They Called My Name

Last time I wrote, I was visiting my parents in California.  So let's pick up from there.

My parents drove me to the airport, I checked in, and went to Gate 5.  About ten minutes later I heard, "Paging Southwest passenger Stacey Spenard.  Stacey Spenard.  Please somethingsomethingsomething."  I don't remember what they said because I was so giddy that my name was being called on the P.A. system.

Turns out my flight was being delayed indefinitely and I was going to miss my connection in Denver.  "So you'll have to reschedule and fly out tomorrow.  Here's a voucher to keep you happy."  Here comes my second favorite part.

I asked the Southwest lady behind the counter, "Can I use your phone to call my Mom and have her come pick me up?"  I felt like I was five years old.  It was funny.

So my parents turned around and came to retrieve me.  One more day in Cali, but at that point I was mentally geared up to go home and see my boys.  Flew out the next morning and here I am.

In other news...

• Paul submitted his resignation this week, giving the church sixty days notice.  Really, he gave them verbal notice two years ago that we would be leaving about this time.  Many were surprised when it became official.  The first weekend in March will be his last.  We've been here eight years.

• We are moving overseas in March.  You could call it a job transfer.

• Charlie celebrated his first time-out this week:

• Paul and I have a trip planned to go to an International T. Networking conference in Arizona next month.  It's totally focused on our future move.  Bonus that it's in Arizona in the midst of winter.  And double bonus that we paid for our plane tickets with Paul's voucher from flying in November and my voucher that I got this last trip when I had to fly out the next day.

• The upstairs' back room needed to be painted, so as a family we tackled this task.  The person who painted this room many moons ago, painted over striped wallpaper that we could see through the paint.  So we decided to strip the wallpaper and then paint the wall anew.

 Removing old wallpaper is fun!

 Reuben enjoyed using the scraper.

 Charlie took initiative to get a trash bag and pick up all the wallpaper bits.

I love intiative-takers.

 Hello Paul.

 Later that day.

The wall still has not been painted because...

like every 'easy' project we've attempted in this 1800's home,

the project always has an unexpected surprise that complicates our efforts.

The bare wall behind the wallpaper has cracks and divots and mega-unevenness that is going to require mudding.

Which is probably why the people just painted over the wallpaper.

• In our history lessons recently, we reenacted the Great Fire of London:

 In just a few days, four-fifths of the city burned because

the homes were so close together and made of wood.

 Poor London.

•  We've had lots of snow.  Peter & Bros. Snow Removal has made lots of dollars this winter.

 After a long morning of scooping snow,

Pete and Reuben went to play on this pile.

See Peter reclining on the mound?

•  Charlie, like his older brothers of yore, climbed his way into the snack cupboard.

 He's answering our question, "Where's Charlie?"

Apparently, he doesn't know.

• The kids go to youth group on Sunday nights.  Here's one of their very spiritual lessons:

 They wrapped Reuben in toilet paper.

 Looks like a piggy snowman.

•  Earlier this week I was tricked into going camping.  They said we'd be staying in a cabin.  They said we'd take turns preparing meals.  They said it would be lots of fun family time.  And I believed them.  'Camping' never came to mind... until I started packing.  The problem with camping is all the prep (work!) and all the cold (cold!).  I know, I'm a whiner.  Poor me, had to go stay in a cabin in the woods and hang out with family.  It was a really nice time.  Paul's parents and his sister's family came too, and we stayed in two large cabins.  With the cabins came arm bands to get into the indoor waterpark.  Three days of water play for the cousins, board games, and down time.

 Know this game?

Settlers of Catan with Papa, Peter, Paul, and cousin Benen.

And Nana keeping watch on the couch.

 Fascinated by the popcorn popper.

With Aunt Anna.

 Popcorn Party on the cabin floor.

With cousin Cecily.

• And I have a fun video demonstrating Charlie's organization skills.  But it won't load.  So maybe tomorrow.

Char Char

A short break from the usual California update for this post because...

My dear sweet little Char Char joined our family on this very day last year.

And I've been sentimental about it all day.

And I thought The World should know about it too.


We walked into the room and he was standing on the couch smiling and we just went right over and held him and played with him and he was just fine with that.

