Whoosh!

That's Jon coming down the beginner hill at Mt Spokane -- in style, same day he grasped quickly the basics of skiing (without poles yet), for him to take the chair lift to the top.



And then, repeat that very many times... Wheeeeeee!...


... before the sun was setting at 4, and we had to call it a day.


Ben also learned faster than me, flashing this not as big a risk-taker of a mommy a super big grin as he straddled past me. Me and my two left feet I was trying to keep parallel and take small steps in, for the crab-walk up the slope.


Taking a break from his work, Vern, who had tried a bit of cross-country skiing years back, watched on the sidelines and watched Kait who eventually went down for a much longer nap than any she'd take. Glad it worked out, and we were blessed with a patient and qualified coach in his colleague.

New beginnings, new adventures
Jon had such a cool time, he wouldn't stop talking about this first ski experience. It was also a timely reminder that new and fun adventures do come with new beginnings. The new beginning referring not so much to the new year, but our big interstate move last year after Vern's job search amid us still adjusting to three kids and lots more stress at that same time he was completing the toughest parts of his studies.

Half a year on now, Jon (finally) broke down and cried, missing the people and places in St Louis we've had to leave behind. The way Ben had bawled his eyes out several times. There are tradeoffs with changes we make -- and the children feel it as much as we do; adjustments we're making still; and new blessings, too. All not to be taken for granted: God's steadfast love, and loved ones and friends who care to stick with us through the ups and downs -- in this quick lookback at 2009, and looking ahead (in the picture, from the parking lot at Mt Spokane).

And whoosh... we're into 2010!
It's a rough start though, with the boys more than dragging their feet over school and homework again. Ben's outbursts, Jon's rampages, and Kait's also a big bundle of energy and waking up many times in the night still. Vern is really busy and at the workplace past dinnertime night after night.

Yesterday, I had to heave a reluctant Ben from his booster seat into the shopping cart. Then, picture this crazy mom jumping and going "Whoopee", trying to un-bore Kait in the shoe section -- using the balls of stuffing from the shoes Jon was trying on and the shoeboxes for her to toss them in. Of course it beat chasing her from aisle to aisle. But the longer drive out in frigid temperatures, and even longer 'coz I made a wrong turn, would not have been necessary if Jon had not playfully skated on ice in his regular backup shoes. More antics among the three of them. Those that saw me hit the roof in two days included one foam soccer ball landing on the toaster oven I was cooking chicken in, and some other bouncy rubber thingee hitting my face (*ow*) whilst Kait was trying to nurse!

OK, so it's a new year but there are all these old issues that are very much always works in progress for us. You see why my goals remain to keep up with the children and the chores, and especially to KEEP SANE! I concluded, too, that it does help my sanity when I blog. And not just our "photo-album" moments that are great for the memories, but also our daily adventures and struggles. Because life is the sum-total of these.

Bless you for bearing with me!

Vern took the picture of the boys and me. Used my phone for the other quick shots, only way I could try and not fall splat on my nose!