Photos from my Mother's Day

I truly hope that each of you reading this blog (yes all 2 of you) had a super duper wonderful Mother's Day. I truly hope it was better than mine, because then I know it would have been absolutely wonderfully out of this world perfect! :)

We started at midnight with lots of wonderful family togetherness, enjoying a nice spring storm. Lots of lightening, lots of thunder, lots of rain, and weather sirens going off. Which led to a wonderful night snuggled up with kids in the bed, lots of poking of the eyes, pulling of the hair, jumping up and down playing, and little feet in the back. Nothing like kids in bed with you to remind you of how wonderful being a Mother is. When the alarm went off at 7am, I could not believe it was time to get up already. It felt like it had only been a few minutes since my eyes had closed (possibly had been). It was a rushed morning of getting kids ready for church, and rushing out the door to make it to the "early" service (starts around 8am). I had a commitment to watch the nursery for that service. I felt all of Katie's love for me as she was rather clingy after Dh and I's first date night since her joining our family. She wanted to be held...no she wanted down...wait, she wants to be held. Then Dh showed up in his suit of shining armor (not really, but I swear I saw a halo above his head) and told me to skedaddle to my Women's Sunday School class. I told him that Katie wasn't herself, and might need us to just stay with her again. In Sunday School I was able to eat breakfast (finally), and enjoy the blessed sound of NO whining. One of the members told me she loves reading my blog (*sniff*). That really made my day. As I'm listening to the discussion of Esther and the Boll Weivel stories, I get a message from Dh. He needs me to get Katie so he can sing in the choir. Plus, I get the joy of picking up the boys (it truly is a joy). The minute I get Katie from Dh, she starts crying. Hard. She did not like seeing Daddy leave (and this was the first time she's done this in 3-4 months). I get the boys, and find out that they made some GREAT cards for me (one had chocolate attached to it!). Samuel had made a tissue paper rose, I thought it was for me, but he said it was for Katie. She needed it more because she was crying. (*awwwww*)

I get everyone out to the car without a vomit incident (have I mentioned that sometimes Katie vomits if she cries hard enough? NO? well she does). I drive the car around the parking lot in circles for a little while. Katie continues to cry, and beat herself up with the tissue paper rose. We wait on Daddy. It seems like forever, but eventually he comes out of the doors and hops in the van. Katie cries harder. She cries the entire way home. As it's Mother's Day, I get to choose what we do for the day. I told Dh that I would LOVE to go for a "nature walk" nearby. We change clothes at home, and get everyone loaded in the van. We stop by Sonic for our Mother's Day Lunch. Katie cries and cries. She wants food, then she doesn't, then she does, then she doesn't. Dh and I are both trying to figure out what is wrong.

Amazingly, I've taken no photos until this point. NO PHOTOS PEOPLE! What kind of Mother am I? Katie looked so adorable in her Sunday dress too.

We get to the hiking place, and get everything together. Katie is no longer crying. She didn't eat lunch, but she's not crying. We took the Ergo carrier to try out, and she seemed content hanging out on Dh's back for the walk/hike. I handed the point and shoot camera to JM. As a result, you actually get to see some images of ME and my frizzy hair.



the view from one overlook....

view of the trees from the path...I don't know, ask JM, he took the photo.

do you see the bug? The kids did!







The hike/walk was nice, very nice. The boys said it was boring though they did enjoy themselves (yeah I was confused as well). Katie happily sat there on Dh's back, looked at the sky and trees...then fell asleep. After roughly 1.2 miles (it took us a good hour to walk it too), we were back at the van. Everyone was ready for a break, and a nice quiet relaxing ride down to the shopping center. We had to wake Katie up put her in the van. She screamed the entire way home. We chose to skip the shopping. We gave her some Motrin thinking she might be teething, or have a headache. After all, we had a headache by this point. She went right to sleep. I laid down on the bed and promptly fell asleep as well.

2.5 hours later I woke up. It's roughly 5pm now.

Dh had been shopping, and he tossed a bag of Dove dark chocolates on my lap from afar. He's been married to me long enough to know that I wake up grumpy, especially from a nap. We get up, walk to a friends home for a cookout. Have a lovely time with our friends, Katie is no longer screaming and crying. She's quite happy, though angry about something still. Yes, she can be both happy and angry at the same time. Happy meaning not screaming, laughing and playing. Angry in that she will only do anything on HER terms...including eating her dinner.



At 7:30pm she crawled up on my lap and said "Wan Nigh-nigh." Although the chocolate pie won her attention for staying for a few more minutes. We gathered up our children, and Katie refused to go to Dh. Ah....she's over being mad at me for going on a date with Dh. We promptly put her to bed once home, and she ever so kindly fell asleep for us.

10pm rolls around and our last little munchkin has fallen asleep...on the couch.

I truly DID love this Mother's Day. Not because it was perfect, not because I got wonderful gifts, but because I was able to spend it with my kids and Dh. I got to see friends, talk with my Mom, and live life.

