Ma and Pa

Ma and Pa are my aunt and uncle. They live in Colorado City, Texas and the boys are seriously considering running away to live there. It is a little boys' paradise (some big boys had a pretty good time too!)

Shortly after our arrival, Pa presented our cowboy-obsessed boys with the ultimate cowboy present.

Then we had some lessons from Pa, who was a REAL cowboy!

Apparently Jake felt bad for the horse...

He would rather ride it than rope it. This is a bad picture but I wanted everyone to see his "bad guy" face. Scared?

We also took a trip to the boot store because every cowboy needs a good hat.

Another plus for Ma and Pa's Boy Haven is shooting lessons. Diet Coke cans everywhere shiver in fear at the sight of a boy with a pellet gun...okay, maybe some moms do too.

Another major bonus is the scenery. This is across the street...

...and this is the road to their home. Does it get any better?

Danny now dreams of riding off into the sunset on a John Deere.

The inner chef in Danny really enjoyed creating the best buttermilk biscuits ever created and sounding the early morning alarm to the house that it was time to get up and make biscuits, every day.

Turns out we have another budding chef in the family.
Miss Libby was sick for most of this leg of the trip but she definitely enjoyed spending time with her Emmy, who gave her a little bling-bling. Libby is very proud to have her first piece of jewelry. She thinks earrings should come next...

Exhaustion

That's what driving about 1400 miles in 12 days with three kids will do to you. We didn't really have good internet access so blogging on the road wasn't happening. Much to come though. I've missed you blogging world!!!

Jacob, Law Enforcement Pioneer

Mom, when I'm big and I'm a policeman, I'm not gonna use my "in trouble" lights when somebody drives through a red light. I'm gonna get my rope and throw it and catch the car and pull it to stop and tell them "The red light means stop!"

Lulu

Daniel is still sick, we're 11 days with a fever and still going strong. This morning he actually was interested in breakfast...as long as it was waffles. Thus waffles I made.

Miss Elisabeth loves waffles and her morning bedhead cracks me up. Her hair is at that weird stage where it is short (business) in the front and long (party) in the back...

Thankfully her brother still loves her.

I am loving the warm weather because it means we can bring out the shorts and those little chubby legs! She definitely has her parents' complexion. We love you Lulu!

The End is Near

Today Erik and I employed a babysitter so we could enjoy some much needed time alone together. "And what did you do?", you may ask. Well, we did what any couple in need of romance would do, we took a First Aid/CPR class and side-by-side practiced mouth to mouth on dummies. This magical morning concludes our training to be fost/adopt parents. *big sigh of relief*

As part of this process, we were asked to make several fun modifications to our home so as to make it safe for children. With as many hidden dangers as we apparently have been living with, I'm more than a bit surprised that Jake, Dan and Libby have made it this far. Some of my favorite modifications are as follows:

10. Screens on windows to ensure there are no flies in the home.
9. Get beds for new children. OK, that makes sense...
8. Strap TV to wall so tyrading toddler doesn't end up beneath it. Wow.
7. Lock up children's toothpaste, deodorant and other highly dangerous chemicals using fancy-shmancy magnet locks that cost a fortune.
6. Unbunk boys' beds.
5. Plugs in all outlets.
4. Ensure hot water temperature is above 110 but below 120.
3. Ensure that we always have at least 3 days worth of food on hand. Does Easy Mac and frozen pig count...?
2. Buy a new kitchen trash can.
1. Place decals on sliding glass doors to prevent kids mistakenly running into glass. I think the fingerprints should count as decals...


So I can't believe it! We're near the end and should be certified (or certifiable) by mid-June. Wait a minute, in a month I could be Mom to 5 children under the age of 5...I might need another class...or a therapist...

Lack of Motivation

I have had zero motivation to blog lately due to the seemingly endless stacks of paperwork, the intimidating schedule of "interesting" classes, the neverending honey-do list, the meetings with social workers and appointments with everyone from doctors to mechanics to the gas company (twice) so that we can be certified as suitable parents. I know, I know, "do all things without complaining!" I'm trying to just keep reminding myself that these are the labor pains and eventually we will have one or two amazing little people that we have the privelidge of raising and the honor of teaching them the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. Thus I am humbled... :-)

Another contributing factor to the poor blog production has been our little Danny who has been very sick. In the last week, he has spent much time in the bathroom, depleted our stock of ibuprofen and acetaminophen and had his first IV. Not a good week. He's still having some symptoms and has lost several pounds. It always stinks to watch your little one suffering but now the weight loss has robbed us of his super cute little pot belly and the last little clinging reminder of babyhood. In two days that sweet little belly was gone and I missed that last little chance to enjoy it! Any other moms out there that have had these moments? They are growing way too fast and refuse to stop.

Jake is climbing fences,

my little "baby" Danny is getting bigger and soon Libby will probably be bored with dolls and will want pierced ears. Thankfully, for now, she is perfectly happy with a babydoll and nursery rhymes. Here is our little one enjoying a homemade popsicle while she inventories her most recent owies.

Tonight we tried to make the most of their fleeting childhoods by flying a kite. Sounds much easier than it actually is. It was sort of in the air for about 30 seconds at a time... The defeated flight crew decided that maybe the beach would be a more profitable location.

Parenting - Great for the Self Esteem

The following is a conversation between Jake and I that took place while I was driving yesterday.

Jake: Mom, you are getting fat for the summer.
Mom: What?!?
Jake: You are getting fat for the summer.
Mom: Oh, have you been watching Planet Earth?
Jake: Yes, and animals get fat in the summer.
Mom: They have to because there is nothing to eat in the winter, but we can go to
Walmart in the winter and therefore don't need to fatten up.
Jake: Why can't the animals go to Walmart?
Mom: Uhhh...because they don't have any money and can't use a shopping cart.
Jake: But monkeys have hands.
Mom: Yeah...
Jake: And they could push the shopping cart.
Mom: Next time I see a monkey at Walmart I'll buy his food.