Seriously.

We had a great day so far, at the Cubs game (I mean, really, what in the world happened to them?) and hanging out with my sister-in-law.

I have pictures but turns out without kids, there isn’t a whole heckuva lot to take pictures of. We’ve been doing a lot of sitting around and talking. I actually go to the bathroom without having to double check that 3 other humans have went within the last 10 minutes.

It’s been good…and relaxing.

But I’d be completely lying if I didn’t say I TOTALLY missed kissing 3 humans goodnight tonight. Love them.

We were on the road to Chicago today and then this…

But it was okay seeings this was my view at the time.

I’m sure most of you have checked Jody’s blog already, I admit I’m a bit slow going. If you haven’t, you should because she explains what I’m about to, much better than I do. But here I go anyway because people like my mom are always so proud to see me write so good. 🙂

So you remember me telling you about the orphan ministry we were staring in our church right? And you remember our first ever project was raising money for Plumpy’nut and that we raised $4,100 right? So here’s our second project, one that seems to be catching like wildfire and is already doing so well (because of generous people like you) even though the idea has been out in the public for less than a week.

What our plan is, basically, to do one month specifically for international orphans and the next month we’ll bring it local. Last month was Ethiopia, this month…Muscatine, Iowa, baby.

A few people who make up the group are foster care parents and I cannot say enough about them changing so much of my perspective on the whole foster care issue. One in particular, I have so much respect and admiration for there are just simply no words. So when we were brainstorming she came up with a brilliant idea…you ready for it?

WE ARE COLLECTING BACKPACKS, PJ’S, TOOTHBRUSHES and STUFFED ANIMALS.

For those that don’t know, when a child gets separated from family (I apologize in advance if I use any non-PC verbage, I’m not real familiar here) the police officer typically grabs a trash bag in the trunk and fills it with a few sparse items of the child’s. We were soooo not okay with what that implicitly (and explicitly in some cases) tells the child about their self worth. We believe every child deserves something that is truly their own; but perhaps we wanted to tell them a little something.

We don’t know you, but we love you. We care. We think you are worth so, so much more.

You were born for better and you a prized, beautiful person.

And in a culture like ours, what better way to do it (and how else would you do it for as many people as possible?) then to buy them new things. 🙂 (That’s somewhat sarcastic, obviously)

But go to Jody’s blog (I linked the actual post above) and check out the video and straight goodness she writes about it.

Interested in helping? Either send money and I’ll buy stuff for you OR pick up any of the above items (I’m responsible for buying 5t pajamas both male and female) and send/drop off.

I’m getting wordy now but seriously. I’m so passionate about these little people who have no idea that they were created by a God that loves them more than words can say and this world has no idea how to treat something so precious.

It’s up to us. Now you know. Can you, in good conscience, not do anything?

Gloriously ruined, right? Thanks in advance.

Period. End of sentence.

This tooth fairy forgot.

I had to watch my son’s face fall when he saw his tooth in the box and not a dollar that would buy him some gum.

So tonight instead of $1 there is $2.

I’m a bad, bad person. The end.

5-years-old and 2 teeth are gonie. Fairly impressive. Here is the sequence of events:

Daddy checking the readiness of the tooth.

Daddy letting Trysten wiggle a bit more before the actual pulling.

And voila! That is one large hole in my baby’s mouth.

Another process I worked on today. Tortellini. See, it’s Zach’s favorite and since I still felt bad about a real lack of celebration for his birthday, I did the process for him. I started it at 3 and finished it at 7. Also made from Alfredo sauce as well. Overall I must say it was worth it but I’ll probably be buying the frozen kind for everyday purposes.

Before

And after

And now taking requests…

‘Tis my hubby’s birthday today. The big 2-7.

I love birthdays and was sad I couldn’t go all out today. Will make up for it in Chicago.

For those that don’t know this man, the world was made a MUCH better place 27 years ago and I will forever thank Terre for birthing him and for Frank for doing his part. 🙂

Seriously though, the man is my rock. He is my beloved. He is the most amazing, inspirational man. I look at journal entries before and after I met him and I can’t believe how much of a great impact he has made on me (obviously I’m awesomer..what?)

His love for anything and everything is boundless and his patience with me and my sometimes annoying ways is quite unfathomable. But he shows his love better and more than any man I know and makes me constantly remember why I married him and why I fall for him more every day.

And beyond that, isn’t he just dreamy?

Couldn’t help herself when she saw the Oreos and do we blame her?

And some minestrone.

Puddin’.

Too precious.

And Oliver.

Daddy was a big hit on his birthday.

My eldest angel.

Don’t let Leslie’s good nature fool you, she saw this uneaten canoli and had to take it home…in a napkin…stuffed in her cute purse. Love her for it.

So remember those posts about how our Orphan Ministry was raising money for Plumpy’Nut? Well yesterday we had our meeting to tally the amount and you won’t believe it, but…

$4100

SERIOUSLY.

Clearly people got behind this “little” project. Clearly people care. Those few of us (I think total there were about 6 people actively fundraising) had stories to tell. Of people who had been looking for something like this, just waiting for it to fall in their laps. And there it was.

We found out that it takes about 3-4 weeks of P’nut to turn Ethiopian children’s lives around. After a little math from Jody, we calculated that our totals will help to save 91 kids.

91 children. 91 Tariku’s.

91

91 mothers who were mentally preparing themselves for a burial get a new lease on life for their precious babies.

That counts.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Productive day today.

Had Kindergarten physical for Trysten. Shots for Tariku.

Came home and cleaned for the better part of the afternoon. Wiped walls, cleaned fans, mopped floors. Stuff that’s not part of my weekly routine. I even sprayed some febreeze on the couches (a certain sister’s dog of mine enjoys jumping on the couches and has a small problem controlling drool). So it was kind of a big day.

Tomorrow is my favorite hubby’s birthday. Typically I enjoy going all out but we’re saving the all out-ness for this weekend when we head to Chicago.

My body is so tired my fingernails hurt. I just love cleaning.

And what was I doing? Reading the new People. What can I say?

I’ve always thought Trysten has his daddy’s perfectly bowed, pink lips. This proved true after a little sucker.

Couldn’t resist.

Can’t believe it’s Sunday (night). This weekend went so quickly with me not having accomplished much of anything. But I did do something…I took pictures. So lucky you, you get to reap the benefits from that productivity.

I mean, do they get any cuter?

And finally, a decent picture of my eldest. We went to the grocery store today when the little ones were sleeping, love hanging out with this one.

Wordless? Um yeah.

Tonight we did get one thing accomplished, homemade pizza. Can you smell it? Can you taste it? It was so good Zach is asking to make it in our weekly rotation, I would have to concur.

Had a few people ask how Abe is doing. In one word…wonderfully. He’s an awesome puppy and getting bigger by the minute. Big dogs, big bladders, less chance of sprinting off towards the horses. He’s just…awesome. And he loves his big brother.

Doozie trying Zach’s tricks.

The wonder twins staring at the 3 dogs in the entryway. Loved them from afar, not so much up close.

Zach and Kora bonded over tickle tortures and hooded surprises.