Annual Lake Trip

Every year we spend a weekend at Lake LBJ with Jeffrey's immediate family. It is always a great time with lots of sun, water and food. Oh, and I forgot to mention food, food and more food. This year was a big year for Mason. He got to drive a waverunner all by himself, go tubing for the first time, and caught a fish. Landon had a great time as well, however, aside from the rides on the boat, he had very little to do with the lake. He was perfectly content to play with his cousin, Cooper, in their little play pool the whole time. Here are some pictures from this weekend:

Landon and Cooper hanging out

Two wild and crazy guys

Mason and Mommy on the Rascal

Mason taking Daddy for a spin

Landon spraying Aunt Allissa

Long time, no blog

Missed me? I bet you were all beginning to think I had officially given up blogging for good. It is a thought that has crossed my mind a time or two, but I am not that easy to get rid of (you can thank my cousin, Laurie and Barbara Anderson for that). Life has been turned upside down for me this summer, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We will close on our house next week and will be able to move in. Of course the timing couldn't be worse since I start inservice next week as well. It will all work out...at least that is what I keep telling myself. Some of you may have to remind me from time to time that it is alright to live in chaos for a short time. Well, since it has been so long, I will recap our summer via pictures:

My Little Pirates

Slip-N-Slidin'

I am too young to have a five year old, right?

Lounging at Granna's House

Homeless...for now

Well, after a ten day haitus I am back to the world of blogging. We are officially out of our old house and living with Jeffrey's parents until our new home is completed. The move was a tough one since we had to determine what needed to stay with us, what would be safe in non-climate control storage and what needed to be put in our "pod", but we managed to get it all done. I have attached some pictures I took of our new home today:

Family Photos

Our long awaited photo session was this past weekend. Tanya did an amazing job and I am in love with the pictures. To check them out, you can click on this link: http://cozyimpressionsphotography.com/HejlFamily/

Now I just have to decide which ones to get....

Daily Living

The combination of the fact that my mind can't seem to have a complete thought that doesn't include boxes and packing tape and the unacceptable realization that my last three posts have not included pictures has brought me to today's post. We have all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, well today you will have the easiest read of your life. Here is my 6,000 word essay on daily life in the Hejl house:

Men are from Mars, Women are, well...normal

I find myself constantly in awe of God's amazing ability to take two completely different creatures, bind them together in holy matrimony, and actually have it work out. Ah, the cliche that became such a hit in bookstores: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. I found myself thinking that this evening as we were digging through our attic in preparation for our move. Jeffrey pulled out two boxes full of his old school notes...yes, you heard me right, school notes. While I always managed to make good grades, I would never consider myself studious. School was for socializing, right? I began the light hearted teasing, and laughed as he returned the favor when we pulled down box after box of Christmas decorations. I tried to remind him that any home that celebrated Christmas would have decorations in their attic, however, those with boxes of school notes from high school would be few and far between. :) You see, what I finally decided it all comes down to is that we are truly from two different worlds. It was all a part of God's great design. Men speak Martian. Women speak Venetian (anyone else thinking about blinds right now?). How in the world does marriage work? I truly believe that the only way it can work is if you have God at the center of your marriage. He is the translator. He is the only one that can break down the language barriers and bring two people together. Without Him, we would be strangers in a foreign land to each other. So, when you are having those moments when you are wondering why in the world you can't understand your spouse, remember to take a moment and let God do the translating for you. After all, that is how He designed it to be.

A Mother's Tale

So, with Mother's Day approaching, I am finding myself reflecting on motherhood and how much it has changed my life. It is funny to me to think back on those days when I dreamed of being a mommy and how naive I was to what that would really mean. Sure, I knew my life would have to change and that sacrifices would have to be made. What I didn't know is that my whole life would become one big sacrifice for the betterment of my children. I know most of you have read the poem, "Before I Was a Mom". Well, here is my own version:

Before I was a mom I:

-got my eyebrows waxed and my hair cut regularly

-went to the bathroom in peace...well, if you don't count the times my students would follow me out of the classroom, but that is another story...

-eat a whole meal without having to get up to refill sippy cups, cut up meat, clean up spills, reprimand children for feeding the dog, explain for the tenth time that yes, you have had this food before and you do indeed like it

-spent my days at a job that provided me with the words of acclamation I need to survive (all those familiar with love languages know what I am talking about)

-could find most anything in the house and never had to fear that what was missing had been flushed down the toilet

-could sleep through the night

-could walk around barefoot in the dark without fear of stepping on toys

-could go to the store for one item and actually make it out in a timely manner

-could tell you the latest bands and their top hits

-could have a conversation that did not include quotes from one of the many children's characters my children enjoy

Now that I am a mom I:

-find that getting my eyebrows waxed and hair cut are a rare treat, but that life still goes on and people are still willing to be around me despite my inability to keep up with my vanity

-find that I miss going to the bathroom in peace! Sorry, I can't find a way to make that one a positive! :)

-find that despite all the interuptions, mealtime is much more enjoyable when it is spent with family

-work ten times harder than I ever have in my life, with little to no recognition and appreciation. However, at the end of the day when I get to run my hands through my children's hair and reflect on the time we spent together, I realize that no amount of money on this earth could be worth more than that.

