March '13

March.  The land of birthdays.  Spring approaching.  Adoptions finalized.  Spring Break.

March 1st had us with TCS Kinder group going to Bayou Wildlife Park.  Great cool weather and fascinating animals!

We had some greeters as we drove up.

Where's Waldo?

Um, maybe "Cousin" from Charlotte's Web?

Getting more practice before the horse party the following day

Finally we got a ride on the tram to see the exotic African wildlife

A beefalo...a cross between a cow and a buffalo...not kidding!

This guy's horns were 20 lbs. each!

That evening we drove to Waco to help celebrate Lexi's birthday the following day.  Waking up at Grandma & Grandpa's to "4" balloons.  The more I get into this three kids business the less the birthday glamor that evolves.

I admit something about this birthday struck a chord.  I was very reflective of the pain Lexi's birth mom must be feeling.  Very tender for me to celebrate a daughter, one i never thought I would have.  How I deserved none of it.  It's hard to put it into words.  It was just a tender weekend for me as an mother of adopted kids.

Birthday breakfast of eggs, turkey sausage, and Pamela's GF pancakes

More on the goofy horse candle later

Then I was off to Papa & Birdie's house to host the family only party for Lexi.  Back when the boys had their massive parties at the house, she whispered that she wanted only family at Birdie's house for a horsie party.  If eventually went from just girls in the family to including the boys as well.  I told her it was a good idea to include Daddy since he paid for the party.  She said daddy always was the one to say it was time to go from places, and she wanted to stay at her party.  I got a good laugh and told her she was allowed to stay.

It was just Daniel and my three kids, so I got some horse stamps for a little activity.

Lexi wanted to decorate with her stuffed animal horse and newly painted horse from a birthday party.

The favors were horse shaped crayons and bottle cap horse necklaces

So...the candles.  We ordered a cake in Waco from Tracy Hermann and three days prior my mom tells me there's no decor on it.  So the only thing I could do in that amount of time (and no, I don't run around town anymore for things like candles), was order these from Amazon via Oriental Express. 

Horse pinata...small but fun

My mom had made this wreath that had nothing to do with the party but worked it's way in.  Look at ole crafty Kathy!

Lil Britches and

It was 42 degrees when we started out at the party.  Momma wasn't planning on that!  And apparently Lil Britches (who was formally a granddaughter's pet and then taken in by the grandmother) didn't want to work that day but she wanted to sit in her hay in the warm barn.  So Mrs. Edna Weir, from Edna's Pony Rides, told her that she had to, and what if she had given up on her when no one wanted her?  Lexi was adopted and it was her first birthday party since the adoption and she needed to work.  And then Lil Britches got in her trailer.  No joke!

Daniel watching in awe at the horse outside.

Then arrived the birthday girl, with a sweater that covered her fun shirt and many bangles that her and Grandma had made that morning.

For someone who said she would not ride but only watch, she got right on that horse and rode to her heart's content.

Pretty in pink, the birthday girl's favorite color

The hat came off and she braved the cold without it

A nice treasure from Lil Britches

Then came Tom Sawyer, I mean JT

I couldn't find a good cheaper western hat for Justin as he is now in adult sizes and no way was I paying $60 for a boy who wouldn't wear it much.  So I gave him my hat I wore on the river.  Well, it's gotten wet, is now a bit misshapen, and looks a little out of place.

Not to mention a ski jacket and gloves to throw in our western mix

And Levi no longer had his Wranglers and was stuck in last minute hand-me-downs from wider thighs JT

Looks like a natural

Then came Daniel

I think he liked it

Everyone had another turn

River rat has stolen a horse!

Solemn cowboy

Woody

Justin put on Birdie's Stetson for redemption

Then Miss Edna let the kids feed Lil Britches some carrots.  Highlight!

Then we went inside for lunch.  We invited Edna and her cousin in to share the meal and fellowship with us.  They told us at the end that out of 100 events we were one of two that included them in the festivities.  For shame!  Especially with Mrs. Weir being a recent widow I felt the Lord allow us to love on her and take care of her that day.

Once the Happy Birthday started she was all smiles

The uncles sporting their Sheriff badges that everyone got to wear

Saying goodbye to Lil Britches who couldn't wait to get into warmer weather.  We will be back soon to take a ride on Lil Britches.  $10 for 10 turns around the land she lives on plus helping support a widow in need.  Sounds like a win win for everyone. 

Then it was pinata bustin' time

Derek showing Daniel how to do it

Decapitated!

Levi obliterating what little is left

And Daniel finishing off the end of it

The Micahelis crew

The SMith bunch

Cousins

My three

Present time.  I think Daniel wants a pink ball.

Birdie gave Lexi my birthday angels that I got for each birthday when I was growing up.  My mom gave her four and will then give her each one per birthday from here on out.

Finishing off with a hot tub jump in the cold weather that evening with Grandpa.

That next week we got the privilege of going to the airport to welcome home Hudson & Sutton & the Hughes from China!  I could do these every week as the emotions are like non other.

Getting the crowd ready for a group pic

Mariana's fam

Each child made a poster and told me what to put on it.  This was Lexi's saying before doing dot markers all over it.

