Little Miss Lily

...is home!!

I had posted last week, but Blogger had issues and deleted everyone's posts.  They supposedly replaced them, but mine mysteriously did not return.  In that post, I introduced the new puppy that we were en route to go and purchase in South Carolina.  I also explained how it came to be that my family took advantage of me convinced me that this was a good idea.  If you missed said post, well, it doesn't really matter now.  It's a done deal.  Lily is now part of our family.

On Saturday morning, we got up early and drove to Charlotte, NC.  Thankfully, we had an awesome trip - little traffic, made great time, the kids were much better behaved than we expected, and we arrived and checked into our hotel before 4:00 pm!

The free evening in Charlotte was a huge blessing because one of my dearest friends in the world moved just south of Charlotte over 10 years ago.  Other than she and I meeting up at MOPS conventions through the years, we hadn't seen each other in a long time.  I had never gotten to see their new house, and when they came through Pittsburgh this past summer, it just so happened that it was when we were on vacation at the beach.  Their house was only about 30 minutes from the hotel where we were staying, so we spent the entire evening with them.  We ate dinner at their house.  The kids played.  They all got to meet Markos - which was extra special because they are in the process of adopting a little girl from India.  Late into the night, Susan and I sat in one room and talked, while Eric and Dave sat in another room and talked.  With some friends, you can not talk often or not see each other frequently, but when you do, you just pick right back up where you left off.  These are those kind of friends.    You know, the same kind of friends that you still miss terribly even after all the years that they've been gone.

On Sunday morning, we woke up early and, after breakfast, got on the road again to go pick up our new puppy.  We had to drive about an hour and a half to Gaffney, SC to get the puppy.  We knew there was a chance that the breeder would not be back from a trip they were on when we got there.  They were not, but there was a house-sitter there, ready for us.  She was holding our new little girl.  She was snuggled up on her chest, with her face buried under the ladies' chin.  She was shaking and much smaller than we expected her to be.  She was absolutely adorable.  So sweet. So precious.  We took care of the paperwork and settled into the van.

We had taken one of the middle seats out and I was in the back with Daniel.  Markos was in his car seat in the remaining middle seat.  Eric was driving with Kenzie up front (she has been getting car sick lately, so the back seat wasn't a great idea for such a long drive for her, plus we figured that I would need to manage the puppy.)  Turns out that wasn't as difficult of a job as we expected either.  She was so sweet, she would just snuggle up on my lap, or with her head on my lap while she laid on her doggie bed between Daniel and I.  She slept on and off almost the entire trip.

We began discussing names the second we pulled down the breeder's driveway.  We settled on "Lily" (the spelling of which, we have not yet settled on!  Eric keeps spelling it wrong putting an extra L in it - "Lilly".  I spell it correctly "Lily".)

Sweet girl!

The kids finally have a new dog!

When we arrived home, we let her try out her new "doggie trolley" that Eric installed over our front yard.  She liked it ok.  She wasn't a fan of being in the grass, and she is still somewhat clumsy with those big long legs (think: 1 hour old fawn).  :-)

 She didn't eat much on the way home, but it was a LONG car trip .  And, she made up for it all throughout the night when she decided to try to kill me stay up most of the night.  We are crating her in our bedroom at night, but she apparently missed her momma and whimpered and cried a lot - unless I laid on the floor next to her crate and put my hand in the crate so she could sleep on my hand or arm.  Very sweet and cute, but oh man, I pray she starts sleeping better tonight soon!!  We took the advice of our vet and put a stuffed animal in her crate with her today.  I thought it was only fitting that she get the lion that I purchased for Markos, which he hated and was terrified of, since Rhodesian Ridgebacks were bred in Africa to hunt lions and protect families and children when the men were away from the home.  She is apparently a lover, not a fighter though. 

I took her to vet today just so Eric and I wouldn't worry about her non-stop until Wednesday when I had originally scheduled an appointment for her.  Neither of us really remember what it's like to have a young puppy, so we kept wondering "is this normal"..."is she ok?"...."I hope she's not sick".  Happy to report that, not only is she not sick, she also does not have a hernia like we were told (and were given a small discount for when we purchased her).  The vet thinks it's just a little excess skin from where the umbilical cord was not cut close enough.  He'll tuck it in when he does her spaying.  He said she looks great, so we're relieved.

