10 for 10

Shannon had a challenge on her blog a while back that sounded intriguing, especially since I have so many projects to do.  So...  I am going to start my 10 for 10.

Remember this little number.

1. Re-vamp temple picture frame.
2. Paint master bathroom.
3. Paint guest bathroom. (Done)  Need to get the accessories put up still.
4. Paint stairwell.
5. Iron Mr. Finn's clothes.  (we are abandoning our dry cleaner)
6. Paint dresser to match nightstands.
7. Finish FHE chalkboards.
8. Clean up kids wall.  (time for last years stuff to go in box) (Done)
9. Send thank you cards.  (if I owe you one, it's as good as in the mail)
10. Read the book from Alisa.  (Done)
11. Since I did two of them I will add one more.  Do surprise thingy for Gretch.  I will post photos when it is done.

I am cruising on this list because I have had it prepared for  3 weeks and started on it last week.  I am anxious to get all these projects done as well as the other ones that are joining the list in my head.

Bush Baby

The Dude attended a birthday party today.  The first one he can remember and he was so excited.  He was not to be denied his moment to party with his friend Brodyn who turned 5 today.  Their friendship started out very rocky and the did not enjoy each others company.  It mostly consisted of hitting, yelling and lots of crying.  Now they light up when they see each other.  It makes me tear up for some reason.

He (the dude) was very whiney yesterday and I sent him to his room.  When I went to get him so we could pick up his sister from school, I found him asleep on his floor.  It broke my heart that he wasn't feeling well and I was gruff with him.  He slept for 2 1/2 hours.  Reminded me of when he was a baby.

A Realized Blessing

I have dreamed of being a mother my whole life.  My PB told me that I would have children in such a way that I knew I would get pregnant someday and give birth.  For a while I didn't know if this blessing would be realized in this life.  I loved my two children that became mine through marriage, but I still yearned for the new baby.  

After many years of not getting pregnant I became quite depressed and was given a blessing in which I was promised that there were spirits that needed to come to me and my husband.  And that they would need to come to our family because we would know how to raise them.  This became harder to understand when I knew that a divorce was imminent and we would not be having children.  Besides, I really couldn't imagine having a baby with my ex husband and hadn't felt that way for a long time.  The baby was more about what I wanted and craved than something that was desired as a married couple.

Many years (like 3) later I married Mr. Finn and my desire to have a baby became an obsession.  I would co-opt babies during Church and stare into their little faces searching for answers about my babies.  Did these sweet little spirits have any knowledge of little ones waiting for me?  It almost drove me crazy and Mr. Finn surely could feel my angst.  

And so I loved on those babies more.

I was thinking about that blessing and I UNDERSTAND it completely now.  Miss Boo and the Dude had to come to our home.  No one else could raise them.  I feel very inadequate as their mother, but I know that our Heavenly Father knew our qualities and what we would bring to parenthood, this parenthood and what our children would need.

When we receive blessings, I had always assumed they were to be realized at the time they were given.  The blessing wasn't for that time 12 years ago, it was for this time, with these children and this husband.  As imperfect as we may seem, we "seam" together in a perfect unity for the betterment of us all as this FAMILY.

And so now, I hug on these babies as my new obsession.

Because I know they want me to.

Day Two of the Weekend Getaway

The Weather Channel lead me to believe that it would be raining in the morning and by 11 it would let up a bit.  I think they were wrong.  It rained so hard all day that we were drenched to our skivies by the time we left.

Our little adventures were not to be deterred from their day of fun at the Omaha Zoo.  After all, with their Daddy to pull their carriage, there wasn't a chance they were going to get wet.  Well, at least not like him.  I bought a Nemo t-shirt to keep their little legs dry.  Remember, I mentioned that I believed the weatherman and dressed my offspring for summer weather.  They were freezing!  I now have a very cute t-shirt that they only wish they could fit in.  Great for keeping knobby little knees warm.  Besides, I wasn't buying a blanket for $40 bucks.  I will take a $10 shirt blanket any day.

My favorite part of all zoos are the primate exhibits.  Mainly because they are always up to something.  It was raining on them so they had hunkered up to the windows facing towards their courtyard, leaving a plexi glass window between them and us.  I was thrilled.   More time to observe them close up and bored.  Because trust me when I say they were bored.  Just watch the Gorilla's eyes while the kids are behind him.  Watch him raise his arm.  What could he possibly be thinking?

 

 

That is one big handprint on the glass.  He scared her to death.

I couldn't get over how massive his hand is.  Proof.

Look at how he is laughing.   He found it so funny!  I was cracking up.

He is truly a magnificent animal.  The children made me leave
sooner than I wanted to because I could have stayed all day.
They could see it in my eyes.

I love the reflection of Miss Boo in the glass.

They were not to be denied climbing over these lion statues even though it was so slippery.  Can you see the effort in Miss Boo's face?

It was a lot of fun despite the rain.  We spent most of the time in the Kingdom of the Night because The Dude loved that it looked like Shrek lived there.

Not bad for a "free" getaway.  Love those frequent stayer points.  I got two things that I love.  Time with the family and something for free.

