The Backyard-stravaganza...

So now that surgeries are over, we should be able to just coast for a while...

MWAHAHAHAHAHA  Coast, shmoast!

How's about we tear off the back of the house this fall, honey?

Sure, hon, sounds like FUN!

We are starting construction on our house. We are going to make our family room larger, add a covered patio extension off the family room, and have a new concrete patio put in. Our old wood deck was rotted underneath. It was a really exciting wood deck - taking a step you never knew if your foot would drop through one of the deck boards... or not... it was a gamble ~ Kind of like an aerobic workout when the boards dropped ~ get your heart rate up a bit  ;-D

Step 1 ~ what it used to look like

Step 2 - Bye bye rotten wood!
The window behind the trampoline is the family room

Step 3 ~ So long original concrete pad!
Window on the left is the family room

Did you notice the rusty rebar sticking out under the sliding door...
Ooh kids! Watch yer step!

There's a hole in the fence, in the fence...

Looking through the fence hole...
Who's that peeking around our very kind neighbor's house???

Yikes! It's here!

The munchkins (and some friends) loved watching the excavator tear up our yard

Breaking ground...

The 4 foot deep hole - Don't fall on that rusty rebar OR into the hole, kids!
Tee hee! This is FUN!
Where did that dirt go???

The dirt pile that we used to call our backyard.

Oh my.

(((hugs))),
chris

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
               ~ Ephesians 5:20

Early Risers

Have I ever mentioned that our kids get up early?

The people in our real life know this.

How DO people get their kids to sleep until 9am?

Or even 8am?

Or even 7am???

I know, you can teach your kids to look at the clock and stay in bed until those times. This worked for Josh until he had brothers. We are teaching David to wait quietly in bed until the clock hands are "up and down" (i.e. 6:00am). I would be so happy with 6:00 am...

It just doesn't work with this one...

Our kids are ALWAYS awake during the 5:00 hour. Sammy is usually first, and he usually wakes up David because he is LOUD. So I am up too. And how can I expect Josh to stay in bed after Sammy wakes him up too if I let his brothers get up?

The funny thing is that I am an early riser too. I am usually up before the kids. One would think that if I wake up this stinkin' early I would have some "me" time. Some quiet time with God. Sometimes I do have, like, 15 or 20 minutes.

I am writing this while Sammy talks to me. It is 5:45am right now. Perhaps I will have to finish this later.

Once in a while - like maybe twice a month - I get an hour. But during that hour, I just never know when a munchkin will wake up. So often it is just as I open my bible. This Mama doesn't spend much time reading the bible. Not much quiet time with the Lord here, no sirree. I figure He put these kids in our family, so this must be OK with Him in this season.

But sorry, Lord, I just don't feel obligated to play with these kids, or feed them, or even give them much attention until it is actually morning. It feels like I am rewarding uber-early rising when I do that.

OK, writing that out loud sounds so callous and unloving. Our Father loves me at all times of the day and night. He is there to comfort me whenever I call on Him.

On the other hand, children need sleep. When either D or J get up that early, they are grumpy and weepy and oh so sensitive. They need more sleep. S seems to do OK getting up uber-early, which makes no sense because you think the youngest would need the most sleep. Every kid is different... our kids are SO proof of that.

Aren't they beautiful when they sleep?

OK, now Sammy is showing me his spit bubbles. And laughing hysterically. Good thing he's so cute. Even this early in the morning.

(((hugs))),
chris


This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
                        ~ Joshua 1:9

Chicago and Back to School!

I can't believe it is time for school already. Summer seemed so short!

We took a trip to Chicago to see my family. My cousin had her wedding reception/party at her parents' house and it seemed like a perfect excuse to see everyone. Thanks, Cuz!

You know how God just opens doors and makes things possible? When my mom was in town in June, she mentioned my cousin's party. I immediately and secretly checked airfares and they were ridiculously low. Like I have never paid that little for a round-trip airfare since I moved to Colorado 12 years ago kinda low. A 15-hour drive wouldn't work for just a weekend trip, and I couldn't believe how cheap the flights were. It felt like God saying, "Time for the munchkins to meet Chris' family." Anyhoo, Jason and I decided to book the flights and go to the party ~ and to surprise my mom.

pic of my mom when she saw us at our hotel
See how happy she looks ~ Surprise, Mom!!!

