Ode to 2009-may you rest in peace

I'm a little late in posting this-sorry for the delay.....

HAPPY BELATED NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Nothing would sum up 2009 better than sharing with you some of life's lessons that fell upon us during the course of the year:

LESSON #1
Never underestimate the pairs of underwear a girl can change out of in the course of a day.

I think I did more laundry this year than I will ever do in my lifetime. I don't know if boys are any different but it seems that my girls change their unmentionables more times during the day than I blink. There are a number of reasons they have given for this such as:
"They're too tight"
"They feel funny"
"I was too busy playing"(therefore they're wet),
or my personal favorite,
"I want them to match my shirt."
Okay.


LESSON #2
Beginning your trip to the grocery store with a full cart is never a good idea.

It's just all around better to go alone instead of trying to pile groceries all around the infant and toddler, with the five-year-old trying to bum a ride underneath(there have been a few minor injuries as a result). So much sweat is conserved when I just go alone and leave Dad to bond with his daughters. Plus, you don't accidentally walk out of the store with an item you didn't pay for hiding under the baby, and then have to turn around and go back so as to teach your children it's not okay to steal. Again, much sweat is conserved if you just go alone.


LESSON #3
Whoever said, "After three kids it doesn't matter how many you have, it's all the same", only had three kids.

I love being a mother of four. I look at all of them and can't believe they are mine. Time flies. But it is not any easier than having one or two or three. It's all challenging and tiring and busy. Sure the older ones can brush their teeth and walk and follow directions(sort of) and pour their own milk(sometimes). But no one ever told us that our seven-year-old would say she'd rather be dead when you ask her to stack her dishes, or that our five-year-old would stare at the empty space in our living room and cry that the Christmas tree was no longer there-for HOURS. All while the toddler is dumping food on the floor and infant just needs to be held. People say we'll miss this and I'm really banking on that.


LESSON #4
Never take your health for granted.

Being sick just really stinks. So does being pregnant in your thirties. The two don't mix well either. I believe 2009 was the year for me to appreciate a working body and mind. Knock on wood that 2010 will be illness free.


LESSON #5
Sticking your nose in the neck of a newborn baby and taking a big whiff makes everything better.

Seriously-there is something about the smell of a baby's skin that makes all your worries melt away. Love it.


LESSON #6
Kids say funny things and you should write them down!

I went to write in my journal and realized there wasn't ONE entry for 2009. What? In fact, my last entry was halfway through 2008. FOR SHAME! So I had to do a quick rundown of some of the major events(like the birth of KATE-I am ashamed) and some of the other memorable trips we took. What is sad to me is that our kids say the funniest things, and I didn't record any of them. Thank goodness for the blog, at least. I will be better this year!


LESSON #7
Family is everything.

We had two opportunities to be with my entire family this year. Once for the Champion Family Reunion in June and again for Thanksgiving in CA. Being together brings you back to what's really important. Living by our family here in WA is so fun, and we wish school didn't exist so we could just play and play with cousins all day! We miss Grandpa Jim and Grandma Colleen terribly and can't wait to see them in just a few short months.
I can remember one night a few months ago, when there was nothing to do but just hang out. It was great- and I was in heaven being surrounded by all these little people and a great husband to boot. Life is good. Here's to many more of those moments in 2010!

Enjoy some pictures of these adorable people we get to claim as our own: