Yah-Tah-Hey (OH Continued)

 
 
 
 

Our herd made our yearly pilgrimage to Ohio during the beginning of October to see my extended family and reunite with a friend at her wedding reception. In the first Ohio post you'll find a couple of pictures of my wonderful friend Chrissy Begay, now Chrissy Dameron. We became friends while I was at the American Indian Christian Mission in Show Low, AZ where I taught a third grade class of Navajo and Apache children. What a fantastic time I had with these people while there! I truly miss the Native American culture and breathtaking Arizona where Matt and I found so many adventures in the "wilds" there.
Chrissy is a pixie-like Navajo girl with a quirky laugh and fantastic sense of humor. When I was thrown onto the mission (looooonnnggg story), I experienced culture shock in it's most true form. Chrissy came to rescue this billagona (Navajo for "white girl") and was my guide in this unknown world. Her mother taught kindergarten at the school and raised Chrissy on the mission. I believe that without her constant presence I would have withered.
Congratulations Chrissy on your nuptials! God grant you many years!
The children handled the trip MUCH better than I expected. We divided the way out between many stops and hotels, I believe this helped. One of the pics is of the twins content in Daddy's lap, side by side (gasp), experiencing their first big screen TV in one of our hotels.
I enjoyed seeing my family and watching Ella play with her cousins. Another picture is of a pile of little family members at a bonfire thrown in our honor. Every trip back does deal me a blow in the pride department and reminds me how much more I have to work on in my walk with God! Nothing humbles one more than one's mother... :)
Ohio's lush woodlands were breathtaking; the leaves such brilliant hues. Growing up, I did allot of volunteering at a place called Brukner's Nature Center. It's such a blessing now to go there now and hike with my family. In one picture Ella is running down a lane through tall pines. While walking this stretch; even the little ones seemed to grow quiet as it felt almost church like in it's sheer beauty and regality.
My cousin Pam is pictured with her little Reagan in the carrier. We were thrilled to stay in her home while back and soooo enjoyed the visits with her! Pam's husband Ben is deployed in Kuwait at the moment. I hate it when my husband gets home a half hour late, none the less a year later... God bless you Pam!
It was a good trip, we'll see you all again in a year!

Trip to Ohio

 
 
 
 

Quiet Time

 

So they were quiet for me for 10 minutes thanks to the Baby Einstein corporation! Never before have I seen them so content in each others arms... And I haven't seen it since!

Zoo

 
 
 
We had a great trip to the zoo! This was the first time the boys really seemed like they noticed the gigantic, exotic animal right in front of them... Wyatt especially enjoyed the hippo viewing area. Ella's best friend Nora came with us of course which had Ella in good spirits.

 

 

So I thought blueberries sounded like a good idea...

Lest I Forget

  Ella would not take these new rain boots off for days...
  Wyatt surrounded by his sweet aura...
  Titus, fearless and enjoying life...

As I prepare to dive into the world of homeschooling and all it's responsibilities, I've realized more than ever how very selfish I am. Yes, though I'm sure it's hard to believe (wink, wink), never before have I seen the extent of this and it's true nature. How did I come to realize this? Well... I'm in the process of mourning. Mourning pursuing things that I think will make me happy during the day. "Wait!" you say... "You need to be fulfilled to be a good mom!" But let's define what might be fulfilling to a person like me...
Just recently our computer needed some time off (it quit) and left me in an empty daze wondering what I could possibly find to do while the kids were entertained or asleep. Though the few first days felt as if I were missing a foot and yet still constantly forgetting why I was limping, I slowly found myself realizing there was more to do than peruse news articles and celebrity pictures(yes I know, causes me to blush just typing it!). I found that I could in fact finish my bills in a short amount of time and even do ALOT of reading! In the three weeks of being disconnected from the internet, I was able to complete "Searching for God in a Land of Shallow Wells." "Facing East," and "The Way of a Pilgrim." Yes, I need a blue ribbon for my "accomplishments."
While reading these books and listening to the voices of these fellow Orthodox faithful whom brilliantly illuminate in vividly different ways their journeys to a merciful Christ; I realized that I was not allowing my journey to sink in. I was trudging along, barely surviving, nibbling stale bread and thirsting for water. This journey I'm on is rich with detail, with sacrifice, and a little bit of snot on my new black shirt that I've discovered while on the way out the door headed for church knowing there is nothing else clean...
These children are not mine, they are the Lord's. I'm a steward of three of His most valuable jewels, His treasure beyond compare. May I always remember this! Most especially when my daughter is pretending to be Rajah (Princess Jasmine's tiger) and insists on using her "paws" to pick something up that I've asked her to grab for me. If I might forget who she is and call her Ella (gasp), she will kindly remind me, "Now what's my name?" Oh yes, Rajah, isn't it?
Or when Titus the Detroyer has ransacked my purse I once again forgot to zip shut, may I remember the way he crawls up to me and grasps my knees to aid on his way to a stand, and not at all demanding as all his other actions might seem to indicate that his next move might be, he just silently smiles up at me with his eyes full of love, waiting for me to deem it the right moment to lift him up...
And of course, may I not forgot while Wyatt is screaming for his next meal (this guy could eat non-stop yet for some reason hates his high chair) in his high chair while I put his bib on, the way his enormous brown eyes look as they smile up at me while he's nursing; the goofy giggle he gets when he anticipates a game of peek-a-boo right before I turn out the lights at night; and the satisfied smile that lights his face when we praise him for working so hard to crawl despite his hypotonacity.
So, instead of putting that movie on while the boys are asleep, or cleaning while they play hoping that I will have less to do after they go to sleep; I pray that I can fully partake of the moment when Ella asks me to "hunt deer with her as the mommy tiger," or while wrestling with Titus one more time, or while snuggling with Wyatt while reading him another story. I will have all the alone time I need in 20 plus years when they are on their own. Please, let me not forget what I have now.

