i'll take some peace on earth, please.

you know those days...were you step foot out of the bed and before an entire hour has passed...you feel like you have been awake for 2 days straight and have tackled enough messes to last those 2 days...and then some?

well...this has been the story of my sunday morning up until this point.  i think God may have been sending me a little message in response to my deciding to skip church this morning.  but i had a good excuse!  ah...who am i kidding?  it wasn't all that great.  and if we had just gone...it would have saved me a truck load of hassles.  tune in next time for the story of a peaceful sunday morning going all renegade on me...complete with a dog, a baby, a kitten, and a lot of syrup.

it was a hot mess.

****

on another note...the verdict is in.  chad has said we are not keeping the cat.  and it's just as well...however i think we can all see the problem.

the littlest sister will not take no for an answer and finds a way to let that cat in the house all. the. time.

she's small...but she's got tenacity.  she will trick her brothers into opening the back door for her, or sweet smile her dad into letting the meowing kitten in for a visit, or get aiden on the case.

and that cat's not stupid.  he knows that if he hangs out on the back patio long enough...he'll eventually be let in.  and fed.

so...there it is.

yep...that's my good blanket.

we took a break the other night to go look at the moon.

and then we were right back where we started.

i just don't know what to do about it.

so in the mean time...they will just keep on beggin...

just look at that hair, will you?  she had a hay day with the small piggy and bow that was perfectly in place when i put her down for her nap.

that's what i get for thinking she will forget about it and not pull it out as soon as she gets the chance.

that girl doesn't forget about anything.

the weather finally cooperated and we had the frog's funeral last night.

our little friend from across the street came and paid her respects.

chad memorized and recited the eulogy that chase had prepared.

chase said a few last words.

aiden threw some popcorn on the grave for woody as a final gesture to close the service.

(why we had bowls of popcorn at the funeral like it was movie entertainment...i still don't know?)

and then clickidy cat showed up and chase went all lion king on us as we marveled at the circle of life.

one frog leaves this earth...one kitten surfaces.

rest in peace together, buzz and woody.

****

we've been busy elves this weekend...decorating the house for christmas.

here is a sneak peak...

and my view from my computer.

yeah...it makes the...shall we say..."stickiness" from this morning fade into a distant memory, replaced by the promise and hope of a magical sunday afternoon.

here's to peace on earth...

our house included.

chad vs. mindy...head vs. heart

so... you know how you're not supposed to "drunk-text?"  well...i'm pretty sure that applies to blogging as well.  but...alas, here i am...willing to pour out my heart just because i poured a small glass of wine.

ok.

so i guess...that doesn't classify this as a "drunk" post.  but a "timpsy" one? 

well...probably not even that. 

but...

i am in a good "pondering" mood.

why do relationships have to be so hard?  i mean...if you ask yourself, "are things supposed to be like they are in the movies?"...you would totally say no.

but then, "are things supposed to be like they are on a bad episode of keeping up with the kardashians?"  again...no.

so...what are things really supposed to be like?

chad and i have come to an impass, of sorts.  we are two creatures of very different habits and are cut from two entirely different molds.

he thinks.

i feel.

i know what you're thinking.  this is the way most husbands and wives are.  the whole "men are from mars and women are from venus" book proves that.  but this is different.

he takes forever to make a decision...thinks about it for days...then thinks about it some more...then re-analyzes why he is thinking about it...then forgets that he's thinking about it for several months...then thinks about thinking about it again...and then sweeps that thought under the rug...and then finally thinks about it some more...then makes a decision...and then second guesses that decision...and then pretends the whole thing never happened. 

it's a wonder we ever made it down the isle.

the fact that we did, is enough confirmation for me to believe that God was in this thing, to last a life time.

me?

well...

i have an idea pop into my head...ask my heart what it thinks for about 8.24 seconds...and then...BOOM...decision made...done.

never think about it again.

so...what is this all about, you may be wondering?

the adoption.

are we really supposed to adopt a baby girl with down syndrome and bring her into our family as our own?

has God, himself, really "called" us to do this?

to me...

there is no question.

to chad...

reality and responsibility to our four, present children is something that needs to be further evaluated and prayed about.

does this lead to frustration...arguing...resentment...unrest?

absolutely.

is it a bad thing?

no.

it is hard for me to admit that.

it is hard for me to admit that i may not ever hold that baby girl and tell her how much we loved and wanted her.  it is hard for me not to blame chad.  it is hard for me to see how God is using my husband to guide us and grow us and lead us.  it is hard for me to be patient.  again.

but i will.

because that is what God is asking me to do.

and no matter how hard it is to admit...

