Family Field Day

Tonight was our FAMILY FIELD DAY and the Carlsons and the Maus' were ready for action. Although we love each other very much... I'm not too sure this particular night we emphasized family unity.
It was kill or be killed. SO much fun!

From Left to Right:
"Big Papa", "Lil' Mama", "g-LORI-ous", "Bam-Bam", "Bunk the Hunk", "Cookie MOM-ster", "J-Killer", "Sir Lance-A-Lot", "Pebbles", "Ker-azy", "Big T Slick"

From Left to Right:
"Squirrel", "Moose", "Irish Fayeth", "Bobfather", "Zia", "Thing 1", "Thing 2", "Biggie", "Punky", "Haus"

We started the events off with a sack race...even the kids got involved.
I'm pretty sure Zoey brought home the win!
Then it was off to the 3-legged race. I think Chris and I might need to go to marital counseling after that. I think I embarrassed him when he had to drag me across the finish line. He decided to make Isaac his partner.
Then we had the balloon toss and the balloon launch.
The famous pie-eating contest. The boys were so excited to stand there and stare at their pie, but none of them wanted to get their faces dirty.
...except for my husband. He KILLED the pie eating contest and then it was all downhill from there! I should know by now to not leave any messy thing unattended!

Nate enjoying all the "BAKE OFF" entries

Although the "BAKE OFF" mysteriously ended in a tie, Stephanie did bring home the win for most votes on her dessert "Maus Reward Cake." Joel-n-Steph had a special meeting to come up with that amazing name... brilliant!
Zoey enjoying the tunnel... her mother, on the other hand, did not. Remember the days where you could breeze thru a fabric tunnel? Those days are long gone, my friends!

Remember... it doesn't matter who wins or loses...
Except that we totally kicked butt!!!!
... Until next year!!!

A little different than I pictured...

Have you ever just had a day that doesn't go like you imagined in your head???
Today was THAT day!
I had planned on taking Isaac to the "Make-Your-Own-Pizza" day at Little Caesars and knew he would love it. Unfortunately, Zoey had other plans. She screamed, and I mean SCREAMED for the entire time (and boy did it echo in there!) I tried bottles... I tried pacifiers... I tried cuddling, walking, feeding, etc... nothing worked. When I came and told Isaac we had to leave before the pizzas were baked, he was very sad. I promised we would make pizzas at home next week now that he was an expert. It is SOOOO time for Zoey to take a nap!

another convo

Isaac: What are you doing mom?
Me: Cleaning the house
Isaac: You need to stop right away!
Me: Why?
Isaac: I like it messy
Me: You do? Why in the world would you like it messy?
Isaac: I can be myself

Where in the world did he come up with that one???

Am I Adopted?

I spent the morning with one of the most amazing women I have ever known... my grandmother. How can I be related to someone without receiving any of their characteristics? She is the most soft-spoken, selfless lady to date and although she is a woman of few words, she is power-packed with wisdom. I am so blessed to have her in my life!

Convo with Isaac

Isaac: Mom, why do mosquitoes bite me?
Me: Because that's how they eat
Isaac: Mosquito, you shouldn't eat people! You need to find some food!

flying aces

Today was Isaac's surprise day. We went to see the Flying Aces (you wouldn't believe what these guys could do with frisbees!), had a treasure hunt in the mall, got airbrush tattoos and drank cherry slurpees. It was such a fun day just the kids and I!

Champions For Life 2009

Last week was incredible.

I am posting some of the pictures of The Crew on our Legacy site, but here are some pics of this past Sunday when our family went up to Camp Cavell to help set up for week 2 of CFL. I am so overwhelmed by the fact that my entire family is involved with a ministry that truly changes the lives of children. It's humbling to know that it started with a dream my mom had years and years ago and is now one of the hugest productions I have ever seen. I was able to minister right beside my husband, watch my parents as directors, watch Keri and Tommy run boot camp, and work beside my sister Jeni with The Crew. It is one of the best weeks of the year! Please keep everyone from week 2 in your prayers and they are ministering at this very moment.

I would also like to sent a huge shout out to my father/mother-n-law who took our kids for the whole week so that we could minister to hurting children. You are a blessing!

"Let's hug all day!" (Isaac Bunk)

Because I was gone all last week, I was having a hard time letting go of my kids long enough to get on the computer, but here is our week so far in a nutshell...

Monday was Isaac's 1st day of school. He was so excited to meet new friends and see his new classroom. When we got to Wee Love, Papa surprised him by taking him on the bus for CFL before it left. He couldn't believe there were TVs and a bathroom on a bus! When lunch was over and it was time to go home, Isaac was very sad that he had to leave his new friends.

Sticker Fun!!!
Naptime!
It's been so cute during naptime this week. Isaac and Zoey don't ever want to be separated. Isaac showed me today how to get Zoey to fall asleep by rubbing her head and singing to her. So cute!

CFL... here we come!

Well tomorrow is the big day! CHAMPION'S FOR LIFE KIDS' CAMP! The Crew is packed and ready to go and I am so excited to be going this year with them... it was rough staying home last year with Zoey in my belly. Please keep us in your prayers, that the Lord would use us to touch the lives of these foster kids.

On another note... Would anyone be willing to pick my kids up every night, drive and hour and 1/2 to Lexington so Chris and I can give them a goodnight kiss and then turn around and drive them back an hour and 1/2? Just checking...

Ready for Take-Off

Isaac LOVES planes and was over-the-top excited when I brought this plane home from my errand running this afternoon. He couldn't control himself from giggling. Zoey even helped us read the directions...

3am

Sometimes being a parent is so rough. It's the part of parenting that you don't really understand until you are up at 3am with your child in pain and you're not quite sure what to do about it. The times you have to comfort your child and make them feel secure even when you want to curl up and cry with them. I'm not quite sure how I became the middle-of-the-night mom instead of the one needing one, but there's one thing that is for sure, 3 years in and my mom assures me- it's only just begun.

Buona sera!

Because they were in Romania last month, tonight we celebrated a very belated Father's Day with my dad. Everyone made their own pizza and some were better at it than others. It was also so nice to hear my dad talk about what it was like growing up with Grandpa Loren. Such a wonderful night with mi familia!

So much to do... So little time

Well, the week is almost 1/2 over and I am starting to feel the pressure for the week to come. It's off to Champions For Life Kids' Camp we go! Does anyone else's fridge look like this? Laundry... Duffles... Shopping... Locating stuff long forgotten in the basement... Lots of prayer!