She is definitely a doll baby and she's definitely going to be a big girl if she grows into her feet and into all the excess skin she has wrinkled around her face and neck.  So far, she is doing AMAZING with the housebreaking.  One pee pee accident but that is it!!  Go Lily, go Lily!!

Mother's Day Extravaganza!

I love my kids.  They are very sweet (to me, not to each other!).  They try to spoil me, but frequently end up getting in each others' way while doing so! Yet, it's the thought that counts and I love their hearts!  I love that Mackenzie tries to plan the sweetest, most extravagant surprises for me.  I love that this was my first Mother's Day with Markos and he was able to make me a little paper flower at his "school".  I love that Daniel brought home a back pack full of treasures that he made me at school and could hardly wait until today to give them to me.

The older that Mackenzie gets, the more caring she gets and the harder she tries to do special things for me on my birthday, on Mother's Day, when I'm sick, etc.  I am sure she was the mastermind behind most of my Mother's Day showering of love and gifts today, but Daniel was also very excited.  Markos....well, he doesn't quite understand Mother's Day yet, but the other two attempted (unsuccessfully) to force his joyful and cooperative participation. I'm not Eric's mother (although I am known to act as such at times), but he is a pretty special husband and dad and he assisted the kids with their plans for the day.

Eric leaves for church before the rest of the family because he plays with the praise band at both services.  Because he had to leave, Mackenzie got up early and tried her best to keep the boys from waking me up.  She was also apparently hard at work downstairs for the first of my many surprises.  When I finally got up, this sign greeted me on the wall downstairs:

She made it when she was home from school sick on Thursday and Friday.  You can't see all the detail, but each letter is individually decorated with glitter glue and other designs.  Very cute.

When I saw the sign, I also smelled my breakfast that she was cooking -- french toast.  She did a great job and it was very yummy.  She also washed the dishes afterwards without me having to tell her to do so.

While we were getting ready for church, they tried to remind one another not to fight, not to yell, that it was Mother's Day.  Problem is, we have apparently raised three children who are all total control freaks and refuse to be told what to do by anyone that they don't absolutely have to obey so the more they tried to control one another, the more they fought.  (ugh.)

Thankfully, they did all cooperate very nicely with getting ready to go to church and, for once, we were out the door, on time, without me getting mad and yelling at someone to get moving.

After church, we went out to lunch.  I rarely cook on a normal weekend, so I am certainly not cooking on Mother's Day.  (Nor would they have asked me to.)  We already had 2 cars at lunch, so after we finished, I took the boys and went home and Eric took Mackenzie to the grocery store.  Apparently, she wanted them to cook me dinner, so they had ingredients to buy.  Once we got home, Daniel relaxed on the couch and Markos laid down for his nap.  I found myself suddenly sleepy and joined Markos for a nap.  Eric also found himself sleepy after they finished putting the groceries away so he joined us, too.  Once Markos woke up, I continued to hear the attempts of each of the kids trying to control the others so they would keep quiet to ensure that I got a nice Mother's Day nap, but their fighting kept waking me up.  :-)

After my nap, it was gift time.  The time the kids had anxiously been waiting for!  I was ushered into Mackenzie's room for the production.  The production was kicked off with a song.  A song written by the kids, accompanied by Mackenzie on her keyboard, and sung by Mackenzie and Daniel (although Daniel did most of the singing because Mackenzie's throat still hurt and she had mostly lost her voice).  The song was sung to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas".

Before they began, I wanted to videotape the song.  As it turned out, I am glad that Mackenzie threw a fit and didn't want it videotaped.  Part way through, Daniel started to feel self-conscious because he was mostly singing alone because of Mackenzie's throat, Mackenzie was yelling at Daniel because he was singing really quiet and kept getting lost in the words and then she'd have to keep playing parts over again.  On about day 9, Eric joined Daniel to attempt to salvage the production and things got much better.  The lyrics mostly tied to gifts that I was given.  They included:

On the 1st day of Mother's Day, my children gave to me a huge  "Happy Mother's Day " sign.


