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Isn't that what they call those tiny calendars on postcards...with the days so small you can barely see them!?
Today, I sat in reflection over the past year. I was attempting to write our 2008 Christmas letter which I insert every year with our photo card. The purpose is to catch the family and friends up on what we did for the year....only, I couldn't think of anything!?
I know that so much happened!?!
It's disturbing to me that my memory of the days gone by...is as small as the numbers on the 'At A Glance!' As if the days are so small and insignificant!?
But that's not how I feel!! If anything, I feel the extreme opposite! Like the days are SO precious!! So few that I have left before my kids are off to school and on their way in the world! And yet, when reflecting on the past 365 days I'm left with only a blank page!?!? How can this be!?
Finally, something...our vacations. Yes, they were fun....oh, and so and so's wedding, that was beautiful! OH, and so and so's baby was born...precious....and Jack turned one and Austin turned three! These are big things!
Why is it that is all I can remember! There were so many milestones reached, fun stories, memories made....trouble is ...I can't remember them!?!? How long would it take me to forget these, had I not written them down tonight!?
"Why didn't I start blogging sooner?!" I asked myself. Then I could have just gone back and reviewed what I wrote!
It's such a fine line isn't it!? Balancing life. Being careful to document the past and learn from it, with out living in it!
All the while, planning for the future...but not banking on it!
AND, remembering to live in the moment...being ever present in that which is happening around you, here and now!!
If anyone has figured this one out, please tell me how!?
It reminds me of my favorite song from the musical Rent:
Season's of Love
525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love.
Seasons of love.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Weekends Go By Way Too Fast!!
It's Sunday evening and the weekend is coming to a close.
Jeff was home this weekend, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday!
As most of you know, that NEVER happens! He negotiated something with his boss, so that he could be home for the weekend. It was so nice! Friday we cleaned house ran some errands...pretty laid back. Saturday we hired a sitter and went out for dinner!
It was a nice time, with the exception of a very bad headache I can't seem to get rid of! Then today we had our friends over for a football party...always a great time to be with our friends!
They say 'friends are the family you choose' and I can certainly testify to that! We have found some of the best friends and they have truly become our family away from family, our home away from home! Thank God for good friends!
Jeff will be working Thanksgiving for the first time ever...which stinks!
But our friends are adopting the boys and I into their family for the day, so sweet of them! This will be the second year we will spend Thanksgiving with out Jeff, since Jeff went home to Vegas last year. Poor Jack has yet to have a Thanksgiving with his Daddy! So sad!
But, things could always be worse...at least he'll be home in the evening. He could be overseas like so many of our service men and women! He could be with out a job at all!! So, we try to remain positive and grateful for what we DO have!! That is after all, what Thanksgiving is all about, right!?
Here's a funny tidbit to close with:
This morning, after our showers...I was cleaning out the boys ears...and as I was cleaning Austin's ears, Jeff walked by and said "whatcha got growing in their, potatoes?!" I could see Austin thinking about it, and then he looked up at me...so serious like and said, "Mom, I think I have some carrotts in there,.....or maybe some mushrooms!" He seemed awfully concerned! HA, ha! I couldn't stop laughing!
Jeff was home this weekend, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday!
As most of you know, that NEVER happens! He negotiated something with his boss, so that he could be home for the weekend. It was so nice! Friday we cleaned house ran some errands...pretty laid back. Saturday we hired a sitter and went out for dinner!
It was a nice time, with the exception of a very bad headache I can't seem to get rid of! Then today we had our friends over for a football party...always a great time to be with our friends!
They say 'friends are the family you choose' and I can certainly testify to that! We have found some of the best friends and they have truly become our family away from family, our home away from home! Thank God for good friends!
Jeff will be working Thanksgiving for the first time ever...which stinks!
But our friends are adopting the boys and I into their family for the day, so sweet of them! This will be the second year we will spend Thanksgiving with out Jeff, since Jeff went home to Vegas last year. Poor Jack has yet to have a Thanksgiving with his Daddy! So sad!
But, things could always be worse...at least he'll be home in the evening. He could be overseas like so many of our service men and women! He could be with out a job at all!! So, we try to remain positive and grateful for what we DO have!! That is after all, what Thanksgiving is all about, right!?
Here's a funny tidbit to close with:
This morning, after our showers...I was cleaning out the boys ears...and as I was cleaning Austin's ears, Jeff walked by and said "whatcha got growing in their, potatoes?!" I could see Austin thinking about it, and then he looked up at me...so serious like and said, "Mom, I think I have some carrotts in there,.....or maybe some mushrooms!" He seemed awfully concerned! HA, ha! I couldn't stop laughing!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Is It Spring Yet!?
Winter has just begun and I feel like the little kid in the back of the car that screams, "are we there yet?! How about now!?" I am dying for Spring and it literally JUST turned cold!! It's going to be a VERY long winter!
Cabin Fever seems to have arrived early this year! The boys and I are already climbing the walls! Tonight, I took them to Toys R Us just to let them play in a warm environment....some place other than our living room or basement!
