Once Upon a Time...

 

January marks the time of year that I select one little word…a word I use as a 365-day-motivational tool …the word becomes the tiny string wrapped tightly around my pinky finger to remind me…a word that helps me focus and prioritize my actions, thoughts, and feelings on a daily basis for an entire year. Past words of mine have included JOY (2010), FAITH (2011), and LETTING GO (2012)…all three were meaningful and significant, and I can honestly say that each word taught me a new little tid-bit about myself that I never knew before.

My word for 2013 is “STORY”… usually, my one little word for the year picks me months in advance, before the new year’s eve ball drops, or for those in Hemet, before the first gun shots are fired off into the starlit sky. But, this word was very different in that it actually came three days late and had some crazy competition from two very worthy words, “gratitude” and “play” –which would have had some awesome potential for 2013. In the end, though, I opted for a word that gives me space to create, memorialize, capture, document, reminisce, write, photograph, be present, honor and celebrate the tiny everyday stories that make up my life, the life with my husband, and the lives of our precious boys…the good, bad, ugly, beautiful, mundane and magical collection of moments that collectively create my {our} amazing BOOK.

Now, I haven’t watched it in ages, but the movie (book), “The Notebook” actually made me start thinking about this word of mine. Never mind the serious eye candy in the movie…but the fact that this couple created a notebook as a way to help Allie remember {their} story is a beautiful tribute to a lifetime of memories. It also got me thinking…I probably have the worst memory of anyone I know…sure I am freaking amazing with short term memorization (halleluiah for that because I would have never passed any of my English finals at UCLA!)  but my long-term memory just plain sucks and is so similar to Dory in Finding Nemo that it. is.very.scary. And by very scary, I mean, holy heck when I’m 50, 60, 70, I won’t remember a damn thing and I’ll probably need my boys to wear name tags each time I see them or I’ll start calling them by my dogs’ names.

 In all seriousness, I want to focus this year on capturing (on a more regular basis) the day-to-day “stuff”. It’s so easy to do when we have a vacation and I can highlight our little adventure. But I am realizing that I am craving more than a few snippets about a trip…I want real details of what I am doing at this exact moment in time, specifics about what my boys say, do, see, think and learn. I’m so afraid that if I don’t start capturing this “stuff” now…I won’t remember any of it and that breaks my heart because this “stuff” although so seemingly little right now will be a goldmine  later when a few highlights of color won’t be enough to cover up the gray!   

So if you see me, smile and say cheese cuz’ I’ll be capturing {our} stories left and right with my eyes, mind, heart and camera!

Here are some of the first few paragraphs of our 2013 STORY:

Once upon a time…on a crisp, warm winter's day...in a land far, far away…there lived two tiny princes...

The princes loved wearing monster jackets with crazy eyes and jagged white teeth on the jacket's hood.

The sun was bright so they used their crazy hoodies to keep the sun out of their eyes...these were brilliant princes!

And on this day they had an impromptu picnic lunch at the park on the hill...  

 

 

 ...their lunches were made of only the finest ingredients, peanut butter, jelly, bread, string cheese, grapes and goldfish crackers. They drank the best apple juice in all the land.
 

 Of course after drinking all of the apple juice, one of the princes started dancing around peculiarly...and with no bathroom for miles and miles...one of the princes decided that it was better to water the park's foilage than stop playing and have to go back to his castle. Being a prince, he was of course very discreet (not!)

 And after the watering incident they played on this special playground... special because this park on the hill has some very unique features...SAND and CLIMBING OBSTACLES!

 

 It's a good thing that the princes came with their caretaker because one of the princes got stuck multiple times on this contraption of death...

After the park the two princes drove back to their castle, driven by their caretaker, to enjoy a little cupcake dessert before their mid-day slumber.  Oh the lives of these two little princes...


 

 

Cabin Christmas

What do you get when you add 6 adults, 4 children under the age of five, and 4 doggies,  all in an 1,100 square foot cabin...a wonderful Christmas with family!

 



 

Gramma and Papa with all of their lil grandbabies...oh and Oscar photo-bombed the picture!

 

Crazy Cousins enjoying picture time. Luke didn't want Taylor to feel left out...so he touched her with his toes.

 Team work was needed to open all of the presents.

 It's a little challenging to open gifts with gloves on...perhaps he was just trying to savor the gift opening experience!

 Luke loved his snow gear so much that he wore it the entire evening. Mind you, we had the heater and the fireplace going full blast!

 Sweet Taylor Dean loves her piggy

 The elf on the shelf brought each of the boys some spiderman goodies...

 Jack snuck in a quick kiss...so sweet!

 Taking a break while dinner was being made

 Owen and his cuddle puppet... a blanket and pillow all in one!

 Fancy snow boots

 Yup, Taylor, I felt the same way!

 Happy grandparents!

 Puppet show on the banister

 Our family cooks in the kitchen...



 



 Snow time...

 Uncle Tony showing them his sledding skills
 

 Luke making snow angels

 Owen sledding down the hill

 

Chris had "kid catching" duties at the bottom of the hill. He never missed!

 

I got my sledding on...

 Luke loved sledding!

 There goes Jack...

 Snow girlies...

Luke and I sledding down the hill...wahooooo!

No words

Connecticut is thousands and thousands of miles away from our little town, but yesterday, and in the wee hours of this morning, it feels like it's here.

Kindergarten...that word I think is one of the hardest parts of yesterday for me. All of the little ones that begun their first year of school, sitting in tiny little chairs and little gnome size desks. Little people so curious, so excited to learn, so...young. 

When I hear that "word" and it be associated with the pure evil and horror that took place, I imagine so clearly in my mind Owen and his kindergarten classroom. I go there every single time. After dropping him off nearly every morning for the last five months, I've memorized every child's face, every nook, piece of artwork, the school calendar, hooks to hang backpacks and jackets, little chairs and tables, teacher's desk, bookcase, names on the wall...I could easily replicate that room and I can't imagine someone going in there and destroying that perfect little sanctuary.

My sister-in-law texted me yesterday and it was just as raw for her as it was for me. I think it's this badge of parenthood where your emotions are just so much more raw and real and you feel E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. You smile when they smile, you cry when they cry, you hurt when they hurt, your every joy and sorrow are wrapped up in the tiny little person you've created.

It's all a bit too much for this mama to stomach right now and unfortunately I can't turn my mind or heart off. Although, I think I need this one to sink in more than other tragedies...I want this one to remind me, every second of everyday, of the two miracles I have that are blissfully snoozing in their beds right now. I want it to remind me to have patience when they spill food on the table, or when they are rambunctious and wrestle rather than sitting quietly. I need it to remind me that life is so precious and in an instant EVERYTHING can change. I want it to remind me to slow down and hug them longer, shower them with more kisses...because a parent just lost that privilege yesterday.

It's now 5:30am and my littles should be waking up in just a few minutes...yes, they wake up that early every morning and today I feel so blessed to be able to welcome them into this new day. Sending love and prayers to all the mamas out there!