EnerGY!!!

This picture can't even capture Zeke and his energy today! He is shaking his head and yelling aaahahhahhhahhh!!
Today we had a goodbye Lunch at the Grove Grill with the staff at church, it was really nice to just fellowship with friends. But something happened that made our afternoon and evening quite crazy. Nana (Dan's mom) gave Zeke a huge, HUGE cookie after he ate his lunch. Well who knew that the result of that would be a ridiculously crazy 6 hours! I am not exaggerating when I say Zeke was wired for 6 hours! He was excited and jumping and wrestling, and laughing and yelling, and running, and did not stop all night long. It was so wild to watch him never slow down. Even when we put him to bed he was jumping on his bed and trying to wrestle with Scarlet.
I can't even put into words how much energy Zeke had. I might have to put myself to bed early tonight because I am tired from just watching him and his energy! Thanks Carol for the cookie!

packing sucks

The kids actually took a nap today and I have been wandering around trying to figure out what to pack next. I pick a room and then realize I still have over a week and I will need those items I was going to pack! I packed some more books today worked on adoption stuff, but it doesn't look like I have done a darn thing. Since I have been married we have moved I think 6 times. Not fun, I am tired of it and so unmotivated! I am not a procrastinator but I am totally acting like one right now!
Let's hope I can pull this off, and get it all done!

redding trip

The last few days were spent in Redding looking for a place for us to live when we move. It was such an awesome trip, God provided for us in so many ways! The first day we went to two place and the second one was love at first sight! We had heard about this town home and I had high hopes for it and it far exceded what I expected! It is so beautiful and we are getting an amazing deal from a guy that Nate knows from Risen King ( the church we went to while living in Redding). We are so grateful, we feel like it is the perfect fit for our family. THe pre-school we want Zeke to go to was so great, they were so friendly and willing to work with us financially, which was a huge concern for us!
A few days before we left I hurt my neck really badly and sleeping on the hotel pillow made it 100 times worse. I woke up Thursday morning and literally could not get out of bed. Nate called a friend from the Stirring who is a Chiropractor and he got us in right away. HE took x -rays, adjusted me and did not charge us. Today my neck is fianlly moving and the inflmation is going down. It was just amazing how everyone took care of us and was so willing to help meet our needs.
It was exciting driving around planning for our family but also felt lonely and overwhelming. I know God is calling us to go to Redding and that is a comfort to know we are doing what he asks. But that doesn't make it easy to leave. I need to start packing my house up and that freaks me out.
Thansk for praying for us as we were in Redding, God overwhelmed us with his provision for us.

reading is sexy

I have been slowly thinking of all the things I will miss when we move, the list is quite extensive! I am having such a hard time leaving our families and even more so Zeke not having his Grammy and Grampy and Nana and Papa. I get emotional so often when I think about how hard it will be for him. But I know he will be ok, so will I!
But I have been thinking so often of my book club, oh how I love my book club! We started I think about 2 years ago and there are only 3 original members from when we started. Jenn, Karen and I. There have been many added and there is a steady group of about 5 of us. I love this group because we read fun books, have great discussions about these books and we laugh a ton. What I love most is that we talk about the book for like 15 minutes and we talk about life the other hour and a half! We always seem to get on subjects I really can't blog about! I am so grateful I have had this outlet where I can go and talk about our lives, how we want to change, our struggles, and other crazy subjects! Thanks Jenn, Karen, Kari and Shari for sharing and listening I am going to miss you all so much. Maybe I can still read along with you!
Jenn came up with our motto so long ago, Reading is sexy! Thanks Jenn, maybe we should get T-shirts made with our motto on it!

forts, churches and sidewalks

(I don't know how to turn my picture, our mac is in the shop and I already forget how to use a PC!)

Lately Zeke has been making forts, churches and "sidewalks" everyday. He takes all of the cushions and pillows off of our couch and chaise lounge and makes things. He does it every morning while Sofia is sleeping and he and I lay under the fort and read books, or chase Scarlet on the sidewalk he makes. It is fun and he always comes up with something different we need to do. TOday we made a place for the Little Einsteins to play and rocket to park. It is so fun to see his imagination take off and he is so creative!

It is good for me to learn to be ok with a constant messy house as well. I have just accepted that our house will always be out of control for like 5 years. I have relaxed a lot about it and I am proud of myself for it!

THe other picture is of Zeke's room, instead of going to sleep last night he took out every toy he has and stuck 3 pages of stickers all over the wood floors, good times!

some funny happenings

The last few days some really funny things have happened, all of them with Zeke. At least I think they are funny. THese are the random stories that fill our days!
The first was yesterday evening, we told Zeke he needed to go sit on the potty, yes he needs a reminder most days to poop! Anyway he is supposed to be on the potty and Dan walks by the bathroom and sees Zeke with his pants down and he is using my towel to scratch his butt cheeks! Now if you know me you know I am really weird about my towels and pillow, do not under any circumstance use them and defintely do not scratch your butt with them! I was so grossed out and even more so this morning as I was drying my face off after the shower! I completely forgot to change it last night and did not remember until it was on my face! nasty.

Then when Dan was helping Zeke brush his teeth Zeke said Daddy do not shake the toothbrush because if you get splashes on the mirror mama will be soooo mad at you! What a bummer, my neat freakness is obvious to my 4 year old!

Today I fell into my addiction with Bakers, I stopped by to get myself a burrito after running errands with the kids. They had already eaten and as I was ordering Zeke Yells loudly from the back seat, "um yea I'll have the kids chicken nuggets please! They don't even have nuggets at Bakers, but it was hilarious to me.
THis afternoon Zeke took something out of Sofia's hands for the 1000th time and I sent him to his room where he screamed out "I am so mad at you" and slammed his door twice, he opened it and slammed it again just to make sure I heard it. I was just thinking to myself really we are already slamming doors at hating me, isn't that supposed to be like 10 years from now, when he is 14!
He certainly keeps things lively around here!

halloween pics

I know everyone who is on top of things posted their pics last week, but better late than never!
The first is Zeke and his cousins, and then sofia as a lion, yay we reused Zeke's baby costume, and then Dan looking so cute in his new cowboy hat!

so much to do , so little time

I must admit my blogging has been sparse lately, I know you all depend on my wit and intelligent thoughts to get you through the day. I will try harder!
Actually things have been so crazy busy lately when I do have a free moment I just read a few blogs and that is all I have time for. We are trying to prepare to move and wrap things up that we have put off for so long. I have been trying to finish up the adoption stuff as well. Some of you may remember my rant a month ago about possibly having to re-adopt Sofia. It is looking like that is not the case yay! But things are still unresolved. I went to the court to file my petition but they still didn't know what any of my paper work was all about and the lady that possibly knew a little bit could not be found. So I left my paper work and still have not heard back. It is hard to have so many things unresolved, at least it is for me, I like things to be wrapped up nice and pretty so I can be done worrying about them!
It is just crazy because in a month we need to have our house rented and packed up and everything ready to go, it feels impossible. I know it will come together it always does, but the craziness that comes before that is what scares me! I have been putting off the sadness and goodbyes because there is so many other things to do. I don't even want to begin to think of the actual day we leave, lets just pretend it is still a long way off!