Goosed

From Mommy: The boys and I decided to head over to Cascade Gateway Park. Our bag of accumulated bread heals and stale cereal had grown to overflow level. Time to bestow our stash on the residents of the park. Now, it seems to me that I need little narration as to the happenings, so I'll use only a few words to enhance your understanding of our time there:

"Aaaaw! Such a pretty goose!"

"You like my keys? Yes you do!"

"C'meer! It's OK! Yeah! Oh, such a nice goose!"

"!%^?*&?$#!!"

"Yeah. Real funny, Sol. Just hilarious."

"Hey! Don't bite my Mama again, or I'll..."

"AH!"

But, after we left that particular goose's vicinity, we had a lovely time!

And the geese got plenty of exercise.

The Borrowers

From Mommy: We borrowed our friends' kiddos (minus their oldest) the other day. Having always craved a large family, I enjoy a mass of ankle-biters running around. Looking at them all lined up munching their Mac-N-Cheese renewed my excitement for my children to come. I also realized that I hadn't updated y'all as to the happenings of our adoption journey in a while.

To make a really long story short, we were ready to send in our paperwork for the babies when the call came. "Would you still be interested in adopting Rayna?" Of course, the unequivocal answer was, "Absolutely. Yes!"
So, it seems that late this
summer our precious girl MAY come up for adoption after all. It's a big MAY, but as long as there's an ounce of hope we're not giving up. Micah and I decided, after talking with caseworkers on both the Foster Care and the Vietnam side, that we will hold our Vietnam paperwork until Rayna's case is resolved.

Please let it be known to all that WE HAVE NOT TOLD THE BOYS. They have just recently stopped asking after Ray every single day. The tears still come, but are less frequent. Malachi especially was devastated at her loss. I don't even know if I'm strong enough to go through loosing this beautiful child again, and under no circumstances will I expect my little sons to experience that level of loss again. If I can help it. So, please, friends. Not a word of these happenings to my guys. If, by the grace of God Almighty, we get to Committee and win custody, we'll come home with a big surprise for our sons.

Please pray for the strength Micah and I need to get through this. Again.

Just Resting his Eyes...

From Mommy: Solomon is now 5 and, having reached that milestone, had officially outgrown nap time. My son was absolutely thrilled about this graduation even though it came with the stipulation of mandatory quiet time so that (a really cheesed-off) Malachi could still use nap time to sleep. Solly was so impressed with his grown-upness and all morning kept letting little remarks slip out in the presence of his brother, "Wow. I'm so happy that I'm 5 now. I've outgrown naps." and "Hmmmm, I wonder what I'll chose to do during your nap time today..." which would earn him a glare from his brother and a warning from his Mama.


So later I laid down with Kai who was wailing about the inequality of it all. We left Sol in the front room with a heap of Legos and a stern warning to keep the noise level down. Malachi eventually relaxed in my arms and we both fell asleep. I woke a bit later and was impressed with my eldest's ability to maintain the quiet time.

Malachi stumbled out of bed behind me and took stock of his brother,

a mischievous grin spreading across his face.


Solomon will never hear the end of this.

Growing Up is the Pits

From Mommy: The sunny weather is back, and with it the rediscovery of the mud pit. The ugly eyesore that is the staple of their summertime boyhood.

Baby Brier-Rabbit began it's excavation 2 summers ago. It was then that my tiny boys first waddled over and parked their diapered bums on it's shore. They took their mini plastic shovels and pails and continued her work. The next day came and I discovered that my babies were anxious to get back outside. To play in their play area? No. To blow bubbles? No. They wanted to dig at that little hole.

2 years have passed and the boys, the bunny, and the hole have grown. The hole that used to see baby boys digging with chubby hands, and hear baby gibberish now sees big boys and listens as they discus big boy ideas like "does Superman wear underpants?". The flimsy plastic shovels and spades have given way to the heavy, metal kind. Time does fly.

Weekend Snapshots

From Solomon: Aaaaah. This last weekend was great. It's so nice that Daddy's able to be home with us without all the pressure of school and homework. Our morning began with homemade waffles and the spectacularly hilarious entertainment of tying our Batman and Robin action figures to the blades of the ceiling fan, then flipping on the switch. You can kinda see Robin enjoying his flight. Mom totally did. not. get. why this was so amusing to us.

We also went over to OMSI to take in the Vicious Fishes and Other Riches exhibit. They had real Piranhas and all sorts of Amazon creatures to learn about! And, of course we played in the water exhibit for a good long time. Here's the strapping Lewis men wrangling an Anaconda!

Even Kitty-One and Brier enjoyed their weekend. They love to hang out together in spite of the looks they get in response to their inter-species relationship. They're so progressive!

Now it's off to Wilco Farm Supply - they just got their Spring shipment of baby chicks! Mommy's been begging to go and hold them all morning, so I guess I'd better take her. She has been awfully patient and only pouted a little in spite of the stern warning Daddy issued her: "DO NOT bring one home!" Darn city limits.

King Solomon Issues Justice for ALL.

From Mommy: So, what we have here is the Little People's Fairy Tale Castle. Apparently Solomon deemed the Little People community to be more in need of a judicial system than the "magical world of enchantment" the box boasted. He explained that this establishment is where bad Little People go after being arrested on COPS. You can see the considerable line forming to see the judges, and there appears to be a dynamite shack conveniently located on the premises. Obviously the Little People aren't adverse to the idea of corporal punishment.