Good point, Levi

Justin's turned into a dialogue

Sporting our 147 million shirts

The Browns who just came on their 2 year anniversary

Me, Emily, & Erica

Ethan loves Levi so well

I still remember having dessert at the Kleins' house and leaving feeling the Lord stirring us to adopt through the foster system. I called Arrow the next day and the rest is history.  Mary with her two adopted daughters.

Jim Bailey who is our community group leader

Jenny Sanchez & I

The kdis did a great job of entertaining themselves

The Matthews with adopted daughter Priya and hopefully this year will bring home their next daughter they are waiting for!

Our pastor Michael with wife Christy Boys

They are here!

Excited ladies

Chinese for sister

Scott with his fam

Ladies adopting next - Melanie, Christy, & Kasey.  Forgot to find Sarah Wright to complete this!

These guys, missing Dave Bray, are great accountability with each other

Me with my mini

Lots of prayer warriors!

Scott with his son...never thought I would see it!  The Lord has done a good work in this family, and it's exciting to get a glimpse of it.

Scott & Mariana with all the adopted kids at the airport

So thankful the Lord provided me someone to walk in the journey of infertility and now adoption of two babies to add to our only children.  Isn't He faithful to bring someone to walk alongside what seems a lonely journey of laying down the idol of pregnancy and embracing a new way of completing a family.

Lex & Kennedy

These two have a special relationship and just get each other.  It's fun to do life with these special people!

The Friday before Spring Break I wasn't feeling up to speed and decided to cancel going to the rodeo and we hosted some friends over instead.  The kids played in the front yard the entire time and the truck was the hot spot to play at.

Getting "plants" in the garden at their "grocery store"

The weekend before leaving for Spring Break festivities we went out as a family for Lexi's birthday.  We chose Local Foods, a new place started by Benjy's.  It was good, not a fave but another good local organic place to eat at.

Then we went to Neos Yogurt and had some dairy free yogurt with quite a selection.  Kids thought they were something else!

Savoring every bite

Showing mommy that they can do yoga too

Sadly enough, the closest they got to the rodeo this year was in the airport as we were flying to Utah.  We literally ran out of time, but I know they will see it in years to come.

They got over it quickly once we got to our place right by the base of the mountain next to ski school.  The location was a blessing as this was trip number two with three kids in two months and this time without any parents.

A little out of order, getting ready to ski one morning.

I admit, the view always brings me to realize how small I am in this world that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of.

Ski party right outside my window on the first day with all the characters from ski school.

After my three napped, the Browns rolled into town and we all went out to play in the snow.

It was a little warm so Derek was rocking quite the combo.

The Brown crew

The next morning we got to watch the groomers groom the run right by where we were staying.

Lots of meals shared over that trip

We loved hanging in the evenings as our bodies recuperated from the day

Getting ready for the slopes for our first ski day

We worked hard on those braids...only to be told they were taken out immediately when she went out on the snow since her helmet wouldn't fit over it.  No duh mommy...

One evening went to Gorgoza Park.  We had a blast, including trying to 30 minutes to tube down and get Justin's ski glove that fell off one rider.  The entire place was helping us try to snag it as they would race down the shoots.

One morning we hooked up with Derek's family, Mark, Keyea, Kailey, & Joesph.  I kept us as good as I could.

We stopped for lunch and ran into our instructor who we had both two years ago and now this trip as well.  We saw Kerry everywhere, and really started a great friendship with him.  He also helped me get over a skiing crutch as I branched out into better skiing.

It was Pirate week at ski school.  Lexi did amazing with her new birthday bumping her up into the Bambi class.  She did great!

Sillies

Standing on my porch watching Derek pick up Levi from ski school.  We could literally walk there.

We loved the game room

The whole crew

As the sun was setting

The best one of my three

I love the days where I take photos of the kids

Justin started getting promoted each day to a new class, and eventually got promoted to poles, a huge deal!  He would literally ski all over the mountain and loved every bit of it.

Looks like a pro

Levi also got promoted every day and ended up in a class right below Justin.  We were stunned as it was his second trip but he was a ski master, our fearless one.

I wish I could figure out how to show a video.  Levi liked skiing backwards, and while I was filming ran into Justin and took him out at the bottom of the mountain.  It was hilarious!

My handsome skier

Daddy has his menfolk who love to ski

Then there was the Little Miss

Her and Titus were in a 2.5 hour morning class together.  Lots longer than the hour back in January.

Do you see a little something in her coat peeking through?

Mastering Candyland with no edgie wedgie.

Apparently the class mascot got to ride in Lexi's jacket.  Lexi who would love on any creature, real or stuffed.  So nurturing.

Her first lift during class

Braid twins drinking almond milk hot chocolate.  Ha!

The boys went on moguls with Daddy one afternoon.  Justin carefully around them and Levi on top of them flying down the mountain.  Have fun fellas...

We had a family ski afternoon and Daddy picked a blue run due to the temps in the high 50s and the ice starting to melt on the green runs.  We went without jackets - a first!

Lexi made the lift

Levi caring his skies to go out on the mountain.  We LOVED his instructor and reminded me of how Levi would be someday.  I can see Levi coming here and teaching kids and loving every bit of it.

