Jim and Shelby Caldwell: January 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Happy New Year

Grammy and Poppy got us all tickets to Disney World for Christmas and we rang in the New Year at the Magic Kingdom. If that is not a good omen, I don't know what is!

Watch out world, here we come!

We arrived in typical Baker style: matching, outlandish, crazy, fun, wild and the list keeps going and going and going.... :) Just like all the comments about our Energizer Bunny Ears (thank you Heather). It's what my dad lives for: our family stands out, stands together and stands strong!

It was truly a magical day!

Full of rides

and wonder

lines

and adventures,

treats

and more treats, :)

dancing

and fireworks!

The best part, was that after a relaxing new year's day, we got to do it all again! This time we headed to Animal Kingdom and then park "hopped" to Epcot Center! :)

At the Animal Kingdom we saw the tree of life,
Bugs Life, Animal Safari, Lion King (my fav),

Mickey,

and Minnie.

Well, I should say the Brimhalls saw Mickey while we waited patiently. :)

Animal Kingdom was the best. It was less crowded, more relaxed and there was something for everyone to enjoy or experience. Some liked the raging rapids.

Here are the wet water riders, still smiling while soaking:
Jim, Elise, Haleigh, Matthew, Nathan, Andy, Heather and Katie.

Some of us braved the new Mt. Everest roller coaster. Everyone is smiling in the BEFORE shot. After, the kids' eyes were wide as saucers. "Wow, that was scary," Elise commented, "I did NOT like that!" Nathan was still jumping with adrenaline for the next four hours: "That was SO COOL! I wasn't scared at all! Let's do it again!!!" After a 90 minute wait to get in? No way.

Grammy, Poppy and Matthew watched the little kids in Dino World.

And then it was off to Epcot

The batteries are starting to wear down just a little.

But, not Aimee's. She kept going and going and going

Even when she was supposed to be napping!

"peek-a-boo"

Turtle talk was a must see at Nemo.

Then we were off to see the world!

And so begins the New Year, with memories to last us a lifetime.

Snow

Now (Heather) we all know that I am no Maya Angelo, but in honor of those snow bound friends, I am including a poem I wrote years ago...

"Snow"
A pure white covering
of the black earth beneath
A veneer of brilliance
to man's fallen belief
God buries in innocence
this decadent world.

Doest thou see
the beauty my love?
Don't stare too long,
lest the heat of thy gaze
penetrate the frozen tranquility,
and find a mere glaze
that blinds the eye
and numbs the heart
to the truth
that beneath the illustrious,
the industrious fall apart.

Tis not that i'm cynical,
but color blind.
For instead of white,
tis black I find.
And in the heat of passion
where thou doest see red,
I feel the desire
and covet the fire,
but through flames of ice
see blue instead.

Enduring,
to the stars I look,
the snow is falling still.
And are we, By He
that created all
forsook?
Nay, but following his will
tis I that lie
under a pure white covering.

Slice of Life

For one amazing month our house was full of visitors and somehow remained orderly and though our schedule was packed with many a late night, I somehow managed to keep going and going. Now, while the house is quiet and demands are low –the rooms are a wreck and I’m exhausted. I can only conclude that I do best when surrounded by family. Everyone, come back! :)

You can tell the girls are coming off the holiday high of photo shoots. Lindsey “surprised” me by getting Aimee dressed (it’s hard not to notice Aimee crying while Lindsey insists, “hold still” as she twists Aimee’s arms backwards to fit in the hole and then jams her feet into socks –a very difficult task for a three year old). When they were done (all sweaty with disheveled hair and tear streaks), Lindsey had them both stand in front of me and says, “Okay mom, take a picture!” :) Lindsey loves to surprise people and you can almost get any chore done by prompting her “what a surprise it would be if…” She also loves the computer! Now that the office and computer are more readily available, we are going back and forth about who gets to play on it. I’ve tried to sway her with a movie, but it’s all about “dot com” for her. These are wonder kids.

It’s hard to get back to routines after a full month of exceptions. Bedtime is especially difficult. The girls are still giggly or chatty til late and Nathan doesn’t want to sleep alone. As soon as his head hits the pillow it bounces right back up like it hit a trampoline and he either bounds back out for one more hug: “I hugged you, but now I need you to hug me….” Or he slowly shuffles in thinking of a good reason to be up. He was especially creative at Christmas when he could hear all the adults playing games. While he was addressing us and explaining how his arms itched, his eyes did not leave the opened package of OREO cookies -like that’s exactly the itch remedy he was looking for! :)

Aimee has become a chatter box since the visit of Aunt Juleah/Uncle Orion and their “munkin” son Daniel. He’s Aimee’s age, but talks about 6 months ahead of her. I think she’s trying to keep up and has extended her common courtesies to “No Thanks” and “Yesseee” (yes, please). She’s doing a great job communicating and it’s hard to believe my baby’s growing up …and I’m still not pregnant. This is the longest I’ve gone without being pregnant and it feels GREAT! :)

Elise made us so proud of her as she worked hard on her first research project. She picked the subject (Jackie Robinson), read the books, took notes and then organized them to write her report. At about this same time, I started reading an inspiring book, Everyday Parents Raising Great Kids, which happened to discuss the importance of parents contributing to the process without controlling the outcome. :) How timely was that? I set out the tools which Elise would need to succeed: the tape, glue, scissors, paper and pictures she’d chosen from the internet, then let her create the poster for her project all by herself (it is so tempting help out). The ownership was important as was the competence she gained when she finished. She fairly jumped up and down after writing her report and doing her poster: “I did it, I did it and I feel sooo good!” Now, if only she could tackle her homework with such enthusiasm!

