Silly Saturday

Almost Wordless Wednesday

That's chocolate around her mouth, not blood.

(Brother helped loosen the tooth)

It's the Small Things

Two bandannas, some ribbon, elastic and 30 minutes of my day


Makes for 1 happy little girl.

Easter Bonnets

Change of Plans

So, the plan WAS to head to TN for Easter.

Plans change.
So, being the flexible family that we are,
we changed our plans also.

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt!!!

Teach a Kid to Fish

It hit me recently. I may not be teaching my kids to fish. I always thought I was. I always try to make them independent and able minded. Yet, maybe in some way I am failing.

Am I letting them help me make dinner when they ask? Or am I too busy to stop and teach them how so I say "Not this time but next time"? When they say, "Can I help", do I say "Certainly" or do I say "Why don't you go play instead"?

That's important. Because at some point, they will stop asking. Of course, that insures that I will always be doing everything by myself. Total control. Deep down inside, I don't want that.

That realization SMACKED me in the face the other day. I was trying to offer help but kept getting told "No thank you. I'll do it myself" or some other variation of the same theme. "You've got 4 kids. You have enough on your plate" "I've got it under control but thank you for asking". "I'll take care of it." yada yada yada

You know what, I'm not inclined to offer again. Their 'rebuff' made me feel like my offer was not adequate and not up to their standards.

Then I started thinking about family dynamics. How many times at family reunions do you hear "Aunt So-n-So is here. Didn't bring a thing. tsk tsk"? Did you stop to think way back when, how many times Aunt So-n-So did offer but was told, don't worry. We have it under control. I'm here to tell you, Aunt S0-n-So gave up. You told her she was not needed way back when and she quit asking. Or what about Cousin Who-zit? Doesn't help clean. Boy is she lazy! Is she really? Or perhaps you told her to go take care of her kids and rest one too many times and now Cousin Who-zits doesn't feel needed or capable of reaching your lofty standards.

So I made myself a promise. I don't want to do that to my children. I am going to make every effort to let them help when they ask. Because if I don't, I will have no one to blame but myself when they stop asking.

Weird how lessons come at the most unexpected times!

And while chess was going on in the city....

In Our House

The Band Played

And The Artist Drew

'Cause that's how we roll!

Chess Tournament

Judson competed in his first chess tourney today. He had a blast!

(In fact, he is so W.I.L.D. Daddy is taking him for a 3K run to calm him down.)

He won 1 game!
He lost 2 games.
One game ended in a tie.

He wants to do it again!
(a true test of any activity)
(Yeah, I know. The orthodontist is going to LOVE my family)

Andrew (China)

It's ez to ignore orphans when you don't look at their faces. Once you look at them, it's much harder to forget them. Just sayin'!

Andrew (China)

OK people. This little guy needs a family. Let's get going and find his family so he doesn't have to wait any longer. Click on his name and it will take you to the picture and write up. Single moms can now apply as can older parents. So spread the word.

Real Live Hero

I Just Melt

When I see this:

I'm Always Amazed....

When kids KNOW the consequences of lying, yet when they receive the punishment are angry with you for it. Not ONE but TWO kids today. Must be the heat!

More Hilton Head

Wildlife

More Wildlife

A few small cottages along the beach.

Salt Marsh

Spring Break in Hilton Head

I have been promising the kids a 'beach' vacation For-Evah! So we went for a short visit to Hilton Head. Such a fun time. The kids enjoyed it and so did everyone else!

Checking out a dead jelly fish.

Judson Island

In the lagoon RIGHT.BY.OUR.CONDO!

Gotta love the lack of crowds!!!


Hitchin' a ride

Good News

Remember the story of Kirill? The one that has made it's rounds around the internet and social networks? Turns out that on Thursday (and again on Friday) the HOOK family went before the very same judge who DENIED the Davis family's request to adopt Kirill. The Hook family was requesting to adopt baby Evan. Guess what? THE JUDGE said YES!!!! I do not have details of yet but here's hoping that means the Davis' appeal for Kirill will have a positive outcome!!!! And here's hoping that the Moreno family's request for Baby J (again with the very same judge) will also have a positive outcome. How exciting! How wonderful! What a way to start the day!

