Merry Christmas to my 3 Blog Followers :)

Happy Holidays!

10 Years

You are simply my best time.

You are my sweetest laughter.

You are my most peaceful sleep....

and still!

you find new ways to love me.

Always you will have

my hand to hold.

always.

Halloween 2010

This Halloween was just as it should have been.  I had so much fun decorating and the kids really enjoy living in a "spooky house" for a month or so.  With all the school parties and neighborhood gatherings the kids got good use of their costumes this year.

 Shadai and her friend were dressed as "super hero girls".  I think Halloween is just a really good reason to wear fake eye lashes, lots of eye liner and really bright lipstick.  Because, at this point, that is the only day of the year she gets to.

 Halloween, for Shia, is when he can really be himself.  And as scarey as he wants to be without being told... "Oh honey, that's too scarey".  (Which I say on an hourly basis and have been since he was 2.) However, you can only be so scary when your lizard costume is a onesie and your Mom keeps commenting on how cute you are. 

 As most of you know, Matthew and I also love to get into the spirit of the season.  This year we went as the Drapers from Mad Men.  If you watch Mad Men you would also know that the Drapers, this season, are divorced.....hence the grumpy faces - we were in character for this photo shoot.

 Halloween wouldn't be complete without some pumpkin carving.  So we put on oldies music, poured some hot apple cider and gagged over pumpkin guts.

My Dad...

We gathered together this past weekend to celebrate him.  He turned 60 on Oct. 15th. 

My Dad is an amazing man. 

A Lutheran, Norwegian, cowboy, living pretty much his entire life in the same small North Dakotan town. He is a quiet and humble man. 

He has taught me a lot.

I always knew growing up that he believed in me.

 I believed in him, also.

He taught me to never give up, to show humility, to tell people you love them, to show respect, to do it right the first time, to forgive, to work hard, that tomorrow is a new day, to lend a helping hand, to be honest,

to laugh.

 

Happy Birthday, Dad.

I love you.

 

(Am I the only one singing? and not very well at all?)

Indian Summer

This past week has been the most beautiful fall week that I can remember.  It is almost impossible to have weather like this and not be outside to enjoy it.

 One of the most magical sounds a child can hear is the jingle of an ice cream truck a block away.  In that instant the house is filled with panic in an effort to find 3 dollars in coins (because we never have dollars when we need them) and then a sprint out to the boulevard to catch the illusive vehicle.  Once all that is accomplished the decision is tough but the victory is sweet.

  While Shadai was enjoying one last weekend at the lake with some of her girlfriends Matt, Shia, and I got to check out a pumkin patch near Fargo.  Coming from Bismarck our expectations for pumpkin patches were quite high.  If you've been to Papa's Pumkin Patch in Bismarck you know what I am talking about.  Though it wasn't anything close to the quality of Papa's Shia had fun and that's all that really matters.

Fortunately, for Matt and Shia, there was a roping dummy equipped with a rope so's that I could give them an in-depth demonstration on how to rope.  They were enraptured (bored to tears - literally) by my knowledge of apprehension of bovine species.

Boo!

It's beginning to look a lot like the Bate's Hotel!!

 

A Couple Pics from Summer so I can Start Posting Again

Baby Dai

14 years ago this day was a Sunday.  That Sunday was Mother's Day.  That Mother's Day was the most wonderful Mother's Day I have ever had and ever will have.  She came into this world at 3:46 in the afternoon.  She had a grace and beauty about her from the very beginning.  Every day I am in awe of the little lady she is becoming and I feel so blessed to be part of this girls journey.  She thinks that I am the one to teach and guide her but, truly she is the teacher.

I love you to pieces Baby Dai.

Jess Anne

Today I celebrate you.  For all that you were, all that you are, and all that you are yet to be.  You are beautiful, Mom. I love you.

Back To The New Norm

In an attempt at getting back to normal Shia and I put together some May Day baskets and delivered them to a few of our friends that live in the neighborhood.  

My inspiration came from my always clever and crafty friend Missy who's 3some brood dropped off adorable tissue paper flowers this morning.

So with basket in hand and his new bionic leg Shia trotted up to each door with great hopes that one of his friends might catch him. Chances were, that if caught in the act, a chase would ensue and all would be right with world.....for the time being.  

Hydrocephalus

Super crazy what can happen over a weekend. Now I have all this new verbiage I have to add to my everyday conversations. Things like shunt, MRI, CSF, arachnoid cyst, CP..... and a lot of other words that a parent would rather go a lifetime without using. I am probably still in shock a bit. Amazed at how quickly Shia is back to being Shia. Nervous that at some point I will miss a sign that his shunt has malfunctioned. Thankful that he will lead a full life that can actually include football (he wants to be a linebacker).

It's amazing that life still goes on as normal....school on Monday, track meet on Thursday, trash goes out on Wednesday, and now Shia is one step closer to being the bionic man he always wanted to be. 

Good Jeans

Shia:  "Mom, There are 3 girls in my class that think I am cute." (in his panic voice)
Amber:  "Yeah, honey, you got your Momma's genes. People are bound to fall in love with you." (me being sarcastic of course)
Shia:  (with a very confused face) "You wore these when you were a little girl?"

Hustle and Bustle

The hustle and bustle of the holidays has subsided and we are slowly settling into the comfort of everyday routines. The new year marks the last chapter of an amazing decade of marriages, adoptions, starting jobs, loosing jobs, deaths, births, new homes, and everything in between. Looking back at the last 9 years I am amazed at the life I live and the people that are on this journey with me. I look for to 2010 with great anticipation.