The Difference a Year Makes

These pictures were both taken on Easter: 2008 and 2009. Both were taken by Andy. Both were taken at the end of the day. Both of them have me in my pajamas. But, both of them did not have, well, both...kiddos, that is. Actually in 2008 on Easter, I was pregnant but just did not know it yet. When we took that picture we had no idea that on the next Easter, Abby would be sitting on my lap. We had no idea what was to come, how our lives would again be blessed by the coming of a child. We had no idea that our home was going to hold pink clothes or hair bows or little dollies.

When we were taking this picture on Sunday, I found myself remembering the one from last year, a favorite...it's even on our fridge. Things change. I also, however, found myself remembering what doesn't change...an Empty Tomb and a Risen Lord.

Happy Easter...a few days late.

The Chomper

Eli cycles through favorite toys quite frequently. His most recent favorite toy was a monster/alien thing that came in a Happy Meal. Eli named him "Quilt." Hmmm. At the same time that Quilt joined our family, Eli's actual quilt was in the wash, therefore meaning he had a different blanket on his bed. Maybe the two are connected, though I am not sure. One of the millions of times I have wished to be in Eli's head. Now, Quilt is abandoned at the bottom of the toy box.

Before Quilt, Eli's favorite toy was a hair clip of mine that he named "The Chomper." The Chomper made trips to Kohl's and Target and spent a few nights with Eli. Eli thought it was quite hilarious to chomp Chomper onto things, including Abby's toes. What I thought was hilarious was the random places that I found Chomper chomped after the kids went to bed or during nap time. Chomper has long since disappeared. Thankfully, I got my hair cut last night and maybe, by the time Chomper resurfaces, my hair will be long enough to again be chomped.

In the Year 2000

So, I can't help but be on bit reflective on this Final Four Day 2009. Anothert time that Michigan State went to the Final Four was in the year 2000, when I was 22 years old and a senior at MSU. Yeah. Things are a little different now.

In the Year 2000:

• I was not anybody's wife.
• No one called me Mommy.
• I thought I was really busy and had lots of responsibilities. That makes me smile now.
  
• I had never had a real job, or, resigned from a real job, for that matter.
• 7:00 PM was when my night was just starting to get going, instead of just starting to wind down.
• I had never bought a house.
• I could pretty much do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
• Sleeping in meant 11 or so, not 7.
• It must be said... I had no stretch marks.

All that said, this Final Four brings with it new joys. Instead of watching the game at Breslin with friends, I will watch it with my family, eating McDonald's in front of the TV. I will watch Eli point out Sparty every time he sees him. I'll watch Andy hold his daughter. And I'll love it just as much as I loved that game in 2000. Provided that we win, of course.

Thank You Disney Channel

Yesterday Eli and I (Sarah) were playing with blocks in his room. He was working on building statues and then proceeded to ask me to build the Great Sphinx. I took a minute to ponder...was he really saying what I thought he was saying? Eli went on to elaborate that it would need "feets." Yup. He knew exactly what he was requesting. A long time ago we saw an episode of The Little Einsteins in which the Great Sphinx was a main character. The kid has a crazy memory, which on many occasions, including this one, really stretches the creativity of his mother.