tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167343602024-03-13T14:39:28.639-05:00The Chronicles of Nestlewood Lanelindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-73222720979799591852016-08-16T12:07:00.002-05:002016-08-16T12:09:58.077-05:00Hello Darlin'<em>Nice to see you. It's been a long tiiiiiiiiime...</em><br />
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Any Conway fans?<br />
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Ahem. Is this thing on?<br />
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Oh hey! Well it's been about a year, but luckily we are your average joes and the only significant thing you really missed was that we manufactured another sweet little baby boy! I know what you're thinking.<br />
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<em>Poor Lakey.</em><br />
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At first she was iffy about another brother, I'll admit. Her enthusiasm was definitely lacking. On more than one occasion she said to me, "Well, I wish it was a sister but I know it's not." <br />
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But then one day she realized that she's got a captive audience, and let me tell you. She is thriving under these circumstances! Singing and dancing her way into Hayes' heart, no doubt.<br />
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And speaking of Hayes, let me formally introduce you!</div>
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What!? You didn't receive Hayes' birth announcement? That's because I was in a cloud of my own vainglory for actually getting professional newborn photos and announcements done this time around (none of my other kids had them). I hastily sent the announcements to roughly a third of my list before we left for vacation, and then I completely forgot to send the rest! <span style="color: blue;">#momfail</span> At this point it just seems like, why? Social media really kills the anticipation of these anymore anyways. Oh well. I have a whole box to keep for posterity I guess. You're welcome, kids. </div>
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Life as a family of six is pretty wonderful. And while it's a <strike>full on circus</strike> little bit chaotic around here, we are definitely smitten with our little lovey boy. Every day my heart swells with thanksgiving as I hear little voices saying things like, "I love you Hayes-boy to the moooooon and back," or "Who's a good boy? Hayes is a good boy!"<br />
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And then I hear Lakey's sentiments in <em>her</em> sweetest voice, "Hayes you're hard to have, but we do it!"<br />
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I'm sure she means it in the best possible way. <br />
lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-72510897041789170462015-07-22T16:12:00.002-05:002015-07-23T11:02:54.021-05:00Lakey: FourAs I mentioned, Lakey turned four a couple of weeks ago.<br />
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She woke up to some new books from her bros. Please note her bangs - she found some scissors the other day...<br />
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Then, we were off to get donuts.<br />
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Knox insisted on getting Lakey her very own Hello Kitty water dispenser. Unconventional, but right on the money.</div>
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She also got some big girl upgrades in her room. No more toddler bed!</div>
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This was Lakey's first birthday to have a party where she got to invite all her friends from school. She teetered back and forth for weeks on what kind of theme she wanted, and almost every idea involved a Frozen element. At one point I think a firetruck party with Princess Anna pancakes was mentioned. Somebody punch me. </div>
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Thankfully, I finally realized that she didn't really care as long as she had pink cupcakes. That was the common thread with every new idea. So I ran across this adorable invitation on Etsy a few weeks before the party. Then, I did what any good mother would do. I convinced Lakey that flamingos were her most favorite animal on earth. Was it manipulative? Yes. Did I want to throw an adult tantrum if we had to have one more Frozen moment in our lives? No. The choice was clear.</div>
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I always make the cupcakes because, 1.) My kids always want cupcakes on their birthdays, 2.) They are easy to make, and 3.) Kids don't care what they taste like and I rarely offer them to the grown-ups; therefore, my dignity stays intact along with my wallet. </div>
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For some diversity though, I whipped these up also.</div>
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JUST kidding! I could never. These were truly works of art, and they tasted wonderful too. I still prefer yours though, Mom. With yours, I can eat as many as I want without seeing a calculator in my mind tallying up how many dollars I'm putting in my mouth. And yours taste just as good too. These were definitely a wow factor though, and I'm sure I'll splurge again some day, but probably not on a bunch of four year olds. </div>
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Lakey's party was at the new rec center in town. It has an indoor water park with a great section for younger kiddos. I think everyone had a great time.</div>
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Back at home, Lakey opened her presents and we enjoyed more cookies.</div>
