Oh the Bliss!

As I'm in the throws of unpacking I am finding I have A. LOT. OF. STUFF. So much stuff! So many little, tiny, boxes and bows and bags and barrettes - that's just the B's! At one point the amount of stuff actually became comical. Here are some things I have waaaaaaaaaaaay too much of. (And I'm really, really sorry if you gave me any of these items. I'm not meaning to hurt feelings, just poke fun at how much of everything I have.) Miniature travel shampoos and conditioners... for all the traveling I do, I guess. Hand lotion. Scissors. See the purple pair down at the bottom? I've had that pair since elementary school I think. I'm not kidding. Bars of soap. Does anyone even use bars of soap anymore? (*Please notice another bar of soap in the first picture. Oh and look, more scissors!) One benefit of moving is finding long lost treasures, like these two gems... It's box filled with cards and letters Mark wrote to me during our dating days. There's actuall

An article in the Orange County Register reads, "Beyond the beige stucco walls and lush landscaping that protect Mission Viejo's Palmia gated community, there's killing to be done." (Read the rest of the article, Gunning for rabbits in Orange County ) That's right. It's now legal to kill Thumper (or Bunny Foo Foo, which have you) in Mission Viejo. Why? Because apparently they're everywhere and doing lots of damage. I think they're cute. In fact, one of our favorite early evening outside games in our new house is "Bunny Hunting". Except now we really can. Oh my gosh, do you even know how much Ben would LOVE to shoot a REAL gun and actually KILL something?!?!?!?! Good thing he can't read. I plan to keep this tid bit of info to myself, thank you very much.

I will miss the community. I will miss the gatherings in the circle to ride bikes and climb trees. I will miss the 4th of July swim party, the pumpkin carving party, and hay rides to see Christmas lights. I will miss the acceptance of my children into your homes even without invitation. I will miss the borrowing of ingredients and the sharing of treats. I will miss the love shown at all times for our family. I will miss the spur of the moment agreements to watch our kids, happily. I will miss the bond of the Spirit that unites us. I will miss your sweet faces. I will not miss your barking dogs. (And you will not miss our clucking chickens.) I love you, Rosales Circle. My heart is aching...

This morning I found our deep freezer open a crack with a puddle of water underneath. NO NO NO NO! I yelled, Please don't let everything be ruined! It was. Everything. And we keep a lot of food in there. Not just food though, milk too. Special milk that we buy in bulk and freeze, AND there were bags of milk for Mia, or "liquid gold" as it's fondly called. We had fish, ground beef, meals I had made and frozen for a later date, grass-fed beef (which ain't cheep) and more. Everything was not just defrosted, but warm. So everything had to go. I was so sad, I felt like I was basically throwing away fists full of cash as I dumped it all into the trash. And then Ben, sweet Ben, who had graciously offered to help me clean up, says, "At least we have two more freezers full of food, mom." He's right. We do. And that's reality for us here. While it's painful to throw away food, it's not like that freezer won't be filled again - probably within d

I think about it all the time. And what I love right now is that a lot, a LOT of other people are thinking about it too. And some are actually doing it. I know a couple of families, and I know of a couple of families who know a couple of families, who are adopting or fostering children, and I just love it. Mark and I are sure of one thing, the Lord wants us involved with adoption somehow. Right now, that "somehow" is by praying for and supporting families who are going through the adoption process. The internet has made this extremely easy to do by going online and buying goods with proceeds who go to families raising money to bring their children home. I love to buy gifts for people with that purpose in mind. You can buy jewelry, coffee, t-shirts and what have you. I figure if I have to buy a birthday present anyway I might as well have the money I'm spending go toward something awesome, right? Adoption is awesome. Through a friend I found a blog of a family who is sel

The BFF from Indiana is in town!!!!!!!! (And wow, that picture does NOT do my excitement justice. Hoolay, I need a google image pic, ASAP!)

Sorry I'm in so many of these pictures. I know you don't come on here hoping to see pictures of me. But, in the words of Addison, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" These pictures, while ubber adorable, accentuate the looooongness of my neck. Is that something I should be proud of? In some cultures really long necks are highly desirable. I would do really well Burma . Happy Tuesday!

Ben asks to use my camera almost daily. He takes pictures of all his favorite things, sometimes many, MANY pictures of his favorite things. (One time I got my camera back and there fore 42 pictures of his army guys.) Here are some samplings... Mia holding his finger... Army vs. Indians war... His buddy Michael... Silly pic with Addie The hole in Addie's ceiling... His favorite book... And of course the obligatory self portrait... He loves to take pictures and thankfully likes being in pictures (for the most part) too. We've come a long way, boy. Tomorrow I will post a bunch of pictures of Addison from our Princess Party and an impromptu photo shoot. (Some of Tman too.) :-)

Thursday was WOO HOO good. 1. Chick Fil A opened 5.09 miles from our house. 2. I got to the eye doctor and my days of blot shot -is she or isn't she contagious- eyes are soon to be over, thanks to some eye drops and a promise to "Come in immediately when my eyes start acting crazy, even if it means I bring the four rascals with me". 3. I was told by Jorge at Khol's that I'm the youngest mom he's ever seen. (It was my first time ever going to Khol's, but I am a fan of Jorge, so I might go back.) 4. My mom came over and spent the night, and who doesn't love it when their mom comes over? (Especially when she brings yummy cookies just for me.) 5. WE GOT A HOUSE!!!!!!! Hallelujah! It's pretty close to where we live now (though not nearly close enough, right twins?). It has all of the things we need AND all of the things we want! Which means, you guessed it, we're on the end of a cul de sac!! I am so thankful that the Lord has chosen to bless us in t