Roadtrippin'

We decided last minute to jump in the car early Sunday morning and soak in some more winter fun...

We packed up our sleds and headed to the  NC mountains where there has been a ton of snow lately.  We stayed at this little spot, it is modest, but it is very clean and always has tons of games, movies, and snacks readily available...and the inn keepers are crazy nice...We love it 'cause it's affordable and they had last minute availability to house our crazy crew.  They also gave us some tips of some great free sledding spots that most tourist don't know about...  We had a blast

It was perfect weather, tons of snow, but not to cold or windy.. we all ended up tossing our jackets and spent the day playing.  I even whipped up a crockpot full of chili right before we left, which I plugged in as soon as we checked in.. then when we were done playing.. dinner was ready and waiting.  (another cheapo score)

Yeah even the biggest kids had a great time.

A serious moment from my little beauty...her eyes are so soulful.

I will be putting bricks on these two hooligans heads while they sleep tonight.. I need to make them stop growing..

I played around with taking these "hill" pictures...I think they are funny.. wish I would have kept it up and taken some better ones.. I will be trying this again next time I find a good spot 'round here :)

His pocket sized Mini-me.

 Ma & Pa

I loved that I had my camera when I walked in on this little sister moment... melt a mama's heart.

Fun times that are worth all of the laundry piles and unpacking :) 

Patience

I could list a million reasons that I am not a very patient woman.  But this is the one that is bothering me today...so excuse me while I ramble about it for a moment.  It is not only patience but it is sadness too.  Its actually patience, sadness, confusion, and a bit of anger if I really want to lay it out there.  See this little guy. 

He is just about the sweetest little boy in the whole world.. his heart is what amazes me...He loves like no person I have ever known.  I tell people sometimes that no one has ever loved me the way this child loves me.  I really mean that...but it saddens me the way he loves me... is that absurd?  It probably is, but it just hurts that I know he had be longing for a mama for so long.    Anyhow, this is what is bugging me lately.  I really want to know EVERYTHING that went on with him in China!  I know I will not learn everything, but at least somethings.  A new Asian market opened up just a few miles from us (cool, right?)  so we went to go check it out this morning.  As soon as we went in it reminded me of china..the smell the hanging lanterns and red knot decorations, it was great.  But right away my boy clammed up.  You could tell he got very nervous and wanted to sit in the baby part of the cart, when he usually wants to roam the aisles and check everything out. 

Since the day we met in China he refused to speak Chinese, even to the guides.  He stopped talking to Collin in Chinese about 3 days after getting home, and we had so hoped he could keep his language.  Not a chance.  AND he gets upset when he sees pictures of his orphanage... or when he watches his gotcha video (which he loves), he covers my face when we get to the part of his nannies and friends, and he just says, "no, no, no".  It makes me so sad.  I really want to start asking him some questions so I can write all of his memories down.  He did point out a few things around his room in the orphanage in the one photo where there was no people in the photo.  He would look at it and show me where he washed his hands and where he slept and which little shoes were his. His language isn't at the point where we could have in depth conversations, but it just all makes me so sad.  He has never for a second grieved his life in China.  Is it ridiculous of me to want to dig deeper so we can work through it all?  Isn't he going to start forgetting soon, so we won't be able to piece the puzzle together for him in the future.  Is it wrong to just leave it all in the past and just move forward.  5 1/2 years living in an orphanage, his room on the second floor, and when we met he didn't know how to walk up and down stairs, had never been to a playground, had never held a pencil, had never seen or touched an animal.   But somewhere along the way he was taught to give near professional massages... boy can work out some kinks in your neck.  And he learned to love and treat others so well,  he is so kind and loving and cuddly, someone must have loved on him, right? 

So today I am impatient to get some answers, to heal, to forgive, to help him forgive, to communicate fully with my little man, and for him to know and understand fully my love for him.  

 He did settle right down this morning after we left the Asian market, we picked up some Chinese style buns for lunch and took them to the park.  He gobbled those up like nobodies business and his cheerful self was right back in action.   This process is such an emotional one... I wish I could just change the course of history and show up the day my kiddos were born, scoop them up and fix it all....wouldn't that be so wonderful!

