The Many Faces of Handsome

The many faces of handsome are all the same face to me. This face. Is it not just heart melting?!?

So what is this hunk up to these days? Well he is always trying to keep up with his big sisters. He loves all balls for every sport and he seems pretty coordinated too. If it's up to him you'll find him outside playing soccer or throwing the basketball. But he also loves to cuddle and he snuggles up to his momma on a regular basis. The only other thing he feels quite so intensely about is food. "Foo Fil-a" is his favorite (Chick Fila), but he also knows where they sell donuts and he's very quick to point it out if we happen to drive by. He loves dancing, singing, and just being an all around love bug boy. He recently got off the bottle 🍼... hooray! And he's showing some interest in the potty but for now still prefers pooping by the window, but gets mad if you come into the room because obviously a boy needs his privacy to poop in his diaper. He talks all of the time and with each stage that comes and goes I get a little sad thinking this is the last time we will go through this, but also it's very fun to see him grow. So bittersweet I suppose is what they call that feeling. And a reminder to enjoy him in every stage. His big sisters adore him and he is truly a delight in our family.

 

 

 

 

 
 

Shaun turns 35!

My young and devilish husband recently turned 35 and I forgot to document it... for shame! Actually, he probably doesn't care. He doesn't love birthdays as much as I do, but few adults do love birthdays as much as me. We had a simple family celebration on his birthday and that weekend we had a date night. So nothing as fancy as going out of town for the weekend, but a step up from going to the mall on our anniversary. And really, as much as I love celebrating, it really is about just spending time with the people you love. That's what this Birthday was all about.

Obligatory family cake photo!

Date night at Firebirds, our new favorite restaurant.

So happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life. You keep me young at heart, and that's not just because you're three years younger than me. You make me laugh and you are the perfect yin to my yang.
 

 

Budding Musicians and other talents

Now that Shaun's career has taken off, it seemed like the right time to start thinking about music lessons for the girls. We inherited a free piano last year and we finally got around to having someone come out and tune it. Amelia started piano lessons about a month ago and she's doing a great job. Ella on the other hand has been drawn to the guitar, so she started taking lessons about a month ago as well. Now our home is alive with the sound of music... always... no seriously, always. Okay, so it can get a little crazy at times, but I seriously love to see them learning and developing talents. There's nothing that brings me greater joy. Shaun has been learning along with Ella so sometimes they practice together. We were given Shaun's guitar by a friend who was moving and we are currently renting Ella's guitar. 

I still need to get a photo of Amelia at the piano, but I'm happy to report that they are both thrilled to be doing different instruments. The same can be said with their other hobbies. Amelia is quite athletic and enjoys running, basketball and soccer. Soccer season has recently started back up and she's thrilled. She also joined the running club at school. 

And here's a picture from her first soccer game.

Ella took the picture so we got more field than we did Amelia but that's okay. 

And when it comes to sports our Ella is quite talented as well, but she's more of a solo sport person. She's been horse back riding since the fall and is progressing nicely with her lessons. I think being with the horses is also therapeutic for her to some extent. Too bad her mother doesn't really know a thing about horses, but I did go with her to her last lesson (papa has been taking her up until now), and it was great to see her on Dottie, the horse she typically rides. 

I guess you could say I'm very proud of these guys. Not to mention they are both on the honor roll at school, and Amelia received a couple of other accolades including receiving the "heart of kindness " award in her class, which makes me proudest of all. I tell them more than anything I want them to 

1. work hard 

And

2. Be kind
 I often feel like I'm completely messing up as a mom, but some moments I feel like all of these life lessons are starting to sink in, and these two are becoming beautiful and lovely young ladies. At least some of the time. And I'll take sometimes. 

Amelia with Liam during her award ceremony 3rd nine weeks.

 

 
 

 

 
 

Winter's Last Hoorah!

We've had a relatively mild winter this year. Most of February temperatures stayed in the 60's and even 70's. I'm not complaining either. I could get really used to mild winters. Maybe a move south is in my future one day. But that being said, the kids were getting sad that we weren't going to have any snow at all. Luckily, a late March storm brought their dreams of sledding to a reality, if only for a day. 

Our one and only winter hoorah! It was fun while it lasted. Now bring on Spring I say!
 

Ella's 9th Birthday

Happy 9th Birthday Ella Celeste!! I admire your passion and your tenacity for life. I love you more than words can express my beautiful chica. I'm excited to see what lies in store for you this year. 🎈🎁🎂💕

For her birthday Shaun had breakfast with her before school as is tradition now, I had lunch with her at school, and we celebrated with nana and papa that evening when we had dinner, presents, cake and ice cream. Then just yesterday she took a friend to the movies. 

Breakfast with daddy at Denny's.

 

Lunch at school 

Singing to the birthday girl 

Present time. 

Ready to go see the Lego Batman Movie 

 
Happy Birthday chica! Love you lots.
 