-realize that without items being flushed down the toilet, dropped in the dog's bowl, stuck up noses and into ears, I would have nothing to blog about!

-have officially kissed good sleep goodbye, but try my hardest not to take for granted the fact that I will never get these years back. My children will not always be coming to my room in the middle of the night for comfort.

-step on toys regularly, but try my best to stop and thank God for the blessings He has given our family. There are families that want desperately to provide for their children and can't.

-can't get anywhere in a timely fashion and have long since come to accept that every task will take twice as long. Yet, on those rare occasions that I do get the chance to get out by myself, I find that I miss their company.

-can't tell you whose songs made the top ten last week, but can sing all the lyrics to the latest Backyardigans CD. While I miss my music, I am making the most of the short time I have to sing along at the top of my lungs with my children. The day will come when they will be mortified by things like that.

-find that my ability to quote all my children's favorite characters is a reminder to myself and others that it is important to show an interest in what our children are interested in. I could honestly go the rest of my life without seeing another Backyardigans cartoon, but I love to watch my children's faces light up when I bust out with a quote. They love to know that I have been paying attention when they ask me to.

To all you mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day!

7 Random Things About Me

Thanks for the tag, Julie. I will try not to disappoint.

1. I had my belly button pierced in high school by a man named Elvis.

2. I have had 3 surgeries in the last 10 years: two hernias and one on my wrist.

3. I am guaranteed to fit into the "less than 5 percent" category when it comes to health issues, yet have never had common illnesses such as the flu, strep throat, etc. I have made it my life's mission to baffle doctors. Here are just a few instances: born with a hole in my earlobe that my sinuses drained from (I know, disgusting...they surgically closed it up at age 5, so no worries), I have had 2 hernias, I have these funky extra "muscles" in my mouth (ask me to show them to you sometime), I had preeclampsia with both pregnancies, I am the only patient my dentist has had in 12 years that was allergic to a mouth guard...the list could go on forever.

4. I am secretly in love with Motocross and can often be found watching it on Sunday afternoons.

5. I am either the most laid back Type A personality you will ever meet or the most organized Type B...haven't quite figured it out yet.

6. I moved every year between 4th grade and 9th grade.

7. I am extremely warm natured, which is why my hair is in a ponytail 95% (or more) of the time.

I tag Andi Hawkins and Sara Whitelaw.

Doby...with a coat on?

There are a select few out there that know exactly who I am talking about when I say the name "Doby". For those who don't, I will quickly fill you in. Doby is the most spoiled stuffed animal known to man. He was given to me years ago by a dear friend from college. The minute Mason saw him, he fell in love and claimed him as his own. Doby has his own collar, his own bed (thanks to Granna), and even his own leash. We have to tuck Doby in every night and he sleeps at the foot of Mason's bed, just as a real dog would do. If you don't believe me, see for yourself:


So, where am I going with this story, you ask? I will tell you. Today at HEB Plus, we were roaming around the toy section...my favorite part of our trip (at least my boys would tell you it is). As we came up to the huge display of stuffed animals, Landon squealed with delight. I turned to see what he had found and saw him holding a stuffed dog wearing a fluffy green sweater. His face was aglow as he beamed, "Mommy, it's Doby with a coat on!". I admired it as if this dog was the greatest thing I had seen all day and we continued on with our adventure through the toy isles. Landon never let go of "Doby with a coat on". When I told him it was time to put him back, he said, "I need to hold him just two more minutes". Well, the sucker in me couldn't resist his sweet face and the way he held that silly stuffed animal so close to him. So, we are now the proud owners of not just "Doby", but "Doby with a coat on" as well.

Monkey in the Middle

Can someone please tell me which one is the monkey in this picture? I can't seem to see a difference these days. For those of you that know my boys, you are well aware of how vastly different the two are. I am in constant awe of the way God can create such different little humans from the same two people. I am also amazed at the unbelievable love I feel for both of them and the way I am able to accept and appreciate their differences. I love to watch with pride...and sometimes horror when I see those glimpses of my personality that shine through in both of them, and enjoy just as much those moments when I know there is no way that child could possibly be related to me. :)

Landon has always loved monkeys and I know it has to be because he can relate so well to them. Life is one big game of climbing trees, making faces, and flinging...well, I can promise you he would do that also if I let him! But, at the end of the day, he is more than happy to cuddle up in my lap. I am confident he would even pick the fleas from my hair, if the day ever came that I had any. His smile can melt even the hardest of hearts and those big blue eyes get him out of a lot of trouble!