Seriously

So it snowed here in the south on Monday, and the kids were thrilled they got a snow day...  then Tuesday rolled around and the roads were iced so they called it a snow day again...double thrilled.  Then today, the ice was melting at a pretty rapid pace, but still the schools called ANOTHER snow day, and I thought they had just lost their marbles.. we had to get out we were going a bit stir crazy so we headed to one of those crazy bounce house places along with every other mama and their brood in suburbia.  So we had survived and enjoyed our super long snow break...and then I got the call from the school tonight.. they have already called school off for tomorrow...seriously now, seriously..it snowed 3 inches 3 days ago.  Insane!     But you know what it gets me to thinking,,, what do you wonderful homeschooling mamas do when you have all the kids home ALL. THE. TIME.  I love my kids, they are wonderful...but there is NO way this mama is taking 5 little kids to the grocery store.. it's not that my kids are bad, but we take up the whole aisle -the look of pity and horror and my fellow shoppers faces is enough to send me over the edge.   But this mama needs to get some things done, I had all this pent up new years resolutions type resolve to get organized,,, which is quickly zapped when you have a crew this large wanting to "help" with projects around the house.  Or try cleaning out the pantry with 6 always ravenous mongrels waiting for you to unearth the last box of brownies from the back of the cupboard.  Chaos I tell you!  The best way to describe having 6 kiddos with such a wide age range... Life is good, Life is simple, Life is fun...as long as Mama isn't trying to accomplish anything!    
Here's to another day of wearing our jammies 'till noon and not getting anything done.  
And for all the Mama's out there in my same boat.. I wanted to share something I saw on a blog the other day.. i had seen it before but I needed to see it again.. I printed it out and taped it to my bathroom mirror, and have thought of it often this week.  It really hits home when your in the "trenches" of the long days of mothering young kiddos... Here it is:
An Erma Bombeck Column:
A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome -- that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?"

OK.
One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age!"
And they will.


Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do ... and don't slam the door!"
And they won't.


You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way."
And it will.


You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company."
And you'll eat it alone.


You'll say: "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?" And you'll have it.


No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.
No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.
No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.
No more clothespins under the sofa.
No more playpens to arrange a room around.


No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent.
No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.
No more iron-on patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.


Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.


No PTA meetings.
No car pools.
No blaring radios.
No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.
Having your own roll of Scotch tape.


Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.
No more sloppy oatmeal kisses.
No more tooth fairy.
No giggles in the dark.
No knees to heal, no responsibility.


Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?"


and the silence echoing, "I did."

Awww, I feel a bit bad for my poor neglected blog... i don't think I have ever been away so long in the past couple of years...especially without good reason.  I am so excited about the new year and a  new start.  2010 was a whirlwind of chaos, good chaos but crazy nonetheless.  I have made all the cliche' resolutions...yeah, getting organized and getting healthy.  I'm really excited about trying to simplify things around here.  There is just something about the holidays and the glorious indulgence of it all that makes me want to pitch half of our STUFF and to completely turn my back on the retail world.  I am gearing up for trying to make February a "no-spend" month around our house (like how I pick the shortest month)...  I hesitate to say it out there on the blog because I am a bit skeered of failure, I am going to try to squeeze the life outta our already pretty tight budget.  I know I will have to buy groceries...  we are ALL big eaters, and I love to cook.  I have been stocking up on sales the last few weeks so hopefully I can get by with living off our stash and just buying the necessities.  Other than that, I am vowing not even to step foot inside a t@rget or any other retail establishment...you know seeing that I am a marketers dream and a total cheapskate sucker for a sale.    I have a goal too!  Whatever cashola I can save, the hubby and I are going to spend on ourselves!!! and take a little trip, just the two of us... so it may be to the local Ho-Jo's for an evening if I fail.. or we may get to go away for a weekend seaside come summertime!       I'll keep y'all posted on my progress...or maybe I won't,,, it sounds like the most boring tragic topic I can think of.   


Anyhow... 

My girl was playing with her "special box" the other day and I figured I would snap a photo.  She loves when I pull this out...

She is a bit of a "nervous nelly" so she likes to keep her hands busy. Ty is a bit of the same way, so they both can spend almost an hour sifting through these little boxes of mess. Just thought I would share a fun little project...

It has come in handy when I can tell they need something to do and I am busy doing something else...  Just to warn you though... these work great for Mina and Ty but if you have a kid like Finn,,, do NOT even attempt this kinda mess... you will hate me forever.  

SNOW DAY!!!

We were hit with a snow storm here in the South and the whole family has had a ball!

 I am so thrilled that this all went down during Christmas break, so the kiddos could really enjoy every moment.  

 I forget how beautiful snow is... I am not a fan of the cold so I can usually do without the stuff, but what a beautiful mess, it was worth all the soggy mittens and boot tracks through the house for sure.

 We had some mighty fine snowball fights in our back yard:) 

 Hopefully we will get at least one more snowfall this winter, as this one only lasted one day.  

     Is it okay to eat new fallen snow?  

all the kiddos were eating it like it was ice-cream?  I didn't tell them to stop, but it kinda turned my stomach.. I grew up in South Florida so I have no idea about such things.  Here's wishing you a White Christmas!!!!  

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

The whole fam before heading out to Christmas Eve Service last night.

 When we got back from church the kiddos had hot chocolate in special mugs rimmed with chocolate and crushed up candy cane's, while Papa read the story of Jesus' birth from the bible.  

 Finn kinda liked hers :)

 They all got to open one present that was already under the tree.  Ty was psyched.. and made sure he kept his stash close by :)

 Then all the kids got into their Christmas jammies and Jackson read 'Twas the night before Christmas.  It was quite a magical evening.

 I was reminded that although sometimes things get a bit hairy around here,  I am never alone as God is always with me and blessing me in miraculous ways.

