I've been thinking a lot about this milestone in my blogging. This post has been brewing in my brain for a few weeks, but I needed to get caught up before I could start to get it down "on paper", so to speak.
I've been blogging for 3 years now. I started this blog at the subtle urgings of friends with blogs. I saw how cool their blogs were, how much fun it was to record an online journal, how much fun it can be to share my insights about my family. How fun it can be to share the triumphs, how the support during the low times would cheer me. I tend to isolate myself in my house when I'm not working, making up the "mommy time" with my children, so I've had fun sharing their accomplishments, both small and large, with those who read. I love to think that I love to journal...but the truth is, every time I tried to write in a journal in my early years, I had no privacy in any journal or diary. I developed a block about writing in a journal. Sure, I buy blank books like crazy, but I never fill more than a small fraction of the pages before I just can't bring myself to write. Writing a public record of our lives, in the form of a blog, has been both therapeutic and liberating. Here, I don't feel blocked, because I never share anything that I wouldn't want everybody to know. I feel the sense of community. Through this blog, and other's blogs, I've met people I may not have otherwise known. I've learned things from people I may never meet. I've shared in moments of joy and laughter of my friends. I've deepened friendships that I already had started, and even made some new ones.
There is a dark side to blogging as well. I know almost no one who blogs who hasn't received negative comments at one time or another. People can be very judgemental about others' lives. I've watched a few of the same friends who started me on this blogging path slowly give up on it...whether from diminishing time in their lives, diminishing joy from the process, or simple self preservation from the pain of being attacked. I've felt the pain myself, from "friends" I thought I could count on through thick and thin, people who I thought I could trust to the end of the world and back again. I've had my heart broken through this blogging process. I will never understand why we as women don't support each other instead of tearing each other down. Why when we try to better ourselves, and share what we've learned with others, we get torn down by those who don't want us to succeed; those who fear our success. I miss those bloggers who lost the joy because of other's, who were forced into hibernation in order to survive. I don't understand why people fear others' successes.
The fact of the matter is, the only person I want to be better than is myself, right now. I will continue to work on myself. I've started other blogs, to develop those other interests. I will continue to read other blogs, to learn from other women, on this path of bettering myself. I will mourn the loss of sources of knowledge and inspiration, and hope for new sources to present themselves. I will document the life of my little family for posterity, here in my blog.
I am happy. Happy with who I am. Happy with my progress in life. Happy with my personal life, my friends, my experiences. I wish this same happiness to everyone. Blogging, on the whole, has enriched my life greatly. I will continue on, and I welcome you to join me. I'll be here, sharing the adventures of my family. I'll be sharing my photography journey on Our Story in Pictures, and I'll be sharing a journey of spirit and serenity at my Serenity blog. I hope to see you join me.
Namaste
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas 2010
Christmas Morning, we were all sleeping soundly...we typically have to wake our children to open presents. This year, however, the newspaper lady threw the paper so hard, when it hit the front door, Cole thought someone was trying to break in, and Talia thought it was Santa...
Cole had been dozing on the couch (he's always been an early riser), so he sent Talia downstairs to wake the boys, while he gently woke me up. Then we let the kids check things out...
Talia putting the star on our advent calendar...
The kids get their first look at Christmas...
Talia insisted we open the stockings first....
Then we let the kids open their presents, one at a time, youngest to oldest...
Cosette always joins us...
Talia with her Santa gifts...
A wand and a crown from Grandma and Grandpa...
(Indy loves the wand...I keep catching him sneaking into her room and trying to carry it off)
After the kids opened all their gifts, Cole and I finally got a turn...
The kids got me a new yoga mat, they were so excited...
We had a nice, relaxed morning. We opened up toys for the kids, started picking up the mess, had time to get ready without hurrying....then we headed over to my parents' house for a late breakfast and opening more presents...
(The white balance was set wrong for this pic, but I loved the effect it gave...)
Gracie was soooooo excited about her American Girl doll Kit!
