Winter Wilderness Wonderland

Snow finally hit Portland and though we missed some fun playdates because of it, Adam and Lukas had a great time building a bear/snow cave. Thank goodness my husband is willing to go out in the cold for such things because I am not as easily convinced. Later on that night I volunteered Adam to sleep with Lukas under a blanket-cave. I'm so generous with his time and and sleep. I've never met someone as generous as me regarding giving up the comforts of others. I think I deserve a toast - or an excuse to drink wine - one or the other.

r

Ladybug girl and Bumbleboy Stike Again

We had a wonderful, quiet Christmas, even spending some of it with good friends, and then went to the beach for a weekend. We couldn't believe the cute little motel room we scored cheap during the winter and weather was decent. We even went to the tiny, hole-in-the wall aquarium there after a night of cuddling on the couch and watching a movie. The weather was a bit more dicy the next day forcing some buggy raincoats to come out just before an unexpectant big wave came in forcing us all rigid and frigid in the car and heading home. Lukas was super sad to leave the beach, even when soaking wet in the rain. Adelaine seemed content to know she'd come back soon enough, trying to comfort us that "this beach has water" (hmmmm....I'm wondering what kind of beach she is looking forward to more next time without all that pesky water.) "We'll come back here to-later, but will go to-now." (in contrast of to-day and to-morrow). It was lovely and something we wouldn't have expected to do in December.

Ladybug girl and Bumblebee boy

We saw a book at a friends house with this title and it was super cute. However, I also recalled a picture from Halloween last year that the kids were super excited to see (posted). So now, we have the book and they are very into their roles (providing great fun for all). The last photo is our recent edition in honor of this great book.

And the puppy appeared to them and said "Do not be afraid, I bring you news of great joy."

Lukas wanted to make a life-sized nativity scene so after drawing the shepherd/sheep and "3 wise kings" on posterboard, Adam helped him make a full scene with a manger. Of course putting angel wings on a big stuffed dog quickly followed (an obvious choice I thought considering all angel possibilities). Adelaine graciously contributed her baby insisting that it would be better if Jesus came as a baby girl to "Married and Jo'fuzz" (clearly a name I hadn't considered poor Joseph might have been teased with as a young lad). Joseph looks a little ticked off in one of the pictures, but I just figure that a night of helping Mary in labor (and all the press and visitors thereafter) had taken its toll.

Tis the season to be merry. ("Oh...that's my name"...name the quote....Carrie?)

1 week to go,with or without snow

Funny how with kids you count down the days til Christmas with all these different tools (shoving even MORE candy in their mouths and ADHD bodies through a candy advent or reminding them every fricken day that TODAY is NOT the day to open the presents). I try to be intentional about my own heart's preparation, but somehow manage to try to prepare the kids better than me. They know (after about 100x of prep) that Christmas is about "baby Jesus' birthday" and yet, somehow - I MISS IT. After trying to remember the theological realities of Christmas from my education and after crying my heart out at some Focus on the Family children's movie (give me a break - it isn't even good animation and I'm crying).....God meets me where He always wanted to - in my own need of my life. At times I need Jesus' coming to earth to know His pain over the deepest sins of man, like children in sex slavery and sometimes I'm aware of what I hope it means for my extended family - parents, siblings, etc. But, in the end it is totally selfish need that brings me not only to the cross, but at Christmas - to the manger. I can't seem to conquer my frustrations with my body and how I spend money or time on the INTERNET - I feel like a failure who can't even figure out how to live - I NEED GOD to come NEAR ME. Right when I'm totally frustrated with my son for his behavior recently and say"at least my daughter is easy" - then SHE starts being more selfish and tempermental than ever.....I feel like I don't have a clue how to be a parent - I NEED GOD to come NEAR ME. When I look at my husband and know that I was just rude to him or took him for granted and feel like I am lamely going to forget and do it again tomorrow, I feel like my heart is sick and I'm a poor wife. I NEED GOD to come NEAR ME. Though I want to be more "holy" this Christmas and think lots of lofty thoughts to impress others (or somehow make myself feel like I still have intelligent thoughts), I have to settle in to these lower, personal, everyday needs this Christmas. Today, these are the "reasons for the season"...that I wasn't left alone in these little things either. Without God coming near, these little things can conquer me. I'm so grateful for "Jedes, Jofuzz and Mawee" (as Adelaine calls them). I'm also glad that with 1 week to go, I still have a chance to actually let Christ enter end....and the wonders of His love, and the wonders of His love.