The family peeps that knew we were coming did a great job keeping it a secret (insert fist bump here)! We had fun at the party on Saturday, and even got to see the fam at another party on Sunday ~ bonus! And we only suffered two minor injuries (which is quite good for our us based on our track record this summer) ~ a fall off the trampoline and a possible busted toe. Nothing that slowed us down and still no rides in the ambulance. Yay us! ;-D

Monday we went to Navy Pier and hung out at my mom's house. We actually remembered to pull out our camera this day. Here are some pics:

The munchkins wanted to ride this train all day

When you are 7, I guess this ride sucks...

Josh exploring the rope tunnel at the Children's Museum

Playing in the building area (strike a pose, sista)

Playing in the water area

Getting eaten by a dinosaur while little brothers dig for dinosaur bones

Riding on the bus ~ do you have to stand up?

Swimming at Grammy's pool which is on the top floor of her building

Guess who got cold first?

Josh is such a good swimmer!

D and Aunt Shel splashing everyone

We came home and went to Josh's back to school night. And next thing you know...

HELLLLOOOOO SECOND GRADER!!!!

David started school today. He had to stand in the same place Josh did for his picture...

My big boy all dressed up in his tie

Sammy had to wear his tie too

Sammy will probably start preschool after he turns 3 in October... Can you believe it?!?

The kids are so happy to be in school ~ Praise God!

(((hugs))),
chris


Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
                     ~ Romans 12:10

One year ago... Gotcha #2

8/1/11 ~ We need a drum roll up in here!!!

GOTCHA, SAMUEL!

First impressions of Samuel: He was super cute and so very teeny-tiny and oh, so sad. I still remember that cry. That hollow, grieving, I give up cry. I think only adoptive parents and foster parents and orphanage workers have ever heard that cry.

How far we have come in a year, my sweet sweet baby...

Samuel today: He is funny, and silly, and happy, and super smart. He knows English, and is speaking more clearly every day. He speaks in 4-5 word sentences, and can follow multi-step directions. He can identify about 10 letters already. He is stubborn. He doesn't bite any more, but he does still hit and is a little too rough sometimes. He doesn't like to be away from his Mama, and he adores his Baba and older brothers. He loves to play iPad, and he is very good at the memory matching game! He likes to build Lego houses. He loves loves LOVES music and dancing, and reading books. He is excited to start preschool when he is 3 years old. He likes to play with his friends and go to swimming lessons. He is very proud of his big boy bike, and wants a big boy bed. He is mostly potty trained during the day. If we put a pull-up on him during the day, he will use it. He stays dry if we put underwear on him. He can run and jump and loves our trampoline. He loves wrestling and cuddling. He is a lovey.

David today: He is wicked smart, and funny, and has an amazing memory, and loves snuggles. He also knows English, and can communicate complex thoughts and stories to us. His speech is getting easier to understand every day. He works very hard on his speech homework. He works hard on every new thing he is learning for that matter. He loves school and is excited to go back in a few weeks. He always wants to do things the right way. He is athletic. He can run seriously fast, and can jump high and he has a great throwing arm. He is very helpful around the house, and is good at picking up toys and doing his chores independently. He looooves noodles. He can read and sound out most letters and recognizes a few numbers. He can follow multi-step directions. He likes to pick on his big brother. He is uncomfortable in groups of children, and he has a strong need for attention from adults. He does not like change. It rocks his little world. In spite of this, he is our child who is willing to try anything. He loves being at home, with his Mama, Baba, and brothers. He likes to play jokes on people and make them laugh. He sleeps with about 85 stuffed animals. He has a beautiful smile and an infectious giggle. He is a lovey.

The Big Brother today: He LOVES his little brothers. He is still addicted to Legos ("Hello my name is Josh and I'm a Legoaholic"), and is super excited to start 2nd grade. He still wants to cuddle with his Mama as soon as he wakes up in the morning. He is a great reader, and is great at math too. Maybe he will be a doctor someday, based on his handwriting ;-)  He is a lovey.

     + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you, Lord, for trusting us with these three sweet children of yours. We are so very blessed to have them in our family. They are a joy! Please shower your blessings on them and keep them safe and healthy and happy. Continue to bless us and equip us with the ability to parent them with love. We love you, Lord.

(((hugs))),
chris


Children are a gift from the LORD;
  they are a reward from him.
       Psalm 127:3