a Glorious MOMent

I had successfully navigated one Kindergarten Valentine party, Littles in tow, with only a minimal amount of pouting. This was to be expected as nap time had been cut short for one and cut out altogether for the other. I could live with minimal pouting.

The final feat of the day involved collecting the three Big Kids from the daily schools-out chaos. I had one with me, although he wasn't sticking close. This bugged me.

I spotted the second at the door. One more kid to find and we could wind our way through the maze of elementary-sized students, cross the car pool line, load up the van and get home.

I kept corralling the ones I already had. Reminding them to stay close. Telling one to get out of the rock pile. Losing one, to find him again by the flag pole.

"Stay with me! As soon as she comes out we can go. It won't be long!"

Finally, out she came. It was time to go. Almost home free.

"Let's go, but stay with me," I commanded as we made our way through the crowd towards the car pool line.

Someone didn't listen, make that someones.

Off they ran without me followed by a teacher who was quick to reprimand, "Stay with your mom."

Almost instantaneously, another one stepped in a mud puddle and started to cry because he was wet. He refused to move one step further. He was in the middle of the car pool lane.

And for one brief, glorious second, we once again became "that family."

Harried mom, herding cats, I mean kids, across the car pool lane.


Speaking of MOMents... Today is the last day to take advantage of the early registration fee for Hearts at Home. Swing on by and register today! I would LOVE to see you there!!!

The start of a list:

Things I Love (besides the obvious)

Instagram

It is probably my favorite app right now. Kind of a combination between Facebook and twitter only status updates come in the form of pictures. 

So I thought I'd share a few of this weeks Instagrams with you...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jonah's Basket

We signed the "olders" up for our local Upwards basketball program this year. When their first game rolled around I was nervous. None of them had played before and I wasn't sure how their skills (or lack of) would line up.

I didn't need to worry, they have fit in just fine.

Mya's games look like real basketball games.

The boys' games on the other hand, are starting to look like real basketball games. During their first few games they were focused on defending their man. Whether their team was on offence or defense, they were guarding their man.

Mya and Simon made baskets early on in the program. Jonah's first basket has been a little longer in coming, but last week that darn ball finally went in the hoop. Kory captured the moment on video and I am so glad he did!

There is so much I love about this clip. Simon's (somewhat reluctant) pass to Jonah and his excitement as Jonah dribbles in for the basket. The coach's reaction (he is on the court as the referee and starts to jump and pump his fist in the left hand corner of the screen). And Jonah's smile and strut once the ball goes in.

When the game was over, their coach came up to me and said, "Hallelujah, the ball went in!"

My sentiments exactly.

Suhn's Video Debut!

It has been almost two years exactly since we saw Suhn's face for the first time. Crazy how you can fall in love with a picture, although looking at her picture again... maybe not so crazy.

She has come so far since then. We all have. It has been one wild ride that I am so glad we went on.

A big part of her physical progress has been the hours and hours of time spent at Easter Seals. The therapist there are top notch and they really care about our little girl. They get as excited as we do when she makes progress.

Over the next month our Easter Seals is working to raise money so they can continue to serve children with special needs in our area. It is their final fundraising push before their biggest event, the Telethon which airs the first Saturday in March. Every year they put together a video highlighting a few of the kids they work with. This year, Suhn made the cut (Sean gets a small cameo too!). We think she is the star, go ahead and watch the video. I dare you to disagree. :)

If you are interested in donating to Easter Seals and supporting the great work they do, send me an e-mail (see sidebar). I would love to tell you how.

Breaking the Silence

It has been quiet here. I know. Quiet in part because the majority of the space around me is anything but quiet. Constant demands for my attention. Schedules to keep. Errands to run. Workouts to squeeze in. Wild boys. Giggling girls. Tantrums from any given child on any given day.

And when the noise morphs into quiet around 8 pm CST SHARP. I am tired. A blank blogger screen intimidates so I hide it underneath my laptop in the office and scurry on over to my green sofa to read or talk or watch or RELISH the quiet.

At times throughout my day I think of things I could tell you, but after a little thought they seem unimportant or trite or I can't figure out how to transform my thoughts to words, so I decide to wait for another time or another topic and then days and weeks and months pass and the quiet here continues.

I am hoping that will change, but I can't promise.

So for now, here are a few things that have been filling my time:

1.  Puking and Lice, the week before Christmas. Wasn't fun. Don't really want to talk about it.

2. Florida. Lovely weather. Lovely weekish. Lovely time.

3. Upwards basketball. Awesome program. Love watching the kids play. So fun.

4. Upcoming trip to Zambia. Mya and I. Can't wait. Probably talk more about that later, maybe before the trip... or after.

5. Hearts at Home. New books coming out next year. Conference coming up. If you aren't going, you should!  (www.hearts-at-home.org)

Thanks for listening, that is, if anyone actually is. I hope the quiet won't last so long next time.
At least here.
Quiet in everyday life is a most welcome commodity.

Our Christmas Card

We decided not to send out Christmas cards this year. It felt overwhelming.

Our kids were pretty bummed when we told them, so they asked...

"Can we put together a little song and dance to share with everyone anyway?"

How could I refuse...

Hope you enjoy their production!

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Adoption Ideal

I'm guest-posting on the MomLife Blog today.

"Idealize (Def: to attribute ideal characteristics to)
Ideal (Def: existing as a mental image or in fancy or imagination only)
Christmas, Birthdays, Vacations and other special events are prime targets for any idealist. Marriage and motherhood too, especially if you are single and have no kids...."

Want to read more, check it out here...