Christmas Pictures

Our blessed friends do our family's photo sessions and I seriously would like to hand them heavy drinks after every single time. I come armed with candy bribes, toys to dangle in front of them like they are cats, prizes to stick in their pocket to keep their hands in place, and yet every time ends with me saying something like, "if you don't smile, you go to time out....cheese" or something of the like. So proud. Remarkably they are usually gorgeous pictures of the kids and I'm so relieved that the torture isn't seen on their faces. Whatever photo-shop is used, I like it!

Turkey Lurkey Doo

Went to Colorado for Thanksgiving and then some. Wonderful trip to see family on both sides and friends. Were blessed to see my parents new cabin. Got snow which thrilled the kids. Had great playtimes for them (and for us). Super thankful for all of it. Just pics of the kids in the snow, as I wasn't very good at taking pictures the rest of the time.

Bummer for You

So....our Love and Logic parenting took a turn for the worst a while back when we started getting a little sarcastic in our intended empathy when the kids would make a mistake. Rather than saying "how sad" with loads of empathy, we would say, "what a bummer for you". It began with empathy, but apparently I had lost my empathetic edge because I started overhearing our kids sarcastically saying "bummer for you" when they were trying to make eachother cry. So...it continued as a joke with some different groups of friends. My best friends from Colorado traveled this summer to Portland and there were some remarkable moments to apply a sarcastic "bummer for you" tone to a sad moment for us (or actually - mostly TO eachother ABOUT other people we didn't know stuck in traffic and such....real holy, redemptive moments, if you will). Even in Mozambique, a poor fellow traveler got stuck with horrible diarrhea and after my story about the kids, the group just said to her , "bummer for you".

Anyhow, Adelaine lived it up this last week as she decided to not listen to several warnings and disciplines to sneakily eating candy. Because she knew she wasn't supposed to eat candy without asking (but apparently remembered something resembling candy in my purse) she downed 8-10 orange Vitamin C lozenges. The Vitamin C isn't a big deal as it is either absorbed in the body to do a little extra swine flu protection or released back into pee. However, the fact that they were sugar free lozenges (with the lovely clause of "may cause diarrhea"), really "bit her in the butt". I called Poison Control (as we are BFFs) and they told me exactly what would happen and it is exactly what did happen: She threw up some ripe Orange (in flavor, color and smell) loveliness all over me which turned into family bath time (where I'd like to note she told me I looked just like the Little Mermaid)....and she had some serious poop explosions. But, then she was fine. I wish she was little older for the "bummer for you" to really have a lasting effect as she was asking for candy bright and early the next morning. However, the true moral of the story was for me: keeping vitamin C in my purse and not being aware of my daughter digging in my purse was a needed bit of humility and awareness to keep me on my toes (thankfully my sleeping pills don't taste like candy or reside in my purse). However, my SEVERE gag reflex to the smell of orange (and the risidual vision of Adam using our steam cleaner on the carpet at midnight) reminds me that it is in fact mostly a "bummer for me".

Sugar and Spice and ever so Nice

I feel like we are always aware of how beautiful it is in Oregon and I feel like when I drive I am saying "look at that tree, can you believe the colors?" about every minute. However, since this is likely our last fall here (since Adam's Phd is done here soon and we will hopefully find a job somewhere soon.....or things will get a bit more exciting all around), we are just embracing every moment of this autumn. I am enjoying the fall and cider more than ever and we are walking on every crackling leaf possible. These are pictures of our jaunt today.

