Thoughts

I feel most inspired to write when I can't. Or I shouldn't be.

Like right now.

Right now I have two kids, watching a show on the couch, periodically requesting more grapes. Right now I have 3 cupboard doors open in my kitchen and a dishwasher hanging wide open, half-emptied. (Or half-full, I guess... depends on your mood.) Right now I have a dog shuffling her food and water dish around the kitchen floor with her front paws, signaling to me that she's ready for supper. Right now I have a clock nearing 5:30, which means that I should have supper started. At the very least, I should know what I'm making for supper.

The truth is... right now I have a ton of thoughts in my head. Thoughts about the holidays, challenging child behaviors, brownies and iPads. I have thoughts about friends, Christmas presents and raising a teenager (who is now living here full-time.) I have thoughts about cleaning the house, finding time for my husband, and strawberry daiquiris. (Actually, not much thought on that last one except for wanting one.)

But, the kids' requests for more grapes are becoming louder and more difficult to ignore, the dog is now sitting at my feet whining, and supper is not making itself.

So, my thoughts will have to wait. And later, when the kids have gone to bed, the hum of the dishwasher washing dishes can be faintly heard from the kitchen, the Christmas tree lights are sparkling and reflecting against the window... the perfect environment to reflect and write.... I will be tired and my mind will be trying to recollect just what on earth I had to say about brownies and iPads that was inspiring (or even remotely interesting.)

For now, I will leave you with this.



As soon as I can wrap my arms around the overwhelmingly wonderful feelings I have for this little boy,

and now his forever Mom and Dad,

I will be back.

Fashion Statement

This is where we wear our skirts... so why wouldn't the tree?

First Time

First time walking to the Metrodome for his very first Vikings game



First time posing in the cold weather just outside the dome



First time watching the players come in from the parking lot
(spotted Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen and Kevin Williams)



First time at the official "Vikings Locker Room" purchasing his first game souvenier



First time seeing the field



First time finding his seat



First time discovering that kisses are nearly impossible wearing a helmet



First time showing his "tough face" and getting psyched up for the game



First time watching the Vikings ship inflate and the fireworks explode for the introduction of the players



First time cheering the players on one by one as they come onto the field



First time taking pictures of the action with Mom's little pocket camera



First time watching a pro-football game live and in person



First time munching on popcorn in a very large and over-priced popcorn tub.



First time realizing that the 1st half of the game is intriguing, but that he's only four, and he still gets bored for the 2nd half and needs his Mom's phone to keep him entertained. (At least her phone case is purple, so he still looks supportive of the team.)



First time covering his ears when the crowd gets a little rambunctious



First time falling asleep in the car after his very first Vikings game




First Vikings loss of the season.

Okay, so maybe that last one wasn't a first.

Preparation

Cards have been written (and adequately covered in stickers),


(Adding his name was an afterthought... so he squeezed it in where it fit!)


smoothie cups have been decorated and labeled,





and the cake has been frosted and bowls of cake batter have been licked clean ,


(Any guesses on the cake?!)


all in preparation to celebrate THIS DAY!


(Thursday, November 6, 2003 at 9:12 am • 6 lbs 2 oz • 19" • 4 weeks early)


It's Party Time!

Inadequate

Blogging is always on my mind -- every time I take pictures I already have thoughts on what I'd write about -- but somehow I've let "my blogging time" be swallowed up by everything else in life.

I don't feel quite complete when I'm not blogging consistently. It's strange. And when it's been awhile since I last blogged, the words don't come as easily as when I'm blogging more frequently.

There are several blogs I follow regularly -- blogs written by remarkable, creative, inspiring women. And when something happens in my life that inspires me to write, I grab my laptop and click on "Blogger", visualizing this wonderfully-written post with breathtaking photos. But before starting my post, I take a little detour and click on the blogs of these other women.

I read. I look. I smile.

And then I allow myself to feel inadequate.

Why do I do that?

Suddenly my moment of inspiration is gone, and what's left is the feeling of "um... nevermind."

My thoughts, my photos, my experiences, my everything suddenly pales in comparison to these other women.

My excitement to blog is gone.

If I consider myself to be confident (which I do), why do I let that happen? *hmmmm*
Must be just moments of uncertainty peeking through the confidence sometimes...

But because of those feelings, I've missed out on blogging some really fun moments in our lives...
and that just bums me out.

So, I'm making a New Year's Halloween Resolution. More blogging. More of our family. Whether the thoughts are eloquent or the words stumble over each other, I'm going to say them. Whether the photos are magazine-worthy or slightly blurry and underexposed, I'm going to share them.

And with that resolution out there, I'm going to show you our two little Halloween kiddos... our two little ones who often say the sweetest things to me,

as if they're helping me to see there is nothing inadequate about me.




Have a fun and safe Halloween everyone!

(Take a peek at our Halloweens from the past here and here!)