Dear Nicholas,

Today you are turning 11. How did the time go so fast? I feel like I blinked and your childhood vanished. And I worry that with my next blink you will be grown and gone. Your dad and I are so proud of you. I wish you could see all the potential that we see in you. Our Heavenly Father has blessed you with an amazing mind. Since you were born you have thirsted for knowledge. You love to learn. Reading has become one of your major interest. (Of course it doesn't compare to video games, but it is up there.)

You are kind. I have seen you reach out to others and you are always willing to help. This year you have gone to service projects with your dad to help with storm clean up. He always reports back on how hard you work. Even when it is hard for you, you reach out to those who don't fit in as well and try to make them feel included. This is what Heavenly Father wants you to do and it is the example that our Savior set for you.

Nicholas, you are such an important part of our family. You often set the mood for the whole house. (This can be both good and bad.) I know sometimes you feel that your parents push you too hard. Remember it is because we love you and we know all that you are capable of.

This year, I hope you remember how much you can achieve if you decide to. It is up to you, my son.

I love you more than I could ever express in words.

Love,

Mom

Time

I want so badly to be a blogger. To find the time to write profound and witty posts about the happenings in my life and the meaning I have found. But alas, I realize that I do not possess the time for such a lofty aspiration.

My New Year's Resolution is to be better about my time. I need to see time as the finite resource that it is. Recognizing that if I want or need to do something, I will have to find a time slot for it. One will not just magically open. I am hoping by being more realistic with my time, I will feel less overwhelmed.

So far, I think I am doing alright. Of course institute hasn't really started yet. Neither has soccer season, cub scouts, chorus, or PTO. But I have come to realize that whatever I want costs time. And many things take longer than I want them to (cooking and cleaning.)

So, while I long to be an amazing and eloquent blogger, I have accepted that now is not the season for such. I will therefore just be content with posting pictures with an occasional comment on such pictures. At least that way there will be some record of the Metzger family.

Noel's Birthday Poem

happy birthday to a beautiful woman

with a beautiful smile

who one day

looked at me

a bit differently

and considered in her heart

what was going through my mind

which eventually led her

to put her hands in mine

as we began our adventure

to last through all time

and little did I know

the fates we'd befall

and the ways

in which we'd change our selves

adapting

to accommodate each other

the other's comfort

increasingly more important

than our own

Happy Birthday Noel,

Love Joe, your proud husband

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today my AMAZING mom turns 60! WOW! I'm so lucky to be your daughter.

A Pink Rose

My mom and I share a birthday. When I was little my dad would buy my mom a red rose and me a pink one. It was our tradition. Well today the flower delivery man dropped off my pink rose. It made me feel so loved and connected to my parents even if they are a country away. Thanks Daddy! I love my pink rose.

They also sent me this beautiful bouquet. I guess when you turn 40 you get extra special treatment. Totally worth it.

Cat Empire

Who has the best husband in the world? I do. That's who. This morning my favorite band in the world posted their North American tour dates on FB. I got so excited that I called Joe to tell him that we HAD to get tickets and go. Ends up that he had already bought tickets AND arranged for babysitting as a birthday present. So, we are headed to Boston in March to see the band where hip-hop meets reggae, where jazz is played with dirty hands, where a Cuban line meets an Aussie rule, where nothing seems in place but sounds like many places played in one earthly chord. (I totally took that last part off their web site.)

If you want, you can join us. Tickets are on sale but they are going fast. You can only come if you agree to dance your tush off, sing at the top of your lungs, and comment often that Felix may the coolest man alive (Joe excluded, of course.)

The Christmas Card

Does everyone have a hard time getting the picture for the Christmas Card? We do. Here is our card, followed by our various attempts at getting a picture.

Poem

The Comforter

by Joseph M. Metzger

Waking before the morning light

long after the cold has settled in

having taken over from where

the warmth once had been.

Closing my eyes again

wanting the day to disappear,

pulling my covers tighter still,

a temporary reprieve

from everyday routines

offering no comfort or relief,

affording no place for my dreams,

leaving me little strength or peace.

But soon I realize I must wake

and place one foot in front of the other

to make my way through the day

leaving the safety of my bed behind.

