Growing

They're getting so big that sometimes my heart can barely take it.

Das Not Funny! Friday: Walnuts, Glue and Federal Disaster Areas

Friday! Yes! This means Luke and I will get to spend a romantic evening catching up on the season/series premiere TV we Tivo'd VCR recorded last night. We not only live with the latest technological advances but our Friday nights are packed with romance. Be jealous people, be very jealous.

At any rate, we've had an exciting week to say the very least. Ashlee had to have her forehead glued shut with liquid stitches (that's a whole 'nother post), I heard baby #6's heartbeat for the second time ever and life in general was just busy, busy, busy. We managed to squeak in a few several laughs along the way. Won't you join me this week for Das Not Funny! Friday?

Here, I'll go first and show you that it's relatively painless. I am about to tell on myself. I will only do so if you promise not to make any jokes or comments about me. At least not to my face, anyway. Ok?

Good.

I was snacking on some walnuts earlier this week and probably shoving them into my mouth much faster than is socially acceptable (Britt, I was IN the zone.)

Anyway, about an hour later I felt the baby moving. I lovingly placed my hand on my tummy only to feel that my belly button had suddenly become very much of an outie. "Huh?" I thought to myself. That's quick.

As I scanned my hand over my tummy again I thought, "Man, my belly button is awfully hard."

I raise up my shirt to inspect further and out of my belly button pops a walnut. So I did what any self-respecting pregnant woman would do. I picked it up and ate it.

Glad I live with gorillas who understand such primitive behavior.

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After the brass swallowing incident and promising myself that we would not be back at the doctor's office for a long, long while, I recanted my promise promptly on Tuesday evening. Lucas allegedly pushed Ashlee down and what resulted was a substantial sized hole in her head which required an after-hours doctors visit.

Ashlee was very brave about the whole thing and even while the doctor was gluing her forehead back together she was boldly professing, "Dis is fun! I wike dis."

Really? Because Mommy almost fainted at the sight of your blood, so let's not make it habit, mmkay?

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I see Lucas emerging from the bathroom, still pulling his pants up. Naturally, and because I'm slowing turning into a broken tape recorder (we still have a VCR, remember) I say, "Lucas did you wash your hands after you went potty?"

Lucas: "Nope. I don't need to Mom."

Me: "Yes sir, you do too. Please go wash them."

Lucas: "But Mom! I didn't touch my penis!"

Good to know. I'm sure that makes your aim so much better.

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Last Friday was just one of those days. Those days where you know that there is no chance you'll ever get dinner on the table before the children's stomachs begin eating themselves. So, we ordered pizza. After ordering a wave of nausea hit me hard enough to knock King Kong on his back (you know, if boy gorillas got pregnancy sickness and all). Anyway, as I hover over the toilet and ralph up any and all contents of my stomach, Elizabeth comes into the bathroom and stands behind me.

Elizabeth: "Um. Mom. You're really not going to be happy."

Me: Gurgle. Spit. Gag. "Okay honey. Please give me some privacy. I'll be out in a moment."

Elizabeth: Still standing behind me. "Lucas and Ashlee have done something really bad Mom. You need to come see."

Me: Gag. Spit. Heave. "Okay, just give me a few minutes, okay?"

I gather myself and follow Elizabeth into the girls' room. I see the following when I look into the girls' closet.

Now, that may not look like much, but notice how the clothes come to the top of the bottom drawer of that drawer bin in the back. That bottom drawer is at least 12 inches tall.

Me, to Lucas and Ashlee: "What in the world did you guys do?"

Lucas: "We pulded da cwose down."

Me: "Well, I can see that. Why would you do that?"

Ashlee: "Becawse. We needed to jump on dem."

Every. Single. Article. Of. Clothing. Pulled down from their previously hung-up home and strewn out of the drawers. Every shoe off of the shoe rack on the right. The only 3 pieces of clothing left are 3 dresses of Baby Girl's that they were too short to reach.

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Well, there you go. If you'd like to play along, simply write your own Das Not Funny! Friday post and link it back to here. Then, enter your info into MckLinky so we can all hop over and read your funnies.

Y'all have a good weekend. And remember, keep the romance alive. Settle in with your Honey, VCR some prime time TV and treat yourself to some Texas Pete Popcorn.

But Mom! Dats what gurilldas do!

Picture my two 3 year olds jumping over furniture, sitting on the tip-top of the back of the couch, flinging random toys across our basement and jumping from one stationary object to another.

Picture me saying over and over and over and over again,
"Please do not do that. It's not safe!"
"Please stop Ashlee, you're going to hurt yourself."
"Lucas, when you fall off of there and crack your head open, I'm not going to be sorry for you because I told you to get down several times already."

Finally, picture the above mentioned 3 year olds, looking at me ever-so-seriously, and replying, "But Mom! Dats what gurilldas do!"

Glad I'm raising up gorillas, not children. That explains all the poop I blog about.

