A Break

Yesterday morning my dh looked at me and said "take your computer, and a change of clothes and go away" It is amazing how he knows just what I need. Although I didn't plan on staying away over night, I did. A sweet friend offered her guest bedroom in her beautiful home to me, and I am so thankful that the Lord gave me enough insight to say YES. I slept an entire night without waking. For the first time in MONTHS. It was beautiful.
My whole day was beautiful. A sweet gift from God. I got to spend time with friends, and have sweet conversations.I got to eat burritos. And pizza. And drink coffee. I got to go to Book study where I was encouraged to die to myself and walk closer with Jesus who HAS GIVEN ME EVERYTHING I NEED. And... a sweet nugget of truth from that time that I took away:

My rock star friend Rebecca said something that really is at the forefront of my mind today. She said that years ago God really convicted her to look at how she measured the success of her days. She said she had been measuring her days by how well behaved her kids were. If they were good, she'd had a 'good day'. If they weren't...well...she didn't. She said that God showed her that her job was to train her kids in righteousness, and that when the opportunities came to shine His light on their hearts, she should take it. That having a 'good day' was measured by...get this... HER RESPONSES TO THIER SHORTCOMINGS. She learned to see their disobedience as an opportunity to teach and train them. It is a blessing when we get the chance to see what is in thier hearts and shine God's truth on that. It isn't about making our life easier... It is about shaping and molding their character and turning their hearts to God now...while we have a chance...while they are little.
OH. HOW TRUE. HOW CONVICTING. And that is why I love her. And hate her. ;) She always points me back to Jesus. It is HARD to hear, but it is what I NEED to hear. I love comiserating with friends about how 'hard' it is. I love to be understood. And to be able understand others. It is a gift that HE has given to have friends to walk through this with. I am SO THANKFUL. And, I am so thankful for His word at work within me. It cuts like a knife. And it hurts. But, it also brings healing and joy.
Here's to you... and the opportunities you have today to teach and train your little ones!!

High 5's

A sweet friend and fellow homeschoolin' momma, Rebecca (the cute one with the red hat on the left...the other cute one is my sweet friend Dawn), has all these fun little names for the things they do each day... for example...they don't call chores 'chores'... they call them 'gratitudes' instead. Things they can be grateful for...things that God has intrusted them to take care of... Great perspective, eh?
Well, last night I stopped her and asked her to tell me about thier morning routine and to explain to me their High 5's. Here they are, in all thier cuteness:
1. Get up and dressed
2. Make your bed
3. Brush your teeth
4. Help unload the dishwasher
5. Do your Up Ups... (push ups, sit ups, run around the yard twice!)

I think this is brilliant. So this morning, right after I called her oldest son Cade to ask what the 5 where again, my kids and I implemented the name High 5's this morning, and each gave me a big High 5 when they were done. It worked magic. Funny how something we already did each morning (minus the Up Ups and, if I'm honest, the brushing of teeth every morning, (cough cough) ) was so much more fun when given a cute name, and a hand slap at the end.

Thanks Rebecca!! I'll be calling Cade again to ask about 'gratitudes' and the other quirky-cute things you do! (ie: morning munchies!)

What about you? What makes your day with little ones fun and manageable? Share your tips in the comment section!

Trimmings

We just got this sweet book called The ADVENTure of Christmas: Helping Children Find Jesus in our Holiday Traditions and love it! (It is written by Lisa Whelchel...remember her? She was Blaire on The Facts of Life! There are so many cute ideas for celebrating the days leading up to the celebration of the birth of Jesus!! (i bought it from banrnes and noble, but i just saw that it is cheaper from the author's website, and she'll autograph it for you (or your kids!) and send you a free advent calendar, too! wish i would've seen that yesterday!)
The illustrations, by Jeannie Mooney are so sweet. I will be so happy to pull this out each Christmas!!
One of the sweet ideas is to make these count down calendars! Count down to christmas by cutting off a hershey's kiss each day. Your child is supposed to give you a kiss, then you cut of the hershey's kiss and give it to them. They are simple and fun to make, too! We made one for each child...but next year I might just bundle 6 of the kisses in each link and make ONE bigger one.
To make you need:
plastic wrap
ribbon
hershey's kisses (25 for each member of the fam)

Lay out the plastic wrap and have the kids line up 25 kisses in a row down the middle of it.

Fold the plastic wrap over, and twist between each one. Tie a ribbon between each kiss. Your done! :) Cut off one each day in December! Yum!! How sweet is Jesus?!
Happy Saturday!!

Jesus at Starbucks

Yes. It's true. He met me there yesterday morning.
I woke early, and headed out the door, into the cold cold morning, and found my way to my favorite red chair. At Starbucks.
I ordered my cuppa somethin' warm, and found my way to my spot...cracked open my journal and poured out my heart to my friend, Jesus. I confessed my attitude lately, and my 'unwholesome' talk, I asked Him to show me how to live, how to be an encouragement to those around me, specifically my husband and kids. I asked Him to show me how to get off of the sled that was speeding downhill at mach speed...to hop off that sled, and change the direction of our family, when we start to descend.

I was so delighted when Jesus met me there. It seemed as though, as I opened His Word, he sat down in the empty matching chair beside me. He handed me his letter of response. It was right before me, on my lap, in Ephesians 4:17 through Chapter 5.
'Don't live like you don't know me, Angela.'
'You have been taught who I am. Live like that'
'Don't let crud come from your mouth' (it exposes the ugliness in your heart, remember, friend)
'Don't let your anger lead you to sin'
'Get rid of the anger, and all the other stuff that keeps you from living purely'
'Let the words that come from your mouth be an encouragement to others'
'Be kind to one another. Tenderhearted. Forgive each other, as I have forgiven you.'
'Let my life be your example. A life of sacrifice... be like me.'

It was a sweet gentle rebuke. A spanking...for which I am grateful. He loves me enough to discipline me. To not let me continue on the downward slope. To encourage me.To tell me once again, that HE gets it. He knows where I'm at. And he meets me there... even if it is at Starbucks.

Please Pray...

Just a quick note to ask you all to pray for sweet Maegan...
Her eczema has gotten so bad over the weekend that I can feel the heat of it through her clothes. She's literally bloody in places all over her tiny body. She's been running a fever all weekend, and is more miserable than ever. My heart just breaks for her, and I'm in tears as I type this. Please, please pray for her. Obviously she won't be at Options school tomorrow. :( We are going to try to get her into the doc asap tomorrow and are asking for a referral to some specialists at National Jewish. Please pray that God would point us to someone who can help her! Thanks so much!


***update... Mae was put on 5 days worth of oral prednisone (a steroid) and was referred to National Jewish. I didn't even get a chance to ask our doc for the referral before he said 'I think she needs to be seen at National Jewish. We are so thankful for a hospital so close to us that specializes in treating eczema, allergies, asthma, etc!! Praise God. He answers prayer! Her appointment isn't until January, so we are hoping for her to somehow be able to get in sooner. She was doing A LOT better, but has began to get worse again, breaking out and itching. Please continue to pray for our sweet girl! Thanks!!

Rules

photography by William J. Meyer Photography


I was talking with Maegan and Ryan this morning and asking them how many house rules they thought we should have. I asked them if we should have 15, or 32 or 75...or just how many they thought we should have. (I was thinking I would take them to the Bible and show them the 2 'rules' that Jesus talked about: Loving God and Loving Others...and that everything else would fall into place if we could just do those 2 things) Maegan said 'ONE.' and I thought 'hmm...okay, i'll just combine love God & others into one rule and that will work!'
I asked 'what do you think that one rule should be?'
she replied 'water the plants'

i think we have some more training to do. :)

To my sweet friend

To my sweet friend who can relate to me... (and to you, too...if you can relate) :)

i'm doing better... i think that posting notes all around the house of verses on anger, as well as having people pray for me, has really helped. staying on top of discipline has helped me, too... i've been so much better about discipling right away and not giving a ton of warnings and that has helped tremendously.

a friend said the other day that a friend told her that she feels like she turns a corner, and then they turn another corner, and pretty soon she realized that they were just going around in circles. It reminded me of the cycle that they talk about in Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Tedd Tripp, have you read it? I think you have. I haven't read it in years, but think it would be good to go back to again...

It gives me comfort to know that we aren't alone, or going through anything different than others before us!

It also reminds me of

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Stay strong! I love you!!

Angela

He Gets It.

photo by William J. Meyer Photography


On Friday, I laid down for a bit after getting the smallest 2 kids down for naps and the bigger 2 settled for their 'alone time'. I pulled the covers over my head, and began to pray, asking Jesus to show me again how to live. The passage from Ephesians popped into my head...the one on the fruit of the Spirit. I began to recite them over in my head:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control

as I went down the list, I did a mental check off.
loving? no
joyful? not really
peaceful? um. riiiiight.
patient? not usually.
kind? sometimes...but not as the norm
good? 'sinful' more accurately describes me, i think.
faithful? i need to think more about this one...
gentle? a little bit. every once in awhile.
self-controlled? yeah... something to strive for.

It all seems so impossible in the midst of raising 4 little humans. and, i think for me, it IS impossible in my own strength.

Case in point? As I was doing this mental checkoff, I was interrupted about a zillion plus 2 times...

'so-n-so is doing THIS'
'I need THAT'
'so-n-so wet herself. again.'

"OH LORD", I thought. "Just a couple minutes? I'm SO angry. I just want to be left alone with YOU. Can't everyone just leave me the heck alone so i can be with Jesus and learn how to be nicer, darnit! Lord, show me how NOT to be angry. Show me HOW on EARTH to serve you, and love you and show love and mercy and grace to my kids. Show me how to live in peace. Not with an angry heart, but one full of love."
(I cleaned up my thoughts for you to read...they weren't that sweet) ;)

I got up, cleaned up the wet one, and sent her back to bed... and went for my Bible. Laying next to it was a Bible study that I'd started 4 years before and only gotten to week 3. I thought, why not? and picked it up and took it back to bed with me. I opened it to where I'd left off. And the lesson? You guessed it...it was on ANGER. I began to cry...literally tears ran down my face. I don't know why I continue to be surprised when God meets me right where I am, but I am. He surprises me. He IS our ever present help, and He met me through a dusty book, that I'd neglected, until the time was right for me to learn from it. How cool is God?

I took some time yesterday to write out each of the verses on anger that God used to speak to me, and to post them around my house, at eye level. (I want to take pics, but my batteries for my camera are dead again...)

Then, last night, I checked out THIS. They had a different service last night, where there were 6 different stations around the room. Some with slideshows, candles to light, communion, write a letter to God, etc. Each were for the purpose of reflecting on the beattitudes... Again, God met me there. He continues to let me know that He understands where I am, and He is here with me, walking through it.
I'm so thankful that...He gets it.

LOVE this

I love this blog, and this haircut... could i pull it off? be honest. it's daring...

Thanks William J. Meyer Photography!!

If you live in the Boulder/Denver area and you are in need of an amazing photographer...look no further!! Go HERE. They are amazing! :) And... they are using their photography to help pay for thier adoption! :) YaY!!

What spoke to me today...

Prov. 14:1
The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

I've been so angry lately and I'm trying to figure out "the whys" of it all... something to do with my own selfishness, and lack of wanting to sacrifice, I'm sure.

Yesterday, one child slept for 30 minutes at naptime before SCREAMING and waking up the other young one... while this was happening, the older 2 were not so innocently watching a movie upstairs in the guest room... they'd found a red jawbreaker and got it all over the white down comforter and white chanille bedspread. When I had the oldest bring that down to the wash, one of the younger ones showed me they'd peed on their bed (not in their sleep...just because they wanted to). It was a hard day. I wasn't 'happy mom' that could handle it with a smile of servitude. I was 'unhappy-why-me-God' mom. My kids weren't respecting me... they were disobeying in little things at every turn. I realized somewhere between the hours that I was on the pillow last night and at the breakfast table this morning that it was really MY fault. That I've been 'checking out' by 'checking my email' and that I really need to stay ON TOP of things. Discipline every time it is needed. Right away.
Instead I was giving warnings, and more warnings, and doing a lot of loud talking (smile) and not a lot of follow through. I think that in this whole process, I've felt like I can't discipline the youngest the same way...they don't have the same experiences... but... somewhere between yesterday and today, that changed. They are my kids. They are all 4 OUR kids. They should all 4 be treated the same way. And, so instead of threats, today, there was follow through. And...we've had a great day. (Not without lots of discipline...but without lots of 'angry mom'.) I've been 'happy mom' today. They've rose to the challenge of obediance, as I've enforced the rules. I needed to write it down, cause in a few weeks, I'm sure we'll be at a different place in the cycle and I'll need to remind myself that the problem isn't my kids... it's ME. And, I'll get back on track, once again...

Ryandomness...

Ry: Mom...I have to tell you something...
Me: Okay. What do you want to tell me?
Ry: Listen. HAROLD...Hair...HAR-OLD starts with HAIR.

it's fall ya'll...

We Have Another READER!

Ryan learned his phonics at the same time he learned his alphabet. I credit it to THIS VIDEO that you can buy at Target for under $10. It's awesome... So, as a 2 year old he would say 'look mom...it's a '/t//t/ /t/' anytime he would see a 'T'...and I would say 'Yes...what letter says '/t/'?' and he would answer 'TEEEEEEEEEEE' (He did that with all of his letters...) Several months ago he started putting the sounds together to sound out words. He's been writing MOM and DAD on every picture he draws and is pretty good at sounding out short words. The other day he brought me the book Hop On Pop and said "LOOK MOM! I can read this book!" Sure enough, word by word, he can! It is soooooooooooooooooooooo fun to be able to watch this happen, as his mom. When I was student teaching, and later, substitute teaching, it was my favorite part of the job to see the light bulb turn on when they 'got it'...how AMAZING that I have the awesome privilege to now witness it in my own kids! So so so fun! YAY for reading!

