Itsy Bitsy Spider

A couple of days ago I pulled a tick off Lukas' penis. It was a tramatic experience, as the tiny little vulture pulled his skin and wouldn't let go. However, apparently Lukas got over it because later in the day, he was in the back seat of the car singing a new verson of Itsy Bitsy Spider regarding the tick on his penis (conveniently sounding like Itchy Bitchy Spider with Lukas' speech issues)

Lastly - during this pre-Christmas season - as toys are on the shelf at stores, can we all go ahead and write letters to Disney to thank them for how they named their characters in Toy Story, because I am still amazed every time I hear a child yelling "I want a Woody" or "I love talking Woody". They really did "reach for the sky" with that one.

Jolly with Molly

It has been a crazy week with Lukas being home ALL week super sick with fever and cough and not seeming to get better. I also started a part time job as a waitress at a fancy pants country club up the street (feels like I'm going in a different job direction than I intended, but actually the hours are perfect for us and I feel like God blessed us like crazy to fill in the financial gap we needed to). Lastly, we got a rescue dog today. A number of things let to this decision and though we felt good about the dog we chose (and heartbroken about Molly dog's story), we were still nervous to pick her up today. The kids have been counting the days and it really was an amazing scene. Molly traveled 3 days in a trailer to get to us, along with loads of other dogs from other rescue groups. It was pretty cool to see people united with their pets - some dogs excited, some dogs scared - all of them hungry, tired, and thirsty. Molly is a small lab mix 8 month old girl who is super sweet, but definitely a bit timid and definitely needing training (but seems already very trainable). She sat in my and Adam's lap for comfort quickly and warmed up to the kids. Before we knew it, she was playing all over the house with Adelaine or snuggling and sleeping with sick Lukas. I'm nervous to be a dog owner, but we feel super grateful to have found a great dog.

Politically Incorrect

My cowboy and indian

Colors Galore

so many beautiful things and colors this time of year - so so grateful

Covered Bridges

When I first came to Connecticut, I wanted to find some covered bridges - wow - I have been successful recently - and what a time of year to do it!

New York New York

LOVED getting more acquainted with NYC for the day with Megan and her sister, Erin! Fun to be there on an amazing fall day and couldn't get over how beautiful Central Park really is!

That's Spanish for.....

Adelaine is taking a Spanish Immersion class with her preschool. It was a high priority to me and pretty expensive, so I confess I'm really hoping to get a bit more out of her than the occasional "Hola". This is about how it goes:

1 - Sometimes if we say an English vocab word she doesn't know she asks, "Is that Spanish?". "No, Adelaine, that isn't Spanish....do you want to practice your your spanish?" "No thanks."

2 - I turn as many of our movies onto the spanish version as possible and my observant children notice about 1/2 hour in and say "Hey.....come on!"

or 3 - Adelaine says, "Bananano0na - That's Spanish for Purple." "No it isn't, honey." "Oh"

Above is a photo of Lukas' preparation for Halloween - one is his search for a costume - a "pothead" (no.....not knowing all its possible meaning....though I do giggle inside and kind of wish he did get to glory in his humor).

Second photo is of a bat he made out of a sock. He makes random crafts and just brings them to me - this is one of them. Cut the wings, taped them on. Glued a bunch of blue/black beads on and some googly eyes. But then he sheeshily asks, "But mom, what do I do now....I only have one sock?" I look down an indeed, he had used the sock off his own feet and was barefoot now on one foot. "Well - some people have 2 socks and some people have bats...you have a bat." He was satisfied.

Boston in the Fall

Can't deny that the Veggietales song "Pirates who can't do anything" went through my head as we drove to "Boston in the Fall" on Sundays. I do thank God that we moved to Connecticut NOT in the dead of dark winter, but in fact, just before some unreasonable beauty of fall foliage. I really am in awe. Oregon is outrageous in the fall and I miss it, but there is something different about the amount of colors all over the hills around here that definitely took me by surprise. I am also super grateful that we live just outside of the city where our drives to our daily locations take us along loads of farms and golf courses and rivers to also enjoy the beauty every day.

We drove to visit a friend of mine in Boston on Sunday, stopping at a Reservoir and at Walden Pond in Connecticut. Today Adelaine had a field trip to a local farm. Both super amazing fall activities and, as now eastcoasters, we embraced them both!

Last note - Praise and a prayer for Lukas:

Praise: He was apparerently a chatterbox at the beginning of school and was obviously NOT on the teacher's goodside. Considering I can't get a word out of the kid, I was shocked to learn that she couldn't shut him up and was super discouraged to hear that he was disrupting class and not liked by his teacher. We have been talking to him a ton about respect and praying with him the last week. On FRIDAY - Lukas is getting an award at his assembly at school for RESPECT (it is the quality of the month and each grade gives an award): His teacher can't believe the different kid he is in 2 weeks. Her care for him is even drastically different and he is so proud of himself (though the award itself will be a surprise). I want to wallap that kid sometimes, but man, when he works hard at something (usually getting OUT of trouble) I am proud!

