly wrap her in a towel that brings warmth and comfort. As we approach the holiday season, I feel like Audra as I have been slowly “shaking off” the month of November. Time has passed, years have come and gone, yet two little boys still live in our hearts. Daily thoughts of them seem to be exaggerated as the month of November emerges. My great friend Kate, once describe grief to be like a cloak. Some days you wear the cloak tightly around your shoulders while other days you throw open the cloak. However, the cloak never leaves your shoulders. It is always there. A reminder of what you carry with you now and for days to come. And sometimes one hides themselves deeply in the covers of the cloak, sheltered in deep darkness. Waiting. Waiting for the day that the cloak doesn’t feel so heavy. Just waiting. We have come to recognize that no matter how much we prepare ourselves for this time of year, it always comes. Always steals our breath away. Always brings back the darkness. We have learned take refugee in this time and to spend it together. So in our togetherness, we decided that this year we would release balloons in honor of Jacob and Caden. As you can see from the photos, Audra was mesmerized by the flight of the balloons. I think this is a tradition we will keep for years to come. For now, we are slowly emerging from the depths of November and look forward to a season of love and warmth.

A little laugh

Sometimes when silence fills the soul all that is needed is a laugh. Enjoy.

Swimming in Corn

So my friend Cindyand I thought it would be a grand idea to freeze some corn this year. Our friend Amanda- who is often the sanity in our friendship, was going to help us as well but she was busy having her babies. :) While we went about our day birthing an entire freezer full of corn- she was welcoming James Henry and Nora Grace into the world. Don't worry Amanda- we will stock your freezer. We were left to fend for ourselves. Cindy and I found some amazing sweet corn and without stopping for a breath, we each decided we needed to freeze 5 dozen each. Yes- do the math, that is 10 dozen ears of corn. Now for some of you "seasoned" freezers, this is probably nothing. For the newbies- we had no idea what we were getting into. Let's just say I couldn't even lift the bag into my car. The first picture is one that makes me laugh and I decided to just get it out on the web before my dear friend Cindy decides to put it on the web first. :) I would like to say the picture is me fainting from extreme exhaustion but in reality it is simply me falling out of my chair. With this start to our day- you can imagine how the rest of the day went. I would also like to note here that as I was falling out of my chair, my 20 year old mind told myself I could easily catch and right myself before further embarrassment- however, my 32 year old body could not keep up. Anyway, the day was a success despite our desire to never see or eat corn again. I learned many things from this experience but perhaps the best one is that a boring, tedious job is much better with a good friend.

Don't Step on a Crack . . .

I realized something hilarious the other day. I was walking with Audra and all of a sudden she slammed on the brakes and stood rooted to the ground with a fixated stare. I peered around her still form to see what she was looking at on the ground. To my surprise I realized she was not moving because there was a large crack in the ground and she didn't think she could walk over it. I was even more shocked to see her crouch down and begin to crawl over the sidewalk crack. I began to laugh hysterically and promptly took a picture. You can watch the whole episode unfold below through the pictures. :) I am not going to worry about this until she is five and not wanting to walk over cracks. For now- I will continue to smile..

We've created a monster!

Audra has taken an intense liking to a bunny and a blanket. Not a "I am fond of you" kind of liking more of a "I cannot live without and will cry and stomp my feet if I can't have you" kind of liking. I noticed the attraction a few days ago when it was time for bunny and blanket to be washed. I brought them down for upstairs and started for the laundry room. As I opened the laundry door, I heard little feet pounding the hardwood floor. I looked up to see Audra sprinting- yes sprinting for the laundry room with this look of adoration filling her face. Me being the naive mother thought the look of adoration was for me. Ha! Was I wrong. As I began to throw bunny and blanket in the washer, Audra screeched to a halt and her face crumpled into the most pathetic little pout. Tears began to well up in her eyes and she began to sob hysterically as the washer filled with water. She stood before the door to the front loading washer and pounded her little hands on the window. She watched it turn and tumble while the tears rolled down her face. I picked her up and carried her to the other room trying to console her. 2 hours later the dryer signal sounded and I stood to get the clothes out of the dryer. Again I heard little feet pounding the floor as I opened the door to the dryer. Audra wedged her way in front of me and lightning quick had her bunny and blanket out of the dryer. She wrapped her pudgy arms fiercely around her treasures and took off out the door. As she stomped out of the room she looked back at me with this look like" you will never get these from me again!" I laughed to myself as I realized we will need to work on the bunny/blanket addiction.