Tim Shriver on the Colbert Report

"I didn't say you cannot use the [r] word: I don't want to be a cop; I want to be a teacher. You're allowed to be humiliating, degrading, and hurtful. I'm allowed to petition you to at least recognize what you...say and be aware of the option you have to stop...I'm asking you for...social awareness for a forgotten population."

Random Pictures

Don't be fooled. They are NOT that nice to each other very often.

Don't mess with these 2!

Clarification on last post. Kiril's family will be submitting their appeal this week, hopefully. Another family goes before the same judge and is hoping to adopt a child with Down syndrome this Thursday. So lots going on in that region. And if you are on Twitter, if you will become a 'fan' (I'm not Twitter literate) of Reece's Rainbow, Patricia Heaton (of Everybody Loves Raymond) will donate $1 to RR. 10,000 'likes' = $10,000!

Very Real

There is a very real situation going on across the globe in Eastern Europe this week. One that will not make the newspapers. One that most people will miss. For one family though, it's very real and very sad and very scary. You see, they put their heart and money into an adoption. This adoption is for a little boy who has Down syndrome. They have spent nearly 2 years trying to adopt this little boy. They have visited him. They have fallen in love with him. He is theirs. At least in their eyes. But there is a catch.

You see, the judge in Eastern Europe told this family after 5 hours of hearings that she believed due to this little boy's 'condition' she did not feel he was suitable to be adopted. She (the judge) thinks this boy is better suited to living the rest of his life in an orphanage and denied their request to adopt this little boy. She told this family if they were interested in any other child, she'd be happy to approve the adoption. You see, this judge has nothing against the family.

So this week, (after filing an appeal) this family will go before the very same judge and plead with her to allow them to adopt the same little boy. This little boy's life literally is in the hands of this judge. Not only that, there are several other children in this same region, who have Down syndrome, who are being pursued for adoption. Families that will go before this very judge and ask the same question: "Can we adopt a specific child from this region".

So this very real drama is playing out in Eastern Europe this week. It may not make the nightly news but you can bet those of us in the 'know' are paying attention. We are sending up lots of prayers and good karma and all sorts of good vibes in hopes that this judge will be swayed to allow these families to adopt the children of their hearts.

If you would like to follow along, here is the blog: http://oureyesopened.blogspot.com/

The Bully

No one likes a bully.

Ever seen a bully up close and personal?

Take a look.

He is by far the smallest kid in his class.
Yet, the last 2 days he's been acting out.
Throwing baskets of crayons on the floor.
Hitting people.
Pushing people.
Grabbing them around the neck.
Before you ask,
No we do not watch wrestling!
I'm pretty sure the teachers are so looking forward to Spring Break.

Saying Goodbye

I lost a friend this past week. She was young. Only 54. It should not have happened, yet it happened so quickly. One day she was fine. The next she was fighting for her life. They say it was a blood infection. In 4 short days, she was gone.

Yes, I am saddened.
I cannot imagine this world without her.
She was such a force of nature.
Always planning something.
Always working on something.

She leaves behind a husband and an 8 year old daughter.
We actually met at Mother's Day Out.
Her daughter was in the same class as Judson.
Her daughter was Judson's first non-family playmate.
I have no pictures of my friend.
You see, it's an unwritten rule,
You don't take pics of other mothers.
Only the kids.
(And aren't they adorable kids!)

Truly, while I'm sad for me.
and I'm sad for her husband.
Mostly,
I'm sad for her daughter.
Why does an 8 year old have to go through such a loss?
It makes no sense to me.

I saw the daughter tonight at visitation.
You could tell she was still processing.
There were clouds in her eyes where twinkles used to be.
But she was holding it together.
I was sitting there talking to her while she ate.
She said, "You know, I like chicken tenders.
My Mom liked them and I guess I got that from her"
There was one tender left on the table.
She said she was not supposed to get it.
(I'm sure someone had told her that but they hadn't told me)
So I said, "you want me to go get that tender for you"
She smiled very sheepishly.
So I said, "Don't tell anyone and I'll sneak it over here for you"
That was all I could do for a little girl who lost her mom.
Cop the last chicken finger.
It made her smile.