My big boy

so sweet and silly...and, obviously, talented...

Playing

around with the look of my blog... Be patient with me, while I play... ")

update

A co-worker and family friend emailed me today and asked me this question:

"How are your babies? The new ones and the 'old ones'? How is the transition?"


I thought you might be wondering the same thing, so after I typed out my re: I copied it to post here. This is what I had to say:

The oldest 'old one' Maegan...just turned 6 last week and is 'doing great. I've been so impressed with her big sister skills, and her love for her sibs!! She's done GREAT.
Ryan, who has been the baby for 4 years, is having a HARD time. He even pee'ed on the floor in the toy room, and on maegan's bed, right after marrty had changed her sheets, and made her bed... He is the sweet, soft hearted, but very BOY kindof boy, that is what (another friend) used to call a 'warrior poet' type. He needs to wrestle, and be all boy, but he is very sweet and kind and is an internal processor... He's having a hard time knowing where he fits. I have some extra things planned this week for just he and i to interact...Hoping that helps!
The new ones are doing well...especially Tony (2). He is such a lover and loves to hug and kiss me all day... he doesn't warm up easily to others, which is actually a GOOD thing attachment-wise. Addie (3) is doing good, too, but we have to work more with her on attachment type stuff... she still 'shops' for a mom when we are around other women...hugging strangers and friends she just met, and crying to go with whatever person just dropped off the meal, if she thinks they'd be better. We are working on it... not letting others hold her, for example, and being intentional in hugging and snuggling with her, and even doing some things they call 're-parenting' like feeding her, or holding her like a baby and making good eye contact while rocking her, etc...
It's work...and we are exhausted, but it is amazing how God has intrusted these little people to us... they are all 4 amazing...and though its hard, we are so blessed.
Thanks for asking!
So...how are all of you? Leave me a comment and let me know! :)

Our Sweet Pea is 6!

Seriously?

How many lives does a SPIDER HAVE? I think I kill this spider in the bathtub every.single.day!
(Spider loving friends, don't hate me. There is only so much that a momma who has doubled her amount of children in the last 2 weeks can do...and walking up the stairs and out the door with a spider each day isn't one of them...)

Sidewalk Paint!

Maegan's friend Kierra gave her sidewalk paint for her birthday. What fun!!

Looks Like Trouble to Me...

We're BACK!!!

And we have 4 kids under our roof!!! Wow!
Okay... HERE they ARE! :)




I'm having a hard time keeping up with both blogs, and since no one ever hardly comments on this one (HINT HINT) i'm inviting you over to the other one to see TONS of new pics of our babes!

Sweetness

Mae and I had a date tonight. We went out to dinner... it was such sweet time with her. LOVED it! This girl LOVES Red Lobster, and since I told her she could pick, she chose that. What is her favorite dish you ask? Shrimp Scampi. None of that kids stuff for my little princess. It's so hysterical to watch my tiny girl wolf down as many shrimp in garlic butter as she can.

She also had her annual hearing eval today. She loved it. It was fun for her and she had a great time raising her hand at the beeps... she beamed each time the audiologist gave her a wink and a thumbs up... so cute.
On the way there she said "Mommy, are they going to help me hear out of my left ear?"
Oh, honey... I wish they could. I'm sorry.
Praise God, she does so well. I guess unilateral hearing can hinder speech development, and can cause problems when one is learning to read... so far, she's been ahead of the curve in both areas, so we don't have to worry. What a relief.
Keep praying for my little sweetie. Today she said "I'm THE ONLY ONE who has scratchy skin, AND I can't hear out of my left ear...and I'm the ONLY ONE!"
We talked about how she is the only one in our family, but there are a lot of kids out there who have scratchy skin, and who can't hear in one or even in both ears, and that she isn't the ONLY ONE. That seemed to help, although she still thinks "it was mean of Jesus to make her this way' and that 'he can heal ANYONE if He wants to...so why doesn't He want to?'
Oh...my little theologian. I hope she shares the answers with me, when she discovers them.

A Sunday Treat...

Puppy Chow! Yum. The kids had never had it before, so we had a great time mixing and chowing down on this yummy treat! Some call it Muddy Buddies, but I grew up calling it Puppy Chow, so that's what we still call it... we should just call it "good". :)

In Case You are Concerned...

In case you are concerned, she really does smile! :) We started Maegan's first spelling words this week. It seems so official now. We really are homeschooling. Wow. Weird, huh? It is so fun having our kids so close together. I think the competition among them helps them learn, and that a little bit is healthy for them. The other day, I wrote Mae's spelling words on the board and asked her if she'd like to read them, (mistake, I know. I should have said 'Maegan, please read your spelling words' but, this time my mistake worked to my advantage. Ryan, who was playing nearby, chirped in "I WILL!!" and proceed to read the list off the board, sounding out each word. "bat. cat. fat. hat..." at this point Maegan jumped in and sped read the rest of the list as fast as she could. "mat.pat.rat.sat.vat." I knew she wanted to read them! :) They were both very proud of their accomplishment and told Daddy ALL about it at dinner.
These pictures are of her copying down her spelling words, and sight word 'the'. The next pics show Mae and Ry with the 'mat' men they made during free play time today. Ry made the boy with the hat, and Mae made the little girl. They are holding hands...so cute, eh? (These are the wooden pieces from Handwriting Without Tears) And here she is showing of her writing skills: the letter of the week: Aa and one of her spelling words 'bat'.
See...she really does smile! :)

Books...

Every once in awhile there is a book that we read that I just HAVE to tell everyone about. This morning we read such a book. (I LOVE SONLIGHT CURRICULUM and this is one of the books from their P3/4 Core...we checked it out from the library, but I think we'll have to own this one!) It's called
The Bee Tree and is written by Patricia Polacco
It has such a sweet message about reading at the end... I love it. We are having honey on bagels for lunch to celebrate this sweet story!



Another book that I haven't gotten yet, but is on its way to me from my sweet motherinlaw is called I Love You Rituals, by Becky Bailey.
I was looking at it on amazon and read the rhymes on the back cover to my kids this morning and they wanted me to read the second one over and over and over and over and over... They learned it by heart. It was so sweet. I can't wait to get it in my hands!

Here are the rhymes on the back cover:
The Original:
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth, without any bread,
and whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.

Ryan replied 'She's mean! You would NEVER do that to us!' and I said "your right!"

Then I read the second rhyme:
A wonderful woman lived in a shoe,
She had so many children, she knew exactly what to do!
She held them, and rocked them, and tucked them in bed.
"I love you, I love you" is what she said.

I couldn't believe how my kids LOVED this rhyme! They just kept asking for it over and over... So so sweet. It for sure is the rhyme I would rather read to Addie and Tony. We don't know what their past experiences have been, and they don't know what to expect... I can't wait to start reading these sweet rhymes to them! YAY! Thanks Bekah for the recommendation!!

Here is a list of other current favorites:
Leo the Late Bloomer
Katy and the Big Snow
Pete's a Pizza (you have to read this one to your little ones!)
Crictor
Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You
George Shrinks
William's Doll
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle (so fun..this one will have your kids movin'!)
and Ryans new favorite that goes wherever he goes:
Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day? (a must have for every boy!)

Happy Reading with your little ones (or neices or nephews, or neighbors, or whoever!)

Rocky Mountain Homeschool Academy -Options

Maegan goes to a public school program for homeschooled kids one day a week. Yesterday was her first day. She LOVED it... can't you tell? :) I'm learning that it just takes her awhile to adjust to new things... My sweet melancholy girl...

She's not in the pictures at the beginning, because she was pouting on my lap... but, you can see her at the front of the class in the pink sweater with the hood in the later class pictures.

Don't you LOVE the picture of her at the end of the line? Oh, sweet Maegan. Ry was upset because he WANTED to be a part of the class (he is in one of the pics of the class wearing an orange shirt) and she was upset because she wanted to be on my lap. Oh...the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, isn't it?

She actually did get happier towards the end, I just didn't get any pictures of that! Bummer... And,she is excited to go back. She LOVES her teacher, Mrs. Beth!

Assumptions...

SO...
marrty said at breakfast: "so... Ryan will start at Options next year?" and i said "IF we homeschool again next year"... It's funny, cause he was the one dragging his feet at first, and now he's already assuming we'll do it again next year! Ha! It is fun. I DO love it so far, and I can't imagine NOT doing it again... but, I'm waiting for the other two to join the mix before I make any commitments to NEXT year! :)
One day at a time...One year at a time...

Little Hands to Heaven...

I've had several moms lately recommend this preschool curriculum to me for Addie and Tony. I resisted at first...and I'm still wondering if I made a good choice by purchasing it, but it's done. I did. And, its on its way to my front door. It's really just one book, but it's a complete preschool curriculum for 2-3 year olds. I've been wondering what I could do with Addie and Tony for 2 weeks stuck in a guest home, and now I know! It is supposed to be GREAT for those of us adopting toddlers, because it is full of finger plays and sing songs... great for teaching English and for bonding! I'll let you know how it goes.
I think the reason that I resisted so strongly at first is because the cover is so dang cheesy. It's very 'christian-ese' which tends to repel me. I am a Christian... but sometimes I don't like to even say that b/c of the sterotype that comes along with it. I believe in Jesus. I ADORE Jesus. But I don't adore the flannel board Jesus that is so often represented... for more on that check out The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey.
So... I love the IDEA of finger plays. And bonding. And telling these little ones about Jesus... but I'm torn, b/c I struggle with knowing how to teach my kids about the REAL Jesus, vs. the one with long blonde hair and blue eyes...
What do you think?

Our First Official Homeschool Field Trip...

We had a great time with the Pneuma Homeschool Group at our first field trip! We went on an educational hike at Chautauqua Park in Boulder.
We had a great time, despite Maegan not wanting me to take her pic with the flatirons in the background (the pic of her rolling her eyes is hysterical, I think!) They got to hold an eagle's talon, and an owl's wing. We were able to see some real animals, stuffed, which made was a little traumatic for Mae... she pouted about the little dear for the first 10 minutes or so of the hike... but then we saw bear poop. And... coyote poop. And, it doesn't get much cooler than that. Right after I took a pic of the bear poop (the pic below of poop with berries, called 'choke cherries' in it) Ry fell into it hands first. Good thing he insisted he wear his winter gloves that day! I just took them off, and ... NO PROBLEM! Clean hands! :)
Okay... hold on... there are a ton of pics!


















Hope you enjoyed the pics as much as we did the hike! :)

Hands Full...

No joke... I was at the jewlery store the other day, getting the links taken out of my new BabyG watch(thanks Erin for the recommendation, by the way)and I had my 2 oldest (who are 5 and 4) with me and the guy says 'wow. you have your hands full' and i say 'well, i'm going to have 2 more in a couple of weeks!' and he says 'oh...you're the babysitter...' and i say 'NO. I'm the MOM.'

my hands full? with 2? c'mon now... and, i may look young, but NOT that young. I promise.
I really need to come up with a good line for that 'hands full' thing, b/c every.single.time. i tell someone we are adopting, that is what they say. every.time.
so... what do you say when you hear that?

i think i might start saying 'yep! FULL of LOOOOOVE.' :)

(oh...the pic above is of my clean desk. my desk is never clean. it needed to be documented. :) i'm tellin' ya...this motivatedmoms chart works for me!)

1st Day of Home School!

YAY!!! It was a GREAT SUCCESS!!! We had a great day, and we enjoyed each other, and learning is FUN! :)

We started using this chart for our chores in the morning, and it is really helpful. I heard about it from a post by my blogger-now-real-life-friend Jody. I've only just begun (imagine the Carpenter's singing here) using it, but so far... I love it. I read the list to the kids this morning and asked them what they would like to do. Maegan cleaned the sinks this morning and Ryan dusted Daddy's office, and they both did a fantastic job! YaY!

Day 1= Awesome...
Now...on to the next!

Where I'm At...

Here is an email to a friend... all the details aren't there, but you can probably fill in the blanks...



whew!!! YOU are busy!! Okay...it's actually okay for me NOT to go berry picking this week, cause my week is looking busier than i wanted, too... i forgot that i have a dentist appointment tomorrow... making tues and fri the only days we DONT have something planned, and i really want to start staying home MORE. I feel like a horrible wife and mom (and I only have 2 here right now! What is my problem?!) I'm so overwhelmed... i just printed out a chore chart to help me get organized (www.motivatedmoms.com) with household stuff and i am seriously having an anxiety attack right now... i don't know what my problem is... but...my heart is racing like crazy and i'm going nuts...

okay...off for a soak in the tub... then, off to our first staff meeting (team dinner) at 5!! Pray me down...

oh...and the pathway readers are totally cute... but are they black and white? my child has a black and white aversion, i'm afraid!! someone did offer to GIVE ME their 1st readers, though, so i'm so excited about that!!!

i'm overwhelmed with school stuff now, too... i keep hearing about different curriculum that all sound great, and i want to do it all so i don't 'miss' anything...and then i want to do NONE of it when i read stuff like: "Better Late than Early" and then i'm just so confused, I don't know what to do! :) :( (I can't decide if I'm happy or sad about that)

***edited to add that the bath worked wonders... as did my desperate cry out to the Lord for wisdom and direction...

Turns out, that He confirmed to me that what I really wanted to do to begin with (Sonlight) really is what is best for our family for this year, and I feel confident in my initial decision! Yay! I just know in my heart that what WE need to be doing this year is a whole lot of snuggling on the couch, reading great books, and bonding as a family. I LOVE Sonlight's literature rich approach to schooling. With a degree in Elementary Ed, and an emphasis in English and Theatre, it's right up my alley!

