MY Christmas Blessings...

Hmmm...I'm thinking of making a comeback!

Everything's Good In Small Doses...

I have decided three things since my last post.

• I will blog next a bit more light-hearted
• I will leave out some of the past happenings to feel like I'm actually catching up
• I will make this easier for your brains by giving {good} info and photos in small doses

Andrew auditioned for, and got a lead role in, the Suessical Jr.  It was this year's middle school play.  I've said it before and I'll say it again...I enjoy not paying any attention to any of Andrew's rehearsals, either in the school or the theater, prior to the actual productions.  I love the suspense and being totally enamored by his performances.  I've also said this before but I was blown away!  I mean totally bowled over.  Andrew did an amazing job and even when I think I couldn't be more proud of him...he blows my mind!  SO many speaking parts in so many scenes with a solo singing bit...blown away!!

 

 

The cast and directors definitely outdid themselves.  What a spectacular performance.  And wait...just when I say I couldn't be more proud of him...he tells me he's going to college!  I know that sounds incredibly ridiculous but for years he couldn't wait to hit the road to Cali to appear on American Idol at sixteen...he wants to graduate and hi-tail it outta here to become some famous star!  I was overjoyed {definitely emphasizing the OVERjoyed...he must have been shocked that I was shocked}to hear his plans of attending the the University of Michigan!!!!!!  I don't know if that will change but for now...hell yes!!!!! good for Andrew! {and see...I can deliver short and sweet!}

I'm Still Alive...!

I cannot believe I have not posted in three months! This is a new record for me, one I have not been trying to beat!  It has just been so long that every time I consider starting a post, I feel too overwhelmed and go on to something else.  Today I even considered starting a new blog on another server because I was reminded that I now very much dislike Blogger and how hard it seems for me to get on here. Ugh.

So very much has happened in life since I last updated and somehow it just seems to daunting to revisit.  I have decided to do a quick recap {hahahahahaha...right, Jodi's going to recap the last three months...the short version...yeah, whatever!}  I'll try my best.  Grab a cup of coffee or a bottle of tequila...this may take awhile...

I think I last posted sometime around my birthday.  Truthfully I cannot even remember what happened on my birthday, but I can vividly remember what happened right after it.  And even that story started well before it.  Here goes...

K has choked on his food for some time.  I was always telling him to cut his steak up into smaller, actual bite-sized pieces and stuff like that.  It was getting to the point of choking while eating and filling multiple glasses with liquid to get through a meal.  More recent than that he was also having some issues with his tush...I imagine he'll kill me for stating this but I really don't know what else to say. After much ado and many doctor visits and many bills later, {because he had also been visiting the doc numerously for a finger infection} he had testing done by a GI specialist at both ends.  He was scheduled for a colonoscopy and at last second the results came back on his throat and they scheduled a throat stretch {don't know the technical term} and biopsy to go along with the other.  I have to say, K was so ridiculous under the influence of meds.  First he was crazy funny and then maybe crazy annoying because he literally kept repeating the same questions and comments he could remember hearing All. Day. Long.  All night too.  The worst part for him, I assume, is that he was totally set to hear he had cancer.  Every time he is sick or whatever he thinks that.  He's sure he will get the work diagnosis possible for any ailment.  He's not a hypochondriac.  He had a brain tumor which took something like ten years to diagnose, after having the wrong diagnosis and treatment originally.  I totally get it.  At any rate, he was very nervous to have these biopsies done. He ended up having a polyp the size of I don't know what but the picture looked like an overinflated balloon...very shiny and transparent.  His throat biopsy pointed to a potential food allergy, causing his white cells to inflame in his throat, and if I am getting this right by memory, those cells aren't even supposed to be in the throat.  We were told both reports would be back in a few days and we would go from there with treatment. We went home and he griped about his soft food diet and headed off to a football coach camp.  After a long wait, K received his results. As far as a food allergy was concerned, he would have to go to an allergist to be tested and he was put on a steroid inhaler to keep inflammation down and another med to stop acid reflux...something he has never had.  Money well spent.  The other diagnosis floored us both...the polyp the doctor removed was cancerous.  Cancer.  Keith was carrying around a polyp with cancer in it.  Even in my wildest dreams, I was not ready to hear that.  Something he doesn't know {until he reads this} is that while he was gone at camp, I researched and researched and researched online and broke down in my living room and pleaded to God to help me through this because I didn't have the strength on my own to help K through a cancer result.  I had no idea how to be what he needed me to be.  How to give him what he needed.  And that was before the results came in.  I had a different feeling once he explained that the doctor said the cancer was completely contained within the polyp and it was gone from his body.  The fact remained, however, that if he wasn't experiencing problems, he wouldn't have had a routine colonoscopy for several years.  And then what?  Of course it is my nature to see the negative side of things instead of rejoicing in the miracle presented to us.  The doc said to come back in a year to have another scope done.  It is my direct intention to have him do a complete blood work thing in six months!!!  As for the allergy, Keith found out he is allergic to barley!  It couldn't be more appropriate for a boy who could live on pizza and beer! 