Speaking of ever-so-Nice - Lukas has taken great enjoyment out of continued pranks on Adelaine... He is actually remarkably sweet to her when it comes to including her in on games and things he is doing. If she is wrestling him really rough, he is VERY restraining with how he wrestles her back softly. However, these little stunts with his pranks are ridiculous. The latest is this: He took her polly pocket princesses (which she guards with her life...he only got them while she was sleeping) and put them in the dungeon (a.k.a. a little animal hospital toy that has little cages and keys). He then strung up the keys just high enough out of her reach that she couldn't reach it. So the scene of her missing her dolls, then looking for her dolls, then finding them in the dungeon, and then not being able to reach the keys was increasingly brutal. All the while, he was quiet with and occasional giggle til I said, "Lukas, knock it off" and he quietly got the keys and released his prisoners. don't know what to say? me either.

From Peter Pan to Dragonland

Midst my mass desire to increase my kids' immunity and trying to take away sugar and pound vitamin C, fish oil and vit D, somehow we still ended up taking to the streets tonight looking for the high of our life, cursing the people who give out jolly ranchers and starbursts. We had two rounds of costumes. Peter Pan and Tinkerbell (for school and warmer activities) and Dragon and Knight (for nighttime and colder festivities). I managed the get all the lame candy out of the kids' baskets in time to pass them out to our trick-or-treaters once we got home. I think the night was a success, but I'm not sure my soul is any more goldish in color.

Fall Photos

Just wanted some pics of my fam-damly, so here are a few pseudo-good ones midst the million attempts. Nothing of note much besides .....trying to dodge the drops of swine and Adam is working hard at the grind.

MOUSE TRAP - Round 2

So, this time, I got to watch Lukas take Adelaine's bear, put a string around its neck and then place it in front of the couch. Lukas hid behind he couch and in a high pitch voice says, "Hi Addy. I'm your bear." Adelaine squeals with delight and runs toward her bear. Success! Lukas then pulls the bear back just before she can reach it as if Adelaine is a cat running after a mouse. Screaming and hitting (Adelaine upon Lukas) occured shortly after.

Meanwhile...a little later in the Goodworth home...Adelaine kept pointing to her "baby button" (belly button). I then realized why she didn't like pressing it. Imagine the terror if indeed a baby popped out when one pushed the button!

I love you stinky face

So, I love this book titled "I love you stinky face" because I feel like it appropriately describes our household. I'm actually not referring to the absolutely unhealthy amount of beans that my husband consumes and tries to forcefeed my children explaining it is a cheap source of protein, but the phrase describes the affection I feel midst sillyness/rascallyness that never seems to cease. I adore my children, but it is amazing how my laughter and eye rolls or my affection and frustration are never far from eachother.

Lukas has been especially funny lately with a little mouse trap he set up for his sister (which I already told some of you about). I only heard "Addy, come see where your princess book is" which of course meant I needed to check it out first. I then come to find he has placed the laundrey basket upside down with the princess book trapped inside. But then, nicely placed on top is a cup of water. Lukas is peering from around the corner waiting to see if she will take the bait.

Yesterday Lukas was having trouble getting his footed pajama sleeper on. I said, "Do ya want any help?" He said, "Dawan helt? Stop calling me names Mama" while laughing. I was confused, so I re-stated, but articulated, "No Lukas, I said 'Do you want any help?'".Again he said, "Dawan helt?...Mama! Stop calling me names or you'll go to time out!". This went on until I realized that we was being actually pretty darn funny changing my words around and acting like he "didn't understand and I was calling him names."

Adelaine is unfortunately not far behind in her sarcasm lately as Lukas got in trouble an he was supposed to give her a hug and say "sorry." He didn't want to....so she kept saying sarcastically, "come on....give me a hug....come on sweetie....give me a hug." He was laughing and running away from her yelling "NOOOO", so she kept "hugging" him as he ran (ie - she was tackling him to the ground). Only when he finally hugged her and she screamed because she "didn't really want him to hug her" did he say "I'm happy how because Addy didn't like my hug". So much affection and two little stinky faces.

