Family | Page 38 | Minivans Are Hot

She Slices, She Dices

December 23, 2009 by Kelli

Lucy and I become better acquainted with one another every day. She’s got all kinds of bells and whistles that I’m busy exploring and wondering when and if I’ll ever use them. Like the rock awesome High Definition camera and microphone that records and takes pictures. Or the HDMI slot that apparently does something super cool because my husband keeps telling me it’s super cool. Or the software that will build websites, make business cards, brochures, and so. much. more.

She stops just short of making me a cup of coffee and walking the dog.

Which, ya know, is understandable. I mean, she’s not a Mac.

(insert awkward transition to a new topic here)

So it’s the Christmas season and all…ahem – Last night Lee and I with my parents went to see White Christmas at the Fox theater. It was great. Initially, my heart sank slightly at the tweaked story line and the extreme liberty taken with some of the music – I don’t like change much. But by the end when they all came out it their red and white outfits and sang White Christmas whilst blowing fake snow throughout the theater, I was all warm and fuzzy inside. There’s something powerful about several thousand people standing up and singing nostalgic Christmas songs together.

(awkward transition to a new topic – take 2)

A couple of days ago, we packed up our pajama clad babes and drove to a local park that was all decked out for Christmas. After we ooed and aahed at the beautiful lights, we headed to Starbucks for hot chocolate.

Have any of you ever taken a 6 year old, 3 year old and 2 year old out for hot chocolate? It’s, um, interesting. Upon receiving their kiddie sized cups of hot cocoa, they promptly began complaining about it being too hot, wanting a stir stick, wanting chocolate milk instead… Fun. You should try it. You can borrow my kids for the full effect if you want.

And, of course, there was the obligatory spill, which prompted tears and the need to share because we weren’t about to buy another cup, not that it mattered because Landon refused to drink his.

(transition again – I think I’m getting better at this)

And speaking of Landon and his refusal to consume, we found out at the doctor on Monday that he hasn’t gained a single ounce in the last six months, which dropped him 20 percentage points on the growth chart. The doctor asked us to proactively try to get him to gain weight and wants to see him in 4 months for a weight check. She wants him to have gained 3/4 of a pound by then.

Right. We’ll get right on that. You know – once he quits throwing up and decides to start eating again. Yep – the flu is creeping it’s way through the house. He spewed yesterday – an act that perplexed him greatly and caused him a great deal of confusion. The plus side is he slept 13 and a half hours last night. The minus is he still refuses to eat, though he did drink about half a cup of Emergen-C this morning.

We’re well on our way to losing 3/4 of a pound, I’d say.

Sheesh.

A few pictures.

Check out those eyes...

Daddy's so glad we decided to stop for hot chocolate. 🙂

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, all!

Filed Under: Christmas, Family, Holidays Tagged With: Fox Theater, White Chritmas

Baby Number 4

December 22, 2009 by Kelli

Well, it finally happened. It was inevitable. I really wanted it to happen, although the urge got stronger over this past year. I’m grateful that my husband was willing to do this for me and for our family, too. He’s a good guy.

My family has expanded.

Everyone – meet Lucy.

Isn’t she pretty? Lee gave her to me for Christmas. I had grand plans of him wrapping it up and me opening it on Christmas morning because I think it’s important for the kids to see us opening gifts from one another, but once I got my hands on my precious I couldn’t give her up.

There’s a hidden lesson in that somewhere.

The kids saw us setting it up anyway so I just explained that daddy gave mommy her present early. Yay me!

I seriously am in love. And so I’ll keep this short so I can go explore all that Lucy has to offer. And she has a lot to offer! She’s real perty.

So I’ll leave you with photos from our first Christmas this weekend, which we were blessed to celebrate with Lee’s parents. I’m so sorry to neglect you all like this, but a shiny new laptop tops creative posting. I’ll be back tomorrow! Lucy has promised to make me a better blogger. I trust she’ll not fail me.

: All of Landon’ birthday and Christmas gifts centered around sports. He was thrilled.

: Ready to open gifts and so excited!

: His very own scooter!

: Our All-American Baseball Lovin’ Boy

: Tia with her coveted purple guitar

: He even got a hockey stick and puck…which he thinks is just an odd shaped golf club. We’re not much into hockey around here.