I remember first seeing him and wondering if it was him.  Is this our son?  We had a few pictures of him, but here is this child now for real.  This child who was just a stranger a few seconds ago will leave with us in an hour an be our son.  It's so crazy.


A whole year.  Charlie has adjusted and fit into our family so easily.  It is wonderful.

He is wonderful.

And I am so thankful we get to be his parents,

that we get to hold him, teach him, love him.

I get to smile when I see him smile.

I get to laugh when he does a funny dance.

I get to hug him when he says 'night night'.

I get to take his picture and then look at it and melt at his cuteness.

I prayed and trusted God to match us with just the right child.

I thank God for his perfect timing and perfect ways.

I thank God that Charlie's birthmom continued with her unexpected pregnancy and gave him life.

I pray that she would know Him and accept His love.

I pray that God would give her peace and somehow know that her son is loved.  That he is cherished.  Treasured.

I hope that we can meet one day.















Oh how I love him.

Falifornia

Instead of titling every post 'California' I'm going through the alphabet.  We're on F today.  Falifornia.  Fun.

Day 10 - Friday

We checked out the local library and totally scored a library card, much to our great surprise.  Despite not being residents, we were able to get an 'unauthorized' card.  No, that's not what they called it.  Something like that.  Um... unvalidated maybe.  Or intoxicated.  It lets us check out 5 items at a time, which is really hard to do.   Five items?  That will last us like five minutes.  But, how great still.

The boys pool-swam then we went into San Diego to meet up with oldtime friends.

In college, Paul did an internship in innercity SD.  As in, the pizza guy would not deliver to their house.  And one time when I visited we hovered in the house and peeked out the front window as flashing police cars and their policemen went to work a few yards away.  AND, this one time... ha, ha, ha... a woman on a street corner... hahaha... waved Paul down and asked for a ride then offered him her services as they drove off together.  He was so nieve, and surprised.  And I got to hear that story told several times last night.

Pine and Paul.

Pine is a game tester.

He plays video games for a living.

And he's a super witness for Christ.

He was in our wedding, you may remember.

I'm bummed this is blurry.

We are with Rick and Nicki and their daughter.

Rick was in charge of the Lighthouse in SD where Paul did his internship.

 The highlight of the night for the kids was ice cream before dinner.

Although he didn't say anything, I thought it was a fab experience for Peter to be the minority.

Most of the people there were from Cambodia and Laos.

 Day 11 - Today

Reuben, Peter, and Paul juiced oranges for breakfast

while Charlie started his BIRTHDAY by screaming and throwing fits.

Welcome to being two.

I'm banking on these special birthday outbursts being due to him feeling out of control
with all the traveling, new places, and new people he's experiencing.

Two is really going to be great.

It is.

It must be.

Hear that, Charlie?

Let's just all get along.
'K?

In California

(The computer I'm using doesn't like blogger as much as I do, so the format is a bit funky.)

Day 1

                                                                Paul so lovingly escorted us to our gate.
                                                                       He's joining us next week.

                                                   Mini M&Ms, mini muffin liners, and pipe cleaners = fun on the airplane.

Charlie took the initiative of wiping down the seats at the Phoenix airport while we waited for our next flight.

Day 2

No pictures.

We went to Target, did our school lessons, and ate tostadas.

And rode bikes.

With helmets on.

Day 3 - Today

Reuben wanted to climb the mountain outside Granny's window.

So we did.

At 8am.

Three hour time zone change means we're up at 5am and ready to go.

                                                                                   They live in the desert.
                                                                        We kept an eye out for rattlesnakes.

                                                                                       Water break.  It's hot.

                                                                    Stopped to throw rocks down the hill.
                                                     I just kept thinking about the sleeping snakes they were waking.

                                                                                      Totally asleep.

This afternoon we went to play at the community pool.
Splash pad, large pool, and playground.
And clean bathrooms.
And a friendly lady named Chris with whom we chatted with for hours while our kids played together.
And misters.  Not men, but things that spray mist on you as you recline in lounge chairs.  Not that I got to recline much with Charlie roaming.  But still.  I imagine the misters are very nice.

                                                            Debbie - Thanks for the cute swim shorts for Charlie!

Charlie's current status.

Totally out.

Which is a total bummer because he conked out at 4:30pm,

which is his exact bedtime at home (7:30pm),

but could result in an unfortunate wake up call in the wee hours of the morn. 

