THE "CITY"

.

I think about this "city" the boys built all the time... it has been a wonderful confirmation of the choices we have made for our family...

let me explain...

.

First I'll tell you a little about this city they built. Downtown is out of the pic~ the city filled the entire room but downtown was a few big blocks clustered by the door... the rest of it sprawled out and overflowed onto the bottom bunk~ it has an ocean with sea shells, an airport, lots of fossils, houses, a park and now that I remember a couple of oceans with boats, sharks & tons of seashells. There are animals everywhere. At the top of the highest building there is a cross... in the center of it all. Am I trying to brag or tell you how "good" we are? Of course not! I need these kind of things to keep me sane~

.

I really mean that... I miss artsy people... I miss intellectual nerdy crowds who talk about ways to do away with cars. I miss sitting around listening to friends pick at their guitars while we discussed to death the grapes that the wine was made of and how they grew them and how someone has been to the vineyard. Sometimes living in this little town with the s l o w pace and being home ALL THE TIME has made me so anxious that I now understand why you hear those stories of the stay at home moms who break out one day and start hanging out at bars... a lot of them are probably really good people who just couldn't take the everyday... the screaming "it's mine!"... the separating fights... the crying... the maid work~ personally I think this much laundry could send anyone down the street screaming!

.

It is clear to me that I don't want to work in the fashion industry anymore and work from 12 noon to 2 in the morning out and about at the latest hot spot entertaining some drunk agent... I do however want to be doing some wine tastings or hanging out at an art gallery talking to some fascinating photographer... or do I? They are only little for so long. The fact of the matter is that I am learning to be still... putting aside the flesh to learn what my calling is here. I think there will be a season for more of that out and about kind of thing... later.

.

So, as I struggle I will do so joyfully... to choose not to complain... and not that I'm there... my wonderful hubby leaves the room now when I start complaining... need to work on that;)... I am trying to voice things to be grateful for when all I see is void... for I do have much~ just not the "things" I am used to... the things I needed to put away that were distracting me.

.

Five Good Things

1. loud giggles filling the room when I'm trying to read
2. hearing the "I'm sorry I hurt you brudder"s
3. new teeth coming in that hurt oh, so bad
4. oragel
5. peace

ciao~alicia

THE KIMBELL

I'm not making any resolutions this year...

.

I want 2010 to be the year of transparency...

.

I found these pics... there are about 10~ it is the day I was talking about in the last post at the Kimbell...

.

I love being a wife, a mom & a searcher... may this year bring into it more than I ever dreamed it would... and for you as well.

.

Five Good Things

1. books with old pages that crinkle
2. people like Dan Phillips who inspire me
3. new ideas and dreams to be anti-paper plate again
4. work... cleaning... may I not complain so much!
5. compliments~ they just feel good and I've never let myself eat them up like I do now... I love to give them even more

ciao~alicia

SWINGIN'

.

i think this is the heartbreak look... I'm hooked!

.

.

Five Good Things

1. Old Friends~ you just never know who will come back into your life~ and not be accidental!
2. Brothers~ will there be one more Lee Boy? Who knows
3. Vail's Vaca with my Hubby!
4. Sister support~ love you Sistas!
5. Preschool

ciao~alicia

BYE BYE SUMMER

.

i think we did all the important things this summer like peeing on lots of grass...

.

.

trying new stuff...

.

.

Chris managed to steal me away...

.

.

LOTS of swinging...

.

.

cool little boys stylin' around...

.

.

LOTS of cinnamon toast with lots of butter of course- with the bike helmet... if you haven't read, Christopher wears it like it's a couture Chanel scarf or something boy like that...

.

.

spent some awesome time at the pool with friends... it was fun girls!

.

.

and growing...

.

my baby is 1...

.

.

Five Good Things

1. Next summer to look forward to
2. Hot Cocoa soon
3. Christmas... oh my!
4. Baking pies this year... look out, you may be asked to taste test!
5. Family

ciao~alicia

PEACHES PEACHES

.

.

Peach ice cream, peach cobbler, peach peach and more peaches!

.

It was HOT and the ice cream was so cold... we all just wanted to dive in our bowls... The Peach Festival for those of you who don't live here is something to look forward to... lots of good friends you'll see, lots of yummo food and most of all the peaches!

.