: Landon literally jumping for joy after opening yet another set of balls.

: Happy boy

: Tia’s new, real gymnastics leotard.

Filed Under: Christmas, Family, Holidays, Kids

What goes around comes around…or comes up in our case.

December 17, 2009 by Kelli

Take a trip with me will you. It’s a trip down memory lane. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of bubbling hot tea and head back to 1984.

I’m six years old and we are preparing to move from the LA area to Wisconsin. Before we leave, we (and by “we” I clearly mean my parents since they called the shots back then) decide to visit a few sites in LA that we missed in the couple years that we lived there.

One of those sites is a tour of the Queen Mary, a retired ocean liner that’s famous for something or other. I honestly have no idea what it’s famous for. I was six. I didn’t pay attention to the tour guide.

Before we boarded the Queen Mary, however, we got a big pancake breakfast. As we headed to the ship, I felt a distinct and uncomfortable rumbling in my stomach. When I mentioned it to my parents they gave me a highly unsympathetic, “Sorry babe. You’ll be alright.”

As we ascended an escalator somewhere inside the Queen Mary, my stomach began to flip upside down. Again I mentioned the issue to my parents. They were behind me and even though I couldn’t see them, I heard their eyes roll back in their heads.

“Kelli,” my mom said, “You always have a stomach ache. You’re going to be fine.”

Hmph. It wasn’t my fault that I was scrawny and gassy. I kept my mouth shut. And the tour commenced.

Just as we reached the main deck, the tour guide took us to a railed off section that looked down into the engine room. The famous engine upon the famous Queen Mary that’s famous for…something.

As I looked down at the massive engine and listened to the tour guide drone on and on about the inner workings of the old ship my stomach flipped again and as it did so, it propelled the food I had eaten earlier up and out of my mouth with vicious force.

What happened next is a bit of a blur. I remember running across the main deck of the ship spewing this way and that, my mom’s hand over my mouth trying to contain some of the wreckage.

I remember my dad running behind us, dragging my brother along and yelling, “Take your hand off her mouth, she’s gonna choke!”

I remember some strange man running next to my mom, yelling and pointing her to the nearest bathroom.

And that my friends is the story of the day I desecrated The Queen Mary. I think I was in college before I was able to eat pancakes again.

Now, fast forward 25 years to last night at a birthday party for a friend. Tia was complaining of a tummy ache. But given the fact that she ate massive amounts of candy and cookies at her class Christmas party yesterday, I held out hopes that it was simply an upset tummy.

She can’t help it that she’s scrawny and gassy.

When we arrived at the bounce house, she jumped all of two minutes and then came and sat down, still complaining of a tummy ache. An hour into the party, my fears were confirmed when Tia clamped her hand over her mouth and her eyes widened.

We were as far away from the bathroom as we could possibly be, we were surrounded by other children, and standing on a carpeted floor next to a giant blow up bounce house that I knew would not be easy to clean.

So I grabbed her hand, clamped my other hand over her mouth and we took off.

We almost made it. We made it at least to the hallway, which was mercifully tiled, before the dam broke.

And that was the day Tia desecrated BounceU. It’s not nearly as bad as puking all over a historical landmark, but the circumstances were similar nonetheless.

And as I cleaned up the poor girl in the bathroom, I wondered if perhaps this was one of those things that fell under the umbrella of my mom’s prayer that someday I have a child that was just like me.

Not cool, mom. Not cool.

Filed Under: Family, funny stuff that happens, Gross, Kids, Motherhood, Tia Tagged With: The Queen Mary

To my son on his birthday

December 16, 2009 by Kelli

Today marks two years since Landon entered our lives. I’m filled with recollections of that day. The snow, the cold, the quiet hospital room, the super easy labor, the painful delivery, and the weight of my son as he was laid on my chest.

It is never far from my mind how close we were to losing Landon. I will never be able to escape the memory of watching his little figure kick and dance on the ultrasound as the doctor explained to me the signs of miscarriage and the likelihood of that happening.

I’ll never forget the fear I felt driving home that day knowing that my child was perfectly healthy, but my womb might fail. It was true terror.

