Proud to be an American!

Ooooooh how I wish this was posting weeks earlier than it actually is!  Haha!  So is life.

The Fourth of July.  It really is one of my favorite times of year!  I mean, parades, good food, good friends, fireworks...what could be better?!?  Oh yeah - and SUN!!!  It's one of the few dates that us in the PNW can pretty much guarantee will be sunny.  And the sun-kissed faces and red "tan"lines the day after are proof that we enjoy it to the max!

This year, we entered our kids in the Kiddie Parade once again.  We do it every year and the kids have come to love it.  They were SO excited to decorate their wagon and wave their flags and dress up, so we went all out as usual.  We even got crafty and made some toilet paper roll rockets for a little pazazz!  Hollywood was very proud, given rockets are pretty much his favorite thing ever!

This was my sneak peek on Instagram the day before the festivities!

The clothes this year were a piece of cake.  Cocoa's outfit from last year still fit (yep, she's that tiny, don't let the pictures fool you!) so all we needed was a $6 red t-shirt for Hollywood.  Easy enough, right?  Being that it is also National Afro Day, Cocoa rocked her Fro's on the Fourth (and even won this year's Instagram competition)!

A few friends have asked me what the Kiddie Parade actually is.  You just sign your kid up and show up with your registration info (a simply form you print out online) and check which category you want to be "judged" for.  I don't remember all the categories but we always check "best stroller/wagon".  We never win though.  All the fun is in the kid's faces.  They get a participation ribbon, and those who do win for their category get to be at the front of the parade.  Then come 11:30 we all walk the parade route and wave at everyone watching, and then sit at the end to watch the big parade!

"Yaaay, participation!"

Me with my BFF who willingly faced the crowds with us!

When we reached the end of the parade, our friends Joe and Trish (and their little cutie Katie) were there saving a spot for us to watch the big parade.  Our little ladies hadn't seen each other since last year's parade, but ran into each other's arms squealing anyway!  

We found the BEST spot across the street from air conditioned bathrooms and a FREE popcorn stand!  The kids were in heaven.  

Had to show you my FRO-TASTIC little lady!!!

I promise I did NOT pose this - she did it all on her own and I (thankfully) captured it!!!

After the police motorcycles and firetrucks, things got even MORE exciting when an ice cream truck came buy throwing popsicles and ice cream sandwiches into the crowd!  My kids each got their favorites and savored them with joy.

Oh yeah, and the kids got an amazing opportunity to sit on a police motorcycle!  They were both a little freaked out by it, but mostly because of the hot seat.  They agreed to a picture and then they were OFF!  All in all it was a great day, followed up with great food, and great fireworks to end the evening!!!!!

But if you really wanted to summarize the fun, you could just take a peek at my Instagram posts for the day!!!  Hahaha!  

Hope y'all had a great 4th of July as well!  Proud to be an American!!!!

ABC's...and Pickles too!

Being a mom can be so fun, so frustrating, and so rewarding...even at the same time!  I know all you moms out there know exactly what I'm talking about.

My Hollywood has a stubborn streak to him.  He gets it from both of us (but mostly his dad).  Lately his stubbornness has been in reference to learning his ABC's.  I was convinced for months that my four year old didn't know his ABC's and therefore have been pushing him with working on it.  Shortly after our friends convinced us to try Netflix (completely unrelated to his ABC's) and we discovered Super Why (completely related)...I learned that he in fact DID know his ABC's.  It really shouldn't have come as such a shock to a mother of a boy who went from not talking to full sentences at 2 1/2.  And yet...I still have not quite figured out the magic trick to get past the stubbornness.

But alas, I can relax knowing my kid can go to Kindergarden fully able to say his ABC's (note to self...we need to figure out what we're doing for Kindergarden).

So yes, it is a bit frustrating when my little man will only recite the alphabet up to a "G" and then end his song with "and pickles too all done" (don't ask)?  Yes.  But maybe it just makes it all the more rewarding when he makes it all the way to "Z" and wants to do it again.  But even if it didn't, this kid's crazy expressions would make it all worth it... =)

I love you, crazy!

He is Risen!!!

A very belated Happy Easter to all my lovely readers out there!  

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior!!  I won't bore you with all the details of our quiet and restful weekend, (Although there is nothing boring about the FEAST we enjoyed at our friends' house on Easter Sunday! A lovely meal complete with ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes with a heavenly marshmallow topping, asparagus, salad, deviled eggs, and rolls.  Oh.  My.  Word.  Our bellies were so full and joyful.) but I couldn't resist sharing some pictures.  When the sun is out, I just can't help myself! ;)

My heart (and belly) is full and I am so grateful that the Lord thought I was worthy of such a sacrifice.  Thank you Lord!!!  You have blessed me far beyond what I deserve.

