Visiting Cousins...

We are traveling around visiting relatives during this holiday season. Yesterday, we stopped in and visited with my older brother and his family and the kids just loved playing together. We got them all to slow down enough to snap this quick picture. I just love it.

Today we are playing with new toys, games galore and enjoying our time together with family.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours...

From our family to yours, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas. May God pour out his blessings upon you throughout this upcoming year.

Waiting for Christmas...

Our children here are patiently waiting for Christmas to arrive. They have been counting down for weeks.

Today our adoption agency sent us a wonderful Christmas video. It reminded us that Christmas blessings come in all shapes, sizes, colors and ages.

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ tomorrow, let us not forget those children all over the world that are still waiting for "their Christmas present - their new family".

Next time go with the Crunch 'n Munch...

Has anybody out there tried to make peanut brittle??? Okay, maybe I should have asked it this way...has anybody out there made the gosh-awful evil treat called peanut brittle?

Given the holidays, I thought I would give my family a wonderful treat and make a batch of peanut brittle. Now, here's where I should mention that I've never made it before...apparently there is a reason why. So for the past two days (during nap time) I have spent on the phone with my Mom and my hand stirring a pot of peanut brittle while I ask..."okay, Mom, what's wrong with this batch?" or "is it suppose to look this way?" or my favorite (whining...which I can only do really well with my Mom) "my arm hurts stirring, Mom...do people really like this stuff?"

This was her "super-secret" recipe for peanut brittle. But don't you worry...Mom. I'm not going to share it at all. Because after failing miserably at the first batch (the house smelled like burnt peanuts) and then going out the next day and buying all of the ingredients again and then making it AGAIN. I have to tell you that this recipe should say..."super -secret - EVIL - recipe of arm hurting later from all that crazy stirring peanut brittle". Sure the second batch came out okay, but only because I think the Lord knew I couldn't take making it again. In fact, I had a back up plan...

Sitting on the counter when my husband came home from work...two packages of Crunch 'n Munch...God's gift to those of us smart enough not to make peanut brittle.

Gotcha Day 2010...

Today is our Gotcha day. To our family, it's a very special day. It's the day we became "this" family...a day we will never forget.

Christmas + a Toddler = Super Glue

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I just love everything about it...however...put a room full of twinkly, shiny objects all around a toddler and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster.

Our newest little one is making his way through his actual first Christmas holiday (where he is on the move I should say...last year he couldn't even sit up) and is seeing everything "up close and personal" for the first time. Here is where I should mention that he is leaving a wake of destruction that only a mountain of super glue can put back together.

Yesterday, it was the ceramic manager scene I had just taken it out of the box when low and behold around the corner he came. With a wink and a flash, he grabbed Joseph and off popped his head falling down and taking out baby Jesus' hand. As I scooped him up within a second, down dropped Joseph's body and took out the staff on the shepherd and one of the sheep's ears. If the stable had fallen in, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been surprised. I guess I can't blame him though...as I was gluing Joseph back together I noticed that I had super glued his arm back on a few years back...that one was thanks to his older brother and his "toddler years".

Thank heavens for super glue during the holidays...I'm not sure my manager scene (or any other decorations for that matter) would make it through without it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we are out celebrating this holiday with our wonderful family, we wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a "Happy Thanksgiving". Eat a ton, relax a moment, and take in all the small glorious moments God gives to us.

Angels unaware...

You never know why God puts people in your path. But he knows, and he always has a reason.

Near the beginning of our vacation, we were sitting in Buenos Aires airport waiting for a flight to Iguazu to see the falls when we met an American woman. In the midst of the conversation we found out that she was an ER doctor (as well as a medical missionary) who was coming back from Antarctica. She was on her way to the falls as well. She then proceeded, out of the blue, to ask me about my older brother. My older brother...are you kidding me? Now, here's where I should mention that my brother is also a medical missionary. She knew my older brother personally and his family...my family. What are the odds? So there we were sitting in an airport in Argentina laughing and talking about stories of my older brother. We invited her to accompany us on our private tour of the falls the next day. We spent the day together. Later....when I received the news of my grandmother, my husband held me tight as I cried and she prayed with me and for my family. I cannot tell you what great comfort that was. The next day she boarded her plane and walked out our lives.

