Birthday bash!

My Isaiah turned six! We had cousin Audrey sleep over, then our plan was a birthday at the cinema! We had not done one, but we had attended one. So this was a new thing for our crew. We only invited my niece Nikki and her kids(she is more like a sister than a niece-- we are only several years apart)her two are the same ages as our youngest two. They are dear friends AND cousins. So in all it would be 8 kids, and 4 adults. Going to see "Alvin and the chipmunks--the Squeakuel"(sp?)
Nik called me that morning(this would be the morning Audrey and Moriah were in my bed but that we got to sleep late) She said," um, can we ride with you? Our van has issues" Now, we have a 12 passenger van. Then we have the mini van. I had hopd to take the smaller version of big family vehicle. But what can you say? We took the gi-normous big old party wagon.(oops THAT pic is on the hubster's phone!)
It was loud, crazy and fun. But did I mention loud?? It was Audrey's first movie.Nova could not figure out why her seat kept going up. Isaiah wanted to go home to see his big gift(a bike surprise). I wanted to NOT offend the others who came to see that movie. But we had a good time. And My Little Bear, is just not quite so little anymore. Six years ago, we brought him home. I had 4 kids ages 6, 4, 2 and a newborn. My first adoption had left me far more emotional than I ever thought possible. I had fallen in love with the first child who came to me without having been born of me. It was miraculous and wonderful and eye opening. I am so grateful God saw fit to make me this kid's mom. He is an amazing fireball of activity. He is bright-eyed(and the only blue eyed!!) and always in motion. He does everything with intensity and spirit. He lives so fully in every moment. He forces you to see that moment too. 6 years have gone by in a whirly swirly tornado of fun.

First sleep-over

My Sweet Niece Audrey came over for her first sleep-over with us. It was for Isaiah's birthday party. We wanted to take her along but her parents needed to be out of town. So Mi Mi kept Baby Henry and we took her. It was a hoot. MY big guys have dubbed her "the informer" one said, " I am going to kick butt on THIS game" she says(always at top volume by the way) "WE DON'T SAY THAT WORD AT MY SCHOOL-- IT IS A BAD WORD" (um, so that means Daddy says it still, right?? lol) and then, " RILEY SAID HATE AND THAT IS A BAD WORD" ( he hates when the game stops like that) and this was all in the car on the way home. The boys promptly hid out in their room playing legos and transformers and probably saying "hate" and "butt" profusely. At one point she heard "stupid" and "shut up" through the door.(which actually ARE bad words here) so she sort of helped me out. Not gonna lie, it was handy.
We ate a bedtime snack and I put the girls in a bubble bath. Three girls in the tub. Yes it was adorable.
Then pajama time. And reading time. And praying time. And kissing time. Then apparently it is singing time. As I kissed her, she started singing "Just a few more weary days and then...." Then Moriah started singing "it's gonna be a good good night"... aren't they sweet?



As you know, we had the bedroom bylaws going here. Well they have a bedroom issue at Audrey's house too. A new baby means mom and dad are sleepy and Audrey climbs right in their bed. Are you seeing where this is going? put one kid who likes getting in mommy's bed, with another kid who likes getting in HER mommy's bed... what do you have??? TWO kids who patter around at night.(and remember one has volume issues-- and we ain't talking hair here!!) So, at 5 am, I hear "AUNT HEZRA I CANNOT FIND MY SOFT BLANKIE!!!" I was lazy, because I had already been up with them once on a potty party.So I say, "look under the bed, I'll bet it fell." I hear thumps as they run away, then thumps as they return. "NOPE, IT WASN'T UNDER THE BED!" "ok, can you talk softer please? Try looking around in the covers." They, thump away. They thump back both yelling "WE FOUND IT!" I knew this would not go well, we would be up for the day at 5 am. So I said, how about you two lie here on my side? so I moved over, they cuddled in, and we got three more hrs of sleep. Which I needed because that was the day of the actual party. Which required xanax and Midol. But I am pretty sure the kids had fun. To be continued for Birthday Bash.

falling down on the job

Riley has been unloading the dishwasher for a while now. He is FINALLY doing it well, without complaints and as a routine (and bless his heart about 3 times a day.) This week, we had a casualty. I heard an awful crash. I heard him say, "oh no!" So, I did what any good mom does. I screamed, "everyone ok?" he said "yes, but stay there" heh heh. Not only did I come, but I brought the camera. Because he was saying, "well, mom, I have never lost a dish yet, it is the first one down"(what is he? a DR??) So I took pics of the fallen and the boy. Then I assured him it was ok. It was after all a cheap one. Now, if it had been the pink depression glass. . .