Southeast Circuit

Date: 05/28/2012 02:51:54 PM
Well, we have gotten back home and have gotten our life back into a routine, so I'm going to take a few minutes to journal about our recent trip.  It took about a week to pack EVERYTHING for our 13 day trip--this is the longest we have been away from home with the kiddos.  As Chris put it, "This is just practice for our trip to the Grand Canyon."

We left on a Thursday and drove to NC to spend a few days with the Greenwood Grandparents.  While we were with Lin-Lin and Pa T, we road the train, played at the playground, picked strawberries, celebrated Mother's Day, played in their backyard, made bread, went shopping, went for walks, picked up summer clothes, went through school materials, got our teeth cleaned and visited with some friends.  Writing all that just makes me tired, but we aren't even close to being done yet!  We left NC on Monday and headed to Savannah to spend the night.  We were able to take advantage of the pool at the hotel and have some good family time.  We got up the next morning and went swimming again before we met some friends for lunch.  After lunch, we headed to Valdosta to the Perry Grandparents and the Moser Grandparents.  While we were in Valdosta, we were stayed busy, too.  We played with bubbles in the back yard, played a little golf and soccer, meet our newest cousins, went shopping, played with the cats and dog, played with cousins, had an early birthday celebration for Josiah, got our eyes checked, played on the slip and slide, ran through the sprinkler, went to a vow renewal and children dedication ceremony, Josiah and Sophie had their first sleepover away from Mommy and Daddy, celebrated Lin-Lin's birthday, visited with some friends and lost a wallet.  We left Valdosta on Sunday and headed to Northern Georgia to spend the night at the Mountain House.  We had LOTS of fun playing at the playground and enjoying God's Creation.  We also learned that the lost wallet had been found and was being mailed.  The next morning, we got up and headed to TN to see Pa Potter, Granny Kay, Aunt Sue and Uncle Don.  While we were there, we had fun playing in their back yard with all the new toys they bought for the kids.  While in TN, Mommy sprained her ankle (it had been raining, I was carrying a 24 pack of water and slipped off the curb) and was pretty much useless for a few days.  We got up the next day and headed to Roanoke, VA to spend the night and meet some dear friends for dinner.  The kids were able to go swimming that night and the next morning before we headed home.


I must say we have some WONDERFUL travelers...we are so thankful!  We love all the memories we made with the kiddos, but at the same time everyone was so glad to be home and able to sleep in our own beds...the first thing Josiah and Sophie did when the got home was climbed the stairs to get their sleeping friends.  That night when I put Kyrie in her bed and started the mobile, she gave a big smile with a screech.  :)    

Trip Summary: 13 days; 5 states; 6 interstates + highways; 1829 miles; driving in LOTS of rain; 7 unloadings and 7 loadings of van; 3 hotels; 3 sets of grandparents; 1 set of great-grandparents; 12 other relatives; a train ride; strawberry picking; lots of green grass to play in; swimming; shopping; Mother's Day celebration; 2 birthday celebration; 5 children dedicated; 1 couple with vows renewed; 5 throw-ups; 1 sprained ankle; 1 fat lip; 9 falls; 1 lost wallet--found and overnighted by FedEx; 3 tired kids, but still GREAT travelers; 360 pictures to last a lifetime.

Yes, we are still alive

Well, it has been FOR-EVER since I have written a journal entry.  Life has been pretty crazy...it seems like I am always saying that...for the Greenwood family.  Maybe crazy is the wrong word...I guess busy is better.

We have continued with our normal weekly activities...family time, ministry, discipling, school, swim classes and then the normal household things like cleaning and cooking...and we can't forget playing with the kiddos.

Besides doing all of our normal activities, we had some extra things that have happened...my grandmother passed away on April 1st.  She lived a long and fulfilling 92 years.  She passed on many traditions and left a legacy for her family.  The biggest thing that she taught all of us is a strong love for our family.  I am at peace with her passing because I know she is in God's hands.  We then hosted 14 people at our house for Easter...we had friends over who didn't have family in the area.  We did a potluck style dinner and let's just say it was YUMMY!!!  A few days after Easter, we left for Vermont to attend my gram's memorial service.  We took two days to travel since the longest Kyrie had been in the carseat for a trip was an hour.  Our days were pretty long because whenever we stopped for lunch it was at least an hour and then we did a bathroom break/feeding Kyrie it was at least 20 minutes.  Kyrie did GREAT though along with Josiah and Sophie.  We did stay at hotels that had indoor swimming pools, so they looked forward to that each night and morning.  We are so thankful that our children are such great travelers.  We are praying that they will do just as well when we head on our big Southern Trip.  We got back from our trip, and two of the three kids got sick.  Some of my family had  a bug while we were there and even though we tried to keep hands cleaned they still got sick.  This bug is super contagious...it has gone through my extended family like the plague...Chris has named it the Nor-sick-ter.  We are thankful that the parents and Kyrie haven't gotten it, and we are praying that it stays that way.  

