2008's Most Helpful Book List

I thought I'd list some of the books (other than the Bible, a given of course!) I've turned to for help and inspiration this year:

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth. The tired mother's "Bible"! No herecy intended...:)

Child Behavior, by Ilg, Ames and Baker. This is the manual from the Gesell Institute of Human Development. Yes, I have a two year old. Yes, it is helpful to understand child behavior and be reminded that stages come to an END! :) I just enjoy studying human development anyway.

I am America (and So Can You!), by Stephen Colbert. Definitely not for everyone! "The Colbert Report" is one of my absolute favorite tv shows though, and this book is hilarious!!!

Safe People, by Drs. Cloud and Townsend (the authors of the also-very-good-book Boundaries). All-time most helpful and amazing book of the year!!! I would buy this book for every single friend and family member if I had the resources to do so.

Firestorm: Preventing and Overcoming Church Conflicts, by Ron Susek. Made a very confusing and painful ordeal more understandable.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. A priceless book, given to me in college by my dear roomie Charis. Has a devotional for every day of the year, a very meaty, insightful devotional! Not one of those "Meet God in Two Minutes Flat" devos. Never gets old, has a new lesson every day that always reveals a blindspot in my life, and always provokes on-going thought about the lesson.

There were other books, but those are the most notable and the ones I would recommend the most fervently (maybe not I am America...:). I also enjoy reading Newsweek every week and my friends' blogs! :) For the most part, though, I'm turning illiterate since I finished school. Very pathetic.

So, what are your recommendations for 2009?

The Flu Strikes Again!!!!

In October, we were all hit by a terrible flu that lasted forever (a couple weeks, at least). When Benji was at his one year check-up in November, I passed on the flu shot because I told the doctore we'd already had the flu and I thought I'd spare the little guy another shot when he was already having three others that day. Well, I made a mistake! Benji and I were both vomiting on our flight home from WA last week, and now he's got the flu again this week (as well as Josiah and Logan). That makes three times for the three men of the house. So far it looks like I'm safe this time around (knock on wood!!!). :)

The only perk to having sick children is increased sleepiness. It is highly unusual for Josiah to fall asleep when he was trying to put his boots on and go play outside: As usual, Josiah was the first to fall. He woke up sick early Friday morning and was still throwing up yesterday. But the flu doesn't slow him down a whole lot. He's still into mischief!

Logan was the next victim Sunday morning, but I'll spare you any pictures of him sleeping. :)

Benji got sick Sunday night and has been pitiful since then. When Benji isn't sleeping, then he's just laying in one of our arms or sitting really quietly. I haven't been able to settle his stomach at all and it's very concerning, so keep him in your prayers for a couple days!!!

Some of my high school girlfriends were hanging out today, so I stopped by briefly without the boys, and hopefully without spreading the virus! It was good to see their adorable little ones! Josiah would have loved a playdate with Jack! :(

Me, Crystal with Charlie and Jack, Jenn with Cole, and Kathleen with Roslynn

Christmas 2008!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas in Maine, especially enjoyable to be in our own home for all of the festivities (travelling with little ones can be just a little difficult...:). Because I was busy playing hostess, I didn't get hardly any pictures when the family was over!!! Bummer.

Christmas Eve we had my parents, Uncle Jim and Aunt Linda, and my brother Jon over for dinner and then the Townsends joined us for dessert and the final Advent service:

Christmas Day the boys found "Santa's big toy," a red wagon! We pooled monetary gifts from Uncle Jim and Aunt Linda, Aunt Emily, and Uncle Barry and Aunt Marcia to get this souped up wagon, fit with seats, belts, and cup holders! The boys were very impressed! They also got stockings with little tractors, trains, and animal toys.


Then we opened our gifts from Logan's family, the Perry's, Hobb's and Logan's. THANK YOU! for all of the gifts! As you can see from Benji's face, he was very happy. :)

While I worked on a turkey dinner, Logan took the boys out to make a snowman, which came out very cute. Papa, Grandma and Uncle Jon arrived during this episode.

Dinner made it to the table without a hitch, and Mom and I watched "Hairspray" while Jon played with Facebook, Dad looked for a missing gift, and Logan, Benji and Josiah napped. We then opened gifts, put the boys to bed, and watched "21." Very fun day! Very BUSY day for me!!! I'm still catching up!!! :) Despite my best efforts, those Christmas cards haven't made it to the mail yet......but they will soon!!! :)

December 20th Snow Storm!