Wondering what I might have to look forward to,

wondering what I might find

to get me through the day

and through my life.

About to lose all hope and give up once more,

when the kindness of a stranger finds me

and personally reveals to my heart

a wholeness I haven’t felt before,

that I somehow recognize

as the love of the Savior

and finally realize the strength in his name

as Comforter.

Matthew's Birthday Party

My five year old is so particular. He planned every aspect of his birthday party. It had to be an animal party. There had to be a pull string animal pinata. There had to be an animal craft and animal games. We had to have pizza, but it had to be from Little Caesars Pizza. He had to have mouse cupcakes, with licorice whiskers and vanilla wafer ears. (Which Melisa very kindly made for him.) And of course Caleb Yeager had to not only come, but be there first to arrive. Otherwise, according to Matthew, the party would be ruined.

Matthew's Birthday

Here is the birthday boy! So excited about his special birthday breakfast. On the menu is bacon, waffles, and hot chocolate. Yum, Yum!

And here is the birthday boy not so happy that he has to share the spotlight with his brothers, even for one minute.

Matthew wanted to go to Taco Bell for lunch on his birthday. So I drove him to one and he informed me that it was not the right Taco Bell. Apparently, the Taco Bell by the boy's school is much better than the Taco Bell on Boston Road.

So after driving to the correct Taco Bell and ordering his special drink Matthew was very happy to hang out with his very favorite person... ME!

The Metzgers have a tradition of going out to eat on Birthdays. The birthday boy gets to pick where we go. Matthew picked to go to Red Rose. (A family favorite pizzeria here in Springfield.) Unfortunately, November 14th fell on a Monday and Red Rose is closed on Monday. So we headed over to Golden Corral because in August, Holden wanted to go to Golden Corral for his birthday. BUT, my family was in town and they love Red Rose and wanted to go there. At that time, we promised Holden that we would give him a rain check on Golden Corral. This we felt would be a perfect time to cash in Holden's rain check. The only problem with said plan is that we pulled into the parking lot of Golden Corral and the line was out the door and around the building. What is the deal with that place? Who waits in line that long for food? And what is the deal with the universe? Does it have no idea how carefully I plan things out and how upset I get when they don't work out?

Anyway, we ended up at Red Robin. With two rain checks for eating out. One for Golden Corral and one for Red Rose. Joe met us there. We had a really nice time, in spite of the plan failure.

Joe had to help Holden pick something. Holden has a hard time making up his mind and committing to things. Where does he get that from?

Nicholas was shocked when I told him he didn't have to order off the kids menu.

We came home, sang happy birthday, blew out candles, and ate cake. Matthew opened the present from his brothers. A very cool remote control spider.

Here is Matthew's Birthday Banner. Another Metzger Family Tradition. I am sorry it is so hard to read. Matthew was very particular on where each letter went. It was all about how it looked without regard to readability.

All in all a fabulous day! Happy Birthday Baby! I love love love you!

Dear Matthew,

FIVE! Today you are turning five. You are so big. And everyday you learn and grow a little more. It makes me feel old that my baby is so independent now. You can read. You can get yourself dressed. You can make your bed. You won't even let me walk you to primary now. I hope you know how important you are to our family. Your big brothers adore you and try so hard to watch out for you. Everyday you make your dad and me smile.

Often, I say to you, "Thanks for being my son."

To which you reply, "I didn't have a choice."

Choice or no choice, we are glad you're a Metzger. What would our lives be like without our Matthew Emerson Metzger?

You share a birthday with my Grandpa Woolstenhulme. He was a good man and I hope you will honor the heritage that he left you.

My wish for you this year is that you will grow big and strong not only physically but in a knowledge of God and His love for you.

Love,

Mom

Dear Daddy,

Happy Birthday! I'm glad your my daddy. I like when you let me watch stuff on my DS. I love how you tell me stories. Sometimes, they are funny. I'm glad that you took me to the They Might Be Giants concert. I hope you get what you really want for your birthday.

Love,

Matthew

Apple Picking

It is our tradition to go Apple picking on Columbus Day. This year we went with the Ackermans and the Rousseaus. Fall in New England is amazing. I've never loved fall because I know that winter is just around the corner. However, fall is beginning to grow on me.