In all fairness

Just so you can see that I'm fair and balanced (and it isn't ALL BEAN, ALL THE TIME) here is picture proof. Last Monday I took my three, plus my niece (age 7) and my other nephew (15 months) to the zoo.

This was the first trip for my nephew, and I'm not sure he was all that impressed. Actually he acted so much like Snookie the first several times we took our three nearly 5 years ago. He was content in the stroller with his water... which we all needed since it was hot as... well you know!

This was also the first time I've taken 5 kids out on my own for any reason. All in all it was a successful trip. We saw things they wanted to see, we got to ride the train for free (perk of being members - on Mondays in June), and then after a few hours we headed back to my parents house (where my niece and nephews live) stopping first at McD's for some much needed lunchtime refueling!

I can't help myself!

Okay, here's another... can you tell that although we (me) only dropped him off yesterday after a nearly two week stint with us... and picking him up again on Thursday... we miss him like crazy around here!

This is a shot of him facing backwards in his bassinet laughing at the little animals hanging from the bonnet. He is finally tracking with his eyes, and lots of smiling and cooing. Oh, and sticking his tongue in and out and rolling it. It is really funny all the new faces he is making.

Bean at 11 weeks

Look at those long legs! (He takes after me.)

We've had company this past week, and I have been at work more than I haven't been at work. Hence, very light posting.

Okay, your turn, Olive!

Giver of Life

I just read a great post over at Blessed Among Men. It's always interesting (and at times annoying) what people will say when they see our family. Much like Suzanne, I have received the comment of trying for a girl, or are you done yet. And much like her comments on her own wedding registry, this life is not what I had picked out eight and half years ago.


Like many women I know, I dreamed of a largish family... I dreamed of being pregnant... I dreamed of their first day of school (walking them preferably)...


I didn't plan on adoption, I didn't plan on infertility being so final, I didn't plan on all boys, I didn't plan on my children being so very close in age, and I definitely didn't plan on homeschooling!


Thank goodness God knew better than me! Thank goodness that God's plan won out over my feeble attempt to plan things. Thank GOD that HIS gifts are far better than anything I could pick!

Worth a thousand words

Pictures...

One of my favorite things about my home these days (well the last nearly 5 years) are all the photos hanging on our walls. Before the boys, our walls really only held art pieces and a few pictures of Daddio and I... while they were all lovely, it didn't seem real HOMEY. Then along came the boys, and within a few months our walls were filled with images of OUR FAMILY. I love our walls now, every where I look I'm reminded of an event, a moment, or how tiny they were (or how big they are). A few years ago I started putting together collage frames for each year the boys have been home. It usually has 7 or 8 spots for photo's, and I do my best (with Daddio's help) picking out some wonderful memories from that year... images that are not staged, just us enjoying our life. Last night was no different. I finally found a frame that I really liked to add to our collection, and was inspired to get 2008 up on the wall.

That inspiration led to a few hours of searching through all the pictures, all the trips, all the moments of 2008... and trying to narrow it down to 8 images that really captured that year. By 8:30pm we had completed the task, ordered the pictures (I love online ordering and it being ready for pick up in an hour or less), and soon headed out to pick up the pictures (I'm into instant gratification... no waiting till the next day). Once home from the little trip, I put together the frames... and was quite pleased with the final product!

Now, so many pictures were considered... and so many didn't make the cut (for one reason or another... BOYS, for crying out loud, keep your eyes OPEN!). Below is a picture that didn't make the cut (for a number or reasons), but was an entertaining image that I had long forgotten. So for your viewing pleasure...

Snookie and Daisy:

Notice how they have the same look on their face... almost saying "Why is the [other] in my chair?"

Ummm, not sure what direction

to go with this question, dear Snookie.

For as long as I can remember, Snookie will draw or build something, then look at me and ask "What does this look like?"

Now to the rookie, one might take a guess or might respond with another question, "I don't know son, what is it/does it look like?"

The thing is -- he doesn't know, he made it but usually has no idea what it is.

