Goodbye 2008...

I can not believe the year has gone by so quickly. Is it bad to say that every year? I have learned so much this year, and feel blessed to know that I have learned so much.
This past year Ty played on his first baseball team and was a shining star. He completed the first grade, and moved on to the second. Tyler grew so much in his reading (he now reads chapter books) and writing skills. He began and completed without compliant, his first season of football. Ty has grown so much, and I can see the man he will become beaming from his actions and words more and more each day. He is a patient (most of the time) brother. Ty has made such wonderful, thoughtful gifts for me and is such a special boy. I look forward to seeing him grow even more in 2009 and seeing all of the wonderful things in his world unlock and the doors open wide for him.
Nate, always "that child" has had a very healthy 2008, and I am so VERY thankful for that. At each birthday for him, we reflect on just how lucky we are to have him with us. I am so happy. For all of his quirks and for all the chaos that surrounds him, he is the most kind hearted child. Nate is a ball of energy that is contagious to all that encounter him. Nate has grown to be a big brother this year, and has dealt with the change seamlessly. Nate has learned each and every letter, recognizing and writing them. This is Nate's last year at home before he starts preschool full time, and then kindergarten, and I am grateful to know how quickly time flies by so that I can enjoy these moments with him.
We welcomed Brody into the world and our family just a little over a year ago. It is amazing to see his personality develop and to watch all the firsts occur. That never gets old. Brody is such an important part of our family's dynamic, and I can not imagine what life would be like without him here. In just a year he has melted my heart with his sweet nature and calm, loving disposition. To think in just a short year my baby has learned to sit up, roll over, stand, walk, talk, climb (and no I'm not talking about a dog) and love us. He was loved before he was born, but he shows us in his way every day how much he loves each and every one of us in our family. It astounds me to think in just a few months, he will be a big brother, a role I know he will embrace, because that is who is he is.
After 6 years together I still find new things I love about Nathan. We are not perfect, and I wouldn't want to be. We have had our moments this year, but I am grateful for them. Each argument has led to new understanding and new found appreciation. It has not been an easy year for Nathan, and I have seen him persevere. That is a quality that is so important when times get tough. Even though admittedly Nathan is not the world's most romantic guy, he shows me how much he loves and cares for me in his own way, and sometimes those ways mean more to me than extravagant displays of affection. I am grateful for another year with an amazing man. I will always count myself as one of the lucky ones. Relationships are not easy, and they only get harder with time and with every new stress and new addition to the family. I think it comes down to making the choice every day to let that other person know that despite everything you love them, that you still choose them. We have been through so much, and we have come out on the other side every time.
I look forward to a new year and new beginnings. I know this coming year will add only more craziness into our lives, but I also know we will face each challenge together as a family and I know there will be so many new, wonderful memories to be made. I have to say, I welcome the new year, and all the new experiences, good and bad, that it will contain. I look forward to seeing each of the children grow and change. I look forward to all the new life lessons I will learn.
I hope you all have had a wonderful 2008, and and even better 2009. Be safe!

Merry Christmas to All...

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!!! Thank you so much for all of the Christmas cards and gifts. The boys are so thrilled with all of their new gifts and I am so grateful for everyone's thoughtfulness and generosity. It was a bittersweet Christmas this year for my family. We had a very emotional, tough Christmas Eve. Some of you know what happened, and I am choosing not to disclose anything on my blog, for privacy reasons, and those who do know, I ask you to please respect our privacy and not share it with the world. I know it is unfortunate that I am writing that, and it is not out of distrust, I just feel the need to say it to respect our feelings. I do want to say thank you VERY much to those who were so supportive and who stayed on the phone with me, and who helped out. To you, I am forever grateful and I am always amazed by the selflessness and fast acting nature of people in a tragedy, and it touches my heart in a way I can not describe. We are, again, so grateful.
Christmas Eve, the boys and I did end up going to my mom's house. Although the visit was brief, the boys and I had a great time. Thank you for everything!!! Christmas morning the boys got up early, but not too early (7:30 am) and as our tradition goes, I went downstairs to make sure Santa came, and got the video camera ready to go. The boys were so happy with all of their toys. They then helped hand out gifts and opened their presents from us and from our family that does not live around here. Again, they were SO excited and happy with everything. This year Nathan's parents had taken the older two boys out to pick out gifts for each other and for Nathan and I, and after they were done opening their gifts, they were equally excited to have us open ours. Nate got me a Christmas mug for my hot chocolate (an afternoon treat we share together) and a Christmas plate. Ty had made a really cute necklace at his school for me, and also picked out some earrings, and a little jingle bell bracelet. It's nice to know he associates jewelry with girls!!! It was so wonderful to see what they picked out for each other too. Their gifts to each other were actually really well thought out, and they got each other things that they knew the other would really want. I am so happy to have such thoughtful boys!
I spent the rest of our free time Christmas morning opening all the boxed gifts and getting them in the trash and am very proud to say before we left for Nathan's parents' house, all the gifts were opened and put away where they belong, and all the trash was out. Yay me! We spent the afternoon at Nathan's parents house and had a great time. Again, thank you all so much! Nathan and I had two of my close friends, Kerrie and Kristina, over that night, and Nathan's brother Adam came upstairs with us and we all played games and just had fun. I must say, being the only one not to have wine last night, I will be VERY glad when I can again enjoy a glass. I could have used it after the past few days we had. I am glad I got to add to my wine cork collection though... I only have about a hundred and fifty more before I'm done, and even then I think I'll still collect them to start to make the boards for others. So once again, if you open a bottle of wine, think of me if it has a real cork and put it aside for me!!! I actually get really excited about them, and love adding them to my bag. For those that are wondering what the heck I'm talking about, I have a bag of real wine corks (not the plastic ones) that I am adding to always to make a real wine cork-board. A project I've been working on for about a year now.
Anyways, I again, want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Thank you, thank you, thank you for EVERYTHING!!!! Enjoy the pictures.
Brody enjoying some ribbon on Christmas Eve Ty and Nate Christmas Eve at my mom's Before the boys came down The boys opening presents Brody and Nathan The boys giving Nathan his presents Brody playing on his new ride-on toy The boys Christmas morning playing their new video games Nate, Liam and Ty Nate pulling Brody in his new sled The boys resting 6 1/2 months... I can't believe we'll be adding even more chaos to Christmas next year!

