Please Consider Adopting These Children

These 3 beautiful children need a loving adoptive home. Would you please consider adopting them? Would you please pass this on to anyone you know that would be willing to open their hearts to these precious children?

These 3 hold a special place in my heart you see, because they are cousins to my daughter. I would like to know that they had a happy ending to their journey through foster care. I have been loosely following these children during their trek in foster care. My daughter still remembers afternoons playing with Adrianna and holding the baby Joseph. So, if at all possible, I would love to preserve this connection for my daughter. Being adopted myself, I am an advocate for maintaining safe and healthy connections for my children.

Please, please, please consider this domestic adoption. Truly, you do not have to travel the globe to find orphans that are in search of a family. They are right here, in our own hometown.

If you would please follow this link to the Nebraska Heart Gallery, you will find more information not only on these children, but others as well.

And Now Woodpeckers

Add 'em to the list.

This afternoon I had a few minutes of peace and quiet in my home. It's something that I guard tenaciously and is very rare with 2 preschoolers and a toddler at home. In the quiet I kept hearing a repetitive knocking type sound. Now, I know what woodpeckers sound like. This had the rythym of a woodpecker....but, something was just a bit off. So, I go around to the windows like one of those old women that spy on their neighbors. Nothing. But the sound is louder near one corner of the house. More back and forth to windows. Still can't see it. So, I go outside. The woodpecker is pecking at my HOUSE! What? So, I did what came naturally, I scolded him like he was a preschooler. Notice how I refer to the woodpecker as a male. That's because I could see one of my boys pecking at my house with, well, with like any tool or stick they could find. My girls would never do this. They would decorate the house. Naturally. Actually, come to think of it, I'll bet my Tony was in on this with the woodpecker. Excuse me, I need to go put Tony in the corner.

Smashed Potatoes

Tonight I made a pork tenderloin roast made in Mr. A.C. For our side dish we has smashed potatoes, a recipe from Pioneer Woman. The kids ate an entire bag of petite red potatoes and were asking for more! Greg missed this meal but we will be repeating it soon because the kids want more of these potatoes. Gabriella turned to me while we were eating dinner and thanked me for making such a good supper. She is growing to be a thankful person. Aaaah. So much better than when Griffin whines about dinner. Could the boy be any pickier??

Ok, I'm gonna be the first to admit...my picture doesn't look appetizing. But, trust me.....that's a fault of my photography skills. I mean lack of photography skills. My culinary abilities remain intact...not overflowing with skills, but intact. Just try the recipe.

My variation: dried chives from Penzeys.

Love Letter

Dear A.C,

I am so thankful that we are now living together. I had seen you from afar about a year ago. I felt a strong attraction to you from the moment I laid my eyes on you. You have all the traits I have longed for in the others. Why did we wait so long to begin our lives together? I look forward to our next meal together.

You have all my devotion, K~

Cooler Weather Hot Tea

Tea makes me feel so happy to be at home. It warms my soul on these wet cool days. It can literally lift my mood or calm my mind.

English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Chai, Roiboos. I think that if Greg were an observant man he could study my moods based on the tea I'm drinking.

I have gone through several teapots and my simple little Bee House has been my favorite. It pours with no drips and it has a mesh insert so I don't have to strain my tea. And the final test of all things culinary ... dishwasher safe! (Did you know that crocks shoes are also top rack dishwasher safe? That's just an example of my insistence of dishwasher safe items in my life. It's becoming a hobby to toss things in the dishwasher.)

If you love tea, check out The Tea Smith. They also sell the embossed canisters for loose tea. I haven't seen such nice tight canisters anywhere else.

Bubblicious

Speaking of growing up .... Gabalicious learned how to blow bubbles. Her friend taught her when they were riding home on the school bus. Our family drove an hour to visit family and Greg stopped to purchase a pack of Bubblicious for us. We blew bubbles until my cheeks ached. (Yes, I am about as mature as my 7 year old.) I had so much fun with her and felt like a kid again. Every day with these precious kids is my favorite day.

Why do they grow so fast???

With the change of seasons comes the task of clothing inventory and storage. Looking at the photo above, I realized that two of the critters have outgrown their clothes worn in the photo. *sniff* *sniff* These children are so precious and they will be grown so fast. Redeem the time!!

Anniversary Gift...Greg, hint, hint.

11 years this weekend.

All I want is to get lost with Greg in an afternoon of yummy snacks and wine in the Old Market. Simple. Perfect.

However, Greg, if you are reading this....I'll take this bracelet, too. I love you.

Greg and I rented Boys Town and watched it last night. Uh oh. This one had both of us at the very first scene. The prison confession had us choked up. I had to finish the movie with a tissue in hand.

Our after movie conversation consisted of trying to figure out how many children we can squeeze into our old cottage. I think we can easily fit 12...that would be only 8 more children.

If you have a heart for kids....check out the Nebraska Heart Gallery....a photo gallery of children in Nebraska that are waiting for their "forever family" to adopt them.

All I need is some Foie Gras

We had this Sauternes at V.Mertz and are crazy for it. Alexander (the BEST waiter at Mertz) was kind enough to write out down the info so we could purchase more at Whole Foods. The rumor at Whole Foods is that the vintage is about gone. We own a half case so far and have ordered more. I love my "vintage" home for many reasons and one is that it has a perfect cellar. No need for a wine refrigerator. I love to stock up on yummy wines. I'm no collector, but I do place wine in the staples category.

On the way home tonight I stopped by La Buvette in the Old Market and purchased all but one bottle along with some cheese and chocolate. Living downtown has made me fall in love with Omaha. V.Mertz, La Buvette, M's Pub, Nouvelle Eve, the Farmer's Market, the Flat Iron, and all the funky shops. My perfect afternoon is sitting outside at La Buvette with Greg, just exploring random thoughts and ideas. I get lost in his company.

Queen of Othello

In our home, I OWN this game. Greg can not beat me. (Ummm, I would be the white chips in the above photo.) I wish I had taken a pic of Greg's look when he saw me pull out the camera.

Beauty

I have never felt beautiful.....until I had a son.

I wear no makeup. I own none of these products. If I'm really trying to doll up I use an eye pencil and mascara. We're talking 1 minute tops. Not much of a beauty regimen.

But, whenever I put on the simplest of sundresses, Griffin will smile up at me and say, "Mom, du wook wike a pwincess. I wuv dat." He is the sweetest and purest child and can make me feel so beautiful. Did I mention he also holds doors open for me? Children are truly a blessing from the LORD.

Spidergirl

Gabriella has fallen in love with climbing. We plan to enroll her in a "bouldering" class at UNO. If she has a "good week" in school, her reward is a climb on Saturday. Greg's idea. Soooo much better than a sweetie food reward. Greg can be brilliant.

She told us after this particular climb that she was trying very hard to not allow the pink climber to catch up to her or pass her. When did she become so competitive?