Christmas Vacation

Ahhhhhhh. Week two of our Christmas break dawns. Sitting here with Andrew watching Christmas Vacation with my back to a crackling fire. The presents are wrapped, the tree is gorgeous and Kim Jong Il is dead.  What a holiday. So grateful to have a few more years of our own Christmas Vacations to enjoy! Guess the big upside to being in school are breaks from school.

Andrew finished his last final and all the stress melted away. We started baking, shopping and and movie watching. We went out to eat Mediterranean food. We visited the science center and took Asher to see Santa (Asher LOVES Santa!). We had our Christmas morning together and marveled as our ecstatic little boy played with his new cozy coupe and trucks the rest of the day. He begged to sleep with them that night.

After a sweet few days at home together, we set out on the 15-hour drive to Oklahoma to visit my mom's side of the family. I won't burden you with details of the journey, but I will say this: it was somewhat grueling. High points: Asher being an absolute angel with the help of of a borrowed DVD player, and it not snowing. Low points: driving most of the way in heavy rain and arriving at 4:30 in the morning. Oi.

But we had a fantastic visit! Really wonderful to see everyone. We played games together, shopped, relaxed, went to Port Lugano for their change-your-life tomato basil soup, cooked like crazy people and had a formal Christmas diner, exchanged gifts, took a trip to the farm in Omega, and threw a "Patriot Christmas Party" for my mom's political group (youngest ones there or not, we actually had a really good time!).

Here's a picture of Asher with great-grandad on our last night there.

After 4 days there, we headed to Kentucky on Saturday morning to beat the storms east. Now we're in Central City with Andrew's family and majorly kicking back. No agenda, just family, food and fun, baby. This is living.

A very merry Christmas from the Steele family!

Oh, and by the way...this is our 24th post of the year. After performing a complex algorithm I discovered our blogging average is up to twice a month now. Looks like our days of annual updating might just be behind us for good. Here's to blogging 2.3 times a month in the New Year! :)

Magic

Happy December!

Would it be cliche to say, "I love this time of year!"? Well, whatever, I do. I also wish it didn't sound dumb to talk about the "magic of Christmas," because I think about it all the time lately.

Every night before Andrew comes home, I rush around the house, cleaning everything up, turning on Christmas music, lighting the tree and making sure the house smells like cinnamon. It feels so warm and festive that way, and I know he loves it. The other night, when the classic Grinch cartoon came on TV, Andrew took a little break from studying to watch it with me. We drank egg nog (diluted with milk), gazed at the sparkling tree (during limited commercial interruptions), and basked in the Christmassiness of it all.

One of our very first posts listed our top 5 Christmastime favorites (you can read it here if you want to), and I really have nothing to add. That they're unchanging is the point. It's the sameness of the season's sights, smells, tastes and sounds that bring so much.....comfort and joy.

And I love knowing what the tradition and togetherness all truly center on. How do you explain that Christmas feeling without using dumb words like "special," and "magic"?

Beats me, but I will say, I LOVE the way we celebrate our Savior's birth. It warms my soul and makes my heart grow 3 sizes.

Love and Lyrics

This is a bit of a sap trap, so be advised.

I want to document something small. For the last few years, Andrew and I have been singing an old song to each other - "I Love How You Love Me," by Bobby Vinton. You've heard it...just a simple, sweet little song. Well, all this time we've only known the lyrics to the first couple phrases, so start strong, then just ho-hum and eventually fizzle out.

Last Wednesday, I finally decided to look up the song's lyrics so I'd be prepared the next time one of us was feeling lovey-dovey and burst into song. Wait, what? Guess that confirms our loserdom. Anyway, I don't know what made me look it up. It'd been a couple weeks since we'd last sung the song, and I'd neglected hundreds and hundreds of chances to look it up on days prior, but that day I just had a whim.

Well. That night as we're putting Asher down, Andrew starts singing the song with surprising lyrical acuity. Turns out, that for no good reason, he'd looked up the lyrics earlier that day too. Soul mates?

The Bi-Polar Express

We are so in love with Asher. This stage has to be the cutest yet! He points out everything he sees ("Chool bus!" "Moon!", "Daddy's Shoes!" "Church!"), gives us hugs and kisses at random, asks to go "night night," loves to read books, says please and thank you...the boy is a dream.

This, of course, is all rosy retrospection. I wrote that paragraph last night, while Asher was sleeping; everything seemed right with the world. Yesterday he took a three and a half hour nap. Yesterday he played sweetly with other children. Yesterday he went potty on the potty chair twice.