Oh dear, I fear I am not keeping up with them and knowing where respect and humor can collide and certainly not knowing how to get in and out of a grocery store without wanting to leave them in the car once we get home or tape the judging eyes shut of the check out lady. Thankful I have prayer and a husband and friends to always check in with about all this.

Just an update (but the photos are of our fall extra-curricular classes - Lukas is in Karate - though he doesn't pay attention because he is making faces at me the whole time and I might need to leave the room. Adelaine is in dance and has no grace or balance what-so-ever, but she is in bliss).

Lukas' first day of preschool

He looks so big.

"It's Showtime"

Just wanted to share quick stories (most I don't think I've shared before):

I was changing Lukas in public yesterday and normally he is real nervous about people seeing him naked, but apparently not this time because he said, "It's okay. It'll be fun. People can watch the naked show." I didn't think he really said that, but then this morning when we had the same situation (we were camping - I don't normally change him in public) and I was changing him quickly in public, he yelled, "It's Showtime."

Adelaine thinks that to make a really big point about how many times she did something is to not only yell it really way too loud and too many times, but to say, "I did it 1 time, 14 times and then I did it 2 times." Woah - 2 times.

Our friend Paula shared a story about when I was in Africa (forgive me Paula if I got any of this wrong, but I think I got it right). Paula was taking both Morgan and Lukas to her house. Morgan (her sweet daughter who Lukas thinks about day and night) was talking about how she and Lukas are in love and they are going to get married and they are going to get a house and they are going to have kids. I was surprised to hear that Lukas wasn't pumped about Morgan's plans for his life since all he does is think about things he can buy her or make her, but instead Paula said he was really quiet and very serious, but then just said after thinking about this grown up life with Morgan, "I gotta get a job."

Adelaine and Lukas both run with Adam and I when we go jogging (their choice I swear). However, Adelaine gets very mad that Lukas is faster than her. However, she has gotten in the habit of waiting until Lukas is looking at a tree or rock or is distracted and then bolting past him while laughing a villan laugh of 3 "ha ha ha"s.

Not sure I ever shared about Lukas' 4 year doctor appointment many months ago, but I was remembering it today (forgive the repeat if I did). He got a shot and was very very brave, but then as we were leaving he was very angry with me for having accidentally grabbed his arm where he just got his shot and he "fake fainted". It was brilliant really. He rolled his eyes back and fell to the floor. The nurse was running to him and obviously disgusted at me when I casually said, "He's fine." But then I said, "Lukas, get up, we gotta go. Come or you don't get your sticker as we leave..." and up he hopped. THe nurse was in shock and just quietly said, "he's gotta be in theatre."

Lastly, I have a good friend here in Portland named Sarah who I knew in college too. THough she doesn't have kids yet she is amazing to meet me with the kids places and love on them (sometimes I even get to hang out with her without the kids). The kids love her. Whenever we see her they talk about her after. Recently we had 3 discussions after we saw her. 1 - watching a princess movie, Adelaine said one of the princesses was like Sarah. 2 - We were leaving the house and Adelaine asked if we were going to see Sarah. I said, "no sorry honey." She said emphatically, "but Mama, I have to see my Sarah.". THe classic was from Lukas though: We were driving and saw 2 women walking with 2 kids. Adelaine and Lukas had a discussion in the back seat. Lukas was convinced that it wasn't 2 mommys, but 1 mommy and the other lady was a "grandma or a Sarah." "Sarah" is a term for someone who just tags along and loves on your kids. Wow... I hope God can help me be that to my friends!

Mozambique

The first photo is of four kids - each with a younger sibling on their back. The second is of me with this amazing boy who had a sad story (too long for a blog). The third is of an old Portugese church that isn't in use anymore and these kids running after us. The fourth is an awesome sign reminding you NOT to go into the water. The fifth is of a beach on a day we took to debrief at the end of the trip.

If you want the long email about my trip, just email me at annagoodworth@hotmail.com Just didn't want to dog the blog with it all.

