The Day After

Brian took Ethan in to the doctor this morning so I could go to the gym.  What a good hubby!  Dr. Staats did a test for mono (since he has literally been coughing since Halloween) and hoping to rule it out.  We'll find out the result this afternoon.  If it is negative, then he may need a chest x-ray at the hospital.  Unfortunately both of their fever came back so Tylenol it is again since we have no prescribe drugs =0(

 Sickie #1

 Sickie #2

Kaika's wondering why the boys are home but so calm and quiet

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Some people like starting their own family Christmas traditions and having their own family time on Christmas, but this year I'm finding that I don't.  In fact it actually stresses me out having to do all the planning, cooking and entertaining (the kids) the entire Christmas break.  I guess I would rather be with the rest of our family...and since we couldn't travel this year, the day felt even more lonesome =0(  I like low-key but it was way too low-key for me.

We ended up spending our Christmas Eve day painting our master bedroom*.  Yup, you heard me right.  A couple of days ago, Brian got all the furniture moved to the  middle of the room so he could paint the baseboard.  Well, he didn't want to move them all back only to have to move them again (when we're ready to paint), so...we sucked it up and just did it - Brian with the flu-ish and all.  Crazy I know but now it's done!  Then Christmas Day we were greeted early not by our children but by our dog.  Apparently, Brian forgot to shut Kaika's crate (when he put him to bed) and he woke up ready to celebrate.  Haha.  We did manage to have a great day despite all the sickness that is going around.  Ethan just got over a 48-hour fever and now fighting this horrible, horrible coughs that won't seemed to go away.  We're taking him into the doctor tomorrow because his neck gland is swollen/protruding and will probably need antibiotic.  Gavin just came down with a fever tonight and Brian's body is continuing to fight it as he has on and off body aches and pain.  No fun.

 'Twas the night before Christmas

 

*Behr match to Benjamin Moore Moonshine in Eggshell

Christmas Letter 2014

 

 

2014—A less chaotic year with much more balance.

Gavin turned 2 in February and we started off the year celebrating him. Mr. Independent, who does not want to be helped, will undo whatever you did just so he could do it all by himself. He was potty trained in a week and was soon moved into a big boy bed. Because of last year’s ear infection saga it took him a little while to talk. But there is no holding him back now. Trains, puzzles and being big brother’s little side kick are among his favorite things. So thankful for his infectious smiles & laughter that fill our household daily.

After a year of searching the crazy NoVA housing market with multiple offers that got outbid, God finally led us to a short sale house. Exactly where we wanted to be. With that came a complicated process: aligning multiple parties and all the paper work together. It was such an emotional time and a testing of faith. But by God’s miraculous hand, we closed on the house seven months later. We couldn’t be more thrilled! Brian’s parents came out in April to help us move and settle into a new place we can now call home.

A month later, Brian took the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional exam (LEED AP) and thankfully passed! Soon after, my parents headed our way to help with the major house projects and also watch the boys. Leaving all the stress behind, we headed to the Bahamas to celebrate our 10 year Anniversary. With no time restraints and no responsibilities, we sat and relaxed by the beach together. Something we haven’t done since our honeymoon days. It was wonderful & so freeing!  

4^th of July was spent BBQing and catching up with our good friends in West Virginia. We filled the rest of the summer with all kinds of fun activities from swimming, soccer and Vacation Bible School. We completed the summer with a family beach vacation to Ocean City, Maryland.  As always the boys loved it and didn’t want to go home.

In September, Ethan started kindergarten and absolutely LOVES it!  For someone who is creative & an enthusiastic learner, it didn’t surprise us one bit.  Going to school all day everyday has met his physical, social and intellectual needs - something I couldn't do for him.  And because of that he comes home content every afternoon. I’m also enjoying this new season of life that is calmer and quieter with more one-on-one time with Gavin and for Zumba, Bible Study Fellowship & Mothers of Preschoolers.

Ethan turned 6 in November and we were glad to have Brian’s parents visit again. Not only is Ethan  excelling in school, but his love for Jesus & others is growing exponentially as well. The Holy Spirit is evident in his life as he is “Salt & Light”* to those around him. Unfortunately, we found ourselves here in Virginia this year for both Thanksgiving and Christmas with no traveling plans. But we are definitely looking forward to seeing our family next year.

We have had a wonderful year, and we hope you have too. May our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in this Christmas Season! Wishing you many blessings in 2015!

* Matthew 5:13-16

The Ultimate Gift

It has been a busy two weeks of Christmas celebration from Harvest Christmas party to our small group get-together to Ethan's school stuff.  Here are some pictures from all of that:

Bethlehem Walk complete with a live nativity scene

 Ginger Bread House and Pajama Day at school

 

Harvest Fairfax first Christmas Eve service
 

All of these things in the mix of Brian's crazy hours at work last week, the height of Gavin's worst tantrums ever (which I will save for another post) and unfortunately the flu that is sweeping through our household right now.  It was kind of a rough Christmas season and hard for me to get into the "spirit" of it this year especially without any family in town, but nevertheless God reminded me that it isn't about any of that at all.  Instead Christmas is about God's ultimately rescue of us through Jesus because we could not save ourselves.  I've been studying the Life of Moses this year through BSF which had opened my eyes to the parallels of the symbolism of the Ark of the Covenant & the Tabernacle (OT) and the death & resurrection of Jesus and what He represents (NT).  "It is the story of God's deliverance - God's people delivered from God's wrath again sin, delivered by God's power, delivered for God's glory!"  So this Christmas I am thankful for God's love which came in a form of baby Jesus and is the best gift of all!

