Christmas!

This year Christmas really did have a deeper meaning to me. I knew going into it that it would be a little different than the usual, and that it may even be a little bittersweet. I did get a chance to really think about what the savior's birth means in my life, literally. I, for one, never really understood the depth of gratitude I owe to him. I have appreciated this season more so than most years because of this reason.

Kason was thrilled Christmas morning to see all the presents, it was so fun!

Thanks to Santa, the golf bag will be retiring from it's part-time job as guitar

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Thank you for...

We are church going people, if you couldn't tell already :) I have been trying to teach Kason to say his own prayers for a while now, and he is getting pretty good at it. Lately, he has wisened up and realized if he makes his bedtime prayers extra long then that means he gets to stay up just a little bit later. I swear, I'm in trouble! Anyway, I'll start him off with the usual opening lines and then he'll take off into ALL the things he's thankful for. Last night it went something like this...

Thank you for scooter

Thank you for tractor

Thank you for mommy

Thank you for daddy

thank you mama's car

thank you car seat

thank you backpack

thank you Jericho, Jaxton,Chad, Megan, Joee, Rushy, Allie (a few cousins/aunt/uncle)

thank you Joseph

thank you Mary

thank you baby Jesus

thank you.. (I finally cut in and wrapped it up at this point)

Every night it's something different, and really does amaze me at how much he pays attention.

He's a great reminder to me of ALL the things we have to be thankful for:)



Oh Christmas tree..

Again, late on the posting but this is what we've been up to this busy busy month!  We went and cut down a Christmas tree this year for the first time in a couple years. We lucked out and caught my parents on their day off. Grandparents really are GREAT! Kason had so much fun. We all got bundled up and headed out to find our perfect tree!  

 My tall boy!

 Since Gpa had to haul the tree to the road where the tractor would come to pick it up, Kason felt it was his many duty to pull a little weight. He would not let go of this thing and all the while saying "dis heavy"

 We put the boys to work :)

Kason watching the tractor drive up with our tree! yay! On top of our little staged nature experience, we also got to write letters to santa (who I'm told will respond!), drink hot cocoa, watch our tree get shook? shaken? shaked? and then wrapped up and put on top of our car. Snowshoe Evergreen Farms in Orting if anyone is interested. Great place!

My "Wild Child"

 Kason got his first professional hair cut this month. After several attempts at trying to do it myself, I saw the completly uneven regrowth and decided it was time to turn it over to the pros. I met Crystal at Wild Child salon when I had a chance to take her girls' photos. She is awesome, I highly recommend her! Kason was not thrilled about this idea. I had been prepping him all day but when it came down to it, he was just not having it. He got to sit in in an airplane seat, watch Thomas the tank engine on his own TV screen, eat a sucker and hold the clippers and STILL the boy was not happy. He screamed and cried and she just cut away as I held him down. I was amazed at how well it came out. 

 Pretty dang handome right? The minute we were done, he was SO proud of himself. He told everyone in the waiting room..."I got haircut".. and for days after retold his tale like it was no big deal!

 Lately my wild man has been making me laugh with his huge imagination. He asked what these things were and I said, stockings. Well of course, why wouldn't we wear them?!

 He is asking Santa for a guitar this year but Christmas is weeks away so he is making due with his golf bag! Constantly coming up to me with pinched fingers handing me a pretend pick!

Who doesn't ride their rocket ship to the bath?

Lovin my wild child!!

Snow day!!

 I know, I'm a little late blogging about this, but better late than never. Well,we got our first snowfall of the year and it was a LOT. I've moved since the last time it snowed, and downsized my car from a Jeep to an Altima. Hmm...well let's just say I didn't make it very far when I tried to venture out for just ONE errand. Nope, about three feet out of my driveway and half way up a hill I was STUCK. Wheels spinning, sliding backward kind of stuck. Luckily I have a superhero big bro. that lives near by who came to my rescue since I couldn't take my feet off the brakes to check out my options.

 On the bright side, Kason and I had a blast in what he called "no-man" Not sure why he added snow MAN to snow, but at least he gets the general idea. We went sledding down our driveway on a plastic bin lid, we had snow ball fights, made snow angels, played with cousins etc.

We did get a little cabin fever, being stuck in our house for two days. Nothing like a christmas movie and a fort to watch it in to cure that!

Enough already!

One of the hardest parts about being a single mom is just not feeling like I am "enough" to do this job. And truly knowing that I'm not. I'm realizing know more than ever the importance of the roles each parent plays in a child's life. I find myself feeling guilty a lot during my day. I feel guilty when I lay my baby boy down for bed and prep him that mommy will be going to work the next day and will wake up to a babysitter. I find myself caught up  thinking about him at work, wondering what he is doing, if he is having fun and what little moments I am missing out on. On the days when I am lucky enough to stay home with him, I find myself questioning each move I make.

Do I discipline enough?
Do I show enough love?
Am I a good enough example?
Do I have enough faith in myself and in Heavenly Father that I can do this?

