Welcome 2013

Today is New Year’s Eve. I don’t feel anything one way or the other about this year ending. There are some years that you are just so ready to be over (2010 for us) and then there are those that you don’t feel anything one way or the other. By all accounts 2012 was a good year and I’m just as hopeful that 2013 will be as good.


We don’t have any wild or crazy plans for tonight. This year our church isn’t having a party, which is fine. Camryn is at a difficult age with going to parties. She is so demanding that I’d only be chasing her. I’d rather do that in my own home where I can at least wear festive (comfortable) pajamas.

A few weeks ago I thought about inviting a couple of families over. Then Camryn came down with bronchitis on the 17th. Jay followed in her footsteps a week later. He spent 4 days in our chair with his hoodie hood up the entire time. After one trip to urgent care and 3 prescriptions later he is somewhat on the mend. He is still coughing his head off though. After all that sickness I was afraid someone else would get sick this past Sunday so I gave up my party dreams. I spent yesterday taking down our Christmas decorations because I was scared that if I caught what Jay had it would be February before the tree came down.

It is just as well we didn’t invite anyone over…because I’m now down in my back. I’ve seen my dad get in this shape before but this is the first time I’ve experienced it. I’m still not as bad as I’ve seen him get because I’m at least sitting up at work today, but this isn’t too fun. I’m walking pretty slowly. I’m still not sure what caused it. I don’t think it is necessarily one particular thing, just a whole bunch of little things combined. The worst of it happened when I was trying to move clothes from the washer to the dryer. I had to do it on my hands and knees. Jay found me in that position. I had to crawl out of the laundry room so he could help me up. I realized I was crying. I’m still not sure if it was from laughing or because of how bad it hurt. He helped me into bed with an ice pack but before I got into bed I went to the bathroom. Jay stood outside the door asking me if I needed help getting up. It was touch and go for a few seconds but I got up and maintained my dignity. Thankfully I am not that bad today. But of course my chiropractor is out until Thursday.

So we will be ringing in the new year with Jay coughing like he’s been smoking for 40 years and I’ll be trying to find a comfortable position on the couch. At least my arms are getting a workout because I’m using them to pick Camryn up…since I can’t bend at the waist. Welcome 2013….Cade will get a glimpse of his future when he has to take care of his ailing parents….and I may need a handicapped bar installed in our bathroom before my 36th birthday.

December 23

On Sunday morning we traveled to Sheldon to celebrate Christmas with my family. We went to church that morning and Cade played a shepherd in their Christmas program with Lawson. Avery was an angel. I really enjoyed being in church that day with my whole family.

After church we celebrated with mom and Steve. As usually it was crazy busy but a lot if fun. Camryn at least got a nap in but she wast any better about letting me take her picture.

Life's Little Regrets

We all have things in life we wish had happened differently. Right now I'm wishing Camryn hadn't locked Jay out of the truck when she did. How much better would the story have been if he was wearing his Christmas 2012 PJ's???

December 22

We started our Christmas celebrations last Saturday. We spent the day with Jay's side of the family. As usual it was an eventful day. Jay and Terry got Jim and Sharon DirecTV for Christmas. The guy showed up to install it as soon as we had the gifts sorted and had unwrapped a couple. It made for a crazy afternoon, but it was fun. It was probably the longest present unwrapping session in history. We'd unwrap awhile and then quit to take care of the guys questions. I think we started around 2 and didn't finish until 7ish I think. Which it didn't bother me in the least. Christmas goes to fast anyway. That just spread it out a little longer. But Cade was about ready to pop.

I think we made it home around 9that night. The kids were tired but they had a great time. I tried to get Saturday's loot organizes because we had 3 more days if celebrations to follow...

Merry Christmas

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15

We hope you have a blessed holiday season

Love,
The Shepherd's

Practical Parenting Advice

Any one who has raised a child has heard the same cliches. Although they are good advice and good things to remember...it doesn't really tell anyone the nitty gritty of what they need to know. Yes, I know he will grow up fast so I will rock them and never clean my house. I will try to nap when they nap. Yes, I know perfectly well she was more than worth the wait, etc. so after 2 awful shopping trips I thought about what I wish someone had told me. Next time I'm invited to a baby shower I'm going to print this post and slap it on the inside of the card.

Here is my big revelation...be prepared to sweat more than you have at any other time in your life. Now, I'm not talking the
sweat that happens when you exercise. That is what I call an expected sweating. What I'm talking about is the kind that comes over you quickly and spreads
Throughout your entire body. Come to think of it maybe that is another sign of God's attention to detail. He gave us this sweating in motherhood so by the time we had hot flashes we would be prepared.

