feild trip to the islands

neice #1: in the orange lavalava
nephew #1: dancing with the girl in brown
nephew #2: dancing with the girl in purple
nephew #3: dancing with the girl in greenish greyish

This morning Big P and Miss F and I all went on a *ahem* field trip to see my nephews and my niece perform at their school. Here's them sitting next to my brother while they were warming up. Wake up Carlito!We had a good time and the kids, of course, did great. Makes me wish that Norwegians had cooler customs. Doesn't it look like fun!?!

modest sleep walkers

So last night, just as I was *ahem* in the bathroom and about to go to bed, something slammed up against the door. So I peeped the door open to see what had cause the minor earthquake. To my surprise I found Miss B, wrapped up in a comforter, with her eyes shut. I figured that the light was probably a bit shocking to the iris which was why they were closed.

"Sweetie, do you need to use the bathroom?"
"fdlaspogarena; souf," she quietly mumbled
"MISS B. Do you need to use the bathroom?" At this point, I was exiting the lavatory.
"asiodufnasre,dfgiauwrngfa,xdnfviausrtq," she mumbled, a bit louder this time.
I put my hand on her shoulder and knelt down. "Miss B. Do YOU need to go potty?"
"No. No potty."
"Then what are you doing in the hallway?" She rubbed her eyes and then looked at me.
"No. No potty."
"Then why are you here, honey?"
"I'm just standing here right now." At this point, I started laughing.
"You're just standing here? Wouldn't bed be nicer? Why don't you go hop into bed goofball?" At this point, I assumed that she had woken up a bit more because she smiled and nodded. I thought that she had realized where she was and was confirming her silliness with the appropriate reaction.

This morning when I asked her if she remembered last nights incident, she insisted that she did not. I retold the story (with all the kids listening and laughing) and she seemed surprised by it all. Does this mean I can look forward to her sleepwalking out the back door to meet up with friends in the future?

my new favorite holiday

Yesterday was brilliant.
Truly.

Easter has been bumped up to my new favorite holiday. It is replacing... a different one... but only because I don't think that I've ever considered which one was my favorite until now.

All life begins and ends with this day. He coulda chose not to... but He did. My life began that day. It is my birthday.

The pictures don't reflect the joy experienced - they never do, though, do they? First, time spent with church family. Next, time spent with Mom (and extended) family. Then, time spent with Dad and family. Last, a cool down with my family. What an amazing thing, all of these people in my life, chosen for this time, set up in this place, to have lives interwoven with mine. I am just so dang thankful!
(Brova, it WOULD have been perfect if you were here. I know, I know. Getting meatballs thrown at you is more important but I love you anyway. Know that you were missed.)

God rocks.
Not that you needed me to tell you that.

What I Did

okay, bare (bear?) with me. this is yet another cute kid post.
so this morning Miss F is learning about writing papers that concern personal experiences. It's the first lesson so it's a fill in the blank thing. I gave her the paper and told her to write about something cool that she did. What she wrote is as follows (bold is the pre-written goblygook) :

I went to the couch.
Nobody went with me.
I saw my puppy sleeping on his bed.
I heard my mom typing on the computer.
Something I tasted was spit.
I smelled cupcakes baking.
I felt good.
The best part was when I was reading.
Other things to tell about: I saw my big brother doing his work. I saw the lamp by the dogs bed.

Thrilling, no?!? What an exciting life Miss F leads!

Right around there somewheres

It's been right around a year since Big P and I got home and I've been thinking a lot about it all lately. I was looking through pictures and I didn't realize (then) how skinny that that boy was! Check this one out:
That was his first time coloring. Ever. I didn't bring crayons with me because I figured that an 11 yr old wouldn't be into that. But he was so we just (ahem) borrowed from other kids.

That's one of him "swimmee."

So check my little man out now:

In one year, he's grown 6 1/2" and gained 30 lbs. That's some crazy stuff right there. This picture is of him attempting to appear studious. According to him, math isn't for smiling.

Considering that I was FREAKED out at the mere idea of having an insta-son at the age of 11, this boy SO has a spot in my heart. Just ask Husband. Today I'm at a place of valuing all the steps that we took... all of the ones that brought us here. I wouldn't change a thing. God is too good.

Never Gonna Break My Faith

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the NEXT button to get your answer.
3. You MUST write it down, even if it's lame.
4. Share it.


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Something in the Way She Moves - James Taylor
(hopefully this gets more clever as we go along)


WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Stormy Weather - Lena Horne
(don't say anything)


WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used to Do? - Hank Williams Sr. (IT'S HUSBANDS MUSIC!)
(didn't I just tell you not to say anything?)


