Who Needs a Pumpkin Farm?

I don't know about you all but

around here, we have been really busy.

No time for a pumpkin farm?

Travesty!

Who needs a pumpkin farm

when you have this?

$3.99 Pumpkins at Kroger, baby!
The kids had fun picking their own "perfect one."

Who needs a hay ride (that makes me sneeze)
when you can have this?

and

Hold on tight kids as we caravan our carts through the spooky isles.

No seriously, I do enjoy pumpkin farms and fall activities.
On the other hand, I have come to realize that...
I very much do not
enjoy Halloween.
 (Shhh!  Don't tell the kids.)

It is too dark and cold outside.
It is a bit of a nightmare in terms of peanut and tree nut risks.
Each of our kids go at very different speeds
and we have WAY more kids than adults in our house to keep up with.
Not to mention, I don't love seeing little kids covered in scabs and blood
carrying fake weapons.

I know!  I am a total Halloweenie,
but
I dive right in with my kids...

 And we have fun anyways!

 I love to see them dress up and
be imaginative.
I also love to sneak a few of those nut-filled treats
that Porter can't have into my purse for later.

Snickers are my favorite.
How about you?

Probable trick or treating pictures to follow later.
Happy Halloween.



A Stitch in Time

A long football practice was over.

Kids were all showered.

The three littlests were in bed.

Leah and Porter had 3 minutes before they were off to bed too.

The Hubs sat on the floor assembling Julia's bike for her birthday as

I prepared for the next day of school, a birthday celebration, and work for both of us.

The house was quiet!!
 

And then it wasn't.

 Do you see the actual tear running down his face? :'(

Porter was throwing a ball to himself in
a relatively open space in the basement.
Then he fell into the back of our couch
and somehow cut open his mouth,
Joker-style.

He screamed!
It didn't look too bad, so I cleaned him
up and slowed the bleeding.
Then I noticed his mouth was opening a bit too widely.
The Hubs came over and I signaled to him that Porter
probably needed stitches.
Then, the "calm me" became "very light headed me."
I slowly lowered to the floor and put my head down.
Yep, I was getting ready to pass out!

I actually did it twice before
I conceded that I was not the right parent
to drive our son safely to the ER.

Those who know me well know that my issue is not really with blood or even
emergencies.  It is more about anticipating a procedure, and fear of my own or someone else's pain.
I do fairly well until the dust settles a bit and my mind,
against my will, imagines the pain.

I have a history of  passing out for this reason and have
a concussion in my medical record to prove it.
Embarrassing, YES!
Sissy, YES!


Three stitches later, he was good as new.
Numbing gel and an iPad made the experience "no big deal."

$100 ER co-pay (or more)
$5 Neosporin
$25 co-pay for removal of stitches
and the kicker...

 This lovely chap stick size scar reducing cream is
$21.99 for 0.07oz.

This stuff better work
because this little face

is priceless to me.

Oh Candy Corn

Today is Julia's Fall party at preschool.

Since I can't be there, I 

volunteered to bring the snack.

I traveled back to DEAL's to

buy some peanut/tree nut free

candy corn.

(Thank you Sunrise brand!)

I have planned for the kids to have vanilla

pudding cups and to add a 

few candy corn to the top for fun.

I put all of the items in a plastic bag,

tied it up,

and quietly put it in Julia's backpack to take to school 

with her yesterday.

While at work,  I get a call from the Hubs.

He was informing me that Grandma called and reported

that Julia secretly made it to her room with her

backpack...

and opened the plastic bag...

and opened the bag of candy corn...

and ate 1/4-1/2 of the bag.

The good thing is that I had stashed an extra bag of candy corn in the pantry and

Grandma quickly took care of the whole thing.

The silver lining...

Julia shared with Maryn.
 

Twerps!!

What a Difference a Year Can Make!

Some of you might remember when

 I posted about our littlest girls and their matching pajamas. 

You can check it out HERE.

Arm and arm my girls smiled and looked so loving.

I referred to Josie and Julia as "best frienemies."

The truth is...

I was worried at that time.

Exhausted to be exact.

Our family was having growing pains.

There was a lot of love, but

these girls were at each other's throats a lot.

My heart ached and pleaded for a glimpse into the future when the

blending of our family and the transition
would be better. 

Easier. 

More loving. 

I re-read what I posted on October 27, 2011, and it made me cry.

It is titled, I am Alive...For Now

and I wasn't kidding.

I still remember my worries.

I still remember praying for each of my children,

and for us, their parents.

I remember being overwhelmed

and feeling very inadequate.

I remember praying and crying.

I remember being angry sometimes.

It can be so hard to be honest about

difficulties as a parent,

whether you are a foster parent,

adoptive parent,

step-parent,

or birth parent.

It is hard to be honest with yourself,
much less with others
about the ugly times yet be respectful of

your spouse or childrens' privacy.

I am so glad that I wrote about it.

I feel blessed to be able to read those words,

and come back to you one year later

and say,

what a difference one year can make!

Just the other day, Josie's teacher wrote this on

her progress note...

"I love watching her say goodbye to her sister (Julia) in the hallway.

She gives her a kiss in her hand and tells her to save it for later.

Melts my heart!"

Oh my goodness!

My heart melted too.

I smiled ear to ear when I read this.
Finally, I got my glimpse into the future of an easier time.
Finally, perspective.

These two girls were close to

scratching each others eyes out not too long ago

and now they are sitting together on the bus

(although one has actually slapped the other in the face on the bus)

and loving each other

when I am not looking!

