The Elf Met Jesus

I wasn't willing to sign up for the whole Elf On The Shelf drama.  I realize I have my creative moments (stay tuned)  but I'm also forgetful, sleepy, time-strapped and not-that-interested.  The girls both learned of this nosey little elf from school and friends.  They each wrote a letter to the North Pole asking Santa to PLEASE send an Elf to our house.  Sigh.

I didn't want to completely ruin their hopes and dreams, so amongst a cartful of crafts and fabrics (most of which I put back before checking out) from Micheals Craft store sat an Elf on the Shelf. $30 bucks for this sucker!  Did I mention I black Friday shopped with the girls?  Yeah, I did.  Molly said later in the day, "I had a lot of emotions today".  Ditto girl, ditto.

Little Elffie (actually the girls named him Charlie) made his appearance Saturday morning.  You'd have thought they won the Miss America crown by their responses to discovering this little guy.

Below is Molly introducing Baby Jesus to Charlie.  I think she would have shown him her poop if opportunity was there.

In other news, our tree is up. 

Also, the boys are in Missouri hunting for the weekend so Molly's been my side-kick.  I got a wild hair to chop down a cedar-tree from the woods to decorate the front porch with a lighted Christmas Tree.  Tis the Season.  Finding an ax, saw, basically anything with a blade around this place is like pulling teeth.  I DID find a razor blade tool in my took kit and wound up cutting down a tree with a razor blade.  Where there's a will there's a way.  Molly and I had a deep conversation about 'Never Giving Up' during the ordeal.

Meanwhile, I look as thought I've been in a fight with a cat, Molly's positive her mom is "Crazy Town" (her words) and the tree on my porch reminds me of Christmas 2014 in the rental.  No photos yet, my hands are too raw and sappy.

Can't wait to see where Charlie ends up in the morning...

Thanksgiving

Seriously, Black Friday ads are posted, shopping lists are being made and we're approaching the most wonderful time of the year.  I'm seeing family photos posted on Facebook left and right with the "So Thankful For' title and realized we needed a new family photo too.

I was fortunate to get an appointment with Heather Schulz Photography out of Ankeny.  She and her gorgeous assistant drove all the way to Saint Charles to capture our family.

We worked our butts off to capture the 'golden hour' but sheesh, November skies are tricky with lighting.  It's a good thing Heather and her assistant, Laura were able to run up hills and cross dams in order to beat the light. 

My little loves. 

 LOVE the idea and photo.  HATE my neck.  WTF?  What is happening?  Do I seriously have an Adams apple?  Good lord.  The late 30's are not being kind.

Yep, he farted.

 Posed...

Accurate.

Twinsies!

This is us.  Plain and simple yet bright and shadowy at the same time.  The bald guy and I are in this together.  It's amazing how life is full of adventures if we're willing to pursue them. Turns out we're adventurers.  

Always have been. 

We give thanks this time of year for so much more than the pie. 

Squirrel Hunt 2016

While finally going through my Squirrel Hunt photos from the first weekend in November, I noticed I had several others I haven't posted yet either.  Therefore, I'm throwing a few bonus shots into this post.

GG and Papa brought us our yearly rations of beef in October.  No, Mike is not moving into the trailer in the background. 

I couldn't resist posting this fancy one of dad either... 

Hudson turned 1- sheesh!

We've reached the point where we may need two trampolines, one for boys and one for girls.

 Pepsi and Coco Puffs and Cousis at GG's.  This is the life.

 The squirrel heart Ross attempted to eat for $20.

I have no words.

 Mack had the chance to meet all his cousins.  Life is Good.

And of course, the World Series was not to be missed.  We watched from a projector on the patio.

An American 14 Year Old

It seems as though everyday since Macks arrival, we realize just how much we take for granted.

Today Mack turned 14.  I had (and still have) no idea what to get him for a birthday gift.  When asked what he wants, he responds, "Don't know".  He's not familiar with presents, let alone being asked what he wants.  It's a foreign concept.

I gave him a wrapped gift from GG and Papa to open this morning.

It was clear he had no idea what to do with it.

Of course his brother and sisters were quick to show him how to open a present, but watching him open a gift for what might be the first time was priceless.  He was gentle, trying not to rip any wrapping paper.  He pulled off the pieces of tape and re-stuck them onto the paper.  It took him a long time to open the gift, and once the paper was off, he seemed confused again.

Of course his siblings explained he needed to look inside the box.

The whole thing was like a scene out of the movie 'Splash'.  

Two months ago he was a citizen of China.  He waited 8 years for a family to find him and bring him home.

  Had he woken in China this morning, his chance of finding a family would have been gone forever.

I spent my prep period at school translating a  menu from English to Chinese on Google Translate so he'd be able to order his own birthday dinner at a restaurant. 

Is's not easy for him to share his wants or needs, for reasons which extend beyond the language barrier.

We live a blessed life, and take so much for granted...

Bucket Lists

Around 3 years ago, I took a photo of Ross' bucket list created at school.  Maisie did this same assignment, however I didn't get a photo of her 'bucket', like I did Ross'.  Clear example of first vs. second child syndrome.

In the same breath, I'm confident Maisie's 2nd Grade bucket list doesn't resemble her 3rd Grade bucket list.  For example, she recently told me Trying A Macaroon was at the top of her list.  Whhaatt??  In a weak moment, I told her we'd skip school someday and make macaroons together.  She was ecstatic as I realized just how big of a deal macaroon tasting was.  She definitely wasn't going to be forgetting this offer anytime soon. 

That night as I tucked her into bed, she mentioned she would be 9 in the spring. 

I know!

I made a promise to myself to make sure this girl got to taste a macaroon one way or another.  I started looking up recipes and came to the quick conclusion making macaroons was a pain in the arse.  Time passed and she wasn't letting it go.  She asked if we could stay home and try macaroons on Wednesday. 

I battled the idea in my head before deciding life is short, kids grow too fast and dammit, I've got sick days available.  I called Maisie in sick for Wednesday, found a sub to cover my classes and told her to 'play sick' so her siblings would buy it Wednesday morning.  Guess what?

It worked.

We headed straight to La Mia (A French Café in Des Moines which sells macaroons) where she told me she'd be able to check TWO things off her bucket list.  Apparently, she had Taste an Éclair on her list as well.

And of course, we had macaroons.

She seemed to like 'em.

At the end of the day, we decided it was an 'M' day.  We tried Macaroons, went to Sally's Beauty Supply to look for the Mannequin Heads, went to the Mall, tried on Make Up at Sephora (then went to buy some at TJ Maxx) and sang along to lots of Music.  Kelly Clarkson and Ella Henderson are her favs these days.

We came home for Pinterest-inspired Arts and Crafts, minus the Crafts (her idea) and I realized how fast the day goes. 

We talked about school as we colored and she was realized Thursday was the last day of the school week due to conferences.  She explained, "The week went SO fast!  The days were long, but the week was FAST".

I feel the same way about life.

I realized we are all replaceable.  A sub can fill in for our students, a housekeeper can fill in for our house responsibilities, people can find alternate 'soup basket ideas'...

However, I'm the only Mom they've got.

Life's short.  I'm lucky.

End of Story.