Reflections of the past year.

Of course as 2012 ends and we are facing 2013 I find that I'm evaluating, reflecting, resoluting (is that a word?) 2012 has been an adventure of a year. Adventure has been the word we have used a lot in our family this year. What have been my top 10 adventures this year?

 

10. Accepting a new position with my job. I am officially the Lead MHP/CDP (Mental health Professional/Chemical Dependency Professional) for the Co-Occurring team in the Mental health Team. This has been a long time coming in my life and I'm so thrilled about this new challenge in my career.

 

9. Being a mother of a preschooler. I love taking her to school, dropping her off, going to her programs, volunteering at the school, taking snack. I love everything about being a preschooler mom.

 

8. Celebrating 7 years of marriage with Jason. Though we have our tough/rotten moments, overall we are very happy and have created a lovely family of 4.

 

7. Trying something new (kinda). Stepping out of my comfort zone and playing on a softball team. Yes I played when I was younger, but that has been nearly 15 years ago! I was unable to finish the season due to Jason's change in job that made it so I couldn't attend the games/practice times. But I enjoyed the time that I did get to play with the team. It was hard, but fun.  

 

6. Family trip to Winston, Oregon to the Wildlife Safari. We took our first family road trip. Jason, Debbie, Jeff, Hannah, Addison and I. What an amazing, fun, silly, quick trip it was! I am so thrilled that Debbie and Jeff joined us on this trip, it was GREAT! It was amazing to watch Hannah be amazed at the animals being right outside the window in the van. As well as riding a camel with myh daughter. Can you believe it, I rode a camel! 

 

5. Swim fishing. . . really this was more of a spectator event. I got to watch my husband attempt to go canoeing with Hannah. The flaw in his plan, have Hannah in the canoe before he got in. In the end, Jason tipped the canoe, and Hannah got soaked as did Jason. We have lovingly referred to this event as the "swim fishing event."

 

4. Camping. Any and all camping experience is cherished! I love to camp- I love to take my kids camping, because they seem to enjoy it as well. We didn't do as many this year as we have in the past. Camping with a newborn is kinda difficult at times. We did make it to Mossyrock/Riffe Lake a couple of times and we made it to Bar View Jetty with a group!

 

3. Exploring the nature around our area. Hikes at Beacon Rock, Multnomah Falls and a few other hikes that we explored in our area.

 

2. Maternity leave at the beginning of the year. I started out the year focused on being a mom for our 2 daughters. This set up the tone for the whole year I think. We have been very focused on our family this year. I am very proud that I have managed to keep that priority very high on my list and so far have been able to juggle the things that needed to be juggled and family time didn't have to be compromised.  

 

1. Experiencing a year of Firsts- First School photo (Hannah), First School program (Hannah), First step (Addy), First Word (Addy, by the way it was Dada), First Birthday (Addy).

 

Overall it's been a great year for all of us. I know without a doubt that 2013 will bring some amazing new adventures as well. I know that Hannah will be going to Kindergarten in the fall. I know that Jason will be welcomed into the club of 30 something. Addison will continue to grow and develop. I believe that there will be a few other adventures along the way that have been a long time coming, but know that only time will tell exactly what we will face in 2013. I am excited, anxious, scared for some of the adventures that I'm sure we will face.

 

Here's to another year of adventures and challenges.

 

J.

Christmas Eve. . .

Christmas Eve-

Our started with a 4am wake up call from Hannah, and shortly after Addison. We attempted to put them back to bed, but as 4:30 rolled around, many of us were hungry and efforts to put them back to sleep were futile. So up we went. Jason had not yet gone to bed, so we let him sneak away and he got a few hours of sleep.

Jackie's last day with us- she was playing under the tree with the Reindeer. She had a note and a Christmas Bag with 2 presents in it (one for each girl).

 

The note mentioned that this was her last day with our family and that she will miss us. She noted that she would return next year and encouraged the girls to continue to be wonderful.

Our day was full of jammies! (For most of the day). Hannah and Addison played together. It was so cute to see Addison trying to sit on Hannah's lap, and Hannah allowing it.

Our afternoon was full of cookie decorating.

Jason, tired but trying to decorate cookies.

Some of the finished projects.

Hannah's cookie.

The Girls are sporting their gift from Jackie- another set of Christmas Jammies (in our house it's a tradition that the girls get a pair of Christmas Jammies on Christmas Eve).

Merry Christmas from the Spencer's!

 

J.

Marching and Baking

We spent some time doing some baking this weekend. Hannah was a huge help.

There was some unwrapping of kisses.