Exploration Place

 
 
 
 
Here are some pictures from our trip to Exploration Place. I was pumped thinking Titus would love it and would crawl to ever corner possible in the first five minutes. I just knew that Wyatt would enjoy his visual feast of busy people, bright colors, and strange exhibits. But that's a negative Ghost Rider... They both whined most of the time, stuck close to me, and hung on for dear life! Maybe next time. We just bought another pass so they'll have to learn to love it!
And yes, that's Matt in the "outhouse," part of EP's new exhibit on "Poo." The ironic thing about seeing this exhibit on this certain date was that I just passed a moratorium on poo jokes (mostly made by Daddy). Ella's humor has been growing recently and she has been coming up with random songs with old words taken out and the word poo placed in the empty slot ***que the giggling***. Matt started laughing at me when we pulled up to the museum and saw the signs advertising what was on display. Interestingly enough they decided to illustrate with a shadow of a dog squatting... I couldn't help but laugh.

There is also a picture of Ella at the State Fair on an elephant ride with Nora, and a movie picutre of the boys about to crawl through a tunnel at EP. I'm still rusty on Blogger and was not able to edit these two pics out.

Changes

Wyatt has finally gone up on all fours! He is making his way towards crawling, at last. The therapist says she thinks he will be crawling within the month which is a miracle. She is fantastic person; patient and kind and very enthusiastic which is good for a mother in her sleep deprived state. His hypotona will probably not help in the "who gets picked first for the team" slot, but who cares right? We'll find his niche and go for it full throttle.
Titus is honing his climbing skills. Thus far he has made it to the top of the toilet, the inside of the dishwasher, the couch arm, etc. Like his sister and father before him, he will climb dizzying heights without a trace of fear and a giggle on descent... Or so I imagine it. Titus is a cantankerous little fellow with a full-face smile always full of mischief and pondering his next move. Lots o' fun!
Ella is now a woman. So it seems anyway! Her vocabulary grows at an alarming rate as does her wit. I still relish her quirks that don't seem to be passing yet, thank goodness. She has a "thing" for making all inanimate objects animate by asking you to "make them." In Ella speak this means make it talk to her. So, translated into real life scenarios means her tangles have to ask her why she wants them brushed out, her toothbrush wants to know where she was the night before when Mommy forgot to brush her teeth, and her green beans want to go to the party in her belly. Most of the time I don't mind entertaining her, though sometimes I just want to brush her hair without attempting to dig out a new accent from my limited repertoire. Her imagination thrills me and I look forward to seeing where it will take her.
This is Ella in her "Turtle Suit," AKA last years swim wear...

My babies turned one!!!! I can't believe we've made it to a year. It's been a blur... a blurry sort of blur.. "Arrrgggg!" As Mr. Crabs might say... But I've loved it, them, their funny personalities and quirks, late nights, no nights, and on and on... They had a great birthday thanks to a great nap sent from heaven. If you click on a picture to the right, it will take you to the photo albums from which the pictures came.
Ella did great for the most part, up until I pulled the camera out and attempted to take pics of just the boys. This did not go over well! She would strategically time a streak in front of the camera at the moment we'd snap the picture. This took skill I was not aware she had...
The boys seemed nonchalant and aloof through out the whole evening, as only 1 year olds can be when all eyes are upon them. After they opened their gifts and were surrounded by toys, they chose to play with balloons. So it goes!
 
 
 
 

Ella's 4th B-Day!

