Little man is so sad...

Last night I told Conner I was taking down the Christmas tree just to warn him so he wouldn't be upset when he woke up. He objected and lucky for him it didn't get done. So this evening I told Conner again. He said "oh mom. I'm so sad that we have to take the tree down". I told him I was too and that we had to because the tree would eventually die b/c I wasn't very good at watering it. Then he proceeded to tell me he was so sad that the Christmas tree had to die. We talked about how sad we both were that Christmas season was going to be over and that we had to take down the tree. He then said "mom, let's listen to Christmas music". A child after my own heart. I love it! The Christmas season passed way to quickly in this home. And I didn't find my Statler Brother's cd until after Christmas (which I'm pretty sure hubby hid from me :)).

However, it's now time to focus for the new year. I am not one to make New Year's Resolutions and this year is no exception. But I do have high hopes for another wonderful year with my hubby and 3 beautiful boys. I wish for health, happiness, memories to be made and most of all an uneventful year with no surprises.

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!

Hope you are all are enjoying your holiday and surrounded with family & friends. It's just Nater & I celebrating with our boys. Yummy food, watching movies and playing games is what we have planned. What about you?

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Our 1st Snow....

And hopefully not the last. We don't get enough snow to justify snowsuits around here so you'll have to excuse little man's outfit.

Just in time for the holidays...

It has finally happened! Hubby and I just finished packing up 45 ComfyPacks!! We will load them up in the van tomorrow and deliver them on Monday to our local department of social welfare office. Please visit my other blog for all the details (more pictures and excitement). A big Thank You to everyone who helped make this happen.

Slow down, you move to fast...

My littlest of all, baby Landon, turned 6 months old today. I'm not going to lie, the first couple weeks after he was born, I thought this day would never come. And now that it's here, I'm ready for things to slow down. Landon, I love your laid back personality, the way your face lights up when you smile and your contagious laugh. While watching you sleep tonight I realized what a blessing it was this past 6 months that you had to be held or else it was listening to you scream. Had you been any other way, I would have spent so much more time cleaning house instead of getting the cuddle time with you and hanging out with your big brothers. Thank you! You are getting so big Landon. You are starting to sit up by yourself, you are constantly watching your big brothers, and you reach for everything you see. But most importantly, you are such a happy baby; with 2 brothers and parents that adore you. We have realized how lucky we are for things to have turned out the way they did. I have a sneaking suspicion you and Biruk are going to be quite the pair. And Conner smothers you with kisses and tells you just how cute you are and calls you "chunky cheeky". It's quite adorable.

You are 19lbs (a lightweight compared to your biggest brother and a heavyweight champion compared to your bigger brother at this age) and still wearing 6 month (some 9 month) clothing. You don't babble very much but maybe it's because you aren't given the opportunity. You have 4 other people talking over you. We'll have to work on that.

Thanks for being such an easy baby and for constantly reminding me to slow down and enjoy you and your brothers.
love, mama.

Here are some pictures to attest to how stinking cute you are...

Mmm mmm good....

We are still alive and kicking over here. The boys are getting bigger every day and thankfully have only given me ONE gray hair. My sister thankfully yanked it out for me while visiting her in Texas. Currently my nose is filled with the wonderful aroma of pine needles!! LOVE IT!! Today was the day we got our tree (well hubby and Conner b/c it was 30 degrees outside and the wee ones were too cranky to leave the house). But back to the yummy pine needles; they just smell so stinking sweet. I am not sure there will ever come a day that I switch to artificial. I think I would miss the smell too much. Tomorrow the kids and I will put up the lights and hang the ornaments. We have so much celebrating this season. Last year it was just the three of us and the 2008 year has blessed us with 2 more beautiful children! We will not be traveling this year (first time EVER) and instead we are going to spend our time as a family. I can't wait! 2 more weeks. Since I count Christmas eve as the start of Christmas. Happy Holidays!!

Comfy Pack Blanket Success!!

Thanks to all who participated in the Turkey break blanket parties. The turnout was spectacular. My friend Emily and her family sent me 30 blankets. She said her family had a great time and her daughter even ran the sewing machine some of the time :). Then the Colorado clan (sister and her hubby, her sister in law, my brother and my little sister) have made 16 blankets so far!! woohoo! And a big thank you to my mom and 2 of my sisters, my little brother and my dad. We all spent the Saturday after thanksgiving cutting and tying knots and made 24 blankets. My mother in law contributed more soft fleece blankets and some jogging outfits for little kids. And lastly (and not least) was the surprise waiting on the doorstep when I got home from my cousin in Ohio who had shipped 2 adorable fleece tie blankets with the cutest patterns. You all KICK butt and I will post more pictures when I get my other memory card handy. I will keep you all posted!
thanks again!!
Chandra

almost forgot

Here's our little swimmer. His first session ended tonight. He LOVES going under water. When I first asked him if he wanted to take swim lessons his response was "no because they'll make me go under water". He was hooked on day 1. Way to go bud! Can't wait for the next class. You did great!

Photo time

I talked to my sister this morning and I told her I was thinking about canceling my blog b/c I don't have the time to get on anymore. She said "post pictures". So here ya go. Enjoy.

Home sweet home...

I know, I know. I've been totally slacking in the blog department. I have a wonderful excuse though. I'm overhauling the house. That's right. I've been going through every nook and cranny and hauling off a ton of donations to a local charity. It feels wonderful to clean the house of clutter and to simplify things. The less we own, the less there is to pick up and keep clean. I like this theory actually.

