Sometimes he gets sick of me.
March 10, 2010 | Filed Under ABQ, Judah | 7 Comments
Unfortunately for him, I was bored and he was in a five point harness. And I’m not easily dissuaded. Especially when I could tell he wasn’t really too irritated. Just mildly.
It’s Friday! Amazon Delivered!
February 27, 2010 | Filed Under Daniel, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Love is..., Photos, Sewing | 17 Comments
I present to you….
My new sewing machine:
I’m excited. I think. More scared, to be truthful. I waited like five hours to open the box. It frightened me.
When I bought my first dslr camera, I opened the box and was able to start taking photos. Not good photos, but photos nontheless. With the sewing machine, I opened the box (it was a struggle, man. I think I broke out in a sweat trying to pry the freakin’ machine out of the box!), took the machine out and stared at it. And then I took a photo of it. Because that’s what I do. I think I heard it laugh at me, actually.
I’m not sure what my next step is. Perhaps buying some of the accessories I need? Reading the manual, for sure. Fabric?
Yikes. I’m intimidated. But excited too!
But I was (and the kids too!) more excited to see Daniel come walking through the door. Best part of the day (any day), hands down.
And he brought me flowers. Because he loves me.
Happy weekend to you!!
The Weekend.
February 22, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Daniel, Eve, It's What's For Dinner, Judah, New Mexico, Photos, Texas | 16 Comments
It was fun.
It was busy.
It was supremely tasty.
Friday night we ran lots of errands and then Daniel took our family to a local Mexican restaurant. So fun! We ate our dinner while listening to live music. Loved that.
The food was mouth-watering delicious and authentically New Mexican.
We had a wonderful time until Judah melted down in the parking lot. Such is life.
Saturday we headed out to the Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo. Amazing. Seriously breathtaking. It’s a wild sensation to be driving across the plains, surrounded by enormous fields and stinky cows, and then BOOM. A huge canyon. Red walls, massive rocks… a refreshing change of scenery.
The kids had a fantastic time “trailing.” Daniel and I realized that I don’t do so well with “off-trailing.” I’m not so adventurous, apparently. Along the trail we saw some interesting animal tracks; some that struck large amounts of fear into my heart. Like, the fresh ones that looked like them belonged to a large cat. I got the chills looking at those! Yikes! Good thing Judah brought his “trusty ‘ol gun,” as he fondly calls it.
Daniel explored a cave and took the kids up the side of a cliff. Fun times in the beautiful weather. Unfortunately, because the trail was so low, we lost the sun and warmth fast. Brrr! I couldn’t get back to the truck fast enough. Eliza and I were popsicles! Daniel and I took a second before leaving to take a couple of photos, proof that we were actually at the canyon with our kids. I live with a goof-ball. A mean goof-ball. These photos were right before he stuck his ice-cold hands onto my back!
Since we were so close to Amarillo, and Target (!), we headed into town. Hiking made us very hungry so we stopped at Blue Sky for some burgers. Daniel had heard it was great and indeed, it was! I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of grease.
And the Anaheim chili sticks… awesome!! Wowza. I wanted to lick the bottom of the basket. I refrained. It was touch and go, though.
Sunday, we recuperated.
An awesome weekend! I am so thankful that Daniel is home. Life is so much happier, goofier, tastier, and more adventurous.
P.S. Not so sure about the big photos. I’ve never really cared about them. But, with the (blasted, horrid, I am horrible at making them) blog boards, bigger was better. We’ll see about the bigger photos… I find it annoying to have to scroll down to look at the whole thing.
Daniel and the kids re-unite video…
January 7, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Daniel, Deployment, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Military Life, Perspective, Video | 44 Comments
I thought you all might like to share in our joy.
I video-ed on my mighty little Flip video camera when Daniel and the kids first saw each other at my parents house.
Just try not to cry.
Untitled from andrea hub on Vimeo.
This video is after a few minutes had passed and Eliza was in the process of warming up. Thank the Lord for Skype! Daniel and I directly attribute Eliza seeing him and talking to him via Skype to her recognizing and quickly being comfortable with him.