On the 2nd day of Mother's Day, my children gave to me 2 homemade meals, and a huge "Happy Mother's Day" sign.


On the 3rd day of Mother's Day, my children gave to me 3 special cards, 2 homemade meals, and a huge  "Happy Mother's Day" sign.


On the 4th day of Mother's Day, my children gave to me a paper vacation, 3 special cards, 2 homemade meals, and a huge  "Happy Mother's Day" sign.


On the 5th day of Mother's Day, my children gave to me a photo bouquet, a paper vacation, 3 special cards, 2 homemade meals, and a huge  "Happy Mother's Day" sign.

....ok, you get the idea, so I'll skip to the end and spare you the reading and me the typing....

On the 11th day of Mother's Day, my children gave to me a song they wrote for me, a day with no fighting, a game night with the family, a little coupon booklet, a family portrait, a flower made by Markos, a photo bouquet, a paper vacation, 3 special cards, 2 homemade meals, and a huge  "happy Mother's Day" sign.


On the 12th day of Mother's Day, my children gave to me.....
"I LOVE YOU, MOM!!"  (with lots of hugs and kisses)

Let the song begin....

Markos ready for the dinner Mackenzie made (with Eric's help)

Mackenzie with the brownies she made for dessert

Daniel ready for dinner -- shish-ka-bobs, grilled portabello mushrooms, fruit salad, and grilled corn-on-the-cob

My "paper vacation"  (don't ask me - Daniel made it.  He's the creative one in the family.  Use your imagination.  He told me it's the ocean, beach, a bridge, and a place to stay.)

A paper flower bouquet made by Daniel

The coupon booklet, which includes such things as win an argument coupon, a night off, free laundry service, a free date with ______  (hmmmm.  there is no name filled in, I'm wondering if it has to be Eric), one undisturbed nap, and one hour of silence.  Oh yes, I will be attempting to use these babies!!

Photo bouquet made by Mackenzie

3 special cards

Made by Daniel

a flower made by Markos

Last but not least, my favorite and definitely the funniest of them all -- "The No Fighting Certificate"!
I think I should sue for breach of contract! They've been saving their money so I might actually get at least a hundred bucks or so! :-)

All kidding aside, I am very blessed and loved.  They all really wanted it to be a special day for me and it was!  I appreciate all the thought that they put into everything so much more than the gifts themselves or how things actually played out. 

It was definitely a Mother's Day full of love - not perfection - but love.

Sleeping Arrangements

Daniel had lacrosse tonight so he and Eric weren't getting home until late.  I didn't want to keep Markos up after his normal bedtime so he could wait for Daniel, but knew that he'd flip if I tried to put him to bed without Daniel there.  In order to settle him down, I laid in his bed with him and we read a few books before we snuggled together for him to go to sleep.  I told him that I'd lay with him for a little while, until Daniel got home.

He loves when I'm willing to lay with him when he's going to sleep.  He can't get close enough when I lay with him.  We were laying face to face and he had his little arm slung around my neck.  As he began to relax and close his eyes, I whispered, "I love you" and he responded in a sleepy voice, "I love you."  But as he closed his eyes, I couldn't stop looking at his sweet face.  A few times, he opened his eyes and caught me staring at him.   I'd smile at him, and repeat, "I love you" and he'd say, "I love you", and close his eyes again.  Apparently, he was getting really tired and actually wanted to go to sleep because after this happened a few times, he opened his eyes to find me looking at him again; I said, "I love you" and he sighed, gave me a look like 'sheesh - enough is enough', and said (just like his Mommy frequently says to him), "Go to sleep, Mommy."   Then we both started laughing.  I continued to hold him tight as he went to sleep, but resisted the urge to tell him I loved him again!