Das Not Funny! Friday: Don't wook at my brass poop.

Friday again! Who's up for another round of Das Not Funny! Friday? I am!

What is Das Not Funny! Friday, you ask? Welllllll, I've always said that I want to write down the funny things that my kids are forever saying. However, I stink at journaling. Therefore, I began posting them here on Fridays. They're called Das Not Funny! because when our daughter Ashlee does something funny and we laugh at her, she usually frowns (like pictured above) and says, "Das not funny Mommy!"

She's a TAD dramatic and doesn't realize that this comment only makes her antics even funnier. I hope you'll join me and play along for this week's Das Not Funny! Friday.

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Monday did not go as scheduled this week. The physical therapist was here for Baby Girl so I sent the twins to the basement to play (Elizabeth was over at Nana's house that morning). After checking on them several times, I realized that they were quiet. Too quiet. The following is the conversation that transpired next...

"Ashlee! Lucas! What are you guys doing?"

Giggling from the basement echos up the stairs.

"GUYS! What is going on down there?"

"We's just playin' Momma," Ashlee calls.

"Um. Playing what exactly?"

"We's eatin' dees fangs."

"You're eating what?!?"

"Dose fangs in Woocas mouth."

"What things? Bring them here now!"

They both creep up the stairs.

"Lucas, what are you eating?"

"Gurwillda food," he states, logically.

"Show me please, NOW."

He opens his hand to reveal several brass shelf hangers from a shelving unit.

"Did you have those in your mouth Lucas?"

"Yep."

"Did you eat any?"

"Yep."

We spent the next 4.5 hours at various doctors offices getting x-rays and verifying that a brass shelf hanger apparently denigrates upon ingestion. Either that, or he really didn't swallow it at all.

I'll let you decide which is true.

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Last night Lucas was helping me make dinner. We open our pantry and both discover a horrible smell (thanks to some rotten potatoes). Lucas turns to me and says,

"Shoooo weeee Mommy. You poot stinks."

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Ashlee to me, from the bathroom: "Mooooooom. I'm done. Come wipe me."

I enter the bathroom and begin her requested task.

She adds, "Wipe me good Mom. But cwose your eyes. Don't wook at my poop.."

Somehow, those two things cannot be accomplished at the same time little girl.

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If you'd like to play along write your own Das Not Funny! Friday post then enter all your info into MckLinky.

Y'all have a great weekend, free from poop or brass shelf hangers or either of those two combined.

Homeschooling Woes

It's been another interesting week around here. I wish I could say something profound, or even witty, but I'm afraid my brain is on a vacation. Tomorrow we head out to Bible Study in the morning, then we have SO MUCH homeschooling to catch up on.

Here's my predicament:

We wake up, eat breakfast and have play time while I feed and diaper babies and clean up from breakfast. Then, we begin schooling. Usually, it is interrupted by poopies or snacks or boo-boos or some such common occurrence. I promise myself, and Elizabeth, that we will finish during nap time, but when nap time finally gets here I just want to SIT and do nothing in the hopes that I can recuperate from the morning and not grow increasingly nauseous. So, what we plan for nap time gets pushed to the next day.

It's a viscous cycle and one that I'm afraid I'm not doing too much to break. Any advice from you "seasoned" homeschoolers for this worn-out, nauseous, brain-dead Momma?

Come on people, I know you've got to have SOMETHING....

Oh My Wordy, Luke is 30

Last week, Luke turned 30. In keeping with the theme of 3's and 0's I thought it would be fun to list 30 reasons why I love my man so very, very much. So here they are, in no particular order...

1. He loves Jesus.

2. He scratches itchy spots my back, even when it means he has to wake up and roll over.

3. He never makes fun of me when I'm an emotional wreck and I cry over stupid TV shows and gut wrenching blogs.

4. He doesn't nag me about only shaving my legs once a week. (And once every 2 weeks in the winter.)

5. He's a good baby Daddy.

6. He knows how to make me laugh until I pee.

7. He's not afraid to drop it like it's hot.

8. He has curly, red hair and baby blue eyes. *sigh*

9. He holds my hair back when I throw up, then brings me a cold wash cloth to wipe off my face.

10. He genuinely loves our kids, as is evidenced by his willingness to wipe their butts even when they stink.

11. He tries, every night, to stay awake past 10pm so I will feel like he wants to spend time with me.

12. He gets up at night with our kids, even though he usually doesn't remember doing so the next morning.

13. He's doesn't mind that I break wind like a man.

14. He eats at the restaurant of my choice, even when it's his birthday.

15. He makes a mean grilled cheese and bologna sandwich.

16. He holds my hand in public.

17. He looks mighty fine in a tie.

18. He will get out of bed and turn on the ceiling fan because I'm hot.

19. He will get out of bed and get some water because I'm thirsty.

20. He will get out of bed and turn off the light that I left on.

21. He knows how to use and allen wrench like nobody's business.

22. He's good at filing important papers so that I can find them when I need them.

23. He doesn't get angry when I don't re-file the important papers that I needed to find.

24. He doesn't care that I don't wear make up 99.99% of the time.

25. He squeezes the zits that I cannot reach.

26. He loves me even when I'm not so lovable and I have morning breath.

27. He respects my personal pillow space.

28. He knows I'm totally not type A and loves me anyway.

29. He can shake it like a Polaroid picture.

30. He works to pay the bills so that I can stay home all day, eat bon-bons and watch my soaps.

Happy 30th Birthday Baby! I love you.