It was a good day once we actually got out there! We talked to all the bikers, watched the men carving wood pieces in the old bank, drank LOTS of gatorade and water, took LOTS of pictures, ran into a few friends and looked at all the stuff to buy... the hats were their choice! Coop LOVED the ice cream and ate more of it than all 3 of us...

.

Five Good Things

1. Matching clothes... can't loose a kid when they all look the same;)
2. Days below 100*
3. Moms
4. New study starts next week... yeah!
5. Boldness

ciao~alicia

BABIES ON THE BRAIN!

.

I love this day... I remember it well. It was the first place I took them both... the museums... the sound of water. I could hardly walk, I had a hard time bonding with Nate and I could barely keep up with my 14 month old even though he couldn't walk very well himself. I didn't know how I was going to do it... it was so hard and so beautiful.

.

.

Nate's feet

.

.

Maybe it's because if Coop was Christopher I would already be a couple of months prego with a brother... Maybe it's because 2 of my sweet friends are prego... maybe it's because my other friend has a newborn boy right next door... maybe it's because I want to have more babies... I don't know, a combination of it all. The other day all the boys were in the middle of the living room playing trains; I heard the boys say almost in unison "no Coopy... we don't want to play with you"... my heart winced as I knew he didn't even know what they were saying. I immediately thought oh, and I just can't do another pregnancy now. Not to mention 4 kids under the age of 5 may mean a breakdown for this Mom. Will there be another baby? I just don't know... and that's fine for now.

.

Five Good Things

1. The boys are playing t ball together!
2. I have no doubt that every child is intentional by our Creator
3. I will be fine if we have 3 kids
4. I will be fine if we have 4 kids
5. I think Chris is halfway amused by my baby talk

ciao~alicia

CHRISTOPHER'S BIG DAY

.

I put Coop on the top bunk to wake him up... he never wants to miss his shower with Daddy!

.

.

After breakfast he took this pic of a cardinal (his very favorite bird) on the fence... notice the little bitty cardinal in the center of the pic... that's my little photographer...

.

.

He played on the computer for a while and complained about all the noise Coop was making... we talked about how we all have to live together and all that jazz; I left out the part that he is the LOUDEST person to live with and we all love to put up with his "stuff"!

.

.

Then, after dinner he had to wash the dishes... I don't know weather to laugh or cry... He was so determined to finish the 3 pots, colander, 2 cutting boards oh, and a muffin pan. He wanted to finish it all... and he did. As challenging as he can be his gifts are twice as fragrant...

.

.

and he loves to clean... he told me tonight he always wants to wash the dishes with me... I should have had him sign a contract... tonight was also the night he wrote his name... CHRIS.

.

.

So, being the supermom that I was tonight, I dug out the Doug & Melissa Responsibility Chart and started "it" at 8:30 ahhh!... I'm so kidding about supermom; "Santa" brought these...

.

.

When Christopher was about 2 I wondered why he would never sing the ABC's with me... a few months later he sung the whole thing... I didn't even know he could write an R until he wrote it tonight in his name... you can't really see all of his, it got rubbed off; it's burned into my brain forever.

.

.

Maybe it was my big day...

.

Five Good Things:

1. I had the energy to go until 9:30 with the boys... Chris got home at 9:45
2. Coop's ordeal was just allergies, no doctor visit
3. Beth Moore rox!
4. He knows my needs tonight
5. I have bags packed for tomorrow morning

EGGS!

Yesterday I realized I had left my camera with my fresh battery at home as I was backing out of the driveway for "the hunt"... However, I did have all 3 kids, the stroller, jackets, baskets, and the video camera ~ that's success! I thought with it starting at 9 we had until about 9:05 until it was over and we were pulling out of the driveway at 9... we made it! So, after the hunt was over and we had visited a little I ran home, got the camera, and went back up to the park... what I will do to get "the shot"!!

They hunted true to their little selves; Christopher RAN when they said go. He gave the man an egg that gave us the donuts and juice... I watched him walk over to him so big and looking up so high as he offered his gift. Giving has been something he's been making a new effort at... and he's even sweeter than I thought.

Nate said afterwards his favorite part was watching the girls find eggs. The other day Nate asked me if God had made his wife yet... I have been praying for his wife since he was in my belly. Then he told me that he prays for her too; I got a glimpse of him as a man and his sweet wife... if you know Nate you know she will be sweet.