Watch what you wish for...

Happy 16 month Birthday, Avery!

Our baby is 16 months old today! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I know we all say that, but I really can't. I can so vividly remember being pregnant with Avery, and the days and months right after she was born. She was such a sweet, sweet baby. Oh, how I miss those days!

I've been anxiously waiting for my little bug to start walking. I've been complaining about her delayed development in this area, and concerned about her stubbornness in achieving this milestone. Well, apparently God knew what he was doing because, she's walking... and she's twice as much trouble now!! But she's also twice as cute!! I love watching her explore on those two wobbly little legs. What a doll!

The Rousehouse started a new tradition tonight, "Family Wii night". We ordered pizza and played Wii all night long! What a great night! Dave and I raced each other in Mario Cart ( I won ), we all played 2 games of bowling ( Ella and I won ) and Claire and I played tennis ( Claire won ). We had so much fun. Avery walked all over the place, playing in the playroom and on the steps ( of course! ). It was one of those nights that you always picture in your head, when dreaming of the perfect family night. Everyone laughing and getting along. Ella congratulating everyone and giving high fives. Claire laughing and cheering and scowling ( she's quite competitive, I don't know where she gets that! ). Dave and I just simply enjoying our kids.

Isn't that what's it's all about. I know that we all say it, but how often do we do it? How often do we really just stop and play? I know that it is getting easier and more frequent for us. That is yet another blessing that this last year has brought us... a new found desire to spend time together. To slow down and enjoy the moment.

Thank you God for our beautiful Avery. Thank you for making her strong and independent. Thank you for the gift of family. You have blessed our house and our lives with good friends, family and fun.

Vicarious

Vi-car-i-ous: felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others: a vicarious thrill.

Sounds good to me. So why does it have such a hard time? I suppose it's those parents that get a little too excited while living vicariously through their children. Anyway, I'm not one of those.... well most of the time I'm not!

I love it! I love the excitement in the air. The anticipation. The nerves. The competition. I love checking out the other racers, looking in their eyes for a hint of fear, or pride, or confidence.

I love the race! The buzzer, the splash, then the mad dash to the other end! I love watching the little heads pop up out of the water the second they touch the wall and look from side to side to see where everyone else is.

I love the moment after. When I wrap her up in towel and a hug. When we talk about how we did. Good start? Strong kicks? "Did I win!?" She asks so excitedly. "You did great!" I say, hardly able to keep my pride, and competitiveness, inside me.

Yeah, I live vicariouly through my children. Because I love them and I love what they do.

Do I get excited? Do I critique? Do I insist on practice most of the time? You bet! But, at the end of the day, no matter how many ribbons we have or races we've won, my girl knows I love her.

And the best part, she loves it too!

Good mommy

Okay, this is ridiculous! Tomorrow the HIGH temperature is -4 degrees! How is that possible? The low is -17 degrees which is even more ridiculous. And to top it off, no school! That's right, let's freeze us out and lock us up together.

So, I have two options for tomorrow. I can be "good mommy" or "bad mommy". Seems like an easy choice, doesn't it? But it's not always. Sometimes being "good mommy" is hard.

I don't always want to talk nice. I don't always want to listen to the same question, comment or concern for the third, fourth and fifth time. I don't always want to make a warm breakfast, clean up the dishes, put away the left overs and then 2 hours later, do it all over again. I don't always want to be "present". I don't always want to play Sequence, Candyland, Webkinz, tea party, Pixo's, American Girl, blocks, dress-up or grocery store. I don't always want to be referee, medic, coach, cheerleader and water girl. I don't always want to be "good mommy". Sometimes I want to be "bad mommy".

Sometimes, I want to sleep in and make them find their own breakfast. Sometimes, I want to turn on the T.V. shut my office door and play on the computer. Sometimes, I want to yell at the tattler and send the tattlee to her room, without even listening to the complaint. Sometimes, I want to send them to "play nice downstairs" and then complain that they're laughing, screaming and playing too loudly. Somtimes, I want to stick the baby in her high chair with Froot Loops and leave her there until she's begging to get out. Sometimes, I want to go in the laundry room to fold laundry, and then linger longer than needed until someone finds me. Sometimes, I want to throw my hands up and say "leave me alone already" when I all they want is a little attention and love. Sometimes, I just want to be "bad mommy".

