"Nope, Try Again"

May I redirect you here to remind you of one of my favorite quotes. I was reminded of it again this weekend.

The family went out to dinner and we took the MIL with us. Before our food arrived, T-Man folded his arms, directed us to do the same and then said, "Prayer?". So I followed his instructions and began a short, abbreviated, restaurant version of a prayer only to be scolded following the "Amen".

As I so reverently concluded the prayer, T-Man says loudly to the entire table, "NOPE, Try again." Apparently the abbreviated version did not meet his approval.

"While we try to teach our children all about life . . . our children teach us what life is all about." Amen to that!!

Why is it that my computer will crash, but my son will not?

Christmas came early at our home of hope...

After 5 restarts, 3 shut downs, and one HUGE stomp on it (mixed in with a MAJOR crash/meltdown of my own and a partridge in a pear tree) ...


My computer has been put to rest...

It served me well...

It was a hand-me down from the hub so it served us both well..

I'm in love...

This is the new machine from whence I type...

I'm in love...

Velcro Sheets

I think I have just discovered a child product that will make my family millions of dollars and will support us for the rest of our lives:


Velcro sheets for children's beds.


T-Man WILL NOT stay in bed. It appears that his old matress has been substituted with a spring loaded matress. Once that handsome, perfectly shaped, little blonde head hits the pillow, his eyes fly open and he literally shoots out of bed. This is how he was found two nights ago at 10:15 p.m. :


p.s. that's not his chic new modern bed, it's a simple chair that sits in the corner of his bedroom.

So Much to be Grateful For

foto by flickr

I realize that November/Thanksgiving is over, however, as I was driving in a terrible, terrible, snowstorm at 2o mph on a trip that had taken 45 minutes instead of 15, I had moments of deep thoughts. As I pulled into the driveway with my precious cargo unharmed and happily comatose/enthralled in a Christmas episode of Little Einsteins, I realized I had so much to be grateful for. I had been listening to Christmas music, Josh Groban "Oh, Holy Night" and was just overwhelmed by how much I have to be thankful for and I better start appreciating it more!

I am grateful:

1. to be a wife
2. to have been selected to be T-Man's mother
3. for a warm home with working heat
4. for a wood-burning fireplace
5. for modern medicine and antibiotics
   
6. for ALL birth mothers - not just ours
7. to have the church guiding my life
8. for mittens, scarves, and warm fuzzy boots
   
9. for Diet Coke in a McDonald's cup
10. for dishwashers and washing machines
11. for disposable diapers
12. to have completed my education before children came along!
13. to have Little Einsteins and Yo Gabba, Gabba as parenting partners when I need them
14. to have learned how to operate the snow thrower and salt spreader
15. for HOPE. It keeps me going so I can face each day and dream of a second child
16. to have entire days filled with Christmas baking
17. for down comforters
18. for the sense of smell and the scent of cinnamon, cloves and all-spice in the air.
19. for tomorrows and new days with no mistakes in them!
20. for incomplete "Grateful lists" that can be continued on a moments notice in another post on another day!
    

Indoor Snowmen

Chicago weather: 3.5" snow and 19 degrees.

We were not about to go outside today - 19 degrees, yeah right! (Not to mention the thoughtful gifts - bronchitis and laryngitis that I got for my birthday!)

Can't go outside? Next best thing - bring the snow inside!

Materials required: 1 bucket of snow, 1 blanket, 1 mini-shovel or dinner utensils, 2 bowls, mittens, scarf, mini carrots, cloves for eyes, sticks for arms, one baking tray.

T-Man and I sat on the family room floor and built mini-snowmen inside. We had the best afternoon! "Oooooh, c-c-c-c-c-c-cold" was about all T-Man could say. Even the dog got involved (no, don't go there, there was no yellow snow -- she just licked the snow) .

Photo: not ours; courtesy of Flickr. Ours melted before we could snap pics. Too much fun playing, didn't even think about a camera.

Hope Notes - My Gratitude Resolution

I have decided not to save my resolutions just for the new year. I am starting a new tradition of a "Gratitude Resolution". There is so much to be grateful for and I need to be better at recognizing that instead of complaining about the unimportant things that really don't matter. I am so excited to do THIS ! I have so many note cards floating around that this would be such a positive way to use them up (and give me a reason to go buy more - one of my many obsessions!). I plan to add gratitude reminders inside the cards, too.

May you find a hope note somewhere amongst your day or travel.

Fun Facts About T-Man

4. Also known as “Blue Eyes” or Ty-Ty

3. Loves pancakes, Little Einsteins cartoon, and his blue blanket Christy’s mom knitted for him.

2. He is a very sweet, gentle boy who loves to blow kisses, read books, complete puzzles and take baths.

1. He has filled a hole in our hearts that only he could have filled! He is fun, smart, and would make the best big brother! (Did I mention that he's smart?)

Fun Facts About Christy

4. Christy loves to learn – She completed a Master’s Degree in Education in 2005. She enjoyed teaching home economic skills to the students at the high school she graduated from. She now enjoys her new title of “Stay-at-Home-Mom” and putting into practice those home economic skills. Her favorite class when she was in school was Spanish. A little known fact about her is that she won a contest in elementary school for doing the hula hoop for over 30 minutes.

3. She is a “Law & Order” fanatic and loves a good drama movie. She loves anything chocolate. Playing with T-Man, going for walks, baking, planting Lilies in her Lily garden, and crafting keep her busy. She is very talented in many ways. Her favorite activity is snuggling up in a big blanket with T-Man and his books and reading the afternoon away. She loves children, kids, babies, nieces, and nephews! Nothing has made her happier than having her life-long dream fulfilled of being a mother. She has a tremendous amount of patience. She plans fun activities for T-Man to do each day from playgroups to finger painting with pudding.

2. Currently Christy is the secretary in the Primary (our church's childrens group). She used to teach the five year old children, work with the young women and has also played piano for the women's group and the children's group. She is extremely organized and is able to balance church, work, and home. She keeps our home in impeccable order and does so much to keep us on target to meet all the goals that we have set for our family.

1. The number one thing you should know about Christy is that is compassionate, dedicated, unselfish, and willing to do anything for anyone! She puts the needs of others before her own and I am so fortunate to have been introduced to her by my Father-in-Law and married to her for the past nine years.

Fun Facts About Eric

4. Eric grew up in central Illinois near the town of Normal. He is the youngest of three children and served in the United States Navy for three years. Currently he is working with an online trading company doing computer consulting. His last church calling also required him to work with computers. He has an amazing knowledge of computers and technology!

3. Eric LOVES math and working with numbers, peanut butter sandwiches (no jelly, please!) and making his famous Barbara Bush’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. Everyone else loves taste-testing the finished product. He has also mastered the art of baking pumpkin pies.

2. His favorite movie is The Lord of the Rings trilogy, his favorite color is blue, and he will listen to almost any type of music. He loves to take long drives and is a very patient person. He generously gives of his time and energy to help those in need. He is an amazing father. I grin at the big “mush-melon” that he has become because of T-Man!

1. The number one thing you should know about Eric is that he is AMAZING! He is a very hard working man, supports our family very well, and has a unique sense of humor. Eric is my support system with two enormous ears for listening, absorbent shoulders to cry on, and the world’s biggest heart!

Proud (of my) Mom MOMent

Way to go mother of mine!

My mom designed these "story" bracelets and sells them in a store in Nauvoo and now on this website. Go Momma -You sell girl! She is in the development phase of a "Birthmother" bracelet that tells an adoption story. I think I might know a few potential buyers for this one.