I just couldn't help myself.  You see, earlier in the evening, we were taking a walk.  As we passed a vacant lot with tall over-grown grass, he said, "Markos sleepy there".  I sort of chuckled and asked, "What?  Markos sleep in the grass?" and he said, "oww" (yes).  I jokingly said, "No.  Markos won't sleep in the grass.  You have a bed, silly."  But he repeated, "Markos sleep there."  I asked, "do you mean that you have slept in the grass before?" and he said, "oww.  Etiopia.  Markos sleep there." (as he pointed to the grassy lot).

I asked if he meant when he was with his family there and he said yes.   He said he didn't have a bed.  He slept in the grass.  He said there were "ugly bugs" in the grass.  (that's what he calls bugs - "ugly bugs" - thanks to a favorite book of Daniel's, titled, The Ugly Bug.)  Recently, Markos has developed a huge fear of bugs.  Not sure if it's because I was stung by a wasp over the weekend, or if it's because we keep finding ants in the house, but he's terrified of all bugs.  He continued to tell me about all the ugly bugs in the grass when he slept there.

I don't know exactly what he's remembering.  I don't know if he spent a lot of nights outside sleeping in the grass, or if it was a one-time thing.  I just know it made me sad to think of him, as a toddler, trying to relax and go to sleep in tall grass, with lots of ugly bugs, knowing how terrified he is of them now.  So, I just couldn't resist watching him relax and rest his sweet head on his comfy pillow, in his safe bed, free of ugly bugs; and I was more than willing to be chastised by him for telling him that I love him one too many times when he was trying to go to sleep!

We're GO-ing to Haiti!

Mackenzie and I were hoping to take a mission trip to Congo, Africa with our church this fall.  Eric was planning to stay with the boys while she and I went.  We would use some of our tax refund to take the trip.  However, as it turned out, the cost, timing, and work that is being planned to be done on that particular trip make it such that it isn't exactly the sort of trip that I was envisioning for she and I to take together.  So, we began researching other options and talking to some friends and reading about trips that some of my adoption friends have taken.  And, I am happy to say that we are headed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti in September!

We are going with an organization called The Global Orphan Project.  We will be there for 5 days, from September 1 - September 5.  It works out perfectly because for whatever reason, the Bethel Park School District decided that the kids aren't going back to school next year until September 12th.  Therefore, Mackenzie won't have to miss school.  We will be gone over Labor Day Weekend, so Eric will only have to take 2 or 3 days off work (or work from home for those couple of days) instead of having to take a week or two.  And, the cost is much less to fly to Haiti than to fly to Congo.

We will be spending our time in several different orphanages, just loving on the kids and babies, playing games with them, singing with them, making crafts with them, holding them, and making sure that they know that Jesus loves them and so do we!

I am so excited for Mackenzie to have this opportunity to see how children live in other parts of the world.  One of my greatest desires for my children is for them to be blessed with a spirit of contentment.  To know how fortunate they are and not to always be wanting for more.  And I want God to break their hearts for the "least of these" around the world.  I know it might sound strange to want my childrens' hearts to be broken, but I do.  I do because I believe that real fulfillment comes from the Lord.  True peace comes from being in God's will.  True joy comes from serving, from loving, and from giving, not from having and getting more.

I am also hopeful that while we are there, we will have the opportunity to meet one of our Compassion-sponsored children, Maxxon, who lives in Port-au-Prince.  We've been sponsoring him for about 6 years now.  We've watched him grow from a tiny little toddler, into a handsome boy.  I have already talked with The Global Orphan staff and am now waiting to hear back from the Compassion staff.  It's going to be tricky to arrange with our busy schedule, but I hope, hope, hope that we will be able to meet him.  We prayed so much for he and his family during the aftermath of the earthquake.  So grateful that, although they lost their home and everything they had, they all survived.  I just want to give them a big hug!


The Global Orphan Project: Hundreds GO BIG for the small from The Global Orphan Project on Vimeo.

Melkam Fasika! Happy Easter!

We survived another holiday at the crazy house.   The kids were supposed to have school on Good Friday due to the Bethel Park teacher's strike, but we didn't send them.  (Although, when they still got up at 7 AM and were fighting by 7:20 AM, I was wishing that I hadn't made the decision to keep them home!)  ;-)   We got up and tidied up the house.  Nancy (aka Nannie) got here around lunchtime and we all went to T.G.I.Fridays for lunch.  Going out to eat is madness anymore.  Seriously.  Even though I really don't like to cook, it's still losing it's appeal.  I'd almost rather just not eat at all.