Of course, as the kids started opening their gifts from Nana and Papa, my camera started to die...I really wanted to get Alec's expression for his gift, so I only got a couple of Talia...and none of Kyle :(
Alec was thrilled....he hasn't had a new bike since he was 4....(he's been riding Kyle's old one).
After we were done at my parents, we had a little down time. Cole and Talia took naps, Alec took his new bike for a spin around the neighborhood, then he and Kyle played with their new stuff.
Later, we headed over to Cole's parents for a yummy dinner and family time...
We also took our first Gilbert family picture in many, many years....since Kyle was 2. That picture is currently being edited, and I will post that later. (I have to say, I'm glad to have figured out the photo merge feature of Photoshop...it's hard to get a baby and a 3 year old to look at a camera on a tripod and smile...at the same time!)
It was a great Christmas, and we feel very, very grateful for how blessed our family is.
Cole had been dozing on the couch (he's always been an early riser), so he sent Talia downstairs to wake the boys, while he gently woke me up. Then we let the kids check things out...
Talia putting the star on our advent calendar...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
The kids get their first look at Christmas...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Talia insisted we open the stockings first....
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Then we let the kids open their presents, one at a time, youngest to oldest...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Cosette always joins us...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Talia with her Santa gifts...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
A wand and a crown from Grandma and Grandpa...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
(Indy loves the wand...I keep catching him sneaking into her room and trying to carry it off)
After the kids opened all their gifts, Cole and I finally got a turn...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
The kids got me a new yoga mat, they were so excited...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
We had a nice, relaxed morning. We opened up toys for the kids, started picking up the mess, had time to get ready without hurrying....then we headed over to my parents' house for a late breakfast and opening more presents...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Gracie was soooooo excited about her American Girl doll Kit!
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Of course, as the kids started opening their gifts from Nana and Papa, my camera started to die...I really wanted to get Alec's expression for his gift, so I only got a couple of Talia...and none of Kyle :(
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Alec was thrilled....he hasn't had a new bike since he was 4....(he's been riding Kyle's old one).
After we were done at my parents, we had a little down time. Cole and Talia took naps, Alec took his new bike for a spin around the neighborhood, then he and Kyle played with their new stuff.
Later, we headed over to Cole's parents for a yummy dinner and family time...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
We also took our first Gilbert family picture in many, many years....since Kyle was 2. That picture is currently being edited, and I will post that later. (I have to say, I'm glad to have figured out the photo merge feature of Photoshop...it's hard to get a baby and a 3 year old to look at a camera on a tripod and smile...at the same time!)
It was a great Christmas, and we feel very, very grateful for how blessed our family is.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve 2010
The Christmas I was pregnant with Talia (which was 4 years ago, but 5 actual Christmas Holiday's) was our last extended family Christmas Eve party at my mom's. It was large and chaotic, with almost 40 of us packed into my Mom's house, all the new little kids running around...it was fun, and I miss it, but all families grow and change, that's life.
The next Christmas, we were just our little extended family. My parents, my brother and his kids, my little family, and my sister (who hadn't met her soul mate yet). We talked about what we would do in the future for Christmas Eve, and it was decided we would all take a turn, alternating in a 4 year cycle. My mom went first, I went next, then my brother Chris and his wife Brenda, and finally my sister Heidi (who was sure by the time her turn came around, she would have found her eternal companion). This was the 4th Christmas Eve in our "cycle", and sure enough, Heidi had found her Adam AND started her little family with our sweet Logan. They still live in a tiny apartment, however, so Chris and Brenda were happy to lend their house to our Christmas Eve celebration this year, although Heidi was in charge.
We had our usual yummy dinner of Ham, Cheese potatoes, Rolls, etc....
Hunter particularly enjoyed the jam on his roll...
Heidi and Adam and the kids...
Heidi and Adam decided we would play "Minute to Win It" games...I must admit, I was really skeptical, but they turned out to be really fun!