Just a side note- our Doctor told us that children who have a security blanket/item are showing they are able to make emotional connections that are healthy. However, the doctor did say that if she is still carrying bunny and blanket in kindergarten we will talk. :)

Just in case you didn't believe me I have posted a picture- notice the crazed look in her eyes AND a video.

Hot Chickens

Yep- that's right, it's hot, hot, hot here and everyone, chickens included, are hot! We have been spending our days in the our baby pool right on our deck. Despite the heat, Audra and I braved the oven like temperatures and visited our friends, Carrie and Lonny's house just down the road. They have lots of fun animals for Audra to see, including chickens. I thought the baby ducks were cute but Audra seemed to take a liking to the chickens. I did not share with her that the chickens met their maker later that night. We will save that life story for another day. We are hoping for cooler temperatures SOON!

New Each Day

Tonight I was watching the movie 50 First Dates (for the umpteenth time by the way). For those of you who haven't seen the movie- the gist is a guy (Adam Sandler- who has a hilarious song called Lunch Lady that Paul likes to sing in a funny voice to me- not sure why a song entitled Lunch Lady inspires him to sing to me) falls in love with a girl (Drew Barrymore- who I think looks like my cousin Sarah) and said girl has amnesia. Each day she wakes up and has to be reminded of how she lost her memory. At the end of the movie there is a short scene where she is introduced to her daughter, again (probably 50th time- hence the movie title), but to her it is like the first time. She is awestruck by the idea that she has a daughter. Imagine how amazing our day to day life would be if we treated each person or day as if seeing them for the first time! Don't get me wrong- there is something comfortable about familiarity and routine- I do not deny this fact. However, there is a renewing thought in the idea of seeing things with fresh eyes and the emotions that follow. Months after Audra was born I would stand over her crib with the same awestruck feeling. It still takes awhile to realize the sweet little voice calling "mamma" is referring to me. I love it. Period. L-O-V-E I-T.

We are enjoying summer here and trying to update this blog more often. Take care to those of you far away! To those of you close- come on over anytime- we are usually outside. I am trying to talk Paul into a pool. Stay tuned!

Easter

Again it seems like I am always a day late and a dollar short. I wish I had more time to blog but right now it just doesn't happen. So enjoy the photos because it may be awhile before I update again.

Happy Birthday Audra!

Happy Birthday Audra! This is two weeks late but we have been a little sick around here so I am finally getting around to posting this video. As you can see from the video, Audra wasn't too excited about her cake. However- the adults in the background make up for her lack of enthusiasm. It must have been thick and sweet for her.

Love is . . .

Obviously the above video proves I have had too much time on my hands in the past week. I have been out of school for ten days. So far we just have a one hour delay tomorrow which means I am back to reality. Well it was fun while it lasted. So thanks to my time off I made Paul a video for Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day!

P.S. You will have to mute the music below.

Happy to Mad and Back Again

Well we have successfully been buried in more snow. I have to admit it is beautiful. However, Paul has to work all weekend and so it has been just been Audra and me. While I love my daughter very much, she was not very happy today and by the end of the day we were both ready for bed. Below is a clip to show you just how "happy" she was by the end of the day. Remember to mute the music at the bottom.

Plums and Poop

I thought it would be fun to post this video- however please don't listen to me- I sound ridiculous. Instead listen to what is happening in the background- it cracks me up! P.S. You will have to mute the music at the bottom of the blog.

Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas this year. I was just so happy to be up on my feet that getting food poisoning for the last part of break didn't dampen my spirits too much. :) It was fun being together with cousins. Enjoy the photos!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! Paul built this snowman two weeks ago when we got 2 feet of snow. This amount of snow is very unusual for Virginia so we had lots of fun. :)