Resisting....

This is me when Tommie and I first got married-probably a few months after. I got my hair cut short and LOVED LOVE LOVED it.

Now my hair is VERY long. I should take a picture with photo booth to show you, but....my hair is in a braid today cause I didn't take the time to do it!

Anyway, it's down to my shoulder blades and I want it just a little longer still. But I see pictures like this and almost call the hairdresser...

In other news, I'm off to Lynchburg today with my mom and the babies to see my sister, Kendra! Should be a blast! Tommie will hold down the fort with Maple and miss us so much he will do all of my chores and have dinner or lunch waiting for us when we get back on Saturday...(do you read my blog, Honey?)

When I get back, I'll show you my AMAZING DollarTree finds. I'm hooked!

1/4c Applesauce + 1/2tsp Baking Powder= 1 Egg??

Tommie wanted cookies. We only had one egg and needed two for this AMAZING COOKIE RECIPE. (if you want it, leave a comment and it's yours)

We had applesauce though. I had heard once that you can substitute applesauce for an egg...so I googled it and found multiple people suggesting 1/4c applesauce + 1/2tsp baking powder= 1 egg.

Eagerly, we mixed it up and set it to bake!

Things were looking great.

Except I guess the sugar in the applesauce made them stick to the pan...and I think the baking powder makes them a little to fluffy for my taste.

One pan didn't stick though. And they TASTED GREAT! I don't think I'll use this substitute again though. So if you're wondering, the formula I used in my title is not entirely accurate in my book. But we did enjoy the cookies we got!

In other domestic news, I started quilting! Actually, here's a peek, I've got the front pieced together...now to trim my pieces and stitch the front together. I can't believe I'm quilting.

Here's to domesticity.

Dreams

Liliana to me this morning when I got her up: "Mommy, where are the people?"

Me: "What people, baby?"

Liliana: "My friends?"

Me: "Which friends, honey?"

Liliana: "The ones that came in my room."

Me (now alarmed): "What?! Which ones that came in your room? Who came in your room?"

Liliana: "Mommy, the cows."

Me: "What cows?"

Liliana: "The cows from Chick-fil-A with Aspen."

Me: "Oh, I don't know honey."

She's having dreams and can finally tell us about them.

Awesome.

Boys and Babies

We have some great guys in our family. I saw clear evidence of this last week while I was in Colorado. The kids made the most of the attention the uncles and daddies were willing to give, and those of us with the cameras did the same. Enjoy:

They look a little bit alike, don't they? We got this shot of Tommie and Truett hanging out at Chili's with Tommie's mom during her lunch break.

There is never an end to the request for Uncle Grant to "hold you?!" He almost always obliges, no matter the number of children...which of course, is why Grant is the dangerous/loving uncle. ;)

Uncle Mike is basically a second father to Liliana. Here she is in Idaho Springs with Mike and Aspen. We had just eaten lunch at our favorite pizza joint, Beau Jo's, and decided to snap some shots in front of the frozen waterfall/water wheel.

Here's to men who: aren't afraid to shoot guns, sleep in snow caves, look death and health in the eyes, rise to the occasion, pray for wisdom, pray for forgiveness, kiss their wives, plan dates, play airplane for way too long, befriend the friendless, cook, try new things, seek out adventure, hike an unmarked path, say bedtime prayers, tell bedtime stories, swim with babies, make family a priority, make God a priority and love life- all in front of the children who call them heroes.

Thanks for helping to make our vacation to Colorado amazing.

We're Baaack...

We're home from Colorado, where our gorgeous niece, Aspen, had her first birthday party.

We had more fun than we could have imagined! And now of course, we're gonna work on getting back in gear here in Colorado(and getting rid of a nasty cold the kiddos shared with each other....and Tommie). Stories and photos to come.

Losing It...

Have you ever lost something so great, it sits in the middle of your chest for longer than you could have ever imagined...sometimes making you catch your breath because it's just too heavy, and sometimes.... just seeming invisible? Have you ever lost someone and it made you feel the same way?

