Thursday Thoughts: Simple Things

I love that my kids are (mostly) entertained by simple things. One of their favorite things in the world are glow sticks. My mom started a tradition of bringing them whenever she comes to visit...and I captured these fun photos when she last came down.














































We've been learning about hummingbirds this week. This book was our inspiration...

















Of course, we had to set up our own feeder in hopes of encouraging the hummingbirds in our own backyard...
























And, yes...I know Ezra is blurry in this picture. It is a wonder I ever have a picture of him that is NOT blurry.

We have been having lots of tea parties lately. The difference between a tea party that Ella sets up and one that the boys set up?

The invited guests, of course. Ella invites her barbies and the boys invite Mack truck and their trains...
























Ella has a "fairy house" that she works on and tweaks and plays with all the time. However, this week she decided that it needed an upgrade. Bigger box, new curtains, and...a paint job were included in this upgrade. Surprisingly, she allowed her brothers to help her. The boys took their privilege very seriously and worked very diligently as you can tell...























































Happy (simple) Thursday!

From Poppyseed to Pumpkin: Swiss Chard Week

Swiss Chard.

Really?

Hmmm. I have nothing to say about swiss chard other than
apparently, Zoe is the length of a swiss chard this week. Obviously we hope she is a little thicker...probably over the 6 1/2 lb mark.

And...drum roll please....

I will officially have a FULL TERM baby this time!

Kinda excited about that. Not so excited to actually go all 40 weeks, but that is not up to me. Guess those shots really worked.

Everything is ready for her arrival. Everything. Now we get to play the waiting game.

My favorite game of all time, ya know.

I've been having crazy dreams over the last week. In one I gave birth to Zoe and she had one regular foot and one pigs foot. In another Zoe was born with hair long enough to do two french braids. In yet another, I gave birth in my bathtub with my mother assisting. I actually woke up from that one with a great feeling of disappointment...it felt so incredibly real. Gotta love those crazy pregnancy dreams, ha!

My 37 week belly shot...




































And for a fun walk down memory lane (which gives me hope that I will not be toting this belly around for the rest of my life...) a collage from 16 weeks up to today...






















Come on baby Zoe!

Dog Days of Summer, Part Two

Ok, so we did just go home at this point...I was out of ideas. But, like I mentioned yesterday, I knew I needed to pull it together.

And so, we held our first official summer tea party and game afternoon.

I sold the idea to them and they seemed just a bit excited about it...





















They didn't even care that we did pink lemonade instead of tea. Even Ella, who is quite particular about these things. "You can't call it a tea party if we don't have tea, Mom..."

I think I could put pond water in these glasses and the kids would drink it...they LOVE drinking out of the glasses. Of course, I reserve them for the specialist of occasions. And a diabolical flop like the one we'd experienced definitely qualified.























The first winner. He makes a very pretty pretty princess, no?!




































Winner number two. He knows how to catch some fish.


























Winner number three. It was memory, so...duh, of course Ella won it. She has a memory like an elephant.



























And me. Winner number four. I kicked some candyland bootay.

























Thank goodness for an afternoon salvaged!

Dog Days of Summer, part one

This past week the heat has forced me to put on my thinking cap and look for creative and cool ways to get the kids energy out...without me having to venture outside if at all possible. We go swimming almost daily and frequent the library and our favorite museum on a regular basis, but were looking for something new (and free!) to do one day last week.

And so we decided to go to the splash park at the local mall.

I figured it couldn't be so bad as long as we could stay wet. Right? Right.

Well, after much amping it up on my part...
And wrangling 3 kiddo's into bathing suits...
And packing towels and drinks...
And applying sunscreen...
Driving around the parking lot 17 times looking for a close and shady spot...
Walking to the splash park with above mentioned three kids and accoutrements...

The splash park was not so...um, splashy.
In fact, there was NOT ONE DROP OF WATER running when we got there.

Except for the tears of my children as they wailed in disappointment.
And the sweat of their mother as she tried to comfort them in the hot sunshine and 115 degree heat.

Without losing her cool. Pun intended.