Keith said he didn't know how serious he'd be with getting rid of barley {beer and pizza} and I flat out told him to not be an idiot!  I love him dearly, which is why I will make sure he takes this seriously.  The truth is he is a definite creature of habit and change makes him flat out mad.  I knew it wouldn't be as hard as he thought simply because I had gone gluten free before after Christmas {☺} and I was getting pretty used to reading ingredients and knowing what is and is not acceptable.  Fast forward to today...he's doing quite well with this new way of life and has even lost weight eliminating all the extra crap.  He can still have gluten, but he doesn't eat as much as he used to simply because I cook and shop gluten free.  And lo and behold he found a beer man's beer...a manly beer as he would call it, and it's made by Budweiser, his favorite, and it is sold locally.  Hooray!!!  Life has been good for him because God is so good!

I decided back in January that this year was going to be phenomenal simply because it is 2013 and thirteen is my favorite number.  Easy enough.  We've had many wonderful things happen but, man, we have been tested in so many ways.  I see more and more clearly that God has a hand in everything and it isn't my job to question anything but to have complete faith that everything will turn out the way it is intended to.  I'm human and it's hard but I'm getting it.

 

Thankfully, with all the medical bills for Keith and I this year {and it's only May} and now, after Monday, with Kyle, {another story} and with all our breakdowns {stuff and ourselves}and going to cash only {no small feat for this girl...I am an Amazon rewards credit card freak!} we have managed so far to make it...and as scared as I've been...we're still in an okay spot.

Wow! That was a lot for today!  Good for me... I made it through literally two weeks of the five month catch up! {sarcasm} Ha, I warned you to grab a beverage of choice...this will take me some time.  In the meantime I also switched computers so all of my correlating pics are someplace else.  I will get back in the swing of things.  It's never a dull moment here.

What Is Going On Here...?

I am stumped.  I designed a really cute new header for my blog last month, then hit the button of death, and now I have ended up with this debacle.  And I had to go to bloggers site to write a new post.  From my own page...nothing!  What is happening?  I'm trying to figure out how to maybe change from blogger to something else because I cannot go back to my old default.  This is not cool.

Anywho...today is my birthday.  I do not typically put that out there but this is my space, although somewhat foreign to me right now, so I'm going with it.  I do not have it published on Facebook but with all the changes, it could still be on there.  Some friends commented this morning.  It makes me a little uncomfy.  Don't get me wrong...I love my birthday and love to celebrate it way past the date but it's still strange to post anything about it on social media...like I'm asking for well wishes. Blah.  Since I'm putting it out there on here, I need to share a cute card my baby made me last night.  He received five dollars from his Stratton Grandparents for Valentine's Day and that sweet little soul offered me his money as a gift for my birthday.  He was so adorable about it...almost shy.  It was so incredibly sweet.  And he wouldn't take no for an answer so I will have to buy him something with it instead. ♥ {and check out the sweet birthday shirt...but because we are both bald I don't know who is wearing it}

Our family received a very thoughtful Christmas gift from our daycare lady. {and friend}  I kind of forgot I had taken a picture of it until I read in the Beacon a couple weeks back that the Verlanders {Justin's parents} were coming to town to speak and do a book signing at two local schools!  What an awesome opportunity for kids {and parents too} to meet such a famous ball player's parents!  Apparently the Verlanders were somewhere else locally before Christmas and we received this signed book as a gift...a true gift indeed.

