Love Hurts So Good.

I have a favorite blog I read when I have time, and it is so positive and uplifting. She puts in words a lot of times how I feel about my kids, and well once again she hits it on the nose with her pictures and explanations and that is why this post is titled this way.

When I see Benjamin taking care of Jonna,'Come on Jonna, I will help you up' as he lifts her onto Mom and Dad's Bed. She knows he is going to help her too, and quite often she will wait to have her brother Benjamin come to her rescue. This makes me hurt so good.

When she sits in the recliner and lays back just waiting for Ben to hand her her sippy cup. When she gets it, she grunts, and Ben says, "Oh, you want a blanket Jonna?" and he runs to her room and gives it to her as he climbs up and sits close to his sister. This makes me hurt so good.

When I watch Ben, Jonna, and Jake play catch with the Spiderman Kickball. Taking turns catching and throwing. And once it hits on top of Jonna's head, and she laughs in pure delight and pats her head, looking at Jake. In her eyes and actions, she is saying, "DAD, did you just see that, it was hilarious! The ball actually hit my head!" This makes me hurt so good.


Ben has a best friend. His name is Pryce, and when Ben had his adnoids out and tubes put in last week on 12/16/2010, he woke up from anathesia with the saddest pouty face ever, and said. "Mom, I want Pryce......."
This makes me hurt so good.

When they both stand on the coffee table....yes, our furniture is like an indoor playground..... and Jonna watches Ben jump to the couch, but she can't quite get the nerve to jump herself. He coaxes her, or antagonizes her, and finally she reaches to me, so I can throw her to the couch at the same time Ben jumps. This hurts so good.



When Jonna lays on her tummy playing with her magna doodle and her legs are crossed over. And she shakes her head and giggle when she sees that she drew something very cool. This makes me hurt so good.




When Ben tells Jonna sweetly. "If you leave the Christmas tree alone and don't take the ornaments off the tree, you won't get put in time-out, Jonna." As he pats her head while she sniffles.


These two make me hurt so good!

Merry Christmas All!

Didn't make the Christmas Card this year......

So, we took lots of pictures to narrow down the one's for the Christmas Card..

These were the first few....


Then it lead to some like this...


These are just a few that I wanted to share. They didn't quite make the photo card this year----but were close runner ups.

Colorado 2010

We headed to Colorado about a week agao to visit my sister and her fiance. On our trip we made a trek to the mountains. First stop was Boulder, then to Estes Park and then back to G's house in Highlands Ranch.
It was an awesome trip!

All the sisters minus Anna!


That is one crew right there. These are the Missouri travelers. Left at 8am on Friday. Arrived about 8pm Denver time. Jake drove the ENTIRE way. Breaking in the mini van on the first road trip.

Tash and Cliff

The Engaged. Jess and Greg.

Me and hubby.

Ahh and look at this cute couple!

Just plain trouble piled on some rocks.

Christmas- Kids, Vacations, Surgeries and More:

I am dreaming of a white Christmas. One that I can dress my little bundles of joy up in in snowpants, boots, hats, gloves and scarves and build a snowman, make snow angels, and well, probably watch both of them eat it up.

I can't believe it is already the season. Thanksgiving was wonderful. We got to see family and eat to our hearts content. There is quite nothing better than that! I have Christmas Photo cards prepared. Jake is in charge of writing my annual update letter. I figure I have done it the last 6 years, so it is his turn.

Our tree has been up since the week before Thanksgiving. Ben still doesn't understand why Santa hasn't come yet since the tree is up. Jonna will not allow the Christmas tree to be "unlit" at any time that we are home. And their all time favorite thing to do is look at Christmas lights. Which with the short days, they get to see them in the morning when we leave for work and school, and also get to see them at night on our way home.

I think I love this time of year more than I ever have, and it has a lot to do with the kids. They have those innocent hearts still that by acting through/with them I appreciate the little things about Christmas. In our hectic schedule, Ben's pre-school does such a great job of helping teach him the true meaning and also reminding us of the true meaning. It's about Baby Jesus and acts of kindness. It is about giving and not receiving. Its about being kind to your neighbors, strangers and paying it forward. Should it really just be this season, no, but there is something about the Holidays that make me want to give and be thankful to everyone that has shown our family so much love in the past year. If I could I would give Ben's teacher and Jonna's Daycare provider a million dollars. They take care of my treasures. Now, I know we can't afford that, but I hope they like their presents and feel how much they are appreciated by us.

Jake and I had a wonderful trip to Denver, Colorado last weekend to visit my sister J and her fiance Greg to have fun at a wedding shower for them. They plan to get married in Missouri this coming March at the same church Jake and I did. Pretty cool! We went with several of my sisters and a one of their boyfriends. We ate, drank, were merry, went to the mountains, ate sushi, and had a blast. Ready to go back but this time, we are bringing the kids!

Poor Jake, had sinus surgery the day after we got back. This was a procedure that was probably long time needed even years ago. He has had a deviated septum for years and didn't know it, and his allergies are the worst I have ever seen on someone. That is what he gets for growing up in Alaska and now living in Missouri with his wifey where she grew up at. He enjoys the ragweed, pollen, and grass more than anyone i know. (Wink, wink). He is pretty miserable right now, but once all is healed I am hoping to see a brand new man, that can breathe and be happy!

On a side note, Jake is not a good patient. 1) After several times telling him he should have no fluids before surgery, he still thought it was okay to have a sprite at 6am before because the office told him it was okay.(FYI, just don't intake anything, it could increase nausea after surgery and some anathesiologists will say too bad we won't do until you have an empty stomach, then you have to reschedule.) 2)While waiting before surgery, he decided to adjust his IV fluids, because they were making him feel he had to pee too much. Let's just say this prior patient who has had multiple procedures flipped "a little" lid on her husband telling him to straighten up and let the doctors and nurses do what they are trained to do. Haha. He had never had anasthesia before, and didn't handle it very well coming out of it. Apparently, he ripped his breathing tube out and sat straight up. He isn't very good at relaxing. The nausea hit him soon after and that was another adjustment in itself.

So all said and done, he is healing, and I really hope it makes him feel like a brand spankin new man.

Jonna: Went from four teeth to 12 in about a month and half's time. Last check up she was in 75% height and weight-at 24lbs and 31 inches tall.She is stinkin cute and her hair is crazy every day! She has the most beautiful eyes, and has a "mean" face that she breaks out when she wants to let you know she doesn't agree with you. The furrowed eyebrows, grimace, and eyes to the side. Where did she learn that from?

Ben: He is Jonna and I's superhero. Some days, Iron Man, some Batman, and some Spiderman. 34lbs, and 36 inches tall. He is downright handsome, and wants to be able to give everyone a green motorcycle for Christmas. He is the best big brother Jonna could ask for and is the first to try to correct Jake or I when we "hurt Jonna's feelings".

I am looking forward to getting a bit more Christmas shopping done. And then I am set for the Holidays!!

All is well in the Holee Realm!