Colorado Trip: Part 1

We spent the first part of our trip to Colorado with Aaron's family. The weather was horrible, then gorgeous. We hiked, went to the zoo, and the kids played their hearts out. The kids played so hard, they got sick. Montana was on the couch one afternoon with a fever and then got a cough. It didn't stop her. She LOVES her cousins. It is so fun watching them get older and see their personalities emerge. We are so grateful for such a fun time with the Walters/Lankfords!

Sister visit

Tomorrow the kids and I are headed to Colorado to visit family and friends. We are so excited. And just a couple of weeks ago my sister, and my adorable niece, Anjali, were here for a glorious 5 day visit. I love it when our trips are close together because it makes saying good-bye so much easier. Our time together consisted of going to coffee, feeding the kids, putting them down for naps, seafood, and going to bed early. Low expectations for the day, but great times of connection. Here are a few highlights:

Montana was in heaven! Aunt Emily curled her hair, painted her nails, and took her shopping. Those two are 2 peas in a pod!

Nudey time!!
When does being naked with your cousin become awkward?

Trying to get Montana to start babysitting so we can go to coffee alone!

Ani sporting her shades

Ani with Montana's Rapunzel wig. Montana loved picking out clothes for Anjali. She was like her very own live doll. And for some reason so much more interesting than her brother.

These adorable moments...

Are brought to you today by all of the crazy, whiny, hair-pulling moments that some days seem endless.

Today's Facebook Status...

If I was posting today on Facebook (I'm taking a bit of a break), my status would be...


SERENITY NOW!!!!!!!!

All at Once!

Energy

I got a teaching job for the month of January. Sociology 101. Yesterday was the first class and I have 3 whole students! I found out about the job in December and I knew it would be hard work to get prepped for a 3 hr class that meets 3 days a week, but I was up for the challenge.

I have to say that in the last couple of weeks, I have been so energized by what I'm doing. I don't mind getting up early or staying up late to work. It is fun to talk and think about the class and while I have a healthy amount of intimidation, I'm not completely overwhelmed. For the last year or so, I have dreaded work, it has drained me, and I have felt completely overwhelmed by it, AND I was only working a couple of hours a week. I wondered if maybe it was having kids and a full life that made it difficult, but now I am seeing that the fit wasn't quite right. How many times did I talk to students at Trinity when I worked there as a career counselor to pay attention to the times that you are drained and the times that you are energized? Well, I am taking my own advice. Although I am working only one month on the new job, I decided to quit my other job. It wasn't worth the few dollars that I made every month. It wasn't worth the hours I spent awake at night filled with anxiety.

Another lesson learned about myself. Often finding a career path comes through trial and error. I had to try the other job. I'm glad I did. I tried to stick it out. I'm glad I did. I'm thankful for the opportunity and the personal and professional learning. But I realize now that it wasn't a good fit and I will know in the future when I have other opportunities like this to walk away. Working with kids sounded great, but in reality it was really hard...for me. Tomorrow will be my last day. I will be relieved. And then it's back to making quizzes, prepping lectures, and coming up with creative ways to convey the inspiring ideas of Sociology. I am loving the energy and the life that has rushed back into my mind and body!

Happy New Year

Whew. I sit here at the computer pretty pooped. We had Christmas with my brother, we moved and I am in the middle of finishing one job and starting another. Life is full, but I think this is our normal (and probably yours too!)...
Aaron and I rang in the New Year last night fast asleep. I woke slightly to fireworks at midnight, but I had been in bed for almost 2 hours by then. Lame? Yes. Oh well. There's always next year!?

This year, my grandma had everyone in the family come up with one word that they hope for 2012, almost like a theme word. It was hard for me not to pick the word "new" as my word. In the new year, we are in a new home and I am starting a new job. I also feels like I have entered a new season. I spent last year mostly in a "baby bubble." I didn't do much outside of my kids and home. I never spent more than a few hours away from Amos, but now that he is one and getting more independent, I find myself excited about looking outward and shifting my energy a bit. I will definitely still focus on my kiddos and all of their growing, but I am actually looking forward spending more time with women and doing things outside of the home. It feels like a subtle shift. So "new" felt like a good word. But I believe along with this new season, is going to come a need for intentionality, being more fully present. When I am prepping for my class, I need to be fully engaged and when I am with my friends, I want to be more present. I feel like I have spent alot of time being distracted. I know this is part of having small kids who demand alot of attention, but I hope to be more intentional with my time, especially. So I think "intentional" is a good word for 2012.

One thing I am going to do (starting tonight) is have Aaron change my facebook password, so I can't check facebook several times a day. What a waste of time. We are also starting our annual January cleanse this week, which means being more intentional about what I eat. Oh man, this post is beginning to sound like your cliche New Year's Resolution post, but I guess it is. I love the start of January. It feels like I can hit the reset button and refocus my priorities. There are so many things happening at the end of the year, so it is always a huge relief when January rolls around. Yippee that it's January! And as I type I am watching my son toddle around taking multiple steps in a row. I think he's on his way to walking...this week! So, yet another new change around here...more mobility. Oh boy, here we go...

A picture to get the New Year started!

Montana's self portrait of her and her brother...
(I love that she misspelled her name)