I know it has been awhile since I've updated what the kids have been doing.  Let's start with Josiah:  He is such a HAM!!!  He really has started trying to do things to make us laugh...and does a GREAT job at it.  He is doing great in school.  He has started reading books to us and has a chart to earn prizes after reading so many books.  He is working on counting to 100 and is getting pretty close.  I think he will do better once I get some of my teaching supplies that are being stored in NC.  We have started doing graphs and he is doing a great job with that. I continue to be very proud of how much of helper and protector.  The other day we were in church and there is this fire safety door that the kids have to go through to get to the nursery.  Josiah and Sophie were running ahead of me and when they got to the door, Josiah gave Sophie a "hug."  I told him it was so nice of him to give his sister a hug, and he told me that he wasn't giving her a hug but was protecting her from the door.  My heart just melted!!!

 Sophie is doing great in school.  She is really starting to take off with her reading, too.  I have noticed that she still has a hard time comprehending some things, and I have to often remind myself that she is only 2.  Her speaking skills and reading skills are amazing, and I often forget that she is 18 months younger than Josiah. She continues to have a fiery spirit...and we LOVE it!  She definitely keeps us on our toes, but we can't picture her being any other way.   We have really been working on her using the potty and is doing an AWESOME job!  She still doesn't tell us when she has to go, but she is keeping her panties dry.  

Kyrie is getting to be such a big girl.  She is doing so much better with sleeping...usually only waking up one time during the night.  She is putting herself to sleep which is nice.  She has also started eating baby food...rice cereal, green beans, apples, pears, squash, sweet potatoes and peaches.  This child LOVES her some food!!!!  We are pretty curious to see how much she weighs at her 6 month check-up.  She continues to be an extremely happy baby.  When she cries, then there is something wrong.  We absolutely LOVE her smile and easy-going personality.  She is able to stand up when we hold...she has some STRONG legs...and sits up when we support her.  She has decided that the rolling thing was over-rated and hasn't done it for awhile.  The other thing that she has discovered is her voice...she makes all kinds of different sounds.  She does quite a bit of fussing...especially when she is eating and we aren't feeding her fast enough!!!

I guess that is all for now.  I am going to try to do a better job keeping this updated.  

More Sickness

Date: 02/26/2012 02:16:23 PM
OK...I'm so ready for "winter" to be done with.  It has been a fairly mild winter temperature wise, but this has been the worse winter for the Greenwood Family as far as sickness is concerned.  There has been someone in the family that has had a cold since the beginning of January..and most recently Josiah had a bout with pneumonia.  As much as I wipe things down, wash hands and have gotten the kids not to put toys or fingers in their mouths, I would think that we wouldn't have been as sick as we have been.  I guess Mommy can't control everything.   This has definitely been a time of learning for me.  The first lesson learned is pretty obvious...I can't control everything.   Even though I have come A LONG way in my walk with God in this area, it is easy for me to slip back in the habit of trying to control things.  Over the last several weeks, I have had to depend on Him for many things...strength and energy to care for sick kiddos after not getting much sleep;  strength and energy to care for kiddos when I haven't felt well; patience, patience and more patience with kiddos and a mommy who have cabin fever; and encouragement when it would be so easy to get down.  I share all those things to say that God is good, and He has met me right where I needed Him to.  Another thing I re-learned, is being thankful for our kiddos.  I know I sometimes take them for granted.  Last week after Josiah was diagnosed with pneumonia, I slipped into a small pity-party, but God got my attention rather quickly.  He reminded me that I should be thankful that I have kiddos who can get sick and that we have a pediatrician to take them to.  Some reading this might be thinking, "Has she lost her mind?"  or "Maybe she needs to go take a nap because her brain obviously isn't working right."  But let me explain...I am thankful that God has blessed us with three wonderful children.  We have quite a few friends that we know who are trying to get pregnant and are having a difficult time. So when God told me that I need to be thankful that I have kids who can get sick, I totally got it and my attitude changed from having a pity party to being thankful for sick kids and all.  Thank You, God, for reminding me what is important in life and for the privilege of these three wonderful children.    

