Blessed

Today, I awoke with an overwhelming feeling of being blessed.

Little Missy was up in the night with a 101 fever. But we have medicine, a humidifier to alleviate the cough, and a warm house to sleep off the nasty little fever.

I was looking forward to a new sermon series starting at church this week but, in an effort to keep our fever contained to Hughson, I've been belting out my Pandora Praise & Worship station this morning as a close substitute.

After 6 years of living on this street, I met a couple that lives down the street from us and they are cool. So today, I'm taking them some cookies. Just because I think surprise blessings are the best.

And to the family that just moved in next door, beware! We are coming over with cookies for you too. Why? Because I'm blessed and want to share a few small, sweet, peanut butter & chocolate-y blessings with you guys too.

Last night we spent the evening with an awesome couple and their adorable daughter. I'm blessed to have friends that pray for us, love us, feed us, and give the best hugs.

Mr Wonderful at work that was very rude & degrading to me about how I do my job, you do NOT make my blessings list. However, my bosses supporting me and encouraging me that I've been doing a great job does get recognition. And to my "cinnamon" friend that recommended the best Mexican dish everrrr to take my mind off the crappy Mr Wonderful, you made my list too for the best chili rellano burrito with enchilada sauce. #youknowwhoyouare #instashell  :)

To the overwhelming smell of onion wafting from my refrigerator, thank you for seasoning my Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup just perfectly. I can't wait to share some with a new mom (and her family!) tonight.

So, to the days that I leave before Chloe is up and only squeeze home in time for a rushed dinner,  quick bath, then not-enough-books-to-satisfy before kissing my sweet girl's forehead goodnight... I don't want to forget the beautiful blessings that are hiding in every day.

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings that you've provided in my life but I don't always take the time to appreciate. You have blessed me beyond belief.

Chloe is t.w.o.

My beautiful girl is two. 730 days old. I've got to spend 33 months bonding with her. And you know what? I like my kid best.  She's smart, inquisitive, interested in learning, and social.

I sadly don't remember much of her first birthday so I wanted this year to be memorable. We started off Wednesday (the pre-birthday day) having Liam & Ariana Sederquist over to make gluten-free donuts. They were tasty!! We played outside and had a great time. The evening was spent with Jordan & Charlotte Burnam. Right before heading home, we went to the store to pick out a special treat to take to school. After perusing for quite a while, Chloe Jane picked mini white & black donuts (powdered & chocolates). She went to school on her birthday and got to take her special treats to share. Once the work day was over for this mama, we headed over to the Spycher's house for a pizza party. When Deb was asking on Sunday about the possibility, I said that Chloe loves pizza so she made it happen  :) Three of our other friends came to play and we spent the evening with 4 littles and 4 in-utero babies. Crazy!

We got to celebrate with family on Saturday night. Jill made more of Chloe's favoritesspaghetti, bread, salad, and C-A-K-E with sprinkles… Chloe was spoiled by the grandparents and Aunt JJ with sweet gifts that she's been wanting  and even got a pair of light up shoes that have been lighting up her world  **pun intended :)

Chloe likes: books, rocking, dogs & cats, Clifford, Daniel Tiger, stickers, and playing outside.

She weighs 22 lbs

Her night usually lasts 9pm-8am and naps last approximately 3 hours.

Dropping off at school for the day continues to be a struggle but the teachers assure me that she has no problem without us the rest of the day. They said she is consistently saying 5-6 word sentences and "average" is 3-4.

Here's a few of her best quotes from the past couple months:

**We get out of the car from a trip to get donuts in the rain.  Daddy told Chloe she could put the water on her finger and lick it. After a big taste, she told daddy "Yumm!" Luke asked what it tasted like...   She replies, "Butter."

**Chloe hardly ate any bites at dinner. When I asked her to eat 5 more bites, she ate 3 but then wouldn't eat the last 2. I said, "Chloe, as soon as you eat the last 2 bites, we can get down." She sighed loudly and responded, "Cant. I too busy..."

** "Sleep dreams, Mama!"

**Every Sunday on our way to church, Chloe chants "Liam's house! Liam's house!" {because she gets to see her sweet friend, Liam Sederquist}

** After Chloe was refusing to obey, I told her to choose a spanking or a time-out. She stands up, without uttering a word, and starts to unzip her pajamas. I sat there trying to decipher what she was up to before she turns around, points to her little tush and said "Right dere. Spank right dere, mom."

** As Luke is giving Chloe kisses before bed, he asks, "Chloe, where are Daddy's kisses?" She squeals, " All gone, daddy!!"

** "Mom, toe hurts. Band-ache on it?"

**After making a green smoothie one morning for breakfast for myself, Chloe asked to share. I got her own straw and she took a sip, gave me a baaaaaad look and said, "I can't like it". I told her that it was OK and went on getting ready. Pretty soon she sauntered over, took another drink, gave another bad look, and once again repeated, "I can't like it". Over the next 20 minutes, she continued to take more and more sips… and responded the same way every. single. time

She is the best girl in the world. And she's my girl. Love you so much, baby.

Elmo's Big Surprise!