Then there was today. This morning I took Asher to Chic-Fil-A to eat breakfast and play in the "pay pace." Everything was going well, until another mother informed me that Asher was hitting. Sure enough, there was the little culprit in my blind corner, pushing another kid who was playing in the spot he thought was his. After a good talk and a long timeout, he was back out on parole.

That lasted 5 minutes before the next incident.

I wish he had shoved someone.

Instead, to my horror, he'd vomited all over the slide. Not sick, just too many chic'n minis before going down head first. After cleaning it up as best I could and getting an employee to disinfect, I started packing him up only to discover he had one last trick. Hoping for the trifecta, he decided to have a blowout. Bravo, Asher. Well done.

We came home and he took a nap 2 hours shorter than yesterday's. While I begrudgingly made lunch, he scattered all the clean laundry from the basket onto the floor, and rearranged the DVDs. Also on the floor. He begged to play in the backyard, and anxious to buy myself time to reassemble the house, I obliged. I regretted it when he reappeared minutes later covered in mud, with tracks following him across the carpet.

Being a stay-at-home mom to a single child sounded a lot easier before I was one. My days are filled with highs and lows...one minute I feel we are the luckiest parents in the world, and the next I wonder what on earth we're doing wrong. One second he's singing a sweet little song to himself, the next, he's blowing his nose in my hair. 

Yes, it can feel like a non-stop ride on the Bi-Polar Express, but at the end of the day, you wouldn't want to trade places with anyone. Being a mom is the best job in the world.

We love that boy. Sure, he's sleeping again now, so it's easy to say, but we really do. We thank our Heavenly Father for him every day, and feel profound gratitude for all the ways sweet Asher has blessed our lives.

Last Saturday I snapped these pictures of him playing in his room. None are framers, but we take what we can get!

I may have captured two good pictures of Asher his entire life. It's a combination of an old camera with a delay, and a disinterested subject. We'll have to rely on mental pictures.

Later that same day, an overzealous Asher jumped into the tub prematurely. Here he is performing his nightly "knock everything off the bathtub shelf" ritual.

Did I mention we love that boy?

Halloween - A Look Back

Happy Halloween! 

We thought it'd be fun to revisit our Halloweens from years past. Ours is a tale of laughter, love and gently used clothing. First a look at the costumes worn by our cutest family member.

2010

Baby Ash man sporting a lion suit and a ferocious gap.

Our little roll of Smarties

2011

 He's a giraffe this year, mainly because we found this costume for two bucks at a yard sale. He loves it, though! Asks to wear his "Graf" anytime he catches sight of it hanging in his closet.

And now for the Adults. This year marks our 6th Halloween together, and we've had some fun with the holiday. Here's a little look back:

2006

I was a Geisha and Andrew was a Brazilian soccer player (and 100 pounds). Notice we had a few friends with us - we hadn't quite started dating when this picture was taken.

2007

A conscience. Andrew must have given in to his dark side, because he proposed two nights later.

2008

Okay, so in 2008 we were totally lame and just stayed home in civilian clothing to pass out candy. Who does that?

2009

The '80 shotgun wedding. "Conceived" only hours before after a trip to Goodwill and an extension epiphany.

2010

 Russian gymnast Nikkita Blagdonovich and her coach Borris Alekseyevinsky. The matching jumpsuits were another Goodwill find. Too bad they only came in youth large.

2011

NASCAR fans.

And after a few drinks...

Just kidding. Our cozies held Mountain Dews, and even that I couldn't drink for fear I'd be up all night.  Notice Andrew's rebel flag belt buckle. We turned to Goodwill yet again for our Halloween magic, but sadly, the Ohio locations weren't as richly stocked with smelly redneck wear. Literally everything we wore had to be imported from Kentucky. ;)

So. I think we've ridden on the mullet's locks of glory long enough. It may be time to hang it on the mantle to retire and start fresh...what do you think?

Of the Essence

There's so much we haven't told you. I don't even know where to start...after writing our last post, school really heated up for Andrew, and he began to require the computer to take notes all day at school, and all night to study. No kidding, I haven't spent more than 5 minutes on this thing in weeks. If SteeleReveal is to survive, we might need to resurrect the ole' Toshiba.


Anyway, Andrew just left to watch the BYU game with friends and Asher is napping, so time is of the essence ( not positive I completely understand phrase, but it sounds like a fit). I'm feeling the excitement and urgency that only borrowed time can bring, so enough chit-chat! Let's document the last month of our lives!


