Happy Birthday to the sweetest 7 year old boy I know!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Playing Countries
There is an obsession in our house and we call it "countries". Kanin is enthralled with countries, their flags, who they fight, etc. He has created his own game of taking normal pieces of paper and drawing countries and their flags on them and then they "do battle" with each other.
This interest started this summer during the World Cup. He was so interested in what country the U.S. was "battling" or "versus" (in his words) and from there he just got really interested in all countries.
Here is a US Fort
For his current game, he has changed his name to Joshua Smith. This reads:
By Joshua Smith is my nickname.
By Kanin Westerhold is my real name. 2010 November 12
WWII USA vs GMY
No, I didn't tell him about WWII, he looked it up on his own.
Here is a picture of the US vs Germany battle. It looks like I cut off the German flag.
Here is the US and Ghana. It reads:
Joshua Smith
World War I
Come on, Joshua.
Let's get the jet pack.
We Win
This is the US vs. Greece
USA vs Germany
Get the MG42
USA vs Russia
My favorite country is Holland
USA Fort
Spain
England
Slovakia
Germany
Scott was just playing around with him and told him that we were going to get him a map for his birthday and Kanin said, "Yay!".
This passion may subside as he gets older but I think it is really cool that he is so into it right now. Who knows? Maybe he will be my world traveler, an author, a news reporter. The possibilities are endless!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Just Wanted to Belong
When I was growing up I was definitely not a girly-girl. I loved sports. I loved getting dirty. I loved playing war.
As I got older, I did become a little bit more feminine but not much. Yes, I wore make-up, fixed my hair and was in beauty pageants but I still always found the thought of playing war interesting. I remember being about a sophomore in college and the recruiters coming in to school for the ASVAB test. I made a statement that I thought it would be fun to be in the Army and was quickly told by everyone that I did not want to be in the Army because I was going to go to college. I didn't really push the issue and I did end up going to college and graduating,
but . . .
the thought of being in the Army never really left me. After college and teaching for a couple of years, I ended up leaving my job and joining the Army National Guard. After basic training and advanced individual training, I ended up working full-time for the Army. I then went on to Officer Candidate School, Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course and finally ended up teaching the ASAS (military intelligence system) at the Command and General Staff College.
My life sure changed a lot from being wild and care-free in college to living a pretty rigid, mapped out life at Ft. Leavenworth. The funny thing is, though, that I loved that life more than that care-free college life. I loved the structure, the history, the comraderie, the passion, the drive, the committment, the physicality. I loved everything about it.
When I think about Veteran's Day, though, I don't ever really consider myself to be a Veteran. I never fought in a war. I never served overseas. I never did anything heroic. I know so many people who have gone to Afghanistan and Iraq, most of them multiple times. I know people who served in Vietnam, Korea, WWII. I did none of those things. I just fulfilled a dream of saying that I belonged.
I still love the Army. Have you ever heard the sound of a company or battalion of training soldiers singing cadence at 4:30 in the morning? There is nothing like it. It will give you goosebumps. Wish I could hear it now.
(The dates on the pics below are wrong):
Happy Veteran's Day. Hooah!
As I got older, I did become a little bit more feminine but not much. Yes, I wore make-up, fixed my hair and was in beauty pageants but I still always found the thought of playing war interesting. I remember being about a sophomore in college and the recruiters coming in to school for the ASVAB test. I made a statement that I thought it would be fun to be in the Army and was quickly told by everyone that I did not want to be in the Army because I was going to go to college. I didn't really push the issue and I did end up going to college and graduating,
but . . .
the thought of being in the Army never really left me. After college and teaching for a couple of years, I ended up leaving my job and joining the Army National Guard. After basic training and advanced individual training, I ended up working full-time for the Army. I then went on to Officer Candidate School, Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course and finally ended up teaching the ASAS (military intelligence system) at the Command and General Staff College.
