Cutting Class

One of the best aspects of homeschooling is that, when the first warm day of the season comes, you can bite your thumb at your schoolwork mid-way through and head for the beach. I'm torn on what it teaches my sons; either it's the "Family and togetherness is priority, if you have the chance, seize the day!" or, heaven forbid, "It's OK to renege on responsibilities if it's sunny and you'd rather play".
Hopefully, since we made arrangements to re-schedule schoolwork and got the green light from their teacher to have an "enrichment" day, they learned to only ditch your work if you're able to make arrangements with those to whom you're accountable.
Whatever lesson we taught or didn't, boy, was it a good day!

Now, it's off to wash 8 loads of sandy laundry and vacuum out the van and carseats...

Little League

So, this is the first year we've done Little League. Both the eldests were allowed to be on the same team, so that's a big plus. Each team has 2 practices and 1 game per week, so I don't think I would have been able to cope with each boy on a different team (4 practices and 2 games per week - yikes!) .
Plus they have Ninjitsu 2 nights per week, so we've been going. A lot.
I now remember how much I like to be home.
HOMEschooling..... HOUSEwife...... these are things that require a person to actually spend some time at HOME :)
The funny thing is, I thought it would be a struggle to "wrangle" the littles while the bigs were practicing. But, with some careful trunk packing, I've managed to have some good one-on-one time with Levi and Zephaniah. I bought a huge jug of bubbles, a big ball, and packed their tricycles. Luckily, practice is at an elementary school with a playground covered area for when it's rainy. The babies actually have a good time, and, with all 4 boys happily playing, it's worth it!

They both saw the same ladybug at the same time :)

The Story of the Broken Elbow...

...is a simple one for those of us with several small boys living in one house: playing is to blame. Actually, Zephan was playing with Daddy when it happened, so it just goes to show that accidents can happen even if you're watching them closely. He fell back and tried to brace himself with his arm out in back of him and turned it funny.
The scary thing was that we almost didn't bring him in! He settled down quickly after the fall and was even giving us the high-5's we were asking for (to see if the arm was bothering him). But, when he reached for his Baba with his left hand....we figured we should get him checked out, just in case.
And, low and belhold, there was a fracture on his elbow. Now, we as foster parents, promptly FREAKED. OUT.
"Oh, what will the State say?" This child was just in Dornbecher Children's Hospital in December for swallowing a stinkin' nickle! And now, this.
But, after visiting the orthapedist today, it seems the fracture is little and the healing should take only 3 weeks. He won't even require the permenent cast we were dreading. And his caseworker seems understanding. Our caseworker, we love and know fairly well - so that's a blessing. Thank the Lord. Seriously.
Now the question this prompts is: Are we sure we want another boy next? :)

Sigh.

9:00am:

9:00pm:

I'll fill you in more later....

While Looking for a clip of a frog eating a bug for school...

Happy Birthday, Solomon!

When Toys Attack

Sounds like a new show on the Discovery channel. But, in our home, it's a reality. On any given day, an average of 38% of my children fall victim to an unprovoked toy attack. Those are scary numbers, folks. Toy attack awareness and prevention needs needs to be top priority in more homes as these percentages continue to climb. Or more innocent children will continue to suffer through this disastrous epidemic.

Scripture Sunday

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

If You Fall Asleep at Our House

Say you happen to come over to our house to play some video games with the Husband and a few rounds of Bananagrams with the clan. Then you indulge in enough yummy snacks that you feel satiated and content and decide that, yes, you will stay just a wee bit longer and watch that new movie. And if, as the movie wears on and the kids are quiet and snugly, your eyes begin to feel heavy and you decide to close them for just a minute, you will wake up in the morning like this:

See, the children will see that you have no blanket and will be generous enough to collect them from around the house and pile them on top of your head, which they seem to think is cold. They'll also provide you with extra pillows, although they may be placed on the wrong side of your head. And since the blanket didn't quite reach your feet, they'll pile some of their favorite stuffed animals there. Then they'll stand back and realize how silly you look, and this will be the first thing you see when you open your eyes:

Just so you know.