 I am all over the place today but want to show that I don't just write about my projects...I actually accomplish some of them! {that's not to say I don't have a ton of unfinished projects at home...but I have a few that actually get done!}  I have been on a labeling frenzy since January.  I found some great Martha Stewart labels at Staples but couldn't get there anytime I was out so instead of procrastinating, and spending mega bucks on her labels, I decided to make my own!  We are planning to paint the laundry room this winter {years in the making} and have the free paint {thanks seester} so I took the first step and made coordinating labels for my new baskets.

 This makes sorting laundry for the boys super easy.  Before, whites were in a tall wicker basket in the bathroom and delicates were in a larger wicker basket in the hall closet.  These plastic bins aren't as pretty but they are super functional...and all in one spot!

 The labels for Kyle's room are nothing exciting but I am totally stoked nonetheless.  It makes for hassle free cleaning at the end of the day. {or when I nag him enough to finally clean his room}

 My hall closet got a mini makeover as well.  Up close the squiggles aren't really that cute but they add color to dreary white labels and of course make finding stuff more manageable!

 I also updated a couple topiaries from my mother.  I stripped the old greenery off and added mossy greens instead.  My kitchen was a mess and the moss didn't want to adhere to the foam with spray adhesive but I did not give up...

 ...and with a little paint I love the way they turned out!  They look very clean.  You cannot see the detail, but I painted the pots a deep turquoise color then covered the paint in heirloom white and lightly distressed the paint for a worn look.  I have currently added these to my television console in my living room...for now.

Super Bowl Sunday was pretty low key.  We wanted to get together with friends but couldn't host due to a host of issues in our basement. {not all bad} We got together with the Olson slash Hosticka slash Aardema clan and the Sigmons for a night of fun.  The kids tried keeping up with the pools and took breaks to watch videos on you tube maybe?

 I would say the most popular event of the night was not the commercials {although interesting...like the hot chick kissing the goofy guy} or the power outage that changed the dynamics of the game, but the break we took to watch, in awe, as middle-school-art-teacher-slash-new-varsity-head-coach Mr. Sigmon drew a chalk drawing on the wall.  Phenom, Tony...phenom.

We are in the home stretch as basketball winds down at the end of the month.  Last week was football sign ups and today is baseball sign ups.  Caleb played in a game last week and made two three-pointers...nice job!  He shot from beyond the three point area and even Caleb said had he realized he was so far back he probably wouldn't have attempted the shot.  All's well that ends well though, right?  His biggest struggle this season, as with all seasons of all sports, is that he thinks too much.  Too much about the dribbling, the passing, the shooting, the team, the coaches...I remind him constantly what a great coach once said to him after a game..."You played out of your mind today!!"  It was a day of no sleep the night before and ball all weekend so there really was no thinking going on!  And, of course, I also like to remind him of a Nike quote that we enjoy...IF NO ONE THINKS YOU CAN THEN YOU HAVE TO. Yeah, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't...but he knows I love him either way so it's all good.

Andrew is smack dab in the middle of the school play rehearsals.  He got the part of Cat in the Hat and I cannot wait to see him in his glory!  He was hilarious last year in the middle school play and, again, I do not watch or listen to him rehearse...I totally love the anticipation of the surprise!  I received an email about an audition for the youth theater but told the director Andrew would not have time to try out for the production since he's in the middle of this other one and told her he got the part of Dr. Seuss!  Haha, I'm such an idiot!  Oh well.  She knew better...she's helping with choreography! {which made me feel even more dumb knowing she knows what's really going on!}  I was hoping he'd have a little time to not try out for the youth theater but to maybe do some behind the scenes work with lighting, production or some other part.  I think it would be great for him to get all his fingers and toes wet and not just a few...but he really has no extra time to make it all work so we wait.  For now.  He'll have a chance to audition this spring for the summer play.  Send good thoughts his way.

Kyle finished up session two indoor soccer last week and Monday started session three.  He had set a goal of ten goals last session and as of the second to last game, he made nine.  Pressure.  At his last game he scored three goals and had three assists!  Way to go Kyle!  This time he set another goal...fifteen goals...and to play goalie.  I think it's great to have high expectations of yourself, but fifteen goals is pretty hefty.  Monday night he scored a goal and got to play goalie.  The team lost three to two...and he had two balls get past him.  I think he's smart enough to do the math...and return to the field!  He was pretty bummed he had everything to do with losing the game.  Kids are funny.  He got a taste of the other side and much prefers the flavor of kicking instead of catching and blocking!