My life sure changed a lot from being wild and care-free in college to living a pretty rigid, mapped out life at Ft. Leavenworth. The funny thing is, though, that I loved that life more than that care-free college life. I loved the structure, the history, the comraderie, the passion, the drive, the committment, the physicality. I loved everything about it.
When I think about Veteran's Day, though, I don't ever really consider myself to be a Veteran. I never fought in a war. I never served overseas. I never did anything heroic. I know so many people who have gone to Afghanistan and Iraq, most of them multiple times. I know people who served in Vietnam, Korea, WWII. I did none of those things. I just fulfilled a dream of saying that I belonged.
I still love the Army. Have you ever heard the sound of a company or battalion of training soldiers singing cadence at 4:30 in the morning? There is nothing like it. It will give you goosebumps. Wish I could hear it now.
(The dates on the pics below are wrong):
OCS
OCS
OCS
OCS Christmas Party with my best buddy, Jennings. Sometime in December 2001.
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Army 10 Mile Run in D.C. sometime in October 1999
Happy Veteran's Day. Hooah!
A Downhome Christmas
I love Christmas decorations and trees. I have 3 full-sized trees and countless little ones. I have enough decorations to decorate 10 families' trees and each year I have to think about what color or theme I want our main tree to be. The main tree has been my tree. By my tree I mean that I am the only one who can decorate it and I get to decide on the decorations and color. We have 5 different stocking sets to match the color of tree that I might decide to put up. It's a bit excessive and a bit selfish, too, I guess.
I want to make a change this year, though. I want this Christmas to be about the kids and I really want their help. For our big tree it is going to be candy-themed. I already have a bunch of garland and decorations with gum drops, candy canes and peppermint. I would really like to strink popcorn but I just don't think that Kanin and certainly not Gracie or Caleb are ready to handle a needle and thread. I think we are going to do paper and glue colored rings for garland, as well.
Do you guys have any traditions that you could pass along? Any cute and easy crafts? I am going to buy 2 gingerbread houses and let the kids each decorate one for centerpieces. I also have these particle board toy soldiers that they each decorated last year. I am going to put them on the mantle and find some more this year for them to decorate again.
I'd love to hear what you guys do with your kids to make it special.
I want to make a change this year, though. I want this Christmas to be about the kids and I really want their help. For our big tree it is going to be candy-themed. I already have a bunch of garland and decorations with gum drops, candy canes and peppermint. I would really like to strink popcorn but I just don't think that Kanin and certainly not Gracie or Caleb are ready to handle a needle and thread. I think we are going to do paper and glue colored rings for garland, as well.
Do you guys have any traditions that you could pass along? Any cute and easy crafts? I am going to buy 2 gingerbread houses and let the kids each decorate one for centerpieces. I also have these particle board toy soldiers that they each decorated last year. I am going to put them on the mantle and find some more this year for them to decorate again.
I'd love to hear what you guys do with your kids to make it special.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Food Nazi
I have a major hassle in my house and I need some help!
As many of you know, I started a food blog last year to help me with planning meals for the family. The research for recipes has also allowed me not to get into the rut of making the same things over and over. The problem, though, is that my kids do not like hardly any of the things that I make. Yes, there are a few kid-approved recipes, but for the most part, they start with the "I don't like this's" before they have even taken a bite. It drives me crazy and makes me wonder why I go through the effort?
With my new-found, and hopefully permanent, attitude I really don't want to stress about something small but I guess, in my mind, this isn't a small thing. I know they are just kids and have no idea the amount of time, effort and money that goes into making dinners but it really gets to me when I take the time to make a home-cooked meal and they automatically either don't like it or within an hour they are asking for a peanut butter sandwich, apples, bananas, candy, etc. In my mind, if they are hungry an hour later then they didn't eat enough at dinner.
Scott and I were talking this morning and I don't remember ever leaving the table hungry. I can understand this if I have made something that might be too spicy or too sour but not when it is something as simple as noodles and sauce. Some of the time it is just the matter that they want to be playing with our neighbor or watching TV but at other times they just simply do not eat.