Das Not Funny! Friday: Potties, Mountains and Old Men

Oh it's Friday already! Yay! Even thought Monday was a holiday, this week has gone by slowly around here. I think my body is getting re-acclimated to life at home and making up for nearly-to-none nausea during out mountain vacation. I've felt horrible this week.

However, nothing soothes my soul (if not my stomach) like a good laugh. I hope you will sit back and have a good chuckle over the funny things my kids said and/or did in this week's edition of Das Not Funny! Friday.

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Earlier last week, Ashlee was helping me cook dinner when she abruptly leaned over the kitchen sink and began gagging and spitting.

"Ashlee, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Ohhhh, my tummy wealwee hurts," she said, in a pitiful voice.

"Why does your tummy hurt?" I asked, knowing what her response would be.

"Becawse. I gots a baby in my tummy and it makes me grownin' up."

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At our mountain "cabin" (and I use the term "cabin" loosely because this place was WAY nice), 2 of the bathrooms had a bidet. At first Elizabeth thought they were "man potties" (urinals). Once she realized what they were and their purpose, it was only logical that she needed to move up the social ladder in reference to her bathroom experiences and take one for a spin.

I let Luke do the honors of helping her and stood in the doorway and observed. She was a little leery, but as soon as the washing began she began shrieking with laughter. Apparently it tickled more than it cleaned.

Now don't go thinking that our 5 year old princess is a regular bathroom snob now that she's, ahem, sat on the rim of luxury. Only hours later, she used a fallen tree as an out house. We like to think we gave her a culturally diverse bathroom experience over the long weekend.

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Ashlee on the other hand misunderstood the bidet's use. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME she went into the bathroom, she would pull down her pants and begin to climb onto the new kind of potty and claim,

"Momma, I need to poop in dat."

I'm thinking the homeowners would not appreciate that so much little girl.

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Lucas did, indeed, use the bidet as a urinal several times. He also used trees, bushes and the rail of the deck as his personal urinal. At least his standards from home life to mountain life did not change all that much.

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Ashlee finally got a chance to use the "poop potty" just before we left. She too thought it was more funny than purposeful.

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Yesterday, Luke turned 30. I plan on doing a whole 'nother post about that, but for now I will tell you that I had a delightful time on Thursday, provoking the children to call him "old man" and ask about his walker.

Lucas, taking initiative of his own, turned to Luke and asked, "Hey old mens, where is your walkin' stick?"

Hilarious. At least for another 45 days. Then I won't think 30 is quite so old.

Well, folks, that's it for this week. I hope you will play along and write your won Das Not Funny! Friday post. If you do, please enter your info into MckLinky so that we can all read the funny things your kids or husband or friend or self said and/or did this week that was funny.

Y'all have an awesome weekend.

Hands Full Overflowing

I have never denied that Luke and I have our "hands full." I may have not always wanted to admit it openly, but never have I denied it.

Still, I can't help but think...."Surely we are not the only ones, living in complete chaos, desperate to seek God's desires and yet wondering if we REALLY heard God right when He called us to this place."

After all, 6 kids ages five and under IS a little crazy. Not to mention we are trying to sell our house and homeschooling and fostering and ...well, you know, everything.

Then, today I found this blog (thanks Holly):

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Now, before you click away and say..."Oh, ANOTHER blog" hear me out. This girl, this YOUNG girl, is 20 years old. She followed God's call to Uganda and is now mothering 13 children and supporting 400 more through her ministry. A ministry that God began and is consistently providing for.

Yes, Luke and I have our hands full. But as tears stream down my face after only reading 3 entries on her blog, I KNOW that having hands full of what God is given us is the ONLY place that I want to be. What if we ALL got so uncomfortable by following God's commands that everyone else thought we were crazy? What could we do for lost people then? And how would God fill up our hands so much that blessings overflow them to the point of no return.

I can't even imagine.

Bunch-O-Random

The following post you are about to read will be a bunch-o-random fun. And I use the term "fun" loosely. I figured I'd better hurry up and post before I lose the 2 readers I have left.

We had a great holiday weekend, brought on by my (step)Dad calling at 9:00am on Friday morning and asking if we'd like to go to the mountains for the long weekend, his treat.

