Breathing new life into the blog

Signs of spring are beginning to come alive here in our neck of the woods.

It's been a long cold (windy) winter filled with lots and lots of changes around our home. 

We don't always do so well with change..... I've probably mentioned that before.

So we moved Feb. 1st and I will admit that the first month or month and 1/2 I was utterly convinced that I had made the biggest mistake ever.  We didn't like our house that much, we couldn't go outside, and we really, really disliked our new church building.  Sigh, the church thing hasn't really changed.  We really aren't very happy but we keep going and we hope that something changes there.  I feel a little like it's some kind of test and some days I'm entirely sure I'm failing at it.

But, in all other matters we are once again pretty content with our lot in life.  We have learned to love our new bigger piece of turf we call home.  We've been some pretty fabulous places this winter.  And recent more consistent school activities have brought much ride sharing between other similarly located parents which makes me very happy and a lot less stressed out about getting us everywhere we need to go plus we are forming some very deep friendships there which is a wonderful thing.

And my Kids?  My kids are pretty happy to.  And well they should be we've done some incredibly awesome things this winter in between the moving and everything.

First in January we traveled to Utah for the annual ski week with the cousins.  I don't call this a vacation.  With 8 children 9 and under running through the rental condo it is not a vacation for the parents but it is alot of fun most days.

Then in March I suprised the kids with an unexpected twist to our spring plans.  They thought we were spending spring break at my Mom's in Az but I blew their minds away once we arrived in Phoenix and I informed them that we were, in fact, headed to Hawaii for 6 wonderful days of fun.

Hawaii.... sigh.... could I please go back there again?  It was truely a paradise and a much needed balm after our hectic winter.

And I know that all of these plus a few more deserve their own blog post.  Especially the surfing in Hawaii.  I'll hope to get on that very, very soon.

In the meantime, I'm busy color cordinating the summer schedule of activities.  It's going to be crazy.  Which is pretty much normal around here.

But I'm not moving so there is that.....

Because of Course We Make the Gingerbread Houses MC

Of course we do!  This summer I was lucky enough to strike up a conversation with the lady at the local farm's market that makes great granola (and mini pies).  She told me that she made gingerbread houses at Christmas time and gave me her card.  I called her in October curious what her houses would cost and found out that she would make them, put them together, and provide all of the candy for $20.  Hmm, that sounded like a great deal because I think I often pay that much for the cardboard box house.  I called my SIL and we decided to make a party out of it.

And that's the story about how it came to be that roughly 7 hours after I got home from my company christmas party (oh my aching head and sore feet) I found myself surrounded by 8 of my favorite little people. 

 

Riley and Daniel preparing for the cousins arrival.  It was killing them to wait.

 

 

Cousins hard at work

 

Even the parents got involved.  We decided next year we might have to have our own houses it was so much fun!

 

 

And here is our completed gingerbread village with the artists themselves.

 

It was a very fun way to spend our Saturday.  I let Riley and Daniel start eating them the very next day and I found it not only was it a great deal the gingerbread tasted really, really good. (and I'm not really a gingerbread fan so that is saying something). 

 

This is a tradition we have enjoyed for years and now we hope to continue to enhance it as a family project.  These cousins, they love each other so much and enjoy every minute we get to spend together.

 

Stay tuned this bunch is about to hit the ski slopes of Utah in a few short week!

 

MC - I hope you have as much fun with your gingerbread houses as we had with ours.  Next year we think you should think about joining us for our gingerbread extravaganza.

 

Today I

• Bit my tongue almost in ½ to stop from fussing at Daniel to please be quiet at the breakfast table (Riley and I just prefer quiet in the morning)

• Packed special “I love you” notes in the lunchboxes

• Didn’t force Riley to eat something for breakfast

• Didn’t act like the drill sergeant I usually am most mornings with the “Did you brush your teeth?”, “Did you comb your hair?”  “Did you make your bed?”

• I didn’t worry so much about dirty dishes in the sink or whether the blinds were up for the day.

Today I

 

• Overlooked the unfortunate (in my eyes) headband that in no way keeps the hair out of Riley eyes
• I played Christmas music on my phone during breakfast and on the way to school
• I hugged everyone tight before they put on their shoes and coats and got in the car
• And I think I said I love you 854 times and about as many “Have a great days” as I dropped them off at school.

• Because somewhere in CT today are parents that don’t get to do those things anymore and I’m going to really try and remember what a privilege it is that I do.  I want to grow up and be that Mom that let her daughter wear that new dress and those new boots to school on Friday just because.

Shh! Want to Know our Secret?

Our secret is not our secret anymore I suppose.  We've been absent from the blog for quite awhile doing all of the usual fall things that we love to do and... at the same time making plans for our future.

The Eckman family is on the move once more.  Yes, I, I who said our last move would be our last move has been proven wrong once again.  Quelle suprise there Ha!

I've been quietly looking around for about six months.  We've made a committment to our school of choice and it is obvious that we aren't going to change that.  I am just way excited about how well our school seems to fit us.  It's just part of who we are and, so, if this is who we are than we needed to be closer to it.  It just made sense you know?