I noticed after having Cade I just seemed to be hot all the time. At first I thought it was hormones. Then I started suspecting it was him causing it. Then getting Camryn confirmed it. Since there is no physical reason for my core temperature
To register at molton lava levels it has to be the kids causing it.

So here are my random sweating moments the last few days....

While eating Chinese with Charity and her kids Thursday night. The kids were pretty good, they just wanted to look at the fish instead if eating. What caused the sweat was realizing there were other kids their ages sitting and eating and not wanting to circle the table. I can never decide what is the lesser of two evils...letting them circle the table or forcing them to sit and have them scream and cry. If you ever see us in a restaurant I'd ask the hostess to seat you somewhere else. We won't be offended. Jay and I might take turns sitting with you actually...

At Wal Mart while wearing a sweater in freezing temperatures. Camryn wouldn't ride in the cart so I was carrying her and Cade was pushing the cart. I can't blame this all on Camryn because Cade is an awful cart pusher. People were jumping out of our way. His driving abilities better improve the next few years. Otherwise I will never ride with him.

Friday we had to do some last minute shopping for Jay. That alone will make we sweat because I hate waiting until the last minute but it couldn't be helped this year. I sweated the whole afternoon at the mall. Camryn wouldn't ride in the stroller. What is wrong with my kids??? Neither if them will ride in strollers or carts!! We made a stop in Maurice's (yeah, that wasn't for Jay). Camryn found the jewelry and put on bracelets then I couldn't get to her because there were people in line to pay and she was weaving around their legs. Every time Cade got close she screamed. It was like circling prey. Finally I got her caught and got the bracelet removed. And she screamed like I was kidnapping her. I mumbled to myself that I was sweating. A mom heard me and snickered. She must have been a sweater to.

Then there was the moment at Penny's. Jay had met us by that point. He kept Cade and the stroller while I took Camryn. We were waiting in line to pay and she was darting all over the place. The mom/grandma behind me must have had perfect kids because she didn't seem to be amused. When it was my turn I finally got her on the Counter. Guess who ended up at the register beside us?? She really wasn't amused with us. I had to do two transactions because I had two coupons saved in my phone. I was wrestling Camryn, finding the coupons on my phone, trying to swipe my debit card, etc.
Between transactions Camryn somehow got my phone. The clerk paused for a second and said "wow, I've never seen a baby who could work and iPhone." Yup she knows how to swipe through the screens to find what she wants.

Another sweaty moment was at Mexican Villa. Camryn and tortilla chips. You can probably imagine. Most of the time I feel like we need to be leaving a 50% tip because of the mess.

Oh, and Camryn is on Zyrtec for allergies right night. That intensified her behavior about a million times. It really hypes her up and it is hard for her to nap.

So the moral of the story is this...if you have small children and also need a new winter coat don't worry about it. You can put that purchase off for at least 5 years. I've needed a new one for awhile but I realize I'd never wear it right now. I do have a somewhat heavy one that would get me buy if we were planning on vacationing in The Arctic Circle...but it is way too heavy for a Missouri winter with a toddler. So if you see me wearing a tank top while it is snowing dont think anything about it.

This to shall pass...an when it does I will miss the sweet baby and the horrible cart pusher who made me sweat...but I will not miss the actual sweating part.

The Christmas Pants

Loyal blog readers will remember the time Jay got caught by our neighbors in his snowman pajama pants while looking for Charlie. Four or so years later we have another installment in that saga. Only this time it was Christmas Tree pants...and Charlie wasn't involved.

Sunday morning Jay took Camryn to check the cows at the place down the road Jim is renting. Any farm girl (or guy) knows what happens when you check cows in the pasture...there are no car seats.

Camryn is quite the button pusher. If there is a button, she has to touch it. For some reason Jay had to get out of the truck and he didn't take the keys. Yup, Camryn locked him out...and he didn't have his phone...and he still had on his pajama pants...and white t-shirt....that was probably more than likely shrunk up and stained.

He tried talking to her through the window and showing her how to push the lock. She kept tapping on the window while laughing at him. Finally Jay had to break down and go to the neighbors house and use their phone to call me. I jumped in the car and by the time I got there I could see the truck was moving. Jay pulled up along the fence and said she finally decided to unlock the door. I wish I had my phone because she had the biggest grin on her face. She knew what she did. I'm just not sure if she was smiling about locking the truck or waiting to unlock it after Jay had to talk to the neighbors...in his pajamas.