Oo, time for turkey burgers!



Thursday Thoughts

Did you know there are people in Latvia who visit this blog?  Yah.  And in Japan, Turkey, Russia, France, Germany, and Australia.  I think that's amazing.  Merhaba, G'day, and Konnichiwa!

Also, I was inwardly concerned about the transition of Peter being home all the time when school got out in May.  How am I going to handle three boys?  This is new to me.  Well... It has been wonderful.  It's like Peter and Reuben have been making up for ten months of lost playtime.  They play and play and wrestle and laugh and create.  And Peter loves little Charlie.  He reads to him and builds train tracks for him and helps him however needed.  So great.

And now here's our dinner menu for this week.  All new recipes.

• Middle Eastern Stew - lentils and veggies
• Raspberry Chicken Salad - with lettuce from our garden
• Chicken Primavera - using the dreaded broccoli - maybe the boys like broccoli now - ha
• Roast Beef Pocket Sandwiches - like gyros - had today and Peter and Reuben declared them too spicy, which was a mystery to me
• Spicy Beef Salad - I scanned the meat section for flank steak.  I don't know what that is, but they didn't have it.  So the nice meat lady handed me a hunk of beef that she said would work.
• Spinach Melange - I don't remember what this is, but I picked it to use up the spinach in my freezer.  I'm fully expected the boys to revolt.
• Orange-Yogurt Salad - a jello with mandarin oranges - to make up for the spinach
• Mom's Chili - not new, it's my mom's recipe - needed a comfort food in there

Um, Charlie has a fever today.  Whisked him to the doctor via two-lane country roads.  It's one of my favorite drives out here.  About 35 minutes through the farmlands with little hills that flip your stomach.  About seven minutes in (way before the hilly part) I heard that horrific sound in the back seat... I needlessly said to Reuben, "Did Charlie just throw up?"  Oh, the carseat, you know?  And I didn't have a change of clothes for him.  I just kept driving.  Maybe it would go away by the time we got there.  And here I sit typing with throw-up still on my shoulder.  That's how veteran mom I am.

As for the literature I am reading these days... The Lost Daughters of China has captivated me.  It would be an interesting read for anyone, but having been through the international adoption process I am totally bonding with the author as she retells her adoption story of her two daughters from China.

I also read a book on yoga that's not worth mentioning really.  It was trying to convince to me to be all weird.  I just want to do the exercises, thanks.

And I've made several attempts to get through John Holt's How Children Learn because many in the homeschool world think it's a must-read.  I must be missing something.  I'm totally not enthralled.  It just seems like common sense, but I keep reading bits to try to find the fascinating part.

And in closing, Charlie gained a pound and is up to 22 pounds.  He'll be two in a few weeks.  I love that he's smallish.  I can still hold and cuddle him easily.  But I noticed that he's filled out his footie pajamas.  The last time he wore them the feet would drag and frustrate him.  But tonight they're almost too small.  Just like that.

And my main man Paul cleaned up the vomititious carseat.  Love.  He loves me.  He's here next to me reading about a sultan from the Ottoman empire.

And, I'm taking a trip to California soon.  God has been so gracious in providing all the major details.  I'm still waiting on one - it's a major one according to Peter...  Legoland tickets.  Their website is so silly.  Seventy-five dollars.  Ha, funny Legoland people.  Surely someone in, say, Latvia knows how I can get them cheaper.  Anyone?  Oh, what I need is a reader in Denmark.

Photos of the Boys

If he becomes fluent in Turkish before the rest of us, we'll know why.

 He's loves this little Turkish dictionary.

 Ice cream!

 Brothers in the sand box.

How the sand got on Reuben's head.

 

 Brothers in bed.

Brothers in the kitchen.

Charlie likes to eat peanut butter by the spoonful.

 

 Making a sassafras burger.

(grilling dinner at Turkey Run)

 Um, sassafras please.

(Sassafras is a tree out in these parts.

The leaves can be 3 shapes:

a dinosaur footprint, a mitten, or a football.

Isn't that neat?  A tree with 3 different leaf shapes?

The boys look for them when we hike and snack on the edible leaves.)

 Brothers all together.

Water

I've got boys who love to play with water.

Another day

Another day

Mixing colored water

Hair design by Paul