I Nominate...

...www.LovingMyAmazingLife.blogspot.com for the Sisterhood Award! I was nominated by Queen of the Castle, over at www.savingstarfish.blogspot. She rules her home with grace amidst the chaos and is a fine example of perseverence.

Now I'm choosing LMAL as my nominee. This award is given to foster mamas who have a great attitude or show great gratitude. That's sometimes tough in the business of fostering (especially with unbalanced former foster parents stocking a new placement). LMAL desserves this award for juggling all this and still managing to make her own laundry detergent.
Yeah, you read it right: Make.

I'm also nominating www.largefamilymomma.blogspot.com. This woman. Wow. 26 children through birth and adoption. Most have some really challenging special needs. Need I say more?
And, D, over at www.blakesmeme.blogspot.com. For dealing with RADishes and Baby Weepy who was so horribly treated before he was given to her family. His healing will be slow, but he's in the perfect place with a fostermama who's up to the task.
These women and their families do good work every day and I appluade them.

You go, girls!

Now:
1. grab the award and stick it on your blog.
2. Nominate others
3. Link your nominees to your post
4. Let your nominees know they've been nominated
5. Link to the person who nominated you

Note From Birthmom

The caseworker hauled Zephan, kicking and screaming, out of his house and to his weekly visit with his birthmom. When he came home a few minutes ago, this note was in his diaper bag:

"Thank you for caring for him when I couldn't. Thank you for stepping up to be his mother. I'm grateful to you and your husband. I know that he'll be guided and loved, no matter what. I love you guys because you love JJ."

I'm speechless.

Special Needs

Oh, my goodness.
Look at them.

God did some amazing work when He created these guys. You know, it's funny, we bought Turbo Tax and Micah was working on our returns. He says, "Babe, I thought you said that there was an adoption tax credit of some sort...."
Me: "Yeah, there should be."
Micah: "Nope. It's not on here. Hmmm."
Me: "It says on the box that it covers adoptions!"
Micah: "The only thing I can find is the Special Needs Adoption Tax Credit."
Me: "That's it!"
Micah: "Wha...? That's not it. It says, 'Special Needs'."
Me: "Yeah, that's how State adoptions are classified."
Micah: "Nuh-uh. Really? But they're not really special needs..."
Did you guys know that a child is qualified as special needs if he or she is a minority? Or part of a sibling group? Or if they're in foster care at all?
Every child without parents has special needs. I would pray that every family truly seek God with regards to these babies. I believe every Mom and Dad needs to ask God if this is a path He has set out for them. Not as a last resort to parenthood or as a special ministry, but as a Christian. He may say, "No.", He may say, "Not right now." or He may say, "Yes. One of your children is waiting for you to claim them. They are scared and alone and they want their Mommy. Will you allow Me to lead you to them?"
People don't know what they're missing by not seeking God in this. These children bless our home every day.
Are you sure all your children are home today?

John 14:18
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

My Eldest is 7!

I wish I could say that Solomon had a better birthday than he did. He and Levi both came down with the stomach flu. We didn't know that Levi had it until he projectiled in Wal-Mart. Twice. But at least we got the Sprite.
And, of course, I had told Solomon that he could pick out a movie at Hollywood Video. Needless to say, he didn't want to skip that, as it was the silver lining for his otherwise pathetic birthday. So, we went to rent a video. The trip consisted of me waiting on the curb with the puker while Solly and Kai ran in and chose what he wanted. The they came out to sit on the curb with the puker while the baby and I ran back in to grab his choice and check out. Luckily this worked because the storefront consists of huge windows through which we could see one another during the whole process. I think the clerk was a bit confused, though!
Then, as we headed for home, Levi let 'er rip all over the van.
Perfect end to a perfect birthday.

For My Friend Today.... I'm Thinking of You.

The Boys New Favorite Video - Sleepwalking Dog

Bowling