They had a blast! It reminded me of the scene from the movie BIG where they're running all over the toy store, right before the solo of 'Heart and Soul' on the huge floor piano!? Anyhow, they went nuts! THEN.....
It was time to go home! HOLY Cow! What a fiasco!
What I detest more than anything about winter....is the time it takes to get all the coats, hats and gloves...on and off, between your destination and the car! GRRRRrrrr..... :)
What feels like an eternity later, the kids are finally buckled in and we are ready to go! We live about a mile from Toys R Us, so the heater barely warmed up and we were home...such a production!
The temperature according to my dashboard was 26 degrees!! EEEEEeeek! :/
BURRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...................
Family back in Vegas and California, I know you are laughing your tails off right now...and wishing I could hear your "I told you so's" trust me, I get it now!!
Never miss home more than in the winter time! Not to mention, it's when all the big holidays are!!
Today, Austin asked me where Santa Claus lives.
I'm sure this seems like a reasonable question to most people...but it caught me by surprise since we have never discussed Santa Claus before. He's only 3...so this will really be the first year he'll even really understand presents! I had no idea he even knew the words 'Santa Claus!'
I've always been on the fence about Santa. I mean, technically it's a lie, and sort of hypocritical to teach our children not to lie...then turn around and tell one right after the other...Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy...I have a hard time with it.
I much prefer the explanation my Grandma offered me as a child, when I asked her if Santa was real.
She said, Yes....there was once a St. Nicholas, and every year...on Jesus's Birthday he would go around delivering gifts to people.... he would leave them on their doorsteps. We honor his memory with Santa Claus....which has obviously been blown way out of proportion to the original Saint!
Chimneys, flying reindeer...c'mon! Do we think our kids are dummies!?
Half the time they only pretend to believe so they don't let their parents down, and they wouldn't want to risk losing their presents, of course! :)
I don't know!
I would hate to be the one who has the kid, that ruins it for all the rest...so I suppose I'll jump off the bridge too!?!
"the North Pole, Sweetie!" .....I told him.
Cabin Fever seems to have arrived early this year! The boys and I are already climbing the walls! Tonight, I took them to Toys R Us just to let them play in a warm environment....some place other than our living room or basement!
They had a blast! It reminded me of the scene from the movie BIG where they're running all over the toy store, right before the solo of 'Heart and Soul' on the huge floor piano!? Anyhow, they went nuts! THEN.....
It was time to go home! HOLY Cow! What a fiasco!
What I detest more than anything about winter....is the time it takes to get all the coats, hats and gloves...on and off, between your destination and the car! GRRRRrrrr..... :)
What feels like an eternity later, the kids are finally buckled in and we are ready to go! We live about a mile from Toys R Us, so the heater barely warmed up and we were home...such a production!
The temperature according to my dashboard was 26 degrees!! EEEEEeeek! :/
BURRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...................
Family back in Vegas and California, I know you are laughing your tails off right now...and wishing I could hear your "I told you so's" trust me, I get it now!!
Never miss home more than in the winter time! Not to mention, it's when all the big holidays are!!
Today, Austin asked me where Santa Claus lives.
I'm sure this seems like a reasonable question to most people...but it caught me by surprise since we have never discussed Santa Claus before. He's only 3...so this will really be the first year he'll even really understand presents! I had no idea he even knew the words 'Santa Claus!'
I've always been on the fence about Santa. I mean, technically it's a lie, and sort of hypocritical to teach our children not to lie...then turn around and tell one right after the other...Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy...I have a hard time with it.
I much prefer the explanation my Grandma offered me as a child, when I asked her if Santa was real.
She said, Yes....there was once a St. Nicholas, and every year...on Jesus's Birthday he would go around delivering gifts to people.... he would leave them on their doorsteps. We honor his memory with Santa Claus....which has obviously been blown way out of proportion to the original Saint!
Chimneys, flying reindeer...c'mon! Do we think our kids are dummies!?
Half the time they only pretend to believe so they don't let their parents down, and they wouldn't want to risk losing their presents, of course! :)
I don't know!
I would hate to be the one who has the kid, that ruins it for all the rest...so I suppose I'll jump off the bridge too!?!
"the North Pole, Sweetie!" .....I told him.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
More Great Photos
This may be overkill on the pictures, since I already sent a proof link and then a Shutterfly link, but just in case some of you had trouble viewing them, I thought this might be easier!? These are just some of my favorites! I own the copyright, so if you would like prints...just let me know which ones you want and in what size and I'll get them to you!! You can comment below this post, or email...either way!
Thanks,
Love you!
~Mel
The Very First Entry
Hello there Family & Friends,
Welcome to the new Sugden Family Blog. Feel free to bookmark us or put this page in your favorites...so you can check back often for updates! I figured with most of our family out West, this would be the ideal way to keep everyone informed on the latest! I can even post pictures! I hope you enjoy it! Feel free to post comments below the blogs... hope you're all doing well!
We love you and miss you all!!
Love,
Mel, Jeff, A.J. & Jack Sugden
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