Moments of Clarity

As parents you have moments of clarity, realization, the old "hind sight is 20/20", yes I vowed in my "younger days" to not use the phrase but alias it fits! My latest series concerns Layton and his new glasses!

Back story: Our Family Dr. recommends getting a baseline eye exam at 1 year, our Eye Dr. does free eye exams until kids are 4....well, Julia needed her 1 year, as did Layton (and his 2 year, and 3 year, get the picture, bad parent we never did his first one, oh and his 4th birthday is looming!) sooooooooooo. I made an appoiment for both kiddos, called and 4 days later we are on the way.

Ok, mind you......Layton can identify a John Deere, Case, Gleaner, any farm equipment 2-5 miles away with wonderful clarity so we thought, he's good, Julia is good, we will breeze through the exams and be on our way to Ice Cream...hold the music....

The kids loved the Eye Dr. The Eye Dr. was wonderful with the kids playing games, giggling, letting them try the various tools and patches out...good experience, I'm still thinking we are home safe......then I notice Layton is back in the chair for round 2 and the Dr is asking about his behavior (doesn't like to sit still, doesn't like to color, doesn't like to work up close....affirmative to all of those, he's three though, toddlers are active)....The lightbulb is slowwwwwly coming on...he is far sighted and doesn't like to work up close because his eyes hurt..Ah Ha #1.

Fast forward one week (through Christmas) and we are back. Layton is a trooper, gets his glasses and is excited. Until we get to the car, we go through 30 minutes of denial and dislike, discuss who all has glasses, make a pact to gradually increase wearing them to a full day. Tears disappear. Next day, he put them on and wore them the full day, he loves them and is uber responsible!

Ah Ha Moments we feel silly for not catching earlier (poor guy, who knows how long his eyes have hurt and he didn't know)
#2. We have always helped hook his equipment up to his tractors (no longer needs our help)
#3. On the IPAD, was always off one side or the other of the target slightly (dead center now)
#4. Plays for hours with his car now (used to be 10 minutes max)
#5. Likes to draw, color, and put stickers on stuff...he asked to write thank you notes for Christmas gift.
#6. Will sit and look at a book, magazine, puzzle for 15+ minutes (used to be 5 max and never would finish a puzzle)
#7. He is much quieter, calmer, more mature almost 4 year old, who continues to melt my heart.

Purpose

Ok, inner therapist is coming out, be warned and feel free to end reading now.

As loved ones old or young pass away, refuge is found in the assurance "God has a plan, a higher purpose, another job..." At the time we don't always know or understand, but have you ever pondered the ripple effect or the thoughts, conversations, sparked by the passing?

Two recent events come to mind causing me to ponder the effects on me and my family, rather selfish yes but follow me......the school shooting in newton ct and a young mother in ks losing her three year old in a car accident, both accidents, both terrible tragedies, a mother, father, aunt, uncle, grand parent, all laying children to rest ahead of them; an event a parent can never be prepared for, only looking to God for comfort. Those events caused me many tears for those involved, prayers for their guidance, comfort, healing, all while also challenging me. The challenge to me was to look at my kids, my life, my parenting, how can I be a better parent, better for my kids...those parents had no way of knowing the last round of hugs, kisses, snuggles, would be the last....is improving my parenting, my patience one of the jobs God had in store for those little lives. (Yes, I know sounds selfish) but think of the number of people who did hug their children tighter, had more patience, answered more curious questions, took extra time to teach a new skill, made their family more of a priority, pulled a community closer together, made neighbors more tolerant of others, brought discussions of peace, healing, random acts of selflessness.....will we ever truly know the jobs God has in store for those precious babies but know one day we will learn as we meet again.

Love, patience, peace, tolerance, prayer, until next time.

Live More

Welcome 2013! A new year, a fresh start. New year resolutions are made and broke, re made and broke again, same song new verse, same tired cycle. A trap I'm avoiding this year. 2013 my mantra is "live more".

Live more rolls so many things into one; eating better, exercising more, spending less money, making more money, spending quality time with my kids (we have two now!), not arguing with my husband or family as much, more patience, less technology, living in the moment, less tv, more reading, cooking better, taking better care of the garden, keeping in touch with my closest friends better, being a better wife, blogging more (it is my mental thearpist), talking more with family, exploring the bible more, having fun times with the family, you get the picture! Improving daily life for me, my husband and my kids. 2013 needs to be a happier more fulfilling year and it starts by "Live More"! Each day little by little.

Laundry List

Since 3 months has past since the last post......highlights...

1. Spent a fun filled weekend in Beloit visiting Darin and Megan and Wade Gronewoller. For our 6th anniversary we got to have dinner with Darin/Megan, Jennifer (soon to be) and Michael Schroeder, Jeff and Brandi Zimmer (and George), and Kelsy Krier. Afterwards a fun evening of chatting and card playing.....

2. Evan was dignosed with low platlets (IPT), spent 4 days in Hays at the hospital and it has been determined his spleen is the most likely culprit...had an outpatient surgery of a groin biopsy...May 14 we will determine if the spleen has to come out. The last 4-6 weeks have been nerve wracking....he is a trooper!

3. Helped my Dad burn CRP and attend the Pheasants Forever Banquet in S-town. Our close friends Eric and Andrea (soon to be) Lobmeyer!

