Science Celebration

Today Solomon brought a pinata to Science in celebration of his 5th birthday! He and his friends had a great time smacking down the dragon! Look at Malachi's stance - he's completely at war with the pinata. The kid knows that there's candy in there. It's on.

He's also having a sure-to-be-frenzied birthday lunch at Chuck E. Cheese (joy of all joys) next Tuesday with the Lunde Family, Nana and Papa & Goga. We're having a dinner the next Sunday as well so he can visit with his Auntie and Uncles. We're sparing them the utter torture of Chuck E. Cheese. I decided that I can't chase off the eleventeen rambunctious, virus-laden little people who will inevitably single out my sister's belly and start running circles around it. Somebody's likely to get a fork stuck in their lil' butt, and we can't really afford a lawsuit just now. Anywho, Auntie and Uncle dodged a bullet for now, but soon their time will come. And when it does, we'll be there. Laughing and pointing.

Utterly Cool Feild Trip

From Solomon: We're finally back! I admit that it was mostly my fault that Mommy hasn't updated the blog in a while. I spilled tea on the computer keyboard. Ooops. But, Daddy came home with another one yesterday, so here we are again! We had a field trip to the Rickreal Dairy yesterday and boy was it fun! Stinky, but fun. We got to feed the babies their bottles (and get slimed), and see the Mamas get milked (hee hee - one peed on Mr. Lunde! It was great!).

Mommy said that this was good practice. Soon there will be babies needing bottles at our house - I can't wait to help out!

Here's Zion and me. It's really handy for Mom that Kai's best friend is Zion's brother, Cayman. 2 sets of brothers is really nice for play dates, birthday parties and growing up together in general! And, as you can see, Cayman and Malachi love each other every bit as much as Zion and I do!

Here's the cotton seed that the cows eat with their grain. The "cowboys" said that, if wear only our socks, we could play in it! 50 pairs of boots were left in a big pile and the homeschoolers were off to conquer the mountain. When it was time to leave, a few of my friends discovered that they had accidentally become barefooted.

I wonder how many cows have eaten previous feild trippers' stinky socks?

Before they outgrow it...

I wanted a small list of my favorite of Solomisms and Malachisms that are heard throughout the days of their toddler hood. Soon these utterances will fade into the correct words and pronunciations they vaguely resemble. They'll be outgrown just like the cribs, car seats and diapers. On that day, I'll cry. I just don't want to live in a world without "hangerburs".

Malachisms:

"Cinderella": Noun. Type of cheese preferred over Cheddar, Swiss, Colby or Pepper Jack.

"Bwank": Noun. Ugly, pilly green thing drug around the house incessantly, fretted over while in the washer and required immediately in case of "owie", "bonk", or heaven forbid, "bweedin'".

"Fwatted": Adjective. State that "bwank" must be in before sleep can occur. "Fwatting" consists of 3 steps; the locating of the "bwank", the laying on of the "bwank", and most importantly, the smoothing of the "bwank". "Fwatting" may need to occur several times before sleep is achieved.

"Sah-wee": Noun. Malachi's brother. Often pronounced in a whiny tone.

Solomisms:

"Hangerbur": Noun. A favorite fast food item ordered specifically without lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions and mustard effectively making it the most unhealthy food item known to man.

"Mammo-Jammo": Noun. Homemade, tie-together "bwank" made from fleece hand-picked by him (one side purple tie-dye, one side rainbow sherbet colored camouflage).

"Pee": Noun. Beloved classic Disney musical starring an animated invisible dragon and his boy, "Pee".

"Maneese": Noun. Favorite condiment for sandwiches.

I may add to the list as I remember/hear more...

Raffle!

Everyone probably knows already (if not, check your e-mail box) that I'm holding a raffle for a $50.00 gift certificate to a local Spa. There are participating Spas all over the country. To find a few near you, just head over to www.SpaFinder.com and type in your zip. The site will bring up the web pages of Spas in your area where you can cash in your $50.00 of bliss! You can leave me a comment if you would like to enter, or e-mail me. Please spread the word - all proceeds go directly to bringing our little ones home!

Thanks, everyone!!
Lynee`

And, yes, I still want 2 more.

So, there I was, minding my own business, sitting in my comfy blue rocker while perusing a pamphlet, "Why Should I Grow My Family Through Adoption?".

All of a sudden, out of the clear blue sky, my eldest son comes over and promptly throws up all over me. Twice. As I'm assessing how to go about getting up without spreading the yuck, I notice that my youngest son is laughing. Something about my plight genuinely amused him.

"Why Should I Grow My Family Through Adoption?" because everyone needs more moments like these. Good times, I'm tellin' ya.

Good times.

I was only gone for a minute ...