Mother's Day hard thinking

This Mother's Day is both wonderful and contemplative. I've been thinking about Katie's foster Mom and her "first mom" or "birth mom" quite a bit. You see, Katie is an amazing girl. Truly breathtakingly amazing! Not that I'm biased at all. I wonder what her mother in China is thinking about and doing? Does she wonder how that little girl she gave birth to on August 1st, 2006 is doing? Does she even have a clue that 2 people around the world are raising her now? I don't know. I hope she can feel peace if she does think about her. I hope she is not terribly sad, and honestly I wish she didn't suffer any sadness when thinking of that little baby. I will say this, her parents in China were STRONG of mind. The traits passed on to Katie through them show me that.

But Katie's ability to love, to show love to others, to accept love from us...well that comes from her Foster Mom in China.

With the boys, I know how much I love them. How much of their personalities are directly attributed to us. I can look at them and say "that smile" came from us or that stubbornness came from me, or really just about every aspect of their personality. Katie, though, I look at her and think "Wow, her Mom and Dad in China have to be gorgeous. They have to have the best lips, the cutest smile, the prettiest eyes. They must be so smart, so funny, so out going, and love music." I think of how much I love the boys, and I think about things they could be thinking about Katie.

That's why this Mother's Day is more contemplative for me than those in the past. It's definitely tremendously JOYOUS and wonderful....but it's tempered by thoughts of what her Moms in China must think about her. I wish I could let them know that she is doing really well. That we love her so much.

Mother's Day this year is special though. I have 3 wonderful children. I have my boys, whose hugs and kisses mean the world to me. They participate any time I ask for a photo, and do so without too many bribes. I have my daughter who tolerates my dressing her up. Her hugs and kisses, are rarer for me to get but are the more precious for it. My husband is wonderfully tolerant of so many of my quirks, and has loved me for over 12 years.

But, more importantly, this Mother's Day I've been thinking about my Mother and my Mother-in-Law more as well. They are both very special women in our lives. My Mom was super nice this weekend to give us our FIRST night out on a date since we brought Katie home. (Dad helped as well of course) Everyday we live with our kids, we are reminded about how great it was that we were both blessed with Moms who cared for us so much, who invested so much time in our lives....and who love us still! :)

Grandmothers...our grandmothers are in our thoughts this day as well. We have a wonderful legacy of women in our families. I hope I am able to pass that legacy, that history of both our families down to Katie, for her to appreciate when she is a mother. Wow. Just thinking of her as a mother seems odd. But it's the circle that will one day complete.

An important milestone!

I've mastered something important....are you ready to find out what it is?


At least it is in our family it's important. I have mastered drinking out of a juice box!


Okay, so I still gets a little confused sometimes.


I particularly like the sunlight reflecting on the foil.


But it's more fun to take the straw out, and put it back in.


Don't you think it's a great important milestone too?




You do?! Oh that's great!

Wan coca-cola!

We've been working on simple phrases with Katie so she can tell us things. Phrases such as "Want milk." We've also been trying to get her to say "milk" or "juice." Weeks of trying this, and she gives us this look like we are crazy or something.

So, one day, while out looking at houses or something, I went into a gas station to get us all some drinks. Samuel called up to me, "I want Coca-cola!" This was the first time he's called up that particular phrase. Katie immediately piped up, "Wan Coca-cola!"

Yes, we all started laughing. No, she did not get it. Nor has she. However, we now hear "wan coca-cola" a lot. She even performs for other people. We try to get her to say "milk" or "juice" and she shakes her head no. She wants to say "coca-cola."

Blogger block

It's similar to writers block...except for a blog. I have it. Nothing to share, nothing saved in my drafts folder. I'll have things to write eventually, I know I will. One of the kids will do or say something and I'll be off. Or work will slow down and I will find time to enjoy things like reading and relaxing again. But for now, I'm busy.

I did just realize that YES indeed Mother's Day is Sunday. As in 4 days. As in, OOPS I forgot to get what I wanted to give those 2 special women in our lives ordered. I will attempt to find cards, or at the very least have the kids make some.

yeah...about sums it up alright

see more crazy cat pics

more photos...of course

Sweet little baby at the church picnic, in her pretty pink hat...that was a little too big.

Just as lovely in profile (and look the nose did not break the plane of the face! SCORE!....and if you don't know what that means, just ask and I'll explain via photos)


She was very interested in Mommy's friend Hope. Hope is the Mommy to one of her good friends (well, they'll be good friends one day as they are in the same Sunday School class).



How she spent most of the time at the church picnic...


Don't you agree, those overalls need some decoration! Ribbons or something, but since they were hand-me-downs from Samuel, we've not gotten around to it. I was rather amazed by how cute she was in overalls though.

Samuel's Game

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. These pictures should be able to tell our story of a day at Samuel's game.



Yes, Katie DOES clap for the other team batting. :)


We typically are acting a little silly by the end of the game...

