The move

So we moved and are absolutely loving our new house. But HOLY MOLY, good gracious sakes alive. It was stressful. I like to think I can roll with the punches, but let me tell you. Moving with three 2 year olds was not something I ever wanna do again. Ever. 

So much to paint, move, unpack, organize. Shelves to line. Things to hang. And all of this either happened at 10pm well into the wee hours of the morning or with three monkeys following me around. One of them getting into evvverything. Breaking things. Hiding in boxes filled with fragile stuff. I won't mention any names. But I'm not saying that name isn't spelled SENA! 

A week into the new house all three girls got strep. I got the flu. We went on a three day camping trip and lance started a new job. Whew. It's been quite the month. However, I feel like the dust is starting to settle. Fewer and fewer boxes clutter my house each day and I'm starting to be able to turn my focus away from all things house related. I mean, I've got to clear space in my life to plan a frozen birthday party people. Elsa and Anna Agan have been waiting for this for months. MONTHS!

But we survived. No permanent damage to any family members and only minimal collateral damage caused by our wild Ethiopian babe. 

Ready to start April with nothing big on the horizon and just have one goal. Find a babysitter and go on a long date with Lance, eat lots of food and order dessert. The end. 

Crazy little monkeys enjoying their new favorite activity. Playing on the stairs. Nora told someone at church Sunday that she lives in a castle, in a "big giant house with lots of stairs and fancy things!" Gotta love the contentment of a child. A flight of stairs and 400 extra square feet and we live in a castle! ;) 

Best Daddy

Lance starts a new job Monday and has this week off in the transition. Which has been great since we just moved, went camping for three days and then I returned home with some awful mystery virus that rendered me unable to move for two straight days. 

But somehow in between unpacking, doing all the camping laundry and taking care of the girls he made sure to take all three girls on special one on one dates of their choice. His idea! What a good daddy. 

First up was Zoe. With no hesitation she chose Taco Bell. "Oh Daddy I just LOVE LOVE LOOOOVE Taco Bell. It's just the beeeest place!" Were her exact words. Parenting fail. Yes, I know. After Taco Bell she chose to go for Froyo. 

Next was Sena. She couldn't quite tell us exactly what restaurant she wanted but when Lance asked she said "eggies" so off they went to ihop where she apparently finished an adult size portion of bacon, pancakes and eggs. We joke that we got the slowest, shortest and chubbiest Ethiopian ever created. This girl can put away food, and we wouldn't have her any other way! They ended their date with Froyo as well. And coincidentally the big girls and I accidentally crashed their date after our dentist appointment. 

Last up was Nora who took all week to agree to go without Mommy. But once she was ready she was pumped! She didn't mess around and chose to get a manicure AND a pedicure THEN went to ihop as well, followed by Target and Toys r us to ride the mechanical horse. Oh Nora! You're such a mess! And clearly have Daddy wrapped around your crazy little finger! 

We are so thankful for such an awesome Daddy who loves his girls SO SO much!! And come to think of it, there is still one girl in the family needing a date and I'm pretty sure she won't be choosing taco bell or ihop! ;) 

Happy Days

Life is so beautiful.....

Eating...

Being cute.....

Running and talking.....

Shopping.....

Making memories.....

Laughing.....

Cleaning while wearing a toddler....

Parkin with Starbucks....

Going to the doctor.....

Getting tattoos....

Chillin with Daddy....

Going to preschool parties.....

Celebrating daddy "just because!" 

Making Silly hats...

Nap time snuggles....

Valentine's Day....

Homemade playdough....

Sweet sister loves....

Decorating cupcakes...

It's not always perfect. Far from it most days. But the blessings are REAL and we are so thankful for this sweet little simple life the Lord has blessed us with. ❤️

Ever considered it?

So like I've said in posts before. Adoption is hard. The first months home kicked my booty. For real! But as we near the 6 month mark home with our angel I am in awe of her. Of her joy. Every photo we saw of Sena while we waited, she looked so sad. It was honestly hard to open up my email updates bc I just couldn't handle seeing any more sad photos. An empty face mixed with a little anger and fear. It was terrible. Then we got her and she started smiling the next morning and she hasn't stopped since. She just needed a reason to smile. A reason to unleash her joy. Have you ever considered adoption!? There is truly nothing like seeing a child become who they were created to be as a result of the simple act of love. It's amazing! 

"My child doesn't remember being hungry but her body does."

Why do we let Sena STILL have a big ol bottle every night? 

