Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Need to update this thing

I know- but I've been too busy enjoying Omaha and my family! I'll find some time to blog when I get back to Houston...



HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Winter blahs

What a week. I trudged through work with less than an enthusiastic attitude, although I know I should embrace my employment now more than ever. We were enveloped in fog for several days this week- icky, sticky, fog. Gloomy, gray and heavy. I blame my funky attitude on this weather. I'm ready for our trip to Nebraska- even thought I know it'll be most likely gray and gloomy there, too. It'll be different and we will be surrounded by family. I am very excited about both of those! Please pray for us as we travel! I'll let you know how things are going once we are there!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Good day

  • Today is my daddy's birthday. The kids and I called and sang to him and I think he enjoyed that.
  • Around 6 this morning, Jonas asked if he could get in bed with me and Craig. Since it was almost time to get up anyway, I agreed. About 15 minutes later, Carleigh joined us. Quite the cozy situation, as we sleep in a double bed, and the four of us all in it together fill it up! Usually this sort of moment quickly disintegrates in to wiggly kids and whining about having no pillow or not enough blanket. But this morning was different. For a good 20 minutes, the kids stayed still! Carleigh practiced (silently) making big Os and Es with her mouth, and Jonas petted Chloe. It was such a nice quiet few minutes.
  • And of course, it turned in to a tickle fight eventually. And I melted as I realized how much I have. Those amazing healthy happy kids, the warm cozy bed, the safe roof, a kitchen full of food, jobs to get up and go to. I think I've made this list before, but is there such a thing as too much gratitude? I don't think so.
  • We eventually ended up in our normal morning routine of breakfast for the kids and coffee for me. Jonas has a spelling test today so I reviewed the words with him. He correctly spelled all 18 Christmas themed words, including xylophone, poinsettia, and wreath. I'm impressed. And so thankful for that brain of his that functions normally!
  • Carleigh took a bath and no one combed her hair after she got out. It's long enough now to be a mess because it has dried while she lounged on the couch. And it is tangled! It's taken almost 5 years, but my cherub finally has enough hair to be tangled!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Super cool gifts I never expected

I'll admit I'm a little bummed this year that we won't be able to get the kids everything they want for Christmas. There just isn't enough money. Not that they will go without, as those Nebraska Himmelsehrs are known spoilers! The Walzel side never disappoints, either. But I am thrilled at the gifts I've been given in the last 24 hours that I never saw coming!
Last night, in League City, Texas, south of Houston, it snowed. A lot! Big, fat, beautiful flakes! Enough accumulated that the neighborhood kids made snowmen, snowballs, and snow angels. Did I mention that was all at 10:30 last night? It didn't matter- it was wonderful! It started around 6, when Craig and I were driving to a dinner party in the fancy side of town. The Christmas music on the radio, the lights, the fact that we were on a date and it was not going to cost us a dime, combined with the unexpected snow was almost too much to handle! I don't think the smile ever left my face. (Except when we exited at Westheimer from 610- that is a crazy intersection...)

The snow was long gone by noon today, but the weather was still crisp and clear. Very nice! I was waiting at Panera for Craig to join me for lunch when he called my cell phone and told me to run outside and look up in the sky. I quickly did and at first had no idea what I was looking at, until I looked closer to the horizon (I had been looking straight up) and saw this...
Not this exactly (as that is Kennedy Space Center in the picture), but the Space Shuttle being carried by a 747! And it was about that far away, maybe a little closer! Ellington Field is a few miles from where I stood, and NASA of course is down the road, so this may not be a complete fluke, but I sure wasn't expecting it.
What a treat.

Monday, December 8, 2008

1000 (and no- I'm not about the numbers)

LOOK! I have had almost 1000 hits to my little blog! Wonder who it will be? There will be no prizes, as Pioneer Woman I am not, but maybe I'll follow the lead of my pastor who celebrated on his front lawn with a cold Dr Pepper the day he hit 1000. But it is December, and I'm not a Dr Pepper drinker, so I shall celebrate with a steamy cup of coffee. Feel free to swing by and join me if you can (I received a shipment of Godiva Creme Brulee flavored coffee over the weekend, and there is plenty to go around).

Friday, December 5, 2008

Prayer requests

I just heard that 40 of my co workers in my department have been let go. 6 are from the Irving office, through which I report and used to physically report. It's never a good time to lose a job, but 3 weeks before Chrsitmas- double ouch. It's easy for me to say this on this side of things, but it's true- this is just another example of how NOTHING is forever on this planet. Don't put your trust in a job or a paycheck, or stock, or other people.
Also, Craig is travelling this weekend. Thank God gas prices have come down so low! I can fill up our car for *gasp* less than $20, and that takes me 380 miles down the road!!!! But the prayer is for me, and my sanity, as I am fully in charge of my extremely spirited 7 and 4 year olds. I guess it wouldn't hurt to pray for Craig's safety, but we all know where the real danger lies. Ha!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

It's getting a little harder now

Our next door neighbor is a 3rd grade boy with whom Jonas likes to play after school in our yard. They ride bikes, terrorize the cat, and other boy things. He's not a bad kid, but he does have an older brother and sister and a single parent. So he's been exposed to a few things that Jonas hasn't, and he doesn't have any younger siblings.
I've told Jonas to make sure he stands up for Carleigh if the neighbor boy (we'll call him NB) picks on her or leaves her out of games. Today I said in so many words, "You need to tell NB that you can't hang out with him anymore if he isn't nice to your sister."
Five minutes later I see Jonas, alone, in the driveway. His head is bowed and his shoulders slumped in an obviously defeated stance. I ask what the matter is, and he turns to me and tearfully explained that NB decided he'd rather not play with Jonas if it meant having to be nice to the 4-year old sibling. Jonas is so sad, and confused.
Am I wrong here? Jonas asked why it matters if his friends are nice to Carleigh or not, and I explained that sisters are more important than friends. For some reason that sounds wrong. All people are important, but that means all people are worth treating well. Jonas gave NB a choice and he chose the path Jonas didn't want. This is NB's loss, not Jonas'. Right? Or should I have told Carleigh to simply stay out of the way of the boys and there wouldn't be a problem? I told Jonas he will have lots of friends, but he will never have another sister. Is that too dramatic?
I want to teach Jonas to stand up for what is right, no matter who it involves. Maybe next time I will stress that aspect instead of the sister aspect.
Sheesh- he's only 7, and his angst is already causing me this much introspection. Imagine my blog entries by the time he is 16.

UPDATE- since I've been writing this he has already moved on to other things. No hint of tears or worry. The kid bounces easily!