Change is in the Air

This is a picture of the girls opening their movies from Mimi and Papa-stinkin' cuties!
This is all the cousins on Steven's side of the family watching Polar Express 3D on Christmas day! How much fun they had together!

The big girl cousins heading out to the trampoline-look how cute my Sky is :o)

This is daddy and Skylar in the tree, what's funny is she was actually really scared, but I told her I wouldn't help her down til she gave me a smile (am I mean or what?!?!).

And this is my Skylar swinging on the authentic rope swing (made with rope and a stick):And this is the beautiful sky on Christmas day, the day that our savior was born. What a view we had on our walk!

And lastly, this is my hubby on Hannah's razor scooter. I'm not trying to brag, but he is catching mad air and is one of the most amazing athletes I know! You rock, Steven! I especially love how his hair is flying up :o)

And that's pretty much our Christmas in picture form (and if you're wondering where Aidan was while we were playing outside, she was taking a three and a half hour nap in Reed's big boy bed!!!)!

Moving on to other things now, if you can't already tell by the look of my blog, I'm ready for a change! We've been talking about moving for some time now, and I'm ready! I'm also ready for the new year.

These past few years of my life have been pretty rough and tumble. There were times when I couldn't even tell you which way was up because I was in such a dark place, but I'm beginning to feel all that is changing. I've just been feeling "moved" lately. Like I know God is talking to me. Sometimes I am still not the best listener, sometimes I'm sure I even "hear" it wrong, but I know He's talking, and that for me is huge! All this time that I've been angry and bitter has just been wasted time. It has been nothing but detrimental to my relationship with my husband, children, and even my friends. So, it has been a long time coming (and a long time in the works), but I'm ready to go public with my change! I am going to be happy. Happy happy happy. I love my children with all my heart and, if you ask me, I couldn't have asked for a better husband to spend my life with. Here's to being thankful for what you have instead of longing for the things you don't. This may seem silly to some, but I really have been feeling almost lighter, if you will, because I know that there are things being lifted off of me that I've harbored for a long long time. I'm super excited about this!

So, here's to the new year and to all of you out there making new year's resolutions, I wish you the best of luck! May God bless you and your's in 2009!

I thought it was high time I sit down and post. I read a friend's blog today, and it basically stated, "Can I still write, even if it's not life altering?" I often have deep and profound thoughts that I would love to sit down and write on, but by the time I have the time, I've usually forgotten (either that, or I'm just too tired). So, inspiring, or not, here's what's been going on with the Van Tyles (and unlike her, I'm going to start at the beginning :o).

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We spent the good part of a week at a mountain house in Blue Ridge with my in-laws. The girls thoroughly loved spending time with their cousins, and I must say, we really enjoy the atmosphere up there! The girls are expert hikers, waterfall climbers, and creek dwellers. Not to mention rock wall scalers and marshmallow roasters. Our Thanksgiving meal was to die for, my only contribution being my delicious (if I do say so myself) homemade pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream and the French's green bean casserole (which is always a hit).

Daddy and his girls at the top of a waterfall on our first hike of the trip

Grace on her way back down the mountain trail. Determined as ever.

Sky chillin on a rock in the Toccoa River. Our second stop of the first day.

The view outside our home the morning of Thanksgiving. Totally breathtaking. A constant reminder of God's glory and creation.

Then we rushed into December with a visit from my very missed cousin and her DARLING baby boy (whom I don't get to see nearly enough). We celebrated with a trip to the Pink Pig followed by some Chik-Fil-A. My best friend, Sara, and her daughter, Natalee, came along for that as well.

Jessica and Little Ry Guy (aka, Rylan)

The very next day we set up the Christmas tree as a family. Our good friend Nick was there as was my momma!

Then we took a day trip to North Georgia to see Tallulah Gorge. Over our Thanksgiving trip we had the opportunity to visit a suspension bridge that crosses over the Toccoa River (I believe it's 278 ft long). After that we were all really wanting to check out the one that went across the Gorge, a whopping 300 ft. off the ground! However, they failed to mention that the climbing of 330 stairs (one way) was in order (not the easiest task with a highly independent almost two and almost four year old...). But we succeeded nonetheless and it was breathtaking! Here are some shots from our day: Or not! Frustration has set in! I've tried four times now to post the rest of the pictures with no luck. So I can either not post and wait, or post without them and update more later... So post it is.

