8.31.2007

Is it too much to ask


for a simple glass of freshly-brewed iced tea?


It seems like every time we go out to eat, they are serving some pretentious, gourmet iced tea.


But I don't want blueberry basil, apricot, lavender, ginseng, jasmine, tropical dragon oolong, cherry chai, or any other flavor. What is this world coming to?


I just want tea. Plain old tea.


Ok, I'm done venting.

8.28.2007

Shopping with Twins

To the car, in the car,
Buckle them up
Huge, unwieldy shopping cart
Pink and purple raincoats for fall
Pinched finger {{{screaming}}}
Socks and swimsuits,
Shoes and jammies
Wet pants...oops!
Singing Row, Row Row Your Boat
and B-I-N-G-O
To the car, in the car
Buckle them up
Chocolate milk and applesauce
French fries and
Four more trips to the bathroom
Hand-holding and hugs
Giggles and kisses
To the car, in the car
Buckle them up
Into the driveway, through the door
Collapse on the couch

8.27.2007

Monday Updates

Random thoughts for today:


  • Thanks you so much for your sweet comments about me in my dress. I was so self-conscious, but I feel so affirmed. Thanks.

  • Got a lot done in my classroom today, getting set up for the fall. Bulletin boards, pencil boxes, textbooks. Good progress. So tired.

  • Tomorrow I am going clothes shopping with the twins and their grandma to pick out some new stuff for them for preschool. Can't wait.

  • My car is getting a little rickety. Matt keeps telling me something is wrong with it. I just took it in and they said everything was great. He thinks the wheel might be loose. Ummmm...yeh, that could be a problem.

  • Saw Wicked with some girlfriends last night. Great!!! Funny and engaging. Definitely worth the drive.

8.24.2007

The wedding was so beautiful!





















Tonight was my friend's wedding. The beachfront location, the flowers, the cake, everything was idyllic. It was amazing.

You may remember I had a 30-day workout plan to fit more comfortably in my little bridesmaid dress. Well, my workout was half-hearted, but I think I dropped a few ounces at least, and the dress fit, albeit a little snugly. So here are the pics I promised of me in that sexy little number.


8.23.2007

We had an absolutely amazing time!


Wow, wow, wow!
These girls are just so incredibly fun and so sweet. We had a great time at the park. They went to bed easily and we didn't hear from them until 7:20 this morning. Of course, I checked on them every hour, so I barely got any sleep. I was so nervous they would wake up and be scared. But they made it!
This morning we woke up and made chocolate chip pancakes together. They were very helpful. They also made their beaded necklaces this morning. They worked so hard. The necklaces came out darling. The sleepover was a huge success!

Things I learned:


  • There will be more fingerprints and beads and pieces of toys and sand around the house than I can possibly keep up with. I'm going to have to chill out. Enjoying the girls is more important than keeping the house picture perfect.

  • I have to figure out when to brush my own teeth, take a shower, and do the dishes. Moms, when do you do those things?

  • Being a mom is exhausting. It's constant. Fun, and worth it, but exhausting.

8.22.2007

Tonight's the night

for our first sleepover. Words to describe me: nervous, excited, so excited.

Here is the basic plan for the evening:
(I know, how out of character for me!)

4:00 swim at grandma and grandpa's house
6:00 feast on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grapes, carrots, applesauce, yogurt, and fishy crackers. We're having all their favorites!
6:30 park
7:15 frozen yogurt
8:00 bath time
8:30 make wooden-beaded necklaces- Melissa and Doug
9:00 movie

Hopefully we'll all get some sleep tonight.
Thanks for praying.

8.21.2007

Stardust


Lisa and I just saw this movie the other night. Neither of us had heard of it, but it got good reviews, so we gave it a shot.

It was so cute and fun and entertaining. Definitely in the Princess Bride genre. I recommend it!

8.19.2007

Our first sleepover

with the girls is this Wednesday night. We will pick them up in the evening, have dinner, play, get frozen yogurt, watch a movie, and then they will sleep in our house!


I think we have everything we need for the evening: beds, blankets and pillows, car seats, booster seats for the table, Dora bubble bath, no-tears shampoo, Hello Kitty toothbrushes and toothpaste, step stool, DVDs and books...


