Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Bluey Break

Esther just woke up from her 1.5 hour contact nap and I need a break. Bluey to the rescue! Also I gave her a chocolate truffle. She's happy as a clam and I am getting a half hour to myself. I took this time to order size up shoes for Esther and a book for Reuben and am writing this blog post. 

2025, I have so many wishes. Crafting and spending time with my kids. Long afternoons reading with and without my children. Board games! Drawing, painting, jewelry making. And I would love to have some extended talks with my husband about everything under the sun. 

And decluttering. Cleaning. Homeschooling. Life.

We've been sick again. That weird migraine/flu thing came back for 24 hours and I was legitimately afraid.  Becky was doing well with it but Reuben was bed-bound and crying for some of it and it was breaking my heart. There is nothing like seeing your poor kid in pain and not being able to help them. I mean, I was trying. We did a herb bath, cold compress on his head, naps, resting, vitamin C and other supplements that I know are good for the flu and homeopathic remedies. This was the day it snowed and iced like crazy so we honestly could not get out even if it was an emergency--and it wasn't an emergency, I was just so sad to see him so sick. He felt better by the end of the day and was 90% to normal today. God is so good--and it is hard to trust him through the trials, especially with my babies. But my babies belong to Him and are gifts of God from his hands of mercy. I am so grateful for my three blessings that I get to raise for as long as God has plans for us. His ways are good.  

I'm so glad Becky, Reuben and Esther are healthy this morning. I'm so glad our electricity didn't go out during that storm. I am so glad we were able to stay warm and comfortable even if our heat pump broke from all the ice (Brian will fix it this weekend). What a crazy whirlwind. We made it out to Piano today and the roads are fine. I have more errands to run tomorrow and Thursday and will keep hoping for ice-free freeways. 

Here is to the weekend, the gym, and resting with a cup of tea and maybe some knitting. 

I think we are having cereal for dinner. 

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Oh my Gosh

The new year hit like a bang. It's always something, right? We went to our church's new year party from 7-9 and that was a ton of fun! I didn't know how long we would make it with a one year old whose bedtime is 7:30pm, but Esther actually took a late nap that day and was fine. It was great to fellowship with friends and bring in the new year together, though we were the first to leave (well, another couple left before us but they were not going home, they were going to another party, so I don't think it counts lol).

I woke up to sick Esther. She had a fever and was covered in spots. When I say spots, I mean spots! 

90 percent of her body looked like this or worse. I don't know if it was roseola or fifth's disease but baby girl was miserable for all of January 1st. She woke up normal on the second but still covered in spots. Her spots are finally clearing up today, January 4th, and she's back to her cute and energetic, though speckled self. On the 2nd around 3pm both my older kids suddenly came down with migraines. Reuben had a headache all day but it ramped up and nothing I was giving him was helping. He put himself to bed around 7 (super strange for my night owl son) and I was worried about him--he was not acting right and seemed very sick. Becky followed suit. I gave them meds for the flu and both of them slept through the night and woke up with only a cold on the 3rd. They are both fine now except Reuben has a sinus infection. 

I, however, am exhausted. Esther isn't sleeping well the last few days (probably whatever she has) and with her and the sick on/off kids and you know, all the other millions of things I do--its just been a week even though it's only been four days of 2025. 

God is good. Reuben and I have been reading through Samual in school and we are at the part where Saul becomes king and I've never been so introspective in my life. I mean everyone wants to be David who is the man after God's own heart but I think I am way more like Saul who does what he wants and ignores God's precepts and rules. I am always ready to justify my own sin just like does. I feel so sorry for Samual who tries to point Saul to what is right. I have been meditating on that verse where it says Samual stayed up all night crying to the Lord after he found out Saul did the sacrifices himself and did not obey God's commands. What parent hasn't felt like that at least once in their kids life? We want so much for our babies to love and honor christ and to become more like him and it's agonizing to see them struggle and fail. I think that is what Samual was going through. He loved Saul and really wanted to see Israel flourish under his rule and to see God glorified and all Saul does is lie and chase after his own fame. And poor Samuel didn't even get to see his own kids love the Lord. It's all just sad and so, so real. 