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Lakey's little personality continues to shine. She becomes more independent every day, and with that definitely comes the sass. We keep working on that, but I'm sure it will be a long road. She's sweet (when she's sleeping), she's bossy, she's sarcastic, and she's quite witty actually. Recently, Miles came out of her room crying. When Jeremy asked him what was wrong, he said, "Lakey threw a book at me so hard." She was quick to defend herself, "No I didn't, it was an iPad." She's a mess for sure!<br />
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Here are some of Lakey's favorites today:<br />
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<li><strong>Pink and Purple</strong> - even on her bagels in the morning. She wants one half covered in strawberry cream cheese and the other half in blueberry (which is the color purple).</li>
<li><strong>Dresses</strong> - she rarely chooses anything else, and she wants them to twirl whenever possible.</li>
<li><strong>Noodles</strong> - of the Asian variety</li>
<li><strong>Uptown Funk</strong> - and anything from the Frozen soundtrack</li>
<li><strong>Ariel and Rapunzel</strong> - they've made significant strides up her list. Watch out Anna and Elsa!</li>
<li><strong>Starburst</strong> - apparently. She's been asking for them nearly every day. Monday, I found a pile of wrappers on the far side of the bed in the guest room. All pink. She's sneaky, but not that sneaky.</li>
<li><strong>Olive</strong> - We got a puppy a few months ago. Lakey was terrified at first like she is with all dogs, but now Olive has a shadow.</li>
<li><strong>Me</strong> - she's the first to compliment my outfits, my hair, my jewelry, my nails. Today she asked me if she could have the dress I am wearing when she is bigger because she loves it.</li>
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We are really blessed and thankful for this one. Can't wait to see what is in store for her life!<br />
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lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-24610805179823949022015-07-22T15:00:00.000-05:002015-07-22T15:00:08.764-05:00Miles Files: Teach Them WellLately, when Miles says something mean or acts a certain way and then realizes that he is going to get in trouble, he quickly delivers the classic line, "It's a JOKE! I'm just joking!"<br />
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Yesterday, Lakey and Knox wanted to watch Yo Gabba Gabba in the car. Miles heaved a big sigh, "Nooooo! I hate Yo Gabba Gabba! It's the stupidest show I've ever seen. Blah, blah, Knox and Lakey ALWAYS get to choose! This show is for babies! Even <em>though</em>!" (<em>Even though</em> is a common phrase in Miles' vernacular - equivalent to the usage of <em>whatever</em> in my day.)<br />
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Now admittedly, Yo Gabba Gabba is a very annoying preschool show that makes every parent I know want to cuss. But almost every youngster I know loves it, including Miles. Literally, three days ago he was in the back of the car watching it with a big smile on his face. And now, he was acting like it was suddenly beneath him.<br />
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We went ahead and started the DVD, and of course a few moments later I hear Miles laugh and say, "Knox, this is my favorite part." I sarcastically replied, "Oh no Miles, you better cover your eyes. You hate this show, remember?" And of course he said, "Ugh, I was just teasing! It was a joke!"<br />
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At this point Jeremy launches into a lecture about how it's fine to joke, but you can't say certain things and then tell people it was a joke only because you are realize you shouldn't have said it or after you realize you didn't really mean what you said. It's not sincere, it's not nice, you were just trying to make Knox and Lakey feel like babies, etc, etc, <em>et cetera</em> (it was a good message, but not the most concise maybe). I briefly faded out and then tuned back in when I heard Jeremy say, "Do you understand Bubba?"<br />
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Miles, totally glazed over too, refocused and said, "So, you mean... people are the future?"<br />
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And Jeremy, "Well yes. I believe the children are our future."<br />
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Help us.lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-5626135583315219092015-07-14T22:33:00.001-05:002015-07-15T08:28:24.028-05:00The Birthday Post That Almost WasI swear it was just yesterday that Knox turned four. And the day before that, Miles was four. And now my littlest - four! Time keeps rushing right on past, as usual.<br />
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The night before Lakey's big day, the boys and I curled up on her bed to talk about her birthday. It's something I've been doing with Miles and Knox for the last few years. I recount the moments from each one's actual day of birth and the days leading up to it. They laugh as I tell them how hard they were kicking me in the stomach or how tired I was because they were taking all my nutrients for themselves. We get out their birthday books and I add color commentary to all the photographs. It's the best time for them. Kids love to be told stories about things they said and did as babies.<br />
