Rambling on about Pigeons

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!!!

Here's the boys goofing off with Brighten. I've learned my lesson with the (sweet) mongrel that is Brighten and always check her Mom & Dad's nest for eggs when I change the aviary water. As much as I love birds, 7 is just perfect for the size of enclosure we have, so I've been vigilant about checking that nest and removing any eggs laid during the night.
Well, I know they say that Pigeons are stupid, but Mr. Moo & Mrs. Grays' pea-sized brains went to work on outsmarting me. They made a second, hidden nest. By the time I became wise to their game and found the twin eggs, they were, I suspect, about three-fourths of the way "done". Looks like we'll be having twins for Christmas.
This makes me realize that we'll need to do something about this prolific pair. Maybe, once springtime comes, I'll liberate Moo. Although I hate to do that as he's one of my prettiest birds. I would rather release Gray, but I wonder if Moo will then just take a new wife and our quandary will continue? Brainstorming chastity belts for pigeons......Anyway. Blathering about birds probably isn't why you stopped by, so here's another picture of my darlings asleep. I may have more shots of these 2 with their eyes closed than open!

Speaking of pictures, my kiddos is going to be in one of my favorite magazines, Adoptive Families (www.adoptivefamilies.com)! They're pretty excited that their picture was chosen as we often look at this magazeen together. It's got some really good articles about all sorts of stuff. It's second only to my Family Fun subscription.
I hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day with those you love!

Guess Who Signed Adoption Paperwork Today?

WE DID!!!

Here we are waiting in the lawyer's office

Zephan and Daddy

Signing the petition to adopt!! This will now go to the judge's office and his staff will set up a ceremony date for us. After we see the judge it's a done deal! He will officially be:
Zephaniah Henry!!
I think it's cool how, even though this adoption didn't go through "on time", we'll finalize at Christmastime just like we did with Levi. It makes this time of year extra special for us. So much to celebrate! Last year it snowed on Levi's "Gotcha Day" which was oh so beautiful and such a treat. The memory of the boys running down the courthouse steps in the snowflakes is burned into my memory. And how this flood of relief and awe washed over me that nobody could take him away, now. He was MINE. We went out for dessert down the block afterward and I watched both sides of our families enjoy one another and chat while the boys giggled and ate their danishes. It was a perfect day. And now I get to do it again with my 4th son. The little stinker will be MINE.

How blessed am I.

November? Are You Kidding Me?

My little Supermen and Ninjas:

Happy NOVEMBER! Can you even believe it? We're officially into the holiday season. I'm in shock. October went super fast and ended with the Pumpkin Party at church. My guys had a blast and this was the aftermath:
What was that? You want a closer look?

I seriously don't understand how they sleep like this! Levi is usually cuddled up on the foot of the bed with the dog. Lately they've been asking for Zephan to join the mix, but he tends to get Levi riled up and subsequently ends up back in his crib. Maybe someday we'll need the crib for somebody else, then we can debate the pros and cons of the dog pile sleeping arrangement with yet another brother.
Speaking of baby, I'm once again pining. Zephan is waaaay too big and is more enthused about playing (even cooperatively - gasp!) with his brothers than he is about being my baby.

Micah is still in the "rolling his eyes stage" of our discussion about another placement.

I say, "I know you, you old softie. You'll fall in love with a new one just as quickly as you did with our sons." to which he says, "Yeah, like I did for our daughters, too. Remember them? Rayna? Savannah? Secilia? Selina?"

Sigh. I remember. All to well. And I don't blame him for wanting to shield us all from the pain of loss. Especially Solomon who has such a soft heart and tender spirit. It would be really difficult for him to lose a child who he had come to view as a sibling. And, hey, we've attained permanency twice in a row - we're due for a good old fashioned heart-break, right?
Sigh.
It's hard to know what to do.
So, I'm praying for wisdom AND PATIENCE. When it's time we'll BOTH know. In the meantime I'm finishing up some projects. Pre-nesting, you might say. The boys decided on a color scheme for the Cluhouse (with surprisingly little input from the Mama) and we ended up with this Americana-type look:

We stuck some hay bales and ropes inside and threw together some super-easy festive curtains. You know, the kind that only need a tension rod, a yard of fabric and a package of plastic rings. We'll make some for Christmas, too. It's just too cute of a detail to pass up :)Micah just needs to put in the door and steps and we'll be all set! He's also talking about finishing the inside, but we'll see. For now they're having fun graffiti-ing the walls with their crayons. It makes me smile.