Spelling List

This is my second grader's spelling list for this week.... not your mama's spelling list, that's for sure!

The Christmas gift...

...that keeps on giving!  One of my favorite gifts of the year!

Mama Loves Free Stuff

Listen, it's like I have a little secret, and I keep telling y'all, and no one believes me.  So, here I go again: Expo TV and Tryology are the BESTEST.

Expo TV is a website where you submit two minute video reviews of a variety of products.  Do one review a year.  Do four a day.  It's up to you and what products you have in your home that are in need of review.  For every review, you get points.  And points=gift cards.  Easy.  One "average" review is worth between 500-1,000 points (some are worth 25,000!).  Two minutes.  No more.  Using your phone's camera.  A $5 Amazon gift card is 600 points.  So, you can see how these gift cards pile up quickly.  Sometimes, there are lots of review options; sometimes, they only are in need of a few. Right now, there are four possible options for review... just goes in cycles.

But, then, there's Tryology.  Love it.  Tryology is the arm of Expo TV where you don't earn points.  You still do 2 minute reviews.  But, instead of points, you get to keep the product.  Products range from household cleaning products, to mattresses, to major appliances, to toys.  I have received lots of toys, a shed (yes, the outdoor kind for mowers), a few electric razors, two electric toothbrushes, and today... yes, today, I got this in the mail for free!!!

That's a new Keruig 2.0 with like 10 packs (now called K Cup Packs) of hot chocolate, tea, and coffee.   All I have to do is a two minute review.  Piece of cake.  To be honest, I don't even apply for the smaller tryology programs.  It's not worth too much of my time to get free laundry soap.  But, a shed?  A new coffee pot retailing for $170 plus loads of coffee?  Yep, I'm in. 

This is not a scam, and I don't even care if you use my link (https://www.expotv.com/register?rid=79590) to sign up--if you do, I think I do get a few points--not enough to make it worth this blog post, that's for sure.   You don't always get selected (I'm dying for a new mattress, for example), but when you do, it's loads of fun to get free stuff in the mail!

So, let me know if you do it... but more importantly... if you get anything cool for free!

A Letter

Dear Husband:

It’s 17 degrees here right now.  I tell you this—because as I type this, you’re on a plane bound for sunny Florida. 

It’s also trash and recycling night--a fact you might have overlooked in your hustle to get out of the door this morning.  I understand: screaming children have the same effect on me.  Also overlooked, quite possibly, is the state of our driveway.  You know the one: the long, steep one that we have to traverse to put out said trash and recycling.  Can you believe that we had four (count them: FOUR) huge trash cans to put out there tonight? 

But, I digress. As for the state of our driveway, it’s ice.  And, I know this because I almost died.  With our three kids deep in homework and play, I am certain that had I fallen, as I almost did on multiple occasions, I would have met my frozen death.  I mean, we’ve raised super capable kids, so when I didn’t return, I am sure the two older would have just put themselves to bed.  There would have been no search party.   The two-year-old was my best bet, but seeing how we had the worst afternoon in parent/child history, I think he would have cackled as he turned away from the window in “oblivion.”  Kuddos, by the way, on the responsible kids.

The ice driveway has scared away the mail carrier.  She’s dropping packages on the street, by the big rock.  You know, WAY out there.  The UPS guy delivered a package today by walking through the crunchy grass, as to avoid the driveway and walk.  I am pretty sure I saw him “flip me the bird” on the way to his truck.   Don’t bother sending flowers as a peace offering; the delivery person would most likely protest or break a neck, neither of which is an ideal situation for this frazzled mama.

Since I’ve been trying to extend grace, I’ll let this one slide.  But, if you ever leave me with three crazy kids and a driveway of ice again, I plan to summit the ice hill to come looking for you—even all the way in sunny Florida.

Now, go walk barefoot in the sand for me—and let’s hope you find some change to buy chocolates at the airport as a possible apology.  Or some ice melt.  That might make me happier in the end.

With warm thoughts,

Your wife

A Year Older

This kid is 8!  Be. Still. My. Heart.

... because like two friggin' seconds ago he looked like this! 

