Diving into 2011

I may need to dip my toe in a little first. Get a good feel for it, but my hope is that I get comfortable enough in 2011 to Dive in. Hey, maybe even do a few canon balls or throw in a herkie for my cheer leading years!

Ending the year with lots of sunshine changes your thoughts about life and the future. I think the rays have seeped deep under my skin and I am hoping they will stay a while!

I wondered this week. Why does ordinary life have to be ordinary? Why can't life always feel like a vacation? Yes there is laundry to do and dust piles to wipe. But, can't that be done during the "time-outs" from celebrating life? This may all be sounding weird and you may think I have completely lost it. But... let me just say it.

We all only have one life to live... ONE! I really don't want to waste it. I don't want to say, well... I could have gone and done this with the kids or played with the kids for a few hours, but I just didn't get to it after all the other things I had to do... Sound Familiar?

So here are a few things I'd like to focus on in 2011
-Living - not just being alive, but FEELING alive! Stopping to smell the flowers, laying on the grass to look at the clouds, playing in the leaves... you know.
-Giving back. We've gotten so much love this year, I think it is only fair to put a little focus on others this year.
-Finding a small piece of the "ME" who is hiding within this wife/mother/friend. I'd like to find some new things I enjoy and get back into some old ones!

Don't you just love a new year? A new chance. A free do-over. Every 365 days we get the opportunity to look on the past year, see what worked, see what didn't and try again! Amazing!!

I love it!

End of year reflections...

Lots of time to think these past few weeks. I think the sunshine does something good for my brain... it's all a little clearer. Either that or maybe, it's not just babies who need extra vitamin D!!

I remember the end of 2009. I was with friends and we decided to let everyone express their thoughts about the year. I hated 2009. It was not a good year for me. It was the year of little sleep, little money, little time with friends or myself, and lots of feelings of under-achievements in almost every aspect of my life.

But... I had high hopes for 2010. I was going into the year almost due to have my third angel. I was starting the year on mat leave so that meant more time. Time for my kids, my husband, my friends and myself.

Well, let me tell ya, 2010 delivered! It has been a hard year, but a good year. A busy year, but an eye opening year. It has been a year filled with blessings flowing from heaven. It has been a year of receiving from many people in our lives. But mostly it has been a year of breathing deeply and latching onto the good that this life has to offer.

I'll take a moment to say Thank You again to every person who has sent our family positive vibes, prayers, life lessons, support, food, gifts and mostly love.

We dove into new waters and we've arrived on top... just riding the waves! And we are happy!

Some of my favorite moments of 2010 (I'll start from the beginning)

- My delivery of Macy (by far my easiest so far! Thank you Macy!)

-The moment that the Doctor confirmed to me that indeed Macy had Down Syndrome and the strength I saw in Barry's face. He gave me my moment to cry and process and kiss my baby. This year I have learned how strong he really is!

-The nurse who earned her spot in my heart by telling me how beautiful Macy was.


-The instant we saw Macy's Surgeon walk in the waiting room after 8 hours, to confirm that he was done, that it was a successful surgery and Macy was doing well!

-Seeing the pride in Tommy's face as he showed off his new little sister to his class at school!

-Seeing Tommy get baptised... and being the first person he came to hug after! (with a huge smile on his face!)

-Our new tradition Friday night pizza and movie together!

-Finally getting Barry to go camping (for the first and last time), but he went!

-When we finally found a successful treatment for Kyla's eczema!

-After 5 months of pumping... having Macy finally learn how to breastfeed.

-Late nights at our Cabin playing Rook with great friends! And watching all the little boys water ski.

-Tommy's first piano lesson and the happiness he felt after!

-Kyla starting Joy School and her excitement about learning.

-Watching Macy just light up at school and therapy!

-Spending a wonderful 2 weeks in Utah with my family. Watching my sister Marsha play the guitar and sing, spending time with childhood friends, Lots of talking and laughing with my sister Pam, Seeing my brother Mark (he works in Kansas), and spending time with my parents.

-Meeting some new friends from the DS community in Utah. Watching their DS kids... being kids!

-The sunshine on my face in Southern California!

-Watching our friends experience Disneyland for the first time!

-Kyla seeing the princesses as Disneyland

-Tommy and his friends in the Jedi Training... they will talk about it for years!

-Warm winter nights in the Hot Tub!

-Pizza for Christmas Dinner!

-All the people we have met online or in person!

-Every milestone Macy has met. Smiling, rolling, eating, sitting. She works so hard for them!

-Seeing my kids grow, learn and bond together!

Yes 2010 has been a success. We are fulfilled and we're goin' out breathing deeply and smiling!

Warmth and wisdom!

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Just thought I would share that!! Sending love and warm air from California!
Merry Christmas... only a few more days!

Motherhood...it's always good for a laugh!

While at the hospital today, Kyla had to go pee. She is newly potty trained and therefor not aware of the modern highlights of toilets these days.

Well, she was sitting all sweet, doing her thing when out of the blue while she sat... the toilet flushed itself.

Oh man, her eyes met mine so quick and the look on her face was priceless. Like there was a monster in the toilet! hehe

I quickly dissolved the problem by saying, "Oh, did the toilet flush all by itself?" (while holding in my motherly chuckles!)

Well, what do you know a couple seconds later... it flushed again. And this time she broke into tears! Sweet girl!

She is so funny!

Sometimes these little moments are the things that make motherhood so enjoyable!

This may sound silly, but I am going to write it anyway.

I was talking to a friend today about blog comments and facebook comments. Is it normal to feel unimportant or unacknowledged when people don't comment?

I feel like, in a sense, the "online" world is becoming somewhat of a "world of it's own." So when no one comments I sometimes feel like it is the same as someone walking past you on the street and not saying "hi." Is that strange? It is isn't it! I know, but I am not one to keep my feelings and opinions to myself. That is what many people say is my good quality. I say what I feel and I feel what I say!

Anyway... I will admit that I am not always the best commenter myself. I do comment of blogs very regularly... but not every blog I read! Though I am conscious about where I blog and try to spread my comments around to various people, hoping no one gets left behind.

I guess I am really thinking about this right now because after I posted Tommy's piano videos, he asked me what people thought. I think he was a little sad that only 1 person (other than his grandma) had anything to say. Kids love to hear positive words.

I do also realize that I am not the best writer in the world, but if you could read my thoughts and help me organize them into a witty post... well, then maybe, just maybe I would get a few more "hello's" from my readers.

And we will end with a cute pictures of Macy in her new hat!

Our time is up!

Our week with the Trisomy 21 afghan is over, but we gave it some love and we're sending it on it's way.

The timing could not have been better... since in a few days we are off.

Off to california to enjoy some time with friends

Off to california to warm up our frozen bodies

and Off to california for a much needed break!

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

Tommy started learning to play the piano in September. He is doing so great! He loves to go online, print music and try to play it. We are so proud of him!

I also wanted to post this years Christmas card!