They made one more stop before they came back to the house. This time Jay took the keys AND left the window cracked enough that he could get his arm in but she wouldn't fall out. He turned around in time to see her chucking the contents of his truck interior out the window.

Cow checking may now include car seats.

Here is a link to the original Charile/Snowman Pants story




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The longest, busiest, tiredest weekend of 2012!

We had a busy weekend!  We started Saturday morning with a special Christmas breakfast and an early delivery from Santa-Joe, the Elf on the Shelf.  We are having a lot of fun with that.  So far Joe hasn’t done anything naughty, but it is fun thinking of new places to move him each day.

Who's at the door???

 

Mrs. Claus must have wrapped this one...I think her signature colors this fall are red and leopard together.  It works well in clothing or wrapping!

Camryn thought the plastic box was more exciting than the elf

 

Then in the afternoon we had the Miller Christmas Parade.  I tried getting a picture of the kids before we left.  That didn’t go so well.  Camryn and Camera's are not getting along right now.

I love the look on Cade's face.  He is pretty patient with his siter.  Probably more so than I was.  I was sweating by this point and I still had to get the car loaded with a screaming kid at my feet. Our neighbor was at the parade and she said she could hear Camryn crying.  I wondered if she could hear me saying "quit pulling my hair."  I'm sure if she could hear me yelling in one of my not good pareting moments she knew better than to tell me.

 

Our church did their live Nativity again this year so the kids dressed up and walked in the parade.  Since my fingers were frozen these were the only pictures I managed to take.

After the parade we went to a concert at the First Baptist Church.  It was really good!  We heard a lot of good music and a love offering was taken to help out families in town.  Samantha did a great job organizing it.  Very impressive considering she has finals this next week.

Sunday was a whirlwind of a day.  We practiced and organized during Sunday School then had a quick lunch right after church and then the men started setting up the outside. 

While Jay was helping set up and gather livestock to have in the show I took Cade to Aurora for his first Cake Decorating class.  We had signed him up for his usual 4-H stuff this year, but then out of the blue he said he wanted to decorate cakes.  We think it is great, but we were really surprised. He gets pretty frustrated in art class because of his perfectionism, so I wasn’t sure how this would go.  He loved it.  When I picked him up afterwards he said he couldn’t wait to do it again.  We are going to bake cookies this next weekend so he wants to try out his tips again. Here is the finished product.  I think it is pretty good for his first time…..but I am glad he told me what they were.  I wasn’t sure.  If you can’t tell it is supposed to be a Hereford. 

 

We were pretty nervous about how the weather was going to be Sunday night but thankfully the rain held off.  We made it back to the church that evening and everything went smoothly. It was pretty cold though.  By the time we were done that night I had a hard time working the music on my laptop because my hands were so frozen.  But it was well worth it.  I just love thispicture.  I’m also honest enough to admit that I’m glad it is over J

Blog Catch Up-Decorating Papa Kerry's Tree

The day after Sharon’s Party we went to my dad’s to help him decorate his tree.  Camryn munched on a white powdered donut and loved it.  She definitely has a sweet tooth.

 

 

The tree with her was interesting.  I found her with a glass ball with the top of it broken.  I found some of the broken pieces but not all of them.  I spent an anxious couple of days afterwards hoping I didn’t see glass (or worse) in her diaper.  I didn’t think she had swallowed it, but with her you never know.  Again she wasn’t interested in having her picture taken.  I have so many from the back because I have to sneak up on her.  And I don't know why I didn't get a face shot of Cade....or any of them for that matter....

Clearly I have forgotten that you need to stand in front of the subjects you are trying to photograph....

Blog Catch Up-Memo's 60th Birthday

We had a surprise birthday party for Sharon’s 60^th Birthday on December 1.  We had all of the family plus another couple and 2 of their grandkids.  It was a crazy time!  But is was a lot of fun and we did a good job making sure Sharon was surprised.  I also decided to be frugal and re-use birthday decorations I already had.  Zebra works if you are 1 or 60....or 80 or 100...pretty much zebra works (for me) all the time!

Blog Catch Up-Christmas Pictures and Decorations

Camryn loves all the Christmas decorations.  She has a hard time leaving our tree alone!  She also has some favorites at Memo’s she likes looking at.  These were taken the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  I could not get her to look at the camera.  She was acting shy for some reason.  Cade on the other hand has always been photogenic!

 

 

These were taken that night at Jim and Sharon's.  Memo has a couple of Christmas decorations that are very fascinating for a 18 month old!

And this is the 2nd time she got the tree.  In less than a week she destroyed it 3 times.  The new must have worn off because she has left it alone for a week.