Turkeys, Trees, and Recycling Furniture

Okay, first things first...being the genius that I am, I choose Christmas week of all weeks to ransack, rearrange, and recycle furniture from one room to the next.  Did I mention that it's also vacation week, so I have tons of extra "help" here?  Hmmpf.  Sometimes a girl just wants to be left alone in the midst of her mess, figure it out, and get crackin'!  Am I wrong?

I wish I'd taken some before pics to show the changes, but alas I didn't, so you'll have to imagine.  I discovered a great new blog this past week - Transforming Home - and she totally inspired me (I'll bet she doesn't know that!) to start tackling those areas of our home that really bug me.  I mean really bug me.  So gung-ho I went, knowing full well that I still have presents yet to be wrapped, cards yet to be addressed and sent, dresses yet to be hemmed, jammies yet to be sewn...and I like it!  It feels pretty good, at least for the moment, and it was FREE!

Long story short: the TV stand (Bill made me that!) now houses the mittens and stuff, which used used to sit in boxes on the tiled floor (Bill did that too- the carpet got so gross there); I dragged up an old table thing my Dad made when I was little and plunked the pitiful TV (used for games) on that; the room still looked pretty dumb because last month I moved the one chair from here into the family room, where it fits much better, but there is still a large ottoman to sit on...so I'm embracing the office/mudroom/music room/play area/craft room with gusto because I'm not entirely sure what else to do with this space!

At least the kiddos got to benefit from some of my creative juices this morning before my clean fest began.  I have decided that the gingerbread tree (or house) in a box, complete with all the trimmings, is the way to go for this family!  So much fun, so little prep time!  Looks cute, right?

We still have to add the snow

And of course, as we sat down to create our tree masterpiece, Ethan spied a turkey out back.  Those things have grown!  They are GI-NOR-MOUS!  We counted about 13 in all- there used to be around 25 that would waddle their way into the backyard, and across the front, and down the street...quite comical actually!  We noticed one turkey flat out on the snow, not really moving, and the boys got nervous.  We are an incredibly animal-sensitive family, and it made me smile to listen to the boys' contemplating their rescue mission for the bird.  The oldest 2 threw on boots and coats, and ran out in their jammies.  It became apparent that there was nothing wrong with this turkey, except that now it's scared to death because little boys are chasing after it to rescue it, and it ran.  Then it FLEW!  They all flew!  I didn't know a turkey could do that!  I mean, they aren't the most agile things, and they're hefty, but they could fly!  We watched one up in a tree for quite a while, stretching its wings and such.  Pretty cool!

Here they are now...

Here they were as little turkey babies...

They're still pretty big, but I can't find the pics of them when they were teeny, and as I've already shared, I do not have all the time in the world to spend hunting up (nice pun!) photos of turkey babies

But it will bug me, because they were so cute!

Mmmmm, someone else enjoys watching turkeys too!

Busy Days, Busy Week

Bill was such a sweetie and surprised both the birthday girl AND her Mummy with beautiful roses- lovely bouquet for me, and these 3 pretties for his 3-year-old pretty!.  Yes, the stresses of Christmas, even though we try and try not to be stressed, plus the 2 birthdays, birthday parties, Isabelle Katie's trip to the doctor's AND getting a shot on her special day (not fun), a few other personal things, one or more boys home sick from school more often than not these days, that horrible feeling of being trapped, as now with snow and ice all over the sidewalks our walking options are severely limited, and the ever-annoying reminder that we're halfway through another month and I still haven't lost any weight, though each month starts out fresh with hope and promise, have left me feeling irritable, discouraged and overwhelmed.  (Yes, even I admit, that was a terribly long run-on sentence, but sometimes it just works!)  Hence the flowers- knew I had a point somewhere in there!

 I also want to address the contest I was doing last week.  I really am so grateful and humbled by the outpouring of so many strangers who were willing to come alongside me in my challenge to give whatever God led us to give, but at the same time I'm struggling with feelings of disappointment and even failure, as it didn't turn out the way I'd hoped.  I was so ready to give!  To give big!  Big enough that I was even a little afraid of how we would manage to do it!  Perhaps God was simply happy that I have grown enough in trust and faith that I would be willing to step out in that way.  In my heart of hearts, my Savior and Father in Heaven, I pray that you smiled upon me in my efforts this past week, though I know that your love for me is not, and never has been, based on the things I do.  How I long to be your hands and feet, a light to the dark, a hope for the lost, all in your precious name.

I also want to thank my friends Devin and Terri Anne (click on their names to read about their wonderful families) for their special support, and let all who participated- either by leaving a comment, or rallying up your friends on my behalf, by praying or going to the website and making a donation yourself- know how grateful I am.  Thank you.