God always has a reason. For that moment, he must have known that I needed that prayer. It was...angels unaware.

A day and a half of flying...

Yesterday we made it home finally after a day and a half of flying. We left El Calafate (which is near the bottom of South America - close to Antarctica) on Wednesday at 10 in the morning and flew 3 hours to Buenos Aires. From there we transferred to the international airport and boarded an overnight 11 hour flight to Dallas. After landing in Dallas we finally got on our last flight which was only 2 hours into Des Moines. By lunchtime we were home and exhausted. I have to tell you, the trip was incredible. It will be a hard vacation to top next year. I encourage everyone to go to Argentina...you won't be disappointed.

Shining light...

Today was our trip to see a glacier. The pictures just cannot do it justice. It was massive with all the creaking and groaning and crashing down that comes with glaciers...way cool!

On a totally different note...the people here are absolutely mesmorized with our newest son from Ethiopia. We have had TONS of people come up to us, rub his head, kiss him on the cheek and say "bonito" - which means beautiful. O.k., when I say tons I mean it. People have asked to take pictures of him, with him and have crowded around us everywhere we have gone. He has taken it in stride mostly and will strike a pose now when someone pulls out a camera. There was only one time that I had to take him out of the crowd because it was too much (and yes...I did say crowd). I'm not really sure what it is about him. Maybe it's because he's black (there are no black people in this country). Maybe it's because that adoption is highly unusual here or maybe it's because we are a multi-cultural family. Whatever the case may be, he causes a crowd wherever we go. Today as we sat on our tour bus, we noticed that the people on the tour bus next to us were waving to him. He waved back. It is a bit overwhelming to all of the attention.

But here is the amazing part, the meaning of his African name means "shining light"....maybe his birth mother could see it the minute he was born. Because truly he is a shining light and we'll tell him all about it someday.

Pictures...

Our vacation is coming very quickly to a close. By the end of this week we will be travelling back to the states. It has been a very difficult trip at some moments, to say the least. But then at other times...the very best memories. I missed by grandmother's funeral on Saturday. I was walking among the penquins. I laughed and cried - but for the most part I held it together. I haven't really had the heart to blog much. So I will leave you with some pictures for now from the past several days and tell the stories more later...there are lots of stories to tell.

Yesterday...

In a small casa in the middle of the jungle in Argentina, the phone rang. I knew the minute the Spanish operator said in very broken English that my little brother was on the line, it was the phone call I was dreading. Through the tears I said thank you in spanish and then there was my brother's voice. No one calls South America during someone's vacation with good news. My grandmom...my favorite grandmom in the entire world...the one who has made such an impact on my life...passed away yesterday. Yesterday...yesterday we were on top of the most beautiful falls in the world. Yesterday...yesterday we climbed to the bottom and got soaked in the falls. Did you see me wave to you grandmom? Did you see the most beautiful rainbow near the point? It was the closest thing I could get to heaven, grandmom...did you see me?...yesterday.

On the road again...

On the road again...I just can't wait to get on the road again...

Oh yes, we are on the move. Today we flew (domestically) about an hour and half north to Iguazu. You should have seen it. As we landed all you could see for miles and miles was a sea of green. The jungle apparently...who knew. Tomorrow we will go into the national park here and see Iguazu Falls. It's an all day tour and we will see it from the Argentina side only (the Brazillian side is quite expensive for all of us to cross over just to see a different angle). We are staying at a small cabin on the grounds of lush tropicalness (is that even a word?). Anyway, it's beautiful. Granted we all smell like bug spray (there is a high risk of malaria here...better to be protected). But we are enjoying ourselves tremendously. So from this smelly bug spray family over and out...until tomorrow...

We made it here!!!

Greetings from the beautiful country of Argentina,

After a two hour flight to Dallas and then a 10 hour overnight flight we finally made it here to Buenos Aires. Today the weather was beautiful. We took a guided tour around the city and it was so fascinating. The city is filled with history and the architecture is much like Paris and Spain depending on which part you are in. They had an amazing cemetary (where Evita is buried) that looks a lot like some from New Orleans which are quite ornate. Our travels so far have been quite stress-free - highly unusual for our family. (For starters, unlike our trip to Ethiopia our luggage made it...so we new it was a good start) Tomorrow we are headed to Iguazu Falls (a short domestic flight North). It will be a sight to see!