Of course, like any good mother, I decided to assuage their disappointment with promises of a ride on the carousel. Forget free at this point, right. Right.

Except, unlike any good mother, I didn't have ANY cash on me. And the dag blam atm machine was broken. And given my current state of pregnancy I didn't think I'd have that much success prostituting myself.

Kidding, people. Geesh.

Maybe we could make the next showing for the Winnie the Pooh movie? Forget cheap at this point, right. Right.

GREAT idea.

Except it started 30 minutes ago and the next one doesn't start for 2 more hours.

So...off we went to the great land of Chick Fil A with promises of happy meals and ice cream cones.

Only to not be able to find ONE *$%&*&%** parking space. Not ONE.

I decided at this point that I would just join in on the cries of my children...
if you can't beat them and all that...

And we just drove home.

The End.

Just kidding. I had a hard conversation with myself on the way home from the chick fil a parking lot and was able to pull myself back together and salvage the rest of the afternoon. But you'll have to tune back in later for part two. Cause I'm evil like that.

Thursday Thoughts (on Friday again)

On any given day the boys have a 50% chance of putting their clothes on backwards.

Yet...

It never fails that some article of their clothing is put on backwards 100% of the time.

I am beginning to think they are doing it just to irk me?

And you really don't need to point it out to me if you see me in public. I have decided not to fight this seemingly losing battle at this point. Yes, I know their ___________s are on backwards. I just don't care anymore. You can start pointing it out to me again when Zoe reaches 6 months of age and I have regained some level of sanity.

I will regain sanity again, right?

I am about to venture into uncharted territory in this pregnancy...if I make it past this weekend it will be the longest I have ever been pregnant before. While I am happy to have made it this far, I am READY to have her outside of my body.

Tomatoes and eggs.
Tomato sandwiches.
Tomato soup.
Salsa.
And more salsa.

Yes. Tomatoes are the bumper crop of the last two weeks around here. Not complaining though...I am not getting tired of them. It is a perfectly timed craving of mine.

We have a fun filled weekend ahead of us. Jeremiah and I get a date, friends are coming for a visit (that we haven't seen since I was about 9 months pregnant with Ezra, it'll be like I was pregnant for the last 3 years, ha!), and a few other fun things. I am learning that staying busy is a very good thing to keep my impatience at bay.

Ella's seeds that were planted in the garden are gorgeous right now, and the kids have enjoyed the free reign I have given them to pick as many as they want. They are too cute as they cut their bouquets and arrange them in vases which I inevitably find sprinkled throughout the house.




































It is always nice to have a fresh bouquet of flowers in the bathroom, ya know...























And the pantry...



































And the laundry room...



































Agh...love these kids of mine.

Happy Friday!

Taste of Summer: Pelican's SnoBalls

If I were to assign a taste to our summer, it would have to be that of Pelican SnoBalls.

These snow balls are not the gritty snow cones one can find at any minor league baseball game.

Oh no. These are a delicate and light snow ball of ice fluff...New Orleans style snow cones, to be technical about it.

Just look at these happy faces as they wait in anticipation...















































With over 100 flavors to choose from, there is something for everyone. I'm quite partial to the strawberry lemonade. Ezra likes the blueberry bubblegum. Ella likes the raspberry. Eli always requests a "red" one. And Jeremiah is the daredevil of the family...trying a new flavor with each visit.






















There is always a line, but even with three excited little ones the wait is never anything but fun as there is a unique community camaraderie and everyone talks to everyone.

I'm a sucker for the fun painted picnic tables...
























Ella enjoying a recent raspberry...




































Just make sure you bring plenty of these...

gratuitous cuteness

Overheard

Ella to Ezra: You want to wrestle?!

Ezra: Yes!

Ella: Ok...but I have rules you know. No hitting, no pulling, no kicking, no biting, no pulling hair, and no swords.

Ezra: Oh. Nevermind. I don't think I wanna wrestle anymore.

Ella Bella Kissed a Fella

Have you ever thought about the irony of the word mini? We have a miniature word for miniature.

Ella pointed that out to me. Of course.