Jim is so close to finishing his dissertation! I didn’t realize it was due at the beginning of April and had been mentally geared for him to be pushing it til May. I just gained a whole month of extra Jim time (yeah for me) which will be much needed as he will be leaving us for a month in May/June to teach his first class at South East Missouri. When he comes back, we will have to pack/ fix up the house but I intend to do as much as I can so that we can take a week to get all the Helms and beach loving we can get! And, they deserve some loving. Krista and Dale (Helms) watched our kids on Saturday so we could go out to dinner. We got the fireside spot at Macaroni Grill and it was a great evening.

I love the Helms and I love that our kids love them. They have been our saving grace, lawn service :) and best friends since we’ve been here. Krista is a second mom to them all and Lindsey and Aimee don’t know it any other way. Krista and I are so much alike in what we like (our kids, donuts, dark chocolate, time away, webkinz, good books, interesting plants –even if I happen to kill mine, scrapbooking –even if I have to enjoy it vicariously through Krista, sunny days with sidewalk chalk, Norah Jones, curry chicken haystacks, lazy moments and mindless projects). We are alike in what we dislike (cranky days and funky moods, being “watched” over, sick kids, whining, allergies, wrinkly clothes –even if Krista is the only one that really irons, and losing control). Anyway, I can’t say how grateful I am for her and her constant support –caring for the kids, caring for me and making the improbable possible. Loves to you Krista.

Sigh, sigh. …. “Back to life, back to reality –back to the here and now and then”

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Merry Christmas 2008

Christmas is all about family. The toys, games, presents and festivities wouldn't be half as much fun without family to share them. I love my family and was more than grateful that they all came to Florida to celebrate with us. It's a time we look forward to all year -when the kids can play all day and then we play all night. There's nothing better than fresh baked cookies and a game of liverpool rummy! Except maybe that one song from Germany, please Heather and Shelby -could you just sing it one last time? :)

My family spoiled us so much this year!!!!! I just can't wait to spoil them back! Everyone, really. We have had so many good friends, kind people and generous family bless us beyond belief. WOW, thank you everyone. We feel like we're living the pay it forward movie and as we move forward into the next phase of our life, we plan to give back ten fold.
Now, there are two things that any family needs, really, to have the best possible Christmas ever and that's:

your very own Thing One and Thing Two! :)

Friends make all the difference too!
And, we certainly have the very best!

(Allison, Anne-Marie, Nathan, Elise, Lindsey)

The traditional Christmas festivities all start Christmas Eve really, where we pack in a million activities carefully monitored by mom's hundredth list posted to the fridge. :) But, first things first this year: the traditional jammies that are impossible to find for 15 people of various sizes, starting at 6 months. It's like the yearly treasure hunt, challenge and sometimes frustration. But, we thank the kids who either squished in two sizes too small or swam in two sizes two big! Oh, and Heather's artistic, decisive and creative ability that always pulls us through. :)

The Caldwell Family: Shelby, Aimee and Jim; Elise, Nathan and Lindsey

The Brimhall Family: Andy, Heather, Katie, Baker and Griffith

The Baker Family: Grammy, Matthew, Haleigh and Poppy (We miss you Tracy)

It's always a fun challenge trying to get all the kids to smile for the camera....
Take One: Nathan, that's TOO much fun!

Take Two: come on, Aimee-Lou!

Take Three: REALLY???!!!!! ..Forget it! :)

Way to pull through Elise! Love that smile. :)

We had our annual ornament exchange game and let the little ones join in with the adults this year. They did awesome stealing gifts and opening new ones until everyone was happy, especially our Lindsey Lou:

Why, Hello Little Lindsey.

What are you doing?

Oh, I see, you are hanging your little mouse on the tree!

Poppy read "Twas the night before Christmas" before they all settled down for a VERY SHORT nap! "Ummm, NO- your'e not done sleeping, go back to bed. Nope, it's still not morning. What? You need more water? More food? Oh, just checking on Santa's cookies, huh?! GO TO BED!"

Elise wanted to have visions of sugar-plums dance in her head right there in front of the tree! Tell me that is not every child's dream?! ...all right, now....off to bed or Santa's NOT coming! :)

It's sooo hard to sleep when you want to catch Santa! But, come he did and he did not disappoint! Lindsey got her Whimsy, Nathan got his pink and white cat and Elise got her seahorse. Evidently, Santa granted Webkinz wishes all around.

Little Aimee got a baby.

And really, all she ever wanted was a frosted little debbie Christmas Tree. :)

Nathan was so thoughtful. He drew pictures for each of us and placed his presents upside down under the tree with our names placed on top of each gift. I love that boy, he melts my heart and makes me smile!