Stretching and the splits...

This week starts spring break for the boys, so last Friday when they got home from school I asked them to make a calendar with a list of things they'd like to do while they are on break.  Yesterday's activities consisted of teaching Isabelle to walk (Gabriel) while Michael decided it was a good day to swim (never mind the 50 degree overcast and rainy weather the valley had). 

On today's agenda the boys both decided "stretching" would be fun to do all day.  Yes, they didn't plan more than one thing on each day because as Gabriel told me, "Mom- we can practice these things all day so we get really really good at it okay?"  Sounds like a plan to me.  And I understand Nana and Papa (who so graciously agreed to watch the kids for us this afternoon) were able to participate in the "stretching" activities as well.  How exciting for them! 

After dinner tonight the boys decided they needed to continue to stretch and while they begged me to participate, I asked the to demonstrate to me exactly how to "stretch."  They decided instead to show me how to do the splits.  While Gabriel said it is easiest done in the shower (how, I have no idea), he obliged by showing me the inside tricks on our tile floor. And I couldn't help but share their expert advice on the best way to do the splits (who spends a whole day anyway practicing it?)  Play close attention to the specific instructions Gabriel gives about what to think about and what to do with your arms.

Oh and of course after Gabriel showed us how he does the splits, Michael had to add in his two cents. Perhaps I'll skip the way Michael finishes his splits, the next time I attempt one.


Without further ado... I share with you my two splitter specialists.

Until next time,
Angie

PS:  Stay tuned for the rest of the week's activities, I'm sure there will be more highlights to come!

Mom, did you know I'm your brother?

Yes, that was yesterday's question in the car home after I picked the boys up from school.

Proud to say for the first time ever, I was the 5th car in line, in what seems the never-ending line of parent cars waiting to pick up their kids.  The boys eyes got all wide when they realized they weren't going to have to wait the normal 25 minutes for the 20 cars in front of mom to pull through.  I opened the doors, "Hi boys, did you have a good day?  Get in quickly, we've got to keep the line moving." 
They rolled in, piled in, or spilled into the car, threw their backpack in what ever direction their arm was aimed in and buckled up.  As I pulled away Michael said, "Mom- did you know that I'm your brother?"  Reviewing the weekly lesson plans the teacher sent home on Monday in my mind, I didn't recall any lesson about family connections or labels.  I responded, "Really Michael how's that?  I thought I was your mom."  He followed up, "Remember mom at Sunday school we learned that God says we are all brothers to each other and need to be nice."  "Oh I see,"  as I quickly changed topics in my mind, throwing out all highlight of lesson plans.  "You're right Michael."

Upon hearing Michael's comment, Gabriel chimed in, "Mom- did you know I"m really special?"  Although I agree with his statement, I still admit it sounds a tad proud and funny as it was said. "You are special Gabriel, that's right.  Everyone is special because we are all unique right?"  He continued, "But Mom, I'm extra special because my name is Gabriel, and I'm one of God's angels."  Awe, I see where this is going.  "Gabriel that is correct, Gabriel was one of God's archangels.  Did you know there was another one?  Can you guess what his name was?"  "I don't know," he responded.  "The other angel was named Michael."  Surprised as all get-out, he looked at Michael and in a very shocked tone said, "Really, Michael was the other angel?"  Laughing out loud by this point because of his obvious perception that one of God's angels couldn't possibly be named Michael, I went onto explain that yes, both of you have names with Biblical references. 

"Mom- why did you name us Gabriel and Michael?" Gabriel asked.  "Honey, I didn't give you those names, your birth mother did."  Isn't that really nice?  Now thinking we were going to have a conversation about their birth mother and why or how she gave them the names she did, I waited for their response.  Michael chimed in, "Mom does that mean Gabriel and I are more special to God than the rest of you?"  No, Michael, God loves us all equally.  In fact, Mom's name Angie comes from the word Angelic, which is kind of like Angel, and Isabelle's middle name is Grace, as in the Grace God gives us, and Dad's middle name is Joshua from the Bible as well.  I guess we all have names that have a religious connection huh?    Immediately Gabriel chimed in, "Mom- is Jack one of the angels too?"  Michael continued, "Mom- is Jack in the Bible too?"  Now scrambling to figure out how I connect Jack to God, I stuttered over my words and finally decided to lay it out... "Boys, I don't think Jack's name is connected to any Biblical reference."  "But Mom- what's Jack's middle name?"  "He doesn't have one Gabriel."  "Then I think we should give him a middle name" Gabriel retorted, "I think we should make his middle name Angel, then he would be connected to God too."  Objecting immediately to Gabriel's suggestion, Michael said, "No- we should make his middle name Michael, that is the name of God's bestest and most special angel."

Until next time,
Angie  

My little helper...

Some how my tiny baby has turned into a little person who can actually follow instructions and help.

I love this video... it makes my heart melt.

