We celebrated Pipers graduation today. All throughout the day, details were filled in and things were carted to and from to prepare for her party. Naturally, the babies were pretty fussy pants about the whole thing, but we managed them the best we could and still managed to do some things. At least Peanut had a BIG ole nap!!  

After lunch, the beautification began. Is it even a camp grad if you’re not doing your makeup off the barbecue?? 

I did a little makeup for a couple of lovely faces, and threw waves into some hair, but everything was pretty low key. However, time moved quickly, and we were definitely scrambling to get everyone dressed and ready by the end. All three babies ended up in the right clothing at least, tho all loose ends were not tied up. But, it was zero hour and that didn’t matter. 

The Dahlsjos threw an absolutely beautiful party. So many people were there who LOVE Piper, ourselves included. I had the rare opportunity to offer up a speech for her, and Brady played guitar and sang a really fitting song.

Bonus point to Carrie and her kids for helping so much with our babies through the program and the meal. And what  meal it was! 🤤 That was truly a life saver. 

The party wrapped up with Piper getting her diploma, and having some pictures taken. By then, the babies had all pooped. All three of them. So Brady and I took them back to our site to freshen them up. Times were tough with the babies, and I couldn’t be as much help to the Dahlsjos as I would’ve liked to be. But look at this adorable crew!!! 😍 

They’re a sight for sore eyes, hey?? I made it back in time to sweep the kitchen but that was about it. Otherwise, all the work was done! 

Piper came and hung out in the camper a bit before bed. I took her makeup off and we talked about her gifts. She’s an awesome girl. I’m really excited to see what’s coming for her, and pretty stinking honoured to be part of her circle. It was a lovely way to wrap up the day. 

And now, I have earned my sleep 😅🥱 so off I go. Goodnight, friends. I hope you’re enjoying the long weekend as much as we are 💜

It was a really big day. But a day I am so incredibly grateful for. I totally recognize that some people just come here to go camping and that’s that. And that’s great!! No burn! But for our family, this is a beautiful community that we are humbled to be part of. 

Today had its challenging moments. Unbelievably challenging moments. I have held back tears a handful of times as I worked to manage our life, our kids, and all the things that need doing. But in those deep moments of overwhelm, God consistently provided, whether through a friend showing up and helping at the perfect time, or a boost of strength that only came from Him. We were never without what we needed. 

Some wins. 

Planning some changes in the campsite to make it operate smoother. More on those to come. Feels like some revelations. 

Getting a bed rail installed on our bed inside so Brady can get into bed easier. 

Joining the lease holders at the camp dining shelter for supper and reconnecting with some people we love. 

Introducing our table as the Bornsjos. 

Our one year old sitting at the table, with a hunk of bread in one hand and a meatball in the other, happy as a clam. 

Making centrepieces with Stacy and Sadie. 

Making plans to also make the camper itself run smoother. Thank you, Kinasao, for being willing to take our couch! We can’t wait to have more space in here!! 

About the bed rail… we laughed. 

It was a really nice day. Kids played nine square for hours. So many families coming together. It was just beautiful. 

And tomorrow is Pipers grad 💜 So much to celebrate this weekend! 

Goodnight, all 😘🥱

This is a fun play on words for me… 

We played hooky today and went to the lake first thing in the morning. Kids didn’t go to school and Brady didn’t go to work. The kids were so happy to hear we were going early, and everyone jumped in to get us on the road as soon as possible. Laela and Dekker volunteered to load the van, which was a HUGE deal. I gave them all the opportunities to change their minds, but they rocked it to the very end and got everything loaded up! 

We got to camp and worked our tails off. My. Goodness. We had willing Dahlsjos who came and helped with any and every job we could come up with. There was so much to do. While we didn’t come close to finishing all that needed doing, we took a good bite out of it and it’s functional. It’s not perfect. But it’ll work for now. 

I’d love to tell you more, but I am feeling immensely worn out at the moment and I need to just call it a night 😅 I’ve moved enough to get my jeans to my ankles and am debating whether that constitutes as “ready for bed” enough. 

Now if Spoons would just fall asleep already, maybe we could fully let down.

🥱 

I need to think of another word that isn’t “whirlwind.” I use it way too much, but its just so stinking appropriate.

I worked pretty hard today. That doesn’t mean I have lots to show for it, but I packed for camp. I prepped food. I got things organized and stacked up and where they go. Cher came and cleaned in the morning. My mom came over and bathed the babies. I ate lunch. I crocheted!! See me, even doing something on purpose that I enjoy in the day?? Its something with a timeline on it, so it was easier to justify because it also needs doing. However, Peanut did not nap for the entirety of our agreed upon time slot, so that was cut short also. Kids came home and babies went nuts, so very little else got accomplished. On my part, that is. The kids packed their clothes, including outerwear and dressy clothes for the grad party we’re attending. Dekker is fast at stuff like that, so I pimped him out for some errands. And by “pimped” I do mean he was pimpin’.

For supper, I had some crazy delicious leftover mashed potatoes given to us by someone, and some turkey given to us by yet someone else, so I made some cheater gravy, canned corn, and I shredded some cheese for makeshift chicken bowls. Turkey bowls, in this case. The potatoes we definitely reminiscent of sand castles.