Um? Does he know us at all? Free + vacation = Us. So, after a busy morning of going to art and morning gymnastics, then nap time where I did anything BUT prepare for a 3 day vacation, I threw the kids' clothing in bags and sent them ahead of myself, Luke and the babies with MeMe and PawPaw. Luke and I arrived later that evening, with Baby Girl and Aaron in tow. It was a great weekend, filled with hiking, creek splashing, deck dining and memory making.

Our "cabin" was nicer than our house and had a few "amenities" that I will share with you on Friday (oh yeah, peeps...it was hilarious).

The big kids loved being able to choose which room they slept in, whom they slept with and the ability to speak to the downstairs dwelling adults (that would be me, Luke and my parents) through the 2x4 boards that this cabin used as flooring. We could seriously see light between the planks. It was an awesome weekend.

In other news (because I know you're just on the edge of your seat with this post already) Baby Girl is officially crawling and is attempting to pull up on anything that will stand still for 2 minutes. She's wobbly and falls A LOT but she's learning that life with mobility is fun, fun, fun.

Aaron is getting more and more teeth and walking running everywhere. He's independent and loves it. He spent the majority of the weekend walking around outside on the deck enjoying the freedom of the open road. Only, he didn't have full freedom and he wasn't on the road, so take that whole previous sentence with a grain of salt.

My "morning" sickness is getting better. I only manage to dry heave 3 to 5 times a day rather than the 30+ that I was before. I think I'm beginning to feel little movements (versus what I thought was movement a couple weeks ago and turned out to be gas). I've sworn off soda as I realized that it was causing me intense pain in my digestive tract. It's been hard being clean and sober from Dr. Pepper these last few weeks, but my insides are thanking me. If you're looking at buying stock in Dr. Pepper you may want to wait until after I deliver this baby. I'm sure their stock prices will soar after I consume approximately 12 two-liters per hour until I'm all caught up.

Well, that's about it. Be sure to come back on Friday because I can promise you that you will have a belly laugh or maybe a chuckle or just crack a smile, depending on how hard hearted you are.

Das Not Funny! Friday: Get the camera because this Giraffee is SO cute

Wowzers. It's Friday already? Really? Huh. You coulda fooled me. Man did this week ever fly by. However, it did not go by so fast that I forgot to capture some of our kids' funniest moments. Won't you join me in laughing at with your children, friends, family or, maybe even, yourself?

That's the purpose of Das Not Funny! Friday. I started this little blogapolooza so that I could share all the funny things my kids said and/or did during the week that made me chuckle, giggle or suppress side-splitting laughter. Maybe you'd like to see what it's all about before you play along? Okay, here goes....

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Ashlee's continued to have some trouble staying in the bed after bedtime. Earlier this week Luke and I were sitting in our room watching some TV as our bedroom door crept open. Since our bedroom light was on and Ashlee's eyes had already adjusted to her dark room. We see her head poke through the door, then quickly withdraw and one squinty eye peep in.

"What do you need, Ashlee?" I asked.

"Mommy, at da zoo, do they have baby girwaffes?" she asked.

"I'm sure they do," I responded, slightly peeved that this is what drew her out of her bedroom.

"Oh," she responded with relief, "Can I whold one?"

At least it was an important question.

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During our zoo trip the next day Lucas repeatedly said, about every animal, "Oh Momma, it's just soooooooo cute."

Sure son. Big hairy gorillas are "cute." So are chimpanzees that stick their behinds in our direction. And please, let's not forget that even rhinos are "just so cute."

I think I'm gonna start asking him to clarify when he says I look "cute."

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Lucas to Mr. Cecil, my Nana's boyfriend: "Hey Mr. Cecil. In my bedroom I was sweepin' and der was a deer. And it came into my bedroom and it ate up all my toys."

Mr. Cecil: "It did."

Lucas: "Yeah. But it was really just outside."

WHEW! Thanks for clarifying.

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Last night we celebrated my Dad's birthday over at my parents' house. Elizabeth finished eating, left the dining room, and went and grabbed a plastic Dora camcorder. She re-entered the dining room with the camera to her face and said, "Hey Birthday Boooooy!!!"

Glad she's getting a taste for the cinematography at an early age.

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There you go folks. If you'd like to play along it's super simple. Just write your own Das Not Funny! Friday post and somewhere in it link back here to my post. Then, enter your information into MckLinky so that my blog can be linked back to yours.

Super simple and a great start to the long weekend. Y'all have a great Friday and an awesomely blessed Labor Day weekend!

Questions & Answers

With the announcement of Baby Beaver #6, I figured most of you want to know a few things about our ever growing family. And honestly, God is working on me to be more graceful and humble when I answer common questions.

So, I thought I'd practice using some grace and humility here and go ahead and answer some questions that I'm sure you either a) have or b) are planning on asking.

Below are some frequently asked questions and comments. Yes, we've already heard most of them and I am sincerely praying that as word continues to get out about Baby #6 that I will handle further questions with a cheerful and welcoming spirit.