 
 
 
 
Ella's birthday went well. She had a great time counting up to the day, yet for some reason the morning of she didn't remember! She climbed into bed with us at five half asleep and talked sleepily of what we were going to do that day. I reminded her of course by saying, "Happy Birthday Ella!!! Your party is today!" She replied, "Oh thanks Mom! What a nice thing to say to me!"
She asked for a "BIG cake with sprinkles and an ice cream cone on top." I attempted to fulfill her request using organics which made for a questionable cake flavor. It's amazing how much a little trans-fat helps the flavor of a cake! She didn't seem to mind though.
We've recently attempted to both stop supporting China and not teach our kids that consumerism is a good thing by buying used or homemade gifts. We were so blessed to have found a dollhouse with all pieces (thanks Grandma Robin), a Leap Frog shopping cart (thanks Mimi Cheryl), and many other items. We had a few guests (our home is small!) who did still manage to spoil Ella, but I'll let them get away with it... :)
One of Ella's favorite gifts was a make-up kit from Great Grandma Kay. One of the pictures posted is an after shot of Nora and Ella doing each other's makeup. I think one had more fun the other...

Chow Time

Dinner, AKA chaos, sometimes ends in laughter... Though mostly in screams when I'm not fast enough in getting everyone out of their highchairs. Thank you Titus for making Wyatt laugh, and thank you Wyatt for having tickly toes!

Can you believe it? I caught all three of them with a smile!

Ella the Climber

Just like her daddy! 

A New Year

We had a great Christmas and enjoyed the excitment that Ella showed throughout the month. Our Christmas weekend began on Friday the 22cnd. We went to a local shopping square that had free horse drawn carriage rides. Ella loved the bells and the clippity clop their shoes made on the road! She had a great time. We followed this adventure with a Christmas concert put on by the Appalachian Christmas Quartet. They are a small band that does some very folk-like Christmas music mixed in with some fun stuff for the kids. Ella danced in the aisle and made friends with some 13 year old girls sitting by the stage. She slowly walked up to them and then scooted herself inbetween them for a seat! They were kind and had good time playing with her.

The next morning Ella opened presents from mom and dad and extended family. She had a grand time and would get mad at us because we wouldnt let her play with each one before finishing opening her other presents. Then we left for Grandma Robin's.

Matt's sister was in town and Ella enjoyed getting to know her. She practiced ahead of time remembering who she was. When we'd ask "Whose Monica?" Ella would reply, "Dada's big sister, Ella's aunt!"

She loved all the family dinners, and of course enjoyed getting spoiled by all!!! Her new toy of the year is a kitchen with dishes and pretend food. She loves serving you food that she's made. If you try to pretend you are eating the food, she will get mad and say "Open your mouth all the way!!!" And will then promptly stuff the plastic fork in your mouth!

Things are calming down now. We are getting ready for a trip to Breckenridge, CO where Matt will spend a week snowboarding, Ella will try skiing for the first time, and Momma will enjoy getting it all on camera.

Hope everyone is well!
***Can you please let me know if you are reading this blog? I am losing motivation to keep up with it but would continue if there is an interest. Thanks!***

December

Not much to report but have a few cute things that Ella has said that I have to share. She absolutely loves Christmas! But we've been getting into some spats lately over the white bearded one. In the mall, at the store, etc she will point to the pics of Santa and yell, "Look Mama! It's Jesus!" I'll correct her and say, "No Ella, it's Santa." She then proceeds to yell, "NO MAMA! IT'S JESUS!!!"
Ella is in the middle of being potty trained and gets excited when we put her cloth underwear on which we call her "big girl pants." Yesterday she walked in on Matt changing his pants and saw his underwear. She yelled, "Mama, Mama! Dada's big girl pants!"
This morning Ella pointed out a spider she saw hanging from the ceiling. She wasn't sure what to think. I told her that it was ok, he wasn't moving. She then proceeded to yell at the spider, "Move it sister!" This is something I say to her when we are being silly and she is puttering around:)

Thanksgiving

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was relaxing. We spent four days out at our country home (Matt's folks place) and enjoyed getting away from the city. Thanksgiving day was shared with ten members of the Sipp/Cummins family where we were later joined by more aunts, uncles, and cousins. The picture shows all we saw that day which is just a portion of the family! We had a great time catching up with everyone and Ella had even more fun repeating and learning everyone's names! She will make a great politician someday...
During the afternoon while we were enjoying the post meal glow, Matt, his uncle Ted, and Ted's boys decided to take Matt's dad's jeep for some off road mudding in the near by fields and woods. Apparently Matt had an idea and decided to take the jeep in the recently dried lake bed. It wasn't dry enough... We got a call and hour or so later to come haul them out of the mud! We made a caravan to come watch, cheer, and laugh as this was accomplished. Matt got it all on tape for all to see.
Well, Ella is officially going to college next week. When Ella snuggles with me I have a little phrase I'll say, "Mamma's baby," which she will usually repeat. Today when I said this, she replied, "No, Mamma's big girl!!!!" Yes, the umbilical cord is cut and she will be married in a year.....
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!!!

More Autumn

Just a few more pictures!!!