Now, sometimes "bad mommy" is as good as it gets, and that's okay. "Bad mommy" still loves her kids and provides the most basic of needs. "Bad mommy" has the right to appear every now and then, guilt free!

But tomorrow, I'm going for "good mommy". I'm going to plan ahead, pray for help and jump out of that bed ready to go. I'm going to cook breakfast, play with kids, make crafts, bake cookies, read books, play house, build a tent and make a living room picnic lunch...... Then I'm putting the baby to nap, popping some popcorn and putting the girls down with a movie, while I play on the computer.....

Can't be "good mommy" all day!!

Enjoy the cold, and hug your family today, it'll keep you warm!

Moments in time

How do we measure time? In moments? Minutes? Gray Hair? I tend to get quite reflective this time of year, as it is my wedding anniversary and birthday. Yes, I'll be 34 tomorrow! Don't look a day over 40!

Today, Dave and I celebrate 9 years of marriage! Wow! What a deal. There are times that it feels like just yesterday, and then there are times that it feels like an eternity!

We moved in together after we were married (makes us seem so old-fashioned doesn't it?) into a tiny little apartment. We loved that place! It was our first little love nest. We adopted our first cat, sunny, who arrived full of fleas, ear mites and PTSS (post traumatic stress syndrome). After nurturing sunny back to health and surviving a couple scary work moments (remember that long walk Dave?) we bought our first house.

I'll never forget the day we found our first house. We cut through town on 52nd St. for some unknown reason and saw the house. We stopped, looked, fell in love and bought it that day. So many incredible memories:
* Dave and I loved to relax and watch TV. We loved just being together and hanging out.
* Claire was born on Nov. 15, 2001. We brought her home from the hospital to a clean house, with candles lit and soft music playing (thanks Ashley!). Sunny sniffed her then walked away with his tail in the air!
* Claire's first tree swing and first play set.
* Our first Christmas as a family.
* All of Claire's firsts are burned into my memory. I will never forget that house or all the joy that was shared there.

When Claire was 1 1/2 we moved to our second house. We found our place in the suburbs! I became involved in our church and mom's groups. Dave and I enjoyed hanging out with friends and taking care of our house and yard. We had Ella when we lived in this house. What an experience. Ella came into this world with a broken heart, but managed to fill our hearts with so much love we didn't think it possible. Dave and I learned so much during our medical journey with Ella. We learned the importance of communication and forgiveness! We learned how to truly surrender to God and have complete faith in our Almighty Healer. Dave and I discovered that together we can survive anything and that we are stronger on the other side!

God blessed us with our third child the summer of '07 so we moved again. Avery was welcomed into our new house on Sept. 24, 2007. Things have been a roller-coaster ever since!

This last year has been a lesson in communication and faith. It has been riddled with fear, excitement, change and challenge. Through it all one thing has remained constant: we are a family and Dave and I are a team. We remain together, side by side, through the bad times and the good (and there have been so many good!) We stay faithful in prayer and remember that with God, all things are possible!

I am excited to embark upon another year with my husband. I'm excited to continue this journey that God has laid out for us. I can't wait to watch my children grow and change. To see Ella head off to Kindergarten. To see Claire continue to mature right before my very eyes. To watch Avery learn to walk and talk, maybe, please!
I look forward to the changes in store for us. New jobs, new homes, new adventures!
Thank you to all of you who have helped Dave and I survive, I mean enjoy, these last 9 years!
Here's to many more!
I love you, Dave.
j

It just fell out!

It just fell out! That's how Ella described the scene I found in the bathroom this morning.

Picture it:

Ella standing at her bathroom sink. Hair wet, brush in hand.

A comb and a pair of scissors sitting on the counter.

Littering the sink, counter and floor were hundreds of little pieces of red hair.

Upon hearing my gasp as I walk in the bathroom Ella says, "It just fell out mom!"

"Really?" I say. "Then why are the scissors there?"

Replies Ella in a teary voice, "I just wanted to cut my hair like Daddy. I like how he cuts his own hair!"

