Oh, thinking about all of our younger years....

 

9 years!!

 



I got married a long, long time ago when there were these things called video tapes.  We have always had our wedding video ( thanks Liz and Adam - best wedding gift ever!) on tape, and a few years ago it finally got made into a DVD.  Now, it is on the computer. 

 

This video makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  We were so young!  and Skinny!!!  -sigh-  I think I am going to watch it a few time and enjoy the warm fuzziness. 

 

I love you Greg.  Thanks for being my best friend, kid's dad,

Ali's 8th birthday and Baptism

Ali got baptised on Dec. 8, 2012

Her birthday was fun.  She just wanted a family party.  She wanted Hannah and Noah to be there, so we tried to have a little birthday party for her the night before Thanksgiving.  I thought we would play games and make is more like a party but once it came to it, we didn't do much of anything,  The cousin enjoyed playing with each other.  It was loud with a lot of running around.  I liked it.  We ate pizza and ice cream.  Ali is on an ice cream kick right now- no cake.

These two guys are still best friends.  I have always been afraid that as they got older they might drift apart but not yet.

I was really proud of her cake.  It is made out of vanilla and strawberry ice cream and cool whip.  Nothing else.  Yum.

Ali singing with her grandpa before her baptism

Ali and I.  Ali wore the same dress that I wore when I got baptised 20 years ago.  - sigh-  My mom made it for me.  I remember her making it for me.  Never did I think that my daughter would wear the same dress for her baptism.

I am very thankful for such a righteous husband.  Not only is he righteous enough to baptism my daughter, but he knows so much about Jesus Christ and the scriptures.  I know very few men who know as much as he does.  He doesn't like to act like he knows so much.  He isn't the show-off-how- righteous-I-am kind of guy.  But if I am ever studying anything in the scriptures and have a question, I know he knows the answer and where the answer is in the scriptures.  I couldn't ask for a better man to raise my children. 

My mom gave a wonderful talk on Baptism.  She knew just the right things to say.  Not too complicated- just right for an eight year old.

Her Papa gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He is such a good man too.  I know where Greg gets it all from.  I can only hope that the Hamlin love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is passed to my children.

Ali's baptism was a very emotional day for me even though I never broke down and cried like I thought I would.  It made me feel sad that my little girl was growing up.  I was also filled with joy.  My heart was so full to think about Ali and how hard she is trying to choose the right every day.  I felt worried- for the future trials I know await her.

Life is hard.  Life often complicates things.  But no matter what happens, I know a few things.  I know that Jesus Christ lives.  I know He died for me that I might be forgiven for my sins.  I know that bad things will happen in my life and in Ali's life. Some will be our own fault, and some we will have no control over.  I know that Christ has felt all of our trials, pain, and sadness.  And I know he can replace it with love and peace if we just ask.  I am thankful that Ali can be baptized.  She now has taken the first step in a long journey.  My wish is that she will find Joy in her Journey through Jesus Christ.  I love you Ali.

 

 

So I wanted to make some Christmas cookies

 Every year I really enjoy making Christmas cookies.  Greg really likes it too.  He says it is the only time I act crazy trying to get a task done.  I normally prefer the "slow and steady wins the race"  where I just do a little of a project each day until it is done.  However, Christmas cookies are very different story.  They all need to be made in just two days or else. 

 I had some help from the kids.  They like to help for 10 min or so and then they come back and hour later and help for 10 min. or so.

 YUM! Snow cookies!!! ( love Ali's face here)

 Sugar cookies

 toffee

 Crinkles

 White chocolate pretzels

 

I also made ginger bread men, buck eyes, and chocolate pretzels.  So much fun but my legs hurt at the end of the day. 

And what did Liam doing while I made cookies?  Well, I gave him the almost empty peanut butter jar and some spoons.  He was busy for hours!  Best idea ever.  And look.  It only made a little mess.

Squish Daddy

 Some times when we don't have an activity planned for Family Home Evening, we just make up wierd games.  Like this one called "Squish Daddy."   The kids love it! 

Here is "Squish Liam"

Halloween

(A Normal Super Hero) 

Halloween was fun and crazy.  My Aunt Nancy decided to come and help with all of the craziness.  The day started out crazy because I volunteered to bring treats in for shadrachs party.  No problem.  Several of the kids have allergies.  Again no problem.  I can work around that.  But apparently one kid was allergic to soy and soy is in every food known to man except marshmallows and fruit snacks.  After making several phone calls all day long I finally learned he is only allergic to soy milk!  So they got to have Halloween cup cakes. 

