"I LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT!

Buck and "brother" don't these pictures just want to make you MOVE IT?


Busy day today - busy week, even! May is so jam packed full of things, it's hard to keep it all straight. I am so glad that Buck's preschool is almost over. We have a meeting with the principal today (long story) where I am going to "get all teacher" on her A#$...asking for quantifiable objectives and all that. She's a lovely lady, but I have some questions that I want answered (and it's only preschool, can you imagine in 3 years?)

"People let me tell you bout my best friend"

The play structure not quite finished, but still entirely cool.
A close up of Buck and "brother"
RKZ beginning to work on the slide.
Buck finds a place to rest inside the disassembled twisty slide.

We are getting precariously close to having the COOLEST play structure on the street (or ever, in my humble opinion). RKZ is frantically working on it now out there (final pics coming soon). It's much taller than we anticipated and also a lot more work from the timing of it. RKZ is the best, though, totally handy and the neighbors think he is building the entire thing from scratch. So cool.

Buck's buddy Jack has been over a lot - I wanted to post all of the pics of them together - but there are too many for one post. Jack was over for dinner and was calling Buck "brother" all night. I think we have a new nickname, folks!

"And I don't care much for words of doom - if it's love you want then I got the room"

There is a total magic about 3 year old boys. Maybe all 3 year old children, but I only have boys, so ... today Buck told me that "Dandelions are my favorite flower..." He was staring rather misty-eyed at his collection of dandelions. For a week now (it's finally warm) Buck has been picking the little flower/weeds and handing them out like my very own moonie. The very first dandelion was a gift to him from a school friend, Quinn. Buck told me that, "every time I look at this dandelion, I will think of Quinn." He then spent the afternoon asking how we could keep the little flower from dying. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was already dead as soon as it was picked (even though everyone else seems to take some type of perverse pleasure in telling him that fact).

Today, Buck collected a handful of the flowers and demanded that we rush home to put them in water. "Dandelions are like sunflowers, aren't they mom? They are so yellow and they love the sun too."

All I could think is that it's got to be wonderful to be three. I want to be amazed by dandelions today. I want to be excited to run up and down a hill with my friends. I want to be forced to take a nap. It's a good life if you can get it.

"Hey, where're you going today, Rocket Girl?"

RKZ begins the digging for the deck. I even have a blister of my own from moving so much dirt!

Ever one to help, Buck got right in there and hammered the deck boards as they lie around doing nothing :)


It's been a week since I last posted, which is crazy long for me lately, but we've had a week of "family things" to do (and I was too lazy to upload any pictures). Last weekend was May Long Weekend, so RKZ was home Monday. He began working on a new deck for us. We put in a giant stone wall in our backyard last year, and then Uncle and RKZ put in grass so we have a yard. It's been great and we used the yard a lot last year. This summer/spring, RKZ is building an upper deck on top of the wall. RK took this last Friday off to work on the deck, but I've corralled him into working on the play structure (backyard wooden play ground) instead.

We're having a nice weekend and a nice couple of weeks. Thunder rolled over last night and we found him on his stomach this morning - we're waiting for what else we have in store with him!! He's growing so fast!

"L- is for the way you look at me"

I will be posting pictures of what is actually happening today tomorrow (does that make sense?). RKZ is frantically (but cooly, of course) working on the new deck. Buck has been "helping" him. Now, our good friend, Ken (as in Barbie &) and his son, Jack, have come to help as well. The pictures are so funny with Buck and Jack wearing their tool belts and walking around looking too important.

Thunder and I have been doing laundry, dishes and standing around looking cute. Although, I did carry a few VERY large planks with RK earlier. I kept telling myself that this is what I'd be doing if we ever make it onto the Amazing Race :)

Happy Sunday!

Post #2 today - can you dig it?

So, I love this blog from the magazine "Inside Catholic." It's a bunch of Catholic nerds expressing their opinions of current things. Mostly, I just read it an learn stuff, but today I commented on and entry about the pictured statue. I wanted to post it here because I made myself laugh. The blogger who posted this picture basically said that she thinks it's nice, she doesn't mind it, she wanted to know what other people think (it's more of a conversation starter than anything - no political point to be made here, really). I guess people have strong opinions about art on that blog. Read it here if you'd like: inside catholic blog.

Anyway, here were my comments:

I'm not opposed to this work of art at all - and I find the only thing I can think is "Whatever." But I don't think my reaction to art is supposed to be "whatever", right? The ringing question in my mind is "Really? Have we run out of Biblically-based portrayals of Jesus and Mary and the whole Saint crowd already?" (I know, most Saints aren't portrayed in the Bible. Again- whatever). So, were artists tapped out right around the influx of Modernism? I have no philosophical issues with Jesus in Jeans (I love that "Malibu Jesus" holy card where He's looking at me all lovingly), but what about the transcendent lessons from a portrayal of Jesus as He was (since God chose to come then and not now and all)? I'm just saying it's like the TV show Lost: "What's done is done." Why mess with perfection? And that's not just a saying.