Q #1. Wow! Are you guys trying to be like Jon & Kate? Or.....Wow! Are you wanting to be the Duggars?

A: My heart just breaks for Jon & Kate's family. The news about their recent separation is hard to digest, especially since I understand that they are believers. As for the Duggars, 6 kids is a far cry from 18. We will just take one day (and baby) at a time.

As for "trying to be like" anyone else? No. We really just want to serve God by obeying what He is calling on our lives. I don't understand why God feels like we are capable of parenting all these children, but we will continue to seek His desires for our family and "try to be like" Christ, as much as possible, like scripture commands.



Q #2. Were you trying or was it an accident?

A: We were neither trying nor preventing. We do not believe that any child created by God is an "accident," even if their conception may have been unplanned.



Q #3. So after this one, you'll be done, right?

A: I don't think any woman should decide on permanent birth control while she is pregnant, especially me. I have said many, many, many times already during this pregnancy (always while hovered over a trash can or toilet or sink) "I NEVER want to be pregnant again!" However, I thank God for the invention of modern medicine and anti-nausea drugs. They help me function at this stage in the game. (I also said I NEVER wanted to be pregnant again when I was pregnant with Elizabeth and with the twins.)

As for after this baby's birth, the answer is I don't know. We will leave it up to God to guide us in whether we have more children.



Q #4: You know how this happens, right?

A: Yes, yes I most certainly do. ;)



Q #5: Wow! That's a lot on your plate. How will you do it all?

A: I have no idea. But, I do know that God would not have led us to this place if He were not going to walk us through the most difficult times. There will be days of intense stress, severe exhaustion and possibly even more mass chaos. However, we know that those days will become fewer and fewer and the days filled with joy, love, laughter, kisses and hugs will become greater and greater. We know that we will most likely forget the bad days after a while and remember the good ones for a lifetime.


All in all, Luke and I don't pretend to be perfect parents. In fact, anyone who has spent any amount of time around our family can testify, with detail, that our parenting techniques and styles are ever evolving. We try new things, hope that they work, then abandon the ones that fail repeatedly. We are eager to hear of new tricks, tips and discipline methods that could help our home and children grow to love the Lord.

We aren't super parents or perfect, nor do we claim to be. We are simply trying to humble our lives before the throne of a merciful Father, allowing Him to guide us as we parent our children and lead our family. Again, I don't know why God chose us to parent all these kids. But I do know that each of them bring into our lives immense blessings, unspeakable joy and a love that makes my heart want to burst. I stand in awe that God loves me and trusts me enough with His treasures and I pray that I do my Father proud.

Now, what burning question do you have that I didn't already answer?

Das Not Funny! Friday: I don't know how to title this one so I don't get freaky search hits.

Welcome to this week's edition of Das Not Funny! Friday. Exactly what is Das Not Funny! Friday you ask? Oh, I'm so glad you did. You see, our second daughter Ashlee (pictured above) often does hilarious stuff (as do most of our children). However, her hilarious comments, actions and mannerisms are usually not intentional. As Luke and I attempt to suppress belly laughs, Ashlee will frown at us (pictured above) and say, Das Not Funny Mommy!

Oh, my little drama queen, it really is so very funny. It was because of my desire to remember these funny antics that I began Das Not Funny! Friday. I sure hope you will join me, or at least read further and see the funny things I wrote down from this week in our home.

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Ashlee, walking out of her room when she's suppose to already be in bed for the evening: "Mommy! I got a hole in my butt!"

While stifling giggles, I naturally think that she means in her pull-up, so I scoop her up and flip her over my knee to inspect.

Me: "Where Ash? Put your finger on it."

Ashlee gingerly places her finger on her, ahem, hole.

Me, trying to supress side-splitting laughter: "Um, Ash. That's suppose to be there. It's where your poo-poo comes out. Were you touching it?"

Ash: "Yeah."

Me: "Okay, please go into the bathroom and get some sanitizer for your hands, okay?"

Ashlee heads into the bathroom and is in there for much longer than needed.

Me: "Ashlee. It shouldn't take you that long. Let's go back to bed, okay?"

Ashlee emerges from the bathroom.

Me: "Are your hands clean now?"

Ashlee, holding up her hands: "No."

Me: "Did you not use the sanitizer?"

Ashlee: "Yep. But I put it on my butt."

Grrrrreat.

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Last night, I heard Ashlee singing as she laid in her bed. I decided it would be some good cuddle time (Ashlee the best cuddler ever) so I crept in and laid beside her for a few minutes. After she serenaded me for 10 minutes, I told her that I needed to go to bed. After many hugs and kisses she wraps her skinny, little arms around my neck and says,

"Mommy. You's a good lay."

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This week has been not-so-good in the "morning" sickness department. One morning I stood draped over my bathroom sink trying to convince my body that I did NOT have anything in my stomach, despite it's persistence. Elizabeth stood beside me and we had the following conversation.