Rouse Family Secret #42 - Dave cuts his hair with a Flobee. Yes, that's right, a Flobee. Dave hasn't had a "professional" haircut in 7 years. Yet, as anyone can see, he has great hair. Now, I would not suggest the Flobee for anyone. I think my husband is just lucky to have hair that responds so well to such a device. I for one, would never let a Flobee near my hair or my childrens. Which brings me back to the issue at hand.

"Ella" I say in a soothing, mommy voice, "Girls never, ever, ever cut their own hair. We always go to Miss Jenn to get our haircut so that it will stay long and pretty" (2 things Ella always wishes for her red, unruly hair).

"Does my hair still look pretty?" Asks Ella with a quivering lip.

"Oh yes honey! It's beautiful!" I say, ignoring the small chunk out of the side!

Thanks to Grandma Ginny, you now get to see my little bugs growing up right before your eyes! Yes, that's right. I have a digital video recorder. The best part, it's the size of a deck of cards so I can take it everywhere. Yes, you'll see videos of Avery eating, walking, falling and sleeping. You can see videos of Ella dancing and Claire swimming. My oh my, the possibilities!

Now, don't worry. I won't bore you with endless hours of my little angels in every possible display of cuteness. I'll limit the videos to small enough times as to keep you awake!

And, the best part. When I'm convinced that I've done it all wrong. When I'm sure that my children are damaged or undisciplined or just plain out to get me. I can go back and watch these videos and remind myself of just how amazing these little creatures from God really are!

Thanks for sharing in our lives! And don't forget, if you like following my blog, register as a follower on the right side. It's easy to leave comments and fun to see whose watching!

Enjoy your weekend, school starts Monday!!!!!! : )

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!
We here at the Rouse House want to wish you all the best this coming year. We hope that all your dreams come true and resolutions are fulfilled. Although, really, are resolutions so great? That has been the thought nagging at me all day.

At the beginning of 2008 I made my yearly resolutions: exercise, eat better, yell less, love more, slow down. The same "goals" I'd been setting for several years. Well, as many of you know, I didn't exactly excel at my resolutions. I'm busier than ever. Still don't exercise and I eat chocolate and Diet Pepsi for breakfast. I'm known as a bit of a yeller and could probably work on the lover part too! On top of all that, this year didn't go exactly as I planned. Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I'm taking the wrong approach. This year, no resolutions. Instead, I'm praying. This prayer was sent to me today through my daily devotion. I found it fitting. Instead of planning what I can and should do this year I'm going to pray for what God would have me do. I bet that if I follow God instead of my ideas, some of those old resolutions just might make it into my life!

Father, You are Holy and call us to be Holy. Yet, we confess that so often our hearts wander from You, our speech does not glorify You, and our actions do not honor You.
Soften our hearts to receive the words Your sweet Spirit has to speak to us.
Clothe us with humility. Take away our desire to always be right and have our own way.
Help us to seek Your Word in all that we say and do.
Help us to submit to Your Word; allow it to penetrate those deep places in our hearts that resist change.
If necessary, put us through the refiner’s fire to burn off those things that keep us from walking in step with Your character.

Give us hearts that love and seek after Truth above all else.
Give us wisdom and discernment to reject the lies of this world and the evil one.
Guide us into all Truth. Guard our hearts and keep our eyes fixed on You.
Grow in us those things that will make us more like You.
As we study Your Word, fill us and saturate us with You!

Today, Father, we surrender our thoughts, our speech, and our hearts.
Thank You that You are Faithful and True. We trust You will do a mighty work in us and through us this year and carry it on to completion until the day we step into eternity with You.
Help us to trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.
Help us to acknowledge You in all our ways so that we can hear Your voice as You say, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Lord, we love You and thank You that You love us. May our lives be a living testimony of You. We ask this in the powerful and mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who will do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Resolutions? Prayers? Planning? Accepting? However you start your year, however you live your year, we hope it's the best year it can be! I know ours will be, even if it's a little bumpy!

I want to thank my many friends out there who have stood by me, held me up, made me laugh, let me cry and just over all blessed my life in 2008. I don't say it enough, but I love ya!

If you liked the prayer, check out www.proverbs31.org