After lunch, we came back to the house and goofed off for the afternoon.  No one was really hungry at dinner time, but we ate anyway.  After dinner, we went and got frozen yogurt.  It was super crowded so we ended up just getting it to take home.

Saturday, Grammy and Pappy (aka.  my mom and dad) arrived around lunchtime so we ate the leftover chicken fajitas from the night before.  Thankfully, the sun was out so the kids took several walks with Grammy and Nannie.  Kenzie showed a live performance of her Rube Goldberg project for everyone. 

Markos pounching on Pappy.  (Warning:  do not think that you can lay on a couch here and ever be left alone to peacefully rest!)

I don't know how I managed, but I was actually very organized with the meals for the weekend.  I had already prepped everything for the fajitas, as well as made a lasagna and prepped everything for salads before anyone arrived.  We had a nice meal Saturday night together.  Well, as "nice" as meals get around here anyway.  The food was good, the company was loud and far from 'prim and proper', but entertaining nonetheless!

After dinner, the kids got showers and got ready for bed while I got everything ready for my least favorite Easter activity with the kids -- coloring Easter eggs.  I am not sure if there could possibly be a worse combination for a high anxiety, obsessive compulsive person, than a dozen cups full of liquid dye, 3 hyper children, stupid metal things that are supposed to enable spastic, careless children to dip an egg into a paper cup full of liquid, and a bunch of hard boiled eggs!!!!  I'm thinking that maybe next year, if the weather would cooperate, this would be a much better outside activity!

Eric helping Daniel choose a color

Kenzie being super artistic with her eggs

Markos - way too excited to care about what colors he was using

Somehow no matter what colors Markos dipped his eggs in, the combination always made varying shades of green

These eggs look nothing like the beautiful eggs on the box.  I want my money back.

In order to cut back on the chaos (and the overwhelming gifts for Markos), the kids opened their baskets/gifts from Grammy and Pappy and from Nannie on Saturday.   Eric and I even got a little something -- a beautiful Africa book.

Markos opening his basket from Grammy and Pappy

New Wii game that Markos can actually play.  Yay!

"THIS!"

Woo hoo!  A present for Eric and I

Once the kids went to bed, we watched the movie Inception - which I have to say, I hated.  Granted, I was really tired, but about 30 minutes from the end, I found myself thinking, "please, let it be the 'kick'!"..."come on kick"...."kick!  Kick!!".  If you haven't seen the movie, you wouldn't understand.  If you have seen the movie but weren't paying attention, you still might not understand.

Eric had to go to the early service at church to play with the praise band, so after he left, we all got ready and the kids were warned not to go looking for their baskets, that we were doing it after church.  They were OK with it, because when Eric was in the praise team at our other church, we did it after church too.  Markos was super excited about his shirt and tie.  So cute!  Only boy I've ever known who actually wanted to wear it and didn't want to take it off when we got home.

I insisted on taking as many pictures as I could before we left because who can ever know how long the boys will stay clean!!  Mackenzie now cooperates with pictures and Daniel has taken over the role of difficult child who won't smile, whines and cries, and acts as though we've asked for a body part with every picture that is taken.  Honestly, I don't get it.  How hard is it to just stand there, smile, and get it over with?!  I might have popped a few blood vessels, but we managed to get a few cute pictures amongst the drama.

My boys

:-)  Aww.  My babies.

Nannie with her grandkids

Grammy and Pappy with the kids

Stark family - Easter 2011

We went to the 11:00 service at church.  Jeff preached on Hope - one of my favorite scriptures (and the first that I memorized as an adult) -- Jeremiah 29:11 - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'." 

Markos went to his class and stayed the entire service (although Eric went down after the band played and hung outside in the hall to intervene when necessary).  After church, we came home and the boys excitedly scoured the house looking for their hidden Easter baskets. More gifts were opened while the Easter meal was cooking.  The boys decided to change into their pajamas, which was fine with me, saves me work later!