Mae is only in Kindergarten, and she's reading already, and is breezing through her math, etc... and... kindergarten isn't even required in our state... Ry is 4. He already knows all of his phonics and is reading 3 and 4 letter word (he was doing this at 3) so I don't think I need to stress over their academics this year. They are both above grade level, so it gives me some freedom to do what we need to do...bond with Addie and Tony!

So, I'm going to relax (as much as I can with 4 kids ages 2,3,4 and 5!). We are going to read A LOT, play a lot, work around the house.a.lot., read some more, and we're going to snuggle. And, we'll have fun. Yay! I'm so excited!

Rain!

One of the things I miss most about Missouri is the incredible thunderstorms and pouring rains... I love the rain. My kids do, too. The other day it began to pour and out they went, into it!
As a child, if it was sunny, I would ride the school bus to my Grandma's after school. If it was raining, she'd know to meet me at the door with a towel, because I'd be walking home in it!
It wasn't until we were inside, with dry clothes, and snugly and warm that we found out there was a tornado watch for our town and that sirens had been sounding... We didn't hear them! Kinda glad... we were having too much fun out in it! :)
You can click on the pics to make them bigger. Check out Ry's face on the last one! It's so cute! :) And...his feet are off the ground! He was out there forever, just going back and forth and back and forth on our sidewalk. I got about a dozen pics of it... so sweet...

The littlest school marm

Mae, 5 and Ry, 4 snuck out of the bathtub tonight and this is the conversation that followed as Mae pointed at me from underneath her hooded baby towel:

Mae (In her best "teacher" voice to her pupil, aka Ry):
Now...this here is the lady that takes care of us... She's a very nice woman.

Me: giggles uncontrollable...

Ry's Big Day

Okay, these pics are in reverse order, but...hey! You still get the feel, I think. Check out my little pirate!


We had a ton of our great friends there! Dan and Wendi and boys, Gina and her boys, and Jennifer and Brianna and their families came to the party, as well as Katie and her crew as well! :)We're so blessed to have great friends!
Marrty's sister and her family was also in town from GA, so they were able to come! YAY!





Thanks W and D for playing photographer!





Family, Friends, Gifts Galore... What more could a boy want?





Look at all these kids!! We all had such a great time, even Ryan! :) No, really, especially Ryan... He had so much fun. It was a great day!





I know, this is an outrageous number of photos...but he's so dang cute!







and these are of the gift Grandma Carole sent:

Ry Guy turns 4!!!

Can't believe that at this very hour 4 years ago I was lying in an amazing hospital bed, eating an incredible steak, chef salad and milk shake after a horrible 4 DAYS of labor... oh, little man... you were SO worth it!!! You came into this world with at 5 weeks early, only 5 pounds and 5 ounces, and you haven't slowed down since!
I love that you are 'all boy' and that nothing can slow you down (see the newest bruised eye and forehead...train table incident) I love your that you are a hunter, and a fireman, and a fisherman, and a warrior... all while maintaining a poet's heart. I love that you are cuddly and sweet,(although your announcement to me that hugs and kisses could only be given and received at bedtime from now on nearly broke my heart! We'll see about that! :) I love that you are so so giving. I love that you really do rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. I saw an example of that today... although you were thrilled to catch a fish, when your sis didn't catch one, you were sad along side her...
I adore you, little buddy. You are so amazing. I am so thankful for you... and I can't wait to celebrate with you at your party later this week!!
Here are a few pics of our 'big guy' on the day he turned 4...today!!!

Adoption News...

We didn't get exactly the news we wanted yesterday, but I think it's good news none the less. We didn't make it through court due to a paperwork delay... but we hope to hear news that Addi and Tony are 'legally' ours by the middle of next week. For more details, visit our adoption blog by clicking HERE.
Keep praying... And checking back! I've got our video all ready to post, as soon as it's official!

God

is so good. All the time. But some days, like today, He makes it abundantly clear!
Go over to OUR ADOPTION BLOG and check.it.out.
God is so good. All the time.

than...

My sweet dd has taken to saying 'more than' in sentences a lot lately.
Mom: i love you!
Mae: I don't love you... I love you MORE THAN I love you!

Mom: hold on tight!
Mae: Nope. I'll hold on tighter than tight!

I'll go higher than high.
I'll be better than good.

She's cuter than cute.

An ex-pose-ay

Maegan: Mommy, What does 'expose' mean?
Me: Hmm... can you use it in a sentence?
Maegan: "I expose."
Me: Do you mean "I suppose?"
Maegan: Oh, yeah!

Me: Good. Cause those mean VERY different things. :)

Does this look like a

BOY WITH A CONCUSSION?

Yes. He does.

I know.

Flying. Off the stairs.

Landing, with the side of his head.

Freezing cold, 'wrap me in my blanklie!'

Lots of crying "OWWWW! OwWWwwW! My head huuuuuuuuuurts!"

Lethargic. Moaning. Dozing. Eyes drooping... Face whitening...

Doc visit. Eyes dilating. No vomitting. Mild concussion. Motrin. Lots of liquids. Keep a close eye on him. Low activity (no bikes, running, jumping, FLYING...) for the next 48 hours. Taco Bell. Movies. Blankie.

3 1/2 hours later...
poking his sister with his toenails. Good sign. He's gonna be okay. And I think, in a while, so will I...

The 4th of July in Photos

Anna, our doggie turned 10 on July 3...

Going Private...

Hey all... I'm starting to stress a little about the blog world... and who needs extra stress, right? So... if you read this blog, and you want to continue, shoot me a quick email and I'll add you to the list! :)
In a couple of days, she'll be for your eyes only. That sounded sexy. Sorry. Didn't mean that at all...

Allergy Elimination...

So. Make that doc #8 (or is it 9 now?) We have an appointment for the end of July for dd at an allergy elimination clinic. We've heard great things, and we can hope and pray that this will work... something has to work, right?
I'm exhausted. She just spent the last 45 minutes screaming b/c she didn't want to take her nightly bath (which she HAS to do b/c of the eczema). She has never complained about not liking a bath. She always wants to take one. But tonight, she decided 'I HATE BATHS!' hence the screaming. Okay, maybe it was 20 minutes...but it seemed like an hour and a half! I need chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate...

Gluten Free Baking...

Okay, it was a mix. But, I added eggs, oil, and water... and threw it in the bread machine. And it came out awesome. I highly recommend this brand. Thanks Meredith for the recommendation!!
It was awesome!

Anyone else out there gluten free? Got any tips for a mom just starting out? Our dear oldest daughter has so many little medical problems, that I've been pulling out hair for years. We have had her at 7 different types of docs. Ugh. No, that isn't right. It's 8, so far. And we still don't know the cause of her suffering. Anyway... now we are trying a gluten free diet to see if that helps... Any ideas or tips you want to share would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Our Little School Room

Just in case you wanted to see it...

and here is an updated pic of our bookshelf. I really want a big chalkboard here...but until then, the kids' slates will have to do...

Tears...

This is the pic we sent to Addi and Tony, along with the matching shirts for them that we are holding up...

Mae was calling for me after I put her to bed tonight. I went in, and asked what was wrong.
M: When I was waiting for you to come in here, tears were rolling down my face.
Me: Why honey? What's wrong?
M: I'm sad for Addison and Anthony, b/c they don't have a mommy and daddy.
Me: Oh, honey. I know. It's sad! But, Mommy and Daddy are their mommy and daddy now.
M: I know...but not yet.

I cried then, too. And I'm crying now, as I type it...

Me: You know the good thing about us getting to be their mommy and daddy?
M: What?
Me: Its that they get YOU and Ry as their brother and sister, too!
M: (HUGE SMILE) Yes.

First Fish!!

YES! Mae and Ry both caught their first fish yesterday!! And...I forgot the camera!! Ahhhh!!! You will just have to imagine the joy we all felt as their daddy helped them reel them in. See, their daddy is a flyfisherman. and, he has taught them to distinguish between brookies and brown throat, rainbow and (honestly, I don't know them all... i'm not as good of a pupil as my kiddos!)
Yesterday we went up to the mountains, dh with his fly rod, and me with my book. We took the doggy dog and the kids and had a GREAT day! We stopped on the way down the mountain and got Beau Jo's pizza to go (did you know they have gluten free? Yea! Mae just started a gluten free diet...long story... if you have any tips, please let me know!)We took the pizza to a park in Boulder and enjoyed a great day together. I love my kids. And my hubby. And, I love days like these where we are together enjoying God's creation.
Anyway, it was a great day. And now, we've all caught a fish flyfishing! We just need to get Addi and Tony up to speed when we bring them home... :)
p.s. have i mentioned how much I LOVE ME SOME COMMENTS? ;)

Handwriting Without Tears

We love the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum! It's so fun for the kids to learn how/practice writing their letters with this program. They love the slates and it also has big wooden pieces that you put together to make letters. It's a lot of fun for all of us! Do I sound like a commercial? I promise, I'm not getting paid to say this! :)

Col. 3:15

The other day God spoke from the mouth of my oldest babe.
I was frustrated (suprising? no.) because mae hadn't finished her juice (read medicine) and I not so lovingly said something like:
Maegan! Get over here and sit down and drink your juice until it is GONE.
She replied by going over and picking up the EMPTY glass and bringing it to me with a sweet smile. Oh. Conviction. The conversation from there went something like this:
Me: Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. Mommy was WRONG. Will you forgive me?
Her: (with a silly 'i know you are crazy' grin): Yes.
Me: Mommy doesn't want to yell. I don't want to be a 'yeller'. Will you help me, and if I yell will you say something like "Mommy, please don't yell."
Her: No. But I will say "Mommy, Be CALM. And... 'Let the peace of God rule in your heart, and be thankful!"
My mouth dropped open in shock. And then I smiled and said
"Yes. That is much better, say that!"
Wow.
As a part of our homeschool curriculum we read the Bible together each morning and review our memory verse for the week. Colossians 3:15 was our memory verse from last week. She learned it. She internalized it. She applied it. Wow. She's 5. I'm so impressed! And convicted. And so very thankful.
Since then, every time Marrty or I are frustrated Mae or Ry will say "Remember! Let the peace of God rule in your heart! And! Be thankful!"
From the mouth of babes... God speaks!

Afternoon Nap

I couldn't resist snapping a few shots of RyGuy sleeping in our bed for naptime today. How cute is he?! He had all of his little FisherPrice farm animals lined up on the bed to 'watch him sleep'... Yes. He's a thumb sucker. He is almost 4... Tell me he'll stop someday? We do try to limit it to naptime and bedtime, but with all of our transitions lately, he seems to be wanting his thumb and his favorite 'green&white' pillow more and more. Oh well, with his dad's and my history, he'll need braces anyway...right? Advice?

Afternoon Snack

2 bananas
2 oranges
1 apple
1 pint blueberries
2 little helpers...




and 5 minutes later... this:

Camping with Friends

Oh, how fun is it to go camping with great friends? It is SO FUN! We had a great time this weekend with Dave and Tiff... Thanks you guys for supplying the s'mores!
YUM!!

Adoption Blog

Just a note, in case you didn't already know...
I'm blogging about our adoption, too.
Click HERE to follow our adoption journey and see other pics...

Zoo Day!

Went to the Denver Zoo with Alana and little Kate yesterday. It was so great to be with Alana, as always. She is such a dear friend. One that I can completely trust, and lean on, and laugh with and love. We met the summer of 95, when we were roommates on summer project with Campus Crusade for Christ in Hungary. I met Marrty that summer, too, and I told Alana that I wanted to marry him before I even knew if he liked me. She said if I did, she would laugh. And I said if I did, she'd be in the wedding. And I did. And she was. And she laughed. And she told that story during our wedding ceremony. Another crazy... she and Marrty didn't meet that summer. They graduated from high school together here in Denver! I know. Wild. One went to MU, the other KU, and ended up on the same summer project in Hungary.
Anyway, we came on staff, Alana went to Spain. We went to New Mexico on staff, Alana came on staff. We moved to Colorado. Alana moved to New Mexico. We moved to Spain. Alana moved to Colorado. We moved home! We are both in the same place now... I can't believe it. After 13 years of friendship, we are finally living in the same place. And, we can go to the zoo together. And we did. And it was fun.

Stop the Press!

My little girl finally hit 30 pounds! (well...that is with all of her clothes on, but still!! so excited!) She's just 3 months short of 6 YEARS OLD and she finally hit 30 pounds!! woowooot!

today

goofy boy. can't get a pic without this sweet goofy face...


and my hippie artist girl. she always has something unusual on. today it is her new dress, with a sweatshirt over it, and brown cords under it. nice accessories, too, dontcha think? and, as always, something to draw with close at hand.

Flashback to Easter

YEA! I have a beautiful new computer, and a way to upload some pics to my blog!!
These are old news, but you haven't seen them yet, so I thought I'd show you a glimpse of our Easter 08 at my mother in laws house... :)

Ryan Quote of the Day

"Mommy, when you are dying, will you make me some brownies really quick before you die?"

Sure honey, I'll try. Remind me in case I forget...

One of those moments...