Until next time,
Angie

Isabelle's Hundred Acre Wood

For Isabelle's adoption celebration, we, okay I, decided to have it be Winnie the Pooh themed.  In a way, planning this party was catharlogic for me as it gave me something to look forward to, a project to put my nervous energy to use for and a great way for me to count down the days to when she would officially become ours forever.

With 9 months to plan for a party, I guess it would be fair to say, this party became a main focus, and I may have taken the party planning to the extreme.  I wouldn't say that of course, that is only what my family would say if you ask them.

So with the months and then weeks leading up to the party, I had assembled a party planning binder, spent hours researching idea's on Pinterest and many a nights dreaming about how great this party could be. 

I want to thank our family for all the help with the party.  From getting the wood platters for me, to helping make food, set up decorations, and even painting a picture for the party.  I'm extremely thankful and will always remember Isabelle's party as one of the best celebrations we've had.

To capture the party in words would be fine, but we tried to take as many pictures of the planning and actual party so that some day, when Isabelle is old enough to remember, she can look back and see just how special that day was, how many people care about her and how we had one big party in her honor.

And so let the pictures roll....

I put mom to work making her yummy sugar cookies...

And dad to work with all the home improvement projects...

Can you tell he was annoyed with me taking his picture?

On the day of the party we had a bounce house... of course Winnie the Pooh themed...

Isabelle's dessert table...

One of my favorite pictures from old school Winnie the Pooh is above.  I asked my brother in law Adam if he could paint a large picture for Isabelle and he obliged.  We were thrilled with his final product...

 The painting my wonderful brother-in-law painted for Isabelle.  Didn't he do an amazing job?!!!!!

It was so good in fact, it deserves to be shown twice.

And then my favorite part of the party... all of the food!

 The menu...

The honey comb decanter filled with Sangria (for the adults of course)

 The snacks (Pooh graham crackers) and the Winnie the Pooh quizzes at the table. For decorations, I framed quotes from the movie I find touching...  The quote below was one of my favorites and fitting with our baby girl.

For Isabelle's guest book, I created these "Hunny" pot cards that people could write a special message to her.  As a keepsake, we have scattered them throughout her hard-cover The Story of Winnie the Pooh book. 

The guest table with the sign in cards, her special book and the answers to the quiz (on the door).

The Winnie the Pooh quizes we had scattered around for the attendees to complete... then we asked them to sign in at Isabelle's guest book not only to check their answers but to write her a message to look back upon some day.

Some decorations we had throughout the house...

And her cake...

The dessert table. 

Where we had gummy bears, pumpkin sugar cookies, cake, and candy coated pretzel rods. 

A little take home gift for those who came to celebrate with Isabelle and her family.

The wood platters my parents helped me get all the way from Iowa.  Wanting to go with a forest theme, I had seen wood platters advertised on Etsy.com, however they were $40.00 a piece.  Given I needed more than 15, thankfully growing up in a state where trees are pretty common to find, Mom and Dad helped me get some wood, shipped them to me, which Nolan and MaeLyn helped stain and walla, our very own wood platters for much much less.

So now with the party well behind us and having Isabelle home for good, I'm happy to be able to look back and reflect on the fun that was her special day. 

Nine long months of hoping and praying she would be ours forever, finally culmated in an adoption celebration to reminise on for years and years to come.  I made the sign below several months before the party and I remember picturing what this sign would look like in our front yard, I just hoped I'd get to put it out on display.  Although a sign made from an old cardboard box, the three words on this sign mean oh so much to us.

Welcome Home Isabelle.  Welcome Home!

 We're so happy to have you in our lives. 

Until next time,
Angie

Where did my babies go?

Tonight I was looking back through some old pictures for my sister and I came across all the pictures I've taken in the last 3 years.  As I clicked from one album to the next I kept thinking, "man they've grown so fast and it has gone so quickly.... where have my babies gone?'  It is crazy to me to think that just a few short years ago Gabriel and Michael were so little. 

 

I can still remember the overwhelming feeling of love I had for them from the first moment of meeting them.  It is a love that has only grown stronger and in some ways it feels as though my life didn't truly begin until my eyes met theirs.

I'll love you always and forever Gabriel and Michael. Even though you're growing up so quickly, you'll always be my babies. okay?
Love, your mom

Our Babies-R-Us Adventure

Today the crew (all three kiddos) and I made a return trip back to Babies-R-Us after determining they had charged me for an extra box of diapers  more than what I actually got.  And while the boys weren't thrilled with having to load up and go for another errand after just getting home from school, I explained to them that we were owed money, money needed to possibly do fun things with them and soon enough we were off.  Gabriel seemed to grasp the concept of getting our money back and Michael I think interpreted it as I didn't have enough money to pay them so we had to go back to give them more.  I pretty sure that was his interpretation after he so unselfishly offered to give up all the money in his compliment jar to help us buy diapers.  (Reason number 1, 456, 999 I love that child). 
On our drive there I attempted to retell the scenario that happened earlier in the day when I actually got the diapers.  Gabriel, mid-way through my story, interjected, "Mom, have you ever had a $100 bill?"  Pausing my story I answered, "Yes, Gabriel, I have, why?"  "Mom you should bring it along so you can give them the $100 and they could give you back 50 -$1.00 bills" Continuing on, "Then you'll have more money!"  Note to self, explain to the boys that just because you have more bills doesn't mean you have more money than a larger bill. 

