Our Family

Very first thing in the morning Landon's little voice squeaks: 

"Mama, lets do something together."

How is a mother supposed to resist?!

So inevitable I end up rolling out of bed and playing Markers/Stamps or Play-dough.

This morning it was Markers/Stamps,

so I thought I would draw you all a picture of our family:

Bundle of baby-love due Mother's Day 2012!

p.s i am an incredibly talented artist

5 Months Waiting

It is crazy to think that had things not changed in Ethiopia 

we would be half-way (or more!) through our wait to meet you.

Originally we were told to expect our referral call within 7-11 months.

 Now we are being told 12-18 months (or longer.) 

But I have absolute peace that the Lord is in control.

He knows exactly who you are and when you are meant to come to us.

Maybe you are not yet formed.

Maybe you are enjoying more time with your birth Mom.

Maybe God needs to work further on my own heart so I will be a better Mama.

Whatever the reasoning 

I wait in hopeful, joyful, faithful anticipation.

It Runs In The Family

Warning: shameless bragging about my boys below:

My very first blog post ever (way back in 2007) was about RJ's modeling career. 

Apparently modeling runs in the family. 

(Or maybe Patagonia just happens to like the look of my men.)

Either way, we got to see Landon strut his stuff down the catwalk on Monday for 

Patagonia Fall Fashion Show. 

Unfortunately I have terrible pictures.

I have to say it was pretty impressive. 

Watching incredibly beautiful people sashaying down the runway in hundreds of stylish garments that my husband helped produce was inspiring. 

I was proud of my guy.

Both my guys.

I might be his biased Mama but I have to say that Landon killed it.

He wore his puffy pants and jacket like a pro and marched onto that stage like he owned it.

The big lights, loud music, and good-sized audience just pumped him up more.

I was watching from the crowd but RJ told me that he had to hold Landon back until it was his turn.

Our boy was ready to strut. 

He held his head high and waved to all the people.

I was incredibly proud -

and maybe just a tiny bit nervous as to where all this confidence might lead.

Dad and Landon - dressed and ready

A fuzzy picture of one of the big screens next to the stage while Landon walked

Bottom left you and can Landon and RJ at the shows finale clapping to the music

A Christmas Challenge

Image from World Vision

I really love Christmas. And I really love Christmas shopping (because I just plain love shopping in general. I actually get excited to go grocery shopping. Even just for bread.)

But lately I've been really conscious of the fact that while I do love Target how much more of my money do they need? This Christmas I would rather see our resources poured into some more worthy causes. So I super excited to find this blog post earlier today. 

By buying Christmas gifts from companies/individuals that support social causes our money not only makes a positive lasting impact but we are able to spread the word about social injustice and empower people to do something about it. 

And these two awesome women have already done the work for me! They created a pinboard on Pinterest with tons of awesome links to great gifts. Seriously good stuff (especially the further you scroll down the page). Check it out.

I'm challenging myself to buy as many of our Christmas gifts from these, and other, socially conscious groups as I can. 

Hope you will join me.

weekend bits

- Tomato sauce from scratch (as in tomatoes from our garden scratch) is just not worth it. Tastes good but nearly three hours later someone just pass me a jar of Prego

- Friday night RJ and I caught up on the new season of The Office. Andy as manager is brilliant. 

Ed Helms - you are hilarious. 

- Sunday we spent three hours at the outlet malls searching for shoes for Landon's halloween costume.

Apparently yellow lace-up shoes/slippers (boys or girls) just don't exist. 

(Except for really, really, really bright yellow crocs)

- Sunday morning I indulged in a pedicure while the boys went to the tire shop and the nursery. Mid-pedi my two handsome men dashed into the salon to present me with flowers.

I turned a fierce shade of scarlet.

But felt incredibly loved.

- When I got home Landon asked me: "Why your friend washing your feet Mama?"

- Sunday was Canadian thanksgiving and our friends of northern heritage invited us over for a feast. I enjoyed an 18lb turkey, all the fixings, and a surprise reunion with an old high school classmate.

8 am in the morning

Enjoying eggs, toast and color crayons

Landon (out of the blue): Jesus is coming soon.

Mama (Is my child prophetic??!): Gosh, I hope so Landon. It will be wonderful when Jesus comes.

Landon: Jesus going to play with my toys.


Dad: Landon, who is Jesus?


Long pause.

Landon: Jesus give us our dinner.

It's a start.

I Let My Son Pee On A Tree At The Park

But here's the confession: there was a decent public bathroom nearby.


Normally, I have no problem with little people (as in very young children) doing their business behind a bush or tree if there isn't a public restroom onsite. If there is a restroom than it should be used. Little boys especially don't need to think they can just whip their fire hoses out whenever they want and give the grass a watering. But, it's hard to hold it when you're two, and it just seems cruel to "punish"" a preschooler by heading home to use the bathroom when he/she responsibly told you that they have to go.

But here was my dilemma the other day. We are about two weeks into potty training and it's been going pretty well. We have better days than others. Some days are completely accident free but then the next it seems as though the lad is regressing. Since he hasn't completely mastered the art of doing one's business in the ceramic bowl I want to give him the opportunity to succeed whenever I can. And I knew remembering to tell mom he had to "go" while distractedly playing with friends on the playground was going to be tough.

So, when he exuberantly exclaimed, "Mama, I have to go pee-pee" mid-play I was ecstatic and wanted to make sure he won himself a gummy bear by avoiding an accident. The bathroom was just far enough away I doubted his ability to make it. And the portable kiddy potty I had brought with me was further than that. Desperate for success, I whipped down the boys pants and planted him next to a nearby sapling.  He was a tinkling successful!

Tacky? Probably. But until we are done with "training" I guess I'm just what my friend Jessica would call: that mom. 

A Hump-Day Laugh

I put this on my facebook but I couldn't help but share it here as well.

It's just that good.