For now, I'll just hit the high points...things we've done and fun we've had. If I can find more time this week, I'll post the nitty gritty. :)

Okay, so back in September, Andrew and I attended our first Ohio State football game. It was nuts. We sat in the student section with all the liquored up college kids. They cussed, screamed and chanted, while we sucked on hard candy and wondered how our baby was doing. I knew then we were old.

It was a gorgeous day, and the Bucks won, so we couldn't have asked for more.

Okay, now I have to tell you about Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. The three of us (especially Asher and I) are big foodies, so when we heard about this place, we were determined to go. Andrew had read an article about it winning a national award months ago, so was excited as well. Jeni's has made quite a name for itself and it's novel approach to more savory, exotic ice cream flavors. They offer some pretty offbeat options, and when we went, we tried almost every one before settling on brown butter almond brittle and pistachio honey for me, and dark chocolate, and goat cheese with red cherries for Andrew. Oh. my. GOOOOSH! This stuff is so good. Come visit us and try it, please.

Not what we got, but this gives you an idea...

Ash man and I took an impromptu trip to Kentucky during the first week of October. My sister Liz and her family decided to drive up from Texas while my brother-in-law had time off, so since they drove 20 hours up, we figured 3 hours down sounded pretty doable. We packed up and hit the road during nap time, and Asher slept most of the way.

The visit was so, so much fun. Seeing Asher play with his cousins Wesley and Kenton ("Wessey" and "Tenton") was a definite highlight. They really seemed to love each other! Of course, I never laugh more than when I'm with my sisters, so having four of us together was nonstop fun. Maybe that sounds hokey, but there is just something about letting your hair down with people you love that makes me ache for time with family. We had a great time taking the boys to different parks, playing the Game of Things, going to see dad's softball game together, and eating way too much (realized after the fact that in one day, I ate $15.00 worth of frozen yogurt. Sad but true).

Here are some pictures from a picnic we took together. We met my dad at a park where he used to come and play ball as a little boy with my grandfather, and seeing him play there with our kids was sweet and special.

Best friends sharing an apple :)

 It was extra sad to go our separate ways, but we'll have to just look forward to the holidays.

 We weren't without family for long, because Andrew's parents came for a visit last weekend. We love them so much. It was really Asher, though, who seemed to get the biggest kick out of their arrival. I wish I had captured on film his reaction to seeing their faces for the first time! He was glued to "Nina and Poppy" their entire visit. We had fun at cousin Adra's 4th birthday party and seeing all of Andrew's family in town to see Cousin Josh run the Columbus marathon.

No, I have no pictures of our weekend, but I can tell you that it was wonderful and low-key. We're missing Joey and Kim a lot...but again, we'll just keep anticipating the holidays.

And that's it for all of the major happenings. Here is a small but sweet note to end on...the other day, I was putting a very sleepy boy down for his nap, who literally fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. Watching his little chest rise and fall as he drifted into dreams was so precious, I snapped a picture of the angel as he slumbered.

We love you, Asher Joseph.

In a Good Way

Andrew started classes this past week. It was a little sobering...Monday morning I kissed him goodbye, closed the door behind him, and took a deep breath. The beginning of the next four years. The phase of life where he'll be gone most of the time, and when he's home, he'll usually be in his office studying. Nights of putting Asher to bed and then watching a movie and cuddling together may not be extinct, but they're definitely an endangered species.

Reality has set in, but in a good way. Less time together is par for the course, and only temporary, after all. The knowlege that this is exactly where we need to be and what we need to be doing provides amazing peace and reassurance.

SO! I have decided to make good use of these hours alone. I will find solace in solitude. I will read more, write more, work more. I will learn new things, get more done and focus on becoming a better Christian, wife and mother. This temporary shift will be a great blessing.

With daddy gone most of the time, Asher and I are finding new things to do. We like to venture out at least once a day. We were so excited to discover a paved nature trail that winds through the woods, around a field, and connects with a secret path leading to duck ponds. JACK. POT.

We love to bring old bread and feed the "dutties," and listen to them "cack." The first time we went, there were 6 lovely ducks. The last time we went, there were at least 60 - all swarming around, eager to be fed. I guess word gets out.

Asher was exultant. Seeing your child dance around with giddy delight is one of life's greatest pleasures.

The only pictures I took were with my phone, so I'll post some of the ones Ali took last month. In a brief fifteen minutes, she was able to capture tons of great Asher/family pics. She is now practicing in the Chicago area, and I can't wait to see more of her work. Here are some of our favorite "pond session pics."

Isn't life beautiful?

The New World

Columbus discovered the Americas, and now we're discovering Columbus.