He deals with me...and He deals with chad...

and He loves us both.

and He knows who the baby would be if we did get her...

and He loves her too.

and He knows what's best for us all.

please God...

have favor on us.

have favor on us all.

it's raining cats, dogs and frogs

in an effort to help me out...chad changed all of my settings and a bunch of other "stuff" so that i could easier upload, store, and deal with my pictures.

the result...

i can't find any of them.

it's ok.

normally i would be going out of my mind with frustration and irrational thoughts of throwing all technology before the year 1993 out with the trash and marching to my nearest southwestern bell store to purchase myself a mustard yellow, rotary telephone to bolt to our kitchen wall with the extra long curly chord that will reach to the pantry if i decide i need to have a private conversation.  you know...the one that you spend hours trying to untangle so that you can reach your nearest room with a door?  and then i would plan out going to the nearest drug store to purchase a few rolls of film for my old camera after giving the photo technician an ear-full of my latest soap box tirade about how all technology is just plain evil.

but i'm not.

like...at all.

****

our kitty friend is being fairly persistent.  despite the fact that chad has made it perfectly clear to him how much he hates cats...he still doesn't seem to be too proud to bounce his way over and meow his way into our house.  it doens't help that the girls tote him everywhere and that he patiently puts up with them dressing him up in doll dresses...rocking him in a doll cradle...and bathing him in the pretend doll bathtub.

i would show you pictures of all those things...

but we have already covered that issue.

i can't believe that this cat doesn't bolt as soon as he sees annslee coming.  but he doesn't.  he just goes limp when she picks him up and lets her toss him over her shoulder like a santa sack and tote him around wherever the wind blows her.

it really is comical.

so, last night...mr. we-will-never-own-a-cat...came home from the store with a small bag of kitten food.  we animal lovers of the family got a little excited, until he followed his moment of weakness up with,

"we are NOT keeping this cat!!!!"

and i believe him.

tune in next time to find out what happens with clickity cat.

****

on another animal note...

woody...chase's tree frog has finally crossed over into the heavenly realm.  the funeral and burial will be held tonight at the site of buzz's final resting place in the backyard.  (buzz was the other tree frog.  santa brought them together, like 5 years ago.)  chase has already written the eulogy and given it to chad.  and i think we all have to wear black.  and maybe we even all have to say something about woody.  and then chase will pray.  i think this is how it is to go.

oh...

and...

in lieu of flowers, chase has requested toys.

happy tuesday, folks.

now...go hug one of your pets.

trick-or-treat

i remember halloween as a kid.  i remember the magic of it.  there was no question that the community would come together.  every child was included...no matter their age.  everyone participated.  most porch lights were lit, right along with the candle in their jack-o-lantern.

around the same time every year...the question from mom would come.  "what do y'all want to be for halloween this year" she would ask.

and the magic would start.

she would make our costumes...humoring us with tiny details that would make our transformation from an ordinary child into our new identity for the evening seem quite realistic.

I remember being raggedy ann, a doll, a black kitty cat, a pumpkin, a princess, and a punk rocker.  i know there were many more costumes...but those are the ones that make appearances in my memory when i think of halloween.

i remember our plastic pumpkin trick-or-treat containers.  i remember my dad carving the pumpkin the same every year.  i remember dumping all of our loot onto the kitchen table and my parents checking the wrappers for tiny holes.

but mostly...i remember the candle lit streets, the sounds of giggling children, the sight of excited kids running from house to house in little clusters exclaiming "TRICK-OR-TREAT" in happy voices at every door, with the conversations of moms and dads chaperoning their little ghosts and goblins from the curb echoing in the background.

i still love halloween...for all of the same reasons.

this year we had friends over for pizza, boo mix, and brownies...followed by turning our bathroom into a costume studio.  the boys dressed upstairs and the girls in my closet.  and then everyone gathered to have hair and make-up done, which transformed them from a kid in a costume into the real thing.

this was the only time she had the elmo hood on.  the rest of the time, she refused to keep it on her head.  that's ok.  she's 2.  she gets a free pass.

colton was captain jack sparrow; chase was harry houdini, aiden was little red riding hood (cape made by granna), and annslee was elmo, of course.

chad didn't dress up and i didn't press him on it.  i had my friend, cara who volunteered to look ridiculous with me.

i threw this costume together very last minute.  like right before we walked out the door, last minute.  i busted out my 9th grade homecoming dress and some blue eye shadow.

oh yeah.....

nothin like the late 80's.

aiden and her kiki were precious together.

right out of a fairytale...

why is she always looking annoyed that i am taking her picture?  little red riding hood needed to adjust her attitude to the paparazzi.  it's like she forgot who her obsessive mother is.

