Life's an Hourglass

I recently bought Mindy Gledhill's album off iTunes, and LOVE it.  This song in particular has almost been haunting me the last couple of days.  I had a realization that although I thought I was doing pretty good with all the stresses and change in our lives this past year and a half, I may have been fooling myself.  Sure I'm able to still put on a smile and be happy, I have learned and grown a LOT, and my kids stay fed and clothed (even if it's their pajamas all day and eating gogurts and fruit snacks around the clock) but there are days that the stress and loneliness of living away from my family and comfort zone get the best of me. 

Listening to this song helped me realize that while I'm focusing on how much I want this phase to just hurry up and be over, I am in turn hurrying my kids and the little moments in life out the door as well.  

So I am setting a new goal for myself, to live in the moment, to not let time slip through my fingers without really being present.  To enjoy the little things...like watching Addison take three steps in a row tonight, or Claire telling Marty to "show your bum crack at her" to win a wrestling match with Brielle (I don't know where she gets this stuff!) or taking the time to listen to Brielle's "secret present" she wants to get Marty, and looking online together while giggling that Marty has no idea what we're up to.  

I REALLY suggest you take a moment and listen to this song...although if you're a mom, you may want a tissue handy.  I put the lyrics below the video clip if you want to read along.  I also put the brackets around {girl}, because I don't have a little boy...just little girls. :)

My favorite part of the song:

See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life's an hourglass

Life's an Hourglass
Little boy {girl}, when you speak
I can't help but kiss your cheeks
I love the way you grab my hands
And tell me all about your plans

Rocket high, comets fly
You and I could hitch a ride
And fly away to Neverland
And give our best to Peter Pan

When you reach for the stars
Don't forget who you are
And please don't turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass

Story's read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask

When you reach for the stars
Don't forget who you are
And please don't turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass

Rain Forest, Animals and Crazy Kids.

I don't know what has happened to me, but my desire and ability to pump out entertaining posts - or any at all - has greatly diminished.  Maybe living away from home has me feeling like I have a greater duty to do more "update" type posts, which leaves me wondering if that's just incredibly annoying/boring to anyone non-grandparental, which in turn makes it so I just don't blog at all.

Do you understand this vicious cycle I am living in?

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I'm not sure how I've let my narcissism waver.  I guess it could be that 1. nothing exciting has been happening, and 2. I'm just busy with all the STUFF I have going on.  (I was going to use a stronger word...but I thought my mom would rather me not say crap on my blog...oh oops, there I go saying it anyway.)

Anyway, prepare yourself for some random blogging update material!  

Last weekend, Marty had a nice long 4 1/2 days off due to Veteran's Day.  Seeing as I wasn't sure I could handle 4 days of staring at each other and sitting in our pajamas, we set off to do some "fun" stuff.  We went to the Rain Forest Cafe one day (quite expensive for not so much.  It's only the decorations you're paying for, which was cool for the kids.  Of course I did not bring my camera to that, so you will just have to imagine us sitting in a restaurant that looks like a Rain Forest...as the name would imply.)

Our next adventure was going to the Northwest Trek nearby.  It was just about a 30 minute drive (which felt like an eternity with our personal siren - Addison - going off the whole way).

Brielle brought her "journal" to draw pictures of all the animals.  It was pretty cute to look at when we got home.  Between the exhibits and a tram ride through 700 acres of wildlife, we were able to see all sorts of animals very up close.  We saw buffalo (or bison, whatever), elk, moose, mountain goats, deer, beavers, river otters, bears, wolfs, porcupine, owls, eagles, badger, cougar, and some that I had never heard of and can't remember the names.  It was COLD outside, but the kids had a good time.

(By the way...there is no animal in this picture, so you can stop trying to spot it.  It was just a pretty overlook of the preserve we were on with a nice glaring reflection from the window of the tram.)

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Next...sister's coloring together.  Brielle and Claire like to sit on the hard floor and color in their coloring books, Addison has taken to joining them and actually scribbles on the paper.  It's so funny.  (To me at least...)

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And lastly - because Claire hasn't been in many pictures lately (she's a busy/crazy kid, it's hard to catch her sometimes) here is what she has been up to lately.

(She had a push-pop ice cream/popsicle treat thing.)

So there you have it...maybe I will attempt to start thinking of funny things to write about again (I guess assuming anything I've ever written was funny)...but then again, maybe not.

Rare Sight Caught on Film

Today I had the opportunity to capture a picture of a rare creature in their natural habitat, showing proof that it does exist!  I was so excited that I just had to share!

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Behold...the elusive Addison smile!

Rarely has this wonder been caught on film.  While it happens regularly in the wild, upon approaching the creature with a camera, it is quick to grab, flee and/or scream.

The even more amazing thing...I was able to capture MULTIPLE pictures of said smile, as well as a good picture of the gap tooth grin the creature sports.

See...it DOES exist!

Maybe attempt #2 at one year old pictures won't be as horrifying as attempt #1...we shall see.  

My guess is the creature will resort back to their wild ways before the opportunity presents itself. 

But at least I have this proof!

It's (almost) my birthday...I can CRY if I want to!

This would be why I wouldn't wish the job of taking Addison's 1 year old pictures on anyone.

At this point I would say my little photo-shoot was not particularly successful.  Luckily (or unluckily) her birthday isn't for a couple more weeks and we can attempt again.  

If I can convince myself to try.