Our kids still bicker,

and fight,

and hit sometimes.

but...

They, now, also play together!

They love to dress alike

and sometimes I find them holding hands.

Mostly, all five of them really enjoy teaming up against ME!

We are still working to not only ensure that Julia
develops a strong bond to each of us,
but also for each of us
bond to one another.
Forever.

 Thanks for sharing this crazy
ride with us.

Note from January 2013:
If you are here from Kelly's Korner, WELCOME!!
Take a look around!
I'd love to hear from you over at my Facebook page.
I'd also love to hear more about your adoption journey.
Good luck!

Black Hair for The White Mom: "Fro"

In case you just joined us,
you should know that I am a very white woman
raising beautiful children of different shades.
I wrote about Black Hair for the White Mom earlier this year.
Check it out HERE.

I want Maryn to have "free hair" for a little while .

This translates into a really cute "fro."

I washed,

conditioned,

detangled,

moisturized,

and protected it in her night cap.

I was trying to prevent having her wake up with a,

"fro-hawk"

as we affectionately call it.

Then I took it off  in the morning and found this...

and this...

Um, is that a helmet you are wearing my sweet girl?

My below average photography does not do this very tightly smooshed hair justice.

It is shaped a bit like a baby's head post natural delivery.

Of course, we were also in a hurry so I had to work quickly.

I grabbed the spray bottle of water and moisturizer and fluffed and separated her curls,

and hoped for the best.

Not so bad, if I do say so myself,

but honestly, Maryn could make any hairstyle work.

I also love to add a "fro-bow."

Thank goodness for the website,

Chocolate Hair Vanilla Care

and friends like "G"

for being a great resource.

It is funny how much thought and effort goes into all my kids' hair and mine

is often washed (or unwashed) and thrown up into a ponytail, wet or dry.

When I am feeling a bit crazy,

I might go the extra mile and add a little pizazz with a headband.

Somedays something has to give, and it is usually

personal hygiene ;)

Am I right moms?



Spook-takular 4th Birthday Party

If you didn't catch my last post,

Julia just turned 4!

 

We couldn't help but celebrate

with a few of her friends.

Here is how it all came together to make for a spook-tacular boo-thday!

 

Isn't my Peter Pan cute?

 

This is what you do during a two hour football practice.

You make mummies out of Hershey bars.

 

Voila...Chocolate mummies!

Original idea from Pinterest here.

Goofy word play...ALL MINE!

 

Note, I didn't glue eyes onto cardboard.

I simply wrapped and twisted streamer around the bar and

secured with tape. 

 I glued eyes directly to the streamers.

 

Then I added the streamers to old candles and mummify them as well.

I pinned this onto my Holiday board Pinterest HERE,

but I can't seem to follow it to a blog.

Candy corn in a glass, add pumpkin PEEPS on skewers, and you get another centerpiece.

The ghost PEEPS would have made it even better.

Maybe next time.

 

NOTE PEANUT/TREE NUT FAMILIES...After much searching...Deals stores carry this brand of safe candy corn

since Brach's is not peanut/tree nut free.  It also looked like Meijer's brand candy corn was safe too, fyi.

 

Caramel "crack corn"

This is so easy and addictive.

The recipe is HERE.

Pillsbury break apart pumpkin cookies. 

Can't get much easier.

 

Funfetti cupcakes with Wilton bat and pumpkin sugar pieces.

I just added sprinkles from Target's dollar ($2.50 actually) bin...aka. "financial death trap."

 

Since Julia's party was a costume party, Josie came up with a clever idea. 

 She was Tinker Bell,

Julia was Peter Pan,

and

Maryn was a pirate!

 

The older guys didn't decide on a costume until last minute.

Leah is, Porter.  She is in his football gear.

Porter insisted on being a pumpkin and is sporting a toddler size costume.

 

We had simple, no glue, crafts in the basement where the

older kids took charge. 

 

We had some fun

and sugar overload as well.

 

Anyone else have good small kid

friendly Halloween party tips to share?

 



Julia is 4!!

Julia is 4!

 

I can't believe it!

She has lived with us for just over one year

and as a family, we have come so far.

 

Here are some things that Julia wants you to know about her...

I love...

" the color purple,

 sausage for breakfast,

 mermaids,

to play outside,

to put lipstick on,

going to preschool,

and

Mama and Grandma."

 

(Insert a happy sniffle from mama.)

 

Here are some things that I want Julia to know about herself...

 

My Julia, you are a strong girl. 

 

 In just one year, you have had to experience so many changes. 

You have learned how to love and to be loved by a new family,

 

 lived in not one but two new houses with us,

grown used to being surrounded by four siblings, two parents, and a dog,

helped choose your new name,

had to deal with missing people that you love and love you,

learned how to ride a bike and draw the letter "J",

and so much more.

 

God has his hand on you.

 

He loves you even more than I do.

We know that things can be confusing sometimes but we

want you to know that

we love you so much and will

never leave you.

You are our girl forever and we are so happy

that you are a part of this family.

 

You are learning new things everyday. 

You are a beautiful girl with an infectious laugh, gorgeous smile, and

the softest skin ever!

You are growing closer to us with each hug, kiss, giggle, and memory we make together.

We have some catching up to do.

I look forward to seeing how your wonderful future unfolds

and walking with you each step of the way.

 

You are loved by so many people...

to the Moon and Back!