I continued to pack after supper. This time, the kids went nuts, and I was really scrambling. Two out of three babies went down right away, and for a time, I was left with Wavy and Solly, who were actually totally amazing with the remaining baby. So I ran around like a headless chicken for a while, gathering up baby’s clothing and more party stuff.

Its definitely not over yet, but I needed help and didn’t have it tonight. Tomorrow it is.

Whats left?

wash my hair
pack my clothes
pack ALL thats left
food in cooler
load van
put garbage bin at the road
water plants on the deck
finish up some party things for the weekend (no details allowed)

I cannot wait until we either get it all packed and we hit the road, or we don’t get it all packed, but still get on the road 😅 When we run out of minutes, we’ll know our priorities for sure.

That’s it for me. Everyone is finally home now, under one roof, and it’s time for me to put my feet up so they don’t collapse under me. ✌️

So yesterday, I forgot to eat, and it super sucked. I felt super crappy at the end of the day and then ate a TON of supper right before bed. Oprah says not to do that, but I don’t care. It was just how the evening turned out, as it does sometimes.

However, today, I was determined not to let that happen. So once Peanut was down and LD and Spoons were eating in their high chairs, I went to the fridge to find food. And I found leftovers from Mothers Day! Our supper that day was sooooo good. Noodles. Chicken alfredo. Roasted broccoli. Shrimp bruschetta. Garlic toast. It was crazy good. I pulled out noodles and bruschetta topping, and threw some butter in a pan.

And poof. Lunch was served.

Spoons kind of whined and reached for the pan, but I didn’t share.

And I ate the whole pan worth. And it was goooood!

Mmmmm. Nice memories. Yummy memories.

The day is done now. My tummy does not hurt. And tomorrow is going to be a big one! Let’s hope the Peanut lets the tired old folks sleep tonight 🤞

As I sit in my recliner while fries cook in the oven, I feel both gross and accomplished 😅 Not my favorite balance, but still a balance, I suppose.

Here is how I got here.

This coming weekend is a big one. It is our first weekend at camp with the family, and we are NOT ready 🤣 We did as much as humanly possibly on those days where Brady and I could drive up just the two of us, but there is still much to do. I’ve prepped the best I can, but there are just only so many minutes.

Today held an evening visit for one of the babies. Cher offered to keep the other two so I could take the five around for errands with a little bit more peace than usual! I took her up on her offer, because MAN those punks get a little rowdy sometimes, and it can get loud, and kind of stressful at times.

I spent that two hour visit running from place to place, in and out of so many stores that I lost count! I got SO much done, and the kids were so great and so patient along the way! I got the kids milkshakes for the drive home, plus one for Cher 💜 and worked to unpack everything and everyone upon getting home. I felt like I RAN from about 2:50 on. And as I sit here now, I realize I haven’t eaten, and I haven’t drank anything beyond coffee or tea all day long.

So. Now we eat, and instantly fall asleep. Four hours of sleep was not enough hours of sleep last night.

😴

I used to ache through Mothers Day for the women I knew and loved who weren’t mothers who really, really wanted to be. It felt almost like a survivors guilt, where I got through losses and struggles and the waiting and wondering, and others were still there. I came out of the realm of desiring to have children with children. Many do! And many don’t. And that stinks. I’ve worked to write about it appropriately each year, where I try to hit the mark for everyone absolutely in and around the motherhood arena, wanting to validate the feelings of every woman even remotely attached to the subject.

And now, I attach to, care for, and live with children whose mother doesn’t get to see them on Mothers Day. She doesn’t get to spend the day with them, or cook for them, or wake up to them, or bathe them, or teach them right from wrong, or any of those age old things that kids do and need every single day. At least she doesn’t get to do those things right now. And trust me. I know. There is some choice involved in that, and I’m not going into that, because its really messy and crappy and HARD and no two situations are the same.

When I say that it is a privilege to have these children in our home, I really, really mean it. They are incredibly precious, innocent people who need so much love, and have SO much love!!

Spoons is the best helper we have in the house! They will put garbage in the garbage, diapers in the hallway, and bottles in the sink. Shoes will always be brought to their rightful owner. Someone crying always needs a blanket, a sippy cup, or a back rub. So many of these things are never even asked for, but they Spoons is eager to participate in their family!

LD is an absolute card, and lives to smile! If someone walks in the door and makes an excited face, LD is right behind them, basically drowning in smiles and gasps, down for whatever everyone else is pumped about. LD learned really young how to be silly and joke around, and has become an absolute beacon of light in the family!

Peanut offers big smiles, with cheeks filled with dimples. The coos come easy and high in number. Cries are easily resolved with milk, or just a buddy sitting nearby. It was clear so early in the game that Peanut just likes company. As in, family alone brings comfort.

These three precious lives fill our home with SO MUCH JOY, and there is a very real part of my heart that positively aches for their moms. Because circumstance aside, they made these little people! Environment is important, of course, but genetics are factors also. Many of these beautiful qualities are from their parents! From their mama 💜 And for one reason or another, they don’t get to be together right now. And that is HARD to swallow.

