While E is trying to get some decent photos of the fireplace hearth adorned with nine shoes filled with carrots, I thought I'd jot a quick note with our Sinterklaas Day greetings.
Our day was full of preparations for the Christmas tree, including the normal things like moving furniture and cleaning up the inch of dust from the window sills in the newly vacant spot.
It also included the unexpected ~ cleaning up dog puke from the living room carpet first thing in the morning and, due to the horrified feeling that we couldn't possibly get it clean enough, shampooing a large section of the 'did we miss a speck of it' carpet. The bonus surprise ~ dog poop in the shower! At least Pups was discreet.
Add in the "I brought this upon myself" chore of cooking an entire meal for 40 people. Cooking in advance, really... we're feeding the college students at church tomorrow. Two huge vats of soup and 12 loaves of homemade bread later, I ponder the strong possibility of bad weather = low turnout.
To fully picture all of this, you need to imagine the hum of nine children in the background. The hum occasionally flames into an uproar as drama develops - yet another bicker-fest, or pesky brother incident. Even in the "quiet" moments, the hum is punctuated by L's high activity, high volume voice or I and B's rough and tumble tackle play.
But finally, the tree is up! It's not your normal, run of the mill tree. Rather, it was cut by the men of the family - Berny, I, and B - from our friend's new farm. It won't be necessary to run the humidifier for the next couple of days, due to the 2+ inches of snow clinging to the tree's branches when it entered. Within a few minutes, we had rainfall under the tree. I'm sure the tree skirt (fancy name for the old tablecloth I hastily plopped on the floor) and carpet will eventually dry.
Berny is filling shoes with goodies now, so I think I'll go join him and scout out some odd count chocolates to eat.
Happy SinterKlaas Day!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Puddy Tat
The next generation tormenting cats through application of fashion ~ same doll clothes we used when my brother and sisters and I were kids! It wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that my Aunt Judy did the same stuff the generation before me...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Refill
I intend to post at least once per month... but let me explain how things have been working for me.
I start to feel overwhelmed ~ which makes me start to feel cranky ~ which moves on to being crabby ~ which causes me to feel guilty ~ which makes me more overwhelmed ~ which starts to slip toward being depressed ~ which shuts off my interest in communicating with the 'outside world' ~ which puts a strain on friendships and distances family ~ which leads to a feeling of isolation ~ which increases the stress ~ which makes me incredibly overwhelmed, and I run all out of 'nice'...
Until God finds me on my emotional edge, takes me by the hand, and leads me back to the realization that He called me for this purpose and provides everything I need to attend to it. He finds just what I need and refills me.
My God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory.
Then my eyes are once again opened to the joys of parenting a big crew of great kids. Here's a story I posted to the adoption yahoo group today:
This reminds me of what I overheard from two of mine the other day. Ic (bio) and L(home 7ish months) are almost the same age (7/8), so we often refer to them as 'the twins.' They get along beautifully.
I overheard Ic saying to L, "Well, we're not actually twins, cuz.." and I tuned in more closely, expecting to hear a comment about race: brown/peach, country of origin... but he continues, "We're not actually twins, cuz you're much more bossy than me."
I stayed in the kitchen to snicker to myself.
I start to feel overwhelmed ~ which makes me start to feel cranky ~ which moves on to being crabby ~ which causes me to feel guilty ~ which makes me more overwhelmed ~ which starts to slip toward being depressed ~ which shuts off my interest in communicating with the 'outside world' ~ which puts a strain on friendships and distances family ~ which leads to a feeling of isolation ~ which increases the stress ~ which makes me incredibly overwhelmed, and I run all out of 'nice'...
Until God finds me on my emotional edge, takes me by the hand, and leads me back to the realization that He called me for this purpose and provides everything I need to attend to it. He finds just what I need and refills me.
My God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory.
Then my eyes are once again opened to the joys of parenting a big crew of great kids. Here's a story I posted to the adoption yahoo group today:
This reminds me of what I overheard from two of mine the other day. Ic (bio) and L(home 7ish months) are almost the same age (7/8), so we often refer to them as 'the twins.' They get along beautifully.
I overheard Ic saying to L, "Well, we're not actually twins, cuz.." and I tuned in more closely, expecting to hear a comment about race: brown/peach, country of origin... but he continues, "We're not actually twins, cuz you're much more bossy than me."
I stayed in the kitchen to snicker to myself.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Loving L
Our September 10 birthday girl.
8 years old, and loving life!
What's an appropriate birthday meal for L? Why, hamburgers and chocolate cake of course!
(photo credit: E)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Baby B!
I'm an "Uncle!" Baby B was born this morning in Colorado - Kurt and Kathy sound thrilled. I'm so happy, I keep crying! Both B and Mama are doing well.
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