You Can Read, Can't You?

The boys know that there are certain things that Mommy will not do with them, or for them. I do lots of things with them and for them, but there is a short list of Mommy's Untouchables:
*Puzzles (I don't care how many pieces)
*Putting together transformers
*Setting up electronics

Well, the other day, Jonah was begging me to put his transformer from the robot, back into a car....

Me: That's not gonna happen buddy.

Jonah (5), brings me the blue print, a step by step instruction paper of how to do it: Here you go, Mommy.

Me: Ya, Sweety... Still not gonna happen. You know Mommy doesn't do that. I just get frustrated. Daddy will be home soon.

Jonah: Well, here is the instructions. Can you read, can't you?

Me: Ya. I can read.

Jonah: If you can read, you can put it together.

The Difference Is....

There is an elderly couple in our church and the wife is actually much older than the husband. Her health has declined greatly, and her husband has been taking great care of her. As I was discussing this with the twins the other day I could not help but ask this question of them. I did it separately, as I had a feeling that their answers would be different, and I didn't want their brothers answer to sway what they would say to me...
Me: So, when Mommy gets really, really old, are you gonna help take care of me?

Noah (5): Oh, ya, Mama!

Jonah (5): Um... I think I'm gonna be too busy being a grown-up.

Priceless.

Making Palin Proud

The other afternoon I was snuggling Jonah as he was preparing for a rare afternoon nap...

Me: I love you Jonah.

Jonah (5): I love you morst.

Me: I love you most...

Jonah: I love you morstest.

Really... How can I refudiate that?

Land Lover?

Caleb (7), typically LOVES water... loves the pool, loves the beach, loves the river, loves the bath tub. So, it was surprising that at a Pool Party we attended this weekend, the following events occurred:
Daddy: OK, Caleb! It's your turn to come in the water and swim with me! (Daddy reaches up and brings Caleb into the pool)
Caleb, wraps his arm tightly around Daddy's neck and SCREAMS: PUT ME BACK ON LAND!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!

On Fashion...

I am wearing capris today.
Jonah (ALMOST 5...) : Mom? Why are you wearing my pants?

On Rhyming...

Noah (4): Mommy? What rhymes with Mama?

Me: Well... let's see... Llama rhymes with Mama.

Noah: Oh. So, would Mommy rhyme with Camel?

Introducing: BAILEY!

Our family received a WONDERFUL Christmas gift this year! A darling puppy we named Bailey! Bailey is a Beagle/Chihuahua mix. She is about the cutest little dog ever, and her personality is even more adorable!

Grammy and Ronpa delivered her to us on December 23rd, after fostering her for 2 weeks. I know it could not have been easy. Bailey has a way of casting a spell of love over all who meet her! Here are a few of my favorite photos of Bailey, and our family enjoying her. Especially Noah. I have never seen a 4 year old boy have such a gift with animals. He is so gentle with them, and has such affection for them. I am so thankful we are able to have our animals to cultivate that special gift he has!

The next best thing to Santa? GRAMMY!
Noah snuggling his new puppy.

Lea and Bailey developed a great friendship right away. It's so nice to see them play! I know Lea loves her, even though Bailey's energy tuckers her out sometimes!

Sweet baby face!

Bailey never misses an opportunity to snuggle with Noah.

My sweet animals! Lea, snoring... Bailey, and Oliver. Oliver has been a real trooper, too! He is a very forgiving cat for all the chaos in our home. Despite the noise and excitement, Oliver remains very social and loves to play with Bailey. Oliver is also good at telling Bailey when he is 'done'. Tee hee!!

I LOVE how tiny she is on the giant dog bed! This was taken this month, February 2011. I just wonder how big she'll actually get?!

And again.... Noah feel asleep, and Bailey hoped right up to snooze with him!

Bailey often hops in my bed in the morning as we are getting everyone ready for their day. She tucks herself in under the covers and snoozes, often, until late morning! It is darling! These days, my bed is not getting made until the afternoon because she is just TOO cute to disturb!