Today, was a really busy day.
Walk the dog.
Breakfast.
Homeschool.
Lunch
Shower/Naps
Funeral of our dear friend, Paul.
Dinner with our sweet friends after they watched our kids during the funeral (Thank you Dan and Wendi!)
Bed late...
I could blog about all of it. It was a full day. An emotional day. All day long, I sensed the presence of God. I sensed Him in the coolness of this morning as I walked Anna in the open space near our home. I heard Him in the bird's singing and the crickets chirping. I saw His creativity and majesty in the flight of a pelican (I know...how cool is that?! I saw a pelican!)
I rejoiced and grieved with others over the life and death of our friend and mentor, Paul. That deserves a post of it's own.
I sensed His comfort and familiarity as I ate dinner and did the dishes with my sweet friend, Wendi. I smelled His breath, as I kissed the foreheads of our blondies. I thanked Him for His provision as I read 'Your dossier will be in Ethiopia this week!" on my email just now.
But. This morning, Maegan and I had one of those moments that I don't ever want to forget. Ones you dream about having with your child. We were 'doing school' as the kids say. After our lesson plans were done, Ryan chose the book "Hop on Pop" by Dr. Seuss for me to read. I agreed and as the 3 of us were snuggled on the couch reading, Maegan stopped me.
"Mom! Wait! I want to read this page."
Okay, I said. Go ahead.
After she had finished she said "But. I can't read this book."
"Yes, you can." I cried. "You just did."
I literally saw the light bulb go on in her eyes. It was amazing. It was magical. It was something I will never forget.
"But, this is a big book. I couldn't read this when I was smaller, but I can now!"
She was so proud. She's been reading simple readers, like BoB books and Fun Tales for awhile now, but this, to her, was different. This was a REAL book. And she did it. And she was proud. And I am so thankful. Thankful that she is mine. And that I had the blessing of being the one sitting next to her when the light bulb went on. Thank you, God. Thank you for all the ways I saw You today. Thank You for my little girl, and for letting me have moments like these with her.

Can't Keep Up

Wow. It's been a looooooooong time since I've posted here. Sorry.
We are back in our house. Finally. After 16 months away from it, it feels 'new to us' all over again. We've rearranged everything. And we are sharing a lot. A computer (hence the little blogging) A car (new to us van waiting in MO) and our home. Just us. After 2 months of living with marrty's mom and mine. It was time. I love them. They love us. But it is easier when we all have our own space again.
Okay. I've been tagged, by my friend Amanda. Which, in all honesty, is what brought me back to this blog after so long! So... gotta do this fast, cause dear hubby wants his mac back to check his email and go to bed...

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
Hmm. 1998. I was a newly wed of 2 years, finishing my degree in Elementary Education, and selling Creative Memories, while waiting to come on staff.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
I'll say 'what were' since the day is done....
Homeschool the kiddos.
Unpack boxes.
Meals.
Paint a framed mirror. (the frame...not the mirror)
laundry
dishes
laundry
dishes
oh wait... i said laundry, dishes already, didn't i? :)
Play with my friend Wendi, oops... I mean talk with my friend Wendi, while our kids played...
Bedtime stories (thank you, God...I love my kiddos!)
Prayers
Work work work on adoption grant applications...


3) Snacks I enjoy: chocolate, mocha frappacinos, cafe con leche, popcorn with the candy hot tamales mixed in...

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Give it away. Fund adoptions, build orphanages, dig wells, provide medical care to those in need, raise AWAREness...

5) Places I have lived: Missouri, Hungary, New Mexico, Colorado, Spain (I’m not going to count places I have only lived 2 months, because there are too many to keep track of.)

6) 3 peeps I wanna know more about:
In honor of our playdate:
Brianna heldts.blogspot.com
Jennifer
Jenee

Goodness...

It's been a long time since I've blogged here. Sorry! Life has been a whirlwind lately! We've been working hard on our adoption stuff, having playdates with other mommas who've adopted from ethiopia, and trying to survive culture shock! :)
The kiddos are doing really well. They are so creative. Maegan has been drawing elaborate pictures of all kinds of things. My favorite one right now is one that she drew of an ocean scene, complete with a mermaid, sharks, blow fish, starfish, etc. She drew it in ink and then colored it. It's pretty amazing, I must say! She's also coming up with all kinds of pretend play. The other day at the park, she told me she was leading her horse by the leash. She was a big brown horse with a black mane and tale. Pregnant, of course. As soon as she got into the car with us she had her baby. What a mess to clean up, I tell ya! ;) She is so creative, and such a joy (except when she's not... she definately has the tortured artist personality that comes with a creative mind!) Passionate and strong willed...determined and oh, so clever!
Ryan's horse was a small blue pony. He remains sweet as ever. Constantly supplying us with hugs and kisses. He adores his small new blankie that I picked up at the garage sale. It's a small lovey...blue flannel with John Deere tractors on it, and green silk on the other side. It has a little tag loop, and great corners to play with. I thought it might replace his green and white striped pillow, but no... He's just added another lovey that he needs to sleep with. He's still sucking his thumb at bedtime, too. He's a sweet little snuggler.
In other news... we eventually got all of our bags back...but... My computer is broken. Sniff... Marrty is on the phone with United right now, hoping to be reimbursed for their mistake of putting our carryon on the belt with the checked luggage and smashing my laptop. We had to provide an original receipt, which my amazing hubby Marrty found after digging through all of our stuff in Dan and Wendi's basement!
Okay. Still in my jammies. It's 10:20 and I need to get around.
On today's agenda:
8 passport photos taken for both Marrty and I.
A trip to the bank for a letter (again!)
Get photocopies of birth certificates and marriage licenses notarized.
Watch another training video.
Have a great day!

we've completed nearly all of our paperwork for our homestudy! we have done all of our appointments except the last one, and we'll do it on monday! we got our fingerprints done today. we are working really hard (thanks to Grandma for watching m and r) and it's all coming together SO fast! we left here at 6 am for our physicals, had shots, notaries, fingerprints, drove them to another town to hand them in in person, went to the library to work on paperwork, had homestudy appointments, including showing our house, and got home at 10 pm!!! crazy day, but so much is done. just had to tell you.
love,
angela

p.s. And...when we got home, our 6th and final bag (the one with our printer and my laptop!) was here!!! Marrty is at the airport now, opening it in their presence, in case it's all broken or there are things missing. It was all really damaged and taped up by them, but we are just glad it's back and not floating around in chicago! praise God!

Soy Americana!!

Hey all! This is my first blog posted from back in the States! We made it! After about 26 hours of travel, we made it! Woohoo! Our kids were really amazing. No major meltdowns at all!! They slept and/or colored on each of the 3 flights and were really great little world travelers!! We are really proud of them and will make a trip to the store sometime in the next couple of days to reward them with a new movie for movie nights. :)
We are doing pretty well right now. We were all up at 6 a.m. feeling pretty well rested, but I expect we will crash for naps this afternoon. Pray for us over the next days as we go through culture shock, and jet lag! Also, please pray for our carryon bag that was mistakenly put on the conveyer belt in chicago and didn't make it home with us! It has my computer and our printer in it!!!!!!!! ARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
Crazy story... maybe I'll tell it when the room stops spinning...
This week is jam packed full of doctors appointments and homestudy appointments for our adoption of our little ones!! Whoo hoo!! Traveling over the last days has made us really piney for our kids in Ethiopia. Just knowing the next time we travel together on a plane will be to bring them home makes me all misty! We can't wait to go to Ethiopia!
Okay, I'm off to engage with the fam in the next room now...
LOVE to you all.

uh huh...

the 'amen' sort of 'uh huh'...not the sarcastic, roll the eyes kind...
read this:
"I only wish I had treasured the doing a little more, and the getting it done a little less."
on THIS POST.
It is worth reading. Check it out.
LOVE,
a

not a fan of 'goodbye'

we're done packing.
the apartment is clean.
the fridge is cleaned out, we've closed our bank account and
gotten our deposit back...
whew. lots of tears shed today saying goodbye to
friends here. the kids last day of school was this
morning...i cried. their teachers cried. the other moms cried.
had coffee with nathalie, marketa, and rebecca. cried.
had a coke with marrty. cried.
had lunch with natasha... cried.
text messaged nuria a million times. cried.
last coffee with friends tomorrow. our last day.
crying thinking about it.
pray for our flights... we have 3. barcelona to
munich. munich to chicago. chicago to denver. it'll be
at least 24-25 hours of travel IF everything goes
smoothly. pray for our 5 and 3 year olds to SLEEP on
the planes! they only slept about 45 minutes of the
whole trip on the way here a year ago! ah!!
much love.
a

Little Joys...

I miss my plates.
I'll get to see them again in 2 months.
Just thought I'd share what they look like.

I keep thinking about them. I want to eat off of them. And wash them. Just thinking of them... and thought I'd share.
For something much deeper about living with the plates you love read THIS POST.
She inspired me to write this. ;)

Little Victories...

My little girl went on a field trip today. I guess they showed a movie on the bus. Can you imagine? Showing a movie on a bus on a school field trip?! C'mon! Aren't you supposed to laugh and play and talk to your friends on the bus?
Anyway...
I guess they showed a video to this busload of 5 year olds that Maegan didn't think she'd like to see. She told me it was a 'yucky movie' and that the mommy was being really ugly to her baby and that they put some bad grown up drink in the baby's bottle and she didn't want to watch, so she closed her eyes and slept instead! (Any idea what movie this might have been? I have no idea!)
Anyway, MY GOOD GIRL has established her own BOUNDRIES! And! She's only 5!
I'm so proud of her!!!
Needless to say, I'll be asking the teacher tomorrow about the movie... Hmmm...

In 9 days

we'll be in Colorado.
I'm packing.
And purging.
And missing my friends here already.
And anticipating fun reunions with my fam and friends back home.
So much to do. And say. And feel.
Pray for all of us.

Ryan, the other day, came in and sat down in the kitchen while I was washing dishes and announced in his 3 year old serious voice:
"I don't want to go."
"Why?" asked I.
"Because. I love Montse."
Tears filled his eyes, and mine. I told Marrty about it later, and tears filled his eyes as well. So sad. Most of what he knows is from his last year here. He truly does LOVE his teacher, Montse. Bless his little heart.
He's so sweet. I had a parent teacher conf. with Montse today and she says he's a joy. Un Sol. A sun. Everyone loves Ryan. His teacher, his classmates. He follows directions. He doesn't mind if he's at the front of the line, or the middle or the end.... He shares his snack with those in need. He is tidy. He's just a great boy.
Thank you, God, por mi sol pequeno.

Happy Valentine's Day!

WOW! This is it! My first ever 100th post! I can't believe it!
Okay...in the spirit of blogdom, it is tradition to list 100 things about yourself (and things I love)Some silly, some not.

1. I love Jesus. I love who He was, and Is. I want to live and love like Him.
2. I adore my best friend and husband, Marrty. What a gift! 11 years and counting!
3. I adore my first born, Mae.
4. I adore my second born, Ry.
5. I adore already our newest little girl who will be coming to us from Ethiopia!
6. I adore already our newest little boy who will be coming to us from Ethiopia!
7. I love how Mae says 'dangerous-er'
8. and 'bres-kist' (breakfast)
9. how she mixes up kitchen and chicken sometimes... so funny.
10. I love how affectionate Ry is. He's so kindhearted and sweet.
11. I love that sometimes he tells me 'Mommy, I have a soft heart."
12. I love how my husband challenges me to think harder and deeper than before.
13. And how he points me to the heart of God.
14. I like being crafty, ie: stamping, scrapbooking, knitting, sewing (I think)
15. I love to teach and I'm excited to homeschool.
16. I like the ocean...but...
17. I love the mountains
18. I was a social coffee drinker, until I moved to Spain, and now I'm an addict.
19. I plan to go 'cold turkey' when we move back in 2 weeks. Pray!
20. I've done 2 mini triathlons.
21. I hate to run.
22. I like to bike.
23. I love to swim.
24. My music tastes are all over the board.
25. I love to read...everything. Fiction, nonFiction...Even the toothpaste tubes and shampoo bottles.
26. The descriptions and instructions always make me laugh.
27. I love being with friends.
28. I love talking with friends on the phone.
29. I love decorating. And sketching where I'm going to put things.
30. I love pottery barn catalogs.
31. I love my jammies.
33. I am pretty sentimental.
34. If I get a starbuck's gift card, I'm more likely to buy a cup with it than coffee, so I can have something to remember the gift by.
35. Although...I'm getting tired of all the 'stuff' we've collected. So I might buy the coffee now instead.
36. I want to simplify my life.
37. I want to get rid of all the stuff that we don't need or use or REALLY love.
38. Good grief...that's only #38! This is harder than I thought!
39. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday...no gifts to wrap, just being with family and/or friends and thanking God for them...
40. And. PUMPKIN is my favorite pie. ;)
41. I've always loved that my birthday is in the fall.
42. Because fall is my favorite season.
43. I love the 4th of July in my hometown, too. SUCH A GOOD TIME!
44. I usually print, rather than write with cursive.
45. I like to use Stampin' Up markers to journal, or write on cards.
46. I love to sing.
47. Especially with my kids.
48. I taught them 'Fish and Chips and Vinegre' in round the other night and now they won't stop singing it.
49. I let them sing as loudly as they want in their rooms when it gets annoying.
50. Whew... halfway there...
51. I adore my mom. She's amazing.
52. I've been blessed by God with really amazing friends.
53. When I become interested in something, I research it until I know as much as I can about it.
54. www.stampingbella.com has my favorite stamps, for example.
55. or adoption... AAI is our agency.
56. Even our dog. What do you want to know about labradors?
57. We have the best dog ever. Her name is Anna. (pronounced AH-nuh) She'll be 10 on July 3rd.
58. I love her.
59. I don't love her hair on the floor...but I love that she eats the food the kids drop on the floor, so I guess it evens out.
60. I would rather have a plant than a bouquet of flowers. I want to cry when they die and I have to throw them away.
61. I love that Ryan sucks his thumb and plays with the corner of his green and white striped pillow as he falls asleep. So sweet.
62. I really like photography.
63. I want to take care of God's green earth.
64. I recycle.
65. I'm researching lots of ways to cut out plastics and reduce waste...
66. and eat organic.
67. I guess I'm kindof 'granola', huh?
68. I want to feed the hungry
69. I want to cloth the naked
70. I really like Obama.
71. I click on www.thehungersite.com everyday.
72. I pray the office: http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/PraytheOffice/index.html
73. I'm pretty intuitive.
74. And sometimes paranoid.
75. Once, I got up in the middle of the night to cut Maegan's curtains off, because I was afraid she might strangle in them in her sleep...
76. Another time, I left class early to call and beg my baby sitter to watch Ryan extra close because I had a bad feeling that he might get hurt.
77. I love my mom's chocolate sheet cake.
78. I can't wait to go to Ethiopia. I know you already know that. But, it had to be said. Again.
79. I've saved this post and started again on it several times.
80. I like my coffee a bit warmer than room temperature, but I often forget it while i'm waiting for it to cool and then i have to reheat it because it gets too cold.
81. sometimes i just drink it cold... i still like it that way, too.
82. half milk. half really strong coffee. 2 tsp. sugar. yum.
83. I like peanut butter and jelly mixed together... with ritz crackers.
84. or bananas.
85. i gained 30 lbs my first 2 years of college because i love pb and bananas...
86. it took me about 3 years to lose it all.
87. I've lived for more than a year in MO, NM, CO, Hungary, and Spain
88. We spent a summer in Alaska, too. It was awesome.
89. I caught a huge salmon there...and cleaned it myself!
90. I would never have caught it without the unselfishness of my hubby and our friend Craig, who kept untangling my line and giving me a different pole to get hung up...
91. I love the rain.
92. And old, warm quilts.
93. I'm reading 'Justice in the Burbs' right now. Wanna read it with me?
94. I like to recruit people and get them excited about whatever it is that I'm excited about... Jesus. Stamping. Adoption. Humanitarian Aide. Crocs... whatever.
95. I have great friends. It's worth repeating.
96. I normally think about something for a really long time before I buy it.
97. I wear my favorite jeans until they are full of holes, and then I patch them. I'm emotionally attached. My last 2 pair have holes again... And, I just don't want to throw them away. I bought some tights to wear under them. How crazy am I? They're jeans, for heaven's sake!
98. I like to ski...
99. I love being a wife!
100. and I adore being a mom!

