Pictures with Santa

Every year we try and take a picture with Santa.  We frame them and put them up at Christmas time.  It is a fun tradition.  The boys love to see how they have grown.  A family here in town decorates their house and has a room set up in the back where Santa comes every night to greet the children and take pictures.  They offer this for free, so of course that is where we went this year.  Holden and Anders decided that they needed their own picture with Santa as well.

Thankful List

On Facebook, people post something they are grateful for every day in the month of November. I decided to jump on board this GRAND idea.  Here are my posts.

November 1st:  I AM THANKFUL FOR FACEBOOK!  How else would I stalk you all?

November 2nd:  39 years ago, one Dolores Metzger gave birth to a baby boy who would grow up to be the world's most awesome husband.  Happy Birthday Joe! Today, I am grateful for you!

November 3rd:  I am grateful that my mom and dad loved me enough not to kill me during those annoying preteen and teen years. ♥

November 4th:  I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world. Heavenly Father created for me.

November 5th:  Food, Glorious Food!

November 6th:  I am grateful that cold weather ENDS!

November 7th:  I'm grateful for frogs and snails and puppy dog tails.

November 8th:  I am grateful for....YOU!!!

November 9th:  As the sun rose this morning, I was grateful for the way each new day feels like a chance for a new beginning.

November 10th:  I am blessed with 3 amazingly wonderful sisters. However, today I am only grateful for Annie, because it is her birthday!

November 11th:  Diet Mountain Dew, ice, and a straw that is what I am grateful for today. Well, everyday really.....

November 12th:  You know how when someone you care about gives you a hug and for a moment it feels as if everything will be alright? I am grateful for those moments.

November 13th:  I am grateful for random acts of kindness.

November 14th:  Happy Birthday Matthew Metzger!  I am grateful for you, my little alliteration.

November 15th:  I have some pretty amazing Aunts. I'm grateful for them.

November 16th:  Without music, life would be a mistake.- Nietzsche.

November 17th:  I'm grateful that I really never cared for Twinkies.

November 18th:  Remember that time we were talking and I just walked away? I'm grateful that you are still my friend.

November 19th:  I am grateful that I am very comfortable with the words, "good enough."

November 20th:  I am grateful for good books. Now if I could just find time to read one.......

November 21st:  There is hope smiling brightly before us.  I am grateful for hope.

November 22nd:  Candy corn, yam balls and cartloads of pumpkins.  I am grateful for traditions that help make the holidays magical.

November 23rd:  I am grateful that "stuff" is not important enough to me to wait in line all night and fight crowds.

November 24th:  I am grateful that the road rash on my face from falling during my run yesterday isn't worse.

November 25th:  I am grateful for all the great examples I find all around me everyday. People really are amazing!

November 26th:  Hey all you villagers out there, I am grateful for your help in raising my children.

November 27th:  I ♥ letters and cards and am so grateful for the Mail Service.

November 28th:  For his special birthday breakfast this morning Anders chose to have hot dogs and french fries. I am grateful for the way newly five year old's brains work.

November 29th:  I am grateful for love, both given and received.

November 30th:  I am grateful that this is the last day I have to think of something to post on FB. 

Anders

Today, we brought home Anders to live with us. 

Look at that face.  

We are all pretty excited about it.  But we aren't sure how Anders feels about it.  

Can you blame him?  We are a strange family.

Dear Holden,

Dear Holden,
You are nine now.  I feel as if every time I blink you grow.  In a few days you will be starting fourth grade.  I know you are nervous about having a new teacher and new faces in your class.  You have a hard time with change.  That's OK, but try not to let it get in the way of you experiencing all that life has to offer.  When you were little we moved you at of your crib into a toddler bed and you hated it.  You really didn't want to sleep in the bed and missed your crib so much.  But can you imagine if you had stayed in the crib?  Change can be hard, but many times it is needed.  My birthday wish for you is that you will be open to the changes your life will bring you.

You have the sweetest spirit.  You radiate a warmth that makes me want to always be near you.  Thanks for being my son.  I am so grateful to have you.

Love,
Mom

Just a reminder

Holden and Matthew

Oh, how I love to cyber stalk you all when I should be doing productive things.   

Soccer with Coach Herb

This season Holden's soccer coach was our good friend Herb Holland.   Holden really enjoyed playing on a team wtih Gavin.  Go Brookside!

The Big Concert

Did you see that 40 year old woman up front at the Cat Empire concert? You know the one that sang at the top of her lungs, jumped up and down, couldn't stop smiling?  Yep, that was me.  What a GREAT concert! 

Oh wait you are also wondering who that was stalking the band's bus after the concert.  And then being  an annoying fan and asking for photos with Kieran.  Me as well.  

 I will admit way down here at the bottom where no one is still reading that the end of the concert did get a little too crazy for me.  After being pushed and shoved into the middle of a mosh pit by some HUGE guys and Joe's glasses getting knocked off his face and attempting to avoid the crowd surfers, I finally relinquished my spot front and center of the stage.
Thanks for the tickets Joe.  It's fun being married to a teenager!   :)

Fourteen Years

Fourteen years ago, I chose to take, what was for me, a giant leap of faith and joined the outcome of my life with that of Joe's life.

A friend of mine recently asked if, knowing what I know now, I would make the same choice.

Without hesitation, I told her that I remake that choice everyday.

I've made a lot of bad decisions in my life, but marrying Joe was not one of them.

I am blessed to be Mrs. Joseph Michael Metzger.

Here is to 14 more.

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.