Big Steps

There are baby steps, and there are big, kinda scared-out-of-your-pants steps. We have officially started foster care training. (I know, it's a long process. And that's assuming all goes well and we are approved and able to finish training. Not cuz we are drunken criminals or anything, -I'm not. But I'm not gonna comment on the hooligans.- but ya never know what complications you may run into.)

I'm not exactly scared per se, but I am a little nervous. It's one thing to be entrusted with your own family...a BIG thing...but it's a whole different thing entirely to be a part of helping (hopefully) heal another person's family. I feel completely unworthy and unfit for this job. But I think that's probably a good thing. No pride over here. It's just something that we couldn't seem to get away from, if you know what I mean. It just kept coming up, in my face, everywhere I turned. A real 'is that You, God?' type of deal. So we take the big step, and see where it leads. It may lead to nowhere but us learning more about our family and what we need to grow. Or it may lead to the aforementioned helping of other families.

There is more training to do, a home study, psychological testing that will surely reveal us for the lunatics that we are, etc. There are interviews that ask the type of questions like, 'do you like to wander around your house in you underwear'. (How did they KNOW? I mean, where do you think the hooligans get it from? Kidding, kidding.) Lots of things designed specifically to make this introvert uncomfortable. I mean, 'get out of my space' is my middle name. I think, regardless of the outcome, I've already learned a lot. Like when God asks you to do something, He doesn't guarantee it'll be easy, and you should also probably just do it. Even if it means you can't wander around in your underwear anymore. ;)

"Merrickan" Ninja Warrior

We have all watched a lot of American Ninja Warrior around here this summer. Merrick especially loves it. He likes to reenact the moves the guys on TV do...all over my house. He's pretty good at it though. Here is a video Billy took of him before church yesterday. I think, should he ever face the spider wall, he'll have that obstacle mastered. ;)

Back to School...Back to School

So this week we've finally had to relinquish our hold on "summer", be responsible folks, and start school. I never started school before mid September when I was in school, so I wasn't really in any hurry to get the kiddos started.

I think I just didn't want to give up my one last summer break, and was a little intimidated to actually dive into teaching two kiddos. Yeah, yeah, some people have taught more than that at a time, but I double dog dare ya to try your hand with these wild animals. They make enough noise and chaos for at least 3 kids each. And then you have the hulk on top of it.

He sure is cute, but he needs to be unconscious for me to get anything done. So typically we do our work in the afternoon during his super-awesome nap. (He's always been a great napper.)

Merrick is officially in Kindergarten this year, as you can see from the gang sign he's throwing in the above picture. (I said earlier this week that those cutesie "first day" signs just don't seem fitting in the case of the hooligans...gang signs though? Probably.)

The above picture was taken on Wednesday. This was the day where we learned to sit still while maam takes a panorama. Kidding kidding, we did learn some other school-type stuff. ;) They are pretty good at "freezing" when a picture is involved though. Maybe if I pretended I was taking pictures all the time they'd actually sit still?

With the hooligans being in school now, and me not feeling like I can waste time going to the gym or running after they are awake for the day, I've been seeing a lot of the road before sunup. It's cooler, which is nice, and I'm still half asleep, which is also nice. Your half-way through your run before you realize what is even going on. Win win. Their school work really only takes about an hour or so of actual sitting down time, but I still feel like we needed to have a little something more of a schedule in place. Ya know...responsible adult and all that.

The above picture was the day we learned to shoplift. Kidding...that's not part of our current curriculum. ;) I had taken the kiddos to Target to look for a few school supplies, and turned around and noticed they were doing some shopping of their own. And also, they were leaving a trail of shoes. Glad I noticed Jericho had lost a shoe before we drove off. Those things are expensive.

As our first week of school comes to a close, it's been a few parts fun, a few parts stress, a few parts "is it Christmas break yet?" Ok. Right. I'm the mom now. Don't tell them Christmas break is my favorite part of school. ;)

Baddest Most Beautiful Babies in the Land

True story. They are cuh-razy, but oh-so-cute.

Jericho is a mischievous little man. Ok, he's not little. But you get the point. In this picture, you'd think his sister's hands have acid on them. I'm not gonna swear they don't, but I doubt it. He's like the Hulk, honestly. When allowed to run free and do as he pleases he's fine. Make him mad and I literally cannot hold on to him. I need to somehow restrain the beast, but as my husband recently told me I've "created a monster", because he knows, oh how they know, when I think he's funny.

Merrick has gotten better about staying put while I take pictures as he's gotten older. (Thank goodness! At least ONE stays where I put it.) But despite being in the right spot, often I look at a picture I've just taken and realize in his efforts to be still and not move, instead of looking like he's smiling he looks like he's being pinched. He's trying to smile, and in his head he thinks he is, because he argues with me everytime. (Through his unintentionally serious face and gritted teeth) "Mom, I AM smiling! See?"

Tirzah, bless her little hot-tempered hide. Always comes down with a case of "I'm a vampire" when we take pictures. Suddenly, even on cloudy days and under a shaded gazebo, she cannot...stand...the...sunlight. It's burning...my eyes...I'm melting...what IS that flaming thing in the sky? She has literally stood there, in the shade, and refused to open her eyeballs because she can't. She just...can't. And when Tirzah can't, just go on and call it a day. She's the unmovable stone of stubborn and to proceed would be just asking for it. But alas, she got that stubborn from her mother, so we do usually proceed.

I do typically get a few good ones. Ones where Jericho isn't trying to bite his sister and isn't intentionally running away. Where Merrick doesn't look constipated and Tirzah hasn't got flames sprouting out of her eyeballs. Those pictures, where the three people I love most in this world's little toothy grins are all right there together and melting my heart, make me forget the other ones where those toothy grins are sunk into a sister's arm.

I WIll Not Get Baby Fever...

It seems like there is a plethora of babies right now. Everybody's havin' one. I occasionally think: "maybe..." Then I remember the giant child I gave birth to about 20 months ago and think: "no way, Jose". This little guy, though...

I did a newborn session for this guy about a week ago, and he was so sweet. He pretty much slept the entire time (perfect!) and only peed all over his mama once. ;) For a newborn session I'd call that great. He let me put him into all kinds of baskets and crates and even a suitcase, and just went with it.

I am really glad I got to do this session. Newborn session can be some of the toughest sessions, (I think next to engagement sessions...for some reason those bring out the awkward in almost everyone, except for these guys.) but this one went really well. I didn't sweat profusely or feel like crying or anything...which is what happened when I did this session some 20 months ago. ;)

I love our family, just the way it is...but great newborn sessions like this one definitely make baby fever hard to resist! Thanks to this little guy's family for letting me document this sweet time in his life.