Top 10 Tuesday: Why my Mom is better than your Mom

Kidding on that title by the way, I am sure that your Mom is just as fabulous as mine.  Well, maybe.  Unless she isn't.

So the reason for a post about my Mom today?

Today is my Mom's Birthday.  Yup, Valentine's day.  Guess what her name would have been had she been a boy...

So, in honor of her birthday, the top 10 reasons I'm glad she's my Mom (in no particular order):

1.  She traveled to New Jersey AND the Netherlands and spent several weeks caring for me {c-sections both times} and my littles when they were born.

Mar 6 2009, New Jersey


Feb 1 2011, Netherlands

2.  She can enjoy a good episode of The Bachelor just as much as me. {Although it's usually because of me that she's watching.}

Feb 13 2010

3.   I can completely be myself around her, cranky moods and all.

4.  She's a great lunch or dinner date.  Food, drinks and conversation with someone who knows everything about you? Yes, please, and thank you.

5.  She is an inspiration health and diet wise.  She lost the weight and kept it off.

6.  She is one of the best grandma's in the land.

7.  In an effort to stay connected with her kids and grandkids she is willing to still learn new technologies {with the help of her "help desks"...my sister-in-law and me}

8.  Through all of the things that have happened in both of our lives, including many moves {on my part}and marriages {on both of our parts}, our relationship has stayed as strong and unchanged as it has ever been.  Having that constant in my life is awesome.

9.  She is always a good shopping buddy.

10.  She was smart enough to give birth to me.   {haha.  ha.}

So, Mom...my most faithful blog reader {# reason 11}...Happy Birthday!!!

* * * 

Unsolicited Advice

Here is the unsolicited advice I usually dispense onto young couples:  

Move as a couple on your own, away from  your family. 

It will make you stronger as a team, as a new "family".  I still believe, to this day, it was one of the best decisions J#1 and I have made.  We moved to New Jersey in 2007, with no children and no plan of when we would return to Minnesota.

But having now added not just one, but two children to our family? 

NOW, I make sure to tell people to do it BEFORE they have kids.  

Once you have kids...well, as soon as we knew we were pregnant with J#3 {in 2008}, we were starting to think about how we would move back to Minnesota from New Jersey.  

I wanted him to be by his grandparents.  I wanted him to have memories that I hadn't when I was growing up {seeing as how I just had one living grandparent, my grandma, who passed away when I was seven.}  

Something about having a child made my view on the adventure of living as a couple on our own change.  So, we moved back to Minnesota.  

Fast forward to 2010, and we get the opportunity to move to Europe for a predetermined amount of time. Before our kids would be starting school. Perfect, right?   

Yes, except here we are an ocean away from our family...those exact grandparents that I wanted my kids to have memories with.  

We are away from the rest of our family. 

The people that would watch our kid's at a moment's notice, if needed.

And we are away from our very, very good friends.  

Thank the Lord for Skype, planes and the internet.  

Seriously.  How did people do this before those things were invented?

Don't get me wrong.  I know that I am extremely blessed to be in this situation.  But our trip back to Minnesota in December...where all of these photos are from...was very good for this girl's {that'd be me} soul. 

I know there are other folks who live away from their families who read...what are you thoughts?  What do you think are the good and bad parts of living away from family?

The Big Picture

The other day I was talking with my brother on the phone.  He was talking about all of the excitement in his life--home remodeling, new appliances, kids in sports and more.

And I said, "Well, nothing new here.  Life is pretty boring."

His reply:  "Boring?  You live in Scotland.  Your husband is in the middle of traveling between three different countries."

"Huh," I said.  "Guess you are right.  I don't seem to look at it that way."

"Yeah, you need to look at the big picture."

The big picture.

Huh.  That's a concept.  Perhaps I need to stop getting all caught up in the day to day stuff and remember to live in the moment and look at the big picture.

Now: spending time with family and friends.
In a few weeks: discovering Scotland.

And when I look at the big picture?  I need to be thankful.  Very, very thankful.

