handsful

I just couldn’t stand it any longer.

We will have been in this rental home for a year next month.  We’ve been good, and hadn’t put a single nail hole in the wall.

Until today.

I decided it was time for a change.  ANYTHING would be better than the blank walls I’ve been staring at.

My first thing…

I admit, I stole this idea from my hair stylist.  She had canvas’ spray painted with chalkboard paint in her shop, with funky and inspirational messages on them.  She said she changes them often, on a whim, when something interesting occurs to her.  So, I made my own.  And, my first message sets the tone for the new board.  It’s MINE.  :)

Other canvas’ are being worked on now, too.  One that all the kids will have their brushes on, and another that involves all of their HANDS.  Easy to guess, huh?

This one isn’t so artsy, but I decided I wanted the kids to have something more than magnetic letters to play with on the fridge.  So, I bought some magnet sheets and cut them into different size strips, bits, and half circles.  They all love them, even the big kids.

I like seeing what they come up with!  Lainey has discovered that she can make a few letters and even numbers.

No pictures, but we also have 5 caterpillars eating and growing in a little cup…soon, they’ll cocoon and we’ll put them in our butterfly tent.  We’ve done this many times with the big kids, but I’m especially excited to see the littles experience it for the first time.

We don’t know how much longer we’ll be here – I am quite anxious to be in our own home.  But, all in God’s timing.  Until then, we’ll make it as much our own as we can.

Since our zoo trip on Monday, this is the only picture I’ve taken.  I was walking (probably running) by the window and the colors stopped me in my tracks.  God sure does paint a beautiful picture, huh?

This week has been one big ball o’ crazy.  Really, it has.  Everyday has had at LEAST 2 appointments/places to be/etc. and most days had more.  Thursday was the biggest juggling act, thankfully Randy was able to help out with that day.  This weekend, we’ve already had dinner with new friends (thanks, Bolt family!).  Saturday is the church BBQ and then Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s first dance that night.  Sunday is church, and then our much-anticipated family photo session that afternoon (no, I don’t have all the clothes yet, thanks for asking).

I’m a bit of a homebody…I like those days with nothing on the calendar.  Nowhere to be, no reason to check my watch.  Those days are rare lately.  And, with Dylan’s surgery looming (4/26, in case you forgot), I can see those “normal” days coming to an end at least for a season.

Looking ahead, Monday is a nothing day.  Whoop!  Can’t say that about the rest of the week, though.

So, all this to say, life ain’t slowing down anytime soon so I’ve just gotta pull the camera out more often to capture these days.  Like the country song says, one day I’ll miss all this.  The house will be quiet, and I won’t have anyone asking me to take them anywhere. I’ll read books, wash MUCH less laundry, drive a vehicle that seats a normal amount of people rather than 11, and will probably go a whole day without wiping up a spill.

These days are hard, I’ll be honest.  But, I wouldn’t trade them.

…only I have to FIND the pieces first.

We’re having our family portraits taken this coming Sunday.  I’m really psyched about it, and stressed to the max…all at the same time!

The gal at www.mycharmingkids.com is driving into town to take them.  Check out her site…her whole family (they have 5 little kids) is taking to the road in an RV this spring and she’s doing photo shoots along the way.  Incredible.

We went shopping today to try and put together outfits.  We’ll use a combo of things we already have, and a few bought things.  See the plaid?  Those are Ethan’s shorts…the whole color scheme is coming from those shorts.  I was unsure how to go about clothing 8 people in somewhat coordinating clothing WITHOUT going the white shirt/jeans route.

MckMama (that’s what she goes by on her site) had her admin send me some links to help, and the biggest suggestion was to start with ONE item of clothing and build around it.  Hence, the shorts.  There are various shades of browns, blues, white, black, red, and even a little pink.  So far, everything is in the browns and blues.  We’ll choose either the red or pink for other items, depends on what we come across as we continue to raid closets and shop.

I had all the clothes we’ve currently chosen on the floor, arranged with tops and bottoms to see where we were.  Then, I made notes on what colors/patterns might work on the rest.  Doesn’t this sound fun?  I don’t think so either.

Why can’t there be people stagers?  Stagers make houses attractive to potential buyers by putting together the perfect furniture and accessories.  Isn’t there someone I can call to DRESS us?!?  ;)

Signs of spring.  Bumblebees are zooming around all the newly blossomed flowers.  The annoying black ants that love our front walkway are back.  (anyone know how to get rid of big, black ants?!?)  Our nebulizer machine is doing overtime, with Ethan’s asthma hitting him hard.  Others are sniffing, allergies gone haywire.  The good, the bad, and the sneezy.

We’re definitely spending more time outside.  This time of year in Florida, we’d already be sweating.  I’m enjoying the nice, slow fade into spring and eventually summer.  Is it just me, or does Lainey look almost pre-teenish in this picture?!  Eeek.