Oh To Be A Boy...

Dear Hollywood,

I absolutely love days like today when the sun is shining and we get to enjoy our afternoon outside.  I love to watch your imaginative ideas come to life as you navigate us on adventure after adventure.  

It could be steering us into the raging seas on our "pirate ship" while watching out for fiery cannons.  

It could be navigating the overgrown grasses of the jungle, careful not to spook any wild animals!  

It could be escaping the Tickle Monster by pumping your legs a little extra hard on the swing.  

Or it could be paving a road out of sand dunes in the sandbox and then bombing the construction site.

Outdoors is where I see you come to life.  Your eyes get that sparkle and you are just the epitome of joy.  I hope you never outgrow your creativity and carry it with you into your adulthood.  Life is so much more enjoyable when are having fun.

Thank you for taking me on your adventures with you.

Love Always,
Mama

Hollywood Round 4

A Very Belated Birthday Post For My September Baby

Four is a big age.  I'm amazed at how we have slowly transitioned out of the tantrums of age three into a curious, independent, and loving little boy.  Hollywood (as we so lovingly nicknamed him after his Justin Bieber look-a-like photo and his obsession with cool shades) LOVES being four....and I'm sure it's not just because it's easier to show on your fingers than three is!  ;)

On the morning of his birthday, he actually slept in a little bit, much to our surprise.  I guess the staying-up-late-the-night-before-in-anticipation kind of wore him out a bit.  Shocker.  When he finally did wake, he RAN into our room exclaiming it was his birthday, and to his surprise, we had his big gift right there for him!  Even though his little sister was asleep, we decided it was okay for him to go ahead and "open" it...

A big bike for a big boy! Real pedals and all - just like he asked for! Unfortunately he spent more time sitting on it than trying it...and even to this day the pedals are a point of contention for him. Such hard work growing up!

Little sister spoiled the birthday boy as well with two brand new books that have become bedtime favorites for BOTH the munchkins! When A Dragon Moves In and Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site!

Don't know WHY he does this goofy little pose every time I tell him to smile, lol!

Happy Birthday Hollywood!

We love you so very much! :)

Mike Fiechtner Photography

20 Questions Hollywood Version

{Age 4}

1. What is your favorite color?

                 Green

2. What is your favorite toy?

New orange tool toys

3. What is your favorite fruit?

Every...all the snacks and strawberries and bananas and beans and strawberry cereal...

4. What is your favorite show?

Rocketship and Team Umizoomi

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

Sandwhich

6. What is your favorite outfit?

Race car shirts!

7. What is your favorite game?

Airplanes game

8. What is your favorite snack?

Green cookies

9. What is your favorite animal?

Pandas and lions

10. What is your favorite song?

The baya song...the one in the car!  (He's mad that I don't know which one he means...)

11. What is your favorite book?

Race car book - its action!  Actually, I got a race car coloring book.  It's style ear.  (???)

12. Who is your best friend?

Kierra is.  But I have a baby sister.  She's not my best friend...Kierra's my best friend, I love friends! I have a lot of friends at my home.

13. What is your favorite cereal?

Strawberry cereal and color cereal (Special K and Fruit Loops)

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?

PLAY!  TOYS!  Lawn mowers!  Are so much fun!

15. What is your favorite drink?

Milk

16. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween...and parties!

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

Night lights.

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

I don't know...muffins!!!

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

Strawberries too.

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Build rocketships with blocks.

My Days Lately...

A lot of my posts over the last little bit have touched on fashion, on our family vacations, on special events, and home decor.  The day to day in our household looks a little different.  The hair is disheveled.  We don't always get out of pajamas.  There are piles of laundry and dishes in the sink.  There are projects, construction crews, pesk control, and "To-Do" lists everywhere you turn.  There are blanket forts and crumbs on the floor and so much screaming I get a headache.

But I wouldn't trade it for the world!  The day to day stuff is where the memories are made!  Where bedrooms transform into the great outdoors.  Where you can camp under the stars and roast the perfect marshmallow over the fire (and it never burns!).

Where little girls can dress up as a fairy, or a princess and feed her baby the ideal combination of smushed bananas and apple juice before playing her a lullaby on her piano and shushing her to sleep.