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This was the first time I'd done it with Lakey on her birthday. It's tricky because I don't know anything about her birth story to tell. I don't know if she was born on a sunny day or a cloudy one. I don't know if she was born in a hospital or in some one's home or otherwise. Was she a content baby or did she cry a lot? Was she born with lots of hair or very little? Was anyone there to hold her close right away? I have reports that say she weighed less than four pounds when she was found at the gate of the orphanage on July 11th. Following a brief medical examination, she was assigned a date of birth. July 8th. She was wearing a yellow, cotton suit. <br />
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I admit. If I dwell for too long on the above I get emotional. The hard truth about adoption is that it begins with loss, and Lakey's birthday reminds me. A mother lost her child, and that is the single, worst thing I can imagine having to endure. Maybe she chose to walk away, sure. Perhaps her government or family pressured her to do it, or maybe she felt she couldn't provide but wanted her baby to have a loving family. No matter the circumstance, it must have been heart wrenching for her to give up her child. <br />
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Lakey also lost something in those first few days of her life. She lost every tie to her biological family - people of her own bloodline who at the very least might have offered medical history knowledge or insight into her background and ancestry. Surely there will come a day when Lakey has questions about what makes her, well <i>her</i>. I'm not sure how I will be able to help her when that day arrives, but I trust that wisdom will come when it needs to.<br />
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Lately, I've been thinking about the importance of knowing about the stock from which I come. I like knowing that I resemble my dad. I look like him, I lose things like him, and I zone out like him. Hey, I have a lot of imperfections and it's comforting to know they come from somewhere (love you Dad - I'm certain I gained a few of your best qualities too). It's also fun to know that my musical ability (however slight), my sweet tooth (as deep as the Marianas trench), and my attention to task related detail resembles my mom. <br />
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But I can't put my finger on why it matters to me. I mean, it's not imperative that I am able to relate my traits to anyone else in my family. I would still go on living the same life God has set before me regardless of whether or not I know that my eyes were like my Mema's (so she used to tell me). Certainly, it's helpful to know what medical issues I might be predisposed to and what not, but as a friend who had cancer once said (and with no family link to it), "I guess family history starts with someone, right?" <br />
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So then, if I decide that these things don't really matter, it must be that it's important to me simply for the reason that I find comfort in knowing I <em>belong</em>. <br />
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We all want to belong - I think it's human nature. Most people try to find a sense of it by joining a country club, or a political party, or a church. But I'm not talking about some organization that you can easily join or disjoin. You only find belonging in those groups as long as you are like-minded, or adhere to a specific doctrine, or pay your dues, or attend a membership class or whatever. It's conditional. I am talking about belonging, as in, having a permanent position IN something. I belong IN the human race, not to some political party or country club. I belong IN the Body of Christ, not to a religious organization. I belong IN my family, not because our eyes are all brown or because we all eat cottage cheese under our beans (truth). I belong here simply because that is where God, the Placer, has placed me. <br />
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And that is the truth which leads me out of the initial sadness I feel when I reflect on Lakey's birthday and into the joy and complete celebration of <span style="background-color: yellow;">this sweet girl</span>. I hope it is something that she will hold true in her heart one day too. Though there is grief on one side of the coin, the other side can be joy because the Placer has grafted her into this family. Therefore, she belongs here as much as any of the rest of us. <br />
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<i>**I meant for this to be an entry to document Lakey's fourth birthday - what she's doing now, what she likes, doesn't like, etc. Clearly, I got lost in thought. Another trait I can <strike>blame</strike> thank my dad for.</i>lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-78848126699359671422015-06-04T13:48:00.001-05:002015-06-04T13:48:27.506-05:00Once Upon A Time There Were Two DragonsOne graduated from day school and was on his way to kindergarten...<br />
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...while the other was found worthy of first grade.<br />
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Both could use some help with their picture smiles...</div>
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...and neither could make their momma more proud.</div>
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Congratulations Miles and Knox! The Lord has blessed us beyond measure with the two of you!<br />
