making progress

well, as usual, my expectations just never fit my reality. first, i was certain that having a new camera would mean that i'd be all about uploading images on my blog and maybe *that* would be the motivation behind posting more updates. um, no.

however, i will add this pic of our friend, nate, who came to visit for dinner before he heads back to england (oxford) for a short time to prepare for travel to the middle east, where he'll be doing research. the boys adore nate (he was a youth leader for drew & taylor last year) and they were thrilled to have him join us for an evening. we had a fun dinner and then, of course, we played a game (chicken foot). it was just so much fun! anyway, here's a photo of nate with the guys.

after that fun on thursday, we had a really busy weekend. friday found everyone off at parties/school dance. saturday morning, ed went for an mri to see what needs to be done with his hurt shoulder (surgery, probably) and then we headed to granddad's to help them move furniture. granddad is not doing well and now needs either a hospital bed in their home (with near constant care) or will be moving to a nursing home soon. so, we did what we could to help get their home in order. several weeks ago, we all visited and granddad had each of us choose a painting of his to keep. we love the ones we received! then, on saturday, taylor was given granddad's art materials (paints, chalks, canvases, etc)... he's so excited!! (but he has to share with his brothers too.) saturday night, ed & i went to a friend's big b'day bash and the guys hung out at home (after drew went to dinner with friends at a mexican restaurant where he had to speak spanish the entire time for a school project and noah went out with his Bible study group from church for a "fun day").

sunday was the daytona 500 (the only nascar race we watch, as we try every year to watch with our friends who host a party for the event). this is always exciting because we hang out with friends and fight to win the coveted prize for guessing the outcome of the race. noah won a few years ago and drew won this year! we're such fans!! then, i gave a testimony at the youth group sunday night (taylor & noah were there to hear it). despite having worked with middle schoolers in the past, it is very different to speak at something like that with your own kids there!

finally, monday was a big work day (the boys & ed were off for presidents day and i was sick... still am). ed started working on re-wiring the second floor/stairs. so, we're back in a state of "disarray", but even though it looks like more of a mess, we've (technically, he) made progress and it is really exciting to think about what these rooms will look like in the near future... you know, with walls and stuff like that!! while ed worked on the electric, the rest of us worked on the "annual cleaning out" of the game room... it's not actually finished yet, but we've made great progress. and that room will be another that is FINISHED soon (probably this spring) so that will be great for everyone! :)

speaking in gifts?

woohoo!!! apparently my family finally tired of hearing all my whining about not having a working digital camera because that's one of the great gifts i got this year for my birthday. in fact, i need to take a moment to properly acknowledge just what my loving hubby and sons did for me this year... my birthday (yes, a few weeks ago) started with blueberry pancakes (my favorite breakfast!) served to me in bed (with pulp-free oj, of course!!). as seems to be our custom, anytime i get breakfast-in-bed, my server is taylor. so, he shows up with my breakfast (+ a plate for himself), he crawls in with me and we eat breakfast while watching an old movie on tcm. right up my alley!! then, ed & i went down to the strip and strolled/shopped a little before coming home and having a really relaxing day with the guys. later that evening, i get to open gifts from my in-laws (my m-i-l is great at sending gifts for every occasion!!) and one package from the guys. it's bath beads (a little treat that i love). honesty, i was quite pleased that they'd thought to get something i wanted and i didn't think about the fact that between 5 of them, all i got was bath beads! but, they informed me that this would be the "birthday week" and i would be showered with gifts for one week! yeah!!!!

the gifts that followed were a new corningware dish & cookie trays (i know, they don't sound exciting, but they are both things i've wanted to replace but didn't feel like i should spend the money when they weren't "necessary"), a beautiful candle, lovely "dangling" earrings, and a digital camera!! these are ALL things that i've specifically wanted and i got each and every one for my birthday week. it was such fun!!

one of my little annoyances with gifts is being given something just for the sake of giving me a gift (not thinking of what i would actually want) or worse, choosing something that the giver wants!! so, with the boys in particular, i've been trying to teach them the art of good gift-giving. at christmas, i really pushed them to think about what their dad would want and it was a new experience for them to actually do that! and i know that ed loves whatever they give him, i know he also really loved the things he was given this year!! i feel like ed did the same this time with my b'day gifts and it was really great!

you know, it's funny... some time ago, i read the "love languages" book and i've struggled to figure out what my love language really is. i know i definitely express love by acts of service... that's why i really do love to cook, keep house (not terribly well, but i do some) and care for my guys. what i didn't realize was how important gifts are to me!! to be honest, while i think it's fine for my friend, jenni, to be a "gifts" person, i felt it was inappropriate to be one myself. (sorry, jen!!) ha!! i think i am!!! just as i know is true for jenni, i don't really need expensive or extravagant gifts, but i love getting "thoughtful" gifts... something that the giver saw that reminded them of me or something that i would really love.

in addition to my awesome b'day gifts from ed and the boys, i also recently received a book by an author that i wanted to check out and an ipod (sweeter than i even imagined it would be to have one) - both of which i'm using as my incentive to go to the gym more!! - in addition to a gift card to talbots and money that i could use to take the family out to dinner (a double gift, as i don't have to cook/clean up!!). yes, believe it or not, the month of january 2008 has made me realize that i really feel loved and appreciated when i receive gifts!! don't get me wrong, i also feel well-loved with words of affirmation, signs of affection, acts of service (like ed putting up swinging doors in both doorways to the kitchen to help me keep the dogs corralled during my work day!!) and spending time with people i love. but now, i can openly say that i also love gifts!! :) truth be known, i often think of gifts that i want to give people. unfortunately, i either can't afford to follow through or i can't get my act together enough to do so. but i do think of giving gifts to show people how i feel about them! so, this isn't really a new love language after all!!

anyway, i seem to be a little camera shy as i try to figure out the camera but here are a few shots that i took of the guys who are right now fighting for world domination in the game of risk in our dining room (note the swing door - not yet painted- and the bike... does everyone else have to keep a bike in the dining room?!? guess this is the price we pay for getting one for taylor in december... he doesn't want to put it away with the other bikes because he hasn't had a chance to break it in yet. um, it's not quite bike weather right now.)