Have you ever woken up and realized a dream you had was dead now, lost and gone because the time for that opportunity had passed you by? Did you cry for it? Did you remember it later, much later, and still miss it?

Have you ever grieved for a loss you know is coming? You know you shouldn't think about it, but you know you will be bereaved soon enough and it just all seems too much.

Loss, and Grief...something I've thought about lately because of circumstances in my own life, yes, but also in the lives of those I know.

How heavy the burden of grief, how unexpected the torment it can make you experience even in times of great happiness and growth. Sometimes, without warning, you realize your loss and it stretches out your insides so tightly that you're sure if you open your mouth, nothing but a small cry could escape...you wouldn't even have tears, just a small, small cry.

Grief is relative I'm learning. We may think what we're grieving for is too small to matter. But you know, if it's something we're grieving for, that just can't be true-it must matter. It may be hard for others to understand, but after reading a certain book, I think I have a healthier perspective on the issue.

All that to say, I've had a hard time with this move to Virginia. My grief over the loss of the life (as a whole) that I had in Colorado is real and sometimes sneaks up on me.

I'm learning to move on though. I'm also learning that moving on doesn't mean I won't sometimes need to cry or remember what I've lost....and remember the blessings I have now. Virginia is becoming my home.

As I'm set to return to Colorado next week for the first time since our move, I'm ready to remember that Virginia is where God called us. It's where our new memories will happen and it's where adventure will call my name for now. So for now, that's home and I'm ready to love it.

I know you have something you've lost. Know that grief is good and the future is bright.

Beignets

Well, the way I made them they would probably be called DOUGHNUTS.

Either way, they were magnifique.

Anyone else out there been to Cafe du Monde and gotten hooked on their beignets, perfectly powdered with sugar in a brown paper sack? You just can't recreate that French Quarter feel at home...

Anyway, happy Wednesday morning to me and Liliana!

Terrifyingly Awesome

On Sunday night in Virginia Beach, Tommie and I were home. We didn't have small group because of the snow, so we were looking forward to an early evening, trying to catch up on some sleep. We watched some shows and hopped in the shower, ready to head to bed as soon as we got out.

We got in and had just gotten our hair wet when, THE POWER WENT OUT!!!! There are no windows in our bathroom, so it was DARK. Tommie, without missing a beat, hopped out of the shower to walk through the house and make sure all was safe. Meanwhile, I'm still in the shower...in the DARK. Tommie was still looking around and the kids were sleeping, so I didn't want to yell for him, but after a minute or two, I started getting nervous. If someone was in the house, surely they would know exactly where I was cause the shower was running! But I didn't want to risk getting out in the dark either, especially if the boogeyman was already in my bedroom!

So I did the only thing I could think to do, I crouched down in the shower and looked for a weapon. I saw a shower pouf, a bar of soap, a shampoo bottle...and MY RAZOR. Obviously, I then unsheathed my trusty razor and laid in wait for whatever villain would be sorry enough to cross my and my Bic Soleil's path.

Thankfully, it was about 30seconds later when Tommie got back and did NOT surprise me and my weapon. He said the lights weren't out on the street (which made me glad for choosing a weapon), and that I should get out and follow him as he got a different weapon I will not name and searched the house more thoroughly-by iPhone flashlight. And I grabbed a candle. I was pretty nervous at this point, but the house was clear and we checked on the kids multiple times.

In fact, a piece of decor that my sister Kendra gave me came in quite useful as I checked on the kids and made my way through the house:

It's a blown-glass candle holder and candle from Williamsburg. You know, the kind with the little fingerhole and tray that pilgrims used. It rocked.

Anyway, crisis averted, Tommie and I called the power company and found out our side of the street is on a different circuit than the rest of our neighborhood, which is why all the other lights were still on. We also found out, at 10p.m., that our power would probably be out until 2a.m.(it was). So we put some extra blankets on the kiddos and our bed, sat by a fire in the fireplace for a while and then resumed our plan of going to bed early.

