handsful

Puppy love

This blogging thing is addictive.  It’s become more than just updating friends/family on our goings-on here in FL.  It’s become my scrapbook, journal, record book, etc.  I automatically evaluate if something that we do/say/experience is “blog worthy”.  Oh, that’s funny…I should blog that.  Lainey is doing something new…I should blog that.  Payton has a new goofy face…I should blog THAT.  lol…  It doesn’t even matter if anyone else is reading it (though I hope they are…I love comments), it’s just great fun putting our lives on paper screen. 

For instance, here are my african violets.  I’ve had these two big ones FOREVER.  I brought them from our old house, so that’s at least 4 years and I know I had them years before that.  They bloom constantly.  The little one is my attempt at rooting a cutting.  I had it in rooting hormone and vermiculite for more than a month, and little tiny roots grew.  Last week, I put it in the pot with soil, and it seems to be holding it’s own.  I thought I was going to lose the two big ones, because they had become so overgrown.  I read up on how to “fix” that online, and I ended up cutting ALL the roots off.  That was hard to do!  After weeks of having them re-planted and under bags to increase the humidity, they are thriving now.  So cool!!

Don’t these look yummy?  They are.  I’ve tried a few recipes out of Earl “Bubba” Hiers’ cookbook, and so far they’ve been so good.  Earl is Paula Deen’s brother.  Not sure of the cookbook’s name, my mom-in-law Kathy had it here when they were visiting and she made some copies from the book for me.  These are called Star’s Cookies.  Not sure why they’re named that, but…

2 sticks butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups uncooked old-fashioned oatmeal

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup chopped pecans

2 cups Rice Krispies

375 degree oven…cream butter and sugars together until fluffy.  Add the other ingredients to this mixture and mix.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet 2-3 inches apart.  Bake for 12-15 minutes…although mine browned in 10.  You MUST let them cool on the sheet about 5 minutes before taking them off to cool on wire racks. 

I usually use a mixture of all-purpose flour and whole wheat, but I only used the all-purpose this time.  I like to use Sucanat in place of regular brown sugar, too.  I’ll experiment with ingredients next time.  Oh, and I had no time to chop pecans this time around…next time, I’ll be sure to do that.  I love pecans. 

We’ve had SO much rain lately, that everytime we think of getting in the pool the sky darkens and storms for the next hour.  Tonight, they timed it right and took a dip after dinner. 

 

Nope, we didn’t show her how to hold her pencil, she’s just doing it right.  Although, now that I think of it…she is very good at copying what we do, even if she only sees it one time.  So, maybe she noticed how the kids were holding their pencils??  Regardless, I’m impressed :) 

The many faces of Lainey…

I’m not a professional, but I think those are some really advanced swirlies she’s making! 

Yes, I’m a dork and took a picture of my daughter after she got off the bus from her last day of marine science camp.  :) 

She loved it this year even more than last year!  She worked (and played) hard and earned a grade of A based on her journal entries and tests.  Way to go, girl!! 

I love sleeping baby pictures…I found her this way one morning when I was getting her up.  Notice Tiger, Puppy, and blanket are all very close by. 

This is from today…the kids had 3 friends over to play after church.  We decided this was a good reason to make funnel cake.  They agreed!  See the chef hard at work in the background, making one for Lainey and I to share. 

Also, in case anyone has gone back in the archives recently to see our China trip or before, you might have noticed that some of our pictures are very tiny and there are weird squares and/or question marks mixed in with the text.  Well, when we made the switch to this new blog, the transferred posts got a little weird.  The picture problems, we think, are because Shutterfly (where we store and order our prints from) now only allows the thumbnail pics to be copied over…which, we’re a little bummed about.  So, I’m working little by little to delete the little square guys and to try and fix the pictures.  Like I have nothing else to do.  ;)

Those who know me know that I hate clutter.  That’s not to say that there is never clutter in my house, far from it.  With 5 kids, those who make the mess far outnumber those who clean the mess.  (Randy could be in either group, depending on the day).  And, don’t get me confused with germ-a-phobics.  I’d much rather be re-organizing my pantry than sterilizing it! 

