Pops and Pancakes

Abigail's preschool is studying the letter P this week. Last Saturday the school held a Pops and Pancakes event, where daddy's got to take their little preschoolers to breakfast for pancakes. This coming Friday her class gets to wear their pajamas to school. Abigail just thinks this is hilarious! :)

First Boo Boo

Jackson got his first real boo boo today at Chick fil a. Yes - we went there again - twice in one week. He was playing in the play area and bumped his lip on the slide. :(  Bummer.

School Bus

Occasionally we are home and the kids get to see the school bus pick up our neighbor girls. This is something that is quite fascinating to my kids. Here they are watching. I thought it was cute to see them watch the event. :)

I want to remember...

Something I've been thinking about ever since my evening last night is how this couple blessed me at Chick-fil-a. John took his POD (college ministry) skiing yesterday. To help make my evening with kids  pass I decided to take the kids to Chick-fil-a for dinner - this way I didn't have to cook. We could get out and be amongst other adults and people, and the kids could play and work off some energy before bed. 

We were having a great time. The kids had their nuggets, fruit, waffle fries and milk (well Jackson had a little of his milk before spilling it all over himself). Thankfully he was dressed in clothes that dry quickly. We'd already done the whole bathroom, diaper thing. I didn't want to have to change him again! 

Anyway, the kids ate and then quickly wanted to go play. I went in with them because Jackson still needs really close supervision. I saved the ice cream til the end - bribery for leaving. The kids played great, but the time was nearing close to when I thought we should be leaving. So I gave the 5 min warning. Well - suddenly I could tell Jackson was finished. So I quickly rounded up Abigail and carried Jackson out to get our ice cream. Well, the line suddenly was quite long. The couple in front of us had apparently not been to Chick-fil-a before, and she did not seem as if she was very impressed. FINALLY it was our turn to get our ice cream (with sprinkles of course). Jackson was growing antsier by the second. I was growing aware of the fact we may have played a few minutes too long, but I was hoping the ice cream would help us recover. 

After getting our ice cream we journeyed back to the table. I let the kids start eating. Abigail was thoroughly enjoying herself, but Jackson was struggling with the ice cream and quickly becoming irrational. So I started to quickly clean up our table - which was quite a mess. I threw away a huge handful of food, bags, napkins, etc etc. However Jackson was starting to lose it. So I strongly suggested to Abigail that it would be fun to eat her ice cream in the van on the way home. She was not quickly convinced, but was convinced nevertheless. I went to get Jackson out of the high chair and he lunged back. Now this kid is quite heavy these days, but he's also become very strong too! When he lunges back he makes himself so heavy I can BARELY pick him up. Sometimes I simply can't. So he throws himself back, and I couldn't get him out of the high chair. Suddenly I felt a firm hand (a very kind man) on the high chair bracing it so I could more easily get Jackson out. I thanked him, and tried to coral Abigail towards the door as I was trying to gather the last of our food and mess. Suddenly a lady swooped over and started picking up the rest of our mess (including the disgusting half eaten clementines, leftover, slobbered on grapes, etc. etc). I profusely thanked her and of course said - "o you don't need to do that." She quickly answered, "I've been there. Let me help you. I mean you only have two hands!"

I felt so bad, but I was so thankful to have that couple help me! They were such a blessing to me last night! It was such an example of grace and mercy. I want to be that couple for other moms who are struggling with a tough evening or situation with her kids. I especially want to remember it when I am no longer in the trenches of toddlers, tantrums, and so on. However, there are moments even now (though it feels like they are few) when my kids are behaving themselves in public, when I want to be aware of the needs around me. 

God bless that couple, and God bless those of you who bless and care for the moms with young kids simply in need of some extra hands. Sometimes I wonder why God only gave us two - but then it's also an incredible opportunity for others to serve and extend some extra, helping hands. 

Though he looks very angry and quite awful, he is really having a great time! :) He was having so much fun he refused to stop for me to get a picture.

Waiting!

Forgive this horribly blurry picture! A button got switched on my camera, and I was unaware until a few days after the picture was taken. Bummer. I've now got some good pictures that are completely blurry. Anyway, I did want to post this picture anyway, because these papers are near and dear to me (and horrid at the same time - such a love/hate thing). Anyway...these represent tons of time, money and frustration. However, they are complete!!!! These documents are those for our dossier! :) Many of you already know that we are hoping to adopt from Ethiopia. We actually have been wanting to do this for quite some time, but God had other plans for our family - 2 wonderful, beautiful biological kiddos. :) However, we are taking the plunge - using some alternative birth control methods (ha!), and we are officially being added to the wait list for a child 0-15 months, boy or girl. The child will need to be at least a year younger than Jackson, but given the length of time it took us to complete the dossier we should not have a problem with age restrictions.

Now we are officially yet on the wait list! :) Many ask how long the wait might be...well it will be a long time. :) We haven't gotten any real clear answers on wait time for referral. However, 12-15 months is the average time they are giving us. Then, after referral we wait for an appointed court date, then we travel (3-4 months after referral), we return to the US without our child, then we go back to get him/her. So the entire process I expect will take 1.5-2+/- years.

So I'm in this weird stage where I want to be prayerful; however, I kind of want to put it from my mind to ease the wait. I don't want to be anxious.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4: 6-7

Handy Man!?

Did God give me a handy man? Jackson LOVES anything hands-on. If it has buttons, he LOVES it - guaranteed.

Keeping warm!

After nap one afternoon Jackson and I cuddled on the couch trying to stay warm! Of course this lasted about 3.5 seconds. Jackson certainly does not sit still for long. However, it was fun while it lasted!

Abigail got REALLY creative one evening while playing her all-time favorite game - dress up!

Apparently Jackson felt warm enough as he refused to allow me to put a shirt on him! Thankfully on this particular day it was sort of "warm". I chose to not pick this battle (yet). He did eventually have to put a shirt on of course. Oh - and did I mention that he is obsessed with carrying his "blackberry phone" on his hip!? :) The kid is hilarious.