My sugar cookies were a fail. I had to scrap 3 pans of them into the garbage. They just did not turn out right. Not sure what happened.

I'm not often one to show the mess- but this is what  real kitchen looks like at the Spencer house! Especially when I'm in the middle of a holiday baking session.

Hannah put the kisses on the cookies. She seemed to enjoy this.

Gingerbread cookies cooling.

My faves- PB blossoms. These have always reminded me of the Holidays. I can't remember a year when these weren't in attendance.

Jackie on Saturday I believe it was- She and a few friends were marching in line with some kiddos shoes.

Close up.

Addzilla! She was stealing the toys from the shoes and well chewing on them.

Just a cute picture of my one year old!

 

I love my kiddos!

J.

Flour angels

Jackie appears to be having some fun in her final days with us.



I think this was because we were planning on making many cookies this day.

Tick Tock. . .

The Countdown is on, at least in our home.

 

Wed December 19th:

Jackie that silly elf decided to hide in Hannah's room.

Giraffee, and Cabbage patch girl got in on the fun- Jackie was going for a ride.

 

Thursday Dec 20th:

Jackie and NASA Bear were found having a tea party.

 

 I had to move Jackie pretty quickly as a certain 1 year old bee lined it for her!

 

Hannah is much like me, very excited about the holiday season. She has really been enjoying looking for Jackie, trying to find where she is and what mischief she has been in on over night! There's a few more nights! Hannah said to me the other night "You know that Jackie has to go back to the north pole on Christmas Eve." She's counting down.

 

We found out yesterday that Jason will also have Christmas Eve off- so we will have 3 days as a family to celebrate our family.

 

Jason working nights and really only being 2 days a week in the middle of the week, is some what trying in that I don't see him much. The girls see him more than I do right now. So when we get some good quality time together we cherish it. We have plans to do something special on Christmas Eve and then we will be spending some time with both of our Families in the course of a couple of days.

 

This weekend there are a few final projects that I had promised Hannah that we still need to do, like some baking. Some arts and crafts and some Hannah/Mommy time.

 

J.



Elf on the Shelf catch up!

A few photos to catch you up on the antics of Jackie-

Today Tuesday 18th:

 

Jackie was found on Hannah's art desk.

She left a new color book for Hannah and a board book for Addy.

 

Mon 17th:

Jackie was found under the tree, crochetting a scarf and getting tangled in the yarn.

Yup she felt safe enough to sit on the edge of the tree and presents. She was able to stay there safely for the entire day.

 

Sunday 16th:

Jackie was found hiding out in the Hannah's back pack.

 

Saturday 15th:

After Hannah returned from Grammy and Papa's she found Jackie hiding in the bathroom. I think she was trying to go unnoticed hiding behind Santa and Reindeer.

Hannah was talking to Jackie telling her something very important I'm sure.

Friday 14th- Jackie left a note and snowflake materials, though sadly no snowflakes were made. She also put out the hot cocoa supplies so that we could have warm drinks with our breakfast.

 

Love, J.

A trip to Grammy and Papa's

Can I just say that I love that my parents enjoy having kiddo weekends (or kiddo days). It warms my heart the special relationship that they have fostered with Hannah, and I'm sure as Addison gets older her too. Hannah loves to go to their house, and I never have to worry about her there. She's safe, and she LOVES it!

 

My parents picked up Hannah on Friday around 1:30pm. The following is highlights of her stay.

 

Jackie found herself at Grammy's house.

With the ornaments and lights.

Hannah found a special toy at Grammies, a nativity little people set.

Hannah helped put out the village.

There was making of reindeer cookies.

There was snuggles with papa.

Saturday morning, Jackie was found under the tree with a few books.

A few new books were found! Recorded stories, read by Papa and Grammy.

Hannah listening to the book. (She did this several times this evening, she wanted to listen to both before bed tonight, it was so cute, and made book time so fun to have a book that she could listen to that was Grammy and Papa instead of mommy).

 

There was playing with the marble machine and the little people, lining them up.

There was time for a tea party, with real treats and juice and real tiny tea set.

This is my favorite photo from the weekend! Grammy and Hannah having a tea party, check out the new counters!

There was decorating of the windows

Hannah making cards. Very sweet that she made cards for mommy, daddy and Addy.

Lincoln logs with Grammy.

 

The amount of activities and playing is amazing. Hannah was a bit tired when she was returned, but we managed to have a meal with all 6 of us. Then the girls and I returned home for a quiet evening. We watched some elf on the shelf, OH and Jackie returned to us, hiding in the bathroom by the toothbrushes.