In the fast-food world that we live in today, I admit that I have fallen into that trap of chicken nuggets, pizza and hotdogs. While I do give in at times on those types of things, I try to buy all-natural, organic, low-fat items for our home-cooked meals. I have also tried to mix in very little to no candy, no sodas, no Kool-aid, very few desserts; thus, earning me the name of Food Nazi from Scott.
So, is this a big deal? When I make a home-cooked meal that I feel the kids should eat and have no problems with should I make them eat it or just give in and make them the peanut butter sandwich they want and be ensured that they actually ate.
Help!
As many of you know, I started a food blog last year to help me with planning meals for the family. The research for recipes has also allowed me not to get into the rut of making the same things over and over. The problem, though, is that my kids do not like hardly any of the things that I make. Yes, there are a few kid-approved recipes, but for the most part, they start with the "I don't like this's" before they have even taken a bite. It drives me crazy and makes me wonder why I go through the effort?
With my new-found, and hopefully permanent, attitude I really don't want to stress about something small but I guess, in my mind, this isn't a small thing. I know they are just kids and have no idea the amount of time, effort and money that goes into making dinners but it really gets to me when I take the time to make a home-cooked meal and they automatically either don't like it or within an hour they are asking for a peanut butter sandwich, apples, bananas, candy, etc. In my mind, if they are hungry an hour later then they didn't eat enough at dinner.
Scott and I were talking this morning and I don't remember ever leaving the table hungry. I can understand this if I have made something that might be too spicy or too sour but not when it is something as simple as noodles and sauce. Some of the time it is just the matter that they want to be playing with our neighbor or watching TV but at other times they just simply do not eat.
In the fast-food world that we live in today, I admit that I have fallen into that trap of chicken nuggets, pizza and hotdogs. While I do give in at times on those types of things, I try to buy all-natural, organic, low-fat items for our home-cooked meals. I have also tried to mix in very little to no candy, no sodas, no Kool-aid, very few desserts; thus, earning me the name of Food Nazi from Scott.
So, is this a big deal? When I make a home-cooked meal that I feel the kids should eat and have no problems with should I make them eat it or just give in and make them the peanut butter sandwich they want and be ensured that they actually ate.
Help!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
What the F***? It Doesn't Matter.
I guess I captured your attention with that title, huh? No, those aren't my words but words of advice that I received over the weekend. Let me take you back . . .
I love my husband. I love him with all of my heart but the last 6 or 8 months have been the hardest on our marriage. I could sit here and blame him for everything but that would be unfair and untrue. As with any marriage, there are the normal day-to-day stresses that are put on the relationship but in our short 4 year marriage we have had A LOT of them. Because of my own actions, I came into the marriage with a beautiful baby boy that fell instantly in love with Scott and Scott with him. I think Kanin was a catalyst in our relationship and made us know instantly that we were going to be together. Kanin kind of gave us more of a will to stay in the relationship in those early dating years where in other relationships, you can just walk away.
As much as Kanin added to the relationship, it also took away those impromptu dates, the spontaneity of a new relationship. We have always had a child so we never had that quiet, intimate, just the two of us kind of relationship.
On our wedding all everyone heard me talk about is that I wanted to get pregnant on our wedding night. Kanin was already 3 by then and I wanted to have a baby so badly. Well, fast forward 9 months and little GracieAnn was born. We were living in a 900 sqft condo at the time with 2 adults, a 3 year old, a newborn and a dog. We immediately knew that it wasn't going to work so we were able to pack up and move to a rental. In the meantime, Scott had switched to a 100% commission job and I quit work to stay home.
The rental situation had a really ugly, bad ending and we ended up having to buy a house immediately. We bought a house within 45 days and moved in on December 23 while I was 3 months pregnant with our third child.
