For Today: Play Times in Oregon

I have for you today a few shots of the fun the kids made for themselves while in Oregon. We were very pleased with the bigger kids that even though there weren't "big kid" toys, they were very content all week just being creative with what they had. 

Aunt T's Christmas present for Alida, this classy car, was, by far, the biggest hit of the week with most of the kiddos.

It took until about one hour into our trip for David and Dad to create many imaginary light sabers. The rest of the week, therefore, looked much like this most of the time...

…including a very impressive full-cast reenactment of the final scenes of "Return of the Jedi"!

David was minimally introduced to the world of video games.

And Thérèse could usually be found happily glued to Alida. 

(Look at the chunk on those arms! Well done, Alida!)

For today's final picture, the two little ones hanging out at the window watching the dogs, who other than the car and Alida herself were their next biggest entertainment.

Love, Us.

For Today: Meeting Family

The kids were quick to bond with their Librandi family.

Hayli immediately became a favorite by reading them a bedtime story when we arrived.

Thérèse's baby-tracking system located Alida as soon as the sun rose the next morning.

And Adam quickly got a taste of what wrestling three crazy monkeys feels like!

Love, Us.

For Today: Our Trip Out

First, a quick warning: 

In order to share many of the moments from our trip, the posts for the next week or so will be picture-heavy.

For today, some shots of our trip out to Oregon. The plan was to do it in three days, but after getting 13 hours on the road the first day, we decided to get the last 12 done in day two and get there early. 

David and Thérèse enjoyed many of the packed activities I had prepped for the ride.

Patrick was also very content and, for the most part, took great naps.

However, when we decided to finish off the trip, which would bring us to our destination well after kid bedtime, I tried to have Patrick start his night time sleep in the car. He figured it out when I put a blanket on him, and he was having NONE of it! I had to hold his hand until my arms went numb in order to keep him from yelling...

 …and then he required an awkward buckled-up snuggle from his sister for awhile.

But, we survived! We made it to Salem! We were all very excited!

Especially T who lost a tooth in the last hour of the trip!

Love, Us.

For Today: We're Back! Happy Easter!

We made it safely back from Oregon! 

We had a WONDERFUL time, and you will be soon overloaded with pictures… just a warning!

But for today - HAPPY EASTER!

Love, Us.

For Today: Just a Couple Hairy Jobs Left!

We are almost ready!
After a day of cleaning the house, putting the last touches on packing, and cutting these mops off…

...we'll be able to enjoy Sunday and… head off to Oregon early Monday! Yay!

Love, Us.

For Today: Empty Crown of Thorns - CHECK!

In order to be truly ready to return from our trip in the Easter season, there are a few things the kids and/or I had to do. One of the kiddos' responsibilities was to do enough acts of love to empty Jesus' crown of thorns of all of its thorns. And… they did it with a few days to spare! Way to go!

Now I probably need to revisit the fact that they should still be good, even though there are no more thorns to remove.

Love, Us.

For Today: Lap Desks for the Road

Like I said yesterday, I've been doing lots of projects to get ready for this, our first BIG family road trip. The project that I'm most excited about is this one: LAP DESKS! Each kid now has their very own, and we are ready for the road! I got some ideas from here and there, but as far as I have seen these are pretty unique. The cookie sheet is their magnetic writing desk that won't let crayons fall off, which is velcroed to and elevated on a pillow (which will also act as their actual pillow in Oregon!). The pillow is velcro strapped around their back to keep it in place. Then, on one side is a zippered pouch for writing utensils, etc. On the other is a buttoned pouch for books, finished pictures, etc. Lastly, the bread pan velcroed on to the cookie sheet is their toy/snack caddy. 

Pretty great, huh?!  Hopefully they work out!

Love, Us.

For Today: T's First Knitting!

We are getting closer and closer to Oregon, and everyday there are little (and big) things to get ready for the trip. Thérèse learned how to use her "Knifty Knitter" that she got from Aunt Hayli and Uncle Adam last week, and she immediately knew what she was going to make - a hat for her cousin, Alida! So, that added another to-do to the Oregon list. I shouldn't have been concerned, however, because she whipped the whole thing up in less than three afternoon sittings! 

Shhhh! Don't tell Alida!

She already has a request from David for a matching one, so the "Knifty Knitter" is in the "pack pile" now and will help the 26 hours both ways go by a bit easier!

Love, Us.

PS - A quick prayer request: There is a horrible flu going around here right now. Please pray that we all either get it NOW and are done with it by Monday or don't get it at all. I would REALLY appreciate a 3-day car ride WITHOUT vomiting! Thank you.

For Today: My Homemade Ninja Turtle

So far, all of our kids have proven to be very creative. They have had the ability to take what they have and make it what they want. For today, a perfect example. Unfortunately, David is fully aware that his mother is not a mother who will run to the store and purchase a $25 costume for her kid just because she knows that he loves the character. So, he pretended for months to be a Ninja Turtle without a shell (and with only one sword, etc.). However, he had a creative break-through the other day! 

He is now a SHELLED Ninja Turtle! 

Oh, and I think he said he was the "blue one". Unfortunately again, he doesn't have a cool mother who knows all the names of those guys. He always has to wait for dad to get home to find out which one he was all day!

Love, Us.

For Today: On the Road in One Week!

We've been doing a count-down to Oregon for quite some time, but we are now at the one week mark! Yippee! The car is in the shop getting all fixed up for the miles, and our neck pillows are all fixed up for our car naps!
We are SO EXCITED!

Love, Us.

For Today: T's Kindergarten Graduation Party

Well, we had to do a little something special for T's graduation from Kindergarten, even though it was Lent. I didn't have the time or proper materials to make one of those really neat graduation caps that I got when I graduated from Kindergarten, but I did have the makings of a banana split! In truth, T didn't look too excited when she first saw what her treat was - to her, the thought of bananas and nuts on her ice cream was not a dream come true. But, I asked her to just take a bite and see. I then had to take Patrick to a quick bathroom break for a minute, and when I returned there were only scrapings left in the bowl! She had found a new favorite!

Congratulations again, T!

Love, Us.

For Today: T and her Tooth

T did something for the first time a few days ago - she let mom and dad pop a loose tooth out of her mouth! We used dental floss and a simple little jerk and out it came! She had worked hard all day getting it loose enough and when the moment came she was so proud of herself!

Oh, and if you are wondering what her smile looks like now, it actually isn't very noticeable. Her mouth does something I didn't know normally happens - her adult teeth break the surface before her baby teeth fall out! So, she has a smaller tooth there, but the tooth is already visible.

Love, Us.

For Today: How Big is Baby?

I often get the above question from my kids (particularly the baby-obsessed eldest). Well, I'm lucky, because I get these handy-dandy baby updates via email that tell me every week what approximate size the little one should now be. Last week the kids got a hands-on representation while grocery shopping. It was VERY exciting!

Now, at 15 weeks, they can see baby's size in the comfort of our home, since I always have apples around!

Love, Us.

For Today: ConGRADulations, Thérèse!

T is now a First Grader! She finished up her 180th day of school today, and she is officially done with Kindergarten! Great job, T!

And, right in time, just a few days ago she read her 300th book! How about that!

We are now taking a few weeks off in order to prep for our Oregon trip and then to go on it! Yippee! 

We are ALL very excited!

Love, Us.

For Today: SpyKids with Squirt Guns

My home was invaded the other day by SpyKids with squirt guns (and really cool glasses, that I am told are required in the SpyKid profession). I was a bit intimidated!

Love, Us.