I know that my intentions are pure and that I am truly doing the best I can, each day trying to do better..but is it ENOUGH?
Sometimes I wonder why this (my idea of a perfect little family) is being taken away from me. Why, when I am trying to do my best to obtain something that I have always been taught to strive for, is it not working out the way I want?
I was lucky enough to be able to go to Time out for Women this last weekend with some of my favorite women..:) I came to this conclusion. Life just really sucks sometimes! Ok..there's more to it than that...

I realized that I can be happy. I realized that I have worked hard my whole life to be able to be worthy for a temple marriage. All though that isn't working out for me, the things I have learned along the way have only made me stronger and most of all, my relationship with God stronger. I can feel peace. I can feel happiness and I can feel his love and helping hand every day especially when I don't feel like I am enough.


and then I found this...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E

Twin/Snoqualmie falls

 I got a call this morning at about 8am from my mom saying, "Hey, let's go to snoqualmie falls!" ...ok!
We packed up the kids and two cars and headed out! I love fun spontaneous days like this. The photos are in backwards order of the actual events but whatever! First, we did a little hike to twin falls. We made it about half way, ate our bag lunches and then decided to head back so we could check off the rest of our to do list!  

 We went to snoqualmie falls and watched in awe as the water pounded down on itself! So amazing! Our little Joee said, "Wow, it looks like it's making smoke!" After that, we went into town and found cute vintage train museum! Kason was in heaven! They had old train cars everywhere. I took plenty of photos of them in hopes that someday I'll finish decorating his train themed bedroom. They had a car open that the kids could pretend to drive. (First photo- never mind the "westside hoodlums" graffitti!)

 We ended our day with a little hot cocoa/ caramel apple cider from the local coffee shop and a little outlet shopping! Fun day!

All Aboard!!!

Wishing you all a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

The single mama's survival guide!

I guess I have an odd way of dealing with things...but I usually like to open up and make light of a hard situtation, it just makes it easier to deal with for me. So, bear with me!

Disclaimer: I do have a good relationship with my "ex" and he helps me out a lot...

Becoming a single mom is not something I planned..but hey, it's my life so I'm learning to cope with it. There are lots of different types of challenges but these are some that I've encountered on a day to day basis.

Situation #1: You're in the kitchen making dinner after a long day of work and decide to make the usual feast..spaghetti. You go to open your can of tomato sauce and the lid just won't budge..you turn to hand it to your....oh wait...shoot it's just you and the can now! Rather than sink to the floor and cry over what your life has become..here's my solution...GET A GRIP! Holy Product endorsement, I know. This is just a little piece of rubber that you put over the can. I tell ya, works like a charm!

Situation #2: Your trying to hang up some recent photos of your kids or whatever and you just can't tell if the frame is hanging straight. You are stuck holding up the frame while straining your arms to try and scoot back as far as your can to see if it is straight or not. I for one, do not have go-go gadget arms so I've discovered these beauties! You can stick them on the wall-scoot back and observe and then come back and move it if you need to.

I'm learning all kinds of things. Changing a tire, mowing the lawn, grilling, drilling, nailing...sheesh why do I feel the sudden erge to get a pedicure?!

Carving Pumpkins!

 I've been meaning to get to a pumpkin patch and do the whole pumpkin thing, but due to inclement weather and honestly, lack of time..I gave in and just went and bought some pumpkins at the store this year :( Much to my suprise and delight, Kason was sent home from Grandma Lay's with a big pumpkin too! Perfect for my porch decor!!

 So, I thought he would be totally into the goup and digging out the seeds...nope wouldn't touch it. The kid I can't get out of the mud and dirt? Hmm..well needless to say, I got right to work scraping away! He was much more interested in trying to fit the top back on, calling it his puzzle.

 He became quite interested in the whole Jack-O-Latern when he realized that a candle was going inside. This not too far post birthday boy still has memories alive and well of blowing out his candles!

Best I could do without my tripod..not proud but you get the picture :)

Kason's 2nd birthday

Ah, he's two!! How did this happen? Kason had a fun birthday, celebrating with family this year. We had a "choo-choo" week. Starting with his Thomas the train themed party on wed.,then a trip with mom and dad to the Train's in Port Orchard on Sat. followed by a Hartzell family pary on Sun.! Too much fun!

Things I want to remember about my two year old.

• Um,  "determined"
• Total Snuggler
• loves Elmo, Thomas or any trains, trucks, dirt, tackling, baseball-or any sports, songs, playing piano, helping me cook..
• can count to 20, sings ABC's, starting to learn colors
• talks up a storm, constantly asking me "mama, whas this?"
• loves his buddies
• likes to "shake his booty"
• Just switched to his toddler bed and is doing pretty well in it.
• loves to explore

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!

Life as we know it!

To say the least we've had a rough year...I've felt a range of emotions, had good and bad days, but in the end, I've decided I'd rather "dance in the rain" then wait for the storms of my life to pass. Each day I lean on the scripture "...Trust in the lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thine own understanding".... (roughly quoted) 

As of today, we are doing, ok. I can think of so many blessings and little miracles that have happend over this past year to make my days just a little bit easier. Most of which came through you, our family and friends. We thank you so much for your love, support, words of encouragement and examples that helped to lift me up.

We love you,
Brie and Kason