Thursday, December 13, 2012

Laugh or Cry....We chose to laugh

This past weekend Scott & I had planned on getting away for a night to relax and renew our marriage....well due to a nasty flu bug our awesome friends were sick in bed and unable to take our kids!  NOT a problem...we decided that we would bring the kids with for a family weekend!  Well, by the end of the weekend my sarcastic nature had come out more than once (lovingly of course) and it wasnt the weekend we had planned at all!!

On Friday we decided to take the kids to the holiday parade downtown Mpls, before checking into or hotel!  Well, 2 hours of driving, inability to pass on winter storm like roads found us still NOT in the cities and we quickly realized that we were NOT going to make it in time! :(

SO....because our kids were starving and the food options were fast food or Pizza Ranch...we opted for PR.  NOT excited about that!  It's not that I mind PR...but part of the excitement of going away for a weekend for us is eating new food.....and we can get PR here!

By the time we got checked into our hotel it as bedtime......have you ever tried to share a room with your two kids....who can hear and see everything in that small space!! NOT fun!

Kinley got sick during the night....NOT fun!!

I had unplugged the clock due to its bright light!! NOT a good idea. At our house, Soren is NOT able to get out of bed until the clock says 7am! Well, that meant him waking me up several times to ask 'what time is it?' Because he was SO excited to go swimming

The pool was freezing and the hot tub was scalding hot!  NOT fun!!

We were unable to do the adult things that were NOT kid friendly! :(

Soren did love being on the 9th floor so he could look out at all the buildings and towers!

We did end the weekend going to see the Santa Train at our local YMCA..a huge hit with Soren.

Even though it wasn't the weekend we had orginally planned...I spent it with four of most favorite people! :)






Other than spending it with my family....Scott did surprise me with a 1.5hr massage at a spa I used to go to when we lived there!!  Thanks Hon! :)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

HOPE

This is more of a personal post!  As I write it, I am nervous that I am able to communicate all my thoughts and feelings effectively....as I am not the best writer!  However, Scott and I have recently said that we feel we could write a book on pregnancy (ok, just parts of it!).

6yrs ago when we intially started talking about having kids....it wasn't an issue for us!  Having Soren was a breeze! There was hope for more kids!

Fast forward a few years and then there's Miss Kinley! Some of you know that it took us 2 yrs to get pregnant with her! Through many MANY doctors appointments, procedures, medications, and surgery we were blessed with her.  We experienced SO many feelings of a couple going through infertility.  The highs and lows and everything in between. The song that really kept me going and pushing me forward was Jeremy Camps song "There Will be a Day"

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end,
His word declares this truth
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew
 
But I hold on to his hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering
 
There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always
 
I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you've walked out all alone
 
Troubled soul don't lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of lifes sting
 
But I hold onto this hope and the promise that He brings!
 
Most recently my hope was that we would be able to get pregnant again!! Without the 'help' of doctors this time!  Much to our surprise we did!!  What a glorious surprise that was!  However, shortly after Thanksgiving we miscarried! Jeremy Camps song once again was a comfort to me but in a different way this time. One that still gives me hope.
 
I have SO many thoughts roaming around my head that I am just going to throw them out there!
 
~When going through fertility treatments with Kinley, there were days I was hopeless but *most* days were hopeful. You see I feel like as an OB nurse you get a different perspective things. I was hopeful because I had only been trying 1 year, instead of the couple that had been trying for 7 years.  I had a healthy boy at home, instead of the couple that didn't have any kids.
 
~With our miscarriage, I see the number of people that have a misscarriage in their health history...we are not the only ones.
 
~I really feel that it's our perspective that has allowed us to navigate through these murky waters of life. We need to be reminded that we live in a fallen world. A world full of sin and sadness.  We are not in heaven yet. We cling to the hope of eternity with Christ...where all these pains will be gone.
 
~I feel like we've experienced a little taste of many angles of pregnancy.  My hope is that we can help someone else. We are not afraid to chat about it....so if you are struggling and wanna chat pls ask! We have been blessed, we have learned and we want to share that hope with you!
 
~My last hope is that in the next few months we will be able to share some good new with you! :)
 



Monday, December 3, 2012

Monkey see....Monkey do!

 Kinley wants to do EVERYTHING Soren does......whether it's cooking or playing she's right next to him!! :)
 

Church Cmas program

 
This year Kinley and I were invovled in the Children's Cmas program at our church. We were 'attending' a baby shower for Jesus.  Needless to say, Kinley wasn't having anything to do with sitting on my lap during my speaking part and 'broke the ice' for the evening.
 
 
Soren did an excellent job singing with the other kids.
 


 
 Away in the Manger with baby Jesus.
 
 He spoke loud and clear!
 
 
A sibling picture.....a tradition.

A favorite time of year

Christmas is my most favorite time of year.  The excitement and preparation for Jesus' birth!  Soren has grown to love this time of year also.....he could barely stand to wait for us to purchase a Cmas tree.  Once we did, I couldn't get the lights and ornaments out fast enough him.  He was more than willing to help in whatever way he could.  Here he is 'checking' the lights.


 Hanging up John Deere ornaments is SO exciting!

The Little People Nativty scene has become a favorite of both kids.

 
After all the excitement, Soren took a break to 'read' a bit.

Rewards

Since Soren could technically be in kindergarten this year and we chose not to send him we decided to have some 'school' at home.  After he completes 10 assignments with a joyful attitude he gets a reward from the 'jar.' Two of his rewards are as below.
 

 He got to have a date night with mom.  He got to choose anyway how he wanted to spend our time.  He chose to go to Caribou (so I could get a coffee :) ) SO SWEET, we played tic-tac-toe and then ended at Runnings....so he could check out the tractors! :)
 
 

Another date night included bowling and to spice it up we invited some friends!



Pre-Thanksgiving

Both kids and I got to spend some time with my mom, dad and sister's family for the week before Thanksgiving.  Here's a taste of what kept us busy.
 
 Mom, Siri (ok, mostly Siri) & I made lefse and flatbread!
 
 Getting advice from Grammie.
 
 Signe & Grammie
 
 The Penn's have a great yard for playing in!
 
 Kinley loving Grammie's rocking chair!
 
 Soren's first time ice skating....with assistance the first go round!
 
 Kari and Siri giving it a try!
 
 Soren loving on Grandpa!
 
 Sneaky Kinley got Grandpa's iPad.....
 
 Thumbs Up on Grammie's jetted tub!!
 
 Kari was given STRICT instructions to stay out of the mud........
 
Thumbs up on ice skating also!
 
We had a blast!  Soren just asked yesterday if we could start packing to go again!!!