Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Let's Welcome 2012 with Joy

2011 had a lot of good memories, laughter and a loss that is certainly felt this time of year.

Each year whizzes by faster and faster and I can't help thinking that someday soon my fingers may type "Let's Welcome 2032 with Joy".  I recognize that almost 35 years are behind me now and that 20 years most certainly will go even faster.

I would like to think that after 35 years my sense of self is all the wiser, calmer and happier.  This statement would be greatly exaggerated if I said I felt that way all of the time or even most of the time.  I am not sure when the great feeling of serenity and peace descends upon a person and I most certainly hope I don't have to wait for the Good Lord to take me home to feel a little bit of that here on Earth!  

In all honesty, being a mother of 2 children is anything but magical and serene.  But, I am finding a great sense of purpose, self and constant calling that I have never had with any other "job".  

So, I wanted to bring some delight, memories and joy to our holiday season this year.  How can I pass on some traditions to my children?  What have I learned from my own childhood?

Let me just say this.  It's never like the movies.  When you think that making cookies from scratch and building a gingerbread house is all song and dance, well, then you're as delusional and naive as I was....

Scene 1:  Making a gingerbread house. Completely due to the fact Corynn screamed in the aisle of HyVee until I caved in and bought it.

 Me - trying to make most of the house structure on my own so we can just get this project done.  

Corynn - a complete mess and eating most of the Mike and Ikes because "Mom they are so yummy I have to eat them!"

Cam - Can we eat the gingerbread house? Why can't we eat the gingerbread house?  What kind of gingerbread house is it if you can't eat the house?  I thought we could eat it?  Well this is just boring....

Scene 2 - Sugar cookies and frosting from scratch. A 2 day process.

Me - Camden please go ask the neighbors for a rolling pin.

Cam - Why me?

Me - Because you are 9 and Corynn is 4.  I am covered in cookie batter.  Go!

Corynn - Can I eat the batter?

Me - No.  Just wait until we make a few cookies.

Corynn - I'm eating the cookie dough...

Cam - They said they need this rolling pin right back.   Me - really?  Cam - Just kidding!

(I promptly realize I am probably doing this all wrong and should've bought pre-packaged dough)

Corynn - This is really yummy!  I can eat it all day!

Well, it turned out that all of those cookies had to stay home, which is probably good beings Corynn's saliva contacted most of them.  Her preschool class requires packaged foods only because of a peanut allergy.  I remembered.... after the 3.5 dozen cookies were already made.

Oh well, good memories of a filthy kitchen, children covered in dough and actually using a rolling pin.  We made the frosting on day #2 and our cookies turned out fabulous.  We, and Fire Station 1 and 3 enjoyed them!

Miss CoRyNn is 4

My baby girl is 4 years today!  I remember the morning of her birth.  We didn't know it would be a "her" and were soooo excited when the doctor announced it was a baby girl!  

It was a tough decision deciding on a name.  Kevin said I could choose because he picked Camden's name.  I struggled looking at our new arrival.  What could we call this new precious baby?  


We had her name narrowed down to only Addison and Corynn.  The middle name was already decided months earlier, Lea.  My middle name.  


She was such a good baby turning into a happy toddler.... then, well, we aren't sure if it was the talking or the ability to move around on her own that changed things.  At about 18 months old she discovered her ability to sass.  To say "no!" to almost everything.  Life became a constant power struggle.  Who could persist with authority longer?  Who would cave and give in to her incessant demands?  Daddy, that's who!  Corynn (Cory) learned very early that daddy had a weakness for her large doe eyes and mischievous smile.  She won him over in many a situation.  

Fire Station 8

We can't imagine life without our little diva.  She can make you laugh without trying.  It's never a dull moment while those big brown eyes are open wide!  She is so curious and into everything.  


I wonder what her 4th year of her life will bring.  More crafts, laughs, tantrums and smiles I am sure of that.  
Many, many more memories to come....

Welcome to 3rd Grade!!!

My Old Shoes Fit Just Fine

Aug. 2011, first day of the 3rd grade for Cam.  Some kids are excited and can't sleep the night before, some kids talk incessantly because of all the emotions running through their brains.

First day of 3rd Grade 2011

Well, that's all well and good for THOSE parents!                              
 
Reality, my house, 640am, first day of school...

"Welcome to 3rd grade!" I shout while rubbing Camden's back with a big smile on my face.
His response. "Only, like, 100 more days until my next summer vacation." With a pillow over his head and body buried beneath the covers, acting as a shield that will protect him from my persistent pulling and coaxing out of bed.
I wonder, why is it he doesn't have the same enthusiasm I did when going back to school?  I remember sleepless nights starting about 1 week prior to the first day of school and how I jumped out of bed that first morning eagerly dressing in my new outfit. The smell of new tennis shoes, pulling the stiff laces into a bow and bounding down the front porch to wave at all my friend's walking into school.
Camden is just fine in last year's clothes, old tennis shoes and going back to 2nd grade if he was allowed. I recognize he doesn't embrace change well at all!  If he has the choice between comfort or wearing a new pair of shoes, he will undoubtedly go for the old beat up shoe.
So, I shouldn't worry he may not have good friend's to wave to, or that he'll struggle in 3rd grade, or that, quite simply, he won't enjoy school at all. It's his nature to battle and resist changes in his life, not necessarily current problems, but potential struggles.