South America here we come...

6 little passports lined up in a row,

4 packed bags all ready to go.

4 smiling faces anxious to fly,

If we don't get our bags I know we'll get by.

Because this is our vacation and being together is the best,

No matter what happens, we'll get through the rest.


So come along with us on a journey to South America,

It's going to be so much fun (sorry...nothing rhymes with America).

Keep your eyes on the prize...

October for us is a crazy busy month. We have so many things in "full swing" right now that it's a wonder we get everything done.

The older kids are competing again this year in the First Lego League Mindstorm competition. The practices are three times a week at our house. The actual competition isn't until December but they are working hard on their project now and their robot design.

Our youngest girl is doing fall soccer and loves every minute of it. She practices once a week with one to two games during the week. Along with soccer, both girls are involved in gymnastics once a week. If that's not enough, all of the kids take swimming, piano and are involved in Awanas at church once a week.

Whew...that will wear anybody out. But in the midst of all this craziness, there is one thing our entire family is looking forward to in just a couple of weeks. The golden prize so to speak...our vacation.

This year we decided to take the entire family and go to Argentina and we are beyond excited. We are going to see this... one of the greatest wonders...Iguaza Falls. We are also going to walk on this...

a real life glacier in El Calafate. And play with these...

at Valdes Peninsula. If that's not enough we will see some of the most beautiful countryside and experience life outside of our little world. The best part of all...we get to do it as a family.

So as our weeks get crazier we just keep thinking about what's coming at the end of the month and keep our eyes on the prize...

Until I was a Mom...

Ever pause for a moment and think about what you just said to your kids. Here's a few things I never thought I would say...until I was a Mom.

"Take the pot of your head..."

"Now where would you like your tattoo...face or hand"

"Use the diaper to wipe your nose..."

"Get that bone out of your mouth..."

"Stop licking the doorknob..."

"Don't forget your underwear..."

"Did you use soap with the washcloth?..."

"Everyone stop what your doing and search for the measuring spoons..."

"FREEZE! DON'T MOVE..." (said very loud in a retail store...boy, did that get looks)

"Shoes off ears, please..."

"The neighbor's kid..." (the answer I gave to my kids when they asked me which child that I liked best...I laughed out loud at that one - they did not find that funny)

Lunchtime conversation...

The kids and I sat down to eat our lunch today and here's how our conversation went...

My oldest girl (11 yrs): Did you know (talking to her older brother) that they have a magazine at the library on space? It's true I looked at it and it said "Mars, everything you need to know about it?" But I put it back because I didn't understand it.

My oldest boy (12 yrs): It was about Mars. How could you not understand it? It said it on the cover.

Oldest girl: I know but it had lots of technical words in it. Do you know all the words you read?

Oldest boy: Probably.

Oldest girl: There is no way that you know all the words in every magazine. They have a magazine for running and gardening and trees and traveling and cars and...

Mom (trying to put an end to this escalating conversation): O.k., we get it. We know that they have a magazine for everything.

My smallest girl (6 yrs): You mean they have a magazine for mermaids!

...thump....thump...thump...(sound of Mom's head hitting the lunch table)

Mom: I give up...

Hello my name is...

...trouble

Nuff said.

Meals from the Heartland...

Last weekend we had the opportunity to do something wonderful yet again this year. Here in the Midwest there is a grassroots organization that formed called Meals from the Heartland. Their sole purpose is to help feed the hungry in other countries. It was a fantastic experience to serve others. We spent a couple of hours pouring, measuring and packing boxes and meeting new people. Even our little toddler did fantastic and didn't complain one bit.

The dog bone issue...

O.k., picture this...The baby goes and sits down next to the dog. She is chewing on a bone and part of it has fallen down on the ground. The baby picks up that part and puts it in his mouth...and here's where we'll begin...