Weekend Getaway

One of my favorite places to visit.

 Ever since watching the movie Bridges of Madison County I have wanted to see them.  Even if the leading man in the romantic movie was Clint Eastwood.  Go figure!  So Mr. Finn planned a trip up to one of those states with an "I" and an "O".  O.k, I know it is Iowa, but I was calling it Ohio for the longest time.  I guess I need to look at a map more often to know where I am.  I was surprised that they are 3 basic designs which was a bit disappointing, but they are romantic anyways.  Or maybe the movie made them that way for me.  At this time in their bridge life, you can't drive over them, but the kids were more than happy to escape the vehicle to climb and run all over them.

And then we moved on to Mr. Finn's choice of places to visit.

John Wayne's birthplace.  Did you know his mother was Irish?  I kind of did.  With a personality like his, who would think otherwise.  And... wasn't your favorite movie "The Quiet Man"?  No, sorry, that is mine.  But I can't imagine you not loving it for the mere fact that Maureen O'Hara plays his fiery irish love interest.  Truly one of his best.

Look at this amazing tower.  In the middle of nowhere nonetheless.  We drove forever and when we thought for sure we had missed it or it truly did not exist, we found this sight.

Exquisite.

I wish I knew who designed this in the middle of Iowa.

 Looking out over this valley.

Now I know the "why".

 I can almost see the memories forming in her mind of this "castle".

 When Mr. Finn asked her if she wanted to live in this house, her answer was;

"NOT SO MUCH!"
(Miss Boo says I need to change this to, "NOT EXACTLY" because it will be funnier.)

We are still laughing about her politically correct answer.

 We discovered that there are an infinite amount of Aviation Museums along the way.

Stopping at this one turned out to be the tour of a lifetime.

Go Iowa Air Force.

 Apparently the museum has a reduced attendance these days and so the nice lady fawned all over this excited young man and let him sit in some of the planes.

 Then he got to try out being a pilot for a while.  Yes!  Buzz Lightyear was a pilot too.  Maybe it was the shooting things coming out of his wrists that interested him the most.  But since I am his Mommy, I am going to pretend he is dreaming of being a pilot someday.

 But this one topped it all.  Literally, it was almost heavier than him.

"We have a bogie on our tail."

Mr. Finn and I always comment that we want to stop at the attractions you see on signs while barreling down the freeway at 70 miles per hour, but we are always in a hurry to get to point B.  This time...

We stopped.

And we are better off for it.  The best made plans are those that are waylaid.

More of the weekend tomorrow.

Once in a while...

 I get a truly remarkable shot of my children.  I aspire to take good pictures.  Mr. Finn says I take too many, but if you have an average of 1 in 4, you tend to take as many as you can hoping for that one great one.  

Miss Boo has changed from that child that runs away from and grunts at the camera to a willing model.  I realized that for the first time I had twice as many photos of her than her equally adorable brother.  He usually hams for me, but is not so willing now.

 They have found a camaraderie in each other that when in harmony they are the best of friends, confidantes and whatever person/thing they are playing at that moment.

When the Dude was born and they dunked him over the curtain for me to see, I was shocked by his platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.  My words to the nurse were, "He looks like Billy Idol"!  Both of our children look so different and their personalities are just as unique.  I am grateful that they are so they can be friends.  I can only imagine what they would be to each other if they were the same in temperament.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Christmas does not hold as much magic for me as the first day of school.  How could it?  The sound of silence trumps "Joy to the World" any old day.

The day doesn't start out that way, but at 8:30 a.m. sharp I feel my tension ease and... bliss.

Miss Boo was excited to be a first grader this year.  No small feat for a 6 year old.  She couldn't wait to get into her new outfit and go meet her new friends.  Great attitude Mate.

The Dude wasn't as excited.  I can't imagine why.  His perfect day is his sister going to school and hanging out with his Mommy.  Can you blame him?  So, he refused to give me some good poses for the first day of school pictures.  Oh well, I remember a day when Miss Boo gave us a much harder time and look how far she has come.

At least he had his good friend Jacob at school to make him smile.

And... the end of a school day is always good.

I got my quiet time and they had play time.

It was a GOOD day!

The hardest part was looking at last years school pictures compared to this year and realized that my babies are growing up and one day they will not be coming home at the end of the day and my quiet time won't be so enjoyable.

No Cavities!

We have finally overcome all the fears and worries of the dentist largely in part to the help of Spongebob Squarepants.  Where would we be without him?  This book is funny and helped Miss Boo to get over her anxiety.

She did great.  Didn't fuss once and even said it tickled.

When she got home with all her loot from being a big girl, her best friend, Elise was waiting at the house.  They moved earlier in the summer and made a special trip to visit.

The Dude did not do so well.  His sister used words that "freaked" him out, such as spin.  Apparently that conjures up some pretty scary images in his mind.  He wasn't having any of it.  The crying actually started when we were leaving and he realized he wasn't getting any of the loot his sister got for being good at the dentist.

Heartbreaking, isn't it?