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Smile - Lyle Lovett
(for real.)


WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Din Din Wo (Little Child) - Habib Koite
(yeah. I'm one of those world music fruitcakes. the world is big, man.)


WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Broken Hearted Melody - Sarah Vaughan
(HAH!)


WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
Let Go - The Godson Concept
(true.)


WHAT IS 2+2?
Brazillian Portuguese, Pimsleur Lesson 24
(umm..)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Outro - Kirk Franklin
(not actually. this is just a song game.)


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Eternal One - Robbie Seay Band
(hmm.)


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP??
Vesuvio - Spaccanapoli
(Prissy's favorite song!)


WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE??
Promises - India Arie
(back to not clever again)


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Brokenhearted - Kirk Franklin
(AHAHAHAHAHAHA)


WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever - Susan Tedeschi
(FINALLY one that fits! ..stop and lip sink to this one a minute..)


WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
For My Good - Lashun Pace
(I hope that it'll be a celebration. Make sure there's a mariachi band, okay?)


WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Os Grilos - Marcela
(Tab, can you translate?? The Crickets??? but this song is really freakin' good. ..dance in the chair..)


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Sunshine - Mos Def
(wow. the cuts are getting better and better over here.)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Prone to Wonder - Chris Rice
(HA!)


WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Crazy Love - Van Morrison and Ray Charles
(this is a fat lie. I'm in crazy love and it's crazy good. have you met Husband!?!)


HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Hallelujahs - Chris Rice


WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Ella Fitzgerald
(does my ipod have something against Husband?)


WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
In the Belly of the Whale - Veggie Tales
(more like makes me cry. I'm so. tired. of. veggie. tales.)


WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Look at Me Now - Kirk Franklin
(now that's just not nice.)


WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Joy - Newboys


WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Let Me Touch You - Kirk Franklin AGAIN
(ummm...)


DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Stormy Weather - Etta James
(should I take that as a no?)


IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Tired of My Tears - Susan Tedeschi
(true freakin that. ..jam out some more.. "sick of your lies, tired of my tears, go if you want, you better tell it like it is")


WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
You Don't Know Me - Ray Charles
(it does. it hurts.)


WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Never Gonna Break My Faith - Mary J Blige and Aretha Franklin
(have you heard this song?? turning up volume. man, I've got good taste in music. I love Mary.)

tunafish

Plans by Maxine Kumin
Orated by Miss F

she's back at it...

The unofficial Underwear Fairy is back in the states (until mid February) and she's started another pledge. BUT since ya'll gave a bazillion pairs of undies, this time she's asking for help with some Flinstone (type) vitamins. Ash, does this make you the Flinstone Fairy??

Can we do it?
Yes we can!

She's also more than happy to take gift cards (which rocks for us cause then we don't have to pay for shipping) for the major stores. You can sign up below:

and if that doesn't work then just go to this place... or look to your LEFT. didn't you notice that overtly large purpley block of words??

an ode to 4Runner Man

So last night when I was following you home from West Seattle, you very well could have saved my life a million times over.
I know, I know. A woman probably shouldn't drive at night when it's snowing with six kids and a husband in the car (whom could've driven but I didn't want to pullover and get stuck) when she only can see with one eye. The possibility of a negative out come was... shall we say... extremely high.
But you, my dear friend, wisely stayed in one lane. You threw on your flashers while we were going up that incline near Boeing Field, just to let me know it was a bit treacherous. You maintained a speed limit between 30-40 mph, not too fast and not slow. There were a few times when you splashed so much water/slush/mud onto my windshield that I had to hit the brakes until my wipers cleared off the mess, but because of your previous kindnesses, I continue to assume that it was accidental.
I do wonder if you have some sort of super hero strength. Night vision maybe? The ability to connect/understand weather? Not even Husband could see the difference in lanes on I-5 last night. At one point, before I found you (or you found me, rather) when I was on the West Seattle Bridge, I was unintentionally driving in two lanes. I only noticed this upon going under another bridge when the signs above were either off center or I was.
When it was time for me to take our exit and I had to leave you, I did feel a bit remiss as I watched you plow on into the night. I'm quite sure, though, that there were others out there who required your aid and it was your duty to meet their needs. I honestly would've preferred to follow you all the way to our driveway, but you must have felt that I was calm enough to continue on without you. Superheroes intuitively know these things.
4Runner Man, wherever you are this morning (probably your secret hideout), I thank you.