Eliza warms up from andrea hub on Vimeo.
The “reintegration” process has been absolutely seamless. The kids have fallen right back into rhythm with Daddy; the only issue I can see is that they have to learn to trust Daniel again. Trust that’s he’s here to stay… they tend to get a little frantic, asking for him when he leaves the room or to run out to the truck. Especially Eliza.
Right now I am laying on a couch on Columbus AFB in Mississippi watching the Texas/Alabama game with Daniel. We are well on our way back to New Mexico and it has been a wonderful trip thus far. I will write a detailed blog about our trip once it’s over but truly, it has been an amazing time as a family. I am thankful for every minute I sit next to Daniel in our truck. The kids have been complete angels and we have made some great memories.
This is the first time I have been on my computer since Sunday (I KNOW!) so to say blogging has had to take the back seat would be an understatement but this family time minus any distractions has been a blessing. But I am very much looking forward to getting back into a rhythm. I am so much happier and peaceful now… as my brother David said today, I am a “totally different girl!”
And I really am. Daniel does that to me. I’m so thankful for my magnificent husband!
Miss Eliza Dove turns two!
December 24, 2009 | Filed Under Birthday, Birthday Letters, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Photos | 15 Comments
This is what happens when I say “smile!”
Apparently Daniel and I jumped the gun on the name “Eve.” But, how were we to know that down the road a few years we were going to have a daughter born on Christmas Eve. And how much would she have hated having her name cleverly be “Eve” because of her birth day.
Her “real” smile.
Regardless of names, Miss Eliza turned two on Christmas Eve. I can’t believe it has been two years.
Seriously, how has it been TWO YEARS? Someone call the police and report time thievery!
I can’t really explain to those of you who have not met Eliza just how much of a delight she is. Words don’t really do her justice. But as a start… she is a wonderfully chubby ball of fire rolled in sweetness.
I absolutely adore the daylights out of her.
Again with the “smile!”
All I can ask of my sweet, sweet girl is this:
Darlin’,
Stay a baby for me, won’t you? My baby. Whether you are a delightful two, sweet sixteen, a wonderful twenty-nine with three babies, seventy-five and old and grey… always, always be my baby.
Please never stop letting me hold you, or kiss your cheeks, or tell you that you are my reward.
You are the very best ending to the second very best thing I have ever done in my life.
You, Eliza Dove, make my heart sing.
What do I say to you all day, every day?
“Mama loves you.” Because I do. I really, really do.
Love,
the crazy red-head who kisses you an average of 87,634,297 times a day
Love is…
November 29, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Judah, Love is..., Photos | 24 Comments
Love is… not caring that he wears his pants backwards on a regular basis…
Love is… adoring your baby sister even though she’s a brute and occasionally beats the crap out of you…
Love is… holding hands and walking in the same direction…
Love is… not always needing to talk…
Love is… sometimes eating dirt together…
Love is… helping each other up…
Love is… making sure the other is no worse for the wear…
Love is… brushing off the dirt…
Love is… together, holding hands, face to the wind…
Love is… staying close…
Love is… being content with each other…
Love is… understanding that it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind…
Love is… enjoying the ride…
What is love to you?
Judah’s Four!
November 27, 2009 | Filed Under Birthday, Judah, Photos | 19 Comments
(Judah’s card from Daddy…)
Judah-
Happy Birthday! I love you sooooo much. I am very proud of you for growing so big. You are four years old, how cool is that! I’m going to need a 4-year-old-boy-hug when I get home.
I love you my son.
Love your Daddy
Judah is a very blessed little boy to have Daniel for a Daddy. Daniel and I are very blessed to have Judah as our son. And I am very blessed to have that baby boy out of my body.
He was… 9 pounds and 23.5 inches long. I was… miserable.
But now I get hugs and kisses and a little boy who wants to marry me. The misery was completely worth it…
Judah’s best birthday present was from God… SNOW!