She is in a funny stage right now. Her logical thinking is really developing and she demonstrates this to me on a daily basis.

We were watching Zathura for our family movie night over the weekend. Which, on a side note, pretty much scared the bejeezus out of the boys. But not the ever brave Ella. There is a scene when the kids in the movie first discover their house is floating around in space...and Ella remarked how silly that was because of course they wouldn't be able to breathe in space.

I showed her how to do a magic trick the other day and after explaining all the steps to her she burst into tears. Big crocodile tears. Break a momma's heart tears. She told me she was crying because she really wanted it to be "magic" and not just a trick.

And her arguing skills have risen to a new exhausting level. Jeremiah and I remarked how we feel like she has entered a stage that will probably last...oh, for the next 15 years or so.

She has perfected the art of manipulating her brothers and can pretty much talk them into doing ANYTHING for her...carrying her stuff, sharing their candy, giving up their toys. It's really an art form the way she does this.

But, oh...how they love her and are just happy to make her happy.

We were at the museum last week and she worked laboriously for half an hour building these little buildings for all the animals in one of the sections. I remarked how I liked all the "houses" she had built...and was quickly corrected with a, "no, Mom...they aren't houses...they are habitats for the animals."

Of course. Habitats. How silly of me.

She came to me a few weeks ago and told me that she was ready to stop sucking her thumb at night. I have never ever made an issue of it with her because I know her personality and knew it would have to be her idea...and I wasn't about to engage in a losing battle (for me) and frustrate the both of us. So we talked about how to go about doing it...set up a plan and she is now officially a week into being thumb sucking free.

Easy-peesy, mac n cheesy.

Only because she was the one in control of the situation, of course.

She has taken it upon herself to be Eli's personal speech coach. Every week after Eli's speech therapy he comes home with a homework sheet of practice sounds and words and she will sit down with him throughout the week and work with him. Does a darn good job at it too.

Her latest vocational aspiration is to be a circus performer. Since they get to ride on trains and wear costumes, of course.

Such sweetness.
Such silliness.
Such smartness.

She is some kind of girl. Of course.

**It should be noted that despite the title of this post, Ella has not been engaging in any kissing activity with any boys. Nor will she be for approximately 52 more years.**

Not Me Monday

I do not have children who sometimes morph into wild animals. Wild wild wild animals that would tire out wild animals.

And of course, I am not a crazy lazy very nine months pregnant momma who avoids the sweltering heat of the outside at almost any cost.

Therefore, I would not condone any indoor activity such as jumping on the couch, flipping off the coffee table, or flying onto pillows...just in the attempt to eek out some of the wildness of the above mentioned wild animal children.

Nope. Not me.

Not my children.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thursday Thoughts (on Friday)

I feel kind of bad for having left a picture of Ezra's bunny booty up for two days straight. That is bad mommy territory. But then, I guess, a good mommy wouldn't have even put something like that up in the first place, huh.

Zoe's "room" is having an unexpected remodeling job done this week. Thanks to the 100+ temps every day this week our air conditioning has been working hard. Which made it a perfect time for the drainage pipe to block up and flood the ceiling of her room...and blow up a light fixture and ruin the ceiling drywall. You know, all the things you want to happen on the day you go in for your doctors appointment and are told that things are "happening" and it could be any day now.

Her nice, neat and all organized room is not so nice, neat and organized now. Sigh.

But I have mentioned on occasion that my husband is part superman and he has been burning the midnight oil to get everything fixed back up.

Thanks, honey. (Doesn't he look oh so happy!)




































In other news...

I was surprised by a baby shower one night this week thrown by the ladies in my small group at church. I was truly (truly!) surprised, which is no small feat. And I have to say it was the best shower ever. I normally get opening-presents-and-being-the-center-of-attention-anxiety...and since I didn't even know it was about to happen...nada anxiety. Also, it happened at Starbucks and included yummy chocolate dessert. How perfect is that. We got a lot of needed cutie little outfits for little Zoe and the ever welcome gift of diapers! I have nary a picture because, again, I didn't know I was having a shower and didn't bring my camera.

That's ok. The memories are locked up in my strainer of a brain.