"Hey Mom, what are you doing?"

"Mommy's not feeling well honey." Gurgle....gag....strain.

"Are you sick?" she asked, super concerned.

"Yes baby. My tummy hurts," I replied as I gagged even more.

"Oh Mommy, do you need to go poo-poo?"

No, not at the moment, I do not.

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Well there you go folks! If you'd like to play along it's really super easy. All you have to do is write your own Das Not Funny! Friday post. It doesn't have to be about children, it can include anything that you saw, said, did or heard that was hilarious! Then, somewhere in your post link back here to my post. Finally, just enter your own info into MckLinky so that my blog will link back to yours!

If you don't have a blog feel free to leave your funnies in the comment section.

Hope y'all have a super-ific weekend. Happy Friday!

Legal Beaver!!

Look-ey here what came in the mail yesterday!!!

The cover letter from the clerk:


And the ACTUAL decree that makes him LEGALLY OURS!

Yay! Yay! Yay!

God is so very, very, very good!

What's Goin' On And Some BIG News

You know, around these parts we seem to have a lot going on. Let me give you the run down, just in case you've missed something these last few weeks.

* We are eagerly anticipating the call from the clerk of court's office to say that Aaron, our first foster-child placement, is officially adopted. We had hoped it would be last week. We were told on Thursday that it would be Friday. But as of yet, we've not heard.

* Baby Girl's TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) hearing was last week and we were thrilled with the judge's decision. TPR was ruled for the birth mother. Now, we are back to waiting on paperwork to process and time to lapse and eagerly anticipating our second foster-child placement to become a legal adoption.

* Through God's revelation of us being able to live on less, our house is on the market. It's only shown once but the continual cleaning and picking up is a little taxing.

* We've officially begun homeschooling. Yesterday Elizabeth, Lucas, Ashlee and I started small doing some handwriting, reading and singing. It is going to be so much fun and I can't wait to see all that the three of them learn this year. I remember getting this same feeling when I used to teach public school and it is what made me love my job way back then. Now, I love my job even more.

* Finally, and perhaps the biggest news right now is that we are expecting Beaver baby #6! Yes, I'm serious. I am 12.5 weeks pregnant and we couldn't be more excited! Elizabeth is VERY excited about being a big sister again and Lucas and Ashlee go back and forth from wanting to hold the baby when it comes out of Mommy's tummy and claiming to be pregnant themselves.

Life for us seems to be ever changing. Sometimes I wonder if it will ever slow down! But, I know that slowing down could mean missing out on some of God's greatest blessings. And, if that is the case then I'm going to be content with a house full of chaos, a life full of grace and a heart overflowing with love.

Kindergarten, The Perfect Recipe

Today we venture into our first "official" day of Kindergarten. That's right peeps, I ACTUALLY planned out our ENTIRE week of school, in my planner, on Saturday, with notes and copies made.

In my opinion, it's a recipe for success. Unless you mix in 1 overly enthusiastic five year old, 2 rowdy, easily distracted three year olds, one walking, needy 14 month old and 1 ten month old crawler, who has figured out how to get into everything. Then it could be a recipe for disaster.

What's that? I forgot to tell you that Aaron is walking? Oooooooohhhh yeah. EVERYWHERE. He's pretty good at it too. Unless he wants to get somewhere fast, then he resorts back to his lighting-quick bear walk. He's been clocked at 10 mph. Okay, maybe not but it sure feels that way.

What's that again? I forgot to tell you that Baby Girl is finally crawling? She is. And she's oh-so-proud of herself. Usually after crawling for a short while, she sits up and gives me a huge grin, squishing her entire face together and showing her two, itty-bitty bottom teeth. Oh yeah, she cut two teeth also. Geesh, I've have been slack, huh?

So that's our day today, in a nutshell. With all my planning it's totally a recipe for success. Unless you mix in all the people I have to take care of, not to mention lunches I have to prepare and naps to be had, bottles to be fixed and diapers to be changed. Then, well, it may look more like chaos. But, it's my chaos and I love it.

Das Not Funny! Friday: Texing, Dog Parts & Kisses

It's already Friday? Is it just me or are the weeks really flying by? No sooner does Monday begin then Zoom! Friday is here! Wow. This week I did much better at writing down some of the funny things that our kids said and did. So, welcome to this week's edition of Das Not Funny! Friday. Hope these give you a belly laugh or a chuckle or maybe just a smile.

Last Friday night the big kids and I surprised Luke at his work and took him out for a "Date Nite." Upon exiting the van Luke told Elizabeth that she would have to leave her "Phone" (read: bright pink fake blackberry from the dollar store) in the car. Her response?

"But Daddy. I won't talk on it, I'll just text."

Remember that time you were FIVE YEARS OLD? Yeah. That's now.