I made him (and Eve) close his eyes and I led him outside. Such excitement when I told them to open their eyes! Well, except for Eliza. She has forgotten her Vermont roots, apparently.
A happy day and a happy FOUR year old boy.
(Mama’s pretty happy too… “Three” has gotten the heave-ho! Hooray! May “four” be a much easier and less dramatic year, please.)
Emotions
November 10, 2009 | Filed Under Deployment, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Photos | 29 Comments
These are my kids:
Attitude, Drama, and Toothless
I’m never bored.
Ever.
We expressed some emotions today:
Tired (Why yes I am, thanks for asking!)…
Mad (Some of us more than others)…
Silly (All of us)…
But, there’s lots of love…
Lots of love…
Too much, sometimes…
Mama sees the look of desperation in your eyes, baby. I’m comin’…
We love you and miss you, Daddy. We promise to save a bunch of kisses and hugs for you…
Love me always, boy…
October 23, 2009 | Filed Under Judah, Photos, Quotes | 10 Comments
(Judah in beautiful abandon)
“Love me always, boy, whatever I do or leave undone.
And–God help me–whatever you do or leave undone, I’ll love you.
There shall never be a cloud between us for a day; no, sir, not for an hour.
We’re imperfect enough, all of us, we needn’t be so bitter…
And life is uncertain enough at its safest, we needn’t waste its opportunities.”
Taken from “Jackanapes”
Written by Juliana Horatio Ewing
Reading this quote (I have no idea where I saw it first) today really made me stop and think. There is so much truth packed into it…
Unconditional love; not letting anger get a foothold even for a moment; the blessed assurance that none of us is perfect so let’s allow grace to rule and move on already; the reality that life is delicate and shaky at best so live with abandon…
I love quotes. I have a book that I use to collect tons of them into. But now, I am noticing a shift in my thinking… a more thoughtful, quiet, slower way of looking at life (I am, after all, an old lady…pushing thirty.).
I find myself mulling over and over again, certain writings; figuring out if they are truth or just someone blowing hot air up my skirt. And this one? Truth. I hope to walk out this simplistic profundity all of my life.
We found a new place to play…
October 18, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Eliza Dove, Eve, Fall, Judah, Life in New York (the apple trees and dairy cow part... not the city!), Photos | 18 Comments
I love finding new places to take the kids on hikes…. they call it “trailing.” That term always makes me giggle a little.
With three (active) kids, one who is particularly prone to wander,
…walking on the sidewalk through town doesn’t work out so well. Besides…. snore…. boring.
The other day, while on the hunt for a road-side stand that sells spaghetti squash (still looking, by the way), my eyes found a new trail! One that I have driven by approximately 48,297 times over the course of my short-ish life of 28 almost 29 years.
Hooray! The kids loved it. And I loved it because the wanderer…
…could wander all she liked and I didn’t have to worry a bit. The trail was quiet, except for one very sneaky biker (Scared me twice! Who knew a bike could be so quiet on crunchy leaves!). We played and played.
And took pictures… I like this one in particular. Miss Eliza is giving her brother the look that sums it all up… “the sideways look.” You know, the look that says, “I’ve got your number.” And oh, she does. She’s a force to be reckoned with, that one.
It was a fantastic time. We couldn’t wait to go back!
So today, after the kids did the jumping, begging, clapping hands thing, I said, “twist my rubber arm… we can go again!” Immediately I was crowned “Mother Of The Year.” And I stayed “Mother Of The Year” until the next time I told them, “No.” to something they wanted. Fickle, fickle small children.
The girls were so staid; quietly walking down the trail hand in hand.
The boy? Like a bull let out of the pen!
Three year old boys are such a phenomenon. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry… Long-suffering sigh… All I’ve got to say is, “Thank you, Lord, for little boys and their birthdays.”
I would be at fault if I failed to mention that Miss Eliza Dove chose her red shoes today. And I commended her, you know. Because every day is a good day for red shoes, I say. Even “trailing” days.