Mom: (freaking out) Get that bone out of your mouth right now!
Both the baby and the dog drop the bone.
Mom: (to the dog) No, no...it's o.k. you can chew on it.
Both pick up the bone and put it in their mouth.
Mom: (again, freaking) Ahhh, icky! Get that bone out of your mouth!
Both drop the bone. The one with the tail is getting confused.
Mom: (to the dog) It's o.k., you can chew on it. Just go chew on it somewhere else.
Both pick up the bone and put it in their mouth and race to another location...the same location.
Mom: (badly freaking out and racing to the location) Get that bone out of your mouth!
Both drop the bone. The one with the tail gives up thoroughly confused...the baby races away

Moral of the story: Never give a dog a bone with a teething toddler ANYWHERE in the remote vicinity...confusion will only follow

Lead me...

The bible says that a Christian husband/father should set an example as he earns a living, directs the household with concern for each member, and as he fulfills his role as head of the household. He should see to their spiritual development to the life he lives and the direction in which he leads his family.

I heard this song on the radio this past week and it reminded me just how much rides on my husband's shoulders every single day. He provides us with a wonderful home and the financial means so that I can stay home and teach our children. He loves each and every one of us unconditionally and is engaged in every aspect of our lives. I am so thankful for him. May we never forget to pray for the men in our lives...so much rides on their shoulders.

Happy 11th Birthday My Beautiful Girl...

Today my daughter celebrated her 11th birthday. She was such a trooper to wait until dinner tonight (when Daddy came home) to open her presents. She adored all her presents and loved her cake. Happy Birthday my beautiful girl....

This past week she wrote a poem for school that was titled "I AM". It is one of my favorite grammar assignments that the kids have to do. I just love reading what they write and I am sure after reading hers you'll be able to tell what she will be when she grows up. With her permission, this is her poem...

I AM

I am an animal lover who likes books.

I wonder what will happen in the future.

I hear the wind whispering.

I see trees like they're alive.

I want to help out people.

I am an animal lover who likes books.

I pretend to be a vet.

I feel glad when I help.

I touch silky dog fur.

I worry about lonely animals.

I cry when I see them.

I am an animal lover who likes books.

I understand that no one's perfect.

I say "let's help animals!"

I dream about pets I'll have in the future.

I try to be a good learner.

I know I will go to Heaven.

I am an animal lover who likes books.

Chorepacks...

I recently read a book that is changing the way our house functions. It was called "Managers of Their Chores" by Steven and Teri Maxwell. I'm not one to push a book on someone, but I will tell you that if you have children...you need to read this book. The entire concept of this book is, of course, about chores which is nothing new. But it's the approach the book takes on that's intriguing.

Since we homeschool we are here in the house during the day (when we are not out and about going places), but on average we are here most all day. With that in mind, we can mess up a house something fierce and fast. At the end of most days, I found myself picking up, wiping up and cleaning up most of the messes. The kids would help when I asked them to, but I got to thinking "why was I the one doing all the work?" Thus the need for the book.

The approach of the book is to set aside or "schedule" a part of each day and assign chores for each child to do. It explains that it's easier for some children to do chores in 30 minute segments. We set up "morning chores" for 30 minutes every morning and "afternoon chores" for 30 minutes every afternoon. Their morning chores consist of 5 simple chores that are always the same (1. get dressed, 2. put PJs away, 3. make bed) and so forth. And 1 chore that rotates each day of the week (such as Mon. - bring down laundry/sort, Tues. - polish certain furniture, Wed. - vacuum bedroom) and so forth.

Afternoon chores have only two chores. One that never rotates and the second one does (just as the morning routine does). Now you might be asking me how in the world do you remember who does what. This is the really cool part. Each child "wears" what is called a chorepack during the 30 minutes of chores. They go from card to card doing whatever your card tells you to do. When you are done with that chore put it to the back of the stack and go on to the next one. It's like wearing their own personal chore list with them at all times.

Now when it's time for chores, I simply tell the kids "go get on your chorepacks" and the work begins. It has been so very helpful to me just to not have to remind the kids to do certain things and to have the extra help with other things. Granted they still are kids so you can't be too terribly picky about the job they are doing - there is a limit to what they can do. But at least I know that I am teaching them life skills 30 minutes at a time.

Still here...

