what I am thankful for

My youngest fella, Kalen was born almost two years ago on Black Friday (aka the day after Thanksgiving).  He was a scheduled c-section so I knew when his birth would occur.  Kurtis and I were up at 4:30 in the morning and on our way to Kettering while all the shoppers were preparing for the early sales.  Now, as I've had two Thanksgivings come along after Kalen's birth, suddenly this fall holiday brings new meaning to me.  I have three beautiful children, for which I am grateful.  I adore all three of my kids. But something about my little Kalen makes this holiday more meaningful.  He is a lot of work.  He is very energetic.  He is unbelievably funny.  And he is my adorable little man.  He brings a joy to our home that I don't think we realized was missing.  He is just a delight despite his more "stubborn qualities".  Today, I just want to acknowledge the gratitude I have to be a mother to my Sam, Izzy, and Kalen.  And I am thankful to be Mrs. Kurtis Eber.  I am blessed even when I'm frantic, frazzled, and frizzy!

the Eber Christmas song

When I was pregnant with Sam, we were supposed to get an ultrasound a few weeks before Christmas that would tell us if the baby was a boy or girl.  I was so excited and wanted to have a fun way to tell everyone what we were having so I decided to make a fun Christmas card to send out.  I sat down and re-wrote "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to talk about Kurtis and I and in one line, I would say if the baby would be a boy or girl.  Well, we had a big snowstorm the day of my ultrasound and the hospital was closed so I wasn't able to find out the sex of the baby until mid-January.  Needless to say, everyone got Christmas cards at the end of January!  BUT this spawned a crazy tradition for our family that has become in its own way, something of much anticipation-the Eber Family Christmas song.
Each year, I take an old Christmas song (usually a hymn) and re-write it to tell of our family and what the past year has been like.  In 2004, it was "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  2005, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"  2006, "O Little Town of Bethlehem"   2007, "The First Noel"  2008, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"  2009, "I'll be Home for Christmas"  2010, "O Holy Night"
I won't say what song it will be for this year.  You have to wait till Christmas but I'd like to share how I come up with the songs.  Each year I haul out my hymnal and look over the list of songs.  Then I hum each tune and think about what has happened for us that year.  It usually happens instantly-that "Aha!" moment where I'm singing the first two lines of our family song before I've even hummed through the entire song.  For instance, last year Kurtis graduated from grad school, something that we'd been looking forward to for 5 years!  The song was either going to be the "Hallelujah Chorus" or "O Holy Night" b/c graduation was truly a "night divine!"  It came so easily and quickly to me.  I'm so thankful for a chance to show a little creativity and share with loved ones.  I even had a friend tell me that it was one of the highlights of the season for them to see what song I pick and how I rearrange it.  I'm not a musical genius and I won't be gracing any stages anytime soon but I'm so thankful to be able to share my love of music and my family in one swoop.  I thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who gave me a gift of music and allows me avenues to share it with those I love.  I really enjoy creating these fun songs and hope that they will continue to bring joy during the holiday season!

what kind of mom are you?

I think as a woman and esp. as a mom, I am in a constant "compare and compete" mentality when it comes to my abilities.  If someone else's kid reads faster than my kid, I don't reflect it upon my child....rather I think "if I was a better mother I would help him/her to read better".  It's kinda sad really that I do this on a constant basis and I know that I do this and still do it anyway.....
But, this week has been a crazy week as a mom..I taught preschool this week for Izzy's class and loved it.  It was a bit nuts b/c I taught the day after trick or treating which just meant that the children were a bit unfocused and a bit more sugar-ed!   But despite this, I decided to teach these adorable four year olds a song on the handbells.  It was hilarious, totally unorganized, and everyone was unhappy about the color of handbell I gave them BUT I'm okay with that....I'm a good mom for trying something new and fun with them.
Our letter of the week was Ii and I convinced my husband to put up his tent in the living room and then covered it with white sheets and "snow" that I bought at WalMart.  It looked kinda "ghetto igloo" and was close to "melting" by the end of class BUT the kids loved it and it was memorable at the least.
I also helped worked the book fair at Sammy's school.  It was so much fun to help the kids pick out what books they want.  And unfortunately, a little sad to see their faces when we didn't have a book they wanted or they didn't have enough money for the Lego Star Wars Dictionary that was $25!  BUT Sammy was so happy to have some money to buy some books and was so excited that I was there to help his class.  Even Isabel and Kalen enjoyed the books that Mommy picked up for them.
So maybe it sounds like I'm trying to brag or convince myself that I am a good mom....and maybe I am.....BUT I've come to the conclusion that I am a good mom!  I won't always be able to compete with other moms and really I shouldn't try....because not many of them would teach seven 4 yr olds the handbells or build a ghetto igloo.  They probably would volunteer at a book fair so I'll give them that BUT I'm still the best for my little Ebers and......I'm okay with that!

the ghetto igloo!

Sam the Man!

Last night at dinner, Sam ate eight chicken nuggets and then went back to eat his brother's leftovers.  I said "Sam, you shouldn't be eating all that b/c you can't still be hungry."  Sam replies "A man eats when a man's hungry!"
I'm soooo not prepared for him to grow up:)