Adventure

In one month from tomorrow I am going back to Ethiopia.

I can't wait.

I haven't told many people because it's complicated and hard to describe and I'm fearful that people won't understand and I don't always have it in me to explain.

But I'm going.  For 11 days.  With V.  And I am really, REALLY excited.

I had several paragraphs typed out, but when I reread it seemed so dramatic.  So, for now, we'll leave it at this: I'm going.  I can not wait.  I'm sad to be leaving my babes, but I know they will be in good hands.

I'm going to Ethiopia!!!

Birthday Season: Part 5

Whew, Birthday Season is nuts around here!  Add in all our regular life stuff like school and work and friends (and friends' birthdays) and tball and softball and more soccer and eating and brushing teeth and more and more and IT IS CRAZY.

And I love it.

The last birthday in our house is Madeline's.  It's today and she is 12.  TWELVE.  That means I've been a mom for 12 years.  That means that she is 2/3 done with us.  (Okay, not really, I know you always need your parents and blah blah blah, but seriously.  TWELVE.)

But the thing is that while sometimes I close my eyes and imagine the sweet almost three year old who came to the hospital with a latte in hand when her baby brother was born, with the wispy soft hair, the chubby cheeks, and the darling one liners, I would not turn back time.  I love the young lady she is turning into.  She is smart smart smart.  (Straight A's all year, and mostly straight A+s.)  She is kind and empathetic.  She is thoughtful and funny.  She is an old soul and feels deeply; a blessing and curse, but mostly a curse in 6th grade.  She is beautiful and strong.  She is hilarious and brave and I would not change one thing about her, and I especially would not turn back the clock.

But still, I can't believe she's twelve.

Birthday Season: Part 4

Garrett has turned 9.  I know it's cliche and all, but I truly can hardly believe it.  He is nearly 5' tall and I know that if I let myself blink he'll be taller than me.  But, oh, he is so sweet.  He has the most tender heart.  He can not keep his hands off of his little sister, and I will often catch him laying a kiss on the top of Carter's head.  He adores his big sister as well.  The other day he came home with soccer jerseys for his new team.  They had the number '11' on them.  I asked him if he picked the number or what and he said, "I picked 11 because it's Maddy's birthday AND her favorite number."  (Ironically, Maddy and Carter both randomly were assigned the #11 for their softball and tball jerseys- so all my kids are #11 this season!)  A few weeks ago we had a family movie night and Maddy and Garrett spontaneously shared our overstuffed chair.   It was so cute and sweet, both of them sitting on it sideways, with their legs spilling over the side.  I didn't dare take a picture and break the spell, but I am both in awe of and thankful for the relationship they have, even while in such different stages of life.

He's funny and stubborn and athletic and smart.  I love to watch him play soccer or basketball, he's so focused and I get more and more frequent glimpses of the man that he'll be one day.  It's heart breaking and wonderful and exciting and humbling and so much more all at once.

I really love being his mama.

He got a new bike for his birthday, something that was NOT on his list, and I was worried that he wouldn't be happy about it or that he wouldn't like it because it's SO much bigger than his old one.

Wrong and wrong.  He loves it- LOVES.  He's ridden it every day since.  It's gigantic, but he makes it work.

 For his party we went to Sky High.  With eight other third grade boys.  Let me tell you, that was a fun car ride!  He was a happy boy and it was a fun afternoon.  Thankful for his great friends!

Mama's Birthday (Birthday Season: Part 3)

Smack dab in the middle of Birthday Season is my birthday.  I'm 34 now and while I'm not 'sad' about getting older (at all), it's just really weird!  It's so bizarre that I can say to Joel, "Remember 10 years ago when . . . " or that I have an almost 12 year old, or that I graduated high school 16 years ago.  SIXTEEN.

Anyway.  Joel and my babes were so sweet to me today (and always).  I'm so proud that our kids are so thoughtful and kind.  They all piled into bed with me in the morning and Joel brought me Starbucks.  I stayed in bed as long as I possibly could and they all got themselves ready for school without fighting or being weird and spazzy like they are some mornings!


In the afternoon Carter just snuggled me.  He was so sweet and loving.  He said, "Mama, I wish you were still 33."

I answered, "Why buddy?"

"Because now you're 34.  And you're just going to get older and older and older.  And then you're going to die.  And I don't want you to die!"  (And then he did this fake crying thing that he does sometimes.)

It was pretty funny.

When Garrett got home, he marched in the door and said, "Don't say a word!"  He headed straight for me (on the couch), and threw his arms around me. "Happy Birthday!  How was your day?"  So kind.  Then he sat on the couch with me, his long legs on my lap and did his homework and visited with me.  Love that boy so much!

Sweet Maddy helped the boys make a 'scavenger hunt' with clues all over my messy house.  When Joel got home my mom came over and I found all the clues.  They led me to flowers from my kids and a gift card from each of them!  (Fro Yo, Starbucks, Pedicure)  The kids were all so proud!

We went to dinner with my mama and then went to her house for HOMEMADE Angel Food Cake- my favorite!  She spoiled me with new red Toms and new clothes.

It was such a fun day, and sprinkled throughout were text messages, emails, phone calls, Facebook notes, and real life greetings.  I felt so loved.  I don't mind getting older even a bit.  But my husband does think it's pretty hilarious that I'm older than him!