Today is no different. This morning he brought me a Magnetix creation and asked what I thought it was... I had no idea... neither did he. Then just now he held up his paper which he had drawn a blue marker image and asked what I thought it looked like. This one I actually took a guess thinking that this is something he set out to draw (since he told me about the same thing he drew on another page)... my answer, "a bird"... his response, "oh, I thought it looked more like a bat!"

One is never really sure what is rolling around in that Snookie brain!

8 Things

A friend of mine tagged me... so I will oblige with this meme!

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Bean coming back for another visit.
2. Camping (when it is cooler)
3. Getting our adoption group up and running.
4. Ordering my curriculum for the new school year (man, there are so many great things just in this topic).
5. Snookie turning 7 in August (have I mentioned how tough age 6 is around here?).
6. Mailing a few blankets I've recently made for the babies of some expecting mom friends!
7. Daddio turning 30 in August!!!!!
8. Going back to the beach next summer! (what... trust me I'm already looking forward to that!)

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Guided Bubba into finishing up his thank you notes from his first holy communion.
2. Picking up the pictures to put in the thank you notes and getting them mailed.
3. Rearranged the living room furniture (yep... by myself, it's a sickness I have).
4. Joined in on a weight loss/fitness (biggest loser sort of thing) contest with a group of ladies I went to college with (there will even be a cash prize for the winner... woohoo).
5. Cleaned the house.
6. Made potato salad (it was tasty with the chicken that Daddio grilled).
7. Watched the boys play in the pool.
8. Helped Snookie with Magnetix's.

8 Things I wish I could do:
1. Convince CPS that Bean should be adopted by our family (wishful thinking... stupid CPS).
2. Get rid of Bobcat's Celiac Disease so he could eat what ever he wanted!
3. Conceive.
4. Knock out all the stress from Daddio's job... I guess I should win the lotto for this one!
5. Paint my master bedroom... (don't even get me started).
6. Go back to the beach for another vacation (right now) for an entire month!
7. Buy a corvette... what... I do wish I could do that!
8. Build a large play room on the top of my house... so the boys would have more room to build!

8 Shows I watch:
1. Top Gear (BBC show about cars)
2. The Office
3. 24
4. Little House on the Praire (so, I don't care... I like it)
5. 18 kids and Counting
6. Adoption Stories
7. Late Night with Conan
8. House Hunters (regular and international)

8 People I tag:
Oh... I won't tag anyone in particular... if you read this... you are TAGGED!

Art

Back in February I tried something new with the boys. They were really just getting into drawing on their own without the help of coloring books. Trust me this was a big step for all of them. They are not the real crafty type kids that just love to have paper and markers around and are always inspired to create on paper. More often than not they are working out their engineering brains by building elaborate train tracks, race tracks, or lego art. Anyway, back to what I was saying about the new thing... at the beginning of the year they (mostly Bobcat) really started flexing his drawing muscles and we were going through paper like crazy. So I decided to get each one a one subject spiral (way cheaper than drawing pads), this way all the paper was bound together, there were lines for writing... and plenty of space for imagination to take hold. I asked that they try to write something on each page about what they drew... not much just a title... that only lasted for a short time, and the majority of the book has no words just images.

Today Bobcat brought me his spiral... "Finished!" he exclaimed. So here are a few of my favorite pictures from his book. Friday he will get a new spiral to start the process anew!

This first picture is a drawing he made after a trip to the zoo!"And I like to help put seeds in the dirt."

I had to ask about this one... it is an image of Christ holding Bobcat when he was a baby.

Needless to say he didn't ask me for any spelling on this one... it is Daddio and I getting married. He know's my favorite color is pink... just for the record my original wedding dress was not pink and my hair was up... but who remembers that far back :-).

This last picture is one he drew at the beginning of this week. This is the two of us looking into Bean's bassinet. He even drew in the animals hanging from the bonnet.

HOW?

How do you make little boys really tired? Teach them how to make a whirlpool in a 9ft diameter pool.... then tell them how much fun it is to go in the opposite direction once you have it going pretty fast...

ha ha ha ha... I love that game... and boy do they sleep well!

Picture or two...

of the BEAN!

5/8/2009 5/27/2009

I didn't take any this past week... but I'm sure we will get him back next weekend, so I will be sure to take a few more!