So.

We did a million things yesterday.  We made these...

to say thank you to our local school staff and teachers

I put the finishing touches on a basket for our Angel Tree at church...

in the hopes that the receiving family will feel God's love and grace

Had a little fashion shoot with Baby Girl...wait, she is now my Big Girl...

oh, you can see Isabelle's boo-boo  :(

 

Santa gave me a present a little early....folks, I have me a BIG GIRL camera now!!

So. Much.Fun.

So much to learn, too!

I got started on the boys' pajamas, their special request, awwwwwww!

and was going to finish up cards....that didn't happen!

And remember the pile I talked about here?

Here is what is becoming of that...

I am super excited about this reversible dress!

It wasn't designed as such, until I worked my magic, ha!

Love the details and the fun colors- this will be Isa's birthday party dress (layered with a white turtleneck of course!) for her Picnic in January party with her little friends from church

I have 3 small white bows to add to the center details-

I think it will be gorgeous when I'm done!

And this poor dress- I wanted a smocked, billowy kind of dress, with a lovely collar...

only I couldn't find a pattern, and my own designs (at least from scratch!)

leave a little, ok- a lot- to be desired

The dress was just weird!  It didn't fit right, and it wasn't going to work, so it got chopped up and is becoming a simple A-line with wide red grosgrain ribbons tied to the shoulders

And last night Bill brought Jonah to violin lessons while I finished up dinner and got the rest of the crew ready for Ethan's school concert.  He has been doing a great job with the clarinet so far, and I was ecstatic seeing MY boy in the school band!  I remember how exciting school concerts were when I was his age (I played the flute and sang in the choir), and it thrills me to enjoy watching my children participating in these same activities.  They did a fantastic job, as always!  Way to go, Ethan!  Then it was off to a friend's home for a cookie exchange party- I had a great time!  Berth Moore speaks often of the feelings of insecurity we women face, and last night the Lord really ministered to my heart as I felt not only welcome but included and celebrated as well.  I'm very thankful for the chance to build more meaningful friendships with other women, and thankful that I have a husband who rolls up his sleeves and gets right in there with parenting duties, bedtimes, and the like.

AND, the blogging world has opened up a bit more for me with the discovery of some great new home decorating blogs and new family blogs, so of course I keep reading to catch up until way past bedtime, and now I am so stinkin' tired I can't think straight!  My own fault, but still...I really didn't catch onto the whole blogging thing until late spring this year, which is probably a good things for me, ha!

I just got off the phone with Jonah's violin teacher, who informed that his violin still sounded terrible, even after the $25 new strings were put on.  She is recommending a new (used) one for him, and used ones come with a price tag of about $400!  YIKES!  I know God is interested in all the details of our lives, so I'm going to trust Him on this one, too!

Have a blessed day today!  We're looking at a glorious -14 degrees this morning, so I think we'll just stay right here and...PLAY, for a little while at least.  There are so many things still to be done!

Merry Christmas

I almost missed it!  I have been trying to upload our family's Christmas card for this...but I guess by now it just isn't happening!  This is the first year that I've designed our card, and I'm thrilled with the outcome (albeit hanging my head in shame that I have to resort to snapping a picture of our card for this post, sigh)!  I suppose there are worse things!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!!

I'll leave you with some cute contenders that just didn't make the cut...

Celebrating Isabelle

Today is our darling girly girl's 3rd birthday!  I can hardly believe it!  As with many other adoptive mothers, mainly those who missed the first months of their children's lives, and in our case a very long and agonizing 18 months, I must train my mind and my heart to focus on the wonderful things that we have shared and the marvelous things to come.  Sometimes it isn't easy.  That emptiness lingers.  Those dark spots remain.

But not today.

Today we are celebrating this 4th little miracle to enter into our family, our cherished and beloved Isabelle Kate.  Happy Birthday my darling girl!  We love you more than we could ever express!  You are a beautiful, smart, funny, talented, and incredibly vivacious little girl, and I am so honored to be your Mama.  ~Te quiero, mi amor~

This was right before we found out that God had created us for you, and you for us

One of my favorite pics of the first time I met you - 8 1/2 months old

You had been jibber-jabbering to me all day long
And you hugged me as if you knew exactly who I was

That was truly a miracle!

This was our early Christmas in 2007, when your Daddy first met you

Happy 1st Birthday Sweetie!

We celebrated with you in spirit that day!

And here you are now!

Such a big girl!

Happy 3rd Birthday
my gorgeous Sweet Pea

Your Mama adores you!