Whew! I'm done! Happy Valentine's Day!!
Love,
Angela

Before I forget...

Another Ryan quote...
He cried out in the middle of the night last night
"Mommmmmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaa.... I want a balloon!!! (Pause)
I mean.... I waaannnnt a baaaannnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaa"

Silence.
I laughed. And went back to sleep. Silly goose.

Wrapping Up Our Year in Spain...

Tonight after dinner (we had scrambled eggs and fried potatoes!) we pulled the couch over in front our glass doors, turned out all the lights, lit the candles, snuggled under a comforter and watched it rain. The rain had nearly quit by the time we got our cocoa and popcorn all ready, but it was still fun to watch the cars go by and guess what color the next one was going to be. Our kids are so fun.
We talked about the things we love here... Here are a few of the highlights:
Maegan:
her umbrella
the beach
Eva (her teacher last spring)
Marta (her teacher this year)
churros and burros (donut sort of things)
the market on Thursdays

Ryan:
his green motorcycle (although we brought that from home!)
his cowie (brought that from home, too)
the park (its just outside our front door!)
Montse (his teacher)


Marrty and Me:
cafe con leche
hot bread
the beach
my amazing friends: Nuria, Natalie, Anna, Wendy and Mandy
'my' coffee shop
rotessorie chicken
'my' grocery store around the corner
sangria!

I'm sure I'll come back and add to this list as we think of things...

After our sweet cozy conversation, the sugar kicked in and the crazy blondies started doing somersaults by climbing onto the ottomon, which was behind the couch, over the back of the couch landing headfirst between Marrty and I. They thought it was hysterical, and so did we. What fun.
They're fun kids. I think we'll keep them, and bring them back to the states with us. Only 26 more days... crazy.

Who Remembers Wild America?

Ryan does!

Ry: NO! I love Daddy!! You don't!
Me: We all love Daddy!
Ry: Maybe Marty Stouffer loves Daddy!

Mater

If you have the movie Cars and you haven't yet watched the extra 'Mater and the Ghost Light, watch it NOW. It's so funny. We crack up over and over... and, it's only 10 minutes long.

M&R have been pretending everything is the ghost light now and cracking us all up.

A few cute quotes before i forget them...

Granting permission to each other

Mae: "Well, Ryan, It's okay with me, if it's okay with Mommy"

and a different day:

Ry in his 3 year old serious voice: "Yeah. Maegan can do that. I mind"
Me: "You don't mind?"
Ry: "Yeah. I don't mind."

Softy

Ry, at dinner last night, over and over, laid his little pudgy hand on my leg and reminded me ever so sweetly "I love you, mom."
Oh, boy. I love you, too, Ry. I love you, too.

My nonblinker

Maegan, on the way up our hallway stairs "MOM! LOOK! I can go the whole way up the stairs without blinking my eyes one time!"
We then counted (as fast as I could) to 23 without a single blink.
She's brilliant. And, oh-so-eye-talented.

To Home School

Decision made. We are home schooling. We are going to do it for next school year, and we'll evaluate again after that.
WoooooooooooHoooooooooooooo!
Let the adventures in learning begin!!
I'm so excited! ;)

Body Parts...

Ryan was coloring on the floor yesterday and the sight of his dirty chubby little bare foot sticking out from his pajamas melted my heart...chubby...pink...foot. So sweet.

Maegan's new hair cut makes kissing the back of her soft little neck so easy... Love it. LOVE IT.

I can't wait to kiss 4 more lil feet. And snuggle 2 more little necks. Oh, Lord. Let them come quickly... my heart hurts knowing they could be somewhere not being snuggled right now...

Pretending

Yes, this is a boat(well, it's really an ottomon, but to them, it is a boat)...and they're pretending that they are on a boat, sleeping through the storm, like Jesus before He calmed the sea... so sweet.

My New Boots...

these pics by special request...
Thanks to my special friend for such a special gift... you know who you are... i love you...

Matthew 5:3

We're beginning to memorize the Beatitudes... Maegan wanted to write this one herself.

Such a Copy Cat...

I saw this personality test on Jody's blog and had to copy her... I've done this several times over the years...seems to stay bout the same, no matter what life stage I'm in...

You Are An ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

What's Your Personality Type?

Okay...I know I'm totally selfish. Compassionate, yes. Unselfish...unfortunately, no. Isn't everyone selfish? A politician? I'll leave that one for my brother! ;) Love you, Stace!
Now...what is YOUR personality type? Click here to take the test. Then come back and leave a comment. Sheesh...I don't know what to do to get you people to leave me a comment. Maybe I need to start offering a prize...

Who Knew?

Who knew that you could feed an orphan for a month when you purchase your coffee? YOU CAN! Buy a pound of Saint's Coffee here!

A Request...

If you are family, or a friend, and you want to understand why in the world we are adopting from Ethiopia, please read the book There is No Me without You by Melissa Fay Greene. Its amazing. Please read it...
She recently wrote a short online article as well about a recent trip to Ethiopia with her 10 year old daughter who she and her husband adopted from there 5 years ago. You can read it HERE.

Coffee with a Nun

Yep. I've been meaning to post about this for quite some time, but you know... life... it gets in the way of my blog time. ha..ha..
Anyway, a few weeks ago when Beck and JJ were here I took them up to Montserrat (a monestary is built into an amazing mountain... It's a really beautiful area, and I love to go up there when I have a chance. You can hike, picnic, or grab a cafe con leche at the coffee shop and read a book, which is what I planned to do this time while Beck and JJ checked out the scenes. Anyway, I was reading my Bible, and a book that I brought with me, a smiley lady across the way kept making eye contact with me. Eventually she made her way over to the seat across from me and we had an amazing conversation. She, as it turns out, is a Benedictine Nun living at a monestary nearby. She asked me if I were catholic or protestant or what, and I said that I love Jesus and want to follow Him. This freaked her out, and I think she thought that I was a cult follower at first. At least she kept probing...and asked to see my Bible to make sure it was legit. I love Jesus. I love who He was and Is. I want to be more like Him. I want to follow His teachings...and follow Him. Wherever He leads. I want to love passionately and undiscriminately. It is so hard.
I digress...
Anyway, we had a great talk and I encouraged her to read the book I was reading "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. I know, I keep quoting him...but, man. It's a great book. Anyway, she said that she couldn't buy it, that she's a part of the monestary and they give her the $ for the things she 'needs', but if I wanted to send her my copy when I'm done, she'd be happy to read it. Done. We traded emails and skype names and I will be sending it her way soon. She's already Skyped me!
She was amazing. Had some amazing stories to tell... like the fact that one of the monestaries in the south of the good ol' USA was still practicing segregation between the white sisters and black sisters... Can you imagine?! Now?! In the summer of 2007? Oh, my heart hurts for the healing that has yet to take place...
She also told stories of working alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta, as does Shane Claiborne in the book that I was reading. It was great conversation. Wish you all could've been there... Now...go buy that book! :) He's giving away 100% of the proceeds, so buy it and count it towards your tithe! :)

What do you know about HIV?

The stigma surrounding HIV is shocking to me. Why aren't we more educated!? Why do we fear something that is so difficult to catch? Maybe you don't fear it. But, I have to say, when I tell people that we are adopting from Ethiopia, many people say 'oooooo...be careful... you could be bringing 'hiv' into your home!' i tell people that the children are all tested, and that they wouldn't refer us an HIV child, unless we requested that, and we haven't. But then, I began to wonder...so what if they did have HIV?! So, i think the next time someone says that to me, i'll take the opportunity to inform them about HIV and how hard it is to get. I want to say 'um...if your not having sex with or sharing dirty needles with these kids, you don't have to worry' but i guess that'd be a little strong. maybe i should take erin's approch instead.

Erin is an amazing bloggin' momma that I respect a ton. One of her kiddos, a beautiful little girl named Belane, from Ethiopia, is HIV+. Below is one of her very informative posts about HIV. Please read it, and educate yourself!
She's really amazing.

Thursday, December 13, 2007


Education
Before we brought Belane home, several people told me that dealing with the social side of having an HIV+ child would most likely be more difficult than dealing with the medical side of having an HIV+ child.

Thus far, that has certainly been true. Trying to decide how to handle it all (being open or not) is emotional and stressful.

Here is a post I wrote about all that awhile back.

At the end of the summer a family complained to friends of ours that they were worried about their kids getting AIDS and did not think that we should be bringing Belane to church.

At first I was upset. I knew the day would come, but somehow expected it to be school related, not church related. Then I decided to put my money where my mouth was... I had said that when we ran into fear, stigma, etc. that we would react matter-of-factly and by trying to educate others.

I printed up the information below and gave it to our friends, who then passed it on to the family who didn't want us to bring Belane to church. That was the last I heard of it, and we have continued to go to church every Sunday without incident, so hopefully this information helped the other family.

I tried to imagine myself two years ago hearing that there was a child in our church with HIV/AIDS, and imagined that I probably would have fears about my own family's safety because I was not educated about HIV at that point. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I gave the information sheet to one of our church leaders and to the director of Belane's preschool and asked them to give them out to anyone who came to them with concerns or questions (it also has my phone # and an invitation to call me to anyone who wants to). So far we have not had any calls, and the church and the preschool have not had any issues, but I think we're bound to sooner or later.

If you're interested, here is the information I gave out.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and it is the virus that if left untreated, can progress and develop into AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and occurs when HIV advances and weakens the immune system to the point that the body can no longer fight off illness and infections.

There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS, however, the medications that are now available to treat HIV are highly effective. HIV is now considered a chronic yet manageable condition in the United States and in other countries where treatment is readily available. Children who receive the proper treatment and medications are expected to live well into adulthood and have close to normal or normal life expectancies, and many people are now living with HIV for indefinite periods of time without developing AIDS.

While the term "HIV+ child" usually makes people imagine a child that is very sickly, the reality is that children who are HIV+ and are receiving the medications, look just like any other child.

When HIV+ children are receiving proper care and are on their medications (when needed), they enjoy very good health and do not need to be isolated from other children or be treated differently.

HIV+ children are NOT a risk to people around them, as HIV can NOT be spread through causal contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other causal way.

It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breast milk and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles). Children who are HIV+ can share food, drink, bath tubs, swimming pools, towels, beds, toys and all other household items with their family members and friends without risk. HIV is not transmitted through urine, stool, snot, tears or sweat.

While it is recommended and wise to handle the blood of an HIV+ child with care, it is also helpful to know that the risk of transmitting HIV through a bloody nose or skinned knee is very minimal. This is especially true for a child that is on HIV medications, because the medications can reduce the amount of HIV in a person's system to the point that the HIV is considered "undetectable", meaning there is only a very tiny amount of virus in the person's system.

Below is some information from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and a link is provided for more detailed information.

How is HIV passed from one person to another?

HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day contact in the workplace, schools, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a door knob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets.

HIV is not an airborne or food-borne virus, and it does not live long outside the body.

HIV transmission can occur when blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person.

Intact, healthy skin is an excellent barrier against HIV and other viruses and bacteria.

These are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one person to another:

* by having sex with an HIV-infected person;
* by sharing needles or injection equipment with an injection drug user who is infected with HIV; or
* from HIV-infected women to their babies before or during birth, or through breast-feeding after birth.

HIV also can be transmitted through receipt of infected blood or blood clotting factors. However, since 1985, all donated blood in the United States has been tested for HIV. Therefore, the risk of infection through transfusion of blood or blood products is extremely low. The U.S. blood supply is considered to be among the safest in the world.

Fore more detailed information you can visit: http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art30024.html#q15

Anyone with questions or concerns, is more than welcome to call Erin Henderson at ###-####
Our daughter is happy, healthy and thriving. She is also HIV+. She does not have AIDS. She has a close to normal life expectancy and because of treatments now available will even be able to grow up and have healthy children of her own if she so desires. She is not a risk to anyone around her, and we hope and pray that our family and friends in church and the community will treat her with the love, acceptance and respect that she deserves.