Why do we allow her 2, 3, 4, meals before noon? 

Why do I reach for a box of granola bars when she starts hitting and biting her siblings? 

This article has me just shaking my head and saying YES the entire time. 

I have believed for some time now that almost all of Sena's particularly negative behaviors revolve around hunger. No, she probably doesn't remember being hungry. But her body, on the most primal level still remembers that it needs to panic when the feeling of hunger comes. For 16 months of her life a twinge of hunger meant disaster. Fear. Terror. Possibly even the fear of dying. 

To relate it to something easier to understand, imagine the most frightening thing that ever happened to you. Or highest trigger of stress. Think of the visceral reaction that is triggered when you think about it or find yourself in a similar situation. That's how I imagine my Sena must feel. Daily. Over and over. The feeling of hunger comes and although she knows the food will never be lacking she reverts to panic. It's what her body has learned to do. Poor sweet baby. 

Please read this oh so good article. 

http://foster2forever.com/2016/01/signs-of-infant-neglect.html

My girls. ❤️

My kids are all so different. So wonderful. So full of such unique traits and personalities so different from each other. At the end of each day I feel so thankful for the job God has graciously allowed me to have right now, being their mommy.  

My Nora: my heart 

Passionate. Dramatic. Great sense of humor. Athletic. Coordinated. Loving. Meticulous. Smart. Hilarious. A crowd pleaser. Wears her heart on her sleeve. Very easily excited. Very easily sent into a tailspin of emotions. Very polite. A great sister. A dancer. 

My Zoe: my light 

A total nurturer. Kind. Sweet. A people pleaser. Peacemaker. Clumsy. Whimsical. Girly girl. Tender hearted. Mamas girl. Laid back. Flexible. A great sister. Smart. Trusting. Compassionate. Empathetic. A talker. 

My Sena: my strength 

Loud. Sweet. Observant. Smart. Easy going. Independent. Mamas girl. Funny. Hyper. Brave. Trusting. Compassionate. A great sister. A sponge. Joyful. 

I love these girls so much! They are my "work" right now. My world. The ones I spend most hours with. Teaching and loving and disciplining and hugging and playing. Sometimes it feels like the day in and day out cleaning and cooking and just never stopping routine gets hard. But to apart of their childhood and little lives still so fresh and new everyday is such a joy! I am one LUCKY mama!! 

Hour by hour

So I'm being held hostage in my girls room until they fall asleep and just saw this post on a friends blog, thanks Amanda, so to pass the time I'm totally copying it! 

Here is a typical day around here:

*disclaimer: all photos not taken in the same day! But do generally represent our days. 

7:30ish am: awoken by Sena Jane. I scoop her up, grab her a water & myself a coffee and we start Daniel Tiger on the couch. 

8ish am: breakfast for Sena. Almost always eggs! 

9ish am: The big girls arise. Scoop up. Now some Daniel tiger and dry cereal most days for them. 

10ish am: Try to clean up breakfast dishes while managing all three now up and crazy! 

11ish am: Get girls dressed and head out for an outing. My getting ready usually consists of washing my face, mascara, Chapstick. Glamorous I know. Don't be too jealous! And I usually take 3 minutes to do this once they are loaded in the car. 

12ish pm:  Typically at the park or out in the yard playing. 

1ish pm: Lunch and Senas nap time. 

2ish pm: Senas up. Yes you read that right. We have one napping child out of three and she never even naps 1 full hour! We take another "chill" hour and play quietly or watch tv with the lights down in the living room. 

3ish pm: kids in car, mom to Starbucks. 

4ish pm: Dinner prep with slightly frightening toddlers at this point in the day. Power through. Structured play. Usually playdough in high chairs or art outside. 

5ish pm: Time to head outside! Trampoline, bikes, chalk! Waiting for Daddyyyyy!! Usually dinner for the kids in this hour. 

6ish pm: DADDY IS HOME!!!!! We let daddy eat a quick bite then he takes over while mommy takes 5 or 10 or 20! ;) 

7ish pm: start bedtime for all kiddos!

8ish pm: High Fives! We made it through another day!! Quick clean up. Lance on laundry, me on kitchen. 

9ish pm: Wine, Netflix, reeeeelaxing!!

10ish pm: Lance to bed. I do my daily quiet time. Worship music and prayer time in the quiet living room. Ahhhh so peaceful.

( not gonna post myself in the bath so here's one for cuteness!!) 

11ish pm: bath and book. 

Midnight: GOODNIGHT!