 Even in the midst of all this craziness, we have had LOTS of fun hanging out as a family.  We have laughed quite a bit.  Chris and I were just talking the other day how this season has brought us closer together.  I do want to give a BIG shout out to the hubs because he has been super wonderful...even surprised me with a little shopping trip yesterday since I had been in the house so much and carrying a lot of the weight with caring for the kiddos.  He truly is a gift from God, and I'm so thankful for him!

 Well, I guess it is time to wrap it up.  Please continue to pray that the Greenwood Family is done with sickness for awhile.  If we aren't, then pray that we depend on God for strength and energy to get through another round.

 PS--I almost forgot....Kyrie is now rolling from her back to her stomach!!!

Valentine's Day 2012

02/15/2012 03:12:58 PM
Well, last night we celebrated our 2nd Annual Valentine Tradition...still trying to come up with a fun name, but nothing has come to me yet.  Hmmmm...still nothing.

Last year we had so much fun getting all dressed up in our fancy clothes and taking the kids out, we decided to do it again this year.  Josiah and Chris went to run an errand yesterday afternoon and came back with a rose for each of the girls.  Chris gave Sophie and Kyrie their roses and Josiah gave me my rose.  Then the girls headed upstairs to get all dolled up while the boys put on their suits.  After we were all dressed, the boys came to our bedroom door and knocked to ask us out on a date.  Josiah took Kyrie and me to IHOP for dinner...he was super sweet trying to open the doors for us...trying to be a gentleman.   Chris took Sophie to Wendy's...she let him know she wanted a cheeseburger from there...to show her how she should be treated as a lady.  I really enjoy our tradition...it is a great opportunity to show them how they should treat others and how they should be treated.  Well, that is all for now.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day...however you decided to celebrate.

Sickness

Well, the last couple of weeks have been pretty hard for the Greenwood family...sickness has hit our home. Chris started off with a cold a couple of weeks ago, and we thought we were out of the woods.  A week ago, Kyrie came down with a cold, but nothing serious.  Mommy was trying so hard to keep everyone healthy...washing hands like crazy and keeping the other kiddos away from Kyrie.  Then a couple of days ago, Sophie woke up with a runny nose and watery eyes.  By the afternoon, she was running a fever.  That night, Josiah started running a fever, too.  He has a horrible cough and has lost his voice.  Sophie seems to be doing well, but Josiah's lungs are sounding pretty bad.  We are taking him to the doctor because the last time he had a cold, he needed to have breathing treatments.  In the process of it all, Mommy is now not feeling good, but not as bad as the two older kiddos.  So if you can please be in prayer that this will pass quickly.  I guess one benefit of us all being sick at the same time is that this junk won't carry on for weeks/months.  Thanks in advance for the prayers!

Happy New Year--The Perfect Life

Well, I am a little late with writing this...that seems to be the pattern lately. :)  We didn't do anything exciting for New Year's Eve this year.  As a matter of fact, I think we were in bed by 10pm that night, not knowing when Little Miss Kyrie would be getting up to eat...we didn't want to regret staying up late the next day.  Kyrie did get up just before midnight to eat, so we spent bringing in the new year feeding the baby and listening to people set off fireworks...how exciting is that!?! :)  Some would say, "Absolutely BORING!!!" But you want to know something?  I wouldn't change it for the world.  Sure, it would be exciting (for the moment) to be staying up all night and getting all dressed up to go to a party, but that is only for a moment...having a new member of our family and nurturing her...well, that is a lifetime.  So, yes, for some they would look at us and say, "You need to get a life."  But to us...it is the perfect life. 

Christmas 2011

Well, Kyrie celebrated her first Christmas.  Most of it was spent sleeping...this girl knows how to nap! :)

We started off our day by reading the birth of Jesus from Luke 2 and had a little prayer time with the kiddos.  Then we came down stairs to open up stockings and presents.  Then we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  We got ready for church and then went to worship with our church family.   After going to church, we came home and had some lunch before taking a nap.  We were blessed to spend some time with some our family.  Chris' Uncle Chuck, Aunt Melody and Lola all came over for dinner and a visit.  The kids had so much fun with Uncle Chuck.  They played with trains and played with their flashlights in the bathroom.  The kids went to bed shortly after our family left, and Chris and I realized how tired we really were.

Some things the kids got for Christmas:

Josiah--clothes, shoes, cards for his Alfie, a kiddie digital camera, a couple of Thomas trains

Sophie--clothes, shoes, tights galore, and baby doll clothes and accessories

Kyrie--mostly got clothes with a few shoes.

Mommy and Daddy--got clothes and money--not overly exciting, but things that are GREATLY appreciated and needed! :)

We had a great day as a family.  We were able to relax and enjoy each others company.  God has truly blessed us!  2011 has been an exciting year and we can't wait to see what He has in hold for us in 2012.