Somebody feel free to pass this on to Mr. Huckabee (read a few posts down if you don't know what I am talking about)

You can read Erin's blog by clicking ON THIS.

To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool...

That is my question of the day...
Open enrollment for Boulder Valley Schools (our district) ends next week...
I'm a little stressed.

We move back to the U.S. next month.
Stress.

We're adopting...excited...but...
stress.

Down.

down describes:me. today.
no real reason.
just down.
went shopping for boots with $ from a sweet friend... didn't find any...yet.
talked to mom. all bad news from home. nothing good. sad.
down. me.

You Are What You Eat...

and other healthy tips to live by...
Check it out HERE
Sometimes i actually read the yahoo news... :)
I do try to live like this, most of the time. Have to say...having kids has forced me to look at how we eat. I felt a responsibility to cook good dinners when Marrty and I got married, but now it reaches into every meal, and snacktime as well. I see it as my responsibility to make sure we are all eating well. Boy...did I fall off the bandwagon while Beck was here!? Uh...yeah! But, now that the bag of M&M's (well, okay, just the first bag!) is gone, I'm getting back on track.
For dinner tonight?
Grilled Pork Chops
Mashed Potatoes (& gravy! or Grizzly as Ryan calls it)
Cucumber and Tomato Salad (or Bob & Larry, as it is called by both kids)
Mommy, may i have sum more bob&larry and sum more grizzly on my tatoes? Oh...so.cute. Yes. Yes, you may!

cookin'

Does anybody out there have THIS BOOK?
If so, leave a review in the comments section! I'd love to hear your thougths!
It's on my must read list...
I mean, my kids eat what we give them...and I don't want to deceive them... they'll help me make it for cryin' out loud! But, if it tastes good, they'll eat it and I could use it with my sweet toothed hubby, right?! I'm all about throwin' in a little more nutrition!

Happy 11th Anniversary Honey...

Okay, it's a week and a half late, I know... but here are a few highlights of our last 11 years together! (A very, very, condensed version!!)

1996- married my best friend! Moved to Columbia, MO
1997- moved to Springfield, Mo
1998- our puppy, Anna, was born July 3!
1999- came on staff with CCC
2000- moved to LC, New Mexico
2001- led a team to Sevilla, Spain together...one of our best times together, so far!
2002- Summer in Vail,Co then Our sweet Maegan was born in Oct!!
2003- Summer in Vail, Co again... awesome...
2004- moved to Colorado in May... Our little man, Ryan was born in July!
2005- Summer in Alaska... wow. Experienced incredible community... LOVED it...
2006- Building strong relationships with other couples... What a blessing!!
2007- moved to Spain! Holy Smokes! Called to adopt!! Shanikey! :)
2008- moving back to the states! the year we get 2 more kiddos?!?

Honey... Can't wait to see what the next 11 years bring... I'm so excited to live the story that He is authoring for us. I love you. You are my best friend. I am so blessed. So. BLESSED. by. YOU.

Our Saturday Night...

Hubby is working. on a saturday night. ugh.
Kids and I are eating noodles. with sauce from a jar. on the couch. watching Wild America.

Michelle's Story

The Joy of a Baked Potato

After a long absence from a hot baked potato, we all enjoyed one over lunch!
I can't help it. I can't eat one without butter and sour cream, or...even better...RANCH DRESSING, and seeing as though those things aren't available here, I haven't had one in a long, long time.
BECKY TO THE RESCUE! Beck brought us Ranch Seasoning Packets! Thank you, Becky and JJ! Our lunch was a hit! The kids even asked for seconds!

A Ryan Quote...or Two...

"Doggies are my friends"

When seeing a classmate outside of school:
"Hey Mom! He lives in my class!"

Me: "Hey there, Handsome Man."
Him: "Hey there, Handsome Mama."

Melt, my heart.

He's also into telling me he loves me ALL THE TIME these days. When I see him in the morning. When he gets into trouble and has to sit in time out. When he gets up from time out. When he's playing with trains. When he's coloring. When we go to the store. When he goes down for a nap. When he gets up from his nap. When he goes to bed. When he gets up in the middle of the night to pee. (I know, You get the point)He's so sweet and affectionate. I could just eat him up. I adore this little guy. I love it when he snuggles into me as I hold him. He's so warm and cuddly. Everyone should have a 3 year old boy to snuggle. It's one of my greatest joys.

After the Salon

Maegan wants to be a hairdresser...

I think she needs some more practice. What do you think? Yes. She cut her own hair on New Year's Day.
Here are the reasons she gave when asked 'Why did you cut your own hair?"
1. I want to be like the Mouse in the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"
2. I don't like it when my long hair blows in my face when it is windy.
And, my favorite...
3. Well, I didn't have any paper.

Needless to say, we went to the salon yesterday to get some help. It's SO short. She looks very modern... I miss my baby with the long blonde hair... Mom assures me that it'll grow back. Until then...no more piggy tails. Sniff...sniff...

Thank You, God for Great Friends!

Click on the below pics to view them larger... Check out my silly girl, with her legs crossed and rapper pose? I have no idea... but ain't she cute?
Ry was sleepy, (he missed his nap) so he's lovin' on his 'greenan'whitepillow'... I made that pillow in high school for a home-ec project,(i made matching p.j.'s but they are long gone)It's his favorite lovie... it has great corners, dontcha know...so funny...
These were taken by JJ on our daytrip to Girona. The kids did great and we had a blast wandering around the cobblestoned streets.


We had a great time over the last week with our friends JJ and Becky visiting us! It was a week filled with coffee and treats from the states: zingers and m&m's...walks on the beach, day trips to Girona and Montserrat, reading bedtime stories to the kids, learning to make lasagna and teaching how to do the 'running man'... ah...the memories we made! Thank you so much, JJ and Beck, for traveling all this way to hang out with us here. I can't tell you how much it means to me! I look forward to many more fun times in MO and CO! We love you guys!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

Maegan on Marriage

She just showed me a picture she'd drawn of a girl in a dress... This was her description:

"This is a girl in a dress...but...I don't know. I'm still thinking about getting married, but I'm not sure...I still want to be a teacher when I grow up."

I guess she thought that all teachers are single?

I said "Did you know you can still be a teacher AND be married, too?"
"NO!!!" she replied through a handful of giggles.

This girl cracks me up on a daily basis.

Countdown to Becky and JJ!

I'm so excited! My sweet friend Becky and her amazing hubby JJ are coming to town! They fly out of Springfield, MO on Christmas Day and will be here the 26th! I can't wait to hug their necks! Woohoo!!! I will for sure be missing my family, being so far away, but what a fun Christmas and New Years it will be having them here!

Peanut Brittle- Food Friday

(I know...it's Saturday...sshhh...I'm a day late... Yesterday was filled to the max with having coffee with a friend, baking, shopping, school Christmas party, Agape Christmas party in the city...It was a long, full, fun day...no time to blog!)

All of my memories of Christmas when I was a child include my Grandma Letha and her Peanut Brittle. This will be our 3rd Christmas without her, and my Grandma Lois, too. They died only a few months apart, when Ryan was just a baby.
My Grandma Letha was part of my everyday life growing up. I was at her house everyday after school and the time I spent with her had such a huge impact on who I am as a person. My heart aches and my nose hurts every time I think of her...I miss her, so much.

Yesterday, I got online and found a super easy Peanut Brittle recipe. (It's not my Grandma's recipe, but it sure is good!) I'd never made Peanut Brittle before, but I decided now is as good a time as any, and it helped my heart to make it, imagining my Grandma near me. It's amazing how wonderful scents and tastes awake your memories.
At first I was afraid that the sugar is different here (it does taste sweeter, somehow) and it wasn't browning as fast as the recipe said it should, but it eventually did and I poured it onto a pan, as it said I should. It's so thick and sticky and OH-SO-BAD-FOR-YOU, I'm sure...but it shore tasted grate (misspelled on purpose...I am from the Ozarks, ya know). Man...did I ever have to bang it with a hammer to get it out of the pan!! But, it was worth it and I made up little boxes of it to give as teacher gifts to the kids teachers.

To see the recipe click on PEANUT BRITTLE

To see the tutorial of the box I made to put it in click HERE.

I made a little coordinating Christmas ornament with snowflake stamps that said Bon Nadal (Merry Christmas, in Catalan) to stick in the box, too. They were very appreciative to have a traditional American candy that they'd never tasted before. (One of them even called me at home last night to thank me!) It was super easy, extremely inexpensive, and FUN. I loved it. Now, I'll have the kids help me make a pan for us...so fun!

I usually make my mom's sugar cookies, too (they're more like snicker doodles than sugar cookies, but that's what we call them anyway) but we don't have cream of tarter... Next year! Or maybe we'll make them when we get to mom's in March and sprinkle them with green sugar for St.Patrick's Day!

Your turn! What is your favorite Christmas candy or dessert? Leave your recipe in the comment section!

BON NADAL!! Feliz Navidad! Merry Christmas!

A Whopper & A Piece of Pie...

Yea! Doug finally ate something last night. He ate a Whopper and a piece of pie from Burger King...his favorite fast food. He's still in the hospital, but is doing pretty well for a guy with a broken sternum, fractured ribs and a tear in his aorta (braced with a stint) I'm relieved that his pancreas is working again, he isn't seeing double vision anymore, and he's finally feeling like eating something. Keep praying for my sweet brother to heal! He's an incredible man! brother! son! hubby! and daddy!

Thanks Thomas...

Can I just say I am so thankful for Thomas the Tank Engine? Ryan got a set of these (incredibly overpriced)toys for his 2nd birthday. He played with them everyday for months. He was into their little faces and loved playing with the trains, but not so much the tracks. Around his 3rd birthday he really got into matchbox cars...but now, a few months later, he's back into Thomas, and this time, the tracks, too. He loves making all kinds of new patterns with his tracks and running his long line of trains over them again and again. Thank goodness we got nearly every piece as a gift, or with a 40% off coupon from Michael's. He loves his trains (and Mae does too!She has a few of her own, as well). He knows each of their names, and they are his little friends....ones I will for sure be keeping forever...I hope that our grandkids will play with them someday. Yeah for wooden toys!
(Too bad many of them are made in China! Arr... I'm getting into handmade toys now... we'll see what we come up with!)

My mouth...

Maegan informed me of this today:
"Mommy, I wish Jesus wouldn't have given you a mouth"
Me: "Oh really? Why?"
Her: "So you couldn't tell me to go to timeout."

Doug is Out of the Woods

Marrty wrote:
Ok. Whew. So. Lots more details have poured in over the last several
hours. We actually had a few of the facts wrong to begin with.
Angela's brother, Doug, who works for a Marshfield (Mo.) utility
company, was actually working in Maryville, Mo., (not Oklahoma)
helping to restore power in the wake of the ice storms that just
recently hit the Midwest. Sometime yesterday evening, he was injured
during the unloading of a bunch of electric poles from a utility
truck. One of the poles rolled off (not sure how or if others did,
too) and bounced on its end and then hit Doug in his midsection,
breaking some of his ribs and puncturing his aorta, which is the main
chamber of the heart. However, he never lost consciousness and not
knowing how badly he was injured told his coworkers he'd be at work
the next day. Of course those who saw what happened immediately
called an ambulance and he was at the hospital in Maryville within 20
minutes. But they couldn't help him there and couldn't airlift him
somewhere else because of the weather, so they took him by ambulance
to Kansas City.

We're not sure about the exact timeline, but Doug underwent surgery
sometime this morning, central standard time. His surgeon, who is
also a believer, turned out to be the area's only specialist in the
particular procedure Doug needed. The surgeon was supposed to have
been on vacation, but when he heard about Doug's case, he stayed to
perform the surgery. We just a few minutes ago heard that the surgery
was successful, and that Doug is out of danger!!! The surgeon told
family members that he expects Doug to recover over the next six weeks.

Wow. So that's the scoop. We have no doubt that the Great Physician
stood beside Doug through this whole ordeal. We're so grateful for
your many prayers, along with the prayers of hundreds of others
around the world, and we're so grateful to the Lord that Doug is
going to be ok! Today has been so hard since we're so far away and
couldn't go be with Doug at the hospital, but we're grateful that
your prayers and encouraging responses have helped us feel closer to
Doug and to you all. Please keep praying for him during his recovery.

Thank you so much for praying with us!!!!
Marrty & Angela & the entire family

Thank you for praying for my brother! He made it through surgery with flying colors! The doc said he should be doing really well in about 6 weeks!! Praise God!!
I guess he was actually working a storm in northern Missouri...in Maryville? They couldn't airlift him b/c of the storm, so they had to take him by ambulance 2 1/2 hours to the hospital in KC...
All the details aren't really clear yet, but the worst is past, and he is going to be okay!
Thank you for standing with us through this! Keep praying for him as he recovers!
Angela

Urgent Prayer Request!!!

My brother, Doug, is a lineman for a power company in Missouri. He and his crew were called to Oklahoma to help restore power. I just got news that he was in an accident where a pole fell, bounced, hit him in the chest and damaged his aorta. They took him to a po-dunk hospital that couldnt do anything for him and then ended up taking him to Kansas City, KS where he is getting ready to go into surgery. Pray pray pray for him!!!!!
He has a wife, Shelly and a 11 yo son and 8 yo daughter.
Pray pray pray!!!

Christmas...

