The Wall

I have been wanting to brick the kitchen wall for three years.  We finally did it. It was hard and Steffen did 95% of the work.  It took us three weeks but I love it.  I also love that he didn't sleep the night before because he was stressed about the grout.  It was really hard at first and there was reason to be stressed,but like with everything in our life, we figured out how to make it work together.  It has taken 16 years for us to figure out how to make our life work, together.  We really do make a really good team.  And it really has taken 16 years. Sometimes I wonder how we have made it this long because we do annoy each other, but I KNOW that I am where I'm supposed to be.  And I love him, and I love my life with him.  So, the wall is a symbol of what we can accomplish with teamwork.

Let it go...

Cody's fifth grade concert.  I cannot believe he will be graduating from Elementary school next year.  I really just love the person he is becoming.  He is one of my favorite people to be with.  I can't wait to see what he becomes.

2:30 church sucks and Gingerbread Houses

So, today we planned to surprise the kids with Taste of Texas.  Way too many people so we ended up at Papasitos where we waited for an hour for ok food. But it was a calm meal with no yelling.  Not too many of those on a Sunday.  

We also did gingerbread houses today.  Works of art.

So this happened today.

Alex is a trooper and has done this without pain meds.  He is a rockstar!!!  I am really sick of broken bones. They are a major time suckage.  

CrossFit

I fought it for a year.  I still haven't gone in 100%.  I am still a little weary.  But, I can see where the love comes from.  

I have always wanted to workout with Steffen.  In 16 years we never have.  I would always see THOSE couples at the gym, the totally fit ones that I hate, working out together.  I wanted that.  Well, it happened.  He finally wore me down.  And he said that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was for me to join CF so that we could work out together.  

I am still a little weary about getting hurt.  I use light weights and can't do a pull up, but it feels good to be accountable for my progress and to see my name up on the board.  

My first injury:  scrapped the skin off of BOTH my ankles.  Days later even air hurts.  ❤️ it.

I love my kids.

You never know when they might not come home.  I am trying to remember that the little things don't matter.  That if Shea uses my towel and it is wet when I get out of the shower, is it really a big deal?  Or when I spend seven hours on a photo book for Grandma and because of crappy Internet and broken computers I lose everything, does it matter?  In the big scheme of things, no.  I really do love them and I really can't imagine what kind of person I would be without them.  But sometimes I wish they would set the table, or clear the table, or at least offer to help.  Sometimes I wish Zach could go five minutes without kicking his soccer ball in the house.  But he is getting so good...I find myself not caring about the dirty, round marks on my walls.  I really don't want to wash sheets and make beds every day.  But it does remind me that they are still little.  And who cares that I have to remind my 12 year old that he really does have to shower more than just Sunday mornings?  I just hold my breath.  All of these things remind me that there is still six of us.  And that is perfect.

Turkey Dash 2014

I really do not like to run.  I have never had a runners high.  I don't get an adrenaline rush.  I don't feel accomplished after a long run.  A few years ago I did a half marathon, just to check it off the bucket list.  I trained hard and was prepared.  After the race I didn't run again.  Well, I have a few kids that like to run.  So, I have started again.  We started small, a 5k.  We trained in the unseasonably cold Houston weather and again, we were prepared.  And the race was great.  It was fun to run next to Cody and Alex and it was satisfying to cross the finish line, but not because I accomplished something, but because I did it with the boys.  THEY accomplished something.  The older they get, the more I enjoy being with them.  Cody ran the entire thing without stopping.  I was so proud of Alex and Cody.  Shea, Zach and Steffen ran the one mile.  For them, it was enough.  Zach shot off like a bullet and then 10 feet later said he was done.  But, he is a trooper and finished it and even sprinted the last little bit.  

So, even though I hate to run, I want my kids to love it.  It is a free way to stay in shape and it can be done anywhere.  I hope that it continues to be something they enjoy.  And I guess that I can pretend that I love it too.

I love Trios.

All summer long Cody and Zach spent the days building things with Trios.  Stepping on Trios became normal.  When school started, it stopped.  Then, this morning, the first day of Thanksgiving break, this is what I found.

I don't know if it's the schedule of school days that keeps the Trios in their box or if they just equate vacation with Trios, but whatever it is, I thank the Trio people.  I love Trios.  I love what they have done for Cody and Zach.  I love the relationship that they have and I owe it all to Trios.  I love hearing "do we really need to have an elevator?"  And then the conversation of the pros and cons of an elevator on the current project.  

Round 56

Zachary.  One of my very favorite people.  He is 6 and is totally self sufficient.  He dresses himself.  He gets his own breakfast.  He can do EVERYTHING all by himself.  Tonight he was dishing out his own icecream and I asked him if he needed me for anything.  After a few seconds of very deep thought, this is what he said.


"I need to you for spelling words.  But I won't need you for very much longer."


I want to raise independent kids that can fend for themselves and can think on their own.  But, I really need to be needed.  I know my kids want my help, but they really don't NEED it.  In the end, I guess it is my fault but I really thought I would have more than six years with Zach.