Phisch’s Neighborhood

Stephan's nana & papa got him a Fisher-Price camera for Christmas and he's spent time wandering around snapping pictures. Gotta love seeing things from a 3 1/2-year-old's perspective

I started him his own Picasa site and if you'd like to see his first album, the link is here. I weeded through about 2/3rds of the pictures, most of the floor, wall or ceiling and a few too blurry to recognize.

Enjoy my budding photographer!

Yesterday we what was described as a blizzard by the local news.  Today I took a few photos and shoveled a bit of snow.  Got my upper body and cardio workout today.

Panoramic Snow

White lights or colored lights? Blinking or non-blinking? Bonus points if you show us a photo of the lights you used to decorate for the holidays.

All kinds of lights!  And our reindeer are wearing yellow ribbons to welcome my husband home from

Afghanistan.

I wrote this in August this year:

Much has happened in my little life.  Lots of loss but the Lord has been faithful and I'm anchored and closer to Him than ever.  I have good friends and a loving family that have been supportive throughout.

My Dad died a year ago August 4th....

My Mom died just a few weeks ago, July 12th.  Her first symptom was in March and now she's gone.  A measure of comfort I have is that Mom and Dad are together.  Mom smiled at something/someone/s when she died.  As if she was smiling at us by her bedside and beyond at something very, very wonderful.  I think she may have been greeted by my Dad.  I'll have to ask when I see them again.  I KNOW my Mom is more than fine.  That gives me the strength to carry on here 

I've lost both my parents in less than a years time.  Wow, never would I have thought I'd be in this position.  You just never know in this life.  They were both in their mid-60's. 

Life is a gift.  Thank you, Lord, for the loving relationship I had with both my parents.  The grief I feel is a result of the love we shared.  I'm thankful.  Yet, I cry not for them, but for me.

Just lost a good friend this week to a motorcycle accident.  She was so supportive to both me and my Mom these last several months.  She brought goodies when she visited Mom and enough to feed visitors and staff too.  She prayed with and for me and my family.  That is valuable and cherished.  The last text message I got from her was the evening before her accident.  She simply texted 'Praying for you'.  She had a big heart and was an encouraging sister in Christ.  I will miss the connection we shared of her being there for me concerning Mom.  That was a comfort to me.  She started out a Vox neighbor and became an offline friend.

In the midst of this incredible loss I feel peace.  I don't know what tomorrow will bring but thankful for the peace I have today.

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Today, December 23rd, I just want to let you know that my sweet Grandmother joined my Mom, Dad, Glenda, and many loved ones when she died to this life on October 16th.  I miss them all so much.  Many here used to pray for the situation with my Grandmother and with my Dad.  That's why I'm posting here in the off chance some may see this.  If any of you are on Facebook, let me know and I'd love to stay connected with you over there.   

I wish those who read this a very blessed Christmas and a new year filled with love and joy.

Mom Dad Me Grandma - Mother's Day a few yrs ago

I'd heard from several people, even perfect strangers, that three was actually worse than two. Maybe it's because I'm in the thick of the threes, but right now, the "terrible twos" look like a warm sunny day at the park.

Do I really have another half a year left??

Ok, that might be a teensy bit on the extreme side, but right now it seems like this hellish nightmare will never end. I feel like I'm always repeating myself (who's the broken record?) and even though my little boy knows he's not supposed to do *insert fill in the blank here*, he just can't seem to help himself. Add to that a side of open defiance, a dish of kicking and screaming and a dash of you can't make me, and it's a recipe for disaster.

We are working hard at being consistent and making sure we follow through, but what seemed to work fine and be effective ... even two weeks ago ... just is not cutting it anymore.

When we discovered we were pregnant, I signed up for the weekly pregnancy emails at babycenter.com and since they asked, I shared Stephan's information with them as well. This means that I also get several emails about the rambunctious toddler. Every once in a while something turns up useful, and sometimes, even at just the right time.

Being that I'm about ready to pull my hair out, Christmas is around the corner, and I really do want to enjoy my last break before the business hits and baby comes in the spring, I was thankful for this series of articles on time-outs and toddler discipline. (I'm a little freaked that they are geared toward threes and fours, but eventually something's got to give, right?

• Time-outs: How to make them work (ages 3-4)
  
• What to do when time-outs don't work (ages 3-4)
  
• Moving beyond threats (ages 3-4)
  
• Alternatives to threats (ages 3-4)
  

Each of these builds on the other and provides some great ideas and strategies, and provided some small changes that will hopefully make a HUGE impact.

My biggest issue is keeping my cool. I'm already frustrated and stressed about the whole situation and really will need to work hard at keeping that out of the equation. No sense adding to the drama. I'm hopeful gaining some additional tips on discipline now that he's changing things up a bit will make all the difference.

So here's to a better tomorrow!

Making a list, checking it twice... How's your holiday shopping going? Who's left on your list?

No one!  Got it all done.  :)

James Cameron’s AVATAR is in theaters today. What about this movie interests you the most?
Sponsored by AVATAR. In theaters December 18. Buy tickets now.

Before I say anything else, if you haven't watched this movie YOU HAVE TO! It's really nice. It's a bit long (not as long as the LOTR movies) though, but I swear the story is nice.

Okay so I gotta admit that when I bought tickets to see this film, I thought it was for Avatar: The Last Air Bender. All that registered to me was "Avatar". I was too excited to wonder why the poster did not show Aang. LOL. When the movie began, I was so confused about why there were mentions of cryogenic states, other planets... WTH?! I was afraid the movie was gonna be bad because I did not know what it was about! I really thought I was going to watch Aang and Katara and the other peeps from the Nickelodeon show.

What I liked about the movie was the sci-fi part of it, and the love story. I was totally hooked on the story. The effects were also outstanding. I actually want to watch this again.