A Christmas Surprise

There's a new little sweetie in our home.

She stole our hearts the minute we met her!

We are her emergency foster placement.

It's been 5 days now, and she is settling in nicely. 

Each family member wants to claim her as their own.
Yes, she is that irresistable. :)

Please pray for her family.  They are struggling deeply, and this is an especially challenging time of year to be digging deep and dealing with big losses.

Under the Weather

Sometimes, even with a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition, you get hit with illness.  It seems like half the people we know have the flu right now!  We've been under the weather this week, too.  It can take a while to get through a household of 8 people.  Fevers, nausea, achy body, coughing fits, we've seen it all.  We're not too bad off, for the most part, just a lot of resting, napping together, and extra TV time.  Andy and I were hit first, so at least we can take care of the others now.

We learned that while under the weather, you might decide to try out a baby bottle for the first time ever - and like it!  Daddy enjoyed the snuggle time.  (Can you believe how long her hair is getting?)

And you might start sleeping in unusual places.

Your big sister, too.

Then one brother....

and another.

There are downed children and comfort items everywhere we look.  Poor sweeties.  It hit little Isaac today, so Anna-Lise is the only one to escape the bug so far.  (We're rooting for you, Anna! :)

Keandre has been sleeping around the clock for 2 days now, but as of tonight, his fever is finally dropping.

These two snuggled up and watched Curious George 2 next to me while I napped.  This is the life, right?  (Ha...Lucas would disagree!)

We haven't had the flu in 3+ years.  At least we got it over with early this season, right?

What do you do to build your family's immunity during the winter sick season? 
(blog post on that soon)

the little girls

   

I just ran across this picture from a couple months ago.  I think we'll have to frame this one for Granny & Papa!  The girls were having a cousin playdate while the older kiddos were away at school.  I can't wait to see the memories these girls create over the years.  They are such characters!  Madeline and Brooklyn are 3 weeks apart, and Khiana is almost 12 months older. 

Funny Friday

Just a few of the funnies around here lately....

(March '12)

Lucas got tired of holding the phone.

(April '12)

Brooklyn and cousin Madeline dressed the tortoise in baby girl pants.

Keandre and Nichole got married.  And had a child.  All in the same hour.

They were the typical, doting parents, quite proud of their cape-wearing tyke.

Uncle Ian's tortoise was part of our Easter egg hunt.  He stayed in this position for a good 15 minutes.  So cooperative! :)

A couple tigers and a cheetah planned a playdate...

...and together, they learned the joys of photography in motion.

(May 2012)

Brooklyn's hair took on a life of its own.

And she turned two! :)

 Keandre tried out a new sleeping position. He successfully slept on top of legos, a heat lamp, and his guitar. (Yes, their bedroom floor is usually that messy. I gave up -- and that is why they have a baby gate in their doorway! :)

So....what's funny in your life these days?

Brooklyn's 'babies'

At 22 months old, Brooklyn has a new pastime.  She catches flies.  They are her babies.  I have no idea how she is so good at this, but she catches them regularly! 

Here, she is scrunching up her shoulders and squealing with delight. :)

"Fy! Fy!"  (She is like a delighted little Mama as she cares for her 'baby'.)

She often gives the fly a home and carries it around the house saying 'baby', and showing it to whoever will take the time to look.

Once I realize what she's busy with, we take it outside and 'let it go'.  In the planter, of course, so she doesn't notice so easily that it's no longer moving.  And then we wash our hands. :)

1st day of school

  

It all happened rather fast.  One day we were looking for a preschool for Keandre, who really needed his own little adventures to go on while I home school Lucas and Nichole.  We started looking into Montessori schools.

A day or two later, Nichole is begging to go to school also, so we expand the search from Primary only, to schools that also have an Elementary program.

A few days after that, we find it.  The school we were hoping for!  A small, intimate community of families.  Involved and passionate teachers.  Students who are happy and excelling.  Days later, we're in! 

We were loading the car to leave for school when I yelled, "Wait!  Everyone out!  We didn't take a 'first day' picture." :)  Nothing exciting, but I'm glad we captured these.

They are settling in wonderfully.  Nichole is tired and a little grouchy at the end of her day, but after a snack she is full of stories and ready to re-connect after her time away.  Keandre is only gone for 2.5 hours, and when I pick him up he is glowing!  He LOVES his time at school, then is happy to come home again.  His teachers refer to 'work' he does there, but he says, "Mom, it's not work! We're playing and having fun." :)

Two weeks later, my die-hard home schooler, Lucas, decides he wants to join in the fun.  He has so many projects and exciting scientific research to conduct at home that he struggles to focus on his other work.  Now that he's had some time to observe his siblings in their element, he's ready to join them.  I'm so proud of him, and know he'll fit in wonderfully.

Whatever will Brooklyn and I do? :)

jump, jump, jump!

We have very busy kiddos.  They needed a new way to burn some of that energy.  I needed a break from them asking to ride their skooters in the front yard all the time.  So we splurged for a 7.5 foot diameter trampoline.  Best money we've spent in a long time. :)

We were hit with a cold front last week.  It was early still, and just 45 degrees out, and they jumped until their cheeks hurt from the cold.  (We're kinda wimpy here in S. AZ.) 