Not to mention I've been keeping up with the normal cleaning schedule which is hardly possible to manage (ya know, with three little ones and all). Today I did manage to clean the carpet in one bedroom and wash the hardwood floors in the dining room. Big project there folks.

As for the kids, they can bring out the best in me and the worst. Little Landon LOVES to be held and as soon as I remove him from my arms he lets out this awful scream that makes you believe he is certainly hurt. When in realty, he is just terribly spoiled and wants his mama. Biruk overall is pretty happy go lucky unless he is hungry or tired. He is my curious child though and will climb anything he can get his leg up on and still loves to eat anything he can find. Conner is quite the helper these days and keeps me in check most of the time.

But when the day finally comes to an end and they are all snug in their beds, I know, I would not want it any other way. They are too precious for words and watching them develop relationships and become the best of friends has been so rewarding and enjoyable. I said to Conner the other day "aren't you so glad you have your younger brothers?". His response was "Yeah. I love Biruk. I'm so happy he didn't have to go back to Ethiopia". Me too!!

That'll teach me...

One piece of advice that has been given to me repeatedly since I've been a mother is "sleep when they sleep" (regarding nap time). Most of the time Conner doesn't nap and Landon and Biruk are rarely in sync during nap time. Not to mention the fact that when they are sleeping it's prime time for me to clean, eat or relax for a few minutes. However today Biruk was taking his usual nap and Conner needed to rest since he was up late last night. So I layed down with him for a few minutes (which made me realize how tired I was) and then I decided to lay down with Landon and nurse him to sleep. My eyes closed and I woke up an hour later to Biruk talking in his crib. I got up to check on Conner who was going poop. Perfect timing (so I thought). Then I realized there was poop all over his pants (but on the outside). Okay, what the heck. So I asked him what was going on. Instead of trying to quote my three year old I will tell you this. He decided to wipe his own butt (most likely b/c I was sleeping) and used his pants and towels b/c there was no toilet paper in his bathroom. He said to me "toilet paper is hard to find mom. It was just an accident". I looked at him and said "it sure was. It's not a big deal". Why so calm? Because while I was passed out my 3 year old was walking around with poop in his butt looking for some toilet paper. I learned my lesson. No more naps for mom!

The Blanket Challenge - Thanksgiving of '08

My sister Keely has proposed an awesome idea. The Thanksgiving Blanket Challenge for the Comfypacks. Since many of us will be surrounded by friends and family over the Thanksgiving holiday I challenge all of you to get to the fabric store, buy some fleece and make a blanket or two (or ten). My family alone will be in 4 different states so each of them will be tackling this project themselves.

Now, for the fun part. Once I receive all the blankets there will be a contest. There will be one winner for each of the 3 categories. Best boy or girl blanket, and best childrens blanket. You can do the tie/knot style fleece blanket or the stiched perimeter. I am hoping my mom will teach me how to sew that style.

What an awesome way to get some blankets made and how neat for each of the children to know these were especially made for them. Now get shopping!! The goal is 90 blankets made over Thanksgiving and for the first 90 backpacks to be delivered to my local foster care office. Thanks in advance for all of your help and ideas.

Here is a link to make the "no sew" fleece blankets

Happy early Thanksgiving. I look forward to posting pictures and seeing some progress.
Chandra :)

Seriously

I am completely smitten with this guy. He's a holy terror compared to Conner but how I can I look at this face and get mad? It's just not possible. He loves the garbage can, he loves the cabinet under the sink, he loves sticking his hand in the toilet and he loves screaming at the top of lungs (for the hell of it). He has no fear, he doesn't care if you yell at him or scream no. He just casually turns around with a face that says "you talking to me" and then gets back to whatever he is doing. And all I can do is shake my head and smile. Thank goodness you are so stinking cute B. We LOVE ya kiddo!

The dynamic duo

The two sure know how to make each other laugh. However, they also know how to make each other cry. Today Biruk bit Conner. Then Conner hit him back and they were both crying.

4 & 4

I was tagged by James and I am supposed to pick the 4th pic from the 4th folder. Here goes....

It's a picture from April, shortly after Biruk was home with us. It feels like forever ago. Wow! Anyway, tag to whomever wants to participate.

Watching the wheels go round and round

Biruk enjoying his first bike ride with dad!

Happy Halloween!

Thanks to hubby's creativity Conner was the coolest kid in the parade. Nater didn't look to shabby himself. Biruk wore Conner's old costume to the library (it was a little big) and then he rode in the carrier during trick or treat. Landon helped Gma & Gpa hand out candy. The day was a ton of fun!!

What goes up...

must come down.

Family picture

Hubby told me he needed a family picture for work. I sent him a copy of this picture. Conner had some food on his face and Landon had red eye. He photo edited it and sent it back to me. I should have known better.

how is this even possible

to have a 4 month old that averages an hour of sleep per 12 hour day. Seriously. This has been going on for some time. And to top it off Biruk has only taken an hour nap the past 2 days. I swear I may loose my mind before 5:00. I need a vacation.

sincerely,
the whiner.

Makes me wonder....

how much trouble these two will be causing in a few months.

\y

Inspiration

We have been taking in as much as the outdoors as we can with all this beautiful fall weather. Here is a beautiful lookout we stopped by today. Then we had a picnic lunch, played at the park, walked through the park and played at the creek. The boys had a blast. Biruk is mastering his walking skills so he's able to play around a lot more now! Good times!

All this time...

..we had this beautiful waterfall less than 4 miles from our house. The lower falls are around 12 feet. Conner loved it! Can't wait to go again.