Our Monday in Nebraska was a somewhat depressing day (if you don't believe me, read my last post) and I was sporting my oversized sweats in protest of the trip coming to a rapid end. We had planned a chill evening at Tyson & Sarah's house with waffles and conversation.

The family slowly filed in the front door of their house around 6pm to see balloons flying by the front door. Pink & red to the right, then more in the kitchen... and more... and above the rest, ELMO was flying! Zade came jumping up to the door yelling "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, QUO-EE! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!" While Chloe was squealing in excitement and Zade was jumping around, my grandparents peeked their head around the corner from the living room. I was hugging them while trying to wrap my head around what was going on?! Sarah said, "So, pretty much everyone you know is coming to celebrate Chloe's birthday in about 30 mins". As I was closing my jaw from the initial shock, I was staring at my baggy sweats and asking why someone, ANYONE hadn't warned me to wear something more presentable! Obviously the surprise would have been ruined but I wasn't sure what to do... Sarah took me to her closet and saved the day with an outfit so now, I was ready to celebrate!

And celebrate, we did. They served waffles with every topping imaginable & sausage, string cheese & applesauce for the kiddos, punch & coffee. The best part? Every. Single. One. of my cousins made the trip to celebrate, aunts & uncles, one set of grandparents drove up from Missouri and the other joined from Central City, 2 friends (with their hubbies & kids) from high school partied with us. It was so cool. And a complete surprise. That's the best kind  :)

 

I'm pretty sure I would have been in tears when I had walked in the front door if I hadn't been so appalled at myself for looking so grubby. It was the sweetest gesture and so, so much fun celebrating with my side of the family who doesn't get to celebrate together very much anymore. Thank you to everyone (especially Sarah for hosting!!) who helped make Chloe's party a success.

xoxo,

Crystal

Fighting Over Prayer

As the 10 of us gathered around a table spilling over with food, Chloe decided it was her night to pray....

Chloe: Thank you, Jesus. A-MEN!!

Zade: She didn't pray for anything. I'm gunna pray. Dear Jesus, thank you for this food. And thank you for my...

Chloe: A-MEN.

Zade: No Quo-ee, I'm not done. And thank you for Christmas and presents and my sisters.

Chloe: A-MEN!

Zade: And please help me be a good boy. Amen.

What a beautiful thing to fight about!!

Nebraska-style Christmas

The house is quiet. Pandora is quietly lulling me with songs about Frosty, Baby Jesus, Santa's sleigh, and the holy night of Jesus birth. Every once in a while I hear Sage squeak in protest for more lunch from my pre-married-Crystal bedroom. But otherwise, I hear the creaks of my childhood home as the wind whips outside. The noise machine is feeding static through the monitor signifying that Chloe Jane is still fasssssst asleep. Mimi and Papa have stolen into their room for a quick nap after a morning of juggling babies. And here I sit, reflecting on the last few days in Nebraska....

After a crazy, crazy short Tuesday-night-but-technically-Wednesday-morning, we loaded up at 2am and headed to San Francisco. We'd been driving for about 90 minutes with a quiet car. All the sudden, from the silent back seat, Chloe yells "KISS-MAS!!". I knew the sand-paper scratchy, dry-to-the-bone eyes and dull roar of a headache were worth it alllll.

Thursday morning we got to pick up our "Auntie Header & Baby Zage" in Grand Island. A trip to WalMart & Starbucks before coming home to see Zade, Brynn-ie, Norah & Auntie Sarah. Grammy Ross came over to play for a few minutes before naptime so it was a baby-swap from one adult to the next. Chloe has been more territorial than I expected so anytime that naptimes gets close, she will whine until I put down the baby and pick her up. I can't say I've minded the extra snuggles too much  :)

Baby Sage & Baby Norah

Friday was chill. Too much food, lots of passing the babies around, kisses, and fighting over Mimi's attention.

 

Saturday was spent with just Mimi, Papa, Chloe and I in Grand Island, playing games, filling stockings, then we all went over to Tyson & Sarah's house for yummy chicken noodle and buster bar dessert. The kiddos had a change of pace and new toys which added a new level of fun -- and fighting.

Sunday we went to see Zade sing at church. Uh-dorable. Chloe went to nursery with Brynn then we all came home for taco salad and naps for the kids + Mimi. The boys scratched their armpits and shot their guns while Sarah & I chatted about kids, being a grownup now, and how messy but beautiful life is.

After naps and tears and last minute wrapping, we gathered around the tree to open gifts. We only bought and exchanged among the littles this year in hopes of keeping things small, saving money, and enjoying their delight. And boooooy were they delighted...

 

{Justin was unable to get off work at his new job so he joined by Skype to see the gift exchange. Wasn't nearly enough of him but still fun to see how technology can bring him one step closer...}

Today is Monday. My week is over half over and my heart is getting sad. What a wonderful time with family and friends. What a beautiful sight to see cousins play and laugh together.What a cool thing to see how God took Sarah & Heather, orchestrated them into my brothers' lives, and gave me sister-in-laws who love to come and sit for hours with us. What a blessing to get to spend this year with my family after, at least, 6 years of missing the celebration. What an adventure it has been. What an amazing Nebraska-style Christmas.