And I dreamt of killing people with my razor....no, just kidding. I didn't really have dreams at all that night. Thank Goodness.

Snowy Weekend!!!

This weekend we had a welcome, but long-forgotten, unexpected visitor: SNOW!

We heard there might be some snow, but we were really only thinking flurries. Much to our surprise, we woke up Saturday morning to 6-8" of the lovely white magic maker! Liliana played outside with the neighbor kids and then Tommie, Wayne and Kendall had a MASSIVE snowball fight in the backyard. Even Maple seemed to be happily reminded of our former snow glory in CO...she played outside for probably 20min with Tommie and the boys despite the fact that the snow was up to her chest!

What a fun weekend. And there's still snow outside!

Also, for no reason, this:
p.s. I have a great story about something terrifyingly awesome that happened last night that I don't have time to post right now. So check back later for a post that will surely make you laugh...

I Will Finish This Project!

Okay, so recently my dad sent me money to complete a craft of my choice. Knowing how I am, I was concerned...I have a bad habit of starting something only to never truly complete it. When someone is being so generous, well, it made me labor over the choices for far to long. Finally, one night, I decided to make a quilt. My sister Kristin has made a few that are too cute for words and I decided I CAN DO IT! (don't you think I can too?!?!)

Here is a picture of the quilt I'm going to make:

The fabrics shown are gorgeous, but both very expensive and very scarce nowadays. That line of fabric has been out for a while and it's not being printed anymore. So I scoured the web looking for good substitutes. I found a great fabric site and chose the following fabrics:

I had a difficult time picking coordinating fabrics, so I got what they call a "Fat Quarter Stack" of coordinating fabrics. I LOVE them.

The most daunting part will likely be the ruffle, which I've never done before, but Kristin seems certain she can direct me through it, even at a distance. So I'm crossing my fingers and chose this fabric for the ruffle(although it will have to be combined with another to make enough fabric to go round):

So, time to dig in my heels and COMPLETE a project for once! I'm going to do this one and I'm going to post the results, hopefully sooner rather than later! Actually, I'm hope to get a lot of it done before I head out to Colorado in a few weeks. That way my sister can help me and then I KNOW I'll get it done! Wish me luck!

NFC Championships

Tommie isn't always into NFL football, but the championships are here and we've been watching football all day.

Lili liked it though because Daddy let her stay up late and cuddle while watching a little bit of the man .vs. man .vs. pig ball. She said, "Mommy, silly football. They fall down!' Yes, Liliana. Yes they do.

Pancake Day!

Fridays are great days around here. Tommie has the day off since he typically works on the weekend and some nights. So does our friend, Wayne, who's the youth pastor at Trinity. His fiancee Bethany also takes the day off from Starbuck's. Kendall, the youth intern and one of Liliana's favorite people also takes the day off.

So, a few months ago, when we were all saying we should do something on our collective day off, we decided to start PANCAKE DAY! It was really just going to be once, but it's morphed into an every week thing. Someone brings fruit, bacon, eggs...then we alternate houses and make pancakes! I think it's probably Liliana's favorite day of the week. This week, in addition to all of her favorite friends that are usually at Pancake Day, our friend Josh also joined us, so it was especially specially. :)

Here's a shot of Lili enjoying the attention of Josh and Kendall, sitting in front of the uneaten feast (staying warm under paper towels).

I think pancake day might be one of my favorite days of the week too....

Our Sweet Friend RUTHIE

Last Sunday, I dropped Liliana off at our friends' house down the street so she could play while I had Bible study at my house. The family where the kids play is a home with four kids. Their second child and second daughter, Ruthie, is eight years old and such a sweetheart. When I walked in, she had made me this:

Though I'm not entirely sure what it is, I know it was made in love from the depths of that beautiful girl's heart. And when I went to pick Lili up, she was sporting this(apologies for my atrocious photograph and my terrible attempt to make it more viewable...):

It's a pink and purple friendship bracelet from, you guessed it, Ruthie. She also had created another "work of art" for one of the other moms coming to pick up her kiddos.

