xmas letters

Sometimes your kids do something so cute...you just want to remember it forever.  You just wonder....where do they come up with such things?

Gabe and Owen were jumping up and down "please, mom please".  They wanted to write their letters to Santa Claus.  I was in the middle of fixing dinner and told them that they would have to wait until I was done.  You see, I always help the boys write their letters.  Gabe informed me he could write the letters this year.  What a great idea, I thought.   As I cooked dinner, the boys worked on their letters.

After they were done Gabe brought me his letter and asked me "Mom, can you sign this"?  I told him that I didn't need to sign his letter, he would have to sign it.  He informed me that this year his Santa letter would need a parent's signature.  He told me that since he and his brother were asking for guns he wanted to make sure that Santa knew it was OK with his parents.    I just smiled and signed his letter.

Dear Santa,

I want a 22.  My parents agree.  They will sign it from Gabe Dahl.

Dear Santa,

I want a BB gun with a scope.  My parents agree they will sign it.   From Owen Dahl.  P.S. Please write back.

Dear Santa, my name is Eli.  I want a Elmo puppet.  Thank you Santa.  Eli


Well, I couldn't have written these letters any better.  I am sure that Santa will be pleased especially with the parental consent form!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Thanksgiving for the Dahl family means hunting, birthdays, and South Dakota.  Every year we head to Spearfish to hunt and spend time with family.  Nobody is more excited about hunting then Gabriel.  He waits for this week all year and this year was no exception.

Baby Grace joined us this year.  Everyone was excited to meet her!

Eli isn't quite old enough to get up early in the morning and hunt but, he sure loved having Grammy's I Pad to himself all day.   His favorite game is the Elmo letter game.

After a long day of hunting, the boys came home to decorate Eli's birthday cake.  Eli turned 3!

Grace got to meet all her cousins.  Lauren, Derek, Avery, and Emma joined us for Eli's birthday party.  His favorite toy was his singing Elmo.

 

On Sunday, Grandma, Pop, Aunt Megan, Amaya, and Adaline came over to spend the day with us.

 

Thankful

Thanksgiving week the boys brought home some papers from school that I wanted to keep.  They both wrote about what they were thankful for.

 

Owen, my kindergartener, is thankful for his dad.  They have always been very close.  Bryan doesn't escape the house without his little buddy....even just a quick trip to the store.  So, I loved this paper he brought home.  He is just simply thankful for his dad.

 

Gabriel said....

I am most thankful for family because they are helpful.  I am thankful for God because he made the world.  I am thankful for Thanksgiving because we get to share it with our family.

Well, enough said.  This made my heart melt.   Two most important things in the world.  God and family.  He is just a special little boy!

little girl

When I told Grammy and Gramps that we were expecting a little girl, they were in a little bit of shock.  Maybe a lot?  Gramps just smiled and said he wouldn't really believe it until she was born.

You see, Gramps has two brothers, three sons, and seven grandsons.  He just didn't quite believe a little girl was coming.  And, he never really believed it until he held his first granddaughter in his arms.  It was a very special moment!

Then, Grammy had to have her turn.  Holding her and rocking her and welcoming her to our family.

This little girl is the luckiest little girl that I know.  To have such wonderful grandparents that love her so much!

Our tree

Here we are.  Dirty faces and all.  I wanted to get a really cute picture of all four kids.  But, this one makes me smile so I will post it. It's how we were one cold afternoon in December.

After our attempt at a picture, I promised the boys we would go outside for a little while.  It's cold and the wind is howling.  Too cold for a walk around the lake.  We settle for the path to the school.  The path we walk everyday.  Sheltered from the wind.

The boys want to climb trees.  There is something about boys and trees.  They have to climb, to master it, to be in it.

And, when they do make it to the top.  They have conquered the world.

And, the little ones want a turn.  Even if they need help.

So, I push and encourage and become frustrated but, we do it.  Mom on the ground, 6 year old in the tree.

Then we wonder how to get down.  Big brother has to help.  And, after all this effort, littlest brother decides that crunching leaves is more fun.  He no longer wants to climb.  And, I know that someday he will master this tree.  In time.

And the wind is still howling so we head inside for a Bronco game.  Daddy is waiting for us.   A little colder then when we started but knowing we have mastered the tree we can enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

Patience

I am sitting here with a bright green cast.  My newest addition to my arm.  12 days ago I snapped the bone right below my wrist.  Ice skating.  One of those moments that I want to rewind and take back.

I can't take it back and as I sit here thinking about the last two weeks, I am overwelmed.  After I had Grace, I thought I was spread thin.   I didn't feel like I could handle one more thing.  I didn't think I could survive the long days and nights of caring for four children.

Then, I broke my arm and all I long for is those days and nights.  Perspective.  My life has been put into perspective.  What I thought was hard a few weeks ago has become 10 times harder.  My patience is being tested every moment.  You see, even typing this post one handed is testing me.  Normally,  I type very fast.  Not with one hand.  As I slowly type out each word it is a reflection of my life.  Slow.

I am not able to drive and have been at home for two weeks.  I have had to depend on others to do my shopping and errands.  No activities with the kids, no bible study, no getting out.  Anyone who knows me, knows being homebound will surely drive me insane.  I have to get out.  Talk to people,do things.

Patience.  Being tested to the limits.

Monday I will have surgery.  I have to give the care of my baby to someone else for 24 hours.  This is already causing me great anxiety.  I have serious control issues over the care of my babies.  When they get fed.  How and when they sleep.   Changing their diaper for pete's sake.

Now, I have to give up the control and just trust that she will be taken care of.  It's very hard for me.

I know this broken arm is teaching me some powerful lessons but let's be honest.  I DON'T WANT TO LEARN THEM.  THIS IS MISERABLE FOR ME.

When you don't have a choice, you make the most of it.  I am trying my best to do that.  Waiting each day for my arm to heal so I can again hold my baby, drive my kids to swim lessons, and type a blog post in under 10 minutes.

Being forced to do everything differently and not do some things at all.  After it is all said and done, I'm sure I will look back and laugh.  Today I will endure this broken arm to the best of my ability.  Trusting and depending on my family and being thankful for each one.  Praying for the perseverance that I need in each moment.  I surely need it!