 Enoch got to wear his costume to school and have a costume parade.  He loved it.  He went as "A Normal Super Hero".  I think he was having trouble picking between spiderman, batman, and superman and some how thought going just as a super hero meant he didn't have pick which one was his favorite.

 Ali went as a Vampire.  Bad picture I know.  There was a lot of stuff going on and this was the best I could do.  She loved the teeth that she got to wear. 

 Shadrach looks really sad here but he had a great fun night.  This was the only picture I got of him.  He told me that he wanted to be spiderman for Halloween, so that is what I got together for him.  Then when it was time to put on his costume, he was like "No I want to be a Jedi Knight!!!!"  So then I raced around the house putting together a Jedi night costume out of Greg's clothes and the dress up box.

 Liam was a Pumpkin. :)  He really enjoyed that Candy part.

 Enoch, Shadrach, and Liam pooped out after one block.  They were happy with their candy amount and came home to the nice warm home and Halloween movies.

Ali went Trick or Treating the whole 2 hours allowed.  I went with her and had great fun.  She got two pink pumpkins full of candy.  YUM.  Remember she doesn't like chocolate.  So mom had to help eat a lot of hers.

Enoch's first day of school

Enoch's First Day of Preschool

Enoch started preschool on October 16th.  He was way excited.  He had been wanting to go to school for a long time.  I went and bought him new shoes for the big event which is big because between Shadrach and his cousin Noah I don't think Enoch has ever had NEW shoes.

 

He is going to a preschool at a high school tech school.  So he has around 20 "teachers" who are training to become preschool teachers.  I think there are only 14 preschoolers.  So there are more teachers than kids.  This really makes my Early Childhood Education side of me excited.  I would LOVE to hang out there and watch everything that happens.  I car pool with two other gals from church, so I only have to take him once a week. SO nice.  I HATED taking Shadrach to preschool.  I should have tried car pooling earlier.

As Enoch is getting older, he is communicating what he is feeling SO MUCH BETTER.  We (Enoch and I) have often been at odds with each other simply because I could not figure out what in the world he wanted/needed, and he would just scream which would drive me crazy and I would often give up.   I now realize how wrong I was with Enoch most of the time.  I often thought he was being strong-willed and stubborn, but I now know that he is very sensitive.  I think he just didn't know how to express what he was feeling well. 
What made me think of all of this was his first week of school.  Enoch acts all tough and strong, but school was stressing him out.  He doesn't have school on Fridays, so we normally have a play group.  When I told him it was time to go, he just started crying and screaming.  He normally loves play group, so I couldn't think what was wrong ( a problem Enoch and I often have)  But after talking to one of the moms in the play group on the phone, she said that maybe preschool was hard on him this week and he was just missing me.  My first thought was, "Enoch!?!  He doesn't miss me.  He loves being gone at school."  But then I thought maybe she was right.  So I went to Enoch and told him that I would stay and play with him at the play group instead of just dropping him up.  He immediately started laughing and smiling and said "Hurry up mommy! Let's go together."  He just didn't want to be away from me again after being away from me for three days in a row--  which made my heart melt.  I never think of Enoch as needing me.  He likes to act so tough.  I think I often believe his tough guy act.  but he is still a mama's boy. So now that Enoch is four, I think every day we take small steps towards understanding each other.

life lately

Life is good.  I think we finally sold our house in Indiana.  It will be really nice to own only one home.  I thought I would be more excited then I am.  I sort of feel sad inside.  I never like moving on to the new phases that life brings ( except high school - I was so ready for that to be done).  I think this makes it seem official. 

I broke my arm.  It makes me feel- for lack of a better word - stupid.  I haven't got the bill yet for it, but I am sure when I get it I will feel even more stupid.  I was holding Liam at our neighbors house.  He loves dogs and wanted to pet their dog.  I have petted this dog before, and he was super sweet and super nice.  I think because he was so nice before that it caught me completely off guard when he jumped, growled, and barked at me.  I fell wrong and broke my arm.  It has been a week and a half now.  It doesn't hurt that much but that hand can do very little.  It is hard for that hand to put a hair tie in my hair, and lift a plate up etc.  I am very thankful for the splint that I have because I can take it off to shower.  The splint is already smelly so I can't imagine what it would smell like other wise.  I plan on washing it as soon as I get the dryer fixed.  ( it has been broken for 2 weeks)

Lately, I am very thankful that my children are healthy.  I tell that to myself when they are running around and destroying everything.  I am very thankful that they can run around.  I have decided that Heavenly father doesn't want my house clean because if he wanted it clean, he would stop all of the crazy things that keep my house from being clean.

