Fab Five

We are noticing some changes around here.  I call it "the miracle of adoption."  I wrote about it on my Adoption.com blog and for copyright reasons, I can't replicate it here, but I can sure link to it!  Click here on these blue words if you want to read it for yourself.

In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of them I took on Mother's Day;  I need to take a new one soon - they are all getting so tan!

Clockwise from leftmost:  Gabriel, Chanelle, Allison, Bennie at the bottom and Maggie Rose in the middle.

Brits, Noses, Tomatoes Etc.

It's been a while.  I was sick for weeks.  Not in bed, mind you, but the worse kind of sick; the ambulatory kind where I am really cranky and mean but still doing what I need to do, or most of it.  The big girls and dear hubby were really understanding and gave some extra help during this time or I probably would have jumped out the window!  Finally I went to the doctor, not because I had by then gotten pink eye but because Sunshine had.  A few eye drops, an antibiotic for a disgusting sinus infection, 7 days,  and I am back to myself.  There is definitely a lesson in there about not waiting so long to ask for help next time.

We have company!  Yippee!  My friend Sarah Riley, a singer, is here with her boyfriend, Glenn, on her world tour.  They have been delightful house-guests and not too overwhelmed with our large and swarming brood of youngsters.  Yesterday while I was at the ER with Tink and Sarah, Glenn and Pepper cooked us a yummy fish pie.  Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, it was good!

 Tinker got to visit Dell Children's Hospital yesterday.  In the morning, she came out and said, "I have a pin in my nose."  Sarah got her to gently blow it out.  It was her earring!  That worked so well that at nap time, she decided to stuff a bead up her nose.  Unfortunately, she did a better job of it this time and it is lodged up there.  Our doctor said it is too far back and we should go to Dell.  They got us right in but it took a while to be seen.  Then after several minutes of gentle digging around -- during which Tink cooperated but cried a lot -- they could not get it.  Oops.  Today we were off to the ENT.  He removed it quickly with a little hook.  On the way out she said, "Don't put beads in your nose, no."  You think?

Pepper has been growing tomatoes and peppers; she had several on the vine.  Yesterday Daisy (our gentle Shepherd-Lab mix) ate them all.  Oh dear.


That catches you up on the headlines. 

Creativity Blooming

Lately Sunshine and Pepper have had a burst of springtime creativity.  Enjoy!

Spanish sun by Pepper (clay)

Fish Pepper did in Art Class

Sunshine's cake

More art class samples

Sunshine and a friend made this;  they made the fondant from scratch!

Sometimes Big Kids are Funny Too.

Disclaimer:  I have Sunshine's permission to tell this story.

The other day Sunshine and I were having one of our little chats in the car and she said,
"Hey mom, you know the half pipe where we used to ride our bikes with Lauren?  It was so steep and it was really fun to ride down there.  But we can't anymore because now they have signs that say if you do, you'll be violated."

I laughed so hard, I almost wet my pants.

My Song

Today's post is simply a link to my blog on Adoption.com
For copyright reasons, I cannot re-post it here, but I can sure send you there! 

This post is for all of you who think I've lost my mind; it gives you a glimpse into why we do foster care and why the three "Littles" are now Tischlers! 

(click on the words "link to my blog" to see the post)

Beautiful Birthday

Can you believe it?  Our little Tinkerbell, Tinker-tot, Tink Tink is three.  For weeks, she's been telling people, "I gonna be three."  She has had to wait through The Captain and Dear Hubby's March birthdays, The Blitz and my April birthdays and Mamaw's May Day birthday.  It was finally her turn!

She was as gracious as a pre-schooler can be and did thank everyone more than once.  When I finished her butterfly cake --which was much prettier in my imagination -- she said, "Oh, mom, thank you too much!"

Butterfly Cake

Pretty dress from Mamaw and Papa

Movie Star!

She loved her dress up clothes from grandparents and godparents, her shopping money and play-dough from Grandma, and her pretty new dress from Mamaw and Papa.  She was tickled pink over the lip gloss and girly things Sunshine gave her and has yet to receive -- but will be thrilled by -- the earrings Pepper is giving her.

Woo Hoo - Thanks Gram and Grandpa!

Tinker is growing into a girl and leaving babyhood behind.  She expresses complex thoughts in words now, if only to herself.  Recently we dropped The Captain off at school and she said to herself, "I not got to school yet, no.  I too little right now." 

She looks after her siblings and is sleeping "dry" - no more pull-ups!!  She is beginning to conquer her fear of the dark and is, in general, thriving.  She tickles us to death -- she is really funny.  She's got the sass too, and is learning when it's okay to be sassy and when it will get her in hot water. 

We adore her and thank God, her bio-mom and the State of Texas for entrusting her to us.

All dressed up and no place to go

 

Pulse of Life

On occasion, I will post a single photo captured in an instance in which I stopped to savor the moment.  Thank you to Soule Mama for the inspiration.

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