My Special Valentine's Gift...

Brian is forever a people-pleaser by nature. He does it 365 days a year. At any given moment he could bring home my favorite chocolate, a simple flower or make me a special dinner in which he had ample help from Google in finding the perfect recipe. That is on a "normal" day. Special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries or Valentine's Day, he really does try to do something extra special. But this Valentine's Day was a little different. He actually made my gift! It reminds me of the Friends episode where Chandler and Monica had agreed to "Make the presents! Make the presents!!" I knew he was working on something because he had mentioned doing so at my dad's house. I have to say I was a little anxious as what he could possibly make for me. If you know him well, you know he stresses over the smallest details. Not really because he is a perfectionist, but because he really does care about "sending the very best!" He spent a whole day on my gift trying to get it perfect simply because it was for me. That, in and of itself, was enough to make me feel so very special. But when I actually saw the gift I was touched beyond words.




Want to know what he made me???






Sitting on the edge of your seat maybe???





Well -

here it is--


Now first, let's clear up any confusion. The actually shape of the heart is the third word of the phrase: TARHEEL AT (implied) HEART. It took me a minute so I wanted to make sure you got the message. The foot is actually HIS foot traced on the wood and cut out. He struggled to get the colors, shape and sentiment exactly right.
You would think that this is the ultimate gift for me because it has to do with the TAR HEELS. But you would be wrong in that assumption. The gift was himself. He has gotten into watching the games with me, striving to understand the rules and even knows a few of the players names. Not because that is a requirement for living with me (contrary to popular belief), but because he wants to love the things I love. He wants to be a part of the things that I am a part of. To the point that he even offered his own foot as a template, as if to say: "Here is a small part of me so that you can always remember that I forever want to be a part of every aspect of your life, no matter how trivial, because you are important to me." Okay, so that exact sentiment may not ever come out of his mouth, but his actions have always spoken louder and more eloquent than his words ever could.!!

Thank you for that, Brian! A Hallmark card or Shakespearean sonnet couldn't have said it better!! I am truly blessed to have such a loving, devoted husband that treats me as if it were Valentine's Day EVERYDAY!

A Couple of Basketcases!!

Most of my day-to-day is pretty routine....as are my kids. They get up, snuggle with me for a few minutes, eat a predictable breakfast, Kaliese goes off to school, Braedyn sets up his toys, laundry, dishes, play, lunch, DVR catch-up while Braedyn naps, Kaliese gets home and does homework, they play, eat dinner, take bath, read a story and lights out. However, there are a few moments every now and then that really catch me off guard. Just odd-ball things that make me actually do a double take as a little "?!" appears above my head.

Here's one of those times:

Now the really amazing thing about the photo, first of all, is that it shows a single moment in my life that my laundry was actually done!!! But more than that it was simply an unexpected site. I'm not even sure what they were watching, but as I walked by I just had to laugh. They weren't playing or being silly, but just simply sitting there in those baskets, snuggled up as if it were the most normal place in the world to sit. And didn't they just luck out that there was one for each of them?!

Of course, they also have so many moments of just being caught in the act doing something cute or sweet and I love those moments just as much. Of all the things I envisioned that I would find precious about my children, I never knew how much their love for each other would affect me. Don't get me wrong...they have their moments of "Battle of the Wills", but for the most part they get along very well.

I so enjoy being caught off guard by my children. Whether its listening to them come to some odd conclusion about life's little mysteries, or seeing their imagination transform the most mundane object into exactly what they need it to be in their 'land of pretend'. I frequently find myself thinking "I have never thought of it that way" as they continue to inspire me with their wit, their ability to completely pretend and their keen powers of observation. Daily I am amazed by their creativity, compassion, cunning, character and curiousity. Not only do I hope they never lose those qualities, but I pray I never cease to learn from them!

Let me 'splain! No, there is too much. Let me sum up!

Okay, so its been over 3 months since my last post. In my defense, I've been a little occupied and also less than motivated. But!! It's a new year and so (a few weeks late) a new resolve to keep updating this masterpiece of a blog! LOL!

Kaliese is still doing well at school. She brings home constant homework with an occasional project mixed in for kicks. She has completed a timeline of her long life, which was actually very educational for her. She is currently working on creating a prototype of a product, which includes drawing it, writing about it, creating it, and advertising it. And yes, she is still in first grade. She is also working on telling time and counting money which she has grasped fairly easily. She got a watch for Christmas (not digital) and does very well telling time. Her report cards communicate that she is excelling in all except for sitting still, but I'll take it.

At home, she enjoys playing with her brother, but also likes some alone time. She reads and draws a good bit, as well as continues to expand her skills on the computer. She received little Barbies and Littlest Pet Shop creatures (both with several accessories including a house and shopping center I found cheap on craigslist!) She loves to play with those by herself or with Braedyn and Kadyn. She continues to grow in beauty and spirit and I continue to be a proud parent and am so grateful for her.

Braedyn is not necessarily growing by leaps and bounds, but has moved from 6% to 10% in his growth chart. There's a lot to be said for PB&J!! He continues to be my faithful companion in cheering for the Tar Heels and once in a while allows us entrance into his make-believe world (where he seems to spend most of his time). Brian and I have been working with him on letters and numbers and such. He is grasping it slowly but surely. While we remain impressed with his ability to name most any superhero, transformer, etc. and his uncanny memory for the weird and obscure, we know that he needs to move into the realm of traditional academia. If only Indiana Jones could take him on a quest for knowledge through the alphabet jungle, we would be set!

He received Indiana Jones and Star Wars action figures for Christmas, to add to his growing variety of heroes of all kinds. He plays with them constantly and never tires of cracking his whip!! You would think after 8 months, he would tire of the IJ theme song....but no, not even close! He, like his sister, is just a joy to know. He cracks me up daily and is such a little entertainer!

Brian and I are doing well, in spite of the unemployment anvil that's been weighing on us for 6 months now. We have really been challenged spiritually, but God continues to be faithful on a daily basis. We have received prayers, encouragement, support and gifts from friends, family and even anonymously without which we never could have survived. It is amazing how God uses people to touch our lives in so many ways. We hope we are as effective in the lives of others. Brian is scheduled to begin training in a truck driving job on Feb. 4. We are not sure where that will lead, but trust that God has a plan.

So....this has been a lengthy summation of the past few months. The next one, which will be soon, will be a little more specific and hopefully a better read!!