A tale of two friendships, part 1.

I have been meaning to sit down and write about Sam and his friend for quite a while now. He started talking about his friend Hershey Bar matter of factly months ago. It took us quite a while to figure out that, duh, Hershey Bar is Sammy's imaginary friend! It just took us by surprise because, for one, it was so out of the blue. One day Hershey Bar was just, there. Well, he lives in the forest. He also dies a lot and goes to heaven to see Jesus but he always comes back to the forest. Sam just throws things out about him when we least expect it. That boy has an imagination that I can't even believe. Here is what we have heard about him so far:

* He is a monster, but really kind.

* He loves everyone in our family.

* He is bigger than Daddy.

* He has a sister named Australia and a brother named John.

* His mouth is on his back, which Sam finds really, really funny.

* He helps people often.

* He and Sam go on all kinds of adventures--scuba diving, hiking, etc.

Oh gosh, there is SO much more. I have no idea where the name Hershey Bar came from, the whole thing is such a mystery to me. Sam finds such joy in telling long and super creative stories, and I guess in the magic of his mind Hershey bar was created! I think also, Sam isn't a huge people person and so an imaginary friend is just perfect for him. I don't think Amelia would ever create such a thing because her "real life" friends meet that social need and someone who she couldn't "really" talk with would never do.

Since then there has been a new imaginary friend added to the mix. Her name is Jewelry. She lives in Africa and can often be found riding on a school bus. That is all I can remember about her for the moment. Oh, she teaches Sam songs and he'll just pop out with, "Jewelry taught me this song, do you know it?" and then preform:)

Oh my, it is such a funny and new experience. I don't think I ever had an imaginary friend, did you? I remember a little plastic heart shaped locket that had an tiny, plastic Annie figurine in it and I would talk to her sometimes. But that doesn't count because she was a toy and not imaginary.

Anyway, that reminds me of friendship number two that I will write about soon. It's Amelia and her sock monkey, Harry. It's a rather sweet story. But right now it is Sunday family nap time and I must go:) Zzzzzzzzzzzz, Jen

Little Artists...

I really love this picture of Amelia and her friend Vera. Amelia is just now really getting into coloring and "writing letters" to her friends and family. In the past, she (nor Sam) have loved coloring. They love play-doh and painting--but her sitting quietly and coloring is new and so fun to see. Vera is the queen of coloring and writing her name, etc. so they had a great time being little artists together.

That's really all I wanted to say about that:) Jen

P.S. Oh yes, I did want to mention that I got to take care of Vera and her 5 month old baby sister Eden for a few hours today. It was lots of wild fun. A couple of things it made me think of:

1. I really love having a baby on my hip (or in a sling:) . It just feels right.

2. Shhh Shhh Shhhh. Trying to "shhhhh" little Eden to sleep reminded me of laying across from Joel in our big bed, two babies in between us, shhh shhh shhh ing them to sleep at night. Even though babies and sleep can be a very frustrating combo, I do have lots of sweet memories as well.

3. It's going to be interesting to see how Sammy transitions with our new babe. I'll leave it at that for now, but my wheels are turning on how to help our sensitive, time and touch needing boy when that time comes.

4. One thing I love about intense child-rearing seasons (like having twin infants) or like today is that I only have to think about the children. It's all I can think about. It's all I can focus on. I know myself and am really, truly okay with that now. Especially because I have experienced that it is just a season. I have enjoyed this season of having a bit more time outside the home, being able to raise my head up and out of the home and grow in other areas of life. I have to say, though, I feel ready to dig down deep in the trenches of intense motherhood again. It's where I am at my best I think (probably because it is where I rely most on the Lord!) .

5. I'm really tired. Really, really tired.

Whew that was a long P.S. !

Oh, catching up is hard to do-oo...

Boy, it's been a while! Sometimes I get out of the habit of blogging because I am overwhelmed by the amount I want to write about, or the amount of pictures I want to post, etc. This time though, it is pure exhaustion. At the end of the day, I have just wanted to crawl in bed and watch the Cosby show on Netflix. Which is what I do. I think I'll always remember the first trimester of this pregnancy as the "Cosby Show trimester." Or maybe more aptly, "The Cosby Show/ Bean Burrito" trimester--but that's for another post (or not:).

Here I am though. Fresh into my second trimester, feeling my energy creeping back in, ready to get back into life! So, I'll start my re-entry into blogdom by telling you a bit about a little trip we went on last week. It was so,so,so,so,so much fun! A real vacation! We road tripped to CO to meet my older brother and his little family in Pagosa Springs.

We left Tuesday afternoon, picked Joel up from work, and headed out on the 4 hour trip to Moab where we stopped for the night. The kids were SO cute in the back seat. I wish we would have written down all of the hysterical things they were talking about. Amelia asked if they had potties in Colorado, and she guessed that an eighteen wheeler may have "planets, or something like that" in the back of it...oh, I don't know, they were just silly and excited and great little travelers. Boy is it easier traveling with two almost four year olds than two babies or toddlers!

Anyway, we made it to Moab late and Sam went right back to sleep in the hotel room. Amelia, of course, talked and talked. The last thing she said was, "Mom, is this great or what?!"

We explored the town a bit Wednesday morning. I love Moab. There was a little creek running right by our hotel and after we ate pancakes the babes just sat by the creek and threw in rock after rock. It was their paradise.

We headed out and made it to Pagosa Springs around 3ish in the afternoon. Again, the babes did so great for the most part in the car. They colored and played with these little lizards mom had given them for the trip and talked and talked. Anyway, we were all SO happy to see Bub and Robin and little Lucy Loo. Robin's mom was so generous in sharing her lovely cabin and it felt like such a luxury to have such a beautiful place to stay and explore. The babes first desire was to take a bath in the jetted tub, and so they did!

We stayed at the cabin from Wednesday-Saturday and it was just great. There was still snow on the ground, but it was sunshiney and so we were able to get outside. Here is some of the fun that was had:
Robin and I went into town one day and window shopped and ate a looooong lunch and caught up. That was wonderful.

We just spent time together. It was so much fun to love on Lucy and see Sam and Amelia so loved by their Auntie and Uncle.





We had some fun times outside too...







And then there was goodbye...the never fun part. The part where I always boo hoo hoo. We are so thankful though for the time spent with sweet family, the memories made, the adventure taken. We look so forward to doing it again!

(This picture makes me smile. Joel's goodbyes are so playfully dramatic. I'm jealous that he can be playful while I have real tears and snot running down my face:/).

Well guys, I guess that's where I'll close for now. We had some fun adventures on the way home too, and I'll try to post about those soon. I need to get those pictures off of Joel's phone. Anywho, it's good to be back in this little space. Lotsa love, Jen

Simple things...

There is a quilt drying on the clothesline, the little ones are having a "buggie adventure" in the back yard sunshine. We all have our shoes off and are soaking up this welcome break from the snow. I deem this the perfect first day of March. Dreams of Spring abound:)