We sure are in love with our new puppy! I hope you enjoy these photos of our new addition.

Love

I think I may have had the best Valentines Day ever this year. Really, it was magical. I am so blessed with the abundance of love that fills my home each day.
The day started out like every other... getting the boys ready for school. Caleb was very excited for his Valentine party at school, and was so happy that Mommy was coming, too.
While the boys were at school, I hit the dollar store, and picked up three adorable monkey balloons, and a few decorations to make the day a real celebration. As Noah pointed out that morning "Mom? Is this Valentines Day?" Me: "Yep! It's today." Noah: "Where's the decorations, Mom?" Right. I'll get on that, Buddy. ;o)
When I picked the Twins up from school, they came home to their Valentine balloons, and the some decorations that made it feel like a real holiday...
Matt came home early, as his work schedule is having him work on his day off this week, and I was able to go to Caleb's Valentine party at school. He was SO excited to see Mommy! We partied hard in Room 10, made banana splits, and then I decided to stay the rest of the day so Caleb could show me some of the things he has been working on. I went down to his Special Ed room with him, and he showed me how hard he has been working on learning to tie a shoe! Would you believe it, my little man DID IT! I had tears streaming down my face as I watched him conquer this task that is so easy for some, but has been quite a motor challenge for him. As you can see in the picture below, he was quite proud! I was, too.
That night we had a family "date"! I made homemade fettuccine alfredo, and we had soda in our special Valentines cups (the boys loved doing "cheers" throughout the dinner.) We also went around the table, and told each member of the family something we love about them. (see below for that re-cap) It was such a joy to spend Valentines Day with the 4 guys I love the most. I am one blessed girl. ;o)

Caleb... Tieing a shoe!!!!

Party time in first grade!

Jonah getting the last drop of soda!

Noah's SO happy to have a treat!

Balloons make GREAT Valentines!

A romantic dinner with my Boys!

Caleb (7): I love Daddy because he works hard at his meetings.

I love Mommy because she came to my school today, and saw my party and my school.

Noah (4): I love Daddy because he is strong.

I love Mommy because she takes good care of us.

Jonah (4): I love Daddy because he made us our big boy beds.

I love Mommy because she makes good food.

Jonah's Anatomy

This morning, on our way to school...

Noah (4): Jonah! Don't go to sleep!

Jonah (4): Noah.... I am not sleeping. I am looking at my eye lids.

Noah, questioning... : Is that on your body, or mine?

Jonah, sighs: Noah, they are on everybody's body.

Yep. That's underwear on their head.
I had to sneak this one in... My Gingerbread Twins. ;o)

Chicks Who Drive Trucks Rock

Every Tuesday and Thursday I have the blessing of watching Miss Etta Wicks while her Mommy, my BFF Emily, teaches music at a local private school. I LOVE Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are just.so.much.fun. I pick Etta up, and then she and I drive to the boys' pre-school, and pick up her "Crazy Boys". Etta and I enjoy lots of girl talk on the way to get the boys... Today was so hilarious, I just HAD to share it with you all:


Etta (2): There's a red truck!

Me: YA! Who else drives a red truck?

Etta: My Dad. And Uncle Matt. And Joe.

Me: WOW! You know LOTS of people who drive red trucks. Etta, which do you like more? Trucks, or cars?

Etta: Trucks.

Me: Ya, me too. Chicks who drive trucks rock.

Etta: Ya. My Dad, too.

Farty Brain

I live with boys. A lot of them. And now that they are getting a bit older, the joy of bodily functions seems to be taking over my house. That, and the endless debate as to which is better: Star Wars, or Star Trek. People say that boys and girls are conditioned to behave in their gender roles... I say... PSHA! My boys are 7 and 4... they are just programed by the Good Lord to do and say BOY things....(speaking generally, here.) But, I digress... this is a story about Farty Brain.

This morning the following conversation took place:

Mom: Wow, thanks for fixing that, Matt....