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On Sunday night the big kids spent the night with MeMe and PawPaw. My parents live in the most friendly neighborhood ever and so naturally, when some new neighbors moved in across the street, my Mom took the kids over so they could meet their kids.

Apparently when the new neighbors answered the door, their small dog greeted my kids and Mom as well. Lucas is aprehensive of ALL dogs that are not ours. The new neighbors sensed this and put the dog away. As my Mom chatted with the new neighbor lady (and as their 7 and 9 year old children listen in) Lucas begins trying to desperately get my Mom's attention...

"MeMe?...MeMe....Hey! MeMe....MeMe?...MeMe!"

"Just a moment Lucas."

Lucas waits patiently (or not-so-patiently).

"Yes, Lucas. What did you need?" MeMe kindly asks.

"Um. MeMe. Dat dawg. It has a peenis."

Welcome to the neighborhood folks.

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Lucas and I took Baby Girl to the doctor for her 9 month check up last week. As we waited in the waiting room Lucas began singing...

"If your happy and you know it cwap your hands....If your happy and you know it....kiss a shark!"

Naturally, my shock prompted endless laughter. So, as we walked from the waiting room through the lobby of our Peds office Lucas spotted some ocean life decor and said, "Hey Mommy? Wood you kiss dis dawlphin?"

The ladies at the reception desk eyed me and stifled giggles, unsuccessfully.

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Elizabeth: "Hey Mom, I need to wash my hands because I found a nasty, dead fly in Bubbie's room and I touched it."

Me: "Ok. Here, take this tissue and go pick it up for me and throw it in the trash."

Elizabeth: "Um. He's not there anymore."

Me: "Huh? I thought you said it was dead?"

Elizabeth: "Yeah, well.....I pick it up and put it down the air conditioner vent."

The next day I also found some bandaid wrappers in another air conditioning vent. Awesome. Glad they've found a new hiding place for their trash. Juuuuuust awesome.

Alrighty folks, now it's your turn. I'd love for you to play along and tell me all of the funny things your kids said or did this week. Or, just anything that you saw, said or did this week that cracked you up. Once you've written your own post, link it back here to mine. Then, enter your info into MckLinky and we can all go read your Das Not Funny! Friday post.

If you'd like some help with your linking, or if you want the really super "official" rules you can click here.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

TPR Hearing: 3rd Time's A Charm: UPDATE

Update:

After finding some incorrect dates on paperwork the judge continued our case until after lunch. At 2:00pm the case was reconvened and at approximately 3:45pm TPR was deemed necessary for the birth mother. HOWEVER, there are some outside circumstances (which I don't feel comfortable discussing here...it's not my story to tell anyway, it's Baby Girl's, should she ever choose) that have caused some other paperwork to not be processed correctly. Therefore, we go back to court for those circumstances on October 28th. Nonetheless, TPRing the birth mother's rights was a HUGE step in the right direction. But, it looks as if my personal goal of Baby Girl being a legal Beaver by Christmas may not be attainable.

Oh well, who cares about my plans anyway? I just need to continue to surrender it to the One who knows all plans, judges all hearts and sees all futures.

Thanks for your prayers today. The were certainly felt. As for our friends The Hauts, check out their blog for an update.


Original Post:

This morning we head back to court for Baby Girl's Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) hearing. If you're new around these parts, let me catch you up to speed. Baby Girl is our 10 month old foster daughter whom we've parented since birth (October 2008).

The judge changed her plan from reunification to TPR back in February. This is the third time we will visit the court room with the hopes that today is the day that TPR is done. We are blessed to share this court date with our good friends the Hauts. They have a foster son (who is 3 days older than our Aaron) whose case is also being heard for a TPR.

So, we are praying that both cases are heard today, that TPR is ruled and that our precious babies will be one step closer to being legally free for adoption.

Won't you offer up just a teentsy, tiny prayer too? Thanks. I'll update later this afternoon to hopefully bring you good news.

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of Ashlee playing Mommy to Baby Girl. Tender, huh?

Her First Day

Today my 16 year old sister begins her first day of her junior year of high school. Just writing that sentence blows me away because in my mind she will always be 5 years old and look exactly like this:

I know. Kids all over the country are beginning school this week so what makes my sister so special? What makes her first day of her junior year more significant than most 16 year old girls?

Today is the first day that she will go to school without her mother alive. Today is the first day that she will realize that she is not like all the other girls anymore. When other 16 year old girls complain about fights with their moms, her heart will feel that twinge of pain and she will be reminded that she doesn't have that luxury. While other girls are reassured by their mothers that their outfit does indeed look great, she will stare at herself in the mirror and have to reassure herself. When she walks down the halls she will surely pass the nurse's office where her mother used to work. She will be reminded that her mom is no longer just a few doors away. Memories of her mom, her best friend, will flood her heart and mind, no doubt.

Today my sister becomes a woman in so many ways. Today she faces giants that seem to loom in the distance. Today she faces fears that I could never imagine. Today she faces life without her best friend.