Daddy of the Year

Adam had lots of amazing help from my family and his during my trip to Africa, but he was wonderful! They kids got to sleep in bed with him, do smores outside, go to the beach for hours and hours with sand in their pants, etc. It was awesome to come home to them excited to see me, but even the night they were home they were fighting over who would get Daddy to sleep with them! I actually got in the argument and won that night!

My girls

I had one of the most amazing weekends last weekend with 3 of my most best friends. We roomed in college, have been in each other's weddings, and have had babies together (not each other's babies - that is weird....and not possible...well, I guess with invitro, it is possible, but didn't happen). We stayed with my incredibly gracious and hospitable aunt and uncle in Whidbey Island, Puget Sound and went up to San Juan Island for the day. It was amazing. We talked about struggles and laughed histerically and prayed together and just enjoyed one another. I am so thankful. My heart was so full.

Save the Last Dance

Definitely taking more dance classes in spite of my sweet girl's lack of coordination. She pretends to talk to people on the phone about her dance class. She asks about the dance class several times a day. Sad day today since it was the last class. Not sure how to bridge the gap until the Fall's new schedule - not sure I'm the dancing type (I can do dumb-wedding dance type of dancing, but nice ballet type ain't gonna happen). In this photo she is playing with a baton, but they got hula hoops, scarves, wands, tiaras....the works! God bless the rec center!

Schmidty Bitty Fun!

My friend Andrea Schmidt just visited with her sweet (and incredibly fast) boy, Caleb. Fun to show them Portland with fountains, berries and Tillamook ice cream.

5 year anniversary - the year of the B

B for Beautiful overnight away with the kids

B for Bend, Oregon - woah that is pretty up there

B for Breaking the budget just a little in honor of 5 great years

B for Bold coffee at Sisters Coffee Company

B for Beestings - 5 of them on Lukas (B for big bummer)

B for Black Butte Ranch - going back there despite the bees!

B for Blueberry bliss - rumor and treasure of a cheap U Pick patch

B for Bonding time for family as we all suffering the consequences for too much blueberry bliss!

Memory like an Elephant

Lukas told me he was going to make a coloring book. He had been asking me for weeks for a specific coloring book, but I had no idea what he was talking about so he had resigned that I wouldn't find it. Now he was going to make his own. I said "fine." (ie..."whatever kid...you draw all day long...make whatever you want"). So, he colored for while and left the room to play something else and I found this picture (pictured left). I was impressed as I was pretty sure I could tell what at least 4 out of the 5 characters were according to our Nick Jr. favorites (Dora, Diego, Backyardigans, and Wonderpets)....so I went searching for anything I could to have him verify what these characters were and in the very bottom of our craft box was the LOST COLORING book (pictured right). Wow - okay. I showed it to Lukas and he said, "You found it - the coloring book!" and he confirmed that it was this coloring book he had drawn. What is wild is that he hasn't seen this thing for weeks, but he remembered the characters on it. I know who I am now remember where we park and it isn't me!

Last note - another strange bit in it all is that Lukas' speech has recently had a strange downward turn toward stuttering and lack of word retrieval. It has been incredibly frustrating for him and super sad for us to watch. It is confusing to ever understand if some of these things could ever be related. Or perhaps it is just a gift that he has this outlet of art midst speech struggles. I don't know.

Blessing of the Blessing

WOW - we had Adelaine's Dedication ceremony today after church and it was amazing for us. We just hoped a couple of friends could stop by after church and ended up having pretty much our whole care group there. (There was a friend from Kenya there to perhaps represent our friends that are IN Kenya that are always missed these days). Good friends Lindsey (from Sunset) and Moses (who goes back to Uganda in a week) did the ceremony for us and Sarah (one of Adelaine's godmothers) was there to give a blessing too. Really amazing and makes it really hard to conceive that we could be leaving Portland here soon.