Jonah (4): Ya, Farty Brain.

Mom: Jonah... we don't call people Farty Brain. It's not nice.

Jonah (with the most serious expression, ever.): But Mom... I have a friend at school named Farty Brain. And he's super nice.

Mom: Really? You really have a friend named Farty Brain, huh?

Jonah: Ya. He's 4. Like us. I like him a lot. But sometimes he farts on me.

That Tooth Did, Indeed, Come Out...

I know! It has been the epic cliff hanger for the last 6 months! "Did that tooth EVER come out?!" You've all been on the edge of your seats wondering... And, indeed, it did....
I have wrestled with whether to catch up on past stuff, or just start with today, but there are some things that I just GOTTA put on here... And this is one of them. The Era of the Tooth Fairy has been ushered into the Jorgens 'Ohana. Here are some pictures of our VERY proud boy. It was super loose, and one day I finally popped him up on the kitchen counter and gave it a tiny wiggle... He was super nervous when I said gasped, then when I said "Caleb! It came out!" He just giggled with glee! The Twins thought it was pretty exciting, too. We called Daddy right away, and the rest of the evening was tooth excitement galore... ;o)

Proudly displaying his tooth in the very same tooth fairy box I used as a little kid.
Holding his tooth.... Funny, I remember being equally excited when that little tooth made it's first appearance.

Ya, you can't really see the puka, but I love this picture of him trying to show us!

ALL SMILES!

Behind The Times

I have been seriously behind in my blogging. I dunno... There has been a part of me that just hasn't had the desire to post in the last several months... Sometimes it is just fun to LIVE it, and I was pressuring myself about blogging... GOTTA get a post about this and that. So, I just released my self pressure, and just lived. Enjoying and soaking up every moment without feeling like I had to share it with the world. It was nice, actually.
But now? I am over it. I have the desire to post updates again, and that makes it fun, right?! With the Holidays behind us, and a year of excitement ahead, I am eager to keep my record of the blessings and goings on of our family....
Stay tuned! And I hope there are still people out there who check my blog! Hahaha... We'll see!
~C

Thinking It Through...

Caleb has one seriously loose tooth. His very first one. It has actually been loose for while now... But since it has gotten really wiggly, he has had some second thoughts about this whole 'teeth falling out of your mouth' thing. And really, it is pretty disturbing until you are able to process that it happens to everyone, and yes, new teeth do come it to replace the ones that fall out. Each night, we wiggle the tooth a little more, and check on it's progress... and each night, tears well up in Caleb's eyes and he says "Mama, I'm just so worried about my tooth!" It just breaks my heart. So to ease his anxiety, while we were tucking all the boys in bed last night, I informed him that the Tooth Fairy has told me that she has a new Thomas the Train engine to give him, BUT he will have to switch her. He gives her his tooth, she give him a train. Last night, as we were discussing this magical transaction, Caleb seemed to perk up a bit. But as I explained it I also noticed that the Twins were listening intently to this impending deal, and Noah, well, he had some concerns about the logistics of how it would work...

Me: So, once your tooth comes out, we'll put it on your shelf, and the Tooth Fairy will come and leave you a train!

Noah (4): Will she drive her car here, Mama?

Me, very matter-of-fact: No, Honey, she'll fly.

Noah: Will she use wings, or an airplane?

Me: She'll use her fairy wings.

Jonah (4): That's pretty silly, Mama.

Noah: Ya. I think she should just drive.

I Don't Just Love You...

As I was leaving to go out with friends the other night:

Caleb (6) sniffling a little, and tearing up: But Mama... I like you!

Noah & Jonah Turn 4!!

I think I may start every birthday post with "I can't believe"... Another year passes, and these little men that came to us through the miracle of adoption continue to grow, in height/weight and personality & character. When God blessed me with Motherhood, I knew that being a mother included the obvious... pouring of myself into these new lives and raise them up to be, by the grace of God, not just people that we love dearly, but that those around them can love too. I think what I seriously underestimated is how much I would grow from them.