I did it. I learned to knit and I'm knittin up a storm...2 scarves, 2 hats, 1 sweater down... several more to go! Okay, so they're all miniture and for Maegan's dolls and Ryan's puppy dog, but ya gotta start somewhere, right? They know about the hats and scarves, but the sweaters and pants and dresses that I'm knitting now will be a Christmas surprise for my lil girly girl. She wants this doll armoire SO BAD... For her birthday she got a little wooden cradle and wooden highchair and cloth baby carrier with a tiny baby doll that goes in it. There are several pieces to the set in the store below our apartment. Well, I went in and bought the armoire the other day while she was in school. After school THE SAME DAY she wandered in 'just to look at the 'closet'. I'm sure you can imagine the scene when she noticed it wasn't there anymore. Lots of tears, and sniffles, and "I can't believe someone ELSE bought the closet that I WANT!" Oh, how sad... I can't wait to see her little face on Christmas when she opens it and gets to put little handmade clothes on the hangers inside! Isn't celebrating Jesus' birthday FUN?!

Family Picture Day 12/07

Work or...

Play

Teaching Thoughts...

I've been spending a lot of time with my friend Nathalie, from Germany, (who is teaching me to knit)and she's had some really great things to say about educating our little ones. She is a teacher who has studied a lot about the Montessori method of teaching. I've been doing some research into it, and I love some of the things I'm learning.
One of the Montessori ideas is no TV in the home. Ah... I don't really want to go to that extreme, yet, although I see the value in it. I'm not a big TV watcher. Especially since we moved to Spain! Honestly, our TV is never on here unless a video is on. We got into a habit of watching 1 short (30 minute) video per day in the afternoon while I was making dinner. Recently, though, the kids were asking for videos more and more in the morning, when we normally don't watch. I've decided to cut out the 1 a day rule, and for the time being, scale it back to once a week for our Family Movie Night. We'll see how it goes! We've been spending lots of time making Christmasy crafty things lately, and it's so much more fun than listening to a children's movie that i've heard a thousand time before. My kids are so much happier when I'm actively engaged with them, and I'm finding...so am I!
I've always LOVED wooden toys and have steered away from cartoon character toys (and clothing)And then,
I read this today:

We know that spending too much time in front of the TV and computer turns children in to passive learners, ones who would rather have information handed to them rather than questioning and exploring the answers for themselves. They become expectant of extrinsic motivation and rewards, rather than becoming internally motivated.

This is why we need to be aware of the toys our children are playing with and be ready to make suggestions when parents and grandparents ask for advice.

3-6 years old

Jump ropes
Tangrams
Hammer and cork board
Lacing activities and cards
Bead stringing
Log Cabin building sets
Lego
Wooden blocks
Magnet building sets
Tinker Toys
Dolls
Toy cars and trucks
Jigsaw puzzles
Memory games
Traditional games such as Checkers, Chinese Checkers, Chess, Marbles, Tiddlywinks, Pick Up Sticks
Hula Hoops
Tri- and Bicycles
Swings
Balance Beam
Child-size brooms and mops
Aprons for cooking, painting, and crafts
Percussion instruments
Modeling clay and tools
Colored pencils and sketchbooks
Peg looms
Knitting needles and yarn
Compass
Magnifying glass
Child-size watering can and gardening tools
Flower press
Plastic animal and dinosaur models
Sand and water trays
Butterfly net
Bug “vacuum”
Sidewalk chalk
Whatever toys we choose, we must remember that the most important element is to be certain that they engage the child mentally for long periods of time, combining both hand/muscle movement with brain activity.

Learn more about how children experience their environment using all of their senses in NAMC’s Preschool/Kindergarten (3-6) Sensorial Development & Music Enrichment curriculum manual.
It all came from
this post about great toys for your 3-6 year olds. I hope to be adding some of these things to our learning environment (aka: our living room!)

Here is another Montessori blog I enjoy reading. Great things to think about... I hope to implement some of them.

Oh! And this is fun! Ryan has really been wanting "a shooter" which is what he calls a gun. I have been looking at the wooden rifle type (since my hubby likes to hunt) and found these on ebay and I WON!! I got them cheap, and I figure our new little ones will love that doggy, too!

Christmas Crafting...

World AIDS Day

Today is World Aids Day.
The epidemic is horrific.
It is treatable.
But people are dying.
They can't afford food and clean water.
They can't afford the medicine to survive.

Read more here: http://www.avert.org/aafrica.htm

This, too is from that website:

"The effect of the AIDS epidemic on households can be very severe. Many families are losing their income earners. In other cases, income earners are forced to stay at home to care for relatives who are ill from AIDS. Many of those dying from AIDS have surviving partners who are themselves infected and in need of care. They leave behind orphans, grieving and struggling to survive without a parent's care."

I know the problem seems too huge. But, you can provide medicine to moms and babies by simply buying (RED) products!
You can purchase product (RED) from GAP, Hallmark, and other companies.
They donate half of all proceeds from the products for antiviral medications!!
Just CLICK HERE TO DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING AND LET THE GIVING BEGIN!

Deep thoughts...

I find it funny that two people sent me similar
emails on the same day. One person sent me one of a
few guys singing about putting Christ back in
Christmas, and saying "Merry Christmas" instead of
"Happy Holidays" and the other sent me something
similar from Paul Harvey.
I often agree with some things paul harvey says, but
this time, i wonder...
isn't it sort of an oxymoron to demand our rights as
Christians? aren't we called to love people? and to
give up our rights? why are we as Christ followers so
adamant about our rights? wouldn't it do a lot more to
show Christ's love to others to simply love them, than
to demand things from them? is it really more
important to post the 10 commandments than to actually
live them out? can't we pray as much as we want to? do
we really have to demand to do it at football games? I mean, can't we still pray, and doesn't God still hear us from the stands? shouldn't we be
inviting them into our homes and drinking a beer (i
know, gasp!) with those who don't yet know Christ?
Our american "christian" culture just really bothers
me sometimes. I don't think that much of what we do or
say is "Christ"ian at all. He sat with sinners. He ate
with them. He loved them. He didn't demand His
rights...He gave them up for us. He was about bridging
gaps, not creating more.
Will I pray? Yes. Will I say "Merry Christmas" ? Yes.
But do I need to demand that everyone else does? No. I
feel like we could show the world so much more of
Jesus if we were willing to lay down some of our
rights, and simply love others more. I think it's more important that we feed the hungry, and clothe the naked than it is to demand some of the things we demand. We could spend our time, finances and energies on things, that I believe, are a lot closer to the heart of God.
Just my thoughts. I would love to hear yours as well.

Food Friday NEEDS YOU!

oops...yesterday was Food Friday! well, i was home alone with 2 kiddos (Marrty is in England at a Retreat) so we had our last precious box of KRAFT Mac and Cheese and then we had a movie night and curled beneath our blankies and nibbled on buttery popcorn as we watched The Jungle Book (again).
So...mac and cheese and popcorn? Sound good?
It's a pasta weekend with Marrty gone... tonight I'm making cheese filled ravioli (the kind you get in the refridgerated section of the grocery store) with a jar of spaghetti sauce... Another super fast and easy meal paired with a salad and some warm french bread. yumm... its only 9 am and i'm already wanting it....
Mac and Cheese and Ravioli hardly qualify as recipes for Food Friday, though... so... what new yummy thing can I add?
I need YOUR help! Last week I decided that I could help create a peaceful home by being actively involved with the kids when Marrty comes home at night. It took me 5 years to get this. It just occured to me the other night. Marrty came home and because we were having left over pork chops for pork chop sandwhiches for dinner, I didn't have any real dinner prep to speak of, so I was sitting on the floor reading to the kids and playing "where is thumbkin?" instead of running around trying to get dinner ready. Marrty came in and kissed us all. We showed him our little song that the kids had just learned and he said "Glad you had such a great day with the kids!" And it hit me "He doesn't see this usually. He doesn't get to see me reading, or dancing or singing with the kids. What he walks into every day is the most stressful hour of my day when the kids are normally hungry and I'm trying to get dinner on the table and they are whining. My day most likely was fun and good up until that point, but he doesn't get to see it. He only sees the 'bewitching' hour. So... I'm experimenting this week. I'm going to try to eliminate the bewitching hour from our lives. I'm going to try to cook dinner earlier, so all I have to do is heat it after Marrty gets home. I'm going to try to be actively engaged reading or singing with the kids when he comes home, so he sees us happy and engaged. I'm going to feed the kids healthy snacks late in the afternoon so they aren't starving when he gets home. They might not eat as much at dinner, but that's okay with me, as long as they're happy at dinnertime. This means that I need to do my dinner prep earlier in the day, like during the kids' rest time, or after they get up, so they can help me with the dinner prep when they are happy and rested. This is an experiment. It sounds fun. Will it work? Who knows? But... I'm gonna try... I let you know what happens.

This is where you come in! I need your help!! Does anyone have any good 'croc pot' (although I don't have a croc pot here, so I would need to cook it in the oven or on the stove top) or 'cook all day' meals that they love that i could prepare early in the day? Please post a comment, or email me at angelainbarcelona@yahoo.com with your ideas!

Peace and Prayers...

(I'm blogging from Marrty's computer, and wow...it is so much faster and easier. My blog even loads in no time flat without my computer shutting down, which is always nice!)

I had a really encouraging phone call the other day with a Homestudy Agency in Colorado. Yes, we'll still have to wait til we are face to face in May for our homestudy visits, (Colorado requires 5 interviews!) but we can get started on the paperwork and be ready to roll when we get there in May. She even said we could do 2/3 appointments per week and get them done in a couple of weeks. I wonder when they start taking appointments for May? ;)
We can have all of our other paperwork collected, (ie fingerprints, etc...) while we are in MO. I feel really good about this. It's hard to wait, just to wait some more...but right now I am at peace. I'm resting in the waiting... and it feels great.

I'm enjoying my 5 and 3 year olds so much these days. They are so much fun. I love the little things they are doing and saying...
For example, they always give each other the biggest hugs and kisses right on the mouth when they go off to their classes at school...The other moms always comment on how cute it is...It warms my heart! Yesterday they were arguing, over who-knows-what and all of the sudden one of them said "BUT!! I LOVE YOU!" and the other "YES! I LOVE YOU, TOO!" and it was over. So cute.
I've always prayed that they would be best friends. Thank you, God, for hearing my prayers. I pray that all 4 would be the bestest of friends...That they would always love each other deeply, from the heart. I pray for their future spouses, as well. I pray that you would provide each of them with the perfect spouse for them, in your perfect timing, that would be an amazing addition to our family. I pray that they would all enjoy one another, and enjoy You. I pray that they would encourage one another and spur one another on towards love and good deeds. I pray that you would use our family for Your Glory. I pray that each one of our children (and their future spouses) would know you deeply and intimately and that their lives would be full of purpose. I pray that You would use them to heal the sick, feed the hungry, comfort the hurting... I pray that they would mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice...

Thanksgiving

So much to be thankful for...
We celebrated turkey day this year in Spain, with friends...
Here are a few of the highlights!

FOOD FRIDAY- Romaine, Avocado, and Corn Salad

I know that most of you are feasting on yummy Thanksgiving Leftovers already, but we aren't having our Thanksgiving feast with our American coworkers and their Spanish hubbies until tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it. We are going to write what we are most thankful onto strips of orange, yellow and brown paper and the kids will make paper chains out of them to decorate the room. I'm taking mashed potatoes and this Romaine, Avocado, and Corn Salad.
So quick and yummy. Maybe you can have it on the side with your turkey sandwich. :)

Wendi's Carrot Pumpkin Muffins

In honor of Thanksgiving...here's the yummy muffin recipe:

Carrot Pumpkin Muffins

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup honey
2 TBL applesauce
1 TBL canola oil
1 cup shredded carrot

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Coat muffin pan with nonstick spray. Mix
dry
ingredients in large bowl. Mix wet ingredients in separate bowl. Add
wet
ingredients to dry mixture and stir until combined. Bake 25 minutes.
Cool
on rack and enjoy!

145 calories, 2g fat and 3g fiber


These really are delicious! And...no refined sugar! My kids LOVE them...We all do! Thanks WENDI!!

Fun Things To Do with Little Kiddos

I thought it'd be fun to brainstorm a few ideas of fun inside things to do with the kiddos now that the weather is getting cooler. I'll start out with a few, and then you add your ideas to the comments, k? How will I ever get you all to comment? Mom? Dad? Brenda? Shirley? What did you all like to do as kids, or with us when we were little? Thanks, Kara...my lone comment poster! :)

Trace your hands and make turkeys out of them. Cover them with construction paper feathers.

Play with playdough with cookie cutters and plastic utencils, like a knife, to practice cutting.

Make homemade bread together. Mash bananas for banana bread, or make Wendi's pumpkin muffins. (I'll try to remember to post that recipe later...)

Make a picture by gluing cheerios to a piece of construction paper.

Make jello or pudding together! Its fun for them to mix in a large see through bag.

Make a tent in the living room with sheets and blankets and pretend to "go camping"

Have them help with dinner prep, like putting all of the chopped ingredients into a salad bowl.

Have them set the table.

LEGO's!

Have them make "ants on a log" by spreading peanut butter on celery and dotting with raisins.

Make your own play dough!

Puzzles!

Follow the Leader

Coloring books, or coloring sheets found online...there are so many free printables, it's awesome!

Listen to Pinky Dinky Doo podcast... (click HERE)

Make a cereal necklace by stringing fruit loops onto a piece of yarn

Your turn!! What did you like to do as a kid, or what do YOU like to do with your kids?

Food Friday- Pepper Steak

Okay, I know, it's not Friday, but I forgot to post a recipe last Friday, and my sweet friend Gina asked me for this recipe today, so here tis...