****

annslee, i mean elmo rode with her friend, kenzie the pumpkin in the wagon.

cara thought she was really dressing up with this 50's style outfit.

this did not go over well with me.

i looked ridiculous.

she looked normal.

i'm gonna remember that next year.

come on red........look like you're pleased to be goin to grandma's house.

that's better.

captain jack thought he may be a little old for trick-or-treating.  sadly...this may have been his last year to dress up.  don't worry though.  i think i can squeeze myself into this get-up next year.

uk walked along with trout.  they both did surprisingly well with all the chaos.

houdini and hood stuck close together.

jack looked like he had had too much rum (sugar).

"TRICK-OR-TREAT," they excitedly exclaimed.

daddy rocked elmo's trick-or-treat experience by carrying her to every door himself.  he was her own, personal chariot.

it was a fun night.

i can't help but wonder if we will have another little trick-or-treater to dress up next year?

i wonder what they will all want to be?

a weekend starring friends

this was one of those weekends.  you know the ones.  where you're left feeling like you really made fun use of your time.  when everything just clicks and works out.  i love those days.

****

this little scenario in colt's notebook was starting to make me twitch a little.  he had papers falling out all over the place.  i got my organization on and went to town.

i can't believe how i still love to organize a binder.  it's like it was just yesterday that i was arranging, 3 hole punching, and labeling my own binder.

at one point, colt tried to step in and help and i calmly replied,

"step away from the binder."

he sat quietly and watched me work the rest of the time.

i would get real thrilled about the way the sections were coming together or a particular way that the tabs stuck out just right and get giddy while showing him the ropes of organization.  he was just kind of all, "wow mom...you really like this stuff."

i'm not loving the way the glue stick and scissors fit in the pencil case...

but i decided to let that go.

the cold snap allotted for some good hat wearing.  that's always a plus.

friday was crazy hair day at school.  the kids just love that.

colt actually participated this year.

this doesn't look too crazy because it was after school and all his spikes had fallen.

but he still thought he looked pretty fierce.

friday night, i went out for dinner for my birthday with this fun friend.

this particular evening may or may not have ended with me throwing an ice cube at our waiter to get his attention.

i know...i know.  i just hate it when i get obnoxious and do immature things for fun.

although...it was an excellent throw.

the waiter said so, himself.

these are the times when chad just rolls his eyes and says,

"good grief."

them on saturday, i got to go out to eat with the fun friend.  two fun friends and two mexican meals equals a good time.

the corona rita wasn't too shabby either.

we went to see footloose.

it's a good flick.

i fell for ren's character way more this time than in the original.

they did a good job casting him, i thought.

plus...the music was fantastic.

i'll be i tuning that soundtrack, for sure.

batman and batgirl made an appearance on saturday night.

they were busy fighting crime in the house.

sister had just had a bath.  she seemed a little perplexed...but stuck close by.

last night we did a kitchen concert.

we have our best concerts and dance parties in the kitchen.

wooden spoons make great mics.

kitty made her way into the house for a snack.

chad was not thrilled.

again...she rocks the diaper.  she really does have clothes.

we had to carve our pumpkin after dinner.

i learned something this year.

don't call them in to help until after it's all cleaned out...

or you end up losin em one by one.

there is something about a jack-o-lantern that i just love. 

then...i went on a spur of the moment outing with uk.  uk is my brother, in case you didn't know.

we went to a greek restaurant that his buddy owns for a halloween costume party.

we saw this guy do traditional greek dancing and lift a table and chair with his teeth.

people thought we looked like the bopsy twins.

they new i was his sister without even asking.

i would have dressed up if it wouldn't have been so last minute.  obviously...i didn't even have time to do my hair.

we got home a little on the late side...making this morning not so fun.

but, alas...when uk and i get together...there is always fun and shenanigans to be had.

Halloween is to follow.

Hooray for fun weekends with friends and family!!