I can’t sum it all up very eloquently. Foster care is not eloquent. Its brutal and messy and super hard to wrap my brain and heart around. Mothers Day feels different though, I can tell you that much. I love these three babies so terribly much. And so do their moms.

It has been quite a beautiful day today, spent with the Brady, my mom, and my children. This was the first year ever than the kids arranged with Brady to come bring me breakfast in bed. However, they were overly eager, and Laela and Rowan woke me up by rubbing my back at 6:30am on the nose. There were cards and coffee and apples with peanut butter. They did great 💜 But goodness that was early! Still, I thanked them and hugged them and was grateful for my surprise. And then I nursed that coffee until I was ready for the rest 🤣

My mom came mid morning. I crocheted and we visited until it was lunch time. Dekker mixed up a baked oatmeal, and we had that with milk for lunch. Babies went for naps, and the adults played Skip-Bo. Once everyone was up from naps, we got into supper! I made chicken alfredo on egg noodles, and roasted garlic parm broccoli. The real showstopper, though, was the shrimp bruschetta topping on the garlic toast. That was delightful, and while not many of us like shrimp, my mom and I do, so we got to enjoy it all to the fullest! We had angel food cupcakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries for dessert, and then went for a walk to try to repair some of the damage done 😅 The kids all were boasting of the “tricks” they could do at the park, so we meandered over so they could show them off. We diapered and jammied the babies for the walk so they could head right to bed upon getting back. Anyway.

This kid is significantly braver than he was a year ago. Never would I have thought I’d see him high up on top of the monkey bars.

Laela is SO naturally athletic, being up high is her jam!

Wavy can do the monkey bars SO much better and faster than I ever would’ve thought! She’s a tiny little machine, but a machine nonetheless.

And these boys are WAY too big to share a saucer swing but MAN were they giggling like goofs 🤣🤣 It was completely hilarious to hear them go from stoked to freaked and back again.

I could not be more grateful for this crew of beautiful young people that I have been given to love and care for. Every last one of them is a completely irreplaceable piece of our family.

And these. Of course I can’t post their faces, but you know the kids I mean. They are also completely precious members of our family, and we are so incredibly fortunate to know them and love them and care for them while they need some backup.

To my dear mama – you and I are so similar. I am incredibly grateful to have grown up under warm watchful eyes and warm wings. We don’t do everything alike, but I believe we have the same ideals, and your example plays a large role in how we parent. Thank you for teaching me, and for loving me so well. I could not be the mom I am without you being the mom you are. So thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I love being a mom, and you taught me how.

I have some more thoughts on Mother’s Day, but maybe I’ll save them for another day. I am ready to wind down for the night. Sleep well, mamas and all others alike 💜 Tomorrow is a fresh start.

Today was our local garage sale day. Its my favorite day of the year. Ask my family. I LOVE shopping garage sales. I don’t go ham or buy too spontaneously, but the same way I love thrift stores, I love garage sales. I also love the social aspect of them. I like running into people I know all day. I like hitting the same spots each year. I like the inevitable long leisurely walk through town that takes hours, and the sunburn (or windburn) we all have by the end of it. And we come home with a few treasures in the bottom of the stroller. I really enjoy garage sale day, if that was unclear.

Do you like our travel mugs?

Today we were out the door shortly after 9am. My mom joined us, and we walked our way around our street. Right at the very beginning, we struck gold, and purchased a blackstone grill. We have a flat top griddle at camp, and we’ve wanted to get one for home as well, but we have a BBQ and thats been fine. Its hard to justify doubles of bigger items like that. But this appliance was in beautiful condition, and was only being sold because the family received a duplicate as a gift. And as I mentioned, it was only a few houses down from ours. So that was a BIG win to start off the day.

We ran into Rae partway through the morning and she joined the group! We continued on and hit the high school grad fundraiser for frozen yogurt. Ten froyos later, we moved further along, snagging a few small things but nothing too crazy. We looped around for fresh homemade donuts before we called it and headed back for lunch and naps. The babies were pooped, and we were all worn out from the sun. We hauled in our few little finds – a small handful of clothes for the babies, a puzzle, and a book or two – and plunked down in the living room. Well, some of us. Most of the kids went downstairs and played cards. My mom went home for a little bit. Babies napped, and Brady and I put in earbuds and watched a little Netflix. It was SO nice.

I’m excited to get the Blackstone going in the next little bit here. Might have to buy another propane tank rather than transferring ours between the two grills. It was a really, really successful shop, and lovely time spent with memories made.

Here’s to next garage sale day!! 🥳

Our Peanut is about four months old. Meanwhile, LD is fourteen months old. And they are less than a pound different in weight. Which is a fun because one is significantly more mobile than the other. The ratios are different, as you can imagine. Anyway.

As we were preparing the Peanuts feedings for the night, Brady pointed out a relevant detail. See, the Peanut has some feeding, swallowing issues, and therefore, needs a little extra care. No big deal. But when Brady noticed this detail, it all made sense.

No wonder.
Our infant.
Is thick.

Infant thickener. Boom. There it is. It’s all so clear now.