...and I come back to this (look at Kai's face - you can just tell he's desperately attempting to noodle out an explanation of some kind):

Yes. They were "decorating" Kitty-One. And he just sat there, glad to be getting some extra attention. I guess that's what happens when you park your kitty keester on the school table when markers are being used.



We've been cracking up all day as we watch him lick off the assortment of colors bestowed on him. Every time he walks in the room, his tongue is a different color. Here he is after working on a particularly pesky blue patch:

I'm wondering how he's going to manage getting his head cleaned? Ah, well. At least it's non-toxic.

Poor One.

Our 501st Post!

Wow! Can you believe we've passed our 500 post milestone? At least I hear that it's a milestone. And I'm supposed to write 50 interesting things about myself to commemorate it, apparently. I may not get to 50, as I'm really not all that interesting, but I'll admit to a few eccentricities for all of blogdome:
1. I HATE the feel of velvet. Have since I was a kid.
2. I under no circumstances trust the big sucking tube people use at bank drive-ins. They freak me out. Someday one of those suckers will suck up somebody's arm and they'll be on the evening news. Won't be me, thankyouverymuch.
3. When I was a teenager I stepped on my brother's mouse, Inky, and killed him.
4. My Mom and my brother were right there when it happened.
5. They actually laughed.
6. My husband is very hunky.
7. I have a sister 8 years older than me and a brother 8 years younger.

8. I'd like to have 7 kids someday.
9. In 4th grade I accidentally killed my hamster by putting him outside in his exercise ball on a hot day.
10. I've wanted to adopt since I was tiny.
11. My Grandma was a missionary in Liberia, Africa.
12. Last summer I got my husband's name tattooed between my shoulder blades.
13. He really liked it :)
14. I prefer pudding to ice cream.
15. I may like Rescue Heros as much as my boys do.
16. White walls and I don't get along.
17. I thought Malachi was a girl the first half of his pregnancy and called him Tirzah.
18. I'm glad that he doesn't remember.
19. I want to spend retirement traveling all over in my motor home with my old, hunky husband.
20. I have an 8-year-old sister-in-law.
21. I love Monty Python.
22. I like my boys to match each other or at least coordinate their colors.
23. Couldn't tell you why, really.
24. Half of my bedroom is painted black.
25. I prefer pie to cake.
26. I like movies wherein people get eaten by creatures.
27. I will never again install carpeting in my home. Ever.
28. I'm a big Simpson's fan. Yah, I know, I know...
29. I prefer vanilla flavor to chocolate flavor on most things.
30. When we were newlyweds, my husband bought me 2 ducks which I kept in a kiddie pool in the living room.
31. I prefer daisies to roses.
32. My children will outgrow naps long before I do.
33. I dislike chick-flicks.
34. I will never live too far from the ocean.
35. I'm wild about chickens.
36. I'm a big fan of M. Night Shaymalan.
37. My favorite movie of all time is Signs.
38. I prefer baths to showers and only choose the later if I absolutely have to.
39. My dog and my firstborn are both named after C.S. Lewis.
40. My kids are incredibly cute and self-sufficient for their ages.
41. I've read all the Harry Potters, Artemis Fowls, and the entire Series of Unfortunate Events.
42. The escrow on our house closed on our wedding day.
43. I really like dread-locks.
Alrighty, that's enough torture for today. Now you can effectively embarass me anytime you wish. May our next 500 posts be as interesting as the last!

Much Ado About Fundraising

From Mommy: So. Fundraising ideas. I need them. Nowish.

The boys and I are currently selling cand bars around the neighborhood which is really neat. You would think that something small like candy wouldn't bring in much revenue, and I admit that it brings up the image of eating an elephant, but it's so sweet to see the boys talking to our neighbors about "bringing our babies home". I want them to know that if they want something in life they need to go out and get it. However they can. That having been said, I need some thoughts from those of you who have been where we are. How did you get the money?

Also a factor is how quickly things will be moving. Our agency said that once our home study is complete, referrals will likely be given almost immediately. This is when we will owe our $30,000.

Eeeeek.

I know that God will provide. I'm just anxious to see how.

In the meantime, we're off to sell more candy and spread the message that babies all over the world need families. Pray for openings for us to talk to folks about our babies and also about Who will provide the way to get them home. And please pray for God's provision for our sweet girls.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had our homeschool Valentine's Day Bash today - what fun! Mommy let us pick out some fancy temporary tattoos to decorate our little selves for the party. Daddy said that we looked very handsome, but he used the same voice he uses to thank Mommy when she serves him a plate of vegetables...

Malachi got a big butterfly and his trademark red spikes!

I got a couple of flowers and a dragonfly!

Here's my brother and me with our colleagues in mischief; Zion, Caspian, Cayman and Alek.

Here's me and my best friend, Zion:

And here's all the SHE kids. My brother's the one picking his nose. Note my total lack of surprise. You think I'm kidding? Front row, third from the right.