Where toddler crafts are a blast, but so messy it gives mama a panic attack.

Where we relive every real-life moment or dream in the form of Mega-Blocks.

Yes, I wish there was a little less fighting on their part and a little more patience on mine.  I wish I was more organized and planned out my day better.  I wish there was never a night that they didn't get to kiss their daddy before closing their eyes.  I wish I was a morning person who could have a normal conversation before finishing a cup of coffee (its true - I'm a grump).

Although I am sure there will consistently be a list of improvements I would like to make in myself, I am thankful that God loves me right here where I am.  Messy, unorganized, easily frustrated little old me.  It's hard to grasp that thought sometimes while living in a world that expects me to be super mom.

My devotions this morning literally stopped me in my tracks, being that I was in the midst of writing this post...

"Don't look for affirmation in the wrong places; your own evaluations, or those of other people.  The only real source of real affirmation is My unconditional Love....When I discipline you, it is never in anger or disgust; it is to prepare you for face-to-face fellowship with Me throughout all eternity." 

 - Jesus Calling

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." 

- Proverbs 3:11-12

Thank you Lord for once again meeting me right where I am.  For speaking the words that I need to hear right now.  And hopefully it encourages each of you to seek affirmation from the Lord today!



{Real life photos brought to you by - the iPhone!!!  Haha...but seriously, please excuse the fuzzy and/or poorly lit photos.  It's reality right now.}

Waiting for the Reveal

As I scrolled through Facebook today, a few friends' statuses sparked a chord with me.  Specifically the few moms I know who are sitting at the top of a waitlist right now, longing for that life-changing call to find out the little person(s) God has waiting for them.  Although I don't mind distancing myself from those all too familiar emotions most of the time, this week the memories are coming back like a flood.  It's still hard to believe that two years have passed since we walked in their shoes, cried their tears, and prayed their prayers.

One week before Cocoa's referral

God's timing in these cases never cease to amaze me.  I look forward to the day I get to rejoice with each of these families celebrating their referrals and hear how God used every detail of their adoption journey for His glory.

Our referral call

On the day we received Cocoa's referral, I remember listening to our case worker on the phone and crying as she shared details of our daughter's story that were so beautiful and intricate, only He could have written it.  Even recently it dawned on me how beautiful the timing of her referral was.  I hadn't connected the pieces of the puzzle at the time, but it was just three years earlier that we were also in a waiting phase.  I'm not sure I have shared that part of our story here before...

In the summer of 2007, after four and a half years of marriage, my husband and I decided that we felt ready to start our family.  It never crossed my mind that it might not happen right away.  After several months of trying, we found out we were pregnant!  Although I was bursting at the seams to tell everyone we knew, we decided to wait until we were a little further along.  Days before we about to announce the great news to our family, I started bleeding.  After a lengthy visit to the doctor and several tests later, they called me to confirm I was having a miscarriage.  We both took the weekend off work to mourn our loss, only telling our employers.

I know many people think we are crazier than heck for keeping that from our families at the time...but you have to understand that we were about to surprise them with awesome news and that this was going to be the first grandchild on my husband's side of the family!   I couldn't bear to ruin the surprise with the news of a miscarriage.

So fast forward to February 2008 when we had just moved into our fixer upper and waiting for God to say "YES" to bringing a child into this world.  I'm sure you can imagine the overwhelming emotions when we got another positive pregnancy test.  We were a little more cautious with our excitement the second time around, but, that being said, I knew I couldn't go through another miscarriage without the support of our family so we decided to share our news almost immediately.

One week before Hollywood was born
Photo Credit: Heather Cowill Photography

It may seem insignificant to some - but I find it really beautiful that exactly two years later we were ending our wait to see our daughter.  That two years after finding out I was going to be a MAMA for the first time, I found out I was going to be a mama for the second time.  Only God could time that so beautifully.

The first picture we ever saw of our daughter - 2 months old, 6 pounds

February 28 may be our Referralversary (haha love that, don't you?)....but I am celebrating BOTH my kids today and the wonderful journey God brought us on to both of them.  My heart is so thankful I have those two crazy kids to call my own.

Photo Credit: Mike Fiechtner Photography

This February we are also in a waiting season.  While I won't compare it to anything like finding out you are becoming a parent (get it out of your head because that is not happening right now)...we are waiting for God to reveal to what is next for our family and discern what His dreams and desires are for our lives.  Somedays are easier than others, but as I reflect on God's perfect timing the last two times in my life...it makes it a lot easier to trust His perfect plan this time around too!