Driving into the parking lot and getting ready to now explain the value of each bill, I put the car into park, instructed everyone to pile out.  Michael looked at the store front and said, "Oh I know mom what happened Mom, we're getting our money back from when Dad got the diapers."  "Ah no Michael, remember I said I went to get the diapers earlier today when you were in school.  Remember Dad's been gone all week and the last time he got diapers here was before Christmas."  Moments later my story or explanation didn't matter because Michael found a piece of trash on the ground and his super hero alter-ego (Save the Earth Michael) took over.  Soon he was racing all over the parking lot picking up all the trash he could find.  If you're reading this thinking we look like a circus act going from one place to another, you're pretty much picturing it as it really does happen.

Inside the store I try to explain to the clerk what happened.  As Isabelle screams because she didn't want to be in her car seat, Michael picked up every single item he could and asked me to buy it. In between the clerk asking me what pack of diapers I didn't get and verifying that they could refund my money, I was asked question after question... "Mom- can we get this hand sanitizer?" No Michael we already have that. "Mom- can we get this pop rocks candy- you told me I can have candy?"  No Michael- I told you, you could have a piece of your Valentine's Candy at home. "Mom- can we have this lotion (which was actually some sort of nursing mother nipple cream).  I think we really need this" No Michael- we do not need that.  Please do not touch anything else.  Stand here and listen please.  Finally getting our money back, I gave the word, "Okay guys let's go!"  To which Gabriel says, loud enough for the clerk to hear "Mom- that's good they gave you, the money back and you didn't even have to get mad or yell at them!"  Oops maybe my internal thought on the way to the store actually slipped out. 

Back in the car we piled and straight shot for home we started.  Stopping at the stop light before crossing the interstate, the car was quiet except for Isabelle, she talks, screams or makes noises all the time.  I guess the boys and I were in our own thoughts.  As I waited for the light to turn green, Gabriel said "Mom- (pointing to the cars in the far right lane turning right on red- look at those cars.  They're not even stopping.  To which we all looked that way as Gabriel became the play-by-play announcer... Red truck... Look he didn't stop, Gray Toyota- she didn't stop either.  Oh my goodness, that person didn't even slow down.  (followed by car after car after car, all who didn't seem to stop before turning).  Gabriel said "Man mom, there are a lot of bad drivers!!!!!"  Mom-its a good thing you're a pretty good driver, you stop on red and you only drive really really fast, when we are late for school and your work and if you don't see a police car around.

The story above is just a glimpst into the daily crazyiness that is our lives.  I share it because my kids make me laugh, make me smile and also becuase these are the moments, I know I'll come to miss.  Although a silly errand to reclaim money owed is nothing for the record books, the silly questions, the saving-the earth efforts, and the screaming in the backseat as I drive, are all things that make my life so blessed.  And I share it today, so I can look back and always remember just how wonderful this time in my life is.

Until next time,
Angie

My little helper

On most days when I am able to stay home with Isabelle, we have a lengthy list of chores to get done.  And while I'd love to sit and play all day, the laundry piles never seem to end and the dishes, well, they always seem to fill our counter quietly shouting out at me "I  need to be washed!"

And while Isabelle enjoys playing with her "toys , I honestly share that some of her favorite go-to toys, really aren't toys at all.  The dishwasher is a great play toy... she LOVES to pull all the silverware out one by one and toss them on the floor.  If they are just cleaned and mom is putting dishes away, its okay to toss them on the floor.  But when she gets really excited is when they are all dirty, covered in food remnants, that's when the high shrieks and shrills of screams come out as they bounce across the floor.  And it isn't just the dishwasher that's fun.  Another favorite past time is climbing up the stove and standing on the bottom drawer handle to see what's on top of the stove.  Yes, you can see she is following right in Michael's footsteps in seeking out danger.  And the laundry, oh what a helper she is.  Actually she is.  She helps me load the clothes from the dryer into the basket, and then sits on top of the clothes while I carry them to the couch to be folded.  And then when it comes to socks.... well instead of me telling you all about it.  I'll just let the video do the talking...

She's growing up right in front of my eyes.  When did my baby learn to understand what mom's doing when folding the clothes and how does she already know what "cheese" means?  Could it be mom takes a lot of pictures?

Until next time,
Angie