Chuck E. Cheese's

Caitlyn's & Emily's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese:

Both boys first time there and they had a blast!

The Battles Rage On

Lately I am discouraged and emotionally exhausted and at a lost really.  Parenting Gavin has been anything but easy lately.  Here are some of the stuff we're going through right now:

• Gavin has always been independent and prefers to do EVERYTHING himself.  However, now he has somehow reverted back to this baby stage where he refuse to do ANYTHING by himself include using the bathroom.  He will stand there screaming and crying because he has to go so bad, but will not actually go unless I take him, undress him and hold his hand.  Then redress him again.  I stood my ground with this manipulation last week which resulted in him peeing on.the.floor.everywhere.   
• We're also going through this at night where he used to wake up in the middle of the night, use the bathroom by himself and go back to bed.  Now he will cry in the bathroom as if he's mad that no one is waking up to help him.  Then continues to stand in the hallway wailing in order to wake everyone up and would not stop until one of us comes and puts him back to bed. 
• He is now refusing to nap so I'm implementing quiet time in his room anywhere from 30-60 mins.  The rule is he can play quietly or read, but he is not to come out of his room.  Well guess what, he sure test his limits with that one.
• So I hang on to the hopes of "if he doesn't nap at least he goes to bed early."  Well that isn't the case either.  Bed time is a battles us because he continually comes out of his room.  We've tried time out and spanking which seemed to enrage him and wind him up even more.  We've tried ignoring which is fine on other nights except Tuesday nights when we have small group and he becomes too distracting for everyone.  We've also tried talking him through it which seemed to be the best method.  However, having to do this on repeat every.single.night gets really tiring.  So now we're trying the positive reinforcement where he gets a sticker on a chart if he stays in his room during quiet time and another sticker at bed time.  I'm praying that this works because we're totally stumped.
• Because he's choosing not the nap now, Gavin has a daily melt down at about 3:30 pm right when I have to go pick Ethan up from school.  That continues at school, through the car ride and back at home and while I have to make dinner.  Fun times.
• We're also battling meal time where he never wants to sit and eat and then complains about being hungry all the time.  But that's another story.

Anyway, early on this week I woke up feeling very frustrated at this whole situation with Gavin to the point of anger.  I just knew I was not in a good place.  I felt like I needed to pray and plead with the Lord - for wisdom on what to do, a Godly balance of discipline & love and self control.  Along the way, I felt like I had somehow failed.  I don't know.  Why is he testing us to the max?!  I just thought that we're nearing the end of the two's but here we are still.  Anyway, the Lord heard my prayers and He showed me that He cares by giving me the extra energy I needed.  I was able to follow Brian's advice in being intentional in teaching and making cleaning "fun" for Gavin.  It was a good day!

And today, Gavin stayed in his room during quiet time (even though he emptied his entire drawers and closets and then shoved everything behind the glider).  Hey I'm picking my battle.  Tonight was also a success as I had to put both boys to bed (since Brian had to work late) which I was SO dreading.  But he didn't protest and didn't even come out once.  I couldn't believe it!  Definitely a sticker reward and lots and lots of praises tomorrow for sure!!!  There is hope after all...

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

So a lady from MOPS invited me on a spur to her office Christmas party where they were doing a Toys for Tots drive.  Essentially bring a toy, get a tree.  And since it pretty much fell on the same day we were going to get a tree, I thought why not.  As it turns out, it was a really lovely party and just a blessing to our family for the day.

 

 Cute boys, creepy Santa

 Did I mention it was an 8-foot tree?! The biggest & most beautiful tree we've ever had!

Ethan requested these now that we have a fireplace

Since we usually travel somewhere every Christmas, I normally would get our tree up, decorate it and then call it good.  Simplicity & low key is how I roll.  However because we're not going anywhere this year I somehow felt put the pressure (on myself really) to go all out and make it a little bit more homey and Christmas-y.  Just a single tree in the corner seemed so lonely.  So I went through a "freaked out" moment last week thinking of all these things I want to do to the house and all the stuff I need to go buy.  Like I wanted lanterns on the steps leading up the front door, garlands with lights to wrap around the outside rails and lights on the house. While I'm at it I wanted to add garlands for the stairs inside.  Not to mention buying stocking stuffer for the newly hung stockings and all of sudden, I was so overwhelmed.  I never ever get caught up with all these "things" at Christmas time and I'm not sure how I got myself here.  Anyway, my husband kindly reminded me that it doesn't have to be this picture perfect thing especially our first year in this house.  Plus we can always add to it each year.  I do like the sound of that...especially when we still haven't located the outside lights for the house since we've moved.  We definitely have some digging to do.

Just for Laughs

Adventure with Daddy at Lowe's