I was excited to get a quote from Lost in there. I'm such a dork (and I DO have time on my hands today. It's a "Thunder-day" where he gets to nap in his own bed and Buck and I just sit around - since that's usually what thunder has to do.
Jesus in Jeans (art commented on in the blog)
"Malibu Jesus" Holy Card - see what I mean?

"You are so beautiful -- to me"

The brothers having a few moments together:
Buck teaching Thunder the fine art of watching TV (*nominal mommy for sure!)
Mommy taking some time out in the middle of Mass to take a picture (we're in the cry room, so no one really noticed) :)

The weather is turning finally and it's started to get just a little warmer. We're looking for the high 60's/18F this weekend, which will be paradise for us. We have big plans for the long weekend: RKZ is going to single-handedly build a deck for our backyard and THEN assemble a play structure next to the deck. Realistically, it is going to take 2 weekends (he's going to take an extra day next weekend also). I am going to take the boys to Heritage Park (our historical amusement park) to stay out of daddy's hair. This is opening weekend for Heritage Park, so Buck is beside himself with excitement. It's no Disneyland, but there is a lot of space to run and a GIANT train to ride. We love it.

It is long weekends that remind us both (RKZ and I) how much we miss our families. It would be fun to have some help for RKZ, but also just some men to drink beer with and discuss the building process. It would be nice for me to have Grandmas and aunts and cousins to join us for a warm day of fun and a picnic. We are going with friends - but it's never the same as the peaceful resting in a lifetime of history that comes with hanging out with family.

Thunder is riding in his swing, just waiting for Buck and me to drag him all over the place. He is turning into quite the strong-willed baby - won't nap because he seems to not want to miss anything. Won't eat because he'd rather watch his brother. Thunder already squirms in my arms to get out as I try to feed him. Case in point? He's crying to get out of the swing right now. Baby doesn't know when he's got it good.

More pictures of the building process this weekend, I hope!

"When I go crazy then will you still call me Superman?"

Question from Buck: "Mom, what does Superman do when he gets pee on his hands?"

Answer from mom: "Go wash your hands, Superman."

I feel as though I am beginning to resurface after the waiting, birth and first few months of Thunder's life. There's something to those cultures that basically quarantine women before and after childbirth. Although I'm sure it's against basic dignity, I'm all for it if it means getting more sleep :) Thunder has begun waking only once or twice quickly per night. He also sleeps until 7am ish usually. This is golden. I can now wake up at work out at 6 am. Funny, that doesn't sound like a privilege as I write it, but it really is. RKZ and I have signed up to run at 10K in July - I only do this to terrorize myself.

Things I'm loving right now:

Harper's Island - a slasher, 13-episode scary TV show where we get to try and figure out "whodunnit?"
The Biggest Loser -(also TV) the fact that a 48 year old woman went from "no life" to "hot mamma" is just cool.
The fact that Thunder is in constant motion (all over his crib, his play mat, in our arms)
Coffee
The fact that Buck does nothing but dress up and pretend to be a Super hero (see above).
Thunder's Birth-mom.
I am beside myself about the season finale of LOST that's on tonight (yes, I know, I watch too much TV)

"Mother, Mother - there's too many of you cryin'"

Today, Thunder's b-mom, H, sent me the below message on face book. Ironically, an acquaintance of mine from University wrote this story (it's actually a full-length child's book). I just sat here and cried and cried (RZK got teary-eyed). We had an amazing mother's day (well, I did, RKZ is tired). We have such a different relationship with this day now. Both of our boys were so wonderful and sweet today. Even Thunder slept from 10:30 pm to 3:45 am (a first). THAT was one of the best mother's day gifts ever. Just FYI to the readers, the day before mother's day every year is "birthmother's day." Adoption can be so scary for people, I'm finding. But our reality is that it's pretty beautiful - and more fulfilling because there will be no mystery - just love.

"A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

"Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it's life.""

""But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"You will simply call her, 'Mom.'"

Bridgette your Carters angel ... Happy mothers day

You are my angel, Mom and Grandma Jody is my great Angel. And Nancy is RKZ's angel, and Emily before her...I love how we women can go on and on...

"Marry me Juliet, you never have to be alone..."

Our computer has been out of commission for a week - what a funny feeling to have no way to tell most of the people I communicate with that I can't reach them or be reached except for through the ancient medium known as a home phone. :)

The week has been pretty basic. Thunder is starting to get teeth already - and he's rolling all over the place. He's been both cranky and mobile. Not the best - I posted a happy picture hoping to get back to that.

There's a special "Mother's Day" party at Buck's school this morning. I'm going to take a shower and get there. It should be cute.

I'm back! More soon!