So I started looking, and evaluating, and projecting ourselves 5 years down the road, 10 years down the road.. what was the right road?

And then one day I found it.  The right road or, in this case, the right house on the right road. We are leaving behind some people we love alot and we are moving further away from the farm and the family so on paper it doesn't make any sense at all.  In my heart and in my mind during the quiet moments (when I'm not struck dumb by anxiety - oh you know I'm an anxious doubting kind of sort) but in those moments when I allow myself to be silent.. then I know.. this is where we belong.  This is our new road (and our new house).

And we are embracing our new road feet first. 

After all, one of Riley's best friends who happens to live not 1 mile from our new home said it best of all - "This is going to be so awesome!"  I believe it will be.  It just will.  Be still my anxious heart.

Settlement - Jan 3.
Move date - March 20th.  (Just in time for Lacrosse season to swing into gear)

Manheim Township - here we come.

Here's my new kitchen - how sweet is that? Riley and I are itching to get in that kitchen and do some real cooking... and paint the walls... and do some real cooking!

Blast From the Past

Because 7 years ago Riley, my Mom, and I flew 1/2 way around the world in search of a princess to join our family but instead found a prince with pink shoes.

It's going to be a Duct Tape Halloween

Riley and her girlies are way into duct tape these days. It seems most girls are. Riley's been busy creating some halloween decorations for us.

No worry about the pumpkins rotting this year!

And, with the fall preparations the first of the Halloween costumes arrived yesterday - much to Daniel's angst it was Riley's costume that arrived first. 

She makes a beautiful southern belle.  I believe, that once again, Riley picked her costume strictly because it came with a ton of accessories!  No matter, she looks lovely and I'm grateful she didn't want to craft a costume out of duct tape.

7 years and a Lifetime Ago...

7 years ago today I arrived home from Almaty Kazkhstan carting this load (it's a very cute load, don't get me wrong, but, man, he was heavy and in my infinite wisdom I made the last minute decision to travel without a stroller - not my best decision ever):

and I had this to say in an email I sent out to family and friends:

Hi everyone.  We are home at last.  5 days later and a world of difference. 

I arrived in Almaty on Tuesday night.  Wednesday I did some sightseeing and shopping with my translator and driver and then about 6pm Dan arrived at the airport.  Dan seemed somewhat confused by everything going on around him but came willingly to me. My translator told me that in the two years she has worked for LMI Dan is the biggest baby she has ever seen! He is a solid 18 month size which Riley didn't wear until she was home almost 9 months and even now Riley is still around a 24 month somewhat 2T size.  It won't take him long before he is her size.  He is also walking now and very proud of himself and I swear there are alot more teeth his mouth.

 

Thursday we went for the medical checkup and found out that Dan had some kind of chest cold.  They put him on a antibotic and cough syrup but cleared him medically to come home.  Then we went to the embassy and had Dan's exit interview and to celebrate we went back to the apartment and packed it all up.

 

We were picked up about 12:30am for the flight home.  I had hoped Dan would sleep most of the way to Frankfurt but he was awake as soon as we started moving the bags and things.

Soon we boarded the plane and, well, the rest of the next 30+ hours of the trip were a real nightmare. At one point in the 7+ hour layover in Frankfurt I really thought I wasn't going to make it. But, like any labor, now that it is over and we are all home it is starting to fade away. And as my advertisment plug of the day - CHEERIOS.  I may write the company that makes them a thank-you card.

 

Dan fell asleep (1st time the whole trip) just as the plane was flying over Lancaster Co. and he slept right through the big moment.  The INS official even said to him, "Wake up little man you are an american now" but the whole thing slipped right by him. I, on the other hand, almost started crying as soon as I saw the exit signs taking us out of the baggage area.  There were two of them about 20 yards apart down a long hallway and as soon as I cleared the 2nd door my family saw us and started waving. 

 

Finally we were in the car and headed back to our house.  Both of my kids in the car seats side by side.  Riley reached out and took Dan's hand and somehow that had the effect of wiping out most (ok some) of my misery of the long journey home.

 

We have a few days of adjustment ahead of us I think.  Riley is glad to have me home although a little stand offish.  She didn't want to have much to do with me either at the airport or once we arrived home.  But at bedtime did not want me to leave her room at all so I guess my leaving her has been a little hard on her.  She also keeps saying that I am Dan's mommy but when I say I am also Riley's mommy she seems a little unsure of that.  I suppose she has some concerns about all of these changes.  Her Mommy has some concerns of her own.  I woke in a panic this morning thinking I am now responsible for two little ones.

 

Riley is, however, very proud, happy, and motherly towards Dan.  He fussed a moment being put in the carseat for the first time in his life but fell asleep pretty fast and has been asleep ever since!  I hope when he awakes again finally my sweet boy is back and not the devil child I was begining to think he had become during the trip home.  While tired, drained, and about to start screaming myself during the trip home I also realized it was even worse for Dan who had endured so many changes in a few days.

 

But we are home now!  Just wanted to let everyone know.

 

Ginny

 

Seven years later and I can now say that trip from Hell was totally worth it.  Happy 7 years home Daniel - I sure do love you boy.