 

 

 

We've Finally Arrived

Shaun's company threw an amazingly fun holiday party in January. I mean, really. They made the tiny pin I got after working for the county school system for ten years look pretty lame. Oh wait, it was lame even without the comparison, but his company really knows how to throw a party.  For starters, they threw it at s resort in Loudoun. They paid for a room for the night for anyone who wanted to stay. Shaun and I took advantage of that and had our first overnight away from the kids in over FOUR YEARS!!! We were long overdue. The resort was beautiful. We felt pampered just being in our room. We took advantage of the hot tub before the dinner started. We weren't quite sure what to expect since this was Shaun's first year with the company, so we didn't go overboard with dressing up. I wore something that could be dressed up for a party or dressed down for going to work. But next year I'm going to have to go a little fancier. After all, when does a girl really get to get dressed up? But the food was great, the door prizes ranged from new tvs to a trip to Antigua. Yep, not your average door prizes. And best of all, Shaun won a tv. With only about 100 employees the odds were decent of winning something. We didn't need a tv, but it was still awesome to win it. We traded it in for store credit at Target. Kinda lame that it's mostly been used on groceries, but that's the stage of life we're in. Anyway, back to the party. It was like going to a fancy wedding. They had music and dancing after dinner until midnight. Shaun and I both love to dance so it was really fun to party like we were young again... except we aren't. But we could still pretend. They had a photo booth and we enjoyed that as well. I'm already looking forward to next year. I'm so grateful for this amazing new job for Shaun. The work itself is a good fit for him as he's training and he does a great job teaching. He seems really happy with his work and considering the long road we've been on to get here I'm so proud of him and happy for him. We've finally arrived. I kept thinking that all night long. It's been a long road of schooling, underemployment, unemployment, crappy employment, decent work, and now a wonderful job. It's actually got me questioning my own job and what I want out of my future career. But that's another post entirely. I'm grateful for the road that's brought us here, because it's made this success all the more appreciated. 

Here are some photos from the work party. Super fun! Our room was very comfortable. Lots of good pillows and a big king size bed. 

All dressed up and ready to party!

Enjoying the photo booth

And dancing 

And of course the tv we won

So there you have it. We've finally arrived!!!
 

 

 

 
 

Come Alive

I recently read this quote from Howard Thurman and it really resonated with me. "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Over the past several months I've been very thoughtful and reflective as I've thought about my life and where I'm at. A combination of factors are influencing my thoughts on the subject. Always first and foremost is my relationship with God. I've thought a lot about the process of becoming more like Him. This very literal process in fact where I shed the natural man and become His daughter, sanctified through Him. I know as I look to Him He can take my weaknesses and make them strengths. He can take my strengths and make them an amazing gift to bless the lives of others. It's really pretty remarkable what we can become through Christ. So that is often on my mind. Am I actively trying to BECOME as He is, not just passively allowing life to act upon me. In the process of enduring to the end, am I merely being acted upon, or am I actively seeking, finding, and trying to be better? So that is always in my brain, influencing my decisions and my choices. And then I think about my personal life. I love being a mom and there isn't much that I would change about my personal life at this point in time, except I hope I am soaking up life's little moments and treasuring these three sweet and precious kiddos. I hope I give my husband the attention and love he deserves as often he is the last one to get attention. The last one besides me taking care of myself. And in that domain, I wonder if there's more I should do to better myself. As a mom and working professional, there is little time left for any hobbies or special interests I might have. I'm content to spend most evenings folding laundry while I watch a show on the History Channel or another PBS favorite (I know I'm a nerd but I don't even care). But the Lord has given me talents. Am I using them? Also, am I taking time to do things that bring me joy? Well again, this time and season isn't really suited towards that, but I could carve out time to go for walks or jogs more frequently, be in nature, work on a little fitness, maybe get a little more into photography? I don't know. I don't want all of my interests and hobbies to fall to the wayside, but they kinda do anyway. Except of course for decorating... decorating is a passion, and I do wonder sometimes if the future might allow for a career change. So that brings me to thoughts on my professional life. I don't think I've ever made a better choice than to go to part-time a year and a half ago (well, taking this job almost 13 years ago was a great choice, and getting my Master's, and deciding to go into Social Work period, but still one of the best choices). Since that choice was made Shaun's career has taken off and he's now making double what I made full time(kinda sad because I realize I make peanuts but also pretty awesome for him). For so many years I was the primary bread winner, a role I gladly relinquish to him at this stage of the game. But I do wonder, as I reflect on the quote above, if my career really makes me 'come alive.' Aspects of it do I think. There is always going to be a part of me that wants to do social work, but lately the flakey parents and lack of support and appreciation from administration (not at my schools really but from my Central Office) have me considering if this is the path I want to stay on. I don't think I'm ready to make any big changes right now. My focus is my family and this job allows me to take care of them and have the flexible hours I need to put them first. But even though the hours are part time, the responsibility isn't. I frequently check work emails and I have even had to start writing reports at home lately because things have been so busy. That cuts into my laundry folding and PBS time... for shame! I have options though, and options are always a good thing. I could: 1.go back to full time eventually 2. stay at part-time and pursue other hobbies and interests (I lean towards this one) 3.go a more clinical route and go into the private practice world or another area of social work 4.leave social work altogether and focus on interior design or another career path (home staging gets me giddy). These are all things that I consider. And really, I am very grateful that I even have those options. For so long I had no other choice than to just keep on keepin' on. We have been truly blessed and I am grateful for the Lord's love and blessings in our life. Shaun is loving his job and his newest job has me feeling like we've finally "arrived." I guess meaning we are finally at the place that I had always hoped we would be at. We are aggressively trying to pay off debt and then we hope to save to move into a single family home within the next two to four years. I am very grateful for those material blessings. I just want to make sure that during the process I focus on trying to better myself and be the best possible me that I can be. For my children, for my husband, and ultimately for myself.