I never thought I would relate to Saul. I hope I can really dedicate myself to the Lord and not half-half anything so important as that. My soul is worth more, my kids are worth more, and God is worthy. 

Esther Rose is in full toddler meltdown mode today and I ran upstairs to write this and I'm listening to her cry and fuss a bit at daddy who is trying. Trying to do what, I do not know, because I am up and he is down but I can hear some of it. Sometimes it is hard to let him parent when I think I can do it better or I think he's doing it wrong but I am touched out! 

I wish my husband could read my thoughts. It would make life so much easier because somehow translating my thoughts into words confuses him. Why can't he ever hear what I am saying? Why is communication so hard? I sure don't know. I definitely have high expectations which doesn't help. 

Next November will be 13 years of marriage. 

It's supposed to snow tomorrow!

Becky played the piano today and it was beautiful. 

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Thoughts on 2024

In 2024, Esther grew the most. She went from baby to toddler, and the transformation has been so cute! She's over 25 pounds at 20 months old and wearing 2T--and it fits her just right! She actually needs some more clothes, all the 24 months and 18-24 things I have she can't wear. We are just cycling through the same 4 outfits! Hah. 

Esther in Jan 2024 vs December 2024

I don't really make new year resolutions anymore since having kids, homeschooling and keeping up with life is more than enough for me on the daily. If I had to come up with one, it would be make time to be more creative in my own personal life since that always takes a backseat to the chaos of my existence. I miss painting. I have made several necklaces that I haven't had time to post here and also a few shawls that I need to take pictures of and post! But I am a crafting fiend and always have at least 3 ideas in my head on the daily that just get shoved around until I forget about them.  

I love doing crafts with the kids. Esther has hit an age where I am able to craft more!! Hopefully 2025 brings some slow crafting hours to my busy mom days. 

Becky has grown a lot too. I have seen her go from the toddler-five she was when Esther was born and now next month she will turn 7. She is so helpful especially with Esther and can do a lot for herself that she couldn't do two years ago when I was pregnant with her little and much anticipated little sister. She's having some stomach pain that I hope we can find the cause of and cure in 2025. And I am loving doing first grade with her. Becky loves crafts just as much as I do (And Reuben does too) but she also loves drawing and coloring and her room is a hoard of snipped papers and discarded sticker backs! She's amazing and being her mom is everything I could ever want. I can't wait to spend 2025 seeing her grow and being a part of her life.


Reuben is hitting the tween years. He's so helpful and as the oldest child, authoritative. He will tell me when I'm wrong, and he will also tell me very matter-of-fact what he thinks I should be doing even if he is wrong. Hah! Nine is such a fun age. He's so smart. He remembers everything and has a million questions about the world, space, God, and quantum mechanics. I have fun googling with him but usually I just tell him to ask his father. I don't know what is brain is doing, but it seems to be on large amounts of caffeine that I am not feeding him. I need more caffeine. 

I am loving doing fourth grade with him. Reuben just learned to crochet this year and loves it, besides playing video games, assembling legos, making origami and concocting wild games with his little sister. He's so helpful at bringing me water. I can't wait to see him grow into a teen and young man in the next few years. He loves to remind me that it's only 6 years until driving! Good gracious. He just started reading chapter books like How to Train your Dragon and it's nice to see him cozy up on the couch with his reading glasses and a book. 

Next year he needs to go to the dentist, a lot. Pray we can find a good dentist close to us. 


Brian turns 40 this year which feels like a milestone. I'm so thankful for 12(?) years of marriage and I couldn't ask for a better father for my children. 

Here is to 2025 and all it entails. 

How are you all? Any new years resolutions? Have a great last day of 2024 and I'll see you next year.