Yep folks...we're still here. I took a little break from "blogging" for a while (basically for the summer). It just seemed to be easier to focus on what is at hand right now...and that is my family. We've been very busy with swimming, gymnastics, science camps and a couple of minor surgeries for our little one. So basically our days have been filled with getting wet, flipping and flopping, sitting in waiting rooms, dissecting something, all the while throwing in a little crankiness here and there from a little one who is about tired of surgeries.

With a break in the wet weather we've been having lately, yesterday I was able to take the kids to our big state fair here. My husband "volunteered" to stay home with the baby so we could be at our own pace. With a grin on his face we waved goodbye to Dad and took on the MASSIVE amount of crowds, absolutely no parking spaces, grease-filled air and all the "not-so-safe" rides you could ever want. By the end of the day we dragged ourselves back home to a Dad (who was still smiling) as we told him of our stories of stinky baby animals, wall to wall people and an amusement park ride that was probably first in service in 1901. Yep, it was a fun day had by all!

Surgery Day...

Yesterday began at 5:30 in the morning for us. My husband stayed home with the older 3 kids, so they could sleep in. The baby and I left the house at 6:15 and arrived at the surgery center at 6:30. By 7:15 he was in surgery and my stomached ached. You would think by four children it would get easier...but it doesn't.

Within, 25 minutes they were done. Ear tubes were in and adenoids were out. (Before this moment, I couldn't even tell you where those things were located...much less did I want to know how they came out). The doctor appeared to say that everything went well...did he notice that I was about to cry? Ten more minutes went by and I was allowed to see him. My tears flowed as I sang to him his favorite lullaby as he screamed. Nope, this doesn't get any easier...this whole parenting thing.

By 8:30 we were home and I laid down with a groggy little boy who wouldn't let me go more than 2 feet from him for the rest of the day. I'm sure if he had asked for a pony I would have given in. Personally, I'm glad it's over - simple procedure or not...it's never easy to go through. I'm glad to say though that today is a new day and my happy little boy is coming back to me.

From the desk of the CEO of domestic affairs...

I feel like I have all but given up on updating our blog everyday...it's just too hard to sit down with four VERY ACTIVE children in the house. Plus, it's summer for us and we rarely stay in the house, we are always going and doing something. So with two children asking "what's for dinner?" and two children playing right below my feet....I'm going to have to be quick with an update. Here goes...

-Soccer ended on a high note for our smallest little girl scoring several goals this year...yeah for her!!!


-With soccer ending swim team training began for the oldest two (actually it's a non-competitive swim team, but we hope that they can join the competitive one later)...so everyone is swimming up a storm here, twice a week.

-Gymnastics training is once a week for the girls (but between you and me...I'm hopeful it's a sport we can give up soon...terribly expensive).

-The older kids just finished a two day science and engineering camp up at Iowa State University.





The crying has begun from the little one below my feet so I've got to get faster....


-The dog has survived two years with all these kids...Happy Birthday you four legged one - good luck holding your own with now four kids ( I only thought she was hyper-active)

-Our baby has reached the "toddler stage" and now RUNS through the house...cabinet locks here we come...oh, goody.

-We leave in a week for a quick trip to Chicago and then onto Kentucky to spend time with my husband's family.


-And finally...as of today I have caught SEVEN chipmunks and one is awaiting his destination in the trap outside the front door....a big ol' fat UGH!!!!







O.k., the crying below my feet is now too loud to be ignored and dinner can no longer be put on the back burner so it's off to my "Mom job" and my "quiet time" (whatever that means) is over.

So from the desk of the CEO of domestic affairs...I'm signing off for now...

And don't come back now ya hear...

Alright, so you know I've been having some chipmunk "issues" here in my garden. I caught the first chipmunk and was overjoyed. I had read somewhere that chipmunks are notorious for coming back to their homes even over long distances. With that in mind, we took the first one with us on our way to Costco (several miles away and over the interstate) that day and released him telling him loudly..."they got more food than they know what to do with so stay here and enjoy yourself."

The second chipmunk took three days to catch and when we finally did get him we took him to our gymnastics classes (even further down the interstate and over the river). We told him that "they've got exercise classes here so he could enjoy himself just fine".

Three more days went by without any problems...and then. Yesterday, there was a half eaten strawberry in my garden. Oh no you did not come back. This had better be your brother or cousin or somethin'. Because I'm pretty sure I told you...and don't come back now ya hear.