And, as much as I love the little man that he's becoming, the conversations that are growing deeper, the jokes that are becoming funnier (thank goodness!), and the heart that is getting bigger, I still miss the little boy who needed me--a lot.  Because, as we raise this boy into a man, we want him to be able to leave us.. and leave with confidence, which means needing his mama less (and differently) with each year.

And, lest you tell me that I'm "jumping the gun," let me be clear: 18 is right around that proverbial corner.  And while he still needs me (and will even then and beyond), it's clear to me that "the now" is the training ground for "the then."

And, I'm mindful that we can't wait until he's 18 to show him how to be a man.  I'm mindful every time I send him into the post office on his own, let him get left behind in a store (head in a book, no doubt) only to find us much later, tell him to figure it out on his own, enforce manners to the point of nausea, and encourage a heart of service to others--it's all just a stepping stone.  I don't want to keep my baby a baby--I like watching him grow up!  It's just going too fast... that's all.  Just too darn fast.

So, happy birthday, my faithful little boy who is kind (I mean KIND) to others.  What a heart you have, and I, for one, am excited--if even a little tearful--to see how God plans on growing you up!  You made this mama's life the day you were born!

Where we have been

Everyone on Facebook is doing it, and I thought it might be kind of fun to look at our family maps so that we can plan accordingly.


Bret's map... only three states to go


Erin's map.. missing the middle (and Maryland and Delaware)



Combined Kids (Grant has the most with 21; Trent the fewest with 14)

National Adoption Month

In light of National Adoption Month, I have to share this sweet, sweet photo of our dear Grace.  My friend (Dawnelle--I love you!) alerted me to a research website that happened to have uncovered this gem of a photo.  As you can imagine, our photos of Grace from the first 14 months of her life are minimal, and any picture-- any chance of adding to our collection--is an absolute miracle.  

This little picture, taken just about a month before we held her in our arms, is coming my way... and it feels like it's Christmas morning!

But, I would be remiss in light of National Adoption Month not to point out that there are almost 18 MILLION orphans in the world.

That sentence is enough to want to make me vomit.  For real.

That staggering reality makes me want to curl up in a ball or throw my hands up in the air--claiming defeat.  

But, I am here to say that we must--we MUST--be about helping the fatherless of this world.

This truth is especially relevant to my Christian comrades.  Adoption is the ultimate reality for us: we are adopted--it's the very center of the Gospel message. 

We must prayerfully consider if adoption is our call--even if biological children come easily.  Adoption cannot be the "back up plan."  It can't be reserved for those who simply can't have bio kids. We need to pray the scary and often terrifying prayer: "Would you have this of me?"  

And, if the call isn't to adopt--the call to help the fatherless, the orphans still remains.

We need to support other families, often financially, who are choosing to adopt.

We need to support organizations that are actively sponsoring children in need.

We need to pray for the orphans of the world.

This is not an option, my friends.  The call is clear, and it is a call for all of us.  

My Favorite Halloween Picture

Sums up how we adults felt about Halloween this year!

Halloween 2014

So cold.  Even the kids begged to head back in after about 10 houses.  Then, it was off to our local police station for a haunted house and the fire station to drive the trucks (which was the highlight of the night for Trent).  I feel like enduring one such Halloween is a midwest right of passage.  But, oh, it was so miserable.

Harry Potter, Elsa (complete the singing, light up dress) and our little train engineer (who was too miserable to even try trick or treating!).

Another Successful Christmas Photo Shoot!

I still like 2012's cry picture better... but, nonetheless, Trent likes to keep traditions alive.

Hershey and Home

One of our last days of vacation landed us for two nights in Hershey, PA--home of Hershey chocolates.  Much of Hershey can be kid heaven and parent nightmare, but we managed to squeak some great memories out of our time there.

We started off at Chocolate World, where you can spend a small fortune on various activities or take the free tour.  We opted for the free option, thinking it would be an actual tour of the factory.  Rather, it is an animatronic ride with singing cows that quickly walks you through the candy making process.  The kids loved it, and they especially liked the free candy at the end.  As parents, I felt extremely short changed... it moved so quickly and any real knowledge was drowned out by the constant singing of those cows... that, in the end, I'm not sure I know any more about chocolate than I did prior to my two spins on the ride.