 I snuck in a snapped a photo after santa did his damage, before the kiddos got their mitts on it...(see the after photo a few shots down)

 So much excitement

 The notorious orange tic tacs make their appearance in everyones stocking.

 I'm getting crazy sentimental about this one lately... next year will not be the same as he will surely have to travel home for the holidays.  He's my true bud...

 Papa has already taken this toy and called it his own :)

 I've made Mina and Finn storybooks filled with photos about their time in China and coming home, so I just finished Ty's...They all love them and Ty has already wanted to read his several times.

 My little rockstar...  he actually had a ball this morning and took no time jumping in with the rest speeding through the gifts.

 I need to think of a new Christmas morning tradition,, the free for all method isn't working for me... I could barely see any of the gifts they open..and seriously I want a payoff for all the work that is put into it all...I want to see every stinkin' smile!!! is that too much to ask.. i mean seriously i wrap every last thing, even the pack of gum in the stocking and it is all over in 20 minutes??  ok, rant over, back to the fun stuff.

 Here is the aftermath!

 My most precious gift this year!  What an amazing blessing

 All the kiddos got big super comfy stuffed animals... they love them!

So here it is 4:00 Christmas day, I'm still in my jammies.  We've played tons of games and made a lot of memories.  Dinner is going and in the oven, I even had a moment to steal away and post Christmas to the blog.  What a wonderful day!  We will be singing Happy birthday to Jesus and remembering that he is the reason we celebrate!  We are so blessed.

Merry Christmas EVE!!!

My Finnley, my baby turned 3 yesterday....  This child is an absolute joy.  

She is never in a hurry, not even for presents...she would have been thrilled with one gift....last year it took her over a week to get through her Christmas loot.  I'm guessing this year will be the same and it will drive the other kiddos bonkers to see unwrapped gifts under the tree, but not Finn.  She is the most content little love muffin ever.  And with that I am done with the birthday posts for 5 months!!!YIPPPEEEE.  3 birthdays the week of Christmas,  Chaos x 3 :)

Here are some of the fun Christmas photos that have been bumped to the back burner with all the B-day excitement.  When we went to the mountains for Thanksgiving we brought a bunch of paper to start on our Christmas decor... the kiddos and I made a mess and had a ball doing it. 

Paper chains and snowflakes! A fun decoration that the kids feel a big part of and love showing off,  best of all it was FREE....  we love it and don't mind that our sitting room looks like a preschool classroom :) It's a bit magical, don't ya think?

We also had a cookie making extravaganza!!  Here is our list...all the old favs and a few new ones.

 

Mess? What Mess? 

 We went nuts and made dozens and dozens of cookies...Santa is going to be sooo happy tonight.

 The kids here are headed out to share the calories love with the neighbors.

We are giddy with excitement for the festivities of the evening and wild with anticipation to see what santa brings in the morning.... I just can't wait to see their little faces in the morning, especially Ty.  He has suffered through the 3 birthdays this week and has been totally confused by the attention showered on one kiddo at a time, he needs a turn with a pile of presents :)  He is going to be overwhelmed and ecstatic.....  Have a wonderful night everyone!

Happy birthday my sweet boy!

Oh how I love boys, the simplicity, the sweetness, the love! My little man turned 7, the shock and horror... he is growing up way too fast.  2 1/2 years ago he was my baby and he played the part well.  

The last few years have been a whirlwind around here and now he finds himself holding tight with the "middle child" title.  Except he doesn't have middle child qualities...he is quiet, shy, uncomplicated, and a complete rule follower/perfectionist....  He may need to get the message that the middle child needs to make some noise to get their much deserved attention...especially in this house of chaos.    

Being that his bday is just a few days before Christmas, we forgo the party (which I think we will be doing mostly from now on)  and he had his first ever sleep over with a good buddy from school..  Such super sweet boys...they spent the majority of their time in the back playing football, or playing football video games. 

We did have a night bonfire...our family favorite weekend activity and the kids ran around like mad...  We also took the whole crew bowling the next morning... oh that was a barrel of laughs.  Fun stuff.  

I've been an emotional mess lately...  I think I am finally coming off the craziness of the past few years and starting to settle into our new rhythm.  We have been either in the process of adopting or just adjusting to a new groove constantly over the past couple years and it has been really hard to find my mama bearings.  I can't believe we adopted 3 times in 2 1/2 years...  that just seems wild!  Especially since the hubby and I never really started out to have a big family... I have been quite sentimental lately and looking through old pics... I think it is funny because we all look so different...

I had all my hair chopped off as a gut reaction to finding out we were going to have THREE children.. I didn't know how I was going to handle being the mom of three...ha ha ha ha ha.  Little did I know :)  We feel so blessed as we truly feel like we have the coolest and best group of kiddos on earth, our hearts could pop with love and gratitude for each one of them...but reality..we are far from finding our groove for perfecting this parenting gig... We do have a load of fun though.