Tonight he also signs up for baseball.  And comp cheer districts are this Friday.  I thought I was done but we compete in the GMAA next Wednesday as well.  Talent Show practices are still going on until March first but comp will be over.  Someone asked me what I will do with all my free time.  My answer was, "Drive my kids around to practices and games!"  In the grand scheme of things, it is a much smaller commitment than coaching.  Bring on spring! {and tennis and soccer and baseball and...baseball!}

And The Fun Never Ends...

This year we all tried something new.  We hit the five o'clock Christmas Eve service at church instead of the eleven o'clock one.  It was a hard decision but I kept an open mind.  There was no difference other than it felt different.  I think I can get over it since we actually headed home around ten this year and didn't need to feel guilty about our decision.

We arrived home and I took care of some of the night's gifts.  Andrew wrote his letter to Santa and fixed his usual plate of cookies with milk and, thanks to grandma, he had carrots for the reindeer.  The boys headed to bed and Keith and I finished up a movie on the television and then we headed to bed as well. {Keith has never seen Peggy Sue Got Married}

I heard Andrew get up in the middle of the night to use the facilities and I knew he was heading for the couch. He was on alert.  Thank goodness he's old enough to sleep through the anticipation of needing to get up before the roosters.  Kyle on the other hand...not so much.

There was a little excitement in our home Christmas morning.  I,for one, would prefer a little less excitement over this gift.  It's a funny show, but there's lots of sexual innuendos that I am not comfy with.

I think Kyle liked his 3-D sports book...

I was maybe hoping for a little more excitement on this one since the kid didn't have much on his wish list.  Maybe I was more excited because the gift card Grandma Stratton got him {in the future at the time} for gloves could now be used for something else at the sporting goods store. {sorry, Brenda...I didn't make this purchase!}

Gifting was hard for the eldest so I packaged up a mac-daddy gift card assortment for him...and what you do for one, you do for two. {teens} But in my case, I had to at least attempt to make it look like I tried being fair. {seven year olds don't get it}  Kyle was thrilled to get an MC's card...baseball shoes or a new helmet for sure.

Based on the gift wrap and the smile on Caleb's face, I suppose Santa brought him just what he asked for.

And based on the face alone, Andrew clearly hit the red suit jackpot!!

Thankfully, the third time's a charm...Kyle loved him some Santa too!

Funny story.  When Andrew filled out his annual report to Santa, he asked us all what we wanted from the Jolly Elf.  Everyone asked for something specific and I just asked for something we could do together as a family.  Imagine the looks on my boys' faces and the under-the-radar comments when they did the quick count and noticed four presents from Santa under the tree...four presents for our family of five!  Yep, I guess I was naughty this year after all.  At our home, the boys all open their presents from us first, then each other, then from Santa.  After all that, Keith and I open ours from each other.  After all the kids' presents were opened, we took a look at the envelopes on the tree.  One addressed to each of us.  Oh thank goodness...Santa put me on the nice list after all!  It took a minute for any of the boys in my house to pick up on it {ahem} but in the end we all realized my gift I asked for was granted...{see below}

These gifts my boys picked out on their own.  In the past I have given them money for doing extra chores and we would get to the store and split up and the boys would shop for each other and for us.  This year Kyle stacked wood and Keith took him shopping on his own.  And the bigs used their own money {no work...no surprise} and we headed to Target. {after stopping at Sephora in JCP, where Andrew snagged up a lovely gift ahead of time}  Caleb bought me the message board.  It totally looks like me.  Andrew picked out the necklace and earring set before he was ever psyched to go on a hunt. {he leans toward jewelry...last year I got 3 pair of gold hoop earrings}  Kyle bought me the hammer.  I love it!  He kills me.  I totally said I needed a new hammer.  He listened.  Sweet boy.  But if I had to choose which boy would get me a hammer versus the other two gifts, I would totally choose Kyle!

Here is a quick peak at my gifts from the hubs.  He's really good at shopping for me, especially when he's armed with digital pics I send him on his phone!  I know, I know...I am a total spoiler alert! {and spoiled}  I like stuff.  I also like specific stuff.  I would just hate to have someone waste money for no reason.  Is this justifiable?  {yes, the old crate in the background IS a gift and it IS what I asked for}

Here is a treasured gift from Kyle.  it will be added to the handmade tree next year.