So in the span of 4 years Scott went from a single guy living the life in a condo with his newphew to being married with one instant kid, one of his own, another on the way, starting a new job, moving twice and buying a house. All major recipes for disaster.
But we survived.
So, this past weekend, things kind of hit the fan and I was not happy with him. I mean not happy with him. We had bought tickets to see the Barenaked Ladies for Sunday night and we were going with one of his doctors. I was not in the mood for the concert or to have to be fake and act like everything was fine in front of his doctor while I knew how mad I really was but I went away.
Now, this doctor and I have created kind of a bond. He did the surgery on my foot a couple of years ago and we just kind of hit it off. He could tell that something was wrong and started talking to me about it. When I started telling him how mad I was at Scott and how he had hurt my feelings, etc. the first words out of his mouth were "What the f***? It doesn't matter." Well, you can imagine that I was a little taken aback at his language and the fact that he was just blowing the situation off. Everytime I tried to tell a little more of the story he kept coming back with "What the f***? It doesn't matter". Finally, after about the third time of me trying to prove that I was right, he went off on me. This is what he said . . .
"My son died. My son is dead. He went to bed one night and didn't wake up the next. I'm getting a divorce. My wife is having an affair with one of the people who spread my son's ashes at his funeral. I am going to be a twice-divorced man and my son died."
He went on to say that over the past two years since his son's death, he has learned that nothing really matters. So what if the kids are fighting? So what if his car gets hit by a stranger in a parking lot? So what if the house is dirty. Nothing matters but to appreciate what we do have and who we do have. He told me that I need to learn to say "It doesn't matter" more often.
Ok, so at this point, here come the waterworks from me. More conversation took place but I had gotten his point and over the past couple of days, I have really tried to stop and think about things before I react. He is right. Last night when Caleb was throwing a huge fit in Costco and everyone was staring at us, I just told myself "It doesn't matter" at least he is here to throw this fit. When Scott drank all of the coffee this morning and left me with nothing after I was the one who made the coffee, I had to stop and say "It doesn't matter" at least he is here to drink that coffee.
I hope that I can keep this advice going in my head and I hope that I will be able to stop myself from sliding down my temperamental slope. From now on, I am going to try to stop myself and say, "What the F***? It Doesn't Matter." Well, I'll probably say "What the HECK? ;)
I love my husband. I love him with all of my heart but the last 6 or 8 months have been the hardest on our marriage. I could sit here and blame him for everything but that would be unfair and untrue. As with any marriage, there are the normal day-to-day stresses that are put on the relationship but in our short 4 year marriage we have had A LOT of them. Because of my own actions, I came into the marriage with a beautiful baby boy that fell instantly in love with Scott and Scott with him. I think Kanin was a catalyst in our relationship and made us know instantly that we were going to be together. Kanin kind of gave us more of a will to stay in the relationship in those early dating years where in other relationships, you can just walk away.
As much as Kanin added to the relationship, it also took away those impromptu dates, the spontaneity of a new relationship. We have always had a child so we never had that quiet, intimate, just the two of us kind of relationship.
On our wedding all everyone heard me talk about is that I wanted to get pregnant on our wedding night. Kanin was already 3 by then and I wanted to have a baby so badly. Well, fast forward 9 months and little GracieAnn was born. We were living in a 900 sqft condo at the time with 2 adults, a 3 year old, a newborn and a dog. We immediately knew that it wasn't going to work so we were able to pack up and move to a rental. In the meantime, Scott had switched to a 100% commission job and I quit work to stay home.
The rental situation had a really ugly, bad ending and we ended up having to buy a house immediately. We bought a house within 45 days and moved in on December 23 while I was 3 months pregnant with our third child.
So in the span of 4 years Scott went from a single guy living the life in a condo with his newphew to being married with one instant kid, one of his own, another on the way, starting a new job, moving twice and buying a house. All major recipes for disaster.
But we survived.