Prayer: Lukas is struggling with nightmares/scared of his room at night. We have been trying everything from more light to prayer to conversations to him coming up with ideas. He has been communicating great about all he is feeling and mostly he just worries - worries about being scared even before he IS scared. It makes for a lot of middle of the night frustrations and tired mornings.

Lainie Loo is doing well we think - want a little friend for her and are going off of food coloring and some other food addititives to see if some homeopathic remedies can CALM THE GIRL down. She is bouncier than Tigger sometimes and usually gets injured in the process.

The prankster is back

Lukas: "Hey dad - can I see how tall you are?" (ie - come see how much you weigh)
Adam: "Okay - (sure" goes and steps on the scale)
Lukas: "Oh dad - that's weird - there's a bunch of soap on the scale." (small smile, walks out)
Adam" "Yeah - real mystery how it got there."

My girl

My girl Lainie Loo has started preschool. She moved up to the 4's class (partially due to different cut off dates for ages) and is in a Spanish Immersion class (so her stuffed animals are saying "Hola" to each other). This is her during her first week.

Trying to settle in

I admit I'm really homesick (for 2 different states) and mostly just for friends that know me and for more instantly-friendly people, but we have been trying go finish our last unpacking and settle into the fact that our house is NOT going to look how we want to for quite a while. The town of simsbury itself is cute, cute and we have even made it to the beach. We have enjoyed being close to Adam's parents a great deal and I'm grateful! Would love prayers for friendships, a church, an ability to feel settled in spite of not being settled, and perhaps a job for me in the next few months probably.

Photos are of my favorite stop in our little town (yes, Starbucks - pathetic), Children's Museum, the beach, and Lukas' first week of Kindergarten!

Fun on the Farm

We stopped at Adam's grandma's farm on the way to Connecticut through Pennsylvania. Lukas got to use old scrap pieces of a car to try to build his own car and was in heaven. They got to ride a horse too and get some sweet hugs from a great grandma and other relatives there. It was really wonderful!

Christine McKee Photography

My sweet friend Christine is a talented photographer. She got some great shots of my kids a few days before I left Colorado.

17 under one roof - and lovin' it

We had 17 people in my parents' cabin this weekend - my best friends/roommates from college and our kids. 8 adults and 9 kids (all 5 and under). It was awesome. It could have been hard between kids, but somehow they really did great. The guys get along. Us girls just love time together. We hiked and did a campfire. The guys went canoeing and played games. The girls laughed till be almost peed our pants. So grateful (and not too bad to get time with Adam too)

Too early for a drink?

(photos of cousins and friends that bless my time in Colorado greatly)

You know it is going to be a peachy day with your kids when:

Lukas: sneezes a few times

Anna: Lukas....you allergic to something?

Lukas: Yeah - Adelaine.

Then he looks at Adelaine and says, "Don't look at me, touch me, or talk to me"

WOW - nice start!

THANK YOU GOD that overall my kids are fun and obedient kids. THANK YOU GOD that they have a great time when I nanny my friends' kids (who are also fun and obedient) and my kids are nicely distracted from eachother. THANK YOU GOD for these things because on the way home the roles reversed in who the mean sibling was:

Adelaine: (makes obnoxious annoying sounds to tick Lukas)

Lukas: Adelaine, please stop doing that

Adelaine keeps doing it

Lukas: Adelaine, please stop doing that

Adelaine begins to sarcastically pet his head and in a sarcastic voice say, "Sure sweetie, I'll listen to your words. I'll do what you say. Sure honey...It's okay."

Needless to say 2 kids were in bed pretty early for the night and I have indeed concluded that there REALLY IS NO LIQUOR at my parents' house. I knew they said it was true, but I didn't believe it was true. Well - I think it is true.

Sibling Love

Having lots of fun with friends still....and though are bedrooms change...and every day looks different right now....one thing remains the same: The frustration my kids have with one another (note lovely top photo)

Courage of a Lion

Our time as a family has gone by way too fast, but I wanted to just Praise God again on what he has done in my kids' lives. Adelaine and Adam's relationship is beautiful to me - she is more into him then ever. Also - Lukas has been gaining courage to talk to new kids more. Today (as seen in the background of the picture) he rehearsed how to ask someone to play with him. He ended up doing it and it was great. Very proud of him. Huge steps for this kid - I'm so grateful.

No one like Daddy

Adam came in yesterday and I'm already sad that he'll be leaving in 2 days, because it has been so amazing. The kids have just been overwhelming him with love (and vice versa). I love having my husband (and my children's father.....two different roles that I miss when he is gone) here. He even came with an amazing care package from our caregroup in Oregon. Just some picks of our time so far with Adam and with great time with his sister (and her puppy dog).

Lunchlady Land

It is amazing how quickly we (my roommates from college and 4 of my bestest friends) have produced so many children and even more amazing how fun it is for them to play together. These are some photos of some of our recent playdates from fountain parks to swimming to boxing rings. These playdates and unwinding times for both me and my kids have blessed me more than they'll know. I've been getting a kick out of mealtime though, as I feel like I need a hairnet now that we are mass-producing chicken nuggets and pint-sized plates overrun the sink. Wow.