To make this make sense from earlier, this is what we each found in our envelopes on the tree from Santa...this is my gift from Santa...something to do together as a family!!  We all received passes to the Winter Sports Complex.  Now we just need it to snow! {yes, I said it...and I dislike snow so much!  Santa has a strange sense of humor!}

I knew a favorite gift under the tree this year would be these beauties.  Kyle has begged me for two years to get him a pass to use at daycare.  Nope.  He wasn't seven yet. {it is also the magic age for the occasional Coke and Pepsi}  This year I am entrusting his care to Tami. {no pressure}  To be fair, Andrew was seven when I allowed him to go with daycare...but his older brother was nine at the time and it somehow seemed very different then.  Having so many years between the bigs and Kyle has felt like me starting over so many times.  I have to go through the paranoia all over again.  Andrew is thrilled as well...now to find a school friend who also possesses a pass...

I received two gifts from the twin TenBrinkmans.  Shoreline opted out of a school store this year but Ealy opened one and I was blessed with this sparkling frame and equally sparkling pair of earrings.

And what would Christmas spirit be without our very own Secret Santa?  We went out Elfing earlier in the season and were very delighted to have our own surprise lingering outside one night before Christmas.  The excitement grew when i walked out two mornings later to find another gift.  The little elf did not knock this time.  I think it is because his older and wiser brother fell off our icy porch the night before and he wasn't taking any chances on being rushed.  When we found a third and final gift on our doorstep in the middle of the day on Christmas Eve, we couldn't stand it any longer.  Thankfully a card was attached to the gifts this time.  Our Pastor and his family are awesome.  And I said that before the surprises!  Merry Christmas, Beeghly Family!!
We never did guess...a few times I thought I was sure...but I was totally off the mark!  Sneaky little peeps!

I don't know the relevance of this photo op.  I guess I just love my middle.

I wonder if this is what it's like to have college kids home for break?  This is a portion of what I found downstairs after one weekend of the boys being home during break.  I didn't realize until after taking this picture that there was a trash bag next to it that was also full of trash from the basement.  Yowza.  I'd say bring on school but I really kind of like them home. ♥

Holiday Happenings

The last day of school before break was the Elementary's Christmas program.  It seemed like mass chaos but it was cute.

Kyle got a new tree for his room this year, and what do you know?!  With all the themed ornaments in the basement, we were able to decorate his tree in red and blue and police stuff!

The boys' tree didn't get decorated this year.  Last year they used the big tree that usually goes downstairs but is never seen.  This year kyle wanted to pull out all the ornaments and decorate that tree so the bigs had to use my tree that normally houses all my handmade ornaments from the boys.  They didn't care.  The trees in the rooms are really for me.  I like to see them lit up from the driveway when I pull up at night.

Andrew has been babysitting Sunday nights for the TenBrinkmans and has been saving his money.  He donated ten dollars to Mrs. Tate's fund for an expedition she is taking to Antarctica. {lol...I think} His name went into a drawing for a white mini tree with bulbs and penguin ornaments.  He won!!  He is such a fun winner, too.  He gets insanely excited...like on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire!! {too bad I could not share a better pic of the penguins}

Our main tree is always changing.  I went back to red bulbs this year but also decided to switch up the holiday photos on the tree.  In the past it has been past Christmas card pics but this year I saw something on Pinterest {I think}that I wanted to tackle.  It will be a process for me because the photo corners and metal name plates will have to be purchased throughout the year but for now I really adore the way the tree turned out this year.  I LOVE looking at the boys at Christmastime throughout the years.

{blurry...sorry}

Just a little bling...

This may not look too cute but I saw in a magazine that a homeowner put game pieces in glass jars so all you have to do is dump it out for instant play time.  The cards are ugly but for now...

Yummy...

More yumminess...

Dining room glimmer...

And a bit more...

Advent...

Boy stockings {with ugly hangers}...

And mama's...

Bad Christmas Eve pic...

And a fun one too...

Cousins at Gram's...

The TenBrinkmans...

Showing the rarely seen love...

And the norm...

Totally unsure...

Our annual family pic...

My sweet  babes...

I am lucky...

My silly mom...not sure if she liked her ipad or her pink ribbon more!  She had such an infatuation with the color this year!

Happy Christmas Eve!