Isn't she lovely?

Isn't she wonderful?

Snowmageddon 2012

One week of being trapped at home = lots of

Eating

Playing in the snow

Taking Pictures of the "extreme weather"

Making Forts

Reading in the fort

Making creative lunches (stoplight peanut butter and jelly sandwiches inspired by Cars 2)

Exploring indoors because outside is just too damn cold and some people are too damn young :-)

and more playing in the snow

It's been fun but is it over yet?

A new kind of Ohhh Face

Oh

Ohh

Ohhh

ohhhh

Sweatin' to the Oldies

Nothing like a good old fashioned workout with my trainer...

Richard Simmons

Enough Said.

Big Decisions

Life is full of choices. Some are easy and some are hard. I have a big decision to make, and I mean big. For some, this may be a no brainer. For me, this is one tough call. To go or not to go...

You see, we, as in Harv and I, along with my brothers and sisters on my dad's side, have been invited on a family vacation to France in May. 

Occasion: My dad is going to be racing a Formula 1 car in Monte Carlo
Incentive: Free trip to France, John and Patty McKenna style (meaning, no Youth Hostiles this time)
Possible Deal Breaker: No kids
REAL DEAL BREAKER: I have never left my kids overnight.  Ever.

I know what you are thinking? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??? The answer is yes.  I am.  Either that or I am completely spoiled and an all expense trip paid to Paris, Nice and Monaco does not entice me to leave my kids for 10 days.  Or 7.  Or 5.

So, why is this a blog post? Two reasons really.

1) If I don't go on this fabulous trip with my family, I want my kids to know just how much I gave up for them.  You see, everyday I ask Roderick if mommy and daddy can go to France for a week and he continually tells me, "no you can't."  Now when I leave the house on a grocery run he tells me again that I "can't go to France."  He is really taking this to heart.

2) If I do decide to go on this fabulous trip with my family, I want my kids to know just how hard this decision was for me.  In fact, I have made the decision to stay back many times.  My babies are young and God forbid there be some horrible emergency, I would never forgive myself.  Odds are that everything would be wonderful, my husband and I would enjoy this special time and my kids would bond with their Grandma's/Aunts at the same time!

Right now, at this very moment, I have no idea what to do.  I know that everyone else in the family has their sitters lined up and are going to Europe in May.  I am secretly envious that a) they were able to make a decision and stick to it and b) they will be able to have a good time knowing their kids are in great hands.  This is when I really wish I could you know, "live each day to the fullest, think positively, make time to do the things I love."  I want to tell myself that I will go and I will have the best time.  That I will miss my kids just like the others and that is ok.  Instead I picture myself crying myself to sleep, worrying that everything is going ok, and counting the seconds I could see them instead of enjoying my vacation.  If I could change ONE thing about myself, it would be my worrying.  It has kept me from doing a lot of amazing things in my life and I want to make sure this is not one of them.  At the same time, my kids are babies and leaving them home would be difficult for anyone to do.  So, I have a decision to make and I have to make it fast (Tough decision huh? I know. You don't feel sorry for me.  And you shouldn't.  I am so very blessed.  SO very blessed my friends).

So, which view do I choose for 7-10 days in May???

This?

Or This?

This makes me think of that country song by Lonestar, "The view I love the most is my front porch looking in."

"There's a carrot top who can barely walk

With a sippy cup of milk

A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong

'Cause she likes to dress herself

And the most beautiful girl holding both of them

Yeah the view I love the most

Is my front porch looking in."

While I write this blog post, I have been interrupted by both my kids, even as we creep up on midnight.

Case and point. They need me just as much as I need them.

And before I decide if I can leave the country for 10 days without my kids, I should probably try and leave them for 1 night with my friendly neighbors? Not the same thing, I know, but baby steps guys, baby steps. 

Snow Days

What is it about the snow that makes it feel like Christmas even when its not? What is it about the snow that makes you feel like you are 10 again even when you are not? What is it about the snow that makes you want hot cocoa, a warm bath and a good book even when you have a million things on your "to do list?"  I love what the snow does to us.  It forces us to slow down, appreciate the beauty of nature and pause, even if only for a moment. 