I'm sure it's common for parent's to have just as many doubts about a new classroom and teacher as their children. I know my parent's didn't express their fears about how I would adapt into my new environment.  So, the only emotions I display to my son are encouragement, enthusiasm and a sense of peace about this brand new adventure.  Mentally, I struggle too, but it wouldn't do him any good to know how much I worry and pray for his happiness.      
So far, he loves his teacher and hasn't had one bad day yet (1 week down and, like, 90 to go!).  3rd grade started off slowly, reviewing lessons from last year.  He is a smart boy, I tell myself, there aren't any worries as long as we communicate about each day.
I pray my worries away, most of the worries, and know that each day has the potential to make us emotionally stronger, mentally smarter and bring us 1 day closer to SUMMER VACATION 2012!!!
God Bless all the teacher's and student's!

Summer 2011

SUMMER 2011

This summer meant a lot more to me than working, running errands, swimming and mini-vacations.  This was a summer of great times and lasting good-byes.

So, the season began rainy, cold, dreary and just as quickly as the clouds parted in the skies, the weather became extremely hot and muggy.  My emotions changed with the wind most days, but there was a lot going on in our lives.  

There was baseball to attend, always proving to crunch supper into 5-10 minutes after work, picking up the kids from daycare, getting home for a "fast food" meal made by me, consisting of french toast or spaghetti.

We made it to games in time for a brief warm-up for Cam, then cheered him on for the next hour.  He did a super job of fielding and batting this year and it was worth all the fuss he created along the way because he didn't want to play.  Too bad Cam, you're too good not to play!  

He had one game stopping injury, actually during practice, and a severe, gushing nose bleed for about 20 minutes, but he braved through it, only missing one inning, then playing 2 games in a row!  

Post baseball our schedule was less hectic, but still a steady pace of activities outside. As the air heated up we found ourselves on our front porch, watching the kids 

ride bikes and playing with friends in the shade of our front yard or running through the sprinkler.  

We were able to meet neighbors and keep an eye on the kids.

Our kids were most excited to meet their only cousin on my side, little fair skinned Isaiah.  He made us smile and giggle at all his funny antics, quite a personality for someone so young!  We loved his "dancing" feet and laugh and surely can't wait to hold him again.  The distance of thousands of miles is difficult for all of us and most poignantly felt during the loss of our beloved Grandmother.

During the saddest time in our lives, I discovered and felt inspiration, fellowship, faith and an overwhelming sense of purpose.  My Grandmother wanted the grandchildren to speak on her behalf, and honestly I didn't think I could, or perhaps any of us could.  

We did speak, it was a wonderful service, full of great memories, faith, hope and love.  I believe deep in my heart that my Grandmother knew how her passing would affect each one of us and how our involvement in the celebration of her life would intertwine and strengthen our relationships with eachother.  

I am certain she prayed upon this personal and difficult request of her family for a long time.  God led her to the decision and because it was by faith she called upon us, we, or at least I, was strengthened in my faith.  

I'm grateful for my family, standing beside me when I need them the most, working at long distance relationships that are easy to put off in our hectic daily lives.  Family always means the most, but never so much as this summer, Summer 2011.   God Bless.   J.

 TOYS, TOYS, TOYS 

Playtime in 2011 indoors and out

BULLSEYE!

Camden inherited a bow from Grandpa Sona and immediately took to hitting the bullseye!  He frequently visits the indoor range with Dad and Grandpa and shows them how it's done.
Maybe, for his 9th birthday, he may get a brand new bow of his very own.

It's a Blur, and I Mean the Bullseye!

 The winters are long and it seems we have to find things to do.  So, Kevin decided after years and years and years, oh, after a long while, to take up bow hunting again.  It's his wish to spend some more time with his dad and brother going on hunting trips and killing a prize elk or deer or something wild with antlers. 

 HAS ANYONE SEEN THE WIND?

It's questions like the headline that make me laugh! Corynn always has something funny to say, although if she thinks you're laughing "at" her then things quickly turn ugly!  She doesn't like it at all if your laughter is at her expense.  We have to take her moodiness in stride because it changes as often as the weather.

GAME ON!

This is a great moment I hope to capture more frequently in the years to come.  Kids happily playing in the backyard, being patient, working together in sweet
harmony......

Well, until it's time to switch and take turns, then scream-fest begins and big brother is stuck pitching until his arm is about ready to fall off.  And forget running the bases, because that is way to tiresome for Miss Corynn!

CRAFTS is her greatest passion. She will color, paint, cut, paste and decorate anything you give all the day long.  It's fun to see all her creations and enjoy the beautiful artwork she brings home from pre-school.  Sometimes we find things decorated that we really didn't want.  Like, stickers on the doors or walls, marker all down her leg and toenails in a nice navy blue.  It's a frequent phrase in our home, "Corynn? What are you doing?"  That question is usually following a silence for at least 5minutes or so, and trust us, THAT IS JUST NOT NORMAL!   

We decided to get the kids new toys for Easter, Camden an electric scooter and Corynn a new bicycle.  I'm sure they'll get plenty of use out of them as it warms up.  Soon, school is out and Camden will be considered a 3rd grader!  I just can't believe it!  Corynn will officially be enrolled in pre-school next year 2 days a week at her current daycare.

Please keep them in your prayers as we do all of you.      Love, The Sona Clan