Noah and Jonah, Mama always tells you that you are our gifts from God. And you so totally are. We love and adore you more than words can say.

The boys' birthdays always lead my heart back to their birth mothers. Andrea, we love you so deeply. The gift you gave us when you dedicated these boys to us will forever overwhelm my heart. I love you, not only for all you have done for us, but for all of who you are. You are an incredible women, and mother.

______________

I have to say, that the rest of this post is a long, wonderful story of Noah and Jonah's birthday. It was such a magical day, and I am so excited to finally be sharing it here...

Birthday morning started, as it always does, the night before. If you have read any previous posts on birthdays, you know that they are so special to me. My mother always had, rather-has, a way of making a birthday ridiculously wonderful. When your day comes, you have no doubt that you will indeed be celebrated. I treasure this, and have wanted to carry on that tradition with my kids. So I spend the night before their birthdays decorating the whole house with balloons and streamers, "Happy Birthday" signs and gifts. We are so abundantly blessed to celebrate our babies.

Grammy had a plan to get the Twins Big Boy Bikes from months ago, and we had those set up and ready to surprise the boys when they woke up, along with the wonderful mountain of gifts from Nana Jorgens. As I finished getting everything ready for their birthday surprise, I told Matt how I sure wish my Mom could be here... I said "I know I would do her proud." Hahaha.... We went to bed, and rested up for the party to come the next day.

Morning came quickly, as always, and the boys got up and jumped into our bed for morning snuggles. At about 7:30 we heard a light knock upstairs... then we heard another knock... the knocking continued, and Matt headed upstairs... I really didn't think anything of it... People stop by the house for one reason or another all the time. But I heard a little rustling upstairs, and about 5 min. later, I hear a most familiar voice say "Hey! I hear there is a birthday party today!!!!" IT WAS GRAMMY AND RONPA!!!!! I jumped up out of bed and just started crying, I was SO surprised and elated! My Mom is SO the BIRTHDAY QUEEN!!!! She and Ron had driven the day before and reserved a hotel for that night, all so they could show up on their birthday. It was incredible! I was SO excited to have my Mama there to share in the fun, and of course, the boys were all thrilled that Grammy and Ronpa came to their birthday party!

A day of setting up, and all the Pirates Arrrrr ready to Parrrrty!

(Yes. We had a pirate party. ;o)

Lot's of friends from the boys' pre-school came to share in the party fun!

And Caleb invited his best friend, Maci and her brother to come to the party, too! Caleb was SO excited to have her there!

Several of our young adults group came to celebrate with us, they spend so much time with the boys, they are all like family to them.

Birthday boy Jonah enjoying his pizza.

Silly Birthday boy Noah!

Grammy and Ronpa enjoying the party.

Mommy and Grammy help the boys get close to blow out their birthday candles! 4 Each!

Mmmmm!!!! Birthday cake is a treasure. ;o)

All the kids are excited for cake!!!

Noah checking out some stickers.

Maci and Micah, Jonah and Caleb enjoying cake.

PRESENT TIME!

Fun treasure from great friends!

Maci helping out. Me, wondering why I still have an eye patch on my head.

Jonah and Ronpa are sparring.

Swings, pool, pizza, cake, and games. Doesn't get much better than that.

Noah is checking out some of the birthday loot.

It's been a very long day. Very fun, but very long. Noah snuggled up and just went to sleep. But as I look at this picture, I can't help but think Mommy looks pretty tired, too.

Jonah is spending some time coloring with Grammy.

Grammy was telling Jonah how very good he is at coloring in the lines. He worked so hard, and did a great job! Proud Jonah!

It was a very magical day. Thank you to everyone who celebrated, near and far, the 4th birthday of our miracle babies. We celebrate all of you, for the gifts you are to our family. I am filled with gratefulness for the bountiful goodness that fills our lives.

Happy Birthday, My Sweet Babies.