I’m constantly trying to tame clutter, and put things back where they belong (I think I keep Sterilite and Rubbermaid in business just with the tubs and bins I buy).  One thing that drives me bananas is trying to keep kid’s toy parts together.  The other day, I was in Lainey’s room, going through her toys.  We bought her a set of stacking cups before going to China and it was one of her favorite toys that we brought on the trip.  I noticed that the blue cup was missing and couldn’t find it anywhere.  What good is a set of stacking cups when you’re missing a cup??  They won’t STACK anymore!  Later on, I found the cup mixed in with another bin of toys in the family room.  But, then I couldn’t find the rest of the stack.  Good cow! 

On the subject of things that make me nutty, Lainey in her carseat pushes all my buttons.  I give her books beside her in the seat, and secure her baby laptop with the velcro strip so that if she drops it, she can still pull it up to play with.  About 5 minutes into the trip she tosses the books.  Mind you, I already took her shoes and hairbow out because those would have been the first to be flung into the back of the truck.  After playing with the laptop for a few minutes, she tosses it down.  She notices that it’s hanging and goes back and forth…pulls it up/tosses/pulls it up, etc.  She then starts undoing the velcro strip that attaches the toy to her carseat.  I explain that, if she continues, she’ll lose her toy for good…mama can’t help while she’s driving.  She grins and keeps working the velcro.  The toy is now set free, and lying on the floor of the truck.  She fusses, pointing furiously to the toy that got away, and I grin.  With nothing else to do, she rips the car seat pillow from behind her head (also attached is toddler-friendly velcro).  It’s now just her and her clothes, and she’s not yet learned how to undress while clipped in her car seat.  It’s just a matter of time.  As we near our destination, I look back and see her licking both hands and then rubbing them all over her legs, like she’s applying sunscreen.  Toddlers…

After her nap, she insisted on having all 4 of her purses to play with!  She loves things she can put things in…just like me. 

Lastly, Teresa (http://www.continuingthejourney.blogspot.com/) “tagged” me a while ago to participate in a “Six Words that Describe You”…I have to describe myself in 6 words and then tag others to do the same.  Check out both of Teresa’s blogs (her other site is listed on my sidebar as Teresa – Carson), she has a beautiful teenage daughter, the cutest adopted little guy from China, and she’s going for it again with another adoption from China! 

1. Non-confrontational:  I’ll do anything to avoid a conflict, uncomfortable situation, argument, etc.  I just don’t want to rock any boats!  I’m sure it isn’t my best feature, but thankfully my husband is the exact opposite and absolutely thrives on everything I avoid.  Hey, it works. 
2. Non-competitive:  Winning, being better than so and so, getting there first…just doesn’t matter a lick to me.  I’m just in it to have fun.  Randy?  See above…exact opposite.  Two of our kids are like me, and two are like Randy.  Lainey is still a question mark, although she definitely leans more toward her daddy. 
3. Organized:  Like I’ve said, I love having everything organized, categorized, in neat little bins and baskets.  Ahhhh….
4. Busy:  I’m honestly a little stressed about summer ending, because come fall it’s gonna get crazy.  Let’s see…speech therapy, gymnastics, piano lessons, co-op classes for the kids, baseball, horse riding, basketball and cheerleading.  And, of course, homeschooling.  I’m sure I forgot something. 
5. Happy:  Sounds corny, but I’m generally a very happy and easy-going girl.  Sure, I get down and stressed (see #4), but all in all life makes me extremely happy. 
6. Which brings me to…Blessed:  Honestly, why do I deserve all this?  I don’t.  I’ve got a wonderful husband who loves me and tells me so everyday, 5 amazing, fun, healthy kids (when there was a time in our marriage when we thought we’d have none), the privilege of staying home to teach our kids, great relationships with my friends and family, the best church, and a God who loves me just the way I am.  Can it get better? 

I’m tagging Pam, Patricia, Janet, Rebecca, and Cindee – give me your 6 words!