Told you.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!

THE ANNOUNCEMENT (drum roll, please)

The announcement is here!

Soon, there will be double.

Double the hugs around necks.

Double the kisses on cheeks.

Double the contageous giggles.

Double the tantrums and pouting.

Double the car seats to test our IQ.

Double the glares from out patient cat.

Double the noise level.

Double the birthdays to celebrate.

Double the laundry (Lord help us all).

Double cribs for Daddy to assemble.

Double first steps to video.

And a double stroller to hold who has us seeing double...

WE'RE ADOPTING 2 BABIES FROM VIETNAM!! WOOHOO!

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Surprised that it isn't Africa? Me, too! But more on that later. Now I have to do the "I'm going to be a Mommy Again Happy Dance". Again.

Library Lamentations

From Mommy: "Aaaaw! Isn't he cute, laying there reading his little book? Such a good little guy! Such a sweet, sweet little....

....GACK!" Sigh. In case you couldn't tell, the yellow thing there? That big empty yellow thing? Yeah. That would be the bookshelf. At some point his selectiveness will pay off, right? Like when he chooses a wife. Or a career. Hopefully he'll learn to choose the one he wants and grab it instead of discarding eleventeen before he's happy.

Now if you'll excuse me. It looks like the local library threw up in my nursery.

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PS - The announcement will be made TOMORROW!!

Healthy Competition

From Mommy: I've been really blessed. My boys have never been very competitive with one another. Until now. The other day I walked into the kitchen to see my sons debating heatedly. Solomon was irate and Malachi was bawling. A fight of this magnitude is uncommon in our household, and I was concerned,

"What's going on, boys?"

"We were playing a game and the winner was supposed to get the prize! But Malachi took the prize even when he wasn't the winner!!" Solomon informed me, arms folded over his little, heaving chest.

"But I really wanted the prize! Solly took it away from me without asking first! I think I was the winner, and I want the prize!" Malachi choked out between sobs.

"Well, maybe you could both win the prize - do we have 2 of them? What's the prize?"

Solomon held out an open palm containing....nothing.

Confused, I asked, "Well, what was the prize?"

"It's this piece of pretend candy." Solomon said.

They were fighting over an imaginary piece of candy. Completely melting down and driving each other to tears over something completely fictional. Sheesh. I can't wait until they're teenagers.

Daddy's Boy

From mom: Solomon made his Daddy breakfast in bed the other morning. It was so stinkin' cute. The menu included pancakes (I usually keep a few batches of their favorite, Honey-Wheat, in the freezer in zip-locks of 6. Solly knows how to stick a bag in the microwave and push "1 minute") and, of course, a Solid Gold Sobe energy drink. Yes, Micah actually drinks one every morning. The habit started back when he was working nights and attending school during the day. For anyone who wonders if it's possible to become addicted to energy drinks: Yes. Yes it is.

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PS - The announcement is coming in only 3 days!

There is an announcement coming in one week. 7 days. Stay tuned...

The Heckler Eats Fudge

Sharon from Nana's work gave us a pretty bag with fudge mix inside! We decided to make it up and munch on some while we watched American Idol. I may be the only 4-year-old boy who likes American Idol. Mommy laughs as I predict the judges response, "Ew. I think that's gonna be a big 'No' - good try though, fella!" Anyhow, I helped Mom stir, because it was hot, and Malachi might have burned himself (I have more coordination, because I'm 16 months older, see.) But Kai got to be the official taster and licker of the spoon. Yummmm! Thanks, Sharon!!

PS - During one of the auditions that night, I told Mommy, "That sounded like a baby getting hit with a cat!" We all laughed for about 10 minutes.

".....you're it!"

From mom: The boys woke early that morning a few days ago. They were running around the house and making a ruckus. My eyes began to ease open, then suddenly they flung wide. I couldn't believe what I 'd heard. One of my boys had called the other a terrible, socially unacceptable name. A real doozie. All of our work to protect and shelter our children seemed to be spinning down the drain like so much used bath water. My mind was reeling, "How could this have happened? How could he possibly know this word? This is why we homeschool, for Pete's sake! Where did he hear that word?!?" About this time the boys tore by our open bedroom door, and seeing their Mama sitting up, bounded in and up onto our bed, "Mom! Dad! We're playing a new game!" We just sat there, still shell shocked as Malachi gave his brother a small shove and yelled the supposed offense again: "F__G!!" They both hopped off the bed at top speed, Solomon in pursuit of his brother who had TAGGED him. The new game was TAG. They had seen the big kids playing the game at Science and had innocently switched the "T" with an "F". My husband and I exploded into laughter, relieved that the correction needed was just grammatical. I got out of bed shaking my head and starting toward the kitchen to put on some coffee. Not that we really needed it. We were both as awake as we could get that morning.