So, this past weekend, things kind of hit the fan and I was not happy with him. I mean not happy with him. We had bought tickets to see the Barenaked Ladies for Sunday night and we were going with one of his doctors. I was not in the mood for the concert or to have to be fake and act like everything was fine in front of his doctor while I knew how mad I really was but I went away.
Now, this doctor and I have created kind of a bond. He did the surgery on my foot a couple of years ago and we just kind of hit it off. He could tell that something was wrong and started talking to me about it. When I started telling him how mad I was at Scott and how he had hurt my feelings, etc. the first words out of his mouth were "What the f***? It doesn't matter." Well, you can imagine that I was a little taken aback at his language and the fact that he was just blowing the situation off. Everytime I tried to tell a little more of the story he kept coming back with "What the f***? It doesn't matter". Finally, after about the third time of me trying to prove that I was right, he went off on me. This is what he said . . .
"My son died. My son is dead. He went to bed one night and didn't wake up the next. I'm getting a divorce. My wife is having an affair with one of the people who spread my son's ashes at his funeral. I am going to be a twice-divorced man and my son died."
He went on to say that over the past two years since his son's death, he has learned that nothing really matters. So what if the kids are fighting? So what if his car gets hit by a stranger in a parking lot? So what if the house is dirty. Nothing matters but to appreciate what we do have and who we do have. He told me that I need to learn to say "It doesn't matter" more often.
Ok, so at this point, here come the waterworks from me. More conversation took place but I had gotten his point and over the past couple of days, I have really tried to stop and think about things before I react. He is right. Last night when Caleb was throwing a huge fit in Costco and everyone was staring at us, I just told myself "It doesn't matter" at least he is here to throw this fit. When Scott drank all of the coffee this morning and left me with nothing after I was the one who made the coffee, I had to stop and say "It doesn't matter" at least he is here to drink that coffee.
I hope that I can keep this advice going in my head and I hope that I will be able to stop myself from sliding down my temperamental slope. From now on, I am going to try to stop myself and say, "What the F***? It Doesn't Matter." Well, I'll probably say "What the HECK? ;)
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween 2010
Can you believe that Halloween is over already? Where did this year go?
Kanin was really excited for Halloween this year. I think this was the first year that he could count down the days and realize that we were getting closer and closer. I'm not fond of these cheap character-type costumes that he always picks out but then when I think back to my trick-or-treating days, I was always a witch so maybe it runs in the family. LOL
Kanin was Cad Bane from the Star Wars cartoon series "Clone Wars". I'm not sure if he is a good guy or bad guy.
Since we just bought Gracie the Cinderella costume for her Disney World makeover, she was Cinderella for Halloween. As you can see, she wasn't in a very princessy mood. We had to wake her up from her nap to get dressed and princess never like to be woken from their slumber. I was going to do her hair all pretty and put make up on but I was lucky to just get her to wear the costume.
Call me chintsy or cheap but Caleb had a recycled costume. Kanin was Elmo for his second Halloween and I still had the costume downstairs. I just didn't see the need to go out and buy a new one when I knew that he had no clue what was going on anyway. It was also pretty windy and chilly and I didn't want him to get an ear infection or sick so he just stayed home with Gaga to hand out candy. I did manage to capture some pics of him, though. He was fine in his costume until we put the face up. As soon as that hood went over his head, he tried to take it off.
Not a lot to say here except I think he is just so precious.
My three babies.
This was such a neat idea. Our neighbor, Jake, decided to create a train out of connecting all of our wagons along and pulling them with the lawn mower. The kids on the cul de sac had a blast riding down the street.
Mom and Dad, aka a clown and Elvis, really got into the spirit this year. I couldn't believe that Dad dressed up. All of the grandkids thought it was great.
Elmo was really tired.
Aidan was a Ninja. Typical boy that he is, he likes any character that has weapons. LOL
Ali was a Marine.
All of the gang, minus sleeping Elmo and fairy Marissa.
Here is the first house they hit, Paul and Gina next door.
The kids had a lot of fun and so did we!
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