Gotta love those rosy cheeks!

We don't let the kids jump in socks -- too slippery.  Nichole was jealous of Keandre and Brooklyn's footie pjs, so she borrowed Keandre's spares.  Yeah....that didn't last long.  She said they were itchy!  And she's a bit of a fasionista and a girly-girl, so the pattern didn't help any. ;)

Things We Love: Stripey PJs

 

Brooklyn's: Hanna Anderson (from Costco)

Keandre's: Children's Place

My handsome little boy.

I cannot believe he is turning 5 soon!

Reading a book together on the windowsill.

I LOVE our low windowsills. :)

Polka Dots (24 hours later)

  

Ah, the poor, suffering child. :)

Favorite natural remedies:
(not all at once, of course!)

• vitamin D3
• vitamin A
• vitamin C
• herbal remedy every 2 hours
• green juice with probiotics mixed in
• bath with oatmeal in a sock; don't rinse
• bath with a few drops peppermint oil and tea tree oil; don't rinse
• bath with epsom salt & baking soda; don't rinse
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda in 1 c. water; dab mixture on spots and let dry
• organic raw apple cider vinegar; dab on spots, let dry
• olive oil and vitamin E oil as an 'everywhere' moisturizer (optional: add 1 drop tea tree oil)
• chaparral healing salve on spots
• mixture of raw honey, cinnamon, & vitamin E on spots

We decided a long time ago, for a variety of reasons, that we did not want our children to have the chicken pox vaccine.  When a friend's children came down with chicken pox, we exposed all the kids and prepared ourselves for self-imposed quarantine and a good case of the itchies.  Two weeks later, Lucas & Destany had a little fever and a couple spots.  We exposed everyone again, and Keandre got a mild case (12 spots/all the classic symptoms).  What gives?

Finally, we figured it out.  Although I had told her we didn't want the vaccine, our former pediatrician (SO glad I can say 'former') gave the older three children an MMR/Varicella combination.  I didn't know such a thing existed, and I was not happy when I figured this out a few days ago.  Grrrr....  We decided that at least this was a good booster and will hopefully bring good immunity regardless.

Brooklyn was the last to get them, possibly because she is still nursing.  She is handling it wonderfully!

We know 9 or 10 families who have been taking this polka dotted journey with us, so we've had no lack of playtime with them.  But we are glad it is almost over, too!  We are ready to head back out to the park, the grocery store, and for playdates with friends who didn't feel like sharing the polka dots with us. :)

Our Day in Pictures

 

Andy has started biking Destany to school some days.

She loves it!

Brooklyn has the chicken pox.  Not too many spots so far.  We're doing lots of baths, which she loves!

While I was busy giving baths, Lucas decided to take the morning off school and dig a big hole in the backyard.

Before B's morning nap, we put a raw honey, cinnamon, and vitamin E mixture on her spots.  She was a sweet and sticky mess, but she slept great, and woke up happy!  Then into another oatmeal bath she went. :)

Happy Father's Day!

  

what tired Mamas do...

 

It was 8pm. 

She was still wearing her dinner. 

There was an empty cooler in the bathtub (I made raw milk yogurt today). 

Quickest and easiest bath ever. 

Too bad it's kinda tacky to store coolers in your bathtub! ;)

cool summer snacks



I first saw these Tovolo Green Star popsicle molds on One Little Word She Knew.  Since it's getting hot out and our kids are clamoring for the food dye and high fructose syrup popcicles at the grocery store, I knew these would be a better alternative.

We bought them with some of Brooklyn's birthday money.  

(Thank you, Uncle Archie! :) 

I filled them with layers of rice drink and juice, and so far they are a hit!

Apparently they're yummy on both ends. :)

If you decide to buy these through Amazon, don't forget to use Madi's link.  A percentage of your purchase price goes toward medical supplies and a playground for Madi.  (They are local friends of ours.) 

Things We Love: Poppy Dip Twirls

Sisters

Loving our Poppy Dip twirls!

good times

 

Itty bitty Destany, back when I was first learning to care for her beautiful curls. :)

I wish I could remember how I ran across the Adoption Hair & Skincare Yahoo group.  Especially since it has brought some pretty amazing people our way!  I joined when Destany was a few months old, and most of what I've learned about natural haircare, I learned from those amazing ladies. 

Shortly after joining this group of 2,000+ adoptive families, I met Cate, then Brit and Elise.  Brit and Cate and their families are special parts of our lives.  And Elise and her girls are now family.  (Are we blessed, or what?!)

A few weeks ago, Brooklyn and I flew out and brought Claire & Kyndra here to visit.  Then Elise came and joined us for the last couple of days.

Brooklyn's first flight!

Claire & Andy went on a Niece/Uncle date to Mojo's.

Cuddly pajama girls.

There were many tea parties!

When Elise came, she prepped a bazillion veggies for me to cook.  We'd just received our CSA produce, and I was a bit overwhelmed!

The obligatory 'nice' picture.

How they really look.

The picture *they* prefer to take.

The Mamas....just because. :)

Auntie & Uncle. The girls love saying it, and we love hearing it. And don't try to tell the kids they aren't 'real' cousins. They won't believe you. :)