And yet here he is. I am filled with such gratitude that the Lord sustained my body and brought his life to fullness here on earth. Because he is one spectacular little boy and he is by far the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received.

And so, on this day, I share a few things that I want my son to know as he continues to grow.

LANDON

You are loved.

You have an older brother and sister that adore you. Lean on them for protection, wisdom, understanding and companionship.

You will, however, need to know how to defend yourself. I’m proud to say that you’ve already begun using the word “No” liberally, particularly with your sister.

You’ve also learned to hold your own in a wrestling match with your brother.

If, when you are three, your sister comes to you and asks if she can cut your hair – RUN. Run away screaming. Heck, call 911 if you need to. Just don’t let her near you with scissors.

And if she ever asks you to cut her hair – again, run for your life. Seriously – get the heck out of there. Just trust me on this one.

Your older brother will be your protector. He will be your best friend, your mentor and another model in your life. He’s a great kid.

Your sister also adores you. She will be the one that you will torment as the years go on, but she will also be fiercely protective of you. Just make sure you look after her too.

You are more than content to have a sippy cup in one hand and a ball in the other, but one of these days you’re going to need to start eating.

You have a love of sports that is uncanny for your age. Particularly the sports that involve a ball. Your daddy is thrilled.

While you love all sports, you show a particular affinity for football, which makes me a little nervous. If you see me with my eyes squeezed shut at your games one day, don’t be offended.

Your second love, however, is basketball.

If you want a model of Christ, look to your daddy.

If you need advice, tap into your daddy’s wisdom.

You also have two grandfathers who are full of wisdom. Know them and listen to them. You will be a wiser man for it.

But just know, without a shadow of a doubt, that if you ever need a hug, I’m here waiting. I will snuggle you close for as long as you will let me. And as you grow, I will continue to love you unconditionally.

You are my miracle baby, forever and always.

Happy Birthday, Landon Lee.

Filed Under: Family, Landon, Life, Motherhood Tagged With: Happy Birthday

It’s Been One of Those Days…

December 10, 2009 by Kelli

It’s a busy week. It just is. And today kicks off an extremely busy weekend. I started the day off with an adjustment by a chiropractor because I’m going on almost two weeks with limited mobility in my neck and shoulders. I’m not sure what I did, but whatever it was, it’s left me a bit like Frankenstein as I have to move my whole body in order to look side to side or up and down.

So I did that. Then I headed to drop Tia off at gymanstics, noticing on the way that I had no gas. My Distance to Empty button was ticking down the miles as I raced to get her there in time. I coasted up to the gas station on fumes, then headed to a party store to purchase cups for tonight’s Christmas musical.

I finally found the much needed cups and went to pay only to discover that I was missing my license. Apparently some two year old took it out of my wallet yesterday when he was playing with it. And because I had nothing else with a picture ID on it (and no cash – who carries cash?!) they wouldn’t let me purchase the cups. Never mind that I completely emptied my wallet and showed them all manner of identification, they refused to let me pay by credit card or check.

I left very annoyed. I mean, I get it – you have to be safe, but come on! It’s 16 degrees out and I have a toddler with me! Show a little bit of compassion. I even offered to call my husband and have him verify my identification. But they still refused. I’m not going back to that store.

So in the car on the way home from gymnastics, I had to call the person who asked me to buy the cups and leave a message explaining that I was unable to get them. And while I tried to talk, Tia and Landon were yelling in the background.

I was already frustrated and this frustrated me more.

So I overreacted, which necessitated an apology to my children when we returned home.

Then I went to make lunch and realized that while we have a lot of food in the house, very little of it is quick and easy to prepare (remember, we’re trying to overhaul the eating habits here) which means I had to come up with something fairly easy and healthy that my kids would still eat.

I failed. They did not like the tuna fish, crackers and cheese I fed them – well, Sloan did, but the other two were not impressed. They ate crackers and a piece of our ginger bread house for lunch.

Now it’s time for naps, then russian school, then opening night of the Christmas musical. And I may still have to swing by another party store to buy cups. At some point I need to fit in a shower as well. *I may be starting to hyperventilate a little here*

It’s just going to be one of those days…

Filed Under: Christmas, Family, Holidays, Life

There are few things cuter…

December 9, 2009 by Kelli

There are few things cuter than a little girl in a leotard,

wearing leg warmers,

staring at you with big blue eyes,

waving around a baton,

laughing with her friends,

twirling around,

giggling,

and all around having the time of her life.