Ohio, anyway. We have been looking forward to living here with nervous anticipation since last December, and let me tell you - the place does not disappoint! This city is filled with friendly people and LOTS to do! I have been amazed by its shopping, restaurants, museums, festivals, athletic events, etc. I am staying home with Asher, so am most interested in the local parks, libraries, renown Columbus Zoo, and COSI science center. I see fun in our future.

We've been here 8 days, and have already met some wonderful people. Last Saturday, we took a trip to Lynd's Farm to pick apples with our friends the Bastians. They have an adorable little boy around Asher's age, and it is so cute to hear them talk and see them run around together.

If you've never gone apple picking, you should go! It was our first time, and this particular orchard lets you eat as many as you like while you're out picking. We loved walking liesurely through the grove, looking for the best apples and eating some along the way. You know, it's true - nothing beats fresh.

Our friend Noelle just happens to be a great photographer, and she snapped a few shots for us. Thank you! Try not to miss the blurry, low-resolution pics I usually post.

We love our new world!

P.S. Andrew just read this and wanted to make sure you knew Columbus didn't actually discover the Americas. Glad we cleared that up. :)

The Cradle of Our Love and Then Some

Bowling Green, Kentucky has a very special place in our hearts. It's there Andrew and I met at the WKU Student Center on August 24th, 2004. We smiled, shook hands and found each other highly attractive. Could it be love? Well, it didn't matter, because we wouldn't see each other again for 2 years.

Sounds dramatic, but it wasn't. He served as a missionary in Brazil and I dated other people. Then - when that pretty face popped back up in the fall of 2006, complete with culture, intellect, and a brand new Nissan Sentra, I naturally took notice. Like any woman with a hidden agenda, I studied my mark and got to scheming.

First, I developed a sudden fascination with Brazil and the Portuguese language. Second, ...well, no - actually, that first step was all it took for Andrew, who caught the scent and charged full speed ahead. Sucker. He handwrote pages of linguistic instruction for me, and suggested we meet as soon as possible to review them. I agreed this was indeed an urgent matter.

I'll never forget the blustery October night we met in front of Grise Hall midway between my dorm room and his apartment. It was cold, but we both ignored icy noses and numbing fingers to fan the flame of conversation. We stayed out for nearly two hours talking about absolutely everything. Everything but Portuguese.

We dated for the next year and a half, and Bowling Green was always our backdrop. It's a little city, but it manages to hold nearly all the memories of our courtship. Those early days play out in my mind like a movie montage: the corn maze, walks on the square, studying at the library until it closed, going to see shows, love notes and wild violets, countless a capella performances, eating Subway five times a week, FHE's, snuggly clothes and movie nights. When we were together it always felt like home.

Our first Christmas together. Just a couple of crazy kids.

A couple of weeks ago, we  had the opportunity to make a trip to old BG to visit some close family and friends. Andrew and I got all starry-eyed and sentimental. But enough of this gooey sh...ow of emotion. (Anyone? Anyone?) Here's what we did:

First we went to Uncle Robert and Aunt Amy's to christen their new patio and pool. When we were in school, it was always nice to know we had family close. Their new additions are to die for! We grilled out, swam in their salt water pool, and Asher continued his love affair with the water. Since Florida, any time he catches sight of so much as an over sized towel, he shouts "Pooah!"  expectantly, as if I can produce one on the spot.

This picture is going to torture me in Columbus this winter. It's torturing me now.

After getting our fill of too-good food, and lustfully touring their too-nice house, we headed to Morgan and Eric Watson's for a long-awaited visit.

Here's more background: Morgan was my college roommate and is one of my closest friends. Back then, we were Morgan White and Sarah White, the non-sister friends who both wanted to be broadcast journalists. I start thinking about our time as undergrads and another montage begins to play: flashbacks of meeting as freshmen, dinners at DUC, soft serve and sprinkles, spring break road trips, heart-to-hearts, workouts at Preston, papers, parking spots, hospital visits, weekends in Lexington, boys, graduation, and weddings. It has been such a beautiful mix of tears and triumphs, and I just love her. I love her because when we're together, we laugh constantly. I love her because she's genuinely kind, compassionate, gracious and giving. I love her because she's the type of friend who knows all your faults and somehow loves you anyway.

Andrew and I married in June of 2008, and Morgan and Eric wed that October. They welcomed their son Eli the following August, and Asher was born 5 months later in January. Just like that, we were grown ups.

What a difference three years can make!

I am so incredibly grateful to know true friendship and love. Thank you Bowling Green for introducing me to some of the sweetest parts of my life! We'll always remember you and smile.