<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-86150621150758844132015-05-28T12:20:00.003-05:002015-06-01T11:38:25.011-05:00Let It Go<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wrote this post exactly one year ago, and thankfully, I forgot about it. Re-reading it was good for a laugh though as I realize how important it is for me to write retroactively. You know, <em>after</em> the chill pill has worked its magic, though it seems it was starting to take effect by the end of the post. I think this rant came from a place in me that wishes our kiddos would stay little forever. There is something in a child's innocence that helps mend the sprains, cracks, and sometimes the breaks we adults have sustained on the road to maturity and self awareness. I already know that time is passing at lightening speed, and graduation ceremonies scrape the bottom of my "Favorites" list because they remind me all too well that our children are here today and gone tomorrow. Nevertheless, I hope I can go with the flow a little more gracefully than this during tonight's graduation (already another for Knox!). Still, this excerpt reminded me that I need to relax and just make the most of these moments while they're here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If I could live in a place where I made up the rules and called all the shots, everyone would eat iced cookies for breakfast and grow lollipops in their backyard. The trees would bloom with Valentine Gobstoppers and the pool be full of bubbles. You know the kind. I would call this place, Lindsayland. In Lindsayland, there would be exactly zero graduation ceremonies until <em>at least</em> high school, but maybe never.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wouldn't it be nice?</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But this is the real world people. And in my world, I'm lucky if I can snag a mushy, black banana on my mad dash out the door each morning. Furthermore, if anything grows in my backyard besides grass in the flower beds and weeds in the grass, then I don't know about it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Did you know, that in this wonderful world of ours, your kids now attend a graduation ceremony for <strong><em>pre</em></strong>-kindergarten? I guess a high-five and a trip to the sno-cone stand isn't a sufficient accolade for four year olds these days. Then of course the next year, your child puts on the <em>white</em> robe and unknowingly marches their little selves out of kindergarten and into the beginning of what will be twelve years of torture. Congratulations kids! Enter the gates and discover the world of homework! Team projects! Peer pressure! Physical awkwardness! Mean girls! You've earned it loves!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well as fate would have it, all three of our kids will attend pre-k once and kindergarten twice. That's three graduations per child (Lord willing). Three children. Nine graduations before high school. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yay.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So let's get on with the documentation of #2 and #3, shall we?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You definitely get a heaping spoonful of cuteness at these things. That's the one thing. Look at these little sweethearts with their wardrobe a step above athletic shorts and t-shirts! That alone is worth celebrating. I think Knox has a look of uncertainty as to whether or not he will be receiving his diploma. Like maybe he never saw the results of that last <em>make-you-or-break-you</em> test, and he's hanging onto a hope and a prayer? Perhaps some of you can relate.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But alas! At age four, Knox graduated from pre-k!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">His teacher is Miss McKinney, and she occupies the top spot on his love interest list. She is by far and away the best teacher any of our kids have had up to this point. We have been so impressed by her, and we are thrilled that she will be the private kindergarten teacher next year! So, Knox will have her again!</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He says she is his best friend and he wants to marry her. Look at him holding her sister's baby for goodness' sake! A boy that's good with children will take down any girl. He's got game.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Like every other graduating class in America, Knox's class song was <em>Let It Go</em>, from the hit Disney movie <em>Frozen</em>. He had the lyrics memorized long before he had to sing them in front of a crowd. As you can see, he was not afraid to bring it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He was so excited to be graduating this year! His eyes were always on us there in the front row. He was so proud of himself and he wanted to make sure we were watching his every step.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Front and center, soaking it all in. I hope he waves to me from the stage like that when he graduates from high school.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And here was his sentiment when it was all said and done. Looks like a kid who may have charmed his way to the next level if you ask me. #suckas</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Miles conquered his test round of kindergarten! With his birthday falling so late in the summer, Jeremy and I made the decision a while back that we would hold onto him an extra year before officially starting him in school. We talked to several friends and family members who are school teachers or counselors, and it was their unanimous recommendation to give him that extra year of maturity. He will repeat kindergarten in the public system this coming school year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Miles' teacher for this first go around was Mrs. Kaiser, and she was the perfect teacher for him. She really helped him (and us) work through some issues that I think will leave him much better prepared for school this year.</span> <br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Miles is not one for being in front of a crowd, and during his class song (something made up to the tune of the Adams Family) he hid behind another boy the whole time. Luckily, I was able to catch a couple of shots of his shining face when he got his diploma.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Though it's never fun to be reminded that time is marching on despite my efforts to slow it down, I am incredibly proud of these two precious souls. And truth be told, I would attend a hundred graduations for the chance to sit and soak them in a little bit more.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I guess Lindsayland will have to wait until Alzheimers sets in.</span><br />