I was at the big Raleigh consignment sale yesterday. Its huge, crowded, and more than slightly overwhelming...but the deals can't be beat, and so I put up with the less than optimal shopping conditions. My mom and sister came down too...so at lease I had support in the craziness.

I woke up at 5:30am this morning. Wide awake. With my mind brimming on all I needed/wanted to get done today. Geesh, I haven't had this much energy so early in the morning in...um, I don't know when. I hope it lasts longer than 8am so I can actually get some of it done.

Or maybe I'll feel like a nap by then?

Happy weekending!

ezraism's

What Ezra calls a bathing suit: bathing soup

What Ezra calls a cannonball jump into the pool: cottonball

What Ezra told me while playing in the pool together: "Can you frow me again once you have Zoe and she gives you your muscles back?!"

And finally, Ezra's recent impersonation of a bunny:




































(i really have a treasure trove of blackmail photos for him...just preparing for the teenage years)

Oh, Ezra James...you are a one of a kind kid!

Not Me Monday

I am not up way past my bedtime listening to my husband snore away beside me in bed.

And I did not seriously considering breaking out the video camera to capture this aforementioned snoring.

Because...my husband does not snore. And I always go to bed on time. And I would never publicly embarrass him on purpose.

And of course I would decide not to capture or post his nasal orchestration out of consideration for my husbands feelings...NOT because I would fear personal retaliation.

Not that I ever give any actions of legitimacy or substance that would serve as ammunition for retaliation.

Don't be silly.

I am in perfect control of all my bodily capacities and capabilities, despite being very eight and a half months pregnant. Oh yes, one can be very eight and a half months pregnant...as opposed to being just eight and a half months pregnant.

Nope.
Not me up too late.
Not me listening to my husband snore.
Not me contemplating you tubing the video I did not capture.
Because my husband doesn't snore.
And I don't fear retaliation.

late night mash mish

I had a (major) nesting spurt this weekend...and went to town. I figure I never am promised this energy for tomorrow so I need to take advantage of it while I have it. Right? Right.

I may or may not have made quite the to do list for Jeremiah as well.

I got my closet cleaned out. Threw out a ton of shoes. A ton. Why in the world do I hang on to shoes like I do? All (and I do mean ALL) of Eli's adoption papers are back in order. My house is clean. Groceries have been shopped for. Consignment sale items are ready to go. Laundry bins are mostly empty. Sheets were washed. Bills have been paid. Checkbook balanced. Hospital bag packed. Zoe's things organized.

The only thing left unchecked is the big IRS item. Oh, how I loathe the IRS at the moment. Loathe them in their inefficiencies and lack of communication and gooblygook. It doesn't matter that we have sent them the EXACT same information three different times...they want it four times. Nothing has changed IRS people. We know we adopted Eli and we have the receipts to prove it.

Shew. I'm dead tired, but sleep eludes...

And since we cut off our television this week, what do I do when all my family is asleep but me?

Think about random things to add to Jeremiah's to do list, of course.
And finally go check out what all the rage about pinterest is about.
Catch up on my favorite show of the summer.
Read a few thought provoking blogs.
Order Ella a thumb guard.
Then feel guilty for paying $15 for something I know I could make for $2.
Decide to write this silly blog.
And now I'm off to start my newest read.

Good night.
(And good riddance. I know you were thinking it.)

Thursday Thoughts: Jeremiah's Birthday!

Today is Jeremiah's birthday...and the kids have been all over it. We dubbed yesterday "get ready for Daddy's birthday-day" and they were so excited. Buying some presents, making a cake, creating cards...and creating a treasure hunt for him to look for his gifts. I even let them wrap his presents entirely on their own =)

I think eating the cake batter was the highlight of the day though...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We were talking this morning about how old he is (32 for anyone who cares to know) and how this birthday marks 15 years that we have been celebrating birthdays together. That's half of my life people. I think it started to make him feel old or something because he quickly changed the subject, ha!

Seriously though, he just gets better and better (and better and better) with age.

And better.

Happy Birthday Jeremiah!

We here in this family think you hung the moon.

