Friday, December 28, 2012

Just Know You're Not Alone



As I sit here thinking about one year ago today when we were rooming in with our tiny son for the very first time, the stark differences from 365 days ago really stand out to me.  We have come SO far!  Finn, of course, has made the most strides, but as a family we have made some serious changes as well.  A different home.  A different school for the big kids.  A different job for me.  The girls are really growing and changing into fantastic young women.  Jake gets smarter and funnier every day.  And of course, sweet Finn. He is standing (while holding on) all the time, babbling up a storm – especially in the car, eating like a teenager (all the time and lots of it), and generally being a perfect 14 month old (even exhibiting some signs of fit throwing toddlers are renowned for)! He even graduated from his infant bucket seat to a big boy car seat!



Christmas celebrations were fun and memorable as usual.  My kids were spoiled by grandparents on all sides, and we were lucky enough to be chosen by some dear family members as their “angel family” for the holiday, so we were all spoiled with sweet love from our “Kansas Santas.”  Starting last week with office parties, school parties, and the usual hustle and bustle, it has been a great Christmas for the Weavers.  We spent Christmas Eve at my parents’ house opening gift with them, as well as Gigi and Papa Les.  Christmas Day, the Six Dream Weavers opened presents here in our home before hosting our very first holiday meal ever!  We just realized in the (almost) 7 years we have been married we’ve never hosted!  We had my parents here, and had a nice turkey lunch with ALL the fixings, and then we all played with the kids’ new toys and games. So fun!  Later that afternoon it was off to Aunt Paula’s for more festivities!  There was a threat of a severe snowstorm (which never materialized), so our celebrations were not as originally planned, but we did finally get to see Britt’s parents the day after Christmas and have a nice meal with them as well.  Fun and crazy few days as usual!  It was great to be able to keep it low key, stay basically in one place, and ENJOY being a family of 6!  Finn didn’t really “get” it all, but he sure is enjoying his new toys, warm fuzzy PJ’s, and all the crazy food and fun!  Christmas night, 5 of the Dream Weavers went to the movies to see “Parental Guidance” while Finn stayed with Nana and Grandpa.  It was a hilarious movie and an awesome good time for us as a family.  We all really enjoyed it, and it was a nice way to spend time with the girls before they left.  Too bad Jake got sick from too much movie popcorn and threw up all over our room in the middle of the night afterwards! Reminds me of another Christmas when Jake threw up

Finn

Jake

Emma

Lara
Unfortunately, today has started off on a bit of a sour note. Emma and Lara are still in the City with their other dad, and I am missing them like crazy.  They sent me a text with a picture of all the snow they are getting down there.  It’s just cold here – no snow. Jake spent the night at Aunt Paula and Uncle Brad’s last night, so he’s not home.  Britt is sick with the stomach bug, and Finn has a high fever.  Even though this is not ideal, it is still so good to be HOME.  I know Jake will be home later today, the girls will be home this weekend, and we will all be a family FOREVER!  Home is not just the place where you live.  Home is where you belong.   Home feels good.  Secure.  Safe.  Warm.  Comfortable. It’s where you want to end up after a rough day.  Or a tough season in life. So glad to be HOME.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

‘Tis the Season



I love being a Weaver!  I love that when we go places, people say “Oh! It’s the Weavers!” or “Hey Weavers!”  It feels good to belong to something so good.  This family is pretty amazing.  I am so incredibly blessed to have found a man 7 years ago that loved not only me, but our Lord, and my crazy red-headed three year old twin girls – UNCONDITIONALLY!  He never once hesitated in including them in our times together, and he has been the best Daddy to them they could ever want.  Then, adding our two boys to the mix just made us feel complete.  Completely CRAZY at times, but full.  Content.  Blessed beyond measure.  And this Christmas, the blessings have flowed from more places than we ever dreamed possible.