My Mom's Pepper Steak

Ingredients:
2 green bell peppers, sliced
2 large cans stewed tomatoes
1 bunch green onions, chopped
4 chopped steaks, sliced in strips (they slice easier if they're frozen a little bit)
1 pkg. brown gravy mix seasoning packet
salt and pepper, to taste
Minute Rice

Brown meat in a little oil in a large stock pot. Add peppers, tomatoes, green onions and 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer on low at least 3 hours, adding water if necessary to keep it a little bit soupy. Stir in seasoning packet and salt and pepper a few minutes before serving. Serve over rice.
Can you imagine? I wasn't very crazy about this as a kid, and now it's one of my favorite recipes! Its funny how that happens. Marrty and the kids like it, too!

Our afternoon

We're gonna make trail mix. And drink hot cocoa. And read stories. And snuggle on the couch under a warm blanket.

Feeling Lonely

I was feeling sad and lonely this morning, so I went to my fav coffee shop with my Bible in hand and a Bible study that I do every once in awhile Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore. Wouldn't you know...today's lesson was on friendship. God used it to draw me into the warmth of His arms and remind me of all the blessings He has given me in my friends. I am truly blessed to have you in my life...I need not feel alone. I love you.

Very Fun Blog

I came across this blog when I was reading another adoption blog. It's all about doing crafts with your kids...very cool...or warm and cozy, actually. I love it. It makes me feel at home reading through it and looking at all of her warm fall pictures with her hardwood floors and little kiddos wrapped in wool... I wanna be this lady...or at least I want to order her new book.

WARNING: Brag Post

Blood Diamonds. Shirley brought it when she came and she and Marrty watched it Tuesday night, but I was on a work call (yeah, funny, huh? I'm doing some work with Hope for Orphans which is Crusade's Orphan ministry) Anyway, my call was long, so I decided to watch it later... Marrty watched it again, with me, on Wednesday night. Bloody, yes. Good, yes. Good. but Bloody.
Ry just got over a double ear infection and he's back to his sweet self. Maegan sneezed out a huge amount of yellowygreen snot as she was getting out of the bathtub tonight. It was hanging and dripping and REALLY gross, and she and Ryan thought it was hysterical. Hope she doesn't get a full blown sinus infection...ick.
My kids have been loving playing Go Fish lately. i think I'll beg my sweet friend Becky to bring a deck of Uno over when she comes at Christmas. (Did you read that, Beck? UNO cards! ;) I hear that's a good game to start with them when you are sick of Go Fish. Maegan is officially reading!!! She read me 4 BOB books tonight (Have you heard of these? they're phoenetically correct books, so they're easy to read. Great to start with.) Ryan isn't far behind, I don't think. He was looking over her shoulder, beginning to sound out the words as she was reading! When he sees a letter on a sign he always says to me the sound it makes like: "Look mommy! It's a tuh, tuh, tuh" instead of saying the letter's name, "T". Then I say "that's right! What letter says "tuh"?" and he says "T". It's so cute.
He's trying to write his name now. He can write all the letters in his name, but they're sprawled in different places on the page, instead of side by side. He always starts with the Y. It's his favorite. Then he ends up writing other letters, like M and Z and O, so you wouldn't really know that he'd written his name at all, but still...I'm proud.
Maegan wrote his name for him the other day when we were in the kitchen making Thanksgiving Turkey's by tracing around our hands. "Here buddy, Let me write your name on the back of it for you" and sure enough...she did. By herself. Ryan. Perfectly written and spelled with no help from the sidelines. Brilliant. And she just turned 5 last month.
Okay...this is really a long post. Please feel free to brag on your kids by leaving a comment! Is anyone reading? Do I really need to beg you to comment? C'mon now...say something. Anything. Like "I love Ben's hair" or "Sofi's got the cutest smile ever" Something nice. About anyone. LOVE YOU ALL.

Ryan's Dinner Time Story

"Last night, when I was in bed, all alone, without any parents, some bugs came in and patched me together like a egg...and I go'ed right in the egg and a gosling came out and I slept with him." by Ryan, age 3 years, 3 months

As I was writing this down Maegan wanted to add to Ryan's story...so here is
Maegan's addition:
"I tiptoed in to Ryan's bedroom and I got the girl duckling and I tiptoed back into my bedroom and I shut the door and I got a boy duckling and I went back to sleep and I dreamed about everyone that was my family and my friends." by Maegan, age 5 years, 1 month

The End.

Ryan Quote

When I'm growing up I think I'm gonna be a cowboy man, or something.

Schooling...

After many years of praying and lots of discussions, I think maybe we might homeschool Maegan next year for kindergarten. There have been a lot of new developments in our lives, with us working with Hope for Orphans (a division of the campus ministry of campus crusade, and Global Hope, a humanitarian aid organization) The girl I'm working with with Hope for Orphans has kiddos my kids' ages (one is a year older, our boys are the same) and she homeschools and is involved in a co-op and lives fairly close to us. There is even a public school all day program on Fridays for homeschool kids at the church we went to that is a hop skip and a jump from our house!We haven't decided anything, we're still talking, but it's exciting. I love teaching. I've ALWAYS wanted to homeschool...it's why I got my degree in Elementary Education. Our kids have had so many transitions over the last year, and next year is shaping up to have even more, with moving back to the states, and adopting, and starting kindergarten. It seems like it would be a wise thing to do for our family...at least for kindergarten.

There are pro's and con's to every kind of schooling situation, I know. There is no "right" or "wrong" choice, and honestly, I think my kids could do well in any situation... but what is best for our family for this next year is the question we're asking ourselves.

I'd love to get all of your thoughts and insights. If you've homeschooled before, can you tell me what curriculum you use with your kiddos for Kindergarten? I used (and am still supplementing with) Sonlight for pre-K and we really love it. A great friend recommended BOB books, which are GREAT! Maegan read her first entire book entirely by herself, sounding out each word by herself, a couple of weeks ago!

I would love any tips/thoughts/insight/concerns that you might have...

Also, I would love to add some daily chores to Maegan's and Ryan's days... I'm thinking about how to incorporate this into our daily lives. Maegan and Ryan help out with putting their clean clothes away, and setting the table for dinner sometimes, but they aren't everyday things. They "help" me cook, clean, etc...but they don't really have "jobs" that they know are theirs... They just help with whatever I ask them to help with at the time that I need it... Thoughts? Feel free to post them here, or email me directly at angelainbarcelona@yahoo.com

So much happenin'

My momma emailed me yesterday and wanted to know if my computer was broken, because I haven't posted in so long. Nope. Not broken (yet...it's threatening to crash...but she's hangin' in there)
We have so much going on. Marrty's mom was here, which was a lot of fun. She left yesterday and just got home a few hours ago...delays, etc. Glad she's home safely!
I've been working on several different projects while the kiddos are at school in the mornings. Here are the 3 biggest:
1. Trying to chose an adoption agency. I think we've chosen!! I hope to start on the application this weekend! Whew...
2. Researching and developing curriculum for campus crusade's Hope for Orphans teams that will be going to serve in orphanges. If you have worked in an orphanage before and have some ideas, please feel free to pass them on!!!
3. Researching ways to get antimaleria and HIV drugs donated and in the hands of people who need them in Africa. Again...if you have ideas, I'd love to hear them.
Also, I've been reading lots of other blogs and emailing and talking with other moms in the process of adopting. It's such an exciting and overwhelming time.
I'm so excited to be working with Marrty. God has given us a new vision and a renewed sense of purpose. It's so exciting to be working as a team to help God's Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
My prayer is that everyone reading this would be motivated to see what their part is and to join us in the journey...

We're adopting!

Have I mentioned that we're adopting!? You can check out my adoption blog at
http://hopefullyandanxiouslyexpecting.blogspot.com

Food Friday

It's Friday, already?!
Okay...Here's my recipe for today...
Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples and Onions

This is SO GOOD! Have I mentioned I love Everyday Food Magazine?

Pictures

Pics of our time in Austria can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=66657&l=4d2da&id=573675612

The Ultimate Gift

Have you seen this movie? It's a goodie... Marrty's momma brought it for us to watch. I likey...

Expecting...

Marrty and I had a great couple of days away in Austria. It was so good to have good time together, alone. We talked, a lot... took mountain hikes, rested, and enjoyed one another. And then, on our flight home last night, somewhere over the mediterranean, Marrty leaned in to me and said "Let's do this..." referring to our plan to adopt (possibly a couple of kiddos from Africa) To read all about it go to my adoption blog: http://hopefullyandanxiouslyexpecting.blogspot.com
I can't tell you how I felt. Pregnant, for sure. So exicted. I was glowing, I'm sure.
His mom is here, of course, so we told her last night, and called and told my parents and siblings today. Along with the natural concerns of finances, and stresses, they were encouraging and said things like "Congratulations!" and "You know we'll love them just like all the rest"...
So, thank you. Thank you, family, for loving us. And for being willing to love them and be family to those who don't have family. I love you all, and they will be so blessed to have you all as their grandparents, and aunts and uncles and cousins. thank you. thank you. thank you!
I asked Maegan today what she would think about having another little brother and a little sister... she said "I think just a sister. I can't take care of two at once" After reassuring her that Mommy and Daddy would be the parents, and her the sister, and that we would be there to help, she thought it'd be okay to have another brother, too.
Marrty asked Ryan the same question. He responded with something like "I'm hungry." Boys! ;)
We're planning to talk to another agency tomorrow. Still hoping to make a decision on one soon.
Thank you for praying for all of us! We love you!

Food Friday...

I know, this is overdue...but, WE WERE IN AUSTRIA!!! Woohoo! We had a great time! I can't wait to tell you more about it later...with pictures, and lots of details... until then, here is Marrty's favorite dish:

Greek Chicken Cutlets

Click on the link above to view and/or print the recipe. It is so fast, and so easy... you won't believe how yummy it is, too! It's a 15 minute meal! We like it with hot, crusty bread. Yum.

Mystery Solved...

at least partially. Lil Guy has an ear infection...again... Pray for him. And us all. Grandma S comes today, and hubs and I are leaving on Thursday for Austria... I really don't want to leave my Lil Guy sick...

Adjusting...

It hit me sometime last week, and then again today, how well the kiddos are adjusting to school. Maegan, in particular, has had a harder time when I leave her. She clings to me, and although she rarely cries, she still clings...
Lately however, she's been happy to run inside with her friends, blowing me kisses all the way. All the other moms always comment on how cute and sweet this is. She insists on me waiting to watch her go in and she literally is blowing kisses the entire way up the ramp and into the school... Too often, as I'm blowing kisses right back at her, in my rush, I think "okay, already! just go inside so i can get your brother to his class on time!" when I should be soaking it in...enjoying the moment...
So...today, that's what I did. I enjoyed it. I waited patiently. I blew a thousand happy kisses. I rested in the moment. And I loved it. I'm gonna look forward to this moment every morning from now on. I'm not gonna rush through it. I'm gonna savor it...because how long will these kisses in the wind last? Not long enough...

HELP!

Do any of you have that book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child? I don't...but I'd sure like to know what it says about this: Ryan isn't sleeping at night. He's waking up (or calling out for us...I don't know if he's sleeping at all!) at least 8-10 times a night. He's always been such a great sleeper, but since he started school, he's waking up a ton. We're all exhausted, and i don't know what to do to get him to SLEEP! FOR GOD'S SAKE! SLEEP! I'm a very tired, grumpy momma this morning...as you can imagine...help me.help me.help me...Good thing he's so darn cute...and sweet...
Any advice, thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

A pictorial...

These are leek, or leeks? Who knows the plural form of leek?

above is a turnip...

below is a parsnip...

FOOD FRIDAY!

I've seen things like Tip Tuesday on other friend's blogs (check out Jody's blog here) and thought it might be fun for all of us to do a little fast and easy recipe exchange here on Fridays...

A couple of different friends of mine, who shall remain nameless (Kara and Becka) have sent me these emails to do a recipe exchange, and although I've done my job faithfully, those after me apparently didn't cause I never got one back! (That's okay, though, cause one of my fav websites is http://www.everydayfoodmag.com/ Great fast and easy recipes! Anyway... here is one of my new favorites for fall:



Fast and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup



1 large pot of water

4 boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts

3 large carrots

1 small turnip

1 small parsnip

1 large zucchini

2-3 stalks celery

1 whole ginger root (DO NOT CHOP)

1 leek

2 onions

1 clove garlic

1 8 oz package of your favorite pasta (or you could use rice)

Salt and Pepper, to taste



Fill large pot with water and set on high. Chop all of your veggies, (except ginger root) and your chicken and add to water. Bring to boil and cook until veggies are tender... 20-30 minutes, or more. Add pasta and cook 10 more minutes. Remove ginger root and discard. Add salt and pepper and enjoy with some hot, crusty bread.



I made this last night and Maegan came in while it was cooking and said "Wow, Mom! That looks better than ice cream!" I could'nt believe my ears! This kid LOVES ice cream!



Then, when we were eating Ry said "Mommy, thank you for this delicious meal!" So cute...

They both ate tons and are actually excited about having it for leftovers again tonight.
Okay, your turn now... Leave a quick recipe in the comments section for us all to enjoy! :)

MORE Pictures...

I'm having trouble posting more pics on here, for some reason... To see more of Mae's Big Day click here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62480&l=05681&id=573675612

Maegan's bday pics...

I finally figured out how to post pics!! Yippee!! Maegan's birthday ended up being a huge success... family, presents, and a trip to the zoo made her the happiest lil girl around... at least for a day! :) Here are a few pics...after you look at these, scroll down to the post titled "5..." I posted a couple of pics there, too. :)

No, it's not my birthday yet...

Sorry for those of you that I confused on my earlier Happy Birthiversary to Me post... My birthday actually isn't until Nov. 8 and our 11th anniversary isn't until Dec. 28... we're just gonna celebrate a little early, since my sweet mom in law will be here to watch our kiddos! :)

Is Jesus with Me?

Maegan asks this question nearly every night. She hates to be alone, and wants us to assure her that J