Reminds me of Katie

see more crazy cat pics

NO, she's not a kitten. ;) It reminds me of her saying "Roar!" to us...it's all so sweet and cute and SO NOT SCARY. Much like this little kitten could not be scary at all (except first thing in the morning with claws out about to attack your face...).

I Can Has Cheezburger is a riot, if you have never visited enjoy the "procrastination" fun.

Hey guess what?

Carla - over there on the side links with Baseballs and Ballerinas - got her LOA today!!! That means (other than getting it super duper fast) she should be meeting little T in JUNE!!!!!!!!

Go over and tell her congratulations, then scroll down a little and gaze at the cuteness of little T who just turned 2 in April. ADORABLE.

video I just saw

These are all children who were once on a Special Needs or Waiting Child list. They all have families now, and to me, it's such a testimony to how much love will do. If you have ever wanted to know anything at all about adopting a waiting child or a special needs child, please ASK me.

Do you see me?

My gorgeous girl with the darkest of eyes...making it darn near impossible to get good catchlights. While these are not the best, and many would complain...you can see ME reflected in her eyes. I'm the dark blob in the middle of the light area. You can see the sky, the ground, and colors reflected in those big dark eyes of hers.

If your attention is not drawn to that kissable mouth! Oh how I adore those lips!

Hi...I'm Carla's sister and I'm trying to be a Blogger

OK...so I'm testing to see if I would make a good blogger. I always thought it was difficult so Carla told me to try it out. See...I'm a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and I make cards and scrapbook and lots of other fun stuff ~ so it would be great to have a blog for my customers to check out. I just know I'm horrible about updating...but I don't guess I would have to update too often...just often enough to keep my customers interested!! So...here it is...what do you all think!!

This is a card I made...I'll definitely need to learn how to make better photos (Oh, Carla!! Can you help??). This uses our Tart & Tangy stamp set and our Summer Picnic paper...See I know this makes you all want to join up!!

Well, thanks for letting me try this out!! It really is easier than I thought. Maybe I'll be venturing out this way real soon and Carla can add me as a link!!

a little secret....

there are nights I have insomnia. Nights when I am processing photos, downloading photos, and I have time to spare as long as I stay seated at the computer. Those nights, I write multiple blog entries, stretching out the posting dates and times. If I did not, you would have a lot of entries all on one day...then none for a few more days...then another flood of entries. :)

THAT is how I'm able to actually post to the blog "regularly"...at least I do in your eyes, right?

Katie photos from the ball field

I seem to get mostly photos of her, perhaps because I chase her around quite a bit. But this particular game, she was OH so sweet. She was showing her baby doll the flowers on the ground...after she dropped her to run after the big boys of course.

Daddy's Softball Game

We sit on the sidelines and cheer daddy on!



Yeah right...the kids eat their ring pops that turn your mouth such interesting colors!



Which Katie found hilarious. It was either that or all the sugar and artificial food dyes coursing through her system. She was just giggling, and laughing, and giggling, and laughing. Big full belly laughs.





then she blew me a raspberry...

and Samuel joined in with his belly laughs!



I love my kids! I really do. Even when they don't watch Daddy play. But you want to know a secret? I can't stop smiling when I see this:

Probably because it means "I WON THIS ROUND" for the moment! ;)

Pictures from my birthday

Yeah, we gave in again and ate PFChangs for my birthday dinner. Thanks to some WONDERFUL friends who gave us a gift card it was much more affordable this trip. After dinner, we went to get an ice cream cake (kids favorite) and promptly shared it with friends and family over the next couple of days. Yummmm.

Katie was not too sure about the sandals which explains the slightly stiff legged walk/run gait. ;) She's figuring them out as they have much harder soles than she is used to.

A wee rant

Dh and I were recently looking over air fares to our vacation destination, and we found a GREAT rate flying out of a larger airport not so far from us and flying into another slightly smaller airport near our destination.

It really was a good deal, and we were trying to decide if Katie needed a seat or not. We chose to get her a seat, and went through the entire online process to purchase seats, and got to the "choosing a seat" option. The airline CHARGES for specific seats. $6 a seat. That's times 5 for EACH DIRECTION. If we wanted Exit row it was an additional $20 a seat.

$6 for regular economy coach seats. SURPRISE. We were NOT happy with the airline for this little bit of "hidden fee" thing. Not to mention that our checked luggage goes to 1 checked bag per person.

So, we backed out of Katie's seat and purchased only the 4. We'll pay the extra bag fee of $10 for one or two bags I guess. Unless I can make some finagling with packing and get it all worked out where we are in 4 checked bags. Which I guess will include a stroller, a pack-n-play, a carseat, and our suitcases. Yeah, I am thinking we'll at least have one extra bag possibly 2.

We did check another airline, but for same flights on another airline it was going to be $100 more for just the 4 of us. While we were willing to change airlines for the principle...$100 would have covered the cost of Katie's seat.

blech.

But on the up side, we're not driving the insane distance with the insane gas prices now. We're also not having to deal with Katie's meltdowns after 3 hours in the car and we're still going. ;)