That brother of mine?  He's a smart guy.

And a fun Godfather too.

Tuesday Top 10: Home Sweet Home

No worries.  This is NOT another post about the many homes we have lived in.

When I say "home" in this post...it is a bit more general, as in "Minnesota".  Where I have lived 30 of my 33 years of life {Funny, I almost typed 32 of my 35 years.  How can I age myself so easily, when I keep thinking that I am still 32?}

We {meaning J#2-J#4} are here in Minnesota for an extended visit.  Even though we have only missed one winter here, I may have forgotten how cold it gets.  And I may have said to J#1 that we could just head back to Scotland with him when he left...but I was totally kidding.

I do that sometimes. And how could I even say that?  We are so unbelievably blessed and lucky to have this opportunity.  I need to be thanking God {oh, and J#1 too, I guess} every day for the chance to get all of this quality time with family and friends.

I need to count our blessings.  Which are unlimited.  But, since this is just a blog post..and it is Tuesday...

Here are the top 10 things about being home in Minnesota {in no particular order}.

#1.  Snow?

Yup.  Snow.  Just went out and got some snow pants and boots for J#3 yesterday.  And can I just say...$24.99 for boots? For a 2 year old?  Geez.

#2. Favorite restaurants...with friends, of course.

I wish I could get to the point where I was gusty enough to take photos inside of places.  You should see the inside of this place.  When I am there, I feel like I have been picked up and placed in New York City. Dreamy.  And the big, fluffy snowflakes falling? Definitely added to the beauty of the evening.

#3.  Movies...also with friends.

Source: breakingdawn-themovie.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Breaking Dawn, Part 1.  Sigh.  I know they had to end it somewhere, so there could be a part 2, but...well.  I don't know.  Don't know where else I would have wanted them to end it.  But, I guess maybe I just didn't want it to end.  {wink}

#4.  Christmas cookies with who? Friends.

Ooops.  I might have started eating one.  Pretty sure it was broken.  {wink}.  Oh!  And do you see my mustard, ketchup & relish cookie?

#5. Having a baking assistant.

...And a nice BIG kitchen to bake in for a change.  But having the baking assistant (a.k.a.  my mom) was awesome.  Good company, she washed dishes and measured out the ingredients.  I almost felt like I could be on a cooking show.

#6.  Fun cousin moments.

J#3 went on to try and put his cousin B "to bed" several times.  Complete with a good night kiss.  Unfortunately, I was either too slow...or too quick, to get the money shot of the actual good night kiss.  And we may have tried to stage it quite a few times.  Guess I better get a quicker trigger finger!

#7.  Caribou Coffee.

Nuff said.

#8.  Living in a hotel.
Sort of seems like an oxymoron, right?  Being "home" but in a hotel?  But, it works pretty well for us, and provides routine for the kids.  Plus: no cleaning, full breakfast provided and a pool.  Need I say more?

#9.  Getting to see my niece E show off her mad gymnastic skills.

#10.  J#3 helping Grandma decorate her Christmas tree.  Priceless.

Linking up this week with:

Nicole @ Miss Mommy {who, when I win the lottery, I will by flying to Canada}

and

Amanda @ Oh Amanda

Thankful

J#4's birth day

J#3 turns 2

amsterdam, and the keukenhof

Source: etsy.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Easter, family photo success

playing with photo booth

ireland

Source: spaceforinspiration.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

nephew #1.  godson. 

nephew #2 and niece

friends.  old and new.  forever.

Source: mybodypeaceofmind.tumblr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

family.

and even more family.

Source: homegrownhospitality.typepad.com via Jenny on Pinterest

sneaky.

"sweets" standing & smiling.

loving.

thankful.

I hope you all enjoy relaxing and a few fun days with those who you care about the most and make you happy. Be it just your honey, or a huge extended family...either way, I hope you appreciate their presence.

I am spending the day doing a 5K {my first!}, and having probably TWO huge meals with all the fixens'.

Lucky I'm starting the day with run, right?  {wink}