We walked around the candy store forever.

Then, we actually did something interesting.  We visited the Milton Hershey school, which was actually very informative.  The school, founded eons ago, was founded to help orphan boys.  It has since evolved into an amazing campus with over 1,400 students, all of whom have been orphaned or are "socially" orphaned by extreme poverty. Every need is then provided for these kids: from travel to entertainment to a world class education to food and shelter.  It was very touching and awe inspiring.

Then, after lunch (my cute lunch date below), we headed to Hershey Park After Dark.  The Hershey amusement park was opened from 5-10pm, and we eeked out every single possible second of that time riding rides and having fun.  Bret and Grant rode too many coasters to count, and Grace patiently rode some rides with Trent (who is a ride junkie) until her time came!  It was a great evening with lots of fun memories!

Getting ready to ride the Tilt-a-Whirl.  Let me tell you how fast you can spin when you have one plump adult on one side and two little kiddos on the other!

A kiddie roller coaster...

We opted to come home a day early for a variety of reasons.  First, we stopped off at the Flight 93 memorial.  It was humbling to remember those brave men and women aboard that flight.  Grant and Grace didn't really understand, but they were quietly respectful nonetheless.  Afterwards, we made a several hour stop in Pittsburgh to eat and to scope, but instead of stopping for the evening, we headed home.  

This vacation ended up being one of our favorite vacations in awhile.  It was a great mix of culture, city, fun and family.  We have made some lasting memories...

Our Last Day In Montreal

After a late start this morning, we were up and out and around Old Montreal.  We decided after a brunch of fish and chips (Bret's choice, not mine) to rent some bikes to trail around the waterfront.  Trent loved it; Grace loved it, and Bret and I endured it.  Grant, poor Grant, just couldn't get the hang of having a bike with multiple gears and hand only brakes.  But, we muddled through and had a fun time.

We stopped for ice cream and some quick shopping on the way to Notre Dame, but to be honest, by the time we got there, we had a pretty cranky toddler on our hands.  We had planned on going back all week, but when the time came, we couldn't quite it figured out.  We opted for some final swim time, which I am sure the kids would have preferred anyway.

For dinner, we hopped on the Metro and headed out to some Italian restaurant farther out in the city.  It was great... and it was fun to watch Trent ride "Thomas" as he called the train and the older kids learn some Metro etiquette and some new navigation skills. Even with the language barrier, Grant was able to navigate our stops for us, which was great.

We are in the car for most of the day tomorrow with a big day in Hershey, PA on Friday.  More to come!

Another Day, Another Blister (or two!)

This morning was yet again another gorgeous day!  The weather here has been absolutely and unseasonably fantastic.  We start off with sweatshirts until about 10 am, and today, we all would have been in shorts if we could have been!

The day started with a visit to the one of the highest rated French bakeries in the city.  Simply put: to die for good!

Then, it was off by car to the Biodome, Insectarium and Botantical Gardens.  The Biodome is in an old Olympic venue, and it has been converted to a sort of an indoor animal exhibit based on a variety of climate factors.   The Insectarium speaks for itself, and the Botantical Gardens, while beautiful, proved to be a highlight solely for it having a playground!  Bret slept on two different park benches (not creepy at all), and Grant and Grace made a little French speaking friend, proving once again that language isn't a barrier to seven year olds!

We tried Candian fast food for lunch.  Let's just say that Chic Fil A and Zaxby's have nothing to worry about if this place comes into town.

Then, on the way back to the hotel, we all fell asleep.  Bret took that to mean "let's go explore this mountain village an hour away."  But, in the end, we had a great time walking around the shops, looking at the fall colors (no, really, I have NEVER seem leaves like this!), and checking out both an ice cream shop (complete with French cartoons) and a chocolate shop.

After a stop in Montreal suburbia for new tennis shoes for Grace and some Lebanese food, we were in for the night.  

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Tomorrow: a lazy day around Old Montreal, Notre Dame, and maybe a bike ride down along the river!