Please be in prayer for my sister today. I cannot tell you how proud I am of the young woman that she is becoming. However, this year will prove to be the biggest test of her faith. If you have a few moments, won't you beseech the Wonderful Counselor on her behalf?

Thank you friends. Thank you so very much.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

This Week's Specials

This week will hopefully prove to be a BIG week in the Beaver house. At some point this week the clerk of court should sign Aaron's adoption paperwork and give us a call and say, "Congratulations! I'm so excited for you! Your adoption of this precious child is official. I'm so excited for you that I will personally drive his paperwork to your house myself!"

or possibly a less dramatic,

"Hello. I signed your paperwork today and will mail it to you this week."

Probably the latter but I like living in the land of excitement and drama, clearly.

In other news, we had our first showing on our house last night. The agent's feedback stated that the potential buyers had 4 four year olds and that they were looking for more of a neighborhood setting.

4 four year olds huh? I'm hoping that means they understood the massive stains on our carpet and the fact that there were creepy headless Barbies laying about in the girls' bedroom. I'm also wondering why they didn't drive by our house before they asked to see the inside so that they could get a feel for the neighborhood that apparently does not exist around our house.

I mean, they have 4 four year olds so they've gotta understand that cleaning our house was no small feat. And, the one hour notice they gave us was a little much. But, it's a buyer's market so I guess that means you can be bossy and all.

Whatever.

Finally, we go to court for Baby Girl on Thursday for the Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) hearing. So help me sweet mercy if her case is not heard on Thursday I might just have to be locked up for a indefinite amount of time. Which would probably not aid in us selling our house since our children would be left home alone all day and thus making our house look like a tornado hit it. I do have another reason for wanting the case to be heard on Thursday (you know, other than the fact that I want my youngest daughter to be legally MINE OURS). The roast beef sandwich that I am sure to enjoy afterwards, (at the little deli on Main St, just around the corner from the courthouse) which is God's good and perfect gift to me personally, will surely taste sweeter when served with a side of "Finally sweet Lord, TPR has begun!"

Or at least that's what I think. Hope y'all have a great day.

Das Not Funny! Friday: Google Me

Wow. I really stink. Our life has been so crazy this past week that I forgot to write down some of the funny stuff that my kids said and did. I know, I know...I stink.

BUT, instead I offer you a new kind of Das Not Funny! Friday. Oh yes people, this will (hopefully) crack your stuff up. You see, I have this thing installed on my blog so that I can *nerd alert* track how people find me, what other sites generate the most hits for this blog, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah.

Well, I hardly ever check it out. But, one day this week I did and what I found was hysterical. There is a way to see what people googled that led them to my blog. Here are some that I found most questionable hilarious. (I kid you not people, these were ACTUAL searches that led people to right here.) I don't know whether to be embarrassed, shocked or perplexed.

Searches that landed people right here on my blog:

"itty bitty boobies"
I'm thinking this person knew me in high school.

"give spankings"
Is this person looking into my windows during the day? Do I really blog about spankings that much? For that matter, do I blog about Itty Bitty Boobies? Um..no. No, I do not.

"her eight pack abs"
CLEARLY this person was directed to the wrong blog. Clearly. Now, if they had googled 8 packs of Oreos abs...totally.

"funny cards for 48 year old moms"
I'm thinking this person has ZERO creativity if they are googling ideas for their mother's 48th birthday. And I'm sure a casual trip to my blog totally shed some light on the birthday gift of their mother's dreams. That, or they got distracted and at 11:30pm the evening before they ran out to the Walgreens and hit the "As Seen On TV" rack and got her somethin' REAL fancy. (Because what mother doesn't want a Grater Plater or a Chamease or a Snuggie? And what woman in her right mind doesn't want to go from flat to fabulous?)

"jessica beaver death"
Creeeeeeeeeepy. Yikes. I'll make sure to double check the locks tonight and ensure that the house alarm is set. Then I'll call up my friend Macaulay Culkin and ask him about some super sweet boobie traps for bad guys. Oh stink, there I go with the boobies again.

"funny story about mother and child in the bathroom pooping"
Hummmm....maybe I should dial it back a bit with the bathroom and poop posts. Oh crap, I probably just upped my chances again. Well, poop. Whoops, there it was again. (Oh come on people, you know bathroom humor is hy-sterical. Well, it is in our house anyway.)

Well, there you go. I'll set up MckLinky for those of you who want to do a real Das Not Funny! Friday post. For all who want to know the "official" fancy schmantshy rules click here. Or if you don't wanna play, but you wanna comment, you can do that too.

Happy Friday everyone!

*Breaking News (Or not-so-breaking news): While going back through my older posts I found this one about Itty Bitty Boobies. I would hope that explains it. But still, 3 different searches for "itty bitty boobies" led someone here. So either someone has an obsession with searching that title or it was a fluke. I'm going with fluke. It helps me sleep better at night.