Mason is my engineer in the making. He has always been fascinated by how things work, why they work the way they do, and how they were put together. He is very inquisitive and is constantly full of questions...most of which end up with a "hmm, that is a good question. We will have to ask daddy" response from me. One day when I said this to him, he looked at me with a sympathetic look and said, "Dad knows everything, doesn't he". I loved that his expression was one of sympathy for me as if I don't have a clue. His tender heart and gorgeous eyes have all the girls pining for him.

Oh, and by the way, if I am ever in shock and awe over the fact that my children are sticking their tongues out at people, please remind me of this photo:

The pictures in this post are on lend from Tanya Warpula, so I can't take credit for the amazing photography. I wish I could take credit for the creation of my beautiful children, but we all know that it is God that gets credit for that. I suppose I can at least give myself a pat on the back for actually getting today's blog posted. :)

On Thursday, we met up with some good friends for a playdate at this amazing park. Be looking for more great shots from this location. Tanya will be taking our family shots there in a few weeks. Anyway, back to our playdate...the boys had such a great time playing with some of their closest friends. It is amazing to me how we are constantly trying to improve on things that God has already perfected. Who needs a playscape when we have rocks, sticks, water, and dirt? God has already created the perfect playscape. Don't forget to play!

Ice Cream, You Scream...

Everyone's favorite thing about this time of year is ICE CREAM...with the exception of Laura Cosper, apparantly. My boys had the hardest time understanding why they would name an ice cream "rocky road" when there is in fact no road in the ingredients...or rocks for that matter. The thing they did not have a hard time with is making a mess! They both figured out how to bite a whole in the bottom of their cones, however, Mason was the only one that figured out how to avoid losing all the yummy ice cream inside.

More House

I am sure you will all be sick of seeing pictures of our new house by the time it is all said and done, but unfortunately that is not reason enough for me to stop posting them. :) The boys are having the best time watching the house being built. They got to pick out their rooms a few days ago and the builder gave Mason a sharpie to write his name on the floor of his new bedroom. Landon's name is written in all caps in the doorframe of his new bedroom as well. Every trip to school is a reminder to me of how wonderful life will be next year!

Spiderman...in heels?

As was mentioned in my last post, we are all about super heroes at my house. What I bet you didn't know is that Spiderman's real super powers come from his high heels. The one thing that gave me great comfort...and I never thought I would say this...is that moments after I took this picture, the heels came off Landon's feet and became guns.

Superheroes in training

Any one that has spent the least bit of time with my boys knows that the ultimate life to live is that of a superhero. I couldn't resist these underwear sets (yes, that is the term used on the packaging). If only I could still fit in those wonder woman underoos I used to have....

Our House...

is a very, very, very fine house. I feel like I should type all the lyrics, however the next line would never work for my house. You won't be seeing cats in this girl's front yard. Yes, I was indeed born in the wrong decade. I feel like I should go pick some flowers from the yard and put them in my hair. But, I keep telling people that the reason a single man bought our house had to have been because of the pink flowers I planted in the front yard. :) Alright, enough babbling on about nothing. The purpose of today's entry was to share a shot of the house we are having built. Very exciting!

Nose Nuisance

You might be asking yourself why in the world I would put a picture of my son's name written in playdough on my blog. Well, I will tell you why. It is because Landon refused to let me take a picture of what ended up happening to this piece of work I worked so hard on. I left the room for a few minutes to take a phone call and when I returned I found both of Landon's nostrils bulging with blue playdough. As you can imagine, playdough is not easy to remove from a human nostril. After a few attempts to get it out with playdough tools, and several attempts to blow the playdough out, we finally cleared his nostrils. The next step, of course, was to reprimand Landon for what he had done and warn him not to do it again. He looked up so innocently and said, "but what if it's yellow".

Growing up too quick

During yet another conversation about our move, Mason and I covered our usual topics: yes, the toys will come with us, no the walls will stay behind, yes we have to take Landon, etc., etc. When I began to explain to him that we would have to move out of this house before our new home would be completed, he looked at me and said, "That is going to be a real obstacle. You know what an obstacle is, right mom?" I assured him that I indeed knew what an obstacle was, but that was not sufficient enough for him. He proceeded to give me the definition of an obstacle: "something that is difficult to get around, over or through". I commended him on being such a smart little boy. He responded by patting my leg and assuring me that he would help me get through this obstacle. Who can ask for more than that?

Potty training woes

As I was getting Landon dressed this morning, we had a great conversation that has left me afraid that I will someday be trying to explain to his kindergarten teachers why he is still in a pull-up....


Landon: "This is red, Mason's favorite color" (talking about the shirt I am putting on him)

Me: "You're right, it is"

Landon: "I going to be like Mason"

Me: "To really be like Mason, you would have to be potty trained. Are you ready to go potty in the big boy potty?"

Landon: "No"

Me: "Why not?"

Landon: "I going to wait till I grow up."

Me: "When will that be?"

Landon: "When I six."

Indeed.

Taken too long

Well, after one too many complaints that I don't blog, I thought I would give it a shot. I am horribly stubborn when it comes to joining the crowd, but the crowd has won me over. Now, the real test will be whether or not I actually follow through...