Our (Mostly Honest, Slightly Sarcastic) Christmas Letter

Dear Family, Friends and General Acquaintances, 

Paul began his 9^th year at Mentalix, a fingerprint software company.  While he still runs around like a headless chicken most days doing everything from IT for the people in the office, handling the Help Desk for client issues, managing the new Card Conversion Division (including HR related drama for those employees), traveling to fabulous places like San Diego, CA and also not so fabulous locations like Keene, TX, performing software tests, He was promoted to Technical Operations Manager and enjoys being familiar with so many aspects of the company.  Occasionally he is able to go sailing either at Lake Grapevine or Lake Lewisville with some racers who enjoy winning. I’m not sure if this helps appease his desire to own a boat or only makes it worse.  Once he is making millions from the code he writes for various apps in his spare time he will buy his own boat so our boys can grow up sailing like he did.

Caryn is mostly a SAHM (the chauffeur, event organizer, errand runner, repair technician and lately a lot of refereeing) and continues to work part-time in her pajamas (aka working from home) as the Director of Finance for the Christian non-profit, Sigma Phi Lambda, Inc.  Most notably she cooks fresh meals daily and the house is never dirty.  In her spare time she enjoys catching up on the last years “must read” books, scrapbooking….can’t remember the last time that happened  and finding more projects on Pinterest that may or may not get done.  

Gabriel turned four in October and now tests our patience as a bossy pants and arguer is such a big help with his little brother and practices his debate skills for what will surely be a lucrative career as a lawyer.  He is a giver and a helper especially if the helping involves being outside with his daddy.  He is bilingual and is currently learning his 3^rd language because he is a genius and and clearly Harvard bound.  Gabriel enjoys building with LEGOs and playing with his wooden train set.  He is so advanced with his building and problem solving skills that the Dallas Transport Authority will be contacting him soon to help find a solution to the traffic congestion across the North Dallas metroplex.  We as parents take all the credit for his highly developed abilities. 

David had his first birthday in June.  As a child in the 90^th percentiles for height and weight we will begin investing in our retirement plan by training him for football as a defensive end next year.  He gets into everything and is the reason Caryn is physically exhausted and keeps a large bottle of ibuprofen stocked in the cabinet is an inquisitive child with a lot of energy. He loves his big brother (Bubba) and has a great encourager in him for things Mommy doesn’t want him to do.  David is an expert at locking himself in closets, emptying drawers and cabinets in record time loves playing hide and seek and finding new things to play with.  Having mastered his ABC’s by the age of one and memorized The Lord's Prayer by fifteen months, David is now learning to count to 100.  We are so blessed to have two  gifted children!

Merry Christmas!

The Bells

Celebrating 9 years of marriage this month (but it only feels like 3 1/2).

From Business Suits To Barely Suitable

My husband gave me a most fabulous Mother’s Day surprise.  On the surface some might wonder what the big deal is about a man taking the day off to stay home with his two boys so his wife can go do whatever she wants.   I mean she isn’t cooped up in an office all day so she is already somewhat free to do a lot of things, right?  During my free day I enjoyed running some errands alone and eating lunch and shopping with a girlfriend.  I never once hefted my 25 pound ten month old in and out of the car or had to stop the shopping cart to remind my son to use his inside voice, make good choices, etc.  Last night I began to wonder about the life stage we are in where something as simple as that act of love by my husband could mean so much to me.  

There was a time in my life when I wore business attire and heels on a regular basis.  I ate lunch with people in my general age range and we talked about things working adults (without children) talk about. We worked property values and filed tax returns for industrial corporations.  At least I think we did.  Some days my corporate life seems so long ago I wonder if it ever happened. 

I traded out the suits and nice clothes for a young mother’s wardrobe that is more suitable for the everyday battle scars.  After bedtime my child-friendly clothing bares witness to my day: cracker crusted drool, some dried snot (my teething baby grabbed my leg, wiped his nose and crawled off), spit-up, glue from my 3 year old’s craft kit, play-doh and only God knows what else.  I traded the adults-only lunches at Grand Lux and Mi Cocina for lunches at home or Chickfila with my child’s friends and their mothers.  These “lunches out” are not times of leisure but events that require preparation and an even faster inhalation of your own lunch as you scurry between feeding the baby, cleaning up spilled drinks, etc.  Adult conversation is splattered between each mother’s frequent child-related intermissions.  I believe this is why women are typically better at multi-tasking than men.  Multi-tasking is a skill required for survival as a mother. 

Sometimes this is how I feel by the time Paul gets home in the evening:

I admit there are times I catch myself singing along to one of Gabriel’s CDs before I realize he isn’t even in the car.  And yes, while I am now well read on topics like how and when to introduce solid foods and books like Baby Wise, my knowledge of property tax and tax codes is a little rusty.  I am no longer responsible for multi-million dollar property values.  Instead, I am responsible with teaching kindness and love to two small boys and I am thankful for the opportunity and privilege to be at home with them.  I think that is why my Mother’s Day surprise was applauded by many and so appreciated by me.  The little things are the big things.

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

My Inner Athlete

On Tuesday, April 5^th, I reprised my role as Caryn (Hartwick) Bell – softball player.  “Back in the day” I remember spending a lot of time as the right fielder.  By this I mean I stood in the back right section and hoped no one hit a ball my way.  My skills did not involve much catching (fear of pain overrode my focus) and my throwing was only good enough to get the ball going in the right direction.  I could hit the ball a fair amount of the time and got on base often enough.  These skinny arms have never been known for their muscle (although hefting a 23.5 pound 9 month old has helped).  Our church recently started an adult co-ed softball league and I was encouraged to come join the “fun” team.  After much personal debate I arrived at The Fields with my own fan club in tow (aka The Bell Boys). 

While I must admit that I never hit the ball in my three times at bat that first night, my boys did get to see me run the bases twice and even catch the ball twice (yes, during the game).  My three year old seemed somewhat in awe to see his own mommy on the field.  At one point during the game he was so excited to talk to me through the chain link fence about a girl who caught a cricket in her hands.  Yes, I can tell that I inspired him. 

As I sit here reflecting on my “athleticism” I am popping ibuprofen and icing my aching muscles.  This is certainly not what I remember from my high school days.  Maybe it is because that was so long ago and I've just forgotten.  Or maybe it is because it was so long ago……and well, my body isn’t 17 any more.  But regardless, this Mommy grabbed her hubby’s baseball glove, her old yoga pants and a random t-shirt to go have fun.  Even if it was occasionally at my own expense.  My goal for next week: hit the freakin’ ball.  Just once.  For old times sake.

Nighttime Thoughts

Here is what I have learned about moms and nighttime:

• Moms are the last ones to bed
• If anyone is up in the middle of the night for any reason, Mom accompanies him 
• Once mom is up she may have trouble "turning off her brain" 

So here I am "piddling around" with this new blog.

Blogs seem to be the place to write about what you know and what excites you.  So it comes to mind to share with you a wonderfully exciting thing: BoyMom Designs.  I tell every boymom I meet about this site!

While helping out at a consignment sale during my 2nd pregnancy, I saw a woman wearing a cute black tee that simply said "boymom" in grey lettering.  I came home later that day and told Paul that if we had another boy "I want that shirt!".  And now, I am the proud owner of my 3rd BoyMom shirt (Green "boymoms rock") thanks to BoyMom January Winner!

I love proudly announcing my boymom status to everyone who sees me.  Maybe its because the girlmoms get to do the fun shopping.  We all know that it is so much easier to find cute girl clothes than it is to find cute boy clothes.  I miss that about not having a girl (or do I?$$$$$$?).   ;)