We had a great time until we hit the wall. The “cold” wall. And then it was time to take our chilly selves home. We had nachos and pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting to eat, and “101 Dalmations” to watch. Nobody fussed, not even poor Eliza… though sometimes it’s really tough to be the little guy.
Happy Sunday! Here’s to a great new week….
My life right now looks like…
October 11, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Deployment, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Life Stuff | 28 Comments
this…
I am so busy my head spins. I am pulled in every direction, so thinly that at times I am certain you can see right through me. Everybody needs a piece of me, right now.
I have lost myself along the way of this deployment. I’ve known this for awhile. But, I can’t care. It’s not about me right now. Life is about the kids, about keeping Daniel’s spirits up, about keeping life moving along.
There are moments, more often than I’d care to acknowledge, even in the vein of this honest post, that I feel I just can not go on. Not another moment. Not another breath. I can’t deal with anymore, anything. And then I do. I do and I do and I do.
Sometimes I cry. I gnash my teeth. I yell. I pout. I stomp my feet at God. I feel that all of this is very unfair.
And then I move on. Because I must.
I am doing pretty good right now. Usually at this point in the month, I would be very funktified and yet, I am not. Even amidst the craziness of life, the kids and I have been having a lot of fun; we are enjoying Fall and enjoying homeschooling. We have had a long string of really good days dotted with some terrific outings. And there are plenty more on the horizon. With five birthdays in the next two months and all of the holidays… none of us can wait!
But keep praying for me, will you? I sure do need it.
More than half way through now…
Fall in my pocket…
October 5, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Fall, Judah, Life in New York (the apple trees and dairy cow part... not the city!), Photos | 21 Comments
Fall in my pocket
Miss Eliza deemed me her treasure carrier tonight on our walk. My pocket was full of acorn tops, leaves, and a pine cone. I drew the line at the sticks and the rocks…
Fall is unequivocally my favorite time of year. I love it. Love it.
Fall in my hand
Here at my house (probably like yours!) we are eating apple pie, pumpkin pie, drinking apple cider, eating homemade applesauce, burning apple cinnamon and french vanilla candles, plotting our dinner plan for Thanksgiving, smelling woodsmoke, wearing fleeces… the list goes on and on.
Fall is our favorite
This week my goal is to find free apples. I want to make more applesauce to can, and lots of it! My kids inhale the stuff. While I love going to an apple orchard to pick apples, the amount of apples I want would put me in the poorhouse. So, I am determined to scour the countryside for abandoned apple trees or non-abandoned apples trees with very generous owners! Wish me lots of apple finding luck…
Fall underneath me
Today I bought two pie pumpkins from a stand on the side of the road. One dollar each. I am planning on roasting them and then making pumpkin pie for our breakfast this week. The kids think that pumpkin pie for breakfast is the most natural thing in the world. And I love that!
Fall all around me
Some of my favorite fall things include: the smell of woodsmoke and leaves, having to wear a sweater but not a jacket, the sound of leaves crunching under my feet, my kid’s rosy red cheeks, cool rainy days, the colors of the trees, and the food, of course!
Fall above me
Tell me, what do you love about Fall?
One year ago today: I didn’t post… for shame!
Two years ago today: A Fall Delight
More tooth drama and a movie question….
August 29, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Judah, Life Stuff, Photos | 49 Comments
So.
Judah got his front tooth knocked out tonight.
And not the dead one, mind you.
I was vacuuming the kitchen when I heard crying… I turned around and saw Judah crying with blood pouring out of his mouth and no front right tooth.
I think I am still in a state of shock. I had envisioned him possibly losing his front left tooth, the dead one; it would have been a planned event. I had been able to process the possibility.
But now, there’s no right front tooth. That baby was knocked clean out too. Root and all. I found it on the floor of our bedroom.
Apparently this happened during the game of “hide and go seek.”
Door met toy, toy met tooth, tooth met floor.
I totally cried like a baby.
