Sunday, June 8, 2014

The big May picture post

For whatever reason, this blog is turning into a "once a month post" type blog.   Whether it being because I'm insanely busy or insanely lazy, or the fact that our computer is slow as molasses (in fact molasses may be faster), the "e", "h", and "w" keys stick, so every other word is spelled wrong and needs correction, or because I am the mother of a very active 4 year old daughter, who is apt to escape leave the house, yard, whatever is containing her, to take off and explore the world on her own.  We are also limping trying very hard to finish the school year and get those last writing papers and math problems finished (with passing grades).


  And did I mention baseball?  From now until ... I don't know, sometime, we have baseball literally every.single.night.  The joys of making the travel team.

  Babe is finished with her school for the year.  We have gone through another eye surgery this week, and we are excited to meet our "summer time" therapist.  He just so happens to be a "he".  Babe loves men.  LOVES men.  Trying to work on appropriate public responses with her is slightly harder than what I expected. But Hard can be good.  Yet that is another post.
I'm not sure how I feel about "preschool graduation".  I do know that others look at it as a HUGE deal.  Huge!  Flowers, balloons, parties.  I don't see the need to "graduate" from every little accomplishment.  We happen to work very hard at every accomplishment, and when we succeed at said accomplishment, if we wre to "graduate" or throw a party, we would literally be partying nonstop.  Sounds fun...but not really realistic.  Plus, I do not want my children to work hard and succeed just to feel the thrills of a party.  Do we cheer, clap, and sing praises?  Absolutely!!  Positive reinforcement is the best motivator. But positive reinforcement and celebratory party are not the same thing in my book. We looked at it as the "End of the Year Program".  Go ahead...call me a party pooper.

Pure adorableness as we wait for our turn.  Pre-surgery we have a blast, kickin back in cool pj's, watching Doc McStuffins, coloring.  Not so sweet post surgery.  Even with apple juice and fish crackers. Notice the stamp on her forehead.  Think they can tell which eye to do the surgery on?  You mean the swollen eyelid isn't enough of a clue?  Silly Dr Katowitz.


We also had a new family member join our family. 
 Meet Henry.
To say this kitty is loved is a huge understatement.  Overly loved is more like it.  Even Daddy, who is not a cat person, has shown affection towards him.  Thank you Marilyn for our new family member!  He is such a joy!!

Mother's day and my birthday also fall in the month of May.  Both were beautiful days.  I didn't want anything but to just hang out, relaxing with my family.  And that's what we did.  Why God saw fit to bless me with this family I don't know.  I certainly do not deserve the blessing.  It pains me to think that there are so many children all throughout the world without a mommy, who don't celebrate their birthdays.  Or the mommy's who, for whatever reasons, have a empty spot in their life, where once a child filled it.  Two mom's in particular who entrusted their children to me.  Blessed me with their arrows.  I am eternally grateful.  So many more children who need to learn what love really is, and what it means to be a family.  It is not always gumdrops and rainbows.  But at the end of the day, it is well worth it.

This May was especially beautiful.. I don't know if it was because of all the snow last winter, if it is because the older I get the more I appreciate springtime, or what.  But it was beautiful. Started out with a lot of this...
That is a pond in my backyard, where there should be none.  Look closely and you can see a tree top in the middle.  Lots of rain.  I have a new deep respect for Noah.  Honestly.  Soon enough though the rain subsided, the sun came out, and we had lots of this...



We had visitors...
Yes, that is a turkey in my backyard.  Go figure!

We took naps...wherever we were...

We enjoyed the color palate that God provides in this season.

Photo

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Big girl got her first babysitting gig...
Bringing in the dough!  I can't believe she is growing up so quickly.  But what a beautiful girl...inside and out.  We planted our garden, we went to the "Large Family Picnic" put on by another bloggy mom, (http://theblessingofverity.com/), whom I adore.  Finally got to meet her and her posse in person.  What a beautiful family. We all had so much fun, and look forward to going back next year.  Large Family Picnic = tons o' kids.  Someone for everyone.  Adopted, special needs, home schooled.  Pretty much everything represented.  And tons of food. 

Pretty much an awesome month.  Good start to the summer.