"Jumping Jingle Bells" (you have to get all the bells out of your box in a minute or less)
"Ornament conveyor belt" (You and a partner are the ends of the conveyor belt, you have to turn together to get a Christmas ornament from one side to the other, where your third team member takes it off and hangs it up...in a minute or less!)
(Kyle, my dad and I were on a team...we didn't do to badly...)
But Cole and Brenda kicked butt at this particular game!
The next game was to get an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth with no hands...Kyle was so fast (4 seconds!) that we didn't even get a picture! I was doing pretty good...
I had it almost to my mouth, but I was laughing so hard that I dropped it as I got it in my mouth...Oh well, thanks to Kyle, we won that round!
Mom, Alec, and Heid try...
Cole, Brenda, and Gracie's turn...
Oreo, YUM!
Me and my sweetheart...
We asked the kids to perform for us...
Gracie, Talia and Hunter
Parker performs...
Alec
Parker and Gracie
As is tradition, Santa knocked and left a sack of presents on the doorstep for everyone...How exciting!
Talia and Gracie got My Little Pony playsets (and I must say, I LOVE all the little girls toys these days...I wish they had been like that when I was that age!)
The big boys got these cool building things....
We also opened our Cousin and Sibling presents..
Hunter loves "Cars"
Everyone was really happy with our evening.
After we got home, we opened our Traditional Christmas Eve Jammies...
(always the jokester in pictures)
Then it was into our new jammies, and off to bed, hoping that Santa would come....
The next Christmas, we were just our little extended family. My parents, my brother and his kids, my little family, and my sister (who hadn't met her soul mate yet). We talked about what we would do in the future for Christmas Eve, and it was decided we would all take a turn, alternating in a 4 year cycle. My mom went first, I went next, then my brother Chris and his wife Brenda, and finally my sister Heidi (who was sure by the time her turn came around, she would have found her eternal companion). This was the 4th Christmas Eve in our "cycle", and sure enough, Heidi had found her Adam AND started her little family with our sweet Logan. They still live in a tiny apartment, however, so Chris and Brenda were happy to lend their house to our Christmas Eve celebration this year, although Heidi was in charge.
We had our usual yummy dinner of Ham, Cheese potatoes, Rolls, etc....
Hunter particularly enjoyed the jam on his roll...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Heidi and Adam and the kids...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Heidi and Adam decided we would play "Minute to Win It" games...I must admit, I was really skeptical, but they turned out to be really fun!
"Jumping Jingle Bells" (you have to get all the bells out of your box in a minute or less)
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
"Ornament conveyor belt" (You and a partner are the ends of the conveyor belt, you have to turn together to get a Christmas ornament from one side to the other, where your third team member takes it off and hangs it up...in a minute or less!)
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
(Kyle, my dad and I were on a team...we didn't do to badly...)
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| From Christmas 2010 |
But Cole and Brenda kicked butt at this particular game!
The next game was to get an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth with no hands...Kyle was so fast (4 seconds!) that we didn't even get a picture! I was doing pretty good...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
I had it almost to my mouth, but I was laughing so hard that I dropped it as I got it in my mouth...Oh well, thanks to Kyle, we won that round!
Mom, Alec, and Heid try...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Cole, Brenda, and Gracie's turn...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Oreo, YUM!
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Me and my sweetheart...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
We asked the kids to perform for us...
Gracie, Talia and Hunter
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Parker performs...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Alec
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Parker and Gracie
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| From Christmas 2010 |
As is tradition, Santa knocked and left a sack of presents on the doorstep for everyone...How exciting!
Talia and Gracie got My Little Pony playsets (and I must say, I LOVE all the little girls toys these days...I wish they had been like that when I was that age!)
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| From Christmas 2010 |
The big boys got these cool building things....
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| From Christmas 2010 |
We also opened our Cousin and Sibling presents..
Hunter loves "Cars"
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Everyone was really happy with our evening.
After we got home, we opened our Traditional Christmas Eve Jammies...
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
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| From Christmas 2010 |
(always the jokester in pictures)
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| From Christmas 2010 |
Then it was into our new jammies, and off to bed, hoping that Santa would come....
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