Time to go "Home"

The day we made the spontaneous decision to pack up and leave the city life that we loved for a  completely different lifestyle in the mountains, we knew the time would come that we would have to decide whether or not to go back.  Well, that day has come... it is a bitter-sweet decision we have made, but with all the cards laid out before us it was also, quite easy.  It's time for us to go home.  

I am tearing up just thinking of it and maybe it has something to do with the picture above.  When we moved here Cam was just a baby.  Our first gathering of friends and family here at Rockport was Cam's first birthday.  It's amazing to me that 2 1/2 years have already gone by.  Zach was just a toddler, by the looks of the pictures... it's hard to believe he was ever so little.  He will be starting kindergarten this year and that was one of the biggest deciding factors for us.  Driving into Park City twice a day for 12 years to take my kids to school is neither economical, nor possible since we spend a lot of time being snowed in around here.  We knew when we moved here that if a lot of things had not changed up here after a few years then we would most likely have to move back.  I am so glad we kept that option open.  We have discussed selling our other home many times over the years.  Now the thought of going "home" is so exciting. 

I don't even know how to sum up how my time here at Rockport has changed my life.   I am so thankful that Greg and I took the chance on this adventure together.  We knew it would be hard and we knew we would have so much fun.  Fun was the driving force in our decision.  We were thinking lake time, and 4 wheeler rides, and snowboarding our own yard.  And we knew that while our kids were still little this was the only time we would be able to do it.  So we jumped!  And I am so glad we did or we would still be sitting around wondering "what if?"  But in all reality, we had no idea just how hard living here would be.  It really is a full time job just to live here.   So much work.  Too much work for a family with 2 little kids and 2 other full time jobs!   There is a reason most people up here are either retired, or kid less and work here on the mountain!  All that said, It has been a very self learning experience for both Greg and I.  We have worked our way together through some insanly stressful times.  We are leaving Rockport with much inner strength and knowledge and , of course,  a whole lot of love for this mountain!

So back to the city we go,  where I can walk to the grocery store, walk my kids to school,  and the gym is only 5 minutes down the street!  We plan on moving in early February.  Until then,  I am sure it will be an emotional roller coaster for me.  Sometimes I want to jump up and down with joy when I think of all the luxuries I will once again enjoy.  Other times I want to cry when I think of how much I will miss my beach and my wildflowers and of course the very peacefull surroundings.  I feel like it is urgent to document every beautiful thing about Rockapulco so I plan on posting often in the coming month.  Please wish us well as we head into our next chapter~  2009 will be a very exciting year for the Mooney's.  I just know it!

Christmas Morning

It was 8 AM when Greg and I awoke.  We were very surprised to have slept in that late.  We knew the excitement of Christmas morning was not far off.  We already knew that Santa had come in the night and left presents under the tree downstairs.  Soon we heard the sound we were anticipating coming from upstairs.  The boys bedroom door flew open and 4 little footsteps pitter pattered their way into the living room.  "Here they come" we thought.

But surprisingly, the footsteps moved towards the kitchen.  We then heard the chairs screeching across the tile... and all was quiet...  For far too long... 

"What are they doing?"  They never do this.  The first thing these kids do on any morning is run downstairs and climb into bed with me.

So Greg got up and built a fire while I went upstairs to see what they were up to...  this is what I found.

"We're just having some breakfast" Zach says

Okay???  All I can say is this is not how my Christmas morning went as a kid.  It was normally about 5 AM when my older brother Jake would come running into my bedroom yelling "Santa came!  Santa came!"  Breakfast was the last thing on our mind.  

I eventually talked them into coming downstairs with me to see what Santa brought.  The boys were delighted to say the least.  We had ourselves a merry little Christmas morning!  

Presents.  A crackling fire.  Snow drifted windows.  And French Toast!  

Gingerbread and Turtles

My entire Holiday Season is running a little behind this year.  It started out with my holiday cheer not quite being what I expected.  It turned into Thanksgiving sneaking up on me as if we skipped the entire month of November.  As we really got down to the wire I realized I had not done any shopping with just a couple of weeks to go.  Last week I realized that I had not yet sent out holiday cards.  And by last night, I finally got to making some holiday treats!  

So here we are, Christmas Eve, I think I have finally caught up and am (I think) ready for Christmas.  Wheeew... just in the nick of time! 

This year we did cookies a little bit different.  As I was reading the boys one of their new Christmas books about a mouse that lives in a gingerbread house.  I saw that there was a recipe in the book for gingerbread cookies.  So I decided we would make those instead of sugar cookies this year.  They turned out really good!  But, every year when we do this, I realize, once again how much more fun this is for the kids than the adult who is trying to keep things under order.  Every year I swear I will just do it myself next year.  I wonder if I made this process more stressful on poor Grandma Jane when I would "help" her with her cookies???  

 

Cam was killing me... every time I would hand him a cookie I would say "Okay... this one is to DEC-O-RATE... don't eat it!  Don't lick it! Don't eat the sprinkles as you put them on it... Do you understand?"  

"Yes, Mom"

I look back five seconds later and he is licking his lips with half the cookie down.

"Oops, I forgot"  he says!

Oh man, If he wasn't so dang cute... 