What do I do with it now?...

For the past few weeks (and probably all of last summer) I have been dealing with a tiny little garden nuisance called a chipmunk. Some people think these things are quite cute. Obviously those people have never had to deal with coming down to their garden only to find many much awaited strawberries partly eaten. It was like the chipmunk said to himself..."Nope, not this one. How does this one taste? Nope, this one's too tart, how about this one?" Frustrating for all of us since there is nothing like the taste of fresh strawberries.

Now, it wasn't just the strawberries this creature had gotten into. This weekend I have been staining our deck and left a bag of bird seed among the flower pots on the ground. The next morning...man, what a mess! Bird seed everywhere. That was the last straw for me...

So I took it upon myself as a challenge. Last night, I set a trap to catch it (actually it was a store-bought trap) and baited it with bird seed...apparently they really like that stuff. Lo and behold...it worked. I got me a chipmunk. YES!!!!!

After about two seconds of rejoicing I look and see yet one more problem....there are two of them. UGH!!!! This one had a buddy trying to break him out of his jail cell. As the two seemingly communicated their plans as I watched from the window it finally dawned on me one important fact about this entire fiasco I had overlooked in catching a chipmunk...what do I do with it now?

The eagle has landed...

The eagle has landed. I saw that on a movie once as they were talking about someone really important finally showing up somewhere or another. (Obviously, I don't watch too many movies, or at least I'm much too tired to remember it exactly) My point is that Daddy made it back. He had to stop in at work for a while, but at least he's a quick drive away. The kids are overjoyed and our smallest little girl can't wait to show him her new little secret. Yesterday, she learned to ride her bike without any training wheels. Yep...she really did it. Way to go my little girl!

Day two flying solo...

Well, I made it through yesterday. That's about all I can say. Don't even ask me how much I got accomplished...unless there is a world record for just about nothing.

So today I awoke with a new day, a fresh start and a new tactic on how to approach the day and NOT lose my sanity. Knowing that there will be no "relief troops" coming home today, I decided that I would forget any notion of getting much done around the house, so we left and spent the morning at a local park. My goal...wear them out.

At lunchtime we chose to grab lunch out and bring it home (why dirty up a kitchen I would not be able to clean later). After lunch the older kids relaxed a little and the baby got in a much needed nap, which left me some precious "ALONE TIME". I headed outside to do some gardening. Now, we are all up, alert and refreshed (o.k., maybe refreshed isn't the word I want considering we are back outside sweating and playing).

Come to think of it, I'm on the homeward stretch now. Just a few hours until bath time and bedtime...I just might make it and this time with all my sanity intact. Tomorrow the relief troops come home and life gets back to normal...whatever that is

The homing device...

My husband leaves today for a business trip, so for the rest of the week I'll be flying solo. And to tell you the truth, I've already called my husband once to tell him that I'm going back to work when he returns (that really only happens on the "VERY" trying days). You see this morning, the baby, I believe, has attached a homing device to me with about a three foot radius on it.

Here's how it goes... for the moment everything is going fine, I'm toting our little one around trying to clean up the house. Oh, I put him down to put away some dishes. Out goes the bottom lip and the tears begin to fall. As of now, no sound is coming out. I step outside of the three foot radius of his device and oh, have mercy...you would have thought he was the most mistreated individual. Step back inside the radius, and the sound goes away but the tears still fall. Pick him up and everything in his world is right again.

Yes...this has been my morning. So today, I don't get to go very far from my little shadow. By now, you are probably wondering how in the world I even was able to post this blog. Well, it's an amazing thing really...it's called nap time...my favorite time today

Bumps, bruises and stitches...

This past Saturday we came across a very fun item at a garage sale...a trampoline. It was in great shape so we decided we'd give it a try for this summer. It just so happen that Daddy was with us and helped us load it into the car. For the kids, we just couldn't drive home fast enough. It took us hours, and I do mean hours, to put the thing together...and we had the instructions (so much for a Master's degree). When it was done the kids couldn't wait to get on it.

Hey...what's summer without dirty feet, messed up hair and a few bumps, bruises and stitches...