We've also had a pre-screening interview and home inspection, attended our first foster parent training, filled out countless forms, made appointments for CPR and first aid training, fingerprinting, and on and on. I can hardly eat or sleep, I am so distracted thinking about them. At the same time, I feel such an indescribable peace.


It's good.

8.15.2007

I just bought



two car seats. Wow.

8.14.2007

My list for today

  • tutor-analyzing poetry a
  • lunch with Robin :) a
  • bake a cake for Bryce a
  • vacuum a
  • call preschool to schedule tour a
  • home inspection with foster agency a
  • read 7 Laws of Teaching-I have to finish it by Thursday for teaching seminar
  • birthday dinner for Bryce

What are you doing today?

8.12.2007

Just resting


I just woke up from a long Sunday nap. Truly, is there anything better?
It was so necessary and so restful.

Oh lazy, lazy.
I also just bought this print on etsy. So sweet. Maybe for the girls' room?

8.10.2007

Ferris Wheel Syndrome Continued

We had the twins and their grandparents over for dinner last night. I was so nervous! But it turned out wonderfully. The girls had fun running away from Gracie, playing with Matt in the backyard, using sidewalk chalk, coloring...
The adults got a chance to talk about logisitics-preschool, legal procedures, transitioning. There is so much to think about and I am so excited.
We thank you all so much for all your prayers. It is so completely evident that God is working.

On another note, here is a link to Matt's wonderful sermon that he preached last Sunday. Enjoy!

8.08.2007

Focus, Chrissie

My head is like a ferris wheel. My thoughts are spinning, spinning. Slow down, think, one step at a time, make a list. This is what I keep telling myself. Breathe. Don't think about tomorrow or the next 20 years. What do I need to do right now? Brush my teeth. Ok. Wait, what was I about to do? Oh yah, brush my teeth. Ok.

Is this what it is like when one is about to embark on a HUGE life change? Like having two foster children? We are beginning the process of bringing the girls to live with us. I am thrilled, nervous, anxious, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Matt is feeling the same.

Legal ins and outs, preschool, fixing up the bedroom, not to mention parenting. And when? And how? I just don't know anything right now. I just need to wait. In the mean time, I will try to brush my teeth.

8.06.2007

We had so much fun






seeing the animals, riding the train, playing on the jungle gym, and just running around.

8.05.2007

Yay for Monkeys


We are taking the girls to the zoo this morning. Can't wait. My favorite is the monkeys.
Good times! I'll post more when we get back.

8.04.2007

Miracles by Walt Whitman










WHY! who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach, just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love—or sleep in the bed at night with any one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with my mother,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive, of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds—or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sun-down—or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite, delicate, thin curve of the new moon in spring;
Or whether I go among those I like best, and that like me best—mechanics, boatmen, farmers,
Or among the savans—or to the soiree—or to the opera,
Or stand a long while looking at the movements of machinery,
Or behold children at their sports,
Or the admirable sight of the perfect old man, or the perfect old woman,
Or the sick in hospitals, or the dead carried to burial,
Or my own eyes and figure in the glass;
These, with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring—yet each distinct, and in its place.
To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
Every spear of grass—the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women, and all that concerns them, All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.
To me the sea is a continual miracle;
The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—the ships, with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?

8.03.2007

Today I'll be

cleaning and doing laundry.
I love it when I have a whole day to just get stuff done.

Then my little sisters are coming over for dinner.
Yay. I can't wait.

I'm also excited that we are going to have our yard redone on Tuesday. New grass, new plants, etc. It should look something like this when it's done. But I don't think we are going to have a bridge, and maybe just slightly less dramatic.



8.01.2007

The world would be a better place if

all paperwork was properly filed.

As you might remember, I have been filing everything, and I'm very proud of myself!

But today I wanted to file in style. Yes, I know I'm rhyming.
Anyways, I decoupaged the front of some boring file folders. I think they turned out fun.


These folders hold the myriad of forms we are filling out to be foster parents. It's a little overwhelming, but now at least I have a better idea of what we've done and what we have left to do.
Also, Katie found this new magazine that I cannot wait to get. Thanks fellow organizer!

Do you have any organizing strategies or tips? Please share.