Yes, there are few things cuter than that…

Except, perhaps, a little boy

standing like a little man with his hands in his pockets.

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Landon, Tia, Wordless Wednesday

Attempt Number One – Meh…

December 3, 2009 by Kelli

I am attempting to overhaul our eating habits. In general we don’t eat terribly unhealthy, but I have gotten very lazy in my food preperation in the last several months, to where I’ve found myself feeding my kids endless amounts of already prepared, processed food that tends to be cheaper and easier to fix.

But I, myself, have felt very sluggish lately. And I’ve already told you about my severe hormonal imbalances, which are also causing stomach issues. I need to detox my diet a bit and I need to help my children understand that healthy food can be good.

It can, I swear! Ah – if I can’t convince you guys, I’ll never convince them!

I haven’t gone to the grocery store for awhile because I’ve been trying to get all the food I’ve previously bought out of the house first. Yesterday, however, when I opened up the refridgerator and a couple of moths hit me in the face, I decided it was time to hit the market.

I stocked up on a lot of fruits and vegetables. I tried to buy foods that were either gluten and wheat free or low on the glycemic index. I bought Almond Butter and Almond milk (I also bought cow’s milk, but I will use it sparsely). I stocked up on almonds and walnuts and dried fruit, which I plan to mix together to make a trail mix that my children will most likely NOT love.

I bought grass fed beef and hormone free chicken. I bought Salmon, which I plan on taking one bite of and then promptly giving the rest to my husband because…ew.

I also bought a box of Trader Joe’s dark chocolate dipped peppermint cookies because it jumped in my cart and I could not for the life of me put it back on the shelf.

Ahem.

So – I came home, put away the bags of beautiful, colorful groceries, placed my paper bags in the recycle bin (organic whole foods and recycling? GO ME!) and prepared lunch for the kids.

What did I make, you ask?

I made Gluten Free Brown Rice pasta and I added some sauteed bell peppers (my kids love green peppers) a little bit of Olive Oil and a little bit of cheese. It was scrumptous.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the kids agree…

Those were their plates after they left the table.

I was all, “Mmmm…Isn’t this delicious guys?” And they were all, “No.”

Okay, so I didn’t have very high expectations. My kids, in general, aren’t a huge fan of pasta. But I hoped the colors and the cheese and the all over beauty of my healthy creation would lure them in. Not so much. They did eat the Organic, whole yogurt I gave them, though.

Yay.

I wonder how they’re going to feel about the Almond Butter and Honey sandwiches that I will prepare on Gluten Free bread for dinner?

Any guesses on how long this dietary change of ours will last?

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Motherhood, Random

It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

December 2, 2009 by Kelli

We have Decked the Halls here in the Stuart home. The house smells of pine and there is a lovely glow as the lights from the tree, the mantle and the outside warm up the living area.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…although they have been carelessly pulled down more than once by a certain soon to be two year old.

We’ve laid beneath the tree and ooh’ed and aah’ed as we looked up between the branches at all the twinkling lights.

Everyone had a turn placing the angel at the top of the tree. And Lee came out with scratches on his nose from his face being shoved into the branches of the tree.

When I took the picture of the three of them in front of the completed tree, Tia insisted upon having her picture taken with her best friend, her doll Jadem. Yes, Jadem.

Incidentally, I received that very doll for Christmas 22 years ago. I called her Jessie. I told Tia that and she looked at me as though I’d sprouted a second head.

“No, mom. ‘Dis baby ith a boy baby and boy babies ith not named Jessie. Hith name ith Jadem.”

And that was that.

Hope you’re all having a Merry Christmas season. Fa la la la laaaaaa, la la la laaaaa!

Filed Under: Christmas, Family, Holidays, Kids, Tia

The Miracle of Adoption

December 1, 2009 by Kelli

I love the process of adoption. I have several friends who have either already adopted children or who are in the process of adopting and I am always amazed and awed at how beautiful it is to watch a child go from a future of uncertainty into a future of love and protection. The process of adoption is truly a miracle.