Praise God for a family who raises their children to be generous, to think of others, and to give joyfully. And praise God for making Ruthie a friend.

ETSY Twin

I was browsing on ETSY tonight and got a little freaked out when I clicked on link...Here's what popped up:

Is it weird that I think that girl looks a lot like me? Is it weird that that weirds me out!?

The Incredibly (confusing) Awesome Disappearing Trick. (x2)

My children woke up at 6:45 a.m. this morning. This is early for them. I know for some of you that sounds late...but for them it's probably about an hour and a half too soon. Anyway, it is an important fact that you must bear in mind as we progress through this story.

We did what we had to do early this morning. We came home, hung out, and proceeded to make lunch at our normal time. On the menu:

+Obligatory Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich cut into dinosaur shapes of course

+2 Deliciously Orange Carrots

+Handful of Chopped Apples (a favorite)

+Small(much smaller) Handful of Fritos (mostly because Mommy was having them and didn't want to hear "bite? pwease?" the whole way through lunch.)

We had half a carrot and 2/3 of the sandwich left when we relocated to the desk to video chat with Granmommy.

"Don't eat it, okay?" Lili said as we sat down at the desk with her food.

"Okay, you eat it all then, okay," I replied.

"Okay," said Lili.

DISAPPEARING TRICK-ACT 1

We finished our video chat and were headed to put Truett to bed when I noticed there was still 1/3 of a carrot left and a piece of sandwich no bigger than the last knuckle on your fourth finger (I kid you not). I gave the carrot to Lili and asked her if she wanted the rest of the sandwich. She said no. Instead of throwing it out, I just popped it in my mouth, figuring it was too small to put the effort into throwing it in the trashcan.

A shocked, tearful face appeared on my daughter's little head, and she started screaming that she wanted the sandwich. Figuring I could divert this little tantrum we continued our walk to put TW to bed. We got to his bedroom and she was still crying, though now more hysterically, about the sandwich.

(Imagine this angry face on Liliana...I just found my camera charger... so I won't have to use an outdated photo of my angry son for you to visualize my angry two-year-old daughter for much longer...hang in there)

This is when a very confusing thing happened for both of us:

I opened my mouth to show her that I couldn't get the sandwich back. Indeed, it had disappeared from my mouth and gone into my belly. Unfortunately, this was confusing to her...and at the moment I opened my mouth, she shoved her hand in my mouth wiggling her fingers around, looking for her disappeared sandwich, which was uncomfortable and confusing for me.

I'd never had anyone search my mouth for their food before. I don't recommend it.

DISAPPEARING TRICK-ACT 2

After many attempts at explaining the missing sandwich piece, I decide my poor dear is simply too tired to reason with. She was still hysterically crying as I placed her in her bed for a much needed morning nap. All the while she was crying, "I want sanwich!!!! Pweeeeaseee!" Knowing I could do nothing for her, I kissed her on her head, said, "Sweet dreams, I love you," and left and closed the door. Next thing I know, she's crying, "I want Mommmmyyyyyy!!!" Apparently that disappearing act was equally confusing.

Moral?

You can't really explain much to your kid when their brain is asleep and their body isn't. Oh, and missing food is a BIG DEAL to a two-year-old.

The Balloon Man/Incredible Work of Extraordinary Genius

Liliana to Chick-Fil-A Family Night balloon guy, "I like buffly, pwease."

Chick-Fil-A Family night balloon guy:

And actually, we went again this week and I didn't get a picture...but this butterfly is like Kindergarten stuff for this dude. Some of his other balloon works are mind blowing.(haha, pun...)

