Missing Home

I think this is to be expected around the holidays.  I think I knew it would come.  I have been doing my best not to let anything bother me and so far I have been golden.  I am an 'enjoy life where you are at' kinda gal.  But Thanksgiving is coming up, then Christmas just around the corner from that.  And this is the first year of my life that I won't be spending it with my family. 

Brother and Husband Christmas Morning

Don't get my wrong, I love it here.  I love our lifestyle and I love living in different country, learning a new language, and trying to understand a new culture.  I like trying to integrate myself here and make new friends.  But it is hard because when I look on facebook, and I see all the friendships back home that are so effortless. {I don't have to translate everything in my head before I talk!}  Friendships I have had forever.  I miss my parents.  They are just awesome people to be around.  I miss my home church, although I am thankful to have found one here.  I miss all the other moms I know in the area and the support they offer.  I miss my cousins and their kids (Tae's friends).

Other brother and his wife Christmas Morning

But this is my life.  Some people never even get to see Europe, let alone live there.  (Granted, people probably don't care to live here, either).  I am learning another language, which is a huge, huge feet.  I have so much respect for people who know multiple languages.  I am giving my kids a broader view of the world, and allowing them to understand what other cultures are like.  I am getting a broader view of the world.  It is easy to be a closed minded American because America is so huge and does so many things well.  But other cultures and ways of life have things to offer too. 

Great pic, I know!

Over all, I wouldn't change anything about my life.  I love the experience that this is offering me right now.  I don't ever want to miss home so much I am not enjoying what is infront of me.  So I am embracing the new things of this year.  Being with my family, my boys, and my husband.  Creating new traditions for the Simmons family.  It is all very exciting and I am looking forward to it.  I just have to train myself to live in the now, enjoying what the Lord has given me for now.  And I do.  Thank you, Lord!

Tae and Daddy Christmas Morning

With my brother at Christmas Dinner

Tae's new watch & Eli's first baby food!

This hair band was his 'timer' before we bought the watch. So cute he would look at it and say "it's time to go"

Wow, we have a lot of firsts today!  Well just two, one each kid.  We'll start with Tae.  It is so crazy watching your kids get older right in front of your eyes.  Tae watches people and notices things that 3 year olds just don't pick up.  Very observant.  Well Daddy wears a watch.  Poppy wears a watch.  Why shouldn't Tae have a watch?  He started asking Daddy for a watch a little while ago.  Well we don't really buy our kids things other than necessities outside of Christmas and birthdays, so naturally we said "at Christmas, Daddy will get you a watch."  Tae was kinda okay with that but still proceeded to ask about a watch every day.  Well then just the other day Lavar found got a contract and found out that he would be leaving for France within the next couple days.  We were at Target running errands and I saw Spiderman watches.  I mean we had to.  I showed Var and he just held up the basket.  I was little surprised, I thought it would take a little more coaxing than that, but Daddy is a sucker for his little man wanting to be just like him.  We bought it.  When Lavar got it out of the bag to give to him Tae said "Whoa.  That is so cool.  I don't need this anymore."  He proceeded to take off the hair tie that he was keeping around his wrist as his makeshift 'timer' until Christmas.  It was so cute.  I made him put it back on because I wanted to get a picture and he was not happy about that!  Here are some pics of our watch opening.

Daddy trying to figure the watch out

Tae climbed on the counter and couldn't wait

Daddy putting it on

Tae showing Poppy.  Notice the Spiderman swim trunks.

Tae showing Eli.  Eli is very excited about it.

Onto our next first of the night.  Eli had rice cereal for the first time!  Some might think it is a little early, and it is, but people don't normally have kids that are as big as mine.  Eli was 16 pounds at 2 months.  I mean this kid is solid.  Not even really fat and chunky, just solid.  I started Tae at 10 1/2 weeks.  Eli was doing fine and I am in no hurry so I didn't think about it.  Then recently within the last week he has been crankier and getting hungrier than usual.  He actually woke up once in the middle of the night and he hasn't done that since 8 weeks.  So I thought it was time.  I wanted to give it a try and see how he did with it.  Well as my kids usually do with food, he did great.

   

He was so happy!  At first he didn't really understand, but once he started getting the hang of it he loved it!  He was getting a little anxious in between bites.  He ate that whole bowl.  Yep, I have big kids.

enjoying his baby food!

WOW, I mean really!

Look at that boy! So handsome!

❤LOVE❤ this picture. What a face!

And then there is my crazy 3 year old... Crazy, but I love him!