I feel bad that I don't go slower some days.  I need to just sit and play cars with Liam sometime.  Or tickle and hug him.  He is such a sweet baby( when he isn't being evil).  I will write again soon.  Hopefully next time with pictures.

one month two days

It is has been one month and two days since the miscarriage.  It seems like a long time ago and at the same time it feels like it just happened.  I still cry a lot.  Some times several days will go by and I think that I have maybe come through on the other side.  However, then something happens and I cry.  I often cry just for 5 min. - in the car, making dinner, folding laundry, etc... I can be doing anything,  I quickly try to get a hold of myself before the children notice.  But there have been a couple days where I cry all day long.  I just can't stop, and I cry.

There is so much going on all of the time.   Reading a book with Ali,  putting the dishes away, coloring with Enoch, getting Liam a banana, putting shoes in the shoe bin, remembering to give Shadrach a hug ( I try very hard not to forget Shadrach since he is my one child that is not a squeaky wheel) making dinner, picking up superheroes etc... Sometimes there simply is not time to think about your emotions- which is a blessing and a curse.

When I feel sad, I often feel angry, impatient, and unsympathetic.  I am often short with people, and they bug me.  I wish I could just feel sad without the other negative emotions.  I am not sure why they have to be there too.  My kids and Greg have gotten the majority of my grumpiness.  Greg has been a real trooper.  He doesn't even act like it bothers him.  He just showers me with love.  He tells me I am beautiful and cleans up dinner.  We never told the children.  I am thankful that we didn't.  However, I wish they could know/understand why I am sad sometimes. I know that even if they knew that they wouldn't understand, but i wish I could talk to an adult form of my children about it.   I want them to understand why I have been so grumpy.

I still don't know where to go from here.  I hate that part the most.

Glen Lake 2012

We almost didn't go to Glen Lake this year.  With moving, a new job, new schools, and owning 2 houses, I just thought it would be too much.  Greg didn't think so.  :)  So he worked some magic, got a good deal, split the good deal with his parents to make it even better, and some how convinced this old stick in the mud to go.  I had a great time.

I had the most fun that I have ever had.  More relaxing and actually like a vacation.  I enjoyed sharing a cabin with Greg's parents.  Kathy cooked big, yummy meals for everyone, and Greg and Garry took turns cleaning up.  We also had TV this year and as much as it pains me to say, I think the TV helped.  After hiking 3 miles and swimming for a few hours, the kids were tired and watching Cloudy with a Chance for Meatballs on the Cartoon Network was just what they needed.  I wonder if melt downs would have happened normally but because of the TV people had the chance to rest.

The kids were wonderful.  I can't remember any one crying but Liam.  Liam was his normal self.

This is Lake Michigan around 1 1/2 hours away from Glen Lake.  We stop on the way up to break up the ride and everyone enjoys it.  The kids started out with their clothes on.  Mistake.

Letting the clothes dry.

We made it all the way up!  Our first stop was where Otter creek meets like Michigan.

This is Liam and Greg in front of our cabin.

I have a new really awesome swim suit but didn't really wear it.   Typical.

Climbing the Sand dunes.  The hill was across the street from where we stayed this time.

We had a fire every night and made s'mores.  This was very important to Shadrach so we did it.  I think everyone ended up really enjoying it.  The last night we ( except Liam and Enoch) actually stayed up until it was dark out side which is really late for my kids since the go to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 normally.  We all told stories.  It was so much fun.  Papa even told a scary story.

There were lots of games played.  Pandemic mostly.  The world was saved several times.

Here were are at Pierce Stocking Drive.  The Giant Tree.  The children were really looking forward to the tree this year.

 

Nana and Papa took Ali and Shadrach on a car ride at dusk.  They saw 11 deer and 1 ratcoon.

Empire Bluff Hike.  We took turns holding Liam.  It wouldn't have been so bad if he hadn't been so wiggly.

Sand Castles with Army men.

Ali outside of our cabin.  Ali and Shadrach really both want to be on a swim team.  Swimming seems to be a big sport where we live now.  To get on a team you have to be able to swim free style across the length of a pool.  We practiced at the lake and was really surprised at how well Ali and Shadrach did.  We will have to see.  Maybe we will do a swim team.

Ali and Nana.  Somehow Nana never gets in the pictures!

I thought Liam playing under this Warning Sign was funny.

We had great weather the whole time.  It was sunny and 80 every day and that is unusual for Northern Michigan in September.  I loved it. 

 

It makes me truly grateful for Greg.  I am so glad he makes me have fun.