The picture I’ve been “meaning” to get for months now.  We bought the kids their “big sister, big brother, little sister” shirts in China.  Better late than never. 

Busy days, lately.  What happened to the laid-back summer I promised myself?  Abbey is in her 2nd week of science camp…which I have to wake up at the horrid hour of 6am to get her to the bus stop.  I realize that’s not early for some, but it is for me!  The trips go to a Power Up Club each morning this week, which is our church’s version of vacation bible school.  The kids are loving it all, despite the HOT weather we’re having this week.  We’re thankful for our pool! 

One of Abbey’s many faces…she’s a very sweet and funny 12 year old.  Usually! 

Ring around the rosie…

Marley before…

…and after!  She loves it! 

Taken today, 5 months since Gotcha day! 

Family and friends back in NC will appreciate this :)  Our friend Brandy ordered this adorable bib for Lainey…for those of you confused, Randy went to NC State University (red/black) and I went to UNC-Chapel Hill (blue/white).  They are rival colleges, so hence our divided house.  However, I now pull for NCSU (gasp) since it means so much more to him who wins than it does to me!   

Home from her appt. with Dr. Glassman…Payton loves having his picture taken with the little one. 

Lainey had her appointment with the surgeon today, so he could see her fistula and tell us “the plan”.  He looked in her mouth and saw the small fistula smack in the middle of her palate.  He was not terribly surprised to see it for two reasons, (1) her repair was “tight”, as he told us right after surgery and, (2) most surgeons would have done her palate in two seperate surgeries, but we tried to get the whole thing repaired in just one (we all decided this), so a fistula is a chance you take. 

The good news…he thinks it will shrink up SOME on it’s own, he does NOT think it will get bigger, and she does NOT need a seperate surgery to correct it.  Whew!!  He said it can wait to be repaired until she has her nose and lip revision, which should be around age 4.  We also talked about having her left ear tacked back a bit (it sticks out more than her right) and he said it could also be done at the same time.  Wow, 4 procedures in one surgery.  Now, if I could just share the operating table with her and get a tummy tuck at the same time?  I digress…

He doesn’t think this fistula will adversely affect her speech development, because it is so small.  She has no new restrictions because of it, we can continue trying a straw (with lots of supervision!) and keep using a sippy cup.  He also said we wouldn’t have to deal with no-no’s for this next surgery, since she’ll be old enough to be told to leave her mouth alone…another praise there! 

So, all in all, a great visit.  We were preparing ourselves for another surgery and we’re SO happy to hear that isn’t the case. 

Here are a few swimming pictures from the other day.  Did I mention she has NO fear of the water?? 

That face makes me just melt…

No, Randy isn’t doing this, SHE is.  Everytime he held her out front, she’d dunk her face in, over and over again and come up laughing.  Payton isn’t thrilled about this picture, but he consented to have it in the blog.  Thanks, dude. 

Just the thought of her jumping into the water makes her giddy…sorry, I couldn’t time it right to get a shot her jumping in.  Maybe next time…

 

No longer the youngest kid in the family and loving his role as big brother. 

See the look of pure joy on her face?  For those of you worried that Randy is MAKING her do these things, be assured…she gets BORED when we put her in her floaty and almost immediately asks to be taken out (signs “all done”).  Randy has spoiled her rotten and become her water entertainer.  I’m much more boring laid back in the pool, so I’m not her preferred playmate. 

Two challenges we have with her in the water…she will NOT put her legs down when we try to teach her to float, they stick straight up in the air!  And, we’re having trouble teaching her to CLOSE her mouth when she goes under.  She thinks thats the time to open wide…needless to say, her diapers after swim time fill up fast :) 

Lastly, we have a new member of the family.  Marley decided to spend her birthday money on a new pet…a hermit crab.  We bought her the cage for her birthday, and she bought everything else including Herbie the hermit crab.  She insists it’s a girl (I hear it’s nearly impossible to tell, unless you’re an expert in hermit crabs), so the name confuses me! 

Her shell is very decorative, they come like that! 

A closer look at little Herbie…the pet store said she’s a baby.  Awwww…