We were hit with a massive snow storm Sunday night, just when Papa and Josiah were trying to get home from WA!!! After missing their flight in Seattle, they were rerouted to Cincinatti where they had to spend a night in a hotel, and then they finally made it to Boston Monday afternoon. Dad's sister Robyn brought them up to Portsmouth NH where they had an agonizing wait while we took forever getting there, then we picked Mom up in Portland on our way by. It was so good to have everyone collected and home!!!!!!! Here are some pictures of the effects of the storm and Logan's hard work to clean it up. :

Benji watching Daddy work with the snow blower, and playing Monkey on the Bed! :)

My Snowman!

13 inches!!!

Walter E. Small (2.23.28 - 12.13.08)

My Mom's dad, Walt Small of Sedro Woolley, WA, passed away December 13th after over a month in ICU. He had gone in for a minor surgery that led to a death spiral after a mistake with his medication IV. We had always speculated that Grandpa would live to 100 because he was such a strong, healthy man, so this was a tragic shock to us all. Fortunately, Mom had flown out to be with Grandpa before his surgery, so she sat vigil in ICU 15 hours every day, sharing special times with him before he passed away. He assured Mom and Uncle Roger that he was ready to go, certain of his salvation and looking forward to seeing my Grandma again, who passed away three years ago. He died peacefully with Mom and Uncle Roger at his side.

Grandpa was the oldest of six children, and took on the financial responsibility for the family at a young age. Five of the siblings live near each other and are very close. After returning from serving in WWII, Grandpa married Joyce Thibadeaux and they made their home in Burlington, WA. Grandpa had a barber shop for 35 years and was a bowler and avid dancer. Grandma and Grandpa cut up the rug every week and really enjoyed sharing their hobbies together. Their retirement included a home on a lake in TX and a motor home in AZ. When Grandma got sick with scleraderma, Grandpa was very attentive to her and did his best to care for her. He was deeply affected by her loss, and we are all happy for him that he met Betty a year or so later. She was a dear friend to him. Grandpa didn't want a big funeral, so we had a small ceremony and reception in the middle of a freak snow storm that had debilitated much of WA travelling. The most poignant moment was when Taps was played and a flag was presented to Uncle Roger. One of Grandpa's cousins played live music for dancing, and my Mom's cousin Cathy and her sisters and daughters put out an amazing spread of food. Aunt Patty and my cousin Katie did a lovely job decorating and displaying photos. Uncle Roger and my Mom, then and now:

The memorial service was Friday, December 19th:

Aunt Anne and Uncle Bob ("the youngest brother":)

Aunt Ethel and Uncle Duane, Grandpa's best buddy

Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Rex with Josiah

Uncle Jon and Josiah

Mommy and Benji, taking a spin on the dance floor

Papa had his hands full trying to keep these rascals quiet!

Cousin Zac, Josiah, Betty, Benjamin, and cousin Katie

Looking dapper and cool :)

Looking cute and sweet :)

And the rest of my week in Washington, in reverse:

Jon arrived Thursday after completing his college finals. Wednesday was his 26th birthday!

Papa and Josiah played in the snow Wednesday afternoon before coming down with the flu that night (then Benji and I got it Friday for our red eye home!!! As if trying to travel the weekend before Christmas in the middle of snow storms on both coasts wasn't enough of a hassle...:)

Papa and Josiah arrived in WA Tuesday

and we went straight to the zoo!:

Grandma enjoyed reminiscing about going to the same zoo as a child.

and Benji and Josiah were especially impressed with the Carousel!

Sunday, Uncle Roger brought us to Chuckanut Manor for their Christmas Brunch and to meet Santa Clause (don't ask me where those bunny ears came from...:)

Benji kept his eyes on that scary man in red the whole time!!! :)

but Benji did enjoy meeting his second cousin Katie and the rest of the Smalls in WA!

We arrived Friday night, the 12th, and just missed seeing Grandpa before he passed away. :(

2008 Christmas photo shoot

Without unveiling our "Christmas Card Photo", let me show you some of our shots that came out well:

Snow Day Fun

I know I've been on a blogging spree lately, but I have to share some cute pictures from today! It was a lovely day with our first snow. Logan made his annual fruitcakes (you'd have to try it to understand how fantastic these are!!!) with Josiah's "help," and we all made a snowman just before sunset. I love Sundays! :)

Benji looking cute in his pj's.

Making the fruit cakes.Josiah trying to sneak a lick behind Logan's back...I took a picture before I stopped him! :)

Our "kid" snowman, according to Josiah. There wasn't quite enough snow to make a "man" snowman! :)
Our pretty wreath.