From Poppyseed to Pumpkin: Pineapple Week

Now here is a fruit that I know a little bit about! Love me some fresh pineapple.

Little miss Zoe is approximately 5lbs now and probably around 18 inches long. She is getting SNUG in my belly. No more flips or somersaults...but still constant rolls and kicks. In general her basic physical development is complete...she will just work on putting on some more fat in these last few weeks.

Her. Not me. (maybe? please.)

I am feeling just grand. I really really love this stage of pregnancy...and thoroughly enjoy all the pleasures of back pain, constant braxton hicks contractions, frequent bathroom breaks, rib pain, fatigue, hot flashes, and sleepless nights. I especially love the stares to my belly and the waddle comments. LOVE them. Will miss it all desperately after she is born.

I learned a new medical term this week: prodromal labor.

Yes. It was an unfamiliar term to me too. Basically it is just a fancy schmancy way of saying false labor. But the contractions that come with it are anything but false. Felt like the real deal to me.

Tricky thing, this prodronal labor. You'd think I hadn't done this a time or two before.

I am very happy to have made it to my goal week. Zoe ended up being a good obedient little girl. Any extra weeks from here on out are just cake for her.

No real cravings at the moment, although I can always go for some watermelon.

I thought about reposting my photo from a few weeks a go. You know, for those of you who don't see me in real life. But, nah...I'll just put my big ol' belly out there for the world to see. Here is the view I see (and hence the reason my toenails are atrocious at this point):

























And here is the view you see...




































Won't be long now!

bumper crop

While all of our garden is doing great, the cucumbers are especially abundant this summer.
























(case in point: all of these are from 1 plant, picked over just 2 days)

Ezra has appreciated having one snack that I am putting absolutely no limits on. It cracks me up to see him walking around holding and eating a whole cuke...skin and all.

Eat to your hearts content little boy...

Happy 1st and 4th!

This time last year...

Our friends and family were anxiously awaiting our arrival at the airport.




































Jeremiah and I were practically running to be reunited with our family again.





































And we walked out of the airport as a family of five for the first time.

























We were tired, overwhelmed, and a little bit freaked out over what we had just done.

And we had no idea who this little boy was...haunted by a traumatic past, so tiny and frail, afraid and cautious, and full of quirky faces.

























He didn't look like my kid.
Didn't act like mine.
Didn't smell the same.
and he didn't even seem to like us very much.

I wasn't sure I could love him like mine. Like he deserved to be loved.

Turns out I couldn't.

BUT GOD COULD.

And a year later I can absolutely and honestly say he equipped me and filled me up to overflowing with HIS love for Eli.

I couldn't even imagine my life without his sweet spunky presence in it. Wouldn't want to imagine a life without him.

And how he has grown this year.
Not just the 4 inches taller and the 7lbs heavier.
He is stronger physically and emotionally.
He is affectionate.
And he is secure in his position within our family.

Ezra and him have gone from the best friends that weren't into the best of brothers.

























To go from what I felt this day last year to what I know today...
is NOTHING short of a miracle and a true testament to the grace and faithfulness of my God.

Happy 1st year as part of our family Eli Cade...
you are the bravest boy I know and have brought so much to our family!

I love you.

You Know You are Near The End of your Pregnancy...

When....


1) Your toes become amazingly dexterous at picking up fallen objects on the floor.

2) When turning over in bed involves three points.

3) Peeing in the cup at the doctors office is a blind guess.

4) When you shut your belly in the dryer door. Or the dishwasher.

5) Putting on your underwear is a VERY risky maneuver.

6) Every and all outings are planned around where the bathrooms are.

7) You can put a 12 year old boy to shame with your burps.

8) When your husband has to sleep on the accent pillows because you've confiscated all the others.

9) When your above mentioned husband doesn't even complain about sleeping on accent pillows for fear of sending you into a crying fit.

10) When you continuously mow over your toddler because your belly blocked your vision line of him.

and a Saturday bonus...

11) When you dress your kids in their winter pajamas so that you can set the AC down to a comfortable level at night...for yourself.

Any you'd like to add?....