Markos and Daniel shoving each other to try to find their Easter basket first.  (Sibling rivalry takes no holiday breaks.)

The kids' baskets before they tore into them

Markos digging through his basket

Mackenzie digging through her basket

Daniel surrounded by his loot

Markos VERY excited about his new helmet

Mackenzie not quite as excited about her helmet as Markos was about his.

Nannie with her gift

Strangely, Eric is the first at the table to eat, and yet, he had just woken up from a nice long nap.  Hmmmm.

What?!  Don't your kids wear their bike helmets to Easter dinner?!!

Let the chaos begin.

After the meal was cleaned up, dishes were done, and we had cake, the grandparents left and I retreated to our bedroom for some alone time.  The loudness continues downstairs as I type, but bedtime is rapidly approaching!  Praise God!

Melkam Fasika!  Happy Easter!  Markos' first Easter with our family.  So grateful that God's plan for Markos' hope and future included us.  He's loud and exhausting, but also so loving, so sweet, and so, so funny!! 

Happy Birthday Dear Ababa.....

...happy birthday, to you!

Today is Eric's 42nd birthday. Yesterday, unbeknownst to Eric, I went and picked up his annually requested Dairy Queen ice cream cake. I took Markos with me because we had to squeeze the trip in between a birthday party and a hockey game, then bring it home to hide it in the freezer. Markos was so excited about having "cake". Unfortunately, he wasn't really understanding when I kept warning him that it was an ice cream cake. You see, Markos does not like anything dairy, or anything that is very cold.

Well, the poor thing talked about the birthday cake all Saturday evening, asked for it first thing when he got up this morning, and was about to jump out of his chair with excitement when we finally got out the cake and sang to Eric today.

Then, he tried his first bite. Oh.My.Goodness! Talk about hilarious!! He really wanted to like it.  He tried to like it.  But after several bites, flicking ice cream cake all over the dining room, and soaking his napkin with melted ice cream, he only managed to eat about 1/2 of a tiny sliver. He did, however, manage to get the entire family laughing so hard again that we hurt.

As our birthday favor gift to each of you, you may share in the laughter as you watch Markos "enjoy" his first ice cream cake.

Tiny Bit of Cuteness...

Today was not fun.

Eric stayed up very late last night (thereby interfering with my sleep).

Markos was especially whiney and defiant all.day.long.

The IRS changed our "status" to the dreaded (but not unexpected) "we will be sending you a packet informing you of what additional information you need to send us".  Or, as I like to refer to it, "we want to make this as hard as possible so that you will hopefully give up and we can keep your money, or at the very least, we want to keep your money for as long as we possibly can so we can earn the interest on it instead of you".

I had to wake Markos up from his nap (which he desperately needed) in order to get Kenzie to piano on time.

While at piano, the school nurse at Daniel's school called to report that Daniel would be coming home with a "closed head injury report" and I needed to be watching for signs of head injury/concussion.  Apparently, he and a friend smashed heads during recess and he had quite a large bump and bruise on his face.

Daniel came home and really did have a large bump and bruise just above his eye!

Lacrosse pictures.  Enough said.

The kids were fighting all evening.

Did I already say that Markos was being awful and wouldn't listen at all?

I walked into the playroom at Chick-fil-a after dinner to get Markos, just as a dad was furiously carrying his daughter out, cursing about how "that #*%$! kid bit her *$%!# toe".   

(Yes, that kid turned out to be Markos.)

Markos pushed it to the limit until we were driving home, telling me 'no', refusing to obey, just generally being a turd, so he was told that he had to go to bed early.  THAT did not make him happy.

Thankfully, prior to learning that Markos was, in fact, the toe biter, the awesome balloon animal lady who was working at CFA tonight made this for Markos:

 Thereby giving me a tiny bit of cuteness in a day of crap.

Sadly, she also made both boys these giant swords...

Thereby bringing an abrupt end to the cuteness.  

Praying for a better day tomorrow.

Yet this I call to mind
   and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.” 

Lamentations 3:21 - 24