Jack & Lucy Dance to Timber

Nap Time

Nap time is still essential for my two kiddos. But I can't time them up for the life of me! Lucy is usually wild as can be while Jack naps late and she gets so excited as soon as the bear emerges from his comfy bed. His after nap hairdo's crack me up. They snack. Color. And I attempt to cook dinner in that 15 minute time span. As soon as Jack drops his nap we won't have this sweet little time everyday and I know I will miss it. 

Sara Boe Visits Kentucky

My sweet sweet hubby gave me one of the greatest surprises! He flew in Sara Boe to spend the entire week with us while he was in Vegas. Ah love him. 

Sara got the full stay at home Mom experience. Grocery shopping, bath time, lots of time in the kitchen, dance parties in the kitchen, running sprints in the basement to get out the wiggles, time outs, laundry, dishes, and early afternoon wine. It was so cold that we didn't leave the house much at all. Finally got in a breakfast date right before Sara left on Friday because it was a balmy 33 degrees out. 

The trip did my heart good! We did face masks and talked in front of the fire until way past my bed time. Absolutely love true awesome friendships that aren't effected by time and miles apart! Loved us some Aunt Sara! 

Visit with Santa

It has become a tradition to see Santa once we get down to Naples. There is never a line and they are so patient for getting the perfect picture. Jack was a perfect little gentleman and asked for: movie cars, a football, Spiderman and the Super Why game. Jack also requested a doll for his "little sissy Lucy". After Jacks sweet Santa time we added Lucy into the mix. Last year she was great, this year Lucy wanted to do nothing with the old man in red. Maybe next year Lulu:)

Cheers to 2014

The year 2013 was a complete whirlwind for our family. Full of blessings but also much chaos at times. Learning to parent two precious and active children while buying our first Kentucky home and doing renovations while traveling all over by car and plane and then living with one arm in a cast for a couple of months. Well it was a lot. There were not many moments to sit down and reflect, because when we sat in silence we simply fell asleep.

For the past 3 years I have been looking towards the future. "Where are we going to live", "When will we have another baby", "What will baby number two be", "How long until we can sleep through the night again"? Lots of questions and figuring out each day as they came. I have loved these years and so thankful that my prayers have been answered with a beautiful baby girl and a great house we can truly feel at home in. Obviously we are not close enough to our lovely family and awesome friends, but Preppy & I are trusting God that this Kentucky adventure is all a part of His master plan for our lives.

Now that we are in 2014 I'm going to stop wondering as much and focus on making the best of what we now have. I am hoping to plant some roots in the Bluegrass state and challenge myself in new ways (you know now that I have become a master at parenting two little ones, haha). I want to really focus more on what gifts God has given me and use them to glorify Him. Leave a legacy. Not just be a hermit in my house. Which I have been for the past couple of years. And while I actually have enjoyed it, because I love cuddling my kids and playing on the floor and some days not changing into real clothes until right before the UPS is expected or Preppy comes home, I think it's time for a change.

Here they are my 2014 resolutions. They are not too detailed as my reality is as a stay-at-home Mom with two little kids and a house not totally settled into. I've made them flexible and with room for procrastination. These are just goals, like if I had a job with a boss. Maybe if I achieve them Preppy will reward me with a big bonus:) Just kidding.

In 2014 I will...

1. Make a schedule. This idea is from one of my awesome Alabama friends Jen Ross. I'm not very conscious of planning out my days, and then the days get filled up with the normal daily things and I don't get around to fitting in activities that I really want to do. So after 3 years of winging it days I am going to try and map out my months. Plan play dates, dinner parties, bible studies, lessons for Jack, ect. Hopefully this will help the hermit in me get out and socialize more. And maybe I will schedule some cleaning things instead of trying to do it all in one day. Like before someone comes over usually.

2. Workout 4 times a week. The baby weight has been lost but other than having two babies I have not challenged my body physically. I come from an athletic family, fitness and exercise was always a part of our life and now it is starting to become a part of Jacks. So I'm just going to start running not just walking. With that I am going to look at joining a gym and pray that Lucy cooperates in childcare.  I need to push myself outside the comfort zone. While am I healthy and I able too I just need to do it. This is not something I am good at, therefore it will be the most challenging resolution to stick too.

3. Blog 3 times a week. Days are going by faster and faster and I want to discipline myself to sit a reflect. I do not blog because I think my family is something super interesting. I blog because I hope the documenting of memories will be a gift to them one day and a way to connect with the loved ones we don't see enough. Plus, y'all know I am the families paparazzi and I need to use my photos or Preppy will start questioning why he invested in my new fancy camera.

4. Cook 2 new recipes a week. As I try to learn more about my grown up self I am understanding that cooking is a passion of mine. I love food, not just any food it's got to be good tasty food. And I love to entertain and cook for people. Yes I have always cooked for my family but it has been a lot of the same thing. So this year I want to learn new techniques, the fundamentals of cooking, and master some family traditional recipes. No more just reading books, watching the shows, and pinning the recipes. This year I am going to tackle things with my own two hands. Mess up and succeed I hope.

5. Look for a blessing every day. In the craziness and loudness of life our daily blessings can go by unappreciated. So we are starting a new Postma Home tradition, and if you join us at our table you will be expected to participate, at dinner each person has to share their favorite blessing of the day.

Thank you for the love, lessons, and memories 2013.

Cheers to 2014 and all of its blessings to behold!

Pool Season Ends

The 2013 Pool season has come to an end. It was by far the best summer we have had here in Louisville! We have a little "pool crew" of families and will miss them dearly during the cold months. The count down is on until 2014 Pool Opening! Hopefully next year Jacky bear will be swimming on his own:) 

Love Being Your Mom Lulu

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered,

May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half

And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her

When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the nearby subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock N’ Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.

Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes

And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. 

Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long,

For Childhood is short — a Tiger Flower blooming

Magenta for one day –

And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever,

That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers

And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister,

Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,

For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord,

That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck.

“My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental note to call me. And she will forget.

But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

Tina Fey's "A Mother's Prayer For Her Daughter"