2012

I try to find the good in everything.  I really do.  I think the key to happiness in life is being grateful for what we have, and always knowing that whatever we have is enough.  And let me tell you, I am grateful for SO MUCH.  Let me also tell you,

GOOD RIDDANCE 2012.

It was a challenging year.  Very challenging!

But with that admittance, I want to provide a recap, more for myself than anything.  Because in these last 12 months, my kiddos have changed so much.


The year started with a 1 and a 2 year old.  Babies.  Now, I feel like I have big kids! Once in a while, their inner baby comes out, but they were so little last year. 

Parenting this child in 2012.  A challenge, and also such a joy.  She started the year as a 1 and a half year old, and now she is a 2 and a half year old going on 10.  She is so silly, so smart, so sweet, and so naughty.  I love this child and have enjoyed watching her learn so much in the last year. And the biggest accomplishment of the year was watching her become potty trained in a few short days.  So proud of this girl of mine. 

I've had the joy of watching Nur start the year as a 2 year old toddler, and watch him turn into a 3 year old little boy, with very little toddler left in him.  I've watched him go from barely verbal to a boy who never quits talking.  In fact, I call him Nur 9 times, cause he repeats everything at least that many times.  I've also watched him conquer so many of his fears.  He's a great boy, and I've enjoyed every moment of being his mama.  

So, just a quick post looking back at the year. 

2012 - Don't let the door kick you in the ass. :)

The Christmas Card Wall

This Christmas season was extra special, waiting for the mail to come each evening with the kids, and then opening the cards together.  The kids really got into it, and wanted me to tell them who the people were.  Then they would point to the cards daily (at least the ones at the bottom they could reach, and repeat the names to me.  It was precious.  Thanks so much for those who participated. I can't even tell you how much I loved receiving your cards, and making you a part of my Christmas.

Christmas was great.  My parents decided because 3 of their 4 children live in Minneapolis, that they would come to us this Christmas instead of having us all come to them.  The ease they gave us was amazing.  The kids hung out with their cousins everyday, and had so much fun.  We stood in the freezing cold to watch the Holidazzle Parade, and the kids thought it was amazing.

Because we didn't go out of town this Christmas, and because T's parents stayed in the country this year we were able to celebrate T's Dad's birthday which is December 24th.  We went to lunch at a Middle Eastern Restaurant and had a lot of fun.

 After the birthday lunch, we put the kids down for a quick nap, and then woke them up for Christmas Eve Service, and then headed to my sister's house for dinner and opening up presents. 



We came home and wrote a quick note to Santa Claus.  At this point, K and S were going on too little sleep and were crashing hard.  The kids told me what to write.

 The next morning we woke up and found this letter from Santa himself! The kids were pretty excited!

They then tore into their Santa gifts.

Watching Christmas through the eyes of a 2 and a 3 year old is nothing short of magical.  And the most amazing part of Christmas?  My parents took my kids home with them for 2 nights, so for the first time since I have had kids, I am in my house. . . ALONE.  And as much as I miss my kids. . . it's amazing. :)

Merry Christmas everyone!

I Love You So Much

Last night, I got home from work and entered a house of chaos.  The kids acted like they were on sugar highs, and they were into everything.  I didn't have energy to put together much for dinner, so I made a pizza, and served it with a side of peaches, green beans, and cottage cheese.  The kids sat down to eat. They always sit across from each other. I was sitting next to TT, and T was still at work.  Nur looks at TT and says, "TT, I love you.  TT then looked at Nur and said, "I love you so much Nur."  Nur's eyes got big, and he looked at me and said, "Mama, TT loves me."

Of course she loves you Nur.  We all love you.

I have so many wishes, hopes and dreams for my loves.  Mostly, I want them to always build each other up.  Always know that you have each other.  That someone much bigger than us choose for you two to be siblings for life.  For always.  I hope my kids always choose to be on the same side, even if that means going against me. 

