nostalgia

I love Christmas. I love everything about this time of year. I love the street not far from me that has filled their lawn and house with every kind of lawn ornament and light display known to man. I love the food, the music, the tv specials, the shopping, my 8' tall waving Santa, Devin's holiday work party that has the same food every single year (I don't think engineers believe in variety) etc. etc. etc. As much as I love this time of year, I also get a small feeling of sadness in the pit of my stomach: I miss the memories. Here are my favorites:

-Opening up one gift on Christmas eve after church. It was inevitably new pajamas.
-The first time Eric and I really got to experience snow in Hinesville, GA. We didn't own any snowpants, but we came inside and watched Gummy Bear Adventures and drank hot chocolate while our jeans were in the dryer.
-Receiving my Barbie dreamhouse with the elevator
-Bon bons and Candy cane cookies that my mom makes
-My Christmas band concerts in middle school. I felt like some serious hot stuff playing "Jingle Bells" on my clarinet in my white shirt, black jeans and cumberbund.
-Christmas Eve services at various military chapels that always ended w/ dripping candles and "Silent Night."
-Learning the alto part to Carol of the Bells in madrigals senior year and singing in Old Ellicott City (MD). Hearing that song still gives me goosebumps. I love it!
-Going sledding senior year of high school with Dan and Leigh Ayn. I'm sure if you know her like I know her, you can imagine the facial expressions and screaming noises she made going down that hill.
-Exchanging Christmas gifts with Amanda A WHOLE MONTH EARLY in college.
-Christmastime in the dorms at K-State. They always put on this fabulous Christmas dinner for us and finals week was such a fun week of celebrating.
-Junior year of college when Aunt Shel sent my gift to my house in KS. It was taped shut with "DON'T YOU DARE OPEN THIS EARLY! I KNOW HOW YOU ARE!" slathered all over in black permanant marker. You know I had that bad boy ripped open in about 30 seconds! ;)
-Driving to visit the Rileys my sr. year of high school (a few days after Christmas) to see Devin, who was home from college. I was SO excited to see him. Every now and then I look at him, and am amazed and thankful that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man who made my heart jump out of my chest.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Letter 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope this letter finds you doing well, but this letter really isn't about you is it?

Devin is still an engineer at Johnston Burkholder Associates.

Marie still stays home with the kids and works part-time at Baby Gap.

Now onto our little geniuses:

Addison, 3 (but she can tell you that herself in English AND Spanish) is growing like a weed. Devin and I are in awe at her intelligence. While most kids are just drawing scribbles at this age, Addison is able to color completely in the lines. Her attention to detail astounds us: she doesn't just draw a sun, but adds eyes and a smile as well. She spends her days composing music, practicing spatial analysis, and creating scientific hypotheses. She is in the gifted and talented program at both the gym kid's club and our church preschool. She is also becoming a talented gymnast. We are planning on hiring a personal coach to get her ready for the 2020 Olympic Games. We are proud to say that she is smarter than all of our friends' children and we let her know this on a daily basis. Because Addison is so intelligent, we hope to enroll her in 1^st grade next fall, skipping preschool and kindergarten.

While Ainsley (10 months) isn't quite as smart as Addison, she is still a delightful little baby. She barely makes a peep, only to request her daily serving of kale with flaxseed (in sign language of course). Ainsley is also in the gifted and talented program in the church nursery, and we our keeping our fingers crossed that she'll make the honor roll at our gym's kids club. She is already able to say ma ma, da da, and guh guh, so we have placed her on the waiting list at the local montessori preschool. Because her diet is so balanced, Ainsley has never spit up or had a leaky diaper. Her b.m.'s are always round and perfectly formed. Like Addison, Ainsley is outperforming her peers in all areas. We are truly proud parents.

Our strict schedules with the girls doesn't allow for much time socially, especially now that we are trying to get a head start on college applications, but let us know if you are in the area. We'd love to squeeze in some time for you (maybe).

Happy Holidays!

Warmly,

Devin, Marie, Addison and Ainsley

;)

28

Ten years ago...

I was turning 18. I had already been through so much in my life at that point, and had already learned so many life lessons that I pretty much thought I had life figured out. HA!