Since then, I've been busy helping with the little shepherds for the Christmas play, nursing sick family members back to health, and enjoying playdates with new friends. More pictures and updates to come soon, this post is over the limit!

Weddings

Whew. What a week. I'm definitely still recovering from the events of this weekend. My husband was the best man for a good friend of his, and Skylar was the flower girl. And to share a little of my excitement, it was my first job as a photographer! I'm obviously still working to be where I want to be, but think I got some good shots:

Me taking pictures...

The lovely ladies before heading down...

My girl did it! I was SO so so proud of her, I think I had already started tearing up at this point!

Aren't they a vision? This was such a special time for us, all getting to be there together and playing such a big role in this special day for our friends. We definitely made some great memories! Now it's off to make dinner, then I have to go pick up a lil mama from play practice at OLA and take her to her house for her mom. YAY!

TAGGED

Amanda tagged me!

1. I was born in San Diego, CA and since then have lived in South Carolina, Missouri, California again, Texas, and Georgia.

2. I have some serious OCD tendencies! When I was little I used to count, "1.2.3.4." when walking and always had to end on 4 before going onto another kind of flooring! Now I'm just really weird about the way I fold :)

3. I LOVE sports. When I was a kid I wanted to be the first lady president, an actress, or play in the WNBA (ha!). Now I'm just happy to make it around the block a few times pushing my double stroller.

4. I'm a sweet treat fanatic. Anything chocolate (especially with nuts) I devour.

5. Together my husband and I could probably rap to any hip hop song....and hardly miss a word. We can also throw the football pretty darn far for some skinny folk.

6. I love to watch Yo Gabba Gabba with my girls. It's like a 30 minute dance-a-thon.

7. Lists. I love to make them. My mind is always going, racing, wandering, worrying. And I've found this is one of the best ways to get my mind a little bit of rest (especially at night...).

So there you have it. Seven not so known facts and/or weird randoms about myself. Now I'm going to tag:

Jessica and Talitha (I don't know seven people who blog!).

Blah

So, I feel as though I've been neglecting this poor blog lately, but between birthday parties, marriage classes, Christmas play rehearsals, church nursery duty, sick babies, and family in town, I'm surprised I haven't written less. I've been feeling pretty 'heavy' off and on these days. The good news is, Steven and I really really got a lot out of the marriage class that we had on Tuesday nights for six weeks at our church. The last class was last week and I can honestly say I'm bummed we don't get to go tomorrow. One of the things it did for us was give us so much to discuss! We'd come home on Tuesday nights in a great mood, get the girls to bed, and just talk like we did when we were dating. It's been a great source of connection for us. And wouldn't you know, we both learned a lot, too! I'm very grateful for having had the opportunity to go, and a husband who was willing to go with me :)

On a sadder note, my dad is filing for divorce this week, so I guess it will be official soon. It's going to be SO weird for me having my parents not together anymore, separate holidays, separate vacations, etc, that is, if I even see my dad at all anymore...but oh well, his loss!

I went looking for houses today with my mom and the girls, then met Steven for lunch at Fuddruckers, which was so nice. I also got to see his new place of work for the first time, how neat! I have to make pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving party they're having...better find out when that is... Off to make dinner (late, I know) and get the girls ready for bed (ha ha, Aidan is still napping at 6 o'clock, I doubt she'll sleep at all tonight, but she was sick with a high fever all last week and is still recovering. Now Skylar and I both have pretty yucky colds...). Here's to quick healing and early bedtimes... :)

Catch Up

So, many moons have passed since my last post. We got back from our beach trip on Sunday night really late and I have just been trying to sort out all of our crap. I was sick for one night of the trip, the whole entire night, and other than that it was drama packed thanks to Steven and his high intensity family.

Last night Aidan got sick and it just broke my heart. She is such a warrior. I went in to get her after her nap and the smell of very strong throw up enveloped me as I opened her door, but no tears. She was just in there chillin. I put her in the bath and cleaned her up. She threw up quite a few more times after that, well into the night. Steven and I kept her in our bed and finally it seemed as though the worst had passed. She was ready to get back into her crib around 6:30 this morning, and she slept in till about 9:30-ish (unheard of for us :).

We had to pass on the market today, but thankfully Lisa picked up some strawberries and a pie pumpkin for us...I've decided to try my hand at a homemade pumpkin pie! Skylar was asking me about it and I figured it would be fun for us to try together, what else is there to do all day?!

