How to Find Joy...

Big Bear. We go every year and usually pray for snow. This year we got snow in feet! We had a blast. Our cabin was snowed in so we bunked with 3 other families (17 people in one crazy cabin) and had so much fun. We put Fischer, Whitley & Zoie in ski school and while Fischer cried for just about the whole lesson, he flourished on the bunny slope with his hero, Daddy, after his lesson was over. He wouldn't give up. He was yelling, "woohoo" and "I love this mountain!" as he fearlessly skied down the slopes. So funny. The only bad part was the cabin fever: we all left with a little something. And by something, I mean illness. Cold, flu, ear infection, you name it. But, I would do it all over again. That's what life is all about.

And then back to reality. Sometimes I literally have to pull myself up by my (maternal) boot straps and take a step forward. And sometimes I just sit.

But, today, we made a plan and stuck to it. I can already tell that Fischer is just like me in that he likes to have a plan. Today: library, craft store, Jamba Juice, in that order. Then we came home & followed through with our crafts: painting. They each got to choose their own objects & paint colors and true to form, Fischer picked yellow and Caleb, in his pink phase, chose pink.

If I am able to be half the mom that my mother was, then the kids will be alright. (Love you Mom)

When Life Gives You Lemons...

We really did make lemonade. First time for the boys. They loved it.

We are still trying to get through a rough patch but maybe all this rain will wash away some of the sorrow. When the sun re-appears it will be a new day. My dad hated the rain.

The plus side of the rain is that I love it. And I'm training the boys to love it too. Although they do like it better from indoors. The other day after getting soaked on our walk to the car, Fischer told me, "Momma, I'm really sorry about this but I don't think I like the rain as much as you do."

The other good thing about the rain is that it will be perfect conditions in Big Bear this weekend for our annual trip. Can't wait! Hopefully I will soon be posting pictures of our pro-skiers! Dale has pretty high hopes for our little athletes.