Snow Day

Blanket of fresh snow + New boots = Fun!

Just ignore the filthy house.

Focus on the cute girl. 

Crazy Walking Man

Walking is not yet the preferred method to get around, but he's been taking steps like a champ! 

And yes, those PJ's are for an 18 month old. 

And yes, he is 9.5 months.

And yes, they will probably be too small next week.

LOVE that kid.

Notes

Dear Life,

Please slow down a little.  My children are getting too big and I'm afraid that by tomorrow they will be teenagers if I'm not careful. 

Yours truly,

Wendy

Dear Cecily,

Please stop peeing in your pants.  The end. PS- I love you very much even if you do. 

Love you a billion,

Mommy

Dear Nolan,

Please decide to love binkys.............. please?....................pretty please?  I need sleep. 

Love you a billion too,

Mama

Dear PF Changs,

You are the only part of my life that I would like to speed up and be done with.  Please work on that. 

Sincerely,

Wendy

Dear belly button,

Please return to your former state of cuteness before I had two children.  No, really, it's been almost 10 months and you are still ugly. 

Love,

Your owner

Dear House,

Please pack yourself up, clean yourself thoroughly and report back to me in a few weeks.  Make sure to label correctly.

Much appreciated,

Me

Gratitude

I get to move here!!!  Well, to the same town anyway.....

My cute sister-in-law Laura has a blog.  She does posts called "grace in small things".  They are fabulous and I love them.  SO, I'm taking a page from Laura's book and writing a "Grace in Small Things" post of my own about the last 5 months of my life. 

But first, the good news:  Michael got a job with the National Credit Union Authority! 

We are so excited and we are so grateful. 

SO grateful.

Ok, on to the grace part of this.....

I have hesitated to write too many posts during the past few months.  Part of it is that I've been working my tail off and I'm tired.  And part of it is that I didn't want to be a whiner.... Isn't it funny how we edit ourselves for the internet?  I am guilty of only wanting to put the best parts of my life on display, and I think that's ok.  Not that I don't post my fair share of blog complaints. You all know that. 

  But, the truth is, unemployment is difficult.  And I have whined A LOT and cried A LOT and been frustrated A LOT. 

However, I have learned A LOT.

And that is what this post is about, and why I'm so glad (now that we're nearing the tail end of this) that we were able to go through it.

1. I have learned to appreciate my role as a mom.  I am lucky to have a husband that supports my decision to stay home and be my kids primary care giver.  I have two amazing kids, and being away from them as much as I have has helped me appreciate their little souls.  I am glad I can be the one to teach them things, wipe noses and bums, give them kisses and hugs, and explore the world with them.  I didn't realize how much of thier lives I would miss.  Mike has done a good job while I've been away, and they haven't suffered, but I will be glad when it's ME that they run to with a booboo again. 

2.  Mike has been able to finish his MBA with honors.  With the extra time on his hands, he's been able to study study study and I'm so proud of him.  Some of his classes (Macroeconomics- grrrr) have been really really time consuming and difficult, but he's out with flying colors.

3.  I have learned to appreciate what it's like to be a working mom.  It's hard and I commend any and all of you that do it.

4.  Mike and I have switched roles in some ways, and I think he sees how much I put in to taking care of the house and kids all day.  It's not all bon-bons and soap watching for sure.  It's nice to be appreciated a little more :)

5.  Patience is a virtue that I am still working on.  This experience has helped me gain a tiny bit more.  Without a doubt it is one of the hardest things for me.  Waiting sucks, and we've done a lot of waiting, praying, and trying to have faith throughout this. 

6.  Money is just money and it's not the end of the world if you don't have a lot.  You can and will survive and thrive.   That being said, the Lord has been generous with us and has blessed us with EVERYTHING we need and more- even when we lacked faith (especially at the beginning).   Can't even tell you.  Makes me want to cry.  Oh, wait..... I'm already crying.

So, yay.  We are over the hump and excited about the next few years. 

Billings, MT- here we come.