Cam cut out of the festivities quite early, right after the cookie photo shoot that quickly turned into a who can make the silliest face contest.  Zach stuck with me till the end, and we made some very cute cookies together... we had a lot of fun!  

  

 

No Christmas is complete at my house without making turtles.  I have taken it to another level from what Grandma and I used to do.  But the basics are the same and it is always a special treat for me to make them (and to eat them)  I always feel like Grandma is there with me.  I know how she loved her "cute" little turtles. 

Is your mouth watering?  Mmmmmm~ Mine is!

Warm and Cozy

I have been such a slacker. I just don't have enough time anymore,unfortunately blogging has been put on the back burner for now. I am really hoping that Santa pulls through. Greg asked him for more hours in the day this year... just a few... wouldn't that be nice!

We have had a lot going on so I really wanted to post a quick update. There is so much I am leaving out that I hope to someday get around to.

Greg and his wonderful Dad put in a second wood burning stove in our home last week. For the first time in the 2 1/2 years we have lived here we now have heat in our basement! You have no idea how great this is... no idea!!! I have almost forgotten all about what are normal necessities in real life neighborhood homes. You guys are so spoiled ;)

I love to watch Greg and his Dad work together on their many projects and I know they both enjoy this time they spend together too. It's a good thing they like it because between Greg's Mom and I, we have enough projects to keep them busy for a very long time!

The stove is in, obviously the project is not complete, as you can see by the multi colored walls and no rock behind the stove yet. The pictures aren't so great either, but you get the idea. It's nice and cozy and I finally have a place for my Christmas Tree and Stockings. Feels good. Mama's happy!

I can't believe Christmas is only one week away. I may not get another chance to post, so I just want to say have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

Trip to the ER

Last night I was forced to face one of my worst fears, covered in one of my biggest phobias.  It was not by choice.  But I feel great today in the way I was able to handle the situation.  It's a boost in my confidence as a Mother.  Now I know I CAN deal with these situations, if I must.

One of my worst fears... an emergency situation involving one of my children.

One of my biggest phobias... BLOOD.

Cam fell head first into the brick fireplace while I was getting my hair colored by my Sister-In-Law. I jumped up and ran to him, he was screaming instantaneously.  When I first picked him up and looked at his forehead where he hit, there was definitely an open wound there, but no blood yet. I don't know whether it was motherly instinct, intuition, or that angel on my shoulder, but at that moment something told me "Stay calm. Head wound = lots of blood.  He will be fine. You MUST do this.  Stay Calm." I turned to tell Annalisa that we are going to have to go to the Hospitol and, sure enough, by the time I glanced back to Cam, there was blood everywhere. I had to keep reminding myself that I had seen the cut and it is not as bad as it looks. My inner "Suzan" wanted to freak out, to cry, to call someone who could calmly handle this, but the "Suzan" who took over was already handling this. She was wiping the blood from his eyes and face, applying pressure to the wound, and trying to calm him. It was like having two personalities conflicting each other, but my strong, brave, calm side was totally in controll. The scared, weak, panicking side was just standing around in the background.  

We got to the ER and the bleeding had stopped for the most part, so we had sit there for 2 hours, just building up anxiety for the trauma of putting in the 4 stitches. Cam was going on no nap and he was not a happy camper. By the time they came in to put in the stitches he had figured out every gadget on the hospital bed. I was just glad he wasn't screaming at this point. Every now and then I would catch a glimps of myself in the mirror and would loose it. I had almost forgotten that I was half way through getting my hair colored when we rushed off to the hospital. I am sure everyone was wndering when the last time I washed my hair was!

 

I'm glad it is over, and I am feeling good about the way I handled it.  Now if I can just keep him from playing Dinosaur fight for a while. He will be rockin' the headband for a few days. I think it's kind of cute!  I am going to try and score a little extra snuggle time while I can get it ;)

Two Little Christmas Tree's and an Elf on a Shelf

The boys just couldn't wait to get their Little Christmas Trees out of storage and decorate them!  This has become a very fun tradition for them... and I always love to watch them do it. (every year I get the cutest pictures.)  This year was especially fun for Cam because he is really starting to get it!  He took this all very serious and found the perfect branch for each ornament... in the end, most of them were all hanging off of the same 3 limbs (this is hard for the Libra in me to bare, they should be evenly distributed throughout the tree, but I have kept my hands to myself, it is just how he wants it)  Zach had fun remembering each ornament from years past, he and I had a few quarrels over who's is who's (some of those ornaments belong on Moms tree!)  He was pretty much done once his Dinosaur ornaments found their home for the Holidays. 

Thank You Wawa for the Little Christmas Trees.  They make the boys so happy year after year!

  

You may have noticed the little Elf in the background watching them.  He is "The Elf on the Shelf" He sits and watches what goes on day after day... In the night, once the boys have gone to sleep he sneaks off to report to Santa on whether the boys were good or bad... Every morning we find him in a new spot. He is a "magical elf," but they can not touch or play with this elf too much or his magic will wear off.... Zach is convinced, Cam is testing his magical abilities... 

Thanks Grandma Beth for (hopefully) a little extra bargaining power over the next 24 days, and for a new tradition to be treasured!