This has been QUITE a year.  Last year at this time we had just moved our sweet little 4.5 pound miracle to his own room in the big boy side of the NICU, and we were hoping and praying for a Christmas at home.  Every day since then has been a gift.  Sometimes, the gift wasn’t what we expected, or thought we needed at the time, but a gift nonetheless.  And that sentiment has followed us to this Christmas season where we celebrate the birth of our Savior.  We have been overwhelmed and downright surprised by the things others have done for us.  The latest Godsend came in a Christmas greeting card earlier this week:


We were again shocked and awed to tears by the overpowering love being poured out and shown to our family.  We don’t deserve it, but we truly appreciate it!  So, as Britt and I were talking about it, he said to me “You know, we didn’t have this yesterday, and we don’t need it today.  Let’s bless others with it.  And include the kids.”  So, we did.  Last night after dinner, we went to Wal-Mart to find people who could use a little Christmas right now. 


There are 2 kinds of people in this world.  Givers and Takers.  Now, this isn’t to say that there isn’t a little of each in every single one of us, but for the most part you can be categorized one way or the other.  Here’s how that plays out with the Dream Weavers: Britt – giver; Betsey – taker; Emma – GIVER; Lara – Taker; Jake – giver (most of the time – his whims change like the Oklahoma winds, but he is only 5 after all!).  So, while I was completely on board for this adventure, a tiny piece of me wanted to keep it for ourselves.  So glad the “giver” in me won out!  We were blessed in return when we got to spread a little Christmas cheer and wish complete strangers a Merry Christmas.  I interviewed everyone after we got home, and here is how our giving spree went:

BETSEY
How did you pick the person you were giving your card to?
I saw a woman with lots of baby stuff in her cart including diapers and formula.  I know how expensive that stuff can be! I wanted to be helpful to her and her family.

What was the response?
She looked bewildered and asked what it was for.  I told her it was for a Merry Christmas!  She said Thank you and moved on to get milk.

How did it make you feel?
Mission Accomplished!  I am not one to approach strangers, so I was glad it was over, and I was glad I got to be a blessing to someone else.

*A few moments later, I came around a corner, and saw her handing the card off to another patron.  That REALLY made me smile!

JAKE
How did you pick the person you were giving your card to?
‘Cause she looked like she needed some money to buy all the stuff in her cart (lots of paper plates, foil pans, cups, etc.)

What was the response?
She looked at it and said thank you

How did it make you feel?
Made me happy to give it to her and say Merry Christmas!

EMMA
How did you pick the person you were giving your card to?
This lady had 2 kids in her cart – one baby and a toddler.  She might need money for diapers and she looked like a nice person.  I had to chase her down to get to her!

What was the response?
She looked surprised and asked what it was for.  I told her it was to wish her a Merry Christmas and she hugged me.

How did it make you feel?
It made me feel better knowing I was doing something good for someone else

LARA
How did you pick the person you were giving your card to?
This lady looked like she was last minute Christmas shopping and she might need some money.

What was the response?
She looked it over a few times, and then asked what it was for.  I told her it was for whatever she wanted.  She told me she didn’t need it and to give it to someone else who needs it more.  So I started looking for another person…

LARA’S 2ND TRY
How did you pick the person you were giving your card to?
I saw a lady pushing a cart with a baby in it and her mom was with her too and I thought she might need it.

What was the response?
The mom didn’t say anything but the grandma said “Bless her with 100 more!” to me and gave me a hug!

How did it make you feel?
I felt grateful because I was able to do that for someone else.

BRITT
How did you pick the person you were giving your card to?
I had seen this woman in the store earlier, and when I saw her a second time I started to follow her.  She had a little toddler boy and an infant in a car seat and I thought she could use a blessing.

What was the response?
She was very accepting of the gift.  She was appreciative, and VERY surprised!

How did it make you feel?
It made me cry!  Just like when others do it for me.


*I saw this woman a few seconds later, and she was just staring at the card and she was just so happy and surprised.  I also saw her again after she had checked out, and she thanked us again and wished us a Merry Christmas!

Best moment of the night?  As we were checking out with our ingredients for the piecakin Britt was making for his work Christmas lunch, Lara (the taker), said to us, “I really hope we do this again next year!”