Within ten minutes I was on the phone with a really great dentist and family friend who practices out of Syracuse, New York. Nothing we can do, he said. And the new tooth most likely come in until 7 1/2 or 8 years of age. That feels like an eternity!
I do have to say, Judah is one tough cookie! After I got to him, he cried for maybe ten seconds. Little dude then went on his merry little way as if nothing had happened. Amazing for what looked like a very painful tooth extraction!
So frustrated and sad about the state of Judah’s mouth…
Anyway, I have a question for you!
The other day I netflixed “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” for my kids to watch. They all adore music so the musical movie was a huge hit!
What I want to know is… what would be your suggestion for other musicals that my kids could watch?
I have never been too into musicals but I thought that you might be!
And I must say, you all came out in full force with your music suggestions and ideas! My playlist is now FULL of your suggestions and songs that you call your own. So, I just know that you’ll be able to give me some awesome ideas for musicals!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Almost too busy…
August 27, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, In the blue bowl, Judah, Life in New York (the apple trees and dairy cow part... not the city!), Photos | 23 Comments
…to remember that I miss Daniel. But, not quite. He’s consistently right at the front of my mind. I never have to think about him… I just always am.
Having a deployed spouse puts you in this limbo-ish kind of state. I am here, in the flesh, but my heart and my mind are wherever Daniel is.
Well, these last few days have flown by and I have been busier than ever. That is a victory in and of itself. I didn’t actually think I could get busier! But I have.
Monday was hanging out with Molly (spending the day with her while she spent birthday money, eating hawaiian pizza, being attacked by bees, laughing our faces off, you know… hum drum) and then picking loads of blackberries.
Tuesday was all about the blueberries. And getting sunburned.
On my way home I decided to drive the roads that would take me past my childhood home. Sigh.
All I wanted to do was run up the stairs and flop myself down on my bed. I was overwhelmed with memories. I stared at this photo for the longest time tonight… it was like I had a slideshow running through my mind. I miss it.
Today my mom and I processed 15 dozen ears of corn; ten for her and five for me. Phew.
I got about thirty two bags of super sweet, amazing corn to freeze. It was a lot of work but I am so thankful to be able to do it. I will be especially so come February!
In the blue bowl this week, we have blackberries paired with some very bright and cheerful sunflowers.
And this little boy, just in case you were wondering, has all of his teeth still in his head!
I was at such a loss. I didn’t know what to do about his dead tooth. I was praying, Daniel was praying and then I noticed that his abscess was starting to recede. I kept careful watch and to my surprise, it has completely disappeared! I am keeping an eye on him but thank God! All I want is for all of his teeth to stay in his head until they naturally fall out. I can totally deal with him having a grey tooth.
I think I have about caught you up! Any questions?
Oh, by the way, you’re awesome. And you look great today!
Okay, really all caught up now.
Our day in very few words…
August 22, 2009 | Filed Under 26 week deployment and alphabet adventure!, Andrea, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Photos | 11 Comments
I can hear that sigh of relief, you know!
I do tend to get wordy at times.
Good thing I married a talker. Not only are we a spectacular match, we rarely run out of things to talk about. Happy company, he is!
Anyway, our day was good.
See…
I have beautiful flowers gracing my table.
I found out how much my kids weigh without having to go to the doctor. We were inside a brewery, actually!
I have a sweet baby girl with an insatiable curiosity. Just like her mama.
There were extra opportunities for hugs and kisses.
I stepped in fresh horse refuse. Oh wait… that’s not good. It squished between my toes. Disgusting.
I found Maclaren’s next baby model for their stroller line. If only I could get Eliza’s hair under control. We might have a deal then.
Other good things…
We made a spontaneous visit to the Genesee Country Village – adding another “G” thing to our “G” week, my mom brought us dinner (Yay!), the kids played abnormally well together at bath time, my dad came over and played with the kids while I slipped away to buy… diapers (how exciting!) and the sunset tonight was phenomenal.
Do you know what’s best about this day though? It’s one day closer to being with Daniel again.