 

Hannah crashed right at 7:30, she must have been exhausted from all the activies and fun this weekend.

 

Love, J.

Secret Santa Mission.

Jackie did not come to our home this morning. She instead left a note for Hannah stating that she had a special Santa Project that she needed to help him complete and that she would return soon. She left some pretty paper and encouraged Hannah to make some snowflakes.

Hannah  got picked up by my parents around 1pm today. She will get to spend the next 24ish hours with my parents. She loves to go up there and play. I know that Grammy and Papa had some special projects and activities for her to enjoy.

This was a special event in that no one else went with Hannah. It is only Hannah at their home this weekend.

Addy and I are at home, Daddy is working. It's quiet and I have been productive. I have finished wrapping all the gifts that are here in the house. They are now under the tree! I have one final gift that is being shipped. And 2 other gifts to purchase (the girls gift to daddy, and the girls gifts to each other). Other than that I am done with Christmas Shopping!

Tomorrow I plan to finish an art project that will be turned into a gift for a few people. I am excited to have my Christmas things finished up and just be able to relax and enjoy the holiday.

G'night-
Jessica

Prayers. . .

Today as I heard about the shooting at the elementary school in Conneticut, I  found myself taking moments of silence and praying for those impacted by this tragic event. Though I often don't write much seriousness here, today seems as good as any to put some thoughts out into the world.

 

As I talked with Jason tonight I realized that I may have a different more callous view of the world. Partially because I see mentally ill people nearly every day. I see the pain that people feel that can lead them to do some very drastic and painful things to themselves and to others. I have come to a point in my life, although it saddens me, I realize that this is just our reality. There are some very ill people in the world.

 

Yes, what happened is a tragedy. And though I have some anger about the situation, I also have feelings of angst about the mentally ill man that saw this as an option.

 

Yes, I pray for those impacted by the choices that young man made. I pray for peace and comfort for those who lost children today, who lost a parent, a teacher, a spouse. . . The impact of those deaths is far reaching.

 

Yes I think Mental Health services needs more funding across the nation to support those that are disturbed and need some help. Daily I see my own clients struggling. And with various budget cuts we are having to turn away clients because theres no funding or programs that can help them at this time.

 

Yes I have come to the place where I see this as a part of life. We encounter tragedies every day. What I can do is to appreciate my own life, my own family. Make good decisions for myself and my family and cherish the moments I do have. Life ends, I just don't know when or how. But I do believe that life ends.

 

My heart aches for those parents whose children will not be returning home. My heart aches for the children that survived and now have experienced a traumatic event, which can and does lead to bigger life problems (most of my clients have post traumatic stress disorder, often tied to childhood events). My heart aches for my own children, knowing that I am raising them in a society where this happens, and knowing that our ability to protect our own children is often limited.

 

Yesterday the school across the street was in lock down, a student brought a gun to school. If we continue to live in this neighborhood, our children will attend that school in a few years. This is a scary idea in my head, to know that once my children leave my home I can't protect them. We send them out into the world hoping that they will be safe and secure, however we can't control all of the people that they encounter on their life journey and that in itself is scary to me.

 

I love my darling girls! I feel so blessed to have them both in my life. Though parenthood presents with challenges, it also presents with honor and so much love that I can't even describe how it feels. So tonight as I get ready to fall asleep, I send more prayers up for those whose lives will forever be impacted. I send prayers for my own family, that I will be able to guide and teach my children as much as I can about the world and help to mold them to be the best people that they can be.

 

Love, J.

 



Jammin' day

 

Can you see Jackie? Sorry it's a blurry photo.

Yup, under the tree, and sporting a scroll and presents. 

Jackie left a note acknowledging that it was Hannah's PJ day at school, and that she might want to take these with her on her overnight to Grammy and Papas this weekend.

 

These are the reindeer treats I made for Hannah's Holiday party at the Mini School.

 

Here's Hannah. Next to her is her Teacher Mrs. Sword.

Prior to me getting there Hannah had been running on the playground and fell. She scrapped up both knees and needed band aids. That of course made for a very sensitive Hannah. I don't believe that she sang at all during the program. I think she only whimpered/cried.

 

The sings seems to be difficult for her for some reason. Perhaps because of how many parents are there.

Here's the jammies that Jackie brought.

"My Grammy is friends with Santa"

This statement is so true! These girls have 2 Grandmas and 5 Great Grandmas. . . lets just say that they have their pull with Santa!

Goofing off around the house tonight.

I was trying to get them both in front of the tree, this is as close as I could get. Love these girls!

 

Love J.