4. Eric and Andrea got engaged and set a date of December 4, 2010!!

5. Spent a weekend in Pratt, KS with my family (parents, sister's family, brother's family), plus several cousins, aunts, and uncles re-siding my grandpa's house. All in all a better weekend than anticipated, we came home through Greensburg to explore the rebuilding plus drove by the new casino in Dodge City (exiciting beyond belief :) :) )

6. Layton has had 3, yes THREE, ear infections...needless to say the poor little guy is a bit moody, not feeling well, and has been left several times with Grandma and Aunt Christy for hospital stays and Drs appointments. He did manage to charm several nurses while Evan was in the hospital (he arrived with Evan, Grandma and Aunt Christy while I made my way back from Philly, enroute to a business trip...Thank you American Airlines for being so friendly and helpful turning me around mid-trip!!) On a more positive note (yes positive), Layton has an appointment with the Ear Nose and Throat specialist to set a date for tubes. Those polled say tubes make a world of differnce and help so quickly.

7. This coming weekend is Jenny and Michael's wedding. We are so excited for them and to enjoy the festivities as their life together begins a new chapter.

7 Lucky updates...thank you for all your prayers and support recently. Our friends and family are so very wonderful.

Where did 365 days go?

Layton turned 1!!! It made me realize how short 365 days truly is, seems like only yesterday on a cold, snowy day we were coming home from the hospital, or he was rolling over, or cutting his first tooth and now he is getting ready to walk. The first year is truly amazing and we are loving every minute.

We had a nice low, key party with family and our "family" friends, the weather was nice we grilled burgers and hot dogs with all the fixins; had John Deere cake, and present. Layton lasted the day fairly well and is ultra funny on a sugar high; we let him have an entire cupcake with ice cream. It was so nice to see all of our family (my parents and sister (plus her family) came down and Evan's family).

The weekend before Layton's birthday we (evan, eric lobmeyer and andrea fenner) spent the weekend in Salida, Colorado snowmobiling and sightseeing (saw Bishop's Castle). We stayed at The Tudor Rose Bed and Breakfast (LOVED IT) and did a day trip with Monarch Tours. We had a BLAST! Riding with Evan on a snowmobile was more labor intensive than expected. Our tour took us town roads, through meadows, up narrow mountain trails, through fresh powder, to the Continential Divide, and to some beautiful lookouts. Everyone in our tour got stuck at least once and it was lots of fun! We will have to return.

Funny Layton story to end with. The Friday we left for snowmobiling. He woke up from his nap at daycare in the playpen, decided to remove his socks, pants, and diaper....yep you guessed he peed everywhere - at least we (including the daycare provider) all got a chuckle.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We are 8 3/4 days into 2010, we all get the picture by now....

Christmas was eventful this year! Snow, cold, wind, family, presents, good food, love, and joy! We headed to Woodston (stockton technically) on Tuesday before Christmas to beat the winter weather storm in before Christmas, we drove in fog the ENTIRE way, but arrived safe and sound before the sleet and snow started.

After being away from "home" (the familiar hometown in which you grew up in, but no longer where you reside) for 10 years and coming back for the holidays and other special events brings back a flood of memories, some great, some good, some not so much. Plus the dreams you had when you lived there and how your life would turn out....it interests me to see old friends, neighbors and the people who have moved in and wonder if their life is how they thought it would be...mine it's similar to how I imagined but not 100%, living in a small town with a wonderful husband, kids, pets and a stable career away (the american fairly tail with 2.5 kids and white picket fence) my career isn't what I imagined, but it satisfies me...anyway I've digressed...

Christmas Eve was spent traditionally at Grandpa and Grandma Poore's with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins and all of my immediate family, full of fun, cards, stories from Grandpa's younger days (at 98 he's had lots of days) and laughter.

Christmas Day we spent through lunch time with my family then headed back home for Christmas night with Evan's family. The weather was much more "wintry" until we reached Rush Center and then clear, windy and cold.

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year! Our first with Layton was very special, he figured out how to get into gift bags and tearing paper and bows off of presents, he did like to shred each piece another 4 or 5 times through. We are so blessed to have wonderful family and friends!

New Years! Most (90% I think) are broken by February, but jumping on the band wagon, I've set a few and will try to up-hold...
1. Read More
2. Plan meals out each week to save on buying unnecessary groceries (and letting them go to waste) and having a plan each night so we can eat as a family thus Layton gets to enjoy more table food and less baby food (his appetite doesn't hold much past 5:55)
3. Save money
4. Take Better care of myself (loose weight, get back into yearly dental exams, keep up early eye exams and physicals)
5. Enjoy Life, my family, and Layton even more. Time is too short to sweat the small stuff!

Hope 2010 is finding you all well. Next update will include new photos, a snowmobile trip recap, plus 1st birthday news!

Healing Update

3 weeks 1 Day after "the accident" Layton is healing incredibly well, children are the most resilliant creatures on earth. He was crawling less than 5 days after breaking his collarbone and now only a bump remains.

Today is a snowy, blizzardy day in Eastern CO. Light fluffy snow + 30 mph wind = blizzard with zero visabilty.

This past weekend Evan and I took off for a shopping trip and night away in Denver. It was the first night Layton has ever spent away from both of us at the same time. We had so much fun! Christmas shopping is done, presents are wrapped, Christmas photos are taken, we had our first dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse (delicious, never-ending kabob), only called Grandma 5 times, and we all survived! The night away was good for Evan and I.

Christmas season is upon us! We are delaying putting up our tree since Layton is so curious. Plus he attacked the babysitter's tree yesterday pulling on branches and checking it all out. Our other decorations are up. During Christmas our major activities include sending cards, shopping, decorating and baking. This year we are thinking of a cookie sampler array instead of the normal candies, cookies, fudge, and cookies. Trying new cookie recipes will be adventerous.

Enjoy the bustling time of year as we all take time to count our blessings, enjoy gathering with friends and family as well as hold onto the true meaning of Christmas.