I was already in love with Devin Riley, but also dating someone else too. Devin won. I think I made a very good decision.

I was pondering moving back to Kansas and going to K-State so I could be with Devin and Amanda, or staying in Maryland. A few months later I chose Kansas, and 9 years later, I am still happy with this decision.

I was trying to figure out what to do with my life, when deep down inside I knew all I wanted to be was a mom.

I worked at Baby Gap.

I wasn't the least bit active. Since then I have climbed 5 fourteeners, braved spin class and figured out how to run for longer than 3 minutes without wanting to die.

I considered myself a really good singer. Now the only people I sing to are my two little girls, and my repetoire includes songs like "Ba ba ba ba...thank you God for baby Jesus."

I was meeting Devin's family for the very first time. I sat on the couch and watched the Disney Channel with Daniel and Caitlyn. When I returned home from the trip I told my mom that I wanted to be part of that family.

I was more interested in hanging out with my friends than my parents. Now my parents are my friends.

I loved to make people laugh and have a great time. Still true.

I discovered The Cheesecake Factory.

I was late to just about everything and trying to figure out how to not be. I used to stop at Dunkin Donuts and get coffee for my 1st period teacher so she'd excuse me for being tardy. Maybe I'll have this figured out by birthday #38.

I had two piercings in each ear. Since then I've had an eyebrow ring and my first tattoo.

I felt God's whispers of love and grace, even though I had no room for him in my life. I'm so thankful for a God that forgives all things.

Those are my memories. What do you remember the most about me through the years?

Addison's Art

I'm sure lots of other kids drew boobs on their good samaritan pictures too and not just my daughter, right? Maybe? Hopefully? Please!

Please pray!!!!

My friend Angela from high school and Spring Canyon (she's actually the one who told me about Spring Canyon in the first place) just gave birth to a beautiful little girl, Ally. She was born October 12 with a cleft lip and palate. Here are some of the status updates I've seen on facebook:

"As you may or may not know, our daughter Ally was born with a cleft lip and palate. Tomorrow we head up to Great Falls for her first surgery. Tomorrow afternoon we have her pre-op appointment and the surgery first thing Tuesday. It is fairly major surgery and Ally will be under general anesthesia. We would appreciate more than we could ever say prayers for her safety and for the wisdom of her doctors."

She already had one surgery, but the stitches came out and the repair work disintegrated. She had another surgery at around 2 pm.

Please lift up Angela, Nathan, Ally and their two little guys. Pray for complete and TOTAL healing for little Ally.













Update from facebook:

Success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God is so good!!! And God bless Dr. Santin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's all so clear now!

Today at mops this lady came and talked about the personalities. I will admit that my first thought was "Again? I already know all about that stuff." She presented it in a completely new and cool way. I learned a lot. I learned more about me and why I have so many issues, I learned about Devin and his issues, I learned about Addison and her issues, and I learned about Ainsley (maybe) and her future issues?! Just kidding. Have you ever heard the phrases Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy, and Phlegmatic? Google some of those words and try to figure out what yours is. I'm sanguine. Is this surprising? No. It's not surprising at all. I just wish I had known this stuff earlier on. Sanguines LOVE to have FUN! We are open books, will tell you anything, tell on ourselves, stretch the truth, will choose fun over responsibility, and desire approval from others above anything else. We're constantly running late, love to shop, and love to give, give, give. Sanguines struggle with organization more than any other type.

Why did I major in Elementary Education? Could somebody please TELL ME??!!!! Now it makes sense why during my student teaching I just wanted to get in there and teach those kids and why I would get horrible stomach aches just thinking about planning lessons. Why I would get migraines because I was so worried I'd fail. It explains why subbing was ten times easier for me. I could show up, have a great time with the kids, carry out someone else's plans and then go home.

It explains why, if I do something stupid, I put it up on facebook and then don't understand why everyone else doesn't do the same thing. It explains why (if I don't learn to control myself) I might be that 80 year old woman who is telling her great grandchildren or the lady on the bus all about her constipation. Hee hee hee.

It explains why I'm typing this blog instead of making a dent in the laundry. The speaker did say that we shouldn't use our type as an excuse for bad behavior....

