Fido Day

Because when it's 90 degrees and humid, who doesn't want to go to Dog Day at Living History Farms? 

Sure, there were dogs being groomed, wearing personalized bandanas, receiving massage and aromatherapy.  Yet Goose showed up with some spackling of horse manure and a slight case of worms (he's in the midst of treatment). 

What I learned?  Goose is BEYOND spoiled.  One of the games involved finding treats under the tennis balls.  The treats provided were not GOOSE BITES, and Goose noticed.  He had zero interest.  When I slipped a couple Goose Bites under the tennis balls when he wasn't looking, he was all over the scent like Game On Peeps!

But watching my 4 loves with their Goose on a hot day at a pioneer park was what this mama soul needed. Minus the sweaty bra and crabby kids afterwards, watching my babes spoil their dog, argue over whose turn it was to hold the leash, and basically treat Goose like a celebrity made me one proud mama. 

They were SO PROUD to be his.

Little do they know, I feel that same sense of pride to be called theirs.

Too Much Randomness

1. A couple of my favorites...

I went to MAC for eyeliner and wound with a makeover.  I may be a sucker, yet somehow my sun spots are gone... SOLD!

And the boys had another campout.

Mack also needs a root canal.  He remembers the pain in the same spot from China. He said a doctor scraped some stuff off and it smelled nasty.  Apparently it came back.  Appointment is scheduled for next week.  Thank God for dental insurance.

 Maisie has a handful of Summer Fun ahead!  Thanks for the craft books Aunt Kelly!

However, she and her best friend Kayla did basketball camp together this week. Wow... SO Many Memories of HOT summer camps! 

Not sure basketball is her sport... or any sport is her sport, but she loved being with her friends!

And we're getting ready to send my friend Emily and her family off to China for little Ben in just 2  short weeks.  We're always up for a party with adoptive friends!  Next year there will be 3 more Asians in the shot.  Must be something in the water?

And Mack had his first baseball game.  Didn't find out till game day he needed game pants and didn't have a jersey.  Apparently we still have a little language barrier.  However, it's a small town and people are willing to share and donate. 

Thanks to a wild pitch, he ended up on base and eventually scored. Success!

Molly had another playdate today.  This one was on the verge of tears everytime the word 'Mom' was mentioned.  But her mom was at work all day so distraction was key. 

I couldn't be any more glad to be a teacher and have the summer off with my babes. 

I know I'm from the 90's but, Oooh Heaven is a Place on Earth!

Feeling All The Feels

It's the weirdest thing... asking for money.  That; and childbirth, but that's another post.  Nonetheless, I found myself nervous as I drove the girls + 1 friend to Winterset this morning.  After spinner order delivery, I made a personal appointment with myself to go around the square asking for donations for our upcoming Facebook Auction. 

Talk... About... Humbling...

What tone of voice to use; chipper or desperate?... Should I have purposely looked more 'rough' than I already did?... should I have brought Mack along for the Asian visual? ... should I have bought one of their items first to show I'm a loyal customer... It was HARD.

But I did it.  I did it for my friend Emily and for my boy, Jayson.

And I watched faces turn from soft to hesitant, from curious to excited, from annoyed to willing.  Truly, if someone were seeking their degree in psychology, go door to door asking for adoption donations.  It's WEIRD!  There are so many strong opinions on adoption support and it's fascinating!  But whether or not you agree with adoption support is not the point of this post.

As a mom, you do everything, I mean EVERYTHING when you know you have a child depending on you.  When you have a child across the world counting on you to bring him home to his forever bedroom, toys, stuffed animals and his 'people'.

So I did it.

It was like selling Girl Scout Cookies, as an adult.  Sigh.

And as the rain poured down during the John Wayne Days horse parade and I hauled 3 littles behind me telling them to 'stay close to side of the buildings' as we went from one business to the next trying to stay dry, I felt all the feels.  Desperation, Compassion, Annoyed, Excited, Nervous, Grateful... but mostly, I felt SO BLESSED.

And because I never want to stop learning...

Today I learned it's easier to ask for donations for OTHER PEOPLE.  Asking for yourself is just plain awkward.  The majority of people will donate, but not always eagerly.  Face-To-Face is always the most effective.  A parent will do ANYTHING for their child.  They'll put themselves out there, regardless of the cost.  I don't think anyone can understand how much they are loved by their own parents, until they become a parent.

And as I sit on the porch, sipping Aldi's wine while my 4 kids, 2 overnighters, and Maddie (14 year old neighbor girl who wandered down) eat spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, I can't get over what an amazing world we live in. 

Love is deeper than you can see.  Family is even deeper.  Marriage is unique and good, kids make the world go round, stages make life interesting and LOVE is always the answer.

Macks Mothers Day Poem

20 minutes after returning home on the last day of school

Summer at last

Hello... It's Been A While

Hello from the other side!  It's been a wild month, but a productive one.  For example, we sold this beaut!  I can't imagine how many fruit snacks and dehydrated French fries came with 'er, but based on the fact a mouse turned it into a residence over the winter, I was willing to go our separate ways.

We also found a new snack for Goose and the kids.  Luckily for them, my classroom food pantry has 180 lbs of dried spaghetti taking up space. 

As the song goes, "I will survive!"

We've become quality control experts in fidget spinners and are using the fad to bring home our next little munchkin. 

Poor thing...  

My cooking classes continually surprise me with the lack of cooking knowledge kids have these days. 

O.M.G.

However, Sugar Plum got her hands dirty in the cake lab and realized how much fun cooking is, and how sucky washing dishes is. 

I swear... half these parents haven't let their kids touch an electric mixer in their short lives.  My face was like:

I think Maisie was feeling my pain.

And then Molly took Mike and I for a walk in the woods with her white pants and blue underwear.  It's the little things...

But seriously, this girl.  I don't know if its the bow, the winter fashion boots or the ice cream bucket, but she is just the cream to my coffee.

I get her.

Every Thing is Good

So what's the latest?  Clearly Molly's been on my phone taking selfies.

I am currently watching her wash the storm door passionately with Windex as I fear a shot to the back with a BB through the window.  Ross' old buddy, Alex is over for the night. 

No explanation needed....

The cookie fundraiser situation is out-of-control and one way or another I've got around 1600 cookies to make in less than 6 days.  I have no words. 

Yet here I sit typing while drinking the familiar boxed wine and eating the pretzels I shouldn't be eating because they're for the 850 Caramel Pretzel Cookies I've yet to make while daydreaming of announcing our NEXT fundraiser in a few short days.

This is my little love gearing up for her kindergarten music concert last week.

And of course, practicing expressions.

I was prepared for this 'Don't look at me, I'm going to hold onto my long bang for the duration of the program' look.

But out of no where, she broke loose.

and participated in the motions!

As Ross sat with friends making appropriate jokes... I'm sure.

We can't find a mirror in the house, so we constantly take 'back of my hair photos'.

Things may be crazy, funny, stressful and weird, but something about the look on her face tells me everythings' good.

Say a prayer at least one of these Grant Applications get a second look!  Faith in Faith.