If I was the labeling type of parent, TT Edition

I try not to label my kids too much.  I feel like so many people put children into a mold so early on in their lives, that no matter how their lives progress, they always are brought back to that label they were given as young children.  My kids are 2 and 3.  Everyday, I learn something new about them, and I try so hard to let them grow into the individuals that they will be.  But, if I had to label them at this point in their lives, there are some interesting things I'm learning about both of them.  Today I'll focus on TT.  And the first word I'll label her as, is SENSITIVE.

TT is a sweet child in so many ways.  She is the child who will come up to me, out of the blue, to give me a hug and say, "I love you so much." She will give her brother hugs throughout the day. She will cuddle, play with my hair, rub noses, and love on me.  She is also uber sensitive, to the point where I don't think this is a 2-year old thing she will grow out of.  (Perhaps I think that because her 30+ mama still hasn't grown out of her own sensitivity!) I try to parent to her sensitivity and embrace it.  This girl loves strongly and hurts deeply.  Just a couple examples. . .

The other night, I was reading TT a book.  And in the book, there was the song

Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone
Oh where, oh where could he be
With ears cut short and a tail cut long
Oh where, oh where, could he be?

TT's bottom lip started quivering.  I could see her trying to be strong.  I asked her if she was alright, and the poor child started sobbing.  "Mama! why are the dogs ears cut? Mama, where are the doggies' ears?"  Oh my dear TT, she took this song quite literally, and after explaining it to her, she felt much better, and had to hug the book repeatedly and then had to sleep with the book.  Lesson learned, I will change lyrics when needed.

Then there was church school today.  The kids are gearing up for their Christmas program next Sunday, and the 2-year old class joins the larger group of older kids for 2 songs, and today was dress rehearsal.  TT was SO proud of herself.  She stood on the front riser, but then moved up a step to admire a 10-year old looking girl who was dressed as the Virgin Mary.  TT was so proud.  She felt like a big girl, I could tell.  Then the older girl pushed her and told her she was standing in the wrong spot.  I'm one of the teachers and I was watching this all play out.  I watched TT try to be strong, but then the bottom lip was exposed, and she lost it.  She missed the entire dress rehearsal and was so sad about it. 

As a mother, I'm constantly thinking of ways to protect this young child's heart.  I've always been one to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders, and let me tell you, it's a burden to bear.  And I think TT will be same way.  She feels things very deeply.  I must find a way to respect that about her at all times. 

The other label I would put on TT, a label that I hope drops off sooner than later is NAUGHTY.  I just can't think of a kinder way to say it. 

TT has been in a hitting stage for. . . oh. . . about half of her life.  I don't know what to do about it.  T and I have tried everything. Timeouts, time ins, giving the person she hits the attention, giving TT more attention, and on a couple occassions, I slapped her hand back.  I don't know what else to do.  The girl hits sometimes, and it always causes me a lot of uncomfortableness.

Take today for example.  Again, we are at church school.  TT has taken a turn for the worse since the incident earlier with the older child pushing her.  She's officially in a "mood."  She and I go to the bathroom, and a couple minutes later, her cousin C, and her self-professed best friend, walks in with another teacher.  TT screams and runs at her, and hits her in the head.  I.WAS.MORTIFIED.  I mean, if looks could kill, you should have seen the look this other teacher gave me.  Oh, you know the look, "get control of your child. how could you let your child do this? what is wrong with your child. you SUCK at parenting."  Yes! That look!!!

She only hits the other kids she loves the best. . . aka her big brother and her two cousins.  She's never hit a random child.  I guess that's a good thing, but it doesn't make me feel good that she takes out frustration on people she loves dearly.  I don't know what to do about it. 

I've also caught TT being naughty for attention.  She'll dump a snack, pour her water on the floor, and purposely misbehave.  I know she's 2, but I get frustrated by her determination sometimes. 