Tommie asked him if he went to school for this. He said he went to college and did this on the side to help pay for his degree. Then he got out and realized he made more doing this and had more fun doing this. I should have gone to clown school.

If Tommie got this guy to come to my 25th Birthday Party this year, I would NOT be disappointed.

2010 Is Waiting...

A long, long time ago (2008), my family looked like this:

Nowadays(2010), my family looks, bigger, older...and maybe a little bigger in other ways too. (like around the waistline...ha!):

So many things have changed. I've realized that many of those things have happened just as time has gone by and without any planning on my part. I liked it that way! But with the new year, I've been thinking it's not a terrible idea to have some tangible goals for 2010.

I've been reading blog posts by an author named Donald Miller, who has greatly influenced my thinking on New Year's Resolutions and have decided to tell a story with 2010. (Check out part 1 of Miller's ideas here, and part 2 here) Instead of setting goals that are the means...I want to decide what I want the end to look like. With those stories in mind, the details can fall in place to make those larger stories happen. That being said, here are the stories I want to be telling when December rolls around at the end of this year:

1. I want to have memorable stories of great one-on-one dates with Tommie for each of the months this year.

2. I want to host friends in my house for at least 2 parties that have nothing to do with our ministry at church.

3. I want to share happy, memorable mealtimes with my family that include local, organic and just plain good food.

4. I want to tell great stories about the fun I had taking a dance class with my friends at the rec center.

5. I want to vacation with my extended family.

Here's to 2010!!!!

Family Night at Chick-Fil-A

It could likely be said that the Bozich's (at least our small branch) are unreasonably loyal to random things. In our house:

-Coca-Cola is king of beverages

-Target will always win over Wal-Mart

-Make no mistake that Macs rule the computer world

and of course, one of our most beloved brands:

There is something about that little restaurant that gets us in the right mood, full and happy every time. Lucky for us, it's simply an awesome restaurant. On Family Nights, of which we partook last night, Chick-Fil-A chains all over the country hire special people, do special crafts and just plain old offer awesome deals.

In VA Beach, we have one that does family night on Mondays, and one that does them on Tuesdays. Theoretically, we could have family night twice a week, every week. But I digress...

Here's the scoop:

-Last week we tried out family night for the first time. There was a sick balloon "artist" there who made Liliana a rockin' butterfly bracelet. Yes, I said bracelet. Yes, out of a balloon. It was bananas. It was also for free. Also for free was Lili's kid's meal once we purchased a combo meal, which of course we were going to do no matter what. So, that was simply awesome.

-This week we tried out the other family night. It was BINGO night, and not quite as awesome for a two-year-old, but the older kids loved it. They got prizes for winning and the same deal was in place for the free kid's meal with a combo.

Basically, Chick-Fil-A is sponsoring a night for you to have a memorable date with your family. Do it. You'll be happy you did. Here's a link to their website with more info on locations so you can call the one nearest you and see if they have a family night you can try.

Oh, and P.S. Liliana is terrified of the cows at Chick-Fil-A...the cow costume ones...

Food Inc.

Last night we watched a movie called "Food, Inc." It's kind of a documentary and expose on how our food has become a slightly monopolized big business.

We didn't really know what to think at first. Afraid we might end up not wanting to eat anything after the flick, we cuddled up with our fruit cobbler and hurried and ate while the movie ramped up. Ultimately though, we didn't end up vegans, vegetarians or anything of the sort.

We did however become increasingly convinced that buying local food, food in season, and knowing where our food comes from at the source aren't such bad ideas.

With that in mind, we are going to check out our local farmers' market this week. It looks like it should be pretty awesome:

If you're interested in finding a similar food market near you, check out LocalHarvest.org

Too Long, Too Much to Say

A New Year's Resolution:

Don't regret the past. Keep moving with the knowledge you've gained from it.

That being said, no updates, just a picture of what we're up to now and the hope for things and posts to come! Enjoy.