Let it Snow!!!

As you know, we got blasted with snow this weekend. Actually as I am writing this, it is still snowing, but starting to mix with some rain. Friday Ty's school was dismissed early in anticipation of the storm. The boys begged me to go out as soon as the first flake fell. This was Brody's first time really playing in the snow. The wind was brutal friday afternoon/evening, so Brody didn't last as long. Ty and Nate could stay out forever. Saturday morning the boys went out as soon as they ate breakfast and built a big pile to jump on to, off of, and who knows what else. We played out for a long time, and then came in and watched the snow for a while before heading out to Savannah's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. Unfortunately Brody spent most of Saturday night throwing up (he had about a day and a half of being healthy before getting this stomach bug.) Brody's first time really playing in the snow Brody wasn't really sure what to do Ty Ty and Nate catching snowflakes Brody when he liked the snow Nate and Brody trying to help Brody walk Brody was done Nate Brody watching the boys outside, and every time he saw Nathan he would scream "dada" at the top of his lungs.

Here are pictures from Day 2 in the snow: Brody in the snow, day 2 Ty on top of the pile they built Ty covered in snow Brody Ty on top of the pile Nate The boys Nathan and his best friend this weekend Brody wanting his hand out Watching the snow fall Being silly with the boys Nate and Brody resting inside

Asian Tuna Patties

I have never posted a recipe here, and maybe it's a tad influenced by pregnancy taste buds, but this is one of the best recipes I have stumbled across in a long time. It was so good I feel the need to share. I will put down the recipe I used, and then after, explain how I slightly modified it. Even the boys liked it!!!

Asian Tuna Patties
2 cans tuna, drained and flaked
1 egg beaten
3/4 c dry bread crumbs
3 green onions, minced
1 clove garlic minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 c cornmeal
2 tablespoons veg. oil

In a large bowl mix tuna, egg, bread crumbs, green onions and garlic.
In a separate bowl mix soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, ketchup, sesame oil and pepper, then pour into tuna mixture and blend well.
Form the mixture into 6 patties, about 1 inch thick
Heat veg oil in skillet over med heat. Fry each patty about 5 minutes each side or until golden brown.

Here are my modifications:
I eliminated the sesame oil, I used olive oil. I added a bit more teriyaki sauce, and a dash of sriracha sauce. I eliminated the cornmeal, my patties stayed firm. I also used a cast iron skillet, with a dash of olive oil, not veg oil. I made a bunch of mini-patties, not 6 large one. I figured this would be easier with the kids. I wrapped them in lettuce and served them with couscous.
I served them with little sides of soy sauce and teriyaki sauce. They were amazing!!! If you try them, let me know what you think!!!

6 Months and Good News

I had another ultrasound today, and we got the clear "crotch shot" (I know that sounds crude) that we were hoping for. I know it sounds so skeptical, but without that absolute clear shot I was so worried that there was still a chance it could have been a boy. I asked the ultrasound technician if she'd look, and she said definitely a girl! (I then asked her to print out the pictures so I could know show everyone it was for real.) The placenta was not covering the cervix (yay!!!!) but was still low, so I'll see what the doctor says tomorrow about that. I still have another ultrasound on January 14th that should rule out a c-section (we hope!!!)

24 weeks, all these shots the baby has her hands up near her head. She was rubbing her eyes a lot. clear shot, bum and leg on bottom right, the other one one top is bent, so you can't see it clearly

clear shot... the bum is on the left and legs on right. One leg on the bottom is stretched out, the top leg is up so you can't see it.