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

How Very Pinteresting



You can find anything on Pinterest
Christmas is just around the corner!  Less than 2 weeks away!  And I find myself amazingly calm.  Strange.  I am done shopping (not that I had much to do in the first place since we are minimalists when it comes to gifts, and we have no money), my cards were sent out 2 weeks ago (thanks to the help of my amazing husband), our Christmas Visitation schedule has been set and approved, I know what we are having for Christmas Eve dinner AND Christmas morning breakfast (as soon as  my Mom tells me what I need to bring to Christmas dinner I will be set for food!), and I found myself with some extra time this past weekend.  Once we got through Lara’s Nutcracker Dream performance, I was almost bored. (WHAT?!?!?!  I know, right?)


But never fear!  Pinterest is here!  I have been a Pinster (a Pinning Gangster) of late for some reason.  And unlike some of my awesome friends, 2/3 of what I pin, I never actually intend on acting on.  I just pin.  It’s addicting.  But somehow, a few things stick in my mind, and I act on them.  Like the crib railingcover I made for Woodchuck a few weeks ago.  Well, this weekend, I got the Christmas Pins bug, and whipped out a few cute things…


One of our family traditions (I have discovered there are lots… maybe the topic of my next post), is that every year we have a new picture ornament of the kids for the main tree.  This started way back in 2002 when Emma and Lara had their first Christmas at 7 months old.  So, for 5 Christmases, that was 2 new picture ornaments per year.  (I do know one year it is one LARGE ornament with a picture of both of them in it…, and maybe another year, too, but you get the idea…).  Add Jake in 2007, and for the last 5 years that’s 3 ornaments per year.  Last year, FOUR new picture ornaments (even though Finn’s first Christmas ornament is STILL not hung…  it got lost in the move, we found it, but it still has no picture in it!  It will be in the tree by this time next week!).  Not counting all the others we acquire and handmade kid gifts and ornament exchanges, and OHH!  Pretty!  I had to stop the madness this year!  So, inspired by this pin I saw on Pinterest, I made this:




YUP!  All four of my kiddos on ONE ornament!  It's one of those brown box ornaments from Hobby Lobby. Spray painted it silver, mod podge, the pictures, then 3 more layers if mod podge. I put the date on the top with stickers. Added a little red bow and a bell! Perfection!  Now my mom wants one, and I can’t find any more of the paper box ornaments.  So, I guess I’ll save the pictures and make it for her next year…  Along with a 2013 version for BOTH of us!


Then, I tried to wrap some of our Christmas presents.  To no avail.  I won’t go in to why, but you can ask my husband, or just trust me.  Sometimes, I don’t make the best choices.  It happens!  But, THIS little gem turned out SO CUTE and I am so proud of it!



 
It was inspired by this pin.  I thought I wanted to do snowflakes, but I LOVED the teal color of these trees, and I thought they would lend themselves well to a wreath.  I was not disappointed!  I bought a pack of 12 (I think there were 12) glitter Christmas tree ornaments at Wal-Mart. Cut the stings off, arranged them in a circle, and started hot gluing! (Is that a verb?)  Finished it off with a cute glittery snowflake ribbon. Easy Peasy!

And last but not least…  teacher presents.  On a less than shoe-string budget.  I saw this pin and made it happen!  I even found the cute tissues at WAL-MART!  I was satisfied with just using the little nondescript packs of Kleenex, but I found the cute Christmas-y “Swankie” tissues!  I got the Hand sanitizers and holders at Bath and Body Works buy 2 get one free (I got 6 of each thing), so each “gift” cost just about $2.  WORKS FOR ME!  The kids handed them out earlier this week, and their teachers LOVED them!


So, now what?  Well, I am making my Christmas Eve dinner from a Pin.  I’ll let you know how that goes!  (If you know me, you know I don’t cook often.  I think Britt was about to pass out when I told him I would pick the menu and cook that meal…)

In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures from Lara’s Nutcracker Dream rehearsal and performance.  I was not able to stay for the Dress Rehearsal, so I don’t have many pictures (no photography allowed on performance night!)  I have no idea why this is playing them in reserve order, either.  I tried... ;)