More Snookie-ism

Let me set the scene. We're in the car, and Snookie is holding his hand in front of his face... action!

Mommy, when I blow on my hand like this (pursed lips and a quick blow), I can feel the air!

Another car thought...

When it's dark outside, you can't see the sun... but when you are in space you can see the sun.

And this has been Deep Thoughts with Snookie!

The Bean, the Bean, oh I love the Bean...

Veggie Tales anyone? (The bunny, the bunny, oh I love the bunny.) Back to what I was saying, the Bean has been spending a large amount of time with us (hence the no posting from me... I'm not so good or fast with one handed typing). I just returned him yesterday after a 7 day stay with us! It was such a magical time... not magical in the pagan sort of way, no, magical in the mystical sort of way. He's a great baby, he prefers being held (but not worn in a sling... really held), and has a fun personality. At just over 2 months now (technically 3 weeks if you count by his due date), he is doing pretty well in my opinion (not that my opinion counts for anything :-).

Here in the Llama household, everyone has taken a real shining to him! Heck, Snookie told me yesterday after we dropped Bean off that he would prefer we not do ANYTHING without Bean around because it just isn't fun without him. I thought that was pretty cute. And last night after I told Daddio we couldn't get him back this week because Bean's paternal grandmother was coming to get him for a few days... Daddio was frustrated and said that she wouldn't know how to care for him as well as we have. I also thought that was sweet... and heartbreaking. We are walking such a fine line with this situation. We love this little guy beyond words, but we know our time with him is so fleeting. Seriously... last week I went and picked Bean up without mentioning anything to Daddio (who was having a terrible day)... and Daddio came home to the Bean Surprise... and was overjoyed to see the little guy! How many people would be happy to see a baby (who doesn't belong to them) after a hard day at the office? That's just how special he is around here, he makes everything better!

So, anyway, that has been the reason for my absence at the computer... more posting to come!

Okay, one more...

...then off to bed on time for a change. We went to the Grapevine Botanical Gardens after mass last weekend to do a couple of family portraits. It's been a while, and none of the group photos we took inside the church on first communion day turned out well because the lighting is so challenging in there. So anyway, here's one of my favorite photos I've ever taken. Bubba in his new suit with beaming big brother Bobcat. I can't wait for Snookie to join the club next year!

A couple photos

There is just not enough time to do all the uploading and posting that I'd like to. I've finally managed to do a quick editing and organization of my photos from vacation and Bubba's baptism, so I'll start sharing a couple faves here and there.

First up, the handsomest first communicant of the year. I think a lot of these turned out even better than Bobcat's did last year. I had my doubts because Bubba is not such a natural model. He tends to smile goofy and blink for every flash. But we managed to do quite well.

You can view a full gallery here of a couple dozen keepers.
http://ourthreesons.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow.php?set_albumName=album91

Plus his suit is a lot nicer quality than Bobcat's was. It would appear that this is one case where you definitely get what you pay for. Trust me, you should just skip Penney's and Kohl's and Sears, and go straight to Dillard's. You'll pay $20-30 more, but well worth it, I think. A good fit and finer fabric definitely makes for better photos.

Still here...

It's been a while since we posted. In case anyone actually reads, here's the very brief update.

Vacation was wonderful. Perfect weather, great food and drinks, no sunburns. Very relaxing. Nobody wanted to come home. I took 1,826 photos so it will take some time to edit them, but I'll try to share a few of the best shots here before too long.

Bubba's first communion last Friday was also wonderful. He looks so sharp in his little suit, and he chose a really great tie. I know I'm biased, but he is one seriously handsome boy with a fantastic smile. I'll post the picture that brought a tear to my eye later on. MommaLlama will also share the sordid details of the first communion that almost didn't happen due to the nosy intervention of the Church Lady. (How's that for a cliff hanger?)

My job kind of sucks these days. I am glad to have it, and I'm trying not to complain too much. But it's hard when they throw you in the deep end with no training. Plus I got all ambitious and decided to take another professional exam in two weeks. I have a lot of studying to do, but am not very motivated at all.

More details and photos to follow whenever we get around to it. :)