Someone swished his tootsie in Lake Norman for the first time this past weekend.  I held on tight as we stretched his leg into the water…he seemed to have no fear of falling in!

I hope he loves the water this summer.

The kayaks got dusted off , with the boys taking a spin.  They even jumped in the water….brrr.

We’re feeding seed to all the birdies and Mr. and Mrs. Duck daily…several times a day.  Marley stays on top of it all.  Afterall, they are HER ducks.  She thinks they are.

Despite the negative parts of spring, we’re squinting our way through it.  Dodging bees, grabbing tissues, and watching as the world explodes with color.

The weather has been really nice this weekend, making us think of spring.  I’m still kinda, sorta wishing for another snow storm but I think I’m going to be disappointed on that front.

We decided to find a park to visit on Saturday.  It was breezy, but a great day to be out.

A little unsure, but Payton makes it all okay.

After that, we couldn’t stop him.

More double-sliding!

Now, I wanna go THAT way, mama.

Ethan spent his time at the climbing wall…or just climbing anything and trying to look cool.

Lainey loved everything, especially the swirly, climby thing.

Oops.

On to the swings.  Something here looks wrong.

Happiness!

More happiness!

Five out of 6 kids on the swings (plus the dog).  Remember, Ethan was climbing stuff.

Wearing her new Lake Norman Volleyball Club hoodie and looking awfully cute.

One way to get off a swing.

Dylan loved climbing the play structures.  Sometimes we’d help put him on them, and sometimes he’d scoot around on the ground. You know how he HATES having his hands get dirty?  Every time he took a “step”, he’d have to stop and wipe the dirt/mulch off his hands.  lol…

Apparently, I was choosing to direct her with her head, rather than hold her hand.  ?

Who’s the mystery person in the middle?  Hmmmm….

We had a great time at the park yesterday.  So much so, that we went to another park after church today and had a picnic with friends.  The littles will probably ask me which park we’re going to tomorrow.

We packed a lot into this one!

Marley’s started early, on Friday.  She was invited by her friend Kylie’s family to go skiing at Beech Mountain for one of their homeschool days.  It’s crazy affordable and you even get a lesson.  She LOVED it.  We weren’t sure she would, since she’s our least adventurous kid with most things.  She said she only fell twice, and hit some pretty big slopes.  Impressive!

I think she definitely looks like a pro!

The rest of us took Friday off school…hey, if Marley could play so could we right?  I got a couple of projects off my to-do list, which was NICE.  Oh, how I love checking things off a list.  I digress.

Saturday, Abbey and Randy got up way too early as usual for volleyball practice.  She has it EVERY Saturday, no breaks.  8am-12pm. She’s usually sore the next day, they work so hard.  It’s good for her, and she’s learning a ton.  Randy helps with coaching, too.  This league is serious about teaching these girls, with the goal of having them make travel teams.

A little while after they returned and we had lunch, and it was time to get ready for our Chinese New Year celebration with the FCC-CLT (Families with Children from China – Charlotte).  We didn’t know a soul, but we all got dressed up in our best silks and went.  Little did we know that most of the adults went casual, very few wore Chinese clothing but most of the kids did.  We didn’t care…if you’re going to celebrate CNY, you should dress up!  I took very few pictures, but there was a photographer there who took a family picture and individuals of Lainey and Dylan.  I’ll try and post those when we get them.

We had a nice Chinese dinner, browsed the tables (and bought an antique rice measure!), made crafts, and watched a wonderful show put on by the kids from Living Hope International (www.livinghopeintl.org).  Please check them out and consider sponsoring an orphan that has aged out of the China adoption program!  We’re going to.

After the show, the children lined up for the Hong Bao distribution…it’s tradition that children receive treats or money in red envelopes on CNY.  This 87 year old Chinese man did the honors.

We left the party a little early, because Abbey had a Valentine’s dance to attend.  Her first real dance.  It was planned by a couple of homeschool moms, and very well attended as we could tell when we dropped her off.  She had a GREAT time, just ask her!  Here she is, after the party.  See the glow on her face?  (or is that sweat?)

Sunday was the usual…church for all, and then 2 friends over to hang out.

Our weekends are usually full, and I guess that’s why they seem to fly by.  One of these days, we’ll have NOTHING planned for the weekend.  Yeah, right.

To those who read our blog, I’d like to ask that you hop over to my husband’s brother’s blog on our sidebar under “Love to Read”…

It’s called 8 Clarks.  If I knew how to make that a link, I would!

My sister in law, Dee Dee, has carcinoid tumors in her stomach and goes to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota for yearly testing to check on their status.  Tony and Dee Dee left today for testing that will last through Thursday.

Tony has a couple of posts up now, and will update during the week.  We’d appreciate prayers for her, as you feel led.  Thanks so much!

Donna