Anyway now that I know so much more about who I am I feel so free to be me: someone who loves relationships and having a great time, being silly, bringing joy. God made me that way. I just need to work on some of that other stuff. Like laundry and housework (even if it is just not very fun).

I think Addison is melancholy. I'm already seeing some perfectionist tendencies and she's VERY sensitive. She's also really into drawing and art and music. Oh and God forbid you change her daily routine. I can't wait to see how this develops in her.

Devin is phlegmatic. He is Mr. even keeled. Doesn't get too excited about something, but doesn't get too upset about something either. Phlegmatics tend to be procrastinators and a bit on the lazy side unless they are super excited about something. I'm laughing as I type this because it is just so dead on. It explains why I'm jumping around the living room saying "Devviiiin let's do something FUN! Come on! Let's play a game!" and he just looks at me with tired eyes and wants to watch Monk or go to bed or read his book. Phlegmatics desire peace. They like to sit and watch.

As for Ainsley I think she's turning out to be more like me, a little entertainer. It's probably too soon to tell, but it sure is fun seeing her personality erupt lately. 9 months is a FUN age!

What are you? What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

Update

This was a great weekend! Yesterday I took Addison to gymnastics and she went right in without throwing any fits at all. Last week was an entirely different story...

Then I went over to Kohl's and scored some awesome deals on some things for Ainsley and a pair of jeans for Addison.

After that I decided to peel my lazy butt from the computer chair and go for a run. It had been a week and I was definitely not in a running mood, but I knew I'd feel great if I just went for it. I accidentally ran 3 miles total. So incredibly difficult. By the end I was literally yelling at myself. Thankfully no one was around to hear me. I thought I had only gone two until I came home and told Devin the trail I ran on. He said it was 3. Well that explains why it was so hard. As many of you know I am NOT an athletic person by any means. I never participated in any sports growing up and am not talented in this area. It feels so good to have started this seemingly impossible goal and see progress. It's also scary too. It is scary for me to do things I know I won't be instantly good at, or to try things when I could possibly fail. Yikes. That is why I know I need to keep trying to do this.

ANYWAY

Today Devin and I worked in the nursery with the 1 year old cuties. As much as I love holding itty bitty babies, I am in love with this age group. They're so loveable and cuddly and hilarious too. Then Kelly brought Elise up to church and joined us. It was fun to have them there with us.

Later on in the afternoon I went to a shower for Merah. She's pregnant with their third baby--a boy! She announced that they are considering moving back to Cayman. I was trying very had to be supportive, but inside I was thinking "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Please don't take my Merah, my first ever mom friend in Kansas City." Ouch. That would be a tough loss. First Rach moved away and I'm hearing rumors of other friends leaving too. Nope. Not thinking about it right now! Denial...la la la la la.... I think the reason my wedding was such an amazing time was because I had all of my friends and family in one spot, and we all had so much fun together.

Anyway this is going to be a great week. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Plus my new tradition is to go to CVS at midnight the night before to get the black friday deals. Will you be joining me via cell phone this year Leigh Ayn? My parents and Devin were discussing what we were going to eat that day and I was naming off the usuals:

Turkey (duh)...check.
Stuffing...check.
Mashed Potatoes...check.
Corn Casserole... Mom: "Well I was thinking about not making that this year" which was received by looks of horror from Devin and me and a "WHAT?!" from my dad. "We have to have corn casserole!" he said. My mom argued that it was too similar to stuffing and mashed potatoes. That just wasn't a good enough reason. I replied "I could make it."
"Have you ever made it before?" asks my dad.
"No, but if Eric can make it I can make it (no offense Eric!)."
"Well make it for Devin first and if he says it's ok then you can make it." There are some things you play around with, but corn casserole stays on the menu and that's that.

Oh and I broke out the Christmas music early this year. It started with Josh Groban's Little Drummer Boy and took a steep curve downhill with Amy Grant's Christmas album from 1983 that I found at the library. Oh so many childhood memories from that one. Once I broke out Mariah Carey's Christmas cd there was no turning back. So far Addison's favorite song is Sleigh Ride. It reminds me of dancing around my dorm room with Amanda to the Billy Gilman and Charlotte Church version. Yeah this one:


Happy Monday!