Ooh, goodness. Steven's birthday is in ten days and I need to start thinking now about what to do for him. I'll probably make his favorite dinner, fried chicken, squash, mashed potatoes, etc. followed up by some banana pudding, or my super yummy chocolate banana pie that he loves. What to do, what to do. He'll be the big 29, I can't believe how old he is getting! Yikes!

So this has been enough rambling for today, I'm off to finish straightening and folding and loading!

Healthier Eating

Sooo...today we woke up early with Steven. I made everyone eggs for breakfast (Aidan didn't eat her's, of course), then started getting ready for the park.

I must say that I am so proud of myself for 'passing my test' last night. You see, we're headed to the beach next weekend and I've never been on a diet or even an 'eating healthy' plan and as I was sitting and laughing yesterday about my mother and sister-in-law and the lengths they go to to lose weight before a trip I got to thinking...I'm always complaining about how unhealthy we eat, or what a bad mom I am for letting my kids eat processed food and junk, but what have I ever done to bridge the gap between where I am and where I want to be?! So, I decided that eating the right way has to start with me. My husband is going to be the hardest one to convert to this style of eating/living, he calls himself a "fat kid" at heart, and really truly he eats like one. BUT, he is 6'4" and all of 15% body fat (if that), and I can't eat like him forever. Steven and my late night pleasure is eating junk food together after the kids go to bed. We'll seriously sit in our bed at 10 o'clock at night stuffing our face with mini candy bars, cookies and milk, ice cream, the list could go on and on...and I realize that yes, right now I am 22 and don't see an immediate or direct affect to what I eat, but soon, my friends, all that will change. So why shouldn't I change before I see that change in my body? And that's what my test was that I passed...no more junk food after 8 o'clock at night...and just try to have a more healthy balanced diet during the day (no more skipping breakfast). And of course, Steven decided to get into the box of dark chocolate almond cookies that I got at the Farmer's Market on Tuesday (did I mention that I have yet to try one) and proceeded to eat like three of them in front of me in the bed, all the while telling me how amazing they were. And I didn't cave! I resisted temptation (thanks, in part, to the fact that I brushed my teeth before bed. And I'm sure the big Man upstairs helped a little, too :).

So, hopefully the "new Van Tyles" will be healthier and a little bit more emotionally stable. I already feel differently!

To Market

Today the girls and I woke up and rode with our darling neighbor, Lisa, to the DeKalb Farmer's Market. I love market days, seriously. The girls and I always have a lot of fun. And if they're super well-behaved, I let them walk around the seafood section and look at all the dead fish :) This farmer's market even has live ones...a truly special treat! Then we came home and I prepared dinner...a pot roast! I got a yummy cut of some bnlss pork loin, rubbed it with salt and pepper and a little bit of poultry seasoning and browned it on all sides with some olive oil in my favorite skillet. While that was browning, I cut the onions, carrots, and potatoes and put them in the Crock Pot with some cream of mushroom soup. Then I dumped the roast in there and have been cooking it all day, my house is starting to smell SO yummy! I think I'll make some brown rice to go with the roast...mmm...

On a side note, I am starting my photography business with my mom, A Thousand Words Photography, llc, and I have so much to do!! I still have to get my portfolio together, finish prepping the content for my website...and start taking pictures! I want to read my user guide cover to cover so I know how to work my camera in the dark with my eyes closed ;)

Well, I still haven't folded the clothes that I mentioned in yesterday's post, so I'm off to tend to my motherly duties while Aidan is napping and Skylar is watching Slumberland (weird movie, if you ask me).

Manic Monday

Well. This would be my FIRST blog ever. In the history of ever. I know, right?! I guess not too much to report today. I literally have 5 loads of laundry to fold...which I have been putting off and putting off. We baked (then ate) some lemon poppy seed muffins for breakfast today. Then my dad surprised us and came over a little after noon. Best part of that was: El Pollo Loco for lunch...mmm... Watching my kids chow down is great, I may go as far as to say it's one of my favorite things about being a mom...and their chicken is to die for! Now Aidan is napping and Skylar is "resting" watching Little Bear. I guess I better get started on my clothes (and I still don't know what to make for dinner...yikes).

On the agenda for tonight: Babysitting and reading up on all my photography material. Yay!