7 Quick Takes

1.) John is going on a back packing trip with his brother and dad. John loves backpacking and needs this break in the great outdoors before his life becomes crazy again with commuting to Seattle everyday for school.  It'll be the twins and me.  I'm hoping to see a relative at Mass, because I can't handle both on my own!

2.) I pulled my post on "Favoritism in Families."  I still have it, but I think blogging about it would cause me more problems.  That being said, thank you, Dr. Gianna and Colet for your input! I really appreciate it.

3.) We have lots of apples, and that means baking an apple pie on Sunday and making some applesauce.  Maybe that will be my project when the kids are napping.

4.) We're thinking of asking for a respite weekend.  Since we don't know any fostering families in our county, it will be interesting.  Actually, the only fostering family I have had contact with is the couple who took the twins in for 10 days before we got them.  She was very nice and was really good at assessing the kids and where they were developmentally.  It's a lesbian couple who have 5 other children.  Not what I would necessarily hope for, but beggars can't be choosers when it comes to finding someone willing to do respite for us.

5.)  This Saturday is supposed to be really nice.  The kids and I will head to a park to run off their energy.

6.) In the spring I was offered shares in my company.  We could only afford one, and I just got my first dividend check.  There are perks to being an 'owner,' even though I'm a very, very small owner. :)

7.) John's brother and his wife and their five kids are moving to AZ very soon.  It will be so strange to drive past their house (which is in our neighborhood) and know that they're not there.  Maybe we'll have to take a trip to AZ. :)

A Trip to the Doctor

This morning I took the twins to the doctor because Cherub had diarrhea for 3 days, even though he had no fever and was eating fairly normally.  A couple of other kids at daycare had it as well, so it was something going around.  Their daycare has a 3 runny diaper policy: if you have three, you have to stay home for 24 hours.  Thank goodness that John doesn't start back to school until next week, because he has been able to stay with Cherub while he was out on Tuesday.  Both kids are home today as well with him.

The kids' social worker was at the appointment with me since their mom had been invited to be there as well.  Only, their mom didn't show up.  So, that was interesting.  The good news is that the kids are fine and their bodies are just trying to get rid of the virus via diarrhea.  (That rhymes.) 

Feast of St. Matthew

Yesterday was the feast of St. Matthew.  One of my favorite names ever is Matthew.  Maybe it is because that is my brother's name and I'm very fond of my younger (by 13 months) brother.

Happy feast day, Matt!

Matt with our niece, Lili.

Why I Can't Make Mom Friends

This video made me laugh and cringe at the same time.  Laugh because it really is funny and cringe because I know a couple of moms and dads who are like the mom in this video.  Too funny....and too realistic in a way.
Enjoy---and save me from the good (who try to be perfect) people!

Three months

Today marks 3 months that the twins have been with us.  Looking back and seeing the changes that have occurred in them (and us), I really find it hard to remember what our lives were like before.  Their smiles, laughs, hugs and funny words and actions brighten our days. 

Seeing their personalities come out and develop has been a lot of fun.  Thumbelina loves shoes and her little purse. She knows her numbers, letters and colors and loves songs and dancing.  Cherub loves cars and motorcycles, songs, and especially letters and numbers and colors.  He knows them so well and is only 2 and a half!

We cannot think about them leaving without us getting down and teary eyed, so we focus on each day with them.  First and foremost, they have a Heavenly Father who loves them even more than we and their mother do, and who knows what is best for them.  So, when they try to make the Sign of the Cross, I think about how pleased He must be at these little ones.

We love you, monkeys!

Birthday Catch Up

Where did September go?  I've missed posting the family birthdays in July and September, so here they are.

My nieces, Madeleine (affectionately known as Madge) and her sister Guadalupe aka Pita turned 4 and 2 respectively.  They also got the nice birthday gift of a baby brother, also born in July. Welcome Caleb Jr!
My mom also had a birthday at the end of July.  She was away in our hometown of St. Louis at the time, so we had a little celebration when she got back.

On the other side of the globe, my niece and goddaughter, Lili turned 4!

In September, my sister, Kate celebrated her birthday! She is so far away in Australia.  Her son, Nicholas, turned 6.  I can't believe he's in first grade already.  What the heck?! 

Kate looking stylishly 1940s at a party.  Nick ready for a school spirit race day.

Wrapping up the September birthdays are my father-in-law, Jim, and our nephew Daniel who turned the big 7!  We had a family birthday dinner last night to celebrate the birthday boys.  I could not ask for a better father-in-law.

                                 Dad C on a recent backpacking trip.

                               Daniel on the ferry headed to Orcas Island.

                                Happy (belated) birthdays to everyone!

Home again, home again, jiggiddy, jig

We got back from Montana last night about 9pm.  A couple of stops, two very compliant 2 year olds and 600+ miles later, our little family was back home.  There are lots of great photos (wish I could post some of the kids out in the huge field) and we had such a nice time with family, just reading, talking, fishing, playing games and cooking together.

Cherub and Thumbelina had a wonderful time and finally got to meet Aunt Ellen and Uncle Kurt who made the cabin arrangements.  The kids got so much play time and attention from Mere Mere and Pere Pere (John's parents) and their favorite, Aunty Miriam, as well as Kurt's wonderful parents.  At least for the time they are with us, they have a big family who loves them dearly.

Now, I need to finish my coffee and get things unpacked and cleaned up before work tomorrow.