Yesterday the snow starting falling on Anderson Island and it was nothing short of breathtaking.  Now if you follow Prita's blog as well, you will notice that I totally stole these amazing photographs right from her site.  I totally did (Prita, is this where Kiki gets totally??? It totally could be- Ha).  I have to admit that I LOVE this whole Junebug Photography business.  It doesn't suck that she happens to be my neighbor and take amazing pictures of my family.  What does suck you ask? Oh, that I have started to analyze my awful picture taking skills.  Yep.  I look at her photographs, look at mine, look back and hers and I realize, WOW.  She must have a waaay better camera than me.  Only kidding.  I realize that photography is not one of my talents and that she has a gift.  How lucky I am to be her neighbor.  Thanks Prita capturing "what matters most" yet again. 

If Vampires are from Forks

Why do I have one here in South Bellevue? 

This is South Bellevue right? :-)

10 Months Old...

And Mckenna is crawling, pulling herself up, sleeping through the night and TALKING.  I swear she says, "momma." Even Roderick thinks so.  Happy 10 Months Baby Girl.  I have no idea where the time has gone but having you has brought so much joy to our life.  We love you Sis. 

PS- This just in Sis. American Girl has introduced their doll of the year and her name is MCKENNA.  She has blond hair, blue eyes and is from Seattle. I can't believe they named a doll after you. Oh wait, yes I can. XOXO

American Girl of 2012: Mckenna

2012... The Mayans have it all wrong

2012 cannot mark the end of the world.  No way.  We are just getting started.  For New Years, we began a family tradition on my dad's side of the family.  It was ALL MY IDEA to head East of the Mountains to ring in the New Year.  Ok, so maybe I didn't come up with it but once suggested, I was totally on board!!! We rented a house on Lake Entiat, just 20 minutes outside of the adorable town of Leavenworth.  We took day trips into town and the boys even took the "big" kids to Mission Ridge for some sledding.  I wouldn't say this was the most relaxing weekend of my life but it was a lot of fun.  With 8 kids all under the age of 7, the house was full of noise, game pieces, and lots and lots of laughter. 

Liam (age 6)
Elsie (age 3)
Moraiya (age 4)
Roman (11 months)
Kennedy (age 2)
Mara (6 months)
Roderick (age 2)
Mckenna (10 months)
Ben (age 37)

Oh, sorry Ben.  I have no idea how you made that list :-)

Weekend Lows:
- Grocery bill (sorry dad)
- Liam and his many time outs :-)
- Roderick and his many time outs :-)
- Sleepless nights in a house where sound easily travels
- Moraiya accidentally eating HOT HOT HOT sauce
- Prita's fall on the ice
- Chris fall on the ice
- The boys playing Risk for HOURS on their iphones...Boys, Boys, Boys??? Helllo???
- Sharing the bed with Roderick who tried to kick me out several times
- Watching Harv TRY to sleep on the floor since Roderick would not budge (sorry Honey)
- Dad's fall on the rocks (he's ok folks)

Weekend Highs:
- Chris sharing his love for reading Bibliographies (still laughing at this one)
- Playing Memory with Raiya
- Ringing in the New Year with the kids at 8:30 pm
- Ringing in the New Year with the adults at Midnight (Oh, and Sis who would not sleep.  Yes.  She was really up at midnight)
- Shopping in Leavenworth
- CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN LEAVENWORTH
- Watching Liam and Elsie enjoy non-vegan ice cream for the first time in their life
- Getting to know Thedra
- Playing Pictionary and being one of the BEST players on the girls team :-)
- Enjoying the "conversation starter" cards
- Playing cars with Roderick and reading books together
- Watching Mckenna look at the Christmas lights and eat ice cream from Cold Stone
- Watching Kiki look after/boss around Roderick.  She's a girl after my own heart.
- Sean's impressions of Coconuts LOL
- Late nights with Prita and Jamie
- Bonding with family members :-)

Looking forward to our next New Year celebration East of the Mountains! Who is booking the house???