bonfire heart

This is the time of the year when I think most about adoption.  Oliver's three year family day is just around the corner and it always makes me stop and think about the journey.  The journey was hard.  It was joy filled.  It was sad.  It was an adventure.  And at times I was sure it wasn't going to work out. 

Lots of times I didn't have the words I needed, but would cry my eyes out when I heard certain songs on the radio or on my ipod.  Music just has this amazing way of expressing exactly how you're feeling, when you're not even sure how you are feeling. 

Sometime last year I heard James Bunt's song Bonfire Heart on the radio for the first time and went right home to download it.  I'm lucky this song wasn't out when I was in the process, there is no way I could make it through with a dry eye, I barely can now. 

Verse 2 is a perfect summery of Oliver waiting for us, and us fighting for him. 

"This world is getting colder.
Strangers passing by
No one offers you a shoulder.
No one looks you in the eye.
But I’ve been looking at you
For a long, long time
Just trying to break through,
Trying to make you mine

Everybody wants a flame,
They don’t want to get burnt
Well, today is our turn

...People like us—we don’t
Need that much, just some-
One that starts,
Starts the spark in our bonfire hearts"

The video is also pretty great.  It has Oliver's favorite things...
-a guy on a motor cycle
-getting pulled over by a police man
-a guy playing a guitar


I dare you to listen.  





 

the judge said yes...3 years ago

Three years ago a judge in a little Russian court room, in the middle of Siberia, said yes.

Yes, this boy can be yours.

Yes, you are ready to be parents. (we fooled her!)

 Yes, you successfully jumped through the million hoops necessary and this is the beginning of the end of this year long roller coaster of an adoption journey. 

Next step; wait 13 days, alone, in Kemerovo, then we'll take you back to the orphanage to Bust Him Out!

So thank you Russian judge, you're awesome.  However, the joy I feel on days like these come with a sting in the background as these kinds of stories aren't happening any longer.  Prayers that the Russian adoption ban with be lifted swiftly and these tales will begin spilling out again.

sponge play

A simple to do list.
-recycle the glass bottles at the glass bottle recycling place
-drop off donations at the goodwill, and poke around inside for hidden treasures
-buy sponges at the dollar store

Glass recycling, no problem.
Sponges, easy.
Drop off donations, standard practice
Hunt for treasures, disaster.

We go in the goodwill.  It always smells so, goodwill, a big mash up of what everyone's basement smells like all in one place.  But I've digressed.  I put Lydia in the cart.  Oliver begs to drive it.  I walk at the front of the cart guiding him from running down other shoppers, or mirrors, or racks of clothes.  I stop, let go, poke at a chalkboard that might have promise.

CRASH

SCREAMING

CRYING

Oliver, in the span of maybe three seconds, has dumped the cart over on him.  He's on the floor.  Lydia is on him.  The cart is on both of them.  All eyes are on us. 

No bumps or blood, everyone is fine, just scared.  No treasures were found. 


Lesson learned:  Those tiny carts are lame and 4 year olds are not qualified drivers. 


Moving on.  We bought a bunch of different sponges because my kids love water, and it's just another fun way to play with water. 

big sponges, small sponges, some cut, some not
I rinsed the sponges off with hot water before giving
then to the kids

add trucks and animals for a car wash
animal bath

 

They are entertained for long enough time to make dinner, the floor around them gets cleaned, and everyone is happy.  Winning all around. 

DIY buring house!

We've got great neighbors.  The husband buys the wife a new recliner for Christmas.  The husband saves the giant box for us.  Awesome people. 

We took the box and ran, before they knew what a gem they were getting rid of, and made it into a burning house.  Besides being super fun, and a great continuation of Oliver's Halloween costume it is also great practice for calling 911, and learning address and phone number...which Oliver is totally awesome at.  

Just a few easy steps...

acquire a large box and tape it all shut

cut a door hole

and a window hole

paint
Oliver chose red brick

paint the door

add tissue paper flames



graffiti  the inside

pretend your house is on fire
scream for help

run for the hills

 We made the house while Lydia was sleeping.  He soooo badly wanted her to get in it when she woke up.  She came down to the basement to play, but wasn't too interested in crawling into a dark burning house.  He kept moving the box around to where is was, but she wouldn't bite at his offer.  She did, however, enjoy standing outside the window and yelling in at him. 

explosions

I buy vinegar and baking soda in ridiculous bulk because I use them when washing Lydia's cloth diapers.  Diaper washing is probably the most boring use of such fun ingredients.  "Explosions," as Oliver calls them, are a much better use and insanely simple.  

he's always excited to see this set up on the table

then we clean it up and start again

new year's resolutions

Do you resolve to do something new each year?  How about this year?  What's your goal(s)?

I have a few.

1. Ditch my maternity clothes.
I purchased very few maternity clothes, but had a hard time letting go of a certain pair of maternity skinny jeans.  Maternity skinny jeans...ha!  What an oxi moron is that? Anyway, I loved them, I loved them long past them not properly fitting, but they were just sooooo comfortable.  They got a hole in the knee and I tossed them along with the last maternity T-shirt I was wearing to yoga class and hit the banana republic outlet for a sweet sale.  New year, new pants!  (attainable goals people)

2. Get dressed.
I'm a stay at home mom.  It's an actual job, it doesn't pay, but it's still work.  Anyway, some days I really stay home all day.  Some days I wake up in my sweat pants and shirt and keep wearing that very outfit until I go back to bed.  As soon as Oliver and Lydia wake up they get ready and get dressed, I should be doing the same.  The alarm now rings at 7am, I get up, get ready, and put on actual pants (like the ones mentioned above) a tank top, a cardigan sweater and then wait for the littles to wake up. 

3. Get bloggy.
I've been a lazy blogger.  That needs to change.  At least 5 posts a month.  Go!

4. Get a daily schedule down.
There is a lot that needs to be accomplished in a day and I want to make sure all my time is going to the appropriate places.  I'd like to dedicate more time to learning activities with Oliver and little projects for Lydia. 

So, in conclusion, I'm going to follow a daily schedule while wearing the appropriate clothing and blog about it once my family goes to sleep.  I totally got this.


Oh I almost forgot, Jim wants to read the bible together this year.  We've done it before, so hopefully we can commit to it again.  So far we are on track.

merry christmas!

Errrr, I'm a little late, in my defense we did celebrate Christmas on the 30th.

This Christmas season was even more magical than the last, they get better and better every year.  This is the first year that I can fully say that Oliver really "got it."  On more than one occasion he announced "this is the best Christmas ever!"  He was excited about sharing the story of Jesus' Birthday, driving around looking for Christmas lights, singing in the kids Christmas choir at church, and opening presents.  This year, Lydia was actually awake for the festivities.  She enjoyed the food, and music, and lights, and paper ripping.

getting out the decorations

kansas city has so many fun christmas activities
Oliver's favorite is visiting union station

christmas card photo
and some outtakes, cause they are always the best

eyes closed

crazy face

falling

I don't even know

a year, wow

 

 opening gifts
Oliver asked and asked for a trash truck
and was sooooo happy to get it

 

We hope your Christmas was merry and blessed!
Cheers to the year ahead!