There looks to be 2 available judges and 2 separate jail cells (1 with bars to accommodate maximum security prisoners). I myself appreciate the convenience a drive-thru court system offers the townsfolk and the lack of preferential treatment in the Little People town. As you can see, Santa Claus was busted along with the famous Lightning McQueen. When asked what offense Santa committed, Solomon replied, "He took all of the candy in the store and didn't pay for it."

For shame, Santa. Looks like you're going to be doing some serious time, old man. Just be glad you didn't get the dynamite shack.

Solomon's 5 Year Photos

From Mommy: We finally did Sol's 5 year pictures. This year, seeing as he's developed a really strange "smile of pain", I decided to do a photo shoot at home. I ended up being very happy with this choice as I got about 15 shots where he responded to, "Smile, sweetheart!" with an odd, contorted, toothy pose that made him appear feral. I can't get a genuine grin without enlisting something/somebody to make him laugh, or at least amuse him. At that point he stops focusing on his face and the magic happens. This is much easier to do at home without strangers prodding and positioning and tweeking him. So, here are the few that turned out. Favorites, anyone?

Birthday Party #2

From Solly: Last night we had my family birthday dinner so I could visit with my Uncles, Auntie and Nana. Mommy has figured out that it's easier to have a "friends birthday party" and then, on a different day, have "family birthday dinner". This way I'm not torn between playing with my friends and visiting with my family. Uncle Shawn and Auntie Julie got me my first Chemistry Set complete with microscope and lots of messy and fun projects to do for school!

Brother and I learned that Base + Acid = fun!

I got some really fun gifts! Uncle Chad got me Open Season...if you haven't seen this movie, rent it. Funny stuff, I'm tellin' ya!

Oh, and Nana got me my very own camera, just for kids! Unfortunately, something wasn't working quite right, so Fisher Price is sending me a replacement. You'll know when I get it...Mommy said that I could post some of my pictures here on the blog! Also, this summer our local county fair will have a photography contest for kids my size! Maybe I'll enter....

The Bliss of Boys

From Mommy: I adore my boys but today was one of those days where I found myself really looking forward to ruffles and pink nail polish, you know, to even things out a bit.

The morning began with sweet hugs and kisses from my boys before we began to conquer our day. After breakfast I was exiting the bathtub and the boys were undressing to enter it. Suddenly Malachi somehow got his "Mr. Winky" zipped into his fuzzy Superman jammies. The Man of Steel went down like an inflamed jetliner (complete with the ear piercing screeching and groaning) as his panicked Mama frantically attempted to free his manhood. The episode ended with my poor son sobbing not only because of the considerable pain he was experiencing, but because his very favorite PJs were now ripped. Seems Superman's Mom doesn't know her own strength when it comes to rescuing her potential future grandchildren.

Later on I mosey into the front room to find this:

Ms. Rosalind had been nearly decapitated (then carefully put back). Also, the family pictures framed in the hallway were in various stages of brutalization. Sigh. Just as I was thinking about my weariness concerning masculine appendages and testosterone, I look outside to see my sweet little boys playing baseball together. Laughing and giggling. Just like brothers throughout the generations have done before them. Probably countless Moms before me have had days like these that have ended just like this, with renewed gratitude and thankfulness for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing process that is raising boys. Looks like the day will come full circle.

Or not.

Snapshots of Spring

From Solomon: Ooh! It's so pretty today! And even though my whole family is sick with a cold, we spent some time enjoying the beautiful day. Mommy and I planted some flowers in the front deck planters (we're sparing you pictures of ourselves as we both have red peeling noses, dark under-eye circles and puffy sinuses). We're ready to start enjoying the activities that sunny skies bring.

Chuck E. Cheese

From Mommy: Well, it wasn't as bad as all that, I suppose. As a matter of fact, it was surprisingly refreshing! We walked into Chuck E. Cheese at 11:00am on Tuesday and had the whole place to ourselves for the most part. Pizza wasn't even as bad as I had remembered! Everything was clean (when we walked in, not by the time we left) and I was able to leave the pizza/cake/wrapping paper mess there for those poor, poor employees who assured me that, "That's what we're paid for.". Everybody had a great time and I could actually chat with Lori and peruse some math curriculum she brought for me to look through. The men played "Ultimate Hunting", the children were busy and happy - not so bad at all! I think the trick is to go in during a weekday before school is out.

Looks like we'll be doing it again in July for Malachi's 4th birthday!

Congratulations Daddy!!

Today is the day Micah officially graduates! He is now an X-Ray Technologist! It's been a long haul for my husband. I remember him bringing textbooks to the birthing center when I went into labor with Solomon those 5 years ago. I remember the late night cram sessions and the sacrifices he made to excel. I remember the terms he worked by night then headed straight to school after his shift to pull through those 18 credit hours. I remember him sitting with Solly on his lap with an open Anatomy & Physiology textbook, showing his son where nearly unpronounceable body parts were situated. All to provide his growing family with the stability he wanted for them and to afford the best opportunities for his children. Not only has my husband put our kids in the ideal circumstances to pursue their dreams, but he's taught them how to go out into the world and fight for them. To persevere. To finish. You did it, Baby. I'm more proud than words can say.

PS - What does any proud man with a brand new career do? Well, take the camera to work and snap a few shots of his ultra-professional self, of course! And what would said man and his fellow employees do when no patients are available to examine? Well, apparently...this. Seeing as it's what I found on the camera. Didn't you know that hazing is quite popular for a newbie in the medical field? Sure, medical personnel will condemn college fraternities while being interviewed on Dateline NBC, but as you can see, it's an epidemic even reaching into our hospitals.

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?