Black Eye and Stink Eye

Lukas jumped onto a turned over bench to amazingly miss completely popping out his eyeball. However, he did end up with an enormous swelling, screaming, bleeding sore above his eye which has now drastically reduced to just a bar-fight black eye (thank you to Arnika natural cream - I don't know about all homeopathic stuff, but that one is amazing stuff!). The sweetest moment of it (besides the "Praise you God that he didn't lose his eye.") was this: Lukas' friend Grant was over that morning and just as the trauma began, I was in my crazy calm crisis mode of decifering to go the E.R. route or "wait and see" route, and Grant just calmsly says, "We need to pray for him." Well of course! Embarrassed I didn't think of that. We then did pray for Lukas and wonderfully Lukas stopped crying and we were all able to cope! Grant will be hopefully coming over more often and teaching Lukas to memorize scripture.

The second photo is of Adelaine's practicing one of her many rascally faces. She often says, "Look mama" to show me that she has just mastered either rolling her eyes or pouting lips or whatever. The pride wells up within me.

You'll take the high road and I'll take the low one

(sing with me to my husband)

You'll take the high road and I'll take the low one

And you'll go to Italian vineyards without me

And I'll break up fist fights in the back of the car

Rather than having a Guiness in Ireland!

Adam has been gone for over two weeks and comes back in 2 more days. Overall it has been really pretty great - with the kids and with his trip. He was flown over for a conference in Italy, but we tacked on a U.K. university post-doc tour at the beginning and a friend -ireland visit at the end while he was already on the continent. So, he went to Oxford (had a beer in C.S. Lewis' famous pub), Birmingham, and Glasgow. His conference in Italy was in two different cities of Pavia and Bologna, where he gave a presentation at one (one night they took them out to a vineyard for dinner - nice), and he met up with a friend from Austria there too and went to the beach. He is now in Northern Ireland with dear friends of ours. Pictured here are Jack, John and Adam. (Jack and John were our ring bearers as wee little lads years ago). Not feeling jealous one little bit. Actually - just super thankful for all the great stuff that happened on the trip - that I still like our kids and can't wait to see my dear husband!

Wisdom of Children

Oh - some days children just speak the truths of God, and some days, it is a little iffy.

Lukas broke a craft and Adelaine said, "Don't worry, God can fix that. He's a good God" Where does she get this stuff (and how do I explain it when all I know is I'm the one gluing the thing back together later)?

What was wild was that later on today, Lukas had a spiritual moment on the same topic in an ever-so-Lukas way. We were driving and out of nowhere (well, let's be honest, not out of "nowhere' because poop is always on the mind for the kid) he says, "What if I pooped on the road and a car got stuck in it? Would that be silly?" I said quite amazed at the genius things he thinks of, "Wow'....(not knowing quite how one "ought" to respond to such a question...I prefer the "let's make this conversation more ridiculous" route usually): I continue, "well honey, that would have to be a lot of poop for a car to get stuck." Lukas just said as if to reassure me, "God would clean it up. God cleans up our poop." He stumped me. 'Nough said! True Lukas .... oh so true....I would have used different language and all, but I suppose a humble reminder really. Oh - from the mouth of babes! I'd like to see some bids on that sermon title folks....

Princess and the Frog

Adelaine's first dance class was today - it was precious - she was in heaven - leaping and twirling (falling all the while as well). Lukas took his role, not as the prince, but as the sarcastic counterpart or frog, quite to heart!

Japanese Garden with kids - fun or foolish?

If it weren't for the fun treasure map (Dora style) they had for kids, it would have been a real sour situation, but otherwise, not too shabby actually, until we started to actualy take nice portrait shots. Somebody teach these kids some manners! Who is their mother anyway?

Back to Back Weekend Fun!

We've had some more awesome visitors the last couple of weekends - some pals of Adams' from Colorado and then our good friends, the Spences from California (and their sweet boy Dillan who curls up on your chest) and then my parents came too! So many wonderful people in our home!!!!
Lukas got something in his eye and ran over to the fridge's water dispenser to flush it out - wow - I didn't know we had an emergency eye-wash system, but there is was.
Almost hit a car driving today, Adelaine was unphased and just said, "cheers"
I've been catching Lukas mimiking my apparent over-dramatic talking as he stands behind me nodding his head and using dramatic hand motions. Not sure if I need to rethink my way of talking or my discipline.