I know my daughter is brilliant, and beautiful, and kind, and thoughtful, and all of those things.  But, the mama in me DOES care about what others think, and when they don't know her and all they see is her hitting her very best friend/cousin, yes, it bothers me.  And let's not even talk about when we go places and someone will come up admire her, and she'll yell no in their face.  And let's not even talk about how recently I brought TT to the store to pick out a Christmas ornament, and she got frustrated at the register and threw her Cinderella ornament at the cashier and it shattered into a thousand pieces.  Oh TT, what is going on in that head of yours?

I know TT best, and I know this child has a beautiful heart and a kind soul, and someday, I hope that translates to everyone else. 

Christmas Decor

 I am a minimalist in general when it comes to decorating a house, and the same holds true for me while decorating for Christmas.  I like touches of holiday spirit thrown throughout the house, but nothing that looks too overwhelming. 

 The kids are really into lights this year, so I tried to hang more than I usually do.  I also used a large crystal bowl in the hutch for left over Christmas decorations. 

 TT picked this out.  The kids are so into Christmas this year, it's really been fun. 

 Here is our tree, with  few presents underneath it.  And check out those santa bears! These are from my childhood, and I love the nostalgia they bring to this time of year.  The kids absolutely love cuddling with them too. 

 All the stockings are hung! We haven't done much with the Elf on the Shelf this year. We have one, but someone TT ends up sleeping with him every night.  She calls him "Santa Elf."

 This is a new tree.  The other fake one was getting dingy looking, so I wanted to upgrade.  TT was really into decorating it, Nur. . . not so much.  TT redecorates the tree daily, and likes to hang every ornament on the same branch.  This is only the kids 3rd Christmas, but already so many ornaments full of memories of Christmas' past. 

 Above the piano.  T and I have our stockings hung as well.

 This calendar has two chocolates in each slot.  The kids have loved getting a piece of chocolate a day, and counting down until Christmas.  I'm trying to start as many traditions as possible, and this is one they seem to love.  And why wouldn't they?!? I did mention chocolate, right? 

 Our first Christmas as a family of 4, 2010.  I took this picture the day we went to court for Nur to make it all official.  The kids were all dressed up in their beautiful outfits, in which I tried to tie in some patriotic colors to mark the occassion. I thought a picture in front of the tree would be fitting.  And then I got to thinking how different these kids of mine would be a year from now, and I decided to start the tradition of taking a picture of Nur and TT in front of the tree every year and only displaying these photos with the Christmas frames as part of my decorations each year.  Wow how they have changed! I imagine my house when they are 18.  Hopefully I'll have a larger house by then to display all 18 photos. :)

Hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into my house this holiday season. I can't wait to show you all my wall of Christmas cards. They are steadily coming in, and I LOVE getting pictures from you, my blog readers!  You all have beautiful families, and I get so much joy from receiving these cards from you and seeing a glimpse into your families.  I want to give a special shout-out to Heather. You always leave me such thoughtful comments, and I loved seeing what you look like and your beautiful family.  :)  Thank you everyone for making me a small part of your Christmas this year.

Celebrating Nur

My son is three.

I am always so humbled and moved by the support my children both receive on their birthdays.  All of our family came to celebrate my Nur.  We had a train party at Nur's request. He's really into trains at the moment. 

I am so unbelievably thankful that I'm this child's mama.  He really amazes me.  We enjoyed visiting with family and of course eating cake.  (Although Nur wasn't a huge fan of us all singing happy birthday to him)  Here he is with Uncle Sam getting Thomas the Train DVDs.  Everyone needs an Uncle Sam in their lives. :)

 Here is Nur's train table which was his gift from T and I.  The kids kept disappearing during the party and I'd find them in here playing.  Nur LOVES his train table, and when he got it, he was so grateful.  He kept saying, "Thank you Mama and Baba! Thank you."

 Nur received so many wonderful gifts, and his kid sis helped open them all. 

 Here is my Nur, opening gifts with his Baba.

People tell me that 3's are harder than 2's, and I guess we will see.  So far I'm loving this age and watching Nur learn and grow.  I'm going to enjoy the next 7 months where I'll have a 3 year old and a 2 year old. It's much easier to explain this way. :)