The last I saw of him as they went to the mountain.

Synopsis of trip number two with three:
*Warm weather does wonders on a wife's soul
*Staying close and not having to shuttle the kids back and forth with frozen toes...helps
*Going with fun friends like the Browns who equally loved skiing is encouraging
*I think I can manage this again.  It was a great trip!

We flew back to Houston and I got a text from Levi & Lexi's old foster family.  Their youngest was pitching the next day at a Rice game and did we want to meet them there?  We were in!  I was prayerful and tried to talk to the kids as we went reminding who the final authority was in this mix.

The kids were thrilled to see "old sister" Teagan!

Lexi got the hot seat and won a free pizza

My kids were getting restless so we took Teagan and left the other foster kids with her family and went to play in the outfield.

Ran into Oliver Paxton, a fellow Rice family supporter.

It was crazy how the Lord arranged for literally every family member from their old life to be at this one game.  An old foster grandmother

A grandfather, five foster kids (two of which Levi & Lexi knew from living with them), old mom and dad, and two old brothers.  None of these people are blood, just a huge part of my kids' lives for almost two years.

With baseball old brother

We finished feeling a great stepping stone in this adoption process, gave a million hugs, and met the Paxtons for dinner before calling it a day.  The kdsi felt so happy at the end of the day.  Good choice to meet up with that family!

Lexi and I saw this at whole Foods and thoughts it was funny....

Playing dress up when Lexi insisted I try on her Halloween costume that I could barely fir on my body

Getting a face paint at a birthday party

Levi looked at old photos of Justin and noticed he would do cars down the slide.  So he wanted to do the same thing

Lexi with her line of cars

Levi doing the same car ramp as he saw from the photo book

Lexi at a birthday tea party

Going to practice in full Cubs' gear

Birthday...it was my 35th.  I decided a low key day was appropriate due tot he busy month.  Derek sent me to the spa that afternoon and I came home to homemade cupcakes made by the crew.  And a glass of vino.

We went to Taste of Texas as a family for dinner.  Haven't been there in a decade and we loved it!  Great place for a family and we loved all of it.  I even got a steak!

Me and my baby.  :-)

During Lent we went through Passion Hymns for a Kid's Heart.  It came with a CD of Hymns that as a family we would worship and learn and listen to after reading the day's story.  This was such a great family worship tool, plus my kids are growing to love hymns.  And my mom informed me as we finished up at the beach house over Easter that I used to play at Bobbie Wolgemuth's house.  Small world!




Resurrection eggs, The Crippled Lamb, The Tale of Three Trees were three other books/traditions that we incurred over this time.  Once again being mindful as this was the first Easter with my three and how did we want it to look from here on out.

We last minute headed to Galveston for Easter.  Forgot my camera so it's all on my phone.

The kids got good hang time with Grant

And Hilary.  These two cuddled up real quick as similar girlie girls.

Watching Shane fish

Catching fish

It was a little chilly but Papa & Birdie took the crew to the beach

The kids didn't mind one bit

I decided last minute, after discussing with a wise friend, to do Easter egg stuff on Saturday and only talk about the Resurrection on Sunday.  I would read posts like this to confirm the already warring emotions in me as things I have done in the past are not having as much value.  And if there isn't as much value to me, then why make SUCH a big deal of it with my family?  

The kids helped pick out their Easter tins (loving these tins I also got for Halloween), took a shower after the beach, knew mommy and daddy were hiding the eggs (yes, if we don't do Santa then Easter bunny definitely doesn't get a mention), and went on the hunt.

The kids ready to hunt

We put them in obscure places

Looking at their loot

And took a quick rest from all the excitement

They went to a hunt at Stewart Mansion that afternoon

And then we were done.  No rushing around doing eggs, church, lunch, and everything in between on a day of worship.  No photos of everyone in coordinating outfits.  Nothing wrong with it, just not putting my energy into that.  It was peaceful, and that's just what the Lord had in store for my fivesome.

Derek went fishing

And mom asked a neighbor if we could take a run at paddleboarding.

It was hard and definitely worked on your core

Shane showing the more appropriate posture of bending and not being quite so stiff

Dad giving it a run

Shane jumping from the top

And swinging into the water

We left early Sunday morning to go back to teach Levi's class in Sunday school.  All three stayed with us for the first time and we went through the story of Easter through the Resurrection eggs.  Then we relaxed and reflected on the good in the sacrifice.  Praise the Name of Jesus!

We finished off Easter with confetti eggs.

Letting the crazies loose

It had just finished raining so we put on galoshes

And then we were finished

What I am digging right now:

Ginger Plowman Wise Words App - great app to help train your kids and give them scripture when talking to their sinful hearts.


The Secret Life of an Unlikely Convert - read it!  So encouraging of a complete life change that only the Lord could orchestrate.



Jenifer Hatmaker's Examining Adoption Ethics series.  The latest post being the most practical for those of us wanting to do something about adoption!

"Some of us will raise the money, some will raise awareness, and some will raise the kids."

Amen!  

It was a full month.  A month of firsts.