Last night, I got a call that one of my dearest friends was headed to the hospital to pick up an 11 day old baby boy who needed a home. She and her husband had been patiently waiting for several months for a call that there was a child that needed them and last night, God brought that yearning to fruition in a miraculous way.

They were not expecting an infant. They were planning on an older child. But God had a different plan. At 4:30, they got a call from their adotion case worker and by 9:00 they were home with a precious 6 pound baby boy.

Isn’t God miraculous?

This morning, as I was reflecting on last night’s events I read this in Galations – “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Because you are sons, God has sent foth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father'” Galations 4:4-6

Whenever I look at a child who has been adopted into a loving family, I am reminded once again of our adoption as heirs to the throne – we are the adopted children of God.

What would this tiny baby’s life have been like if Amy and Andrew had decided not to give him a home? If no one had given him a home? How desolate would life have been for this child to have no one to love him? No one to open their arms and give him the full rights of a son?

But, indeed, there was a home for him. A home ordained from the beginning of time by the Creator Himself. And with that home come all the rights of a full fledged son. This child will always know love. He will always know acceptance and grace, mercy and community. And he will be raised to know who his true Father is by two parents are fully committed to teaching their children of God’s grace.

Isn’t that beautiful? Do you understand the picture that paints for us – followers of the God above all creation? We too have been adopted unto Him. We are His children and with that come all the privileges that are bestowed upon a child from his Father. We don’t deserve it. We could have been left alone, desolate, without the knowledge of unconditional love and acceptance.

But we were not left alone. Just like this child was not left parentless in a hospital. Just like the Chinese boy that our friends adopted was not left in an orphanage. Just like Andrew and Amy’s first son was not left in a foster home. No, we were not left alone. We were brought into the fold; called out for a purpose and given the title Child of God.

Yes, adoption is a beautiful thing. I find myself moved every time I look at these adopted children and I see their faces light up as they look at their parents. They’re young now, so they don’t understand the miracle that’s taken place in their lives. But someday…someday they’ll know.

I sometimes forget the miracle that’s taken place in my own life. It is a miracle to be a child of God. It is a miracle to be grafted from darkness into the light of a family. It is a miracle.

Rejoice with me today in the miracle of adoption, will you?

Filed Under: Adoption, Family, Life, Random Tagged With: Adoption

Today…

November 25, 2009 by Kelli

I am thankful for a husband who let me go out last night with some girlfriends, then let me sleep in this morning because he knows I don’t feel good.

I am thankful for girlfriends who will go with me to see Little House on the Prairie: The Musical and who will wait outside the stage door in the cold in the hopes that we might get to meet Melissa Gilbert only to be disappointed when we find out she had a reception to attend so she wouldn’t be greeting fans. *sad face*

I am thankful for a blond haired little boy who crawled up in bed with me this morning and gave me a slobbery kiss on the cheek to wake me up. Then we snuggled and he told knock knock jokes as only a near two year old can. Best. wake up call. EVER.

I am thankful for a little girl who is running around the house in a bright blue dance leotard.

I am thankful for the speech patterns of a three year old. Tia came home from school yesterday and told me this: “Hey mom. Hayden bwought a thnack to thchool today. He bwought ’nuffins (muffins). Well, but dey wasn’t weally ’nuffin. They was somfin. They was somfin talled ’nuffins.” Oh my gosh – cute.

I am thankful for a bigger little blonde haired boy who has found a passion for reading and who is getting better at it every day. And I’m thankful that he’s trying to write his own stories now. The other day he drew a picture of a house and wrote underneath: I like my haws. My mom and dad like it to. My haws is prite. I have 5 pepl in my famle. They ar lee, kele, sloan, tia, landin.

I am thankful for five days in which we have nothing to do. We haven’t had that amount of free time in a long, long time.

I am thankful for the family and friends that we are going to spend the day with tomorrow.

I am thankful that even though we’re all feeling a little under the weather and are all fighting colds, this is the first sickness that’s invaded our home so far this winter.

I am thankful for the many, many things that I’ve been blessed with. God is so good.

What are you thankful for?

Filed Under: Family, Holidays, Thanksgiving Tagged With: Thankful