Million Dollar Smile

Mom, I need to talk to you about something.

I'm a little confused and I need some answers.

 

Why is this hairy thing with the cold wet nose

always sniffing me?

And why are you making all those funny faces and noises at me?

Are you trying to get me to show my dimples?

Okay.  I will.



I know how much you love my smile.

Annual Deer Hunting Trip

Every year in early December we head to my sister Lisa's house.  Travis hunts and the kids and I hang out with Aunt Lisa and all the cousins.  It is such a fun time and something we look forward to each year.  Travis really enjoys hunting and loves being out in nature.  I love hanging out with my sister and nieces and nephews.  It's a win-win situation.

My brother-in-law Chris and nephew Christian with his buck.

Travis and Christian

Papa and his girls.

Aunt Lisa snuggling Thomas

This year Travis got an 8 point buck on the first morning out hunting.  He was very excited!  He is having it mounted so if you would like to come meet Bambi, you can.  (The deer was supposed to go in his studio but now we aren't sure if it can be out there.  So we are negotiating where it will hang in our house.  I"m trying to compromise, people!  Wish me luck!)

He also got a big doe when he went hunting with his mom's neighbor back in Milo.  (I don't have any pictures of that one yet.) 

The girls love venison and can't wait for deer steaks.  They can have my portion.

And Papa can't wait to take his girls and Thomas hunting one day.

Family Traditions

A few years ago I learned that decorating the Christmas tree as a family is WAY more fun if I set up the tree and put lights and bead garland on by myself.  I usually do this part a day or at least a night in advance.  This way our tree decorating traditions don't include mommy swearing and being in a bad mood. (Papa used to do this job but was forced to resign.)

We turn on Christmas music and I dig out my blinking light bulb necklace.  (Because that's normal, right?  Wearing blinking jewelry?) 

Papa is in charge of the ornaments and doles them out to very excited girls.  We all wear Santa hats and clap when Papa puts the star on top.  We got the star light on our honeymoon and the girls never tire of hearing the story of how we found it.

Once we are finished, we admire our work and then break out the hot chocolate and candy canes. 

Next year our littlest helper will be 14 months old, and surely considerably busier than snuggling with me this year.  I can't wait for him to join in.

In order to ensure minimal swearing while decorating next year, I donated our Christmas tree when I took it down this year.  That way I will be forced to get a pre-lit tree.  Smart thinking I hope!

Although the tree is down and the decorations packed away, the memories we made are here to stay.

(Wow.  I am really amping up the cheesiness for 2012.)

This year we started a new tradition, a gingerbread house.  Grandma Marker (Trav's mom) gave us the pan last year and we put it to good use. 

More later,
Lori

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Clendenen family!

Tom

Four Things That Have Been Keeping Me Up At Night

1.  Thomas Howard Clendenen.  He is a very good baby but has been fussy the last couple weeks.  He is only two months old after all.

2.  Miss Zella.  She wakes up at the crack of dawn every day.  It seems to work out that Thomas will wake up to eat at 3:30 a.m.  When I finally fall back asleep after feeding and burping him Zella wakes up for the day.  At least she is in a great mood!

3.  Violet fell into a swimming pool at a hotel we were staying at.  I had to jump in with all my clothes on (and shoes) to get her.  Seeing the fear in her eyes and face while she was under the water struggling has kept me up many nights since.  We are very thankful she is okay.

4.  Some crazy road rage guy threatened to kill me at a stop light in Mason City.  (He motioned for me to go ahead of him but when I did he freaked out for some reason.)  He was screaming and yelling every nasty and derogatory thing you can say to women at me.  Violet and Thomas were in the van with me and I was scared and angry.    He started to get out of his truck at the stoplight to "teach me a lesson" but I threatened to call the cops.  Thankfully the light turned green.  I keep looking over my shoulder even though I know I probably won't ever see him again.  Jerk.

I much prefer reasons one and two for keeping me up at night. :)

Time

Time is sand through my fingers, trickling down before I can stop it.  Part of me would love to stop time and savor the ages and stages of my kids.  Yet I am excited to see them grow and find their own paths in life. 

I woke up one day and suddenly:

*Madeline can read.  (REALLY read as she would say.)  I feel proud and excited that she loves books as much as Travis and I do.  I hope she always does.

*Zella is almost five. (FIVE!!!)  Her excitement for everything around her is contagious.  She is hands down the most fun kid to give a gift to. 

*Violet is walking the line of being a little girl/big girl.  Sometimes she'd like to be both.  She is talking so well and is quite a dancer.

*Thomas is almost three months old (this may be the most unbelievable).  He is smiling, cooing and he rolled over two weeks ago.  Seriously.  HE ROLLED OVER. 

*Somehow having a fourth child has made Travis and I more mellow and relaxed (mostly).  I'm not sure how this is possible but it is.  We have slowed down and enjoyed this stage of our life more than we have before.


I told my sister Karen that I "came up for air" and ten weeks had gone by.  I am getting the hang of four kids six and under slowly but surely.  I'm figuring out what works and what doesn't.  (The hard way, of course).  I am going to keep figuring it out because I don't just want to get through motherhood or be okay at it.  I want to be a great mom who makes meaningful memories with my kids. Travis and I have so many dreams for our family and every day we wake up we get a chance to make it happen.

Yet another online pep talk.  And once again I am a mushball who over shares.

But I am who I am so once again I will hit "publish post" instead of save. 

Yours sincerely,
Lori

Something to Think About