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lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-29802857181313411072015-02-17T13:52:00.000-06:002015-02-19T14:30:01.919-06:00Gotcha Lakey: Two YearsIt felt like forever between filling out the first adoption application and the day we met Lakey face to face. The whole process took one year and two weeks, but the two years since then have absolutely flown by. Time with kids has a funny way of doing that. <br />
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Gotcha Day is more significant to me than Lakey's birthday. I feel the same way on this day as I do on Miles and Knox's birthdays. On their birthdays, I remember all the events leading up to the moment I saw each of them for the very first time. I tell them about those moments and they laugh so much because they love hearing stories about themselves. I don't have any of those moments to share on Lakey's birthday. I don't even know exactly when she was born. But I do have the memories of the day leading up to the moment when I first saw the stone faced little girl wearing a puffy red coat. <br />
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So, I told Lakey about Gotcha Day today, and we looked through the photo book the orphanage had made for her. I showed her pictures of where she lived, and we talked about how China Popo took care of her until mommy, daddy, and Miles could come for her. Miles talked about what he remembered about Gotcha Day - the most prominent memory being that Lakey would eat three or four boiled eggs every morning (I think it was really only one or two) and how he would go back to the breakfast buffet over and over for more bacon (this is accurate). It's really fun to relive our time in China from his perspective. His memory is remarkable, and I love realizing what things made the biggest impression on a then four year old.<br />
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So in commemoration of Gotcha Day, we ate boiled eggs and bacon for dinner. And later, Lakey thanked God for, <br />
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<em>"...Lakey, Mommy, Daddy, Lakey, Knoxxy, Miles, and for food."</em><br />
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Amen. <br />
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lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-59134777495108751582015-02-12T12:50:00.001-06:002015-02-12T12:54:26.152-06:00I'm Bringing Store Bought BackYeah! <br />
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You know where this is going.<br />
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Call it a total failure of modern motherhood if you must, but I bought the kids' valentines at the grocery store. I'll pause while you say a prayer for our family.<br />
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I let each kiddo scrutinize every last terrible, poorly designed, manufactured option on the shelf. The boys changed their minds no less than three times each. Captain America! No, Paws Patrol! No, the sports balls with flames coming out of them! Or, are those angel wings? Lakey zeroed in on her favorite immediately. I'm certain that her eyes saw a completely empty aisle, save for a single box of Frozen valentines that had to be hers!<br />
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Admittedly, I cringed a little during this entire process. It's a composite of things really. <br />
1. <strong>Jeremy and I aren't much for the Hallmark holidays.</strong> Though, I do make our economic contribution to the machine in February on Gobstopper and Butterfinger Hearts.<br />
2. <strong>I appreciate one mom's creatively handmade valentine to my child as much as the next mom, and I self inflict pressure on myself to reciprocate sometimes.</strong> However, something about bringing kiddo #3 into our family has alleviated my urge to creatively produce on behalf of my children, except for <em>maybe</em> on their birthdays. I'm becoming much more okay with enjoying the creativity of others or enabling my kids to do their own thing. I'm learning.<br />
3. <strong>I know that much of what I am about to purchase is going straight into the garbage.</strong> That's just how it is these days. The pendulum of my generation is swinging extreme in the direction of natural, organic, gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, dye free, chemical free, fragrance free, etc. Everything must be free! It's fine. It's a reaction and possibly an overreaction to the era we were raised where the needle pointed to anything processed or enriched that made life more convenient, and consequently more unhealthy. So, I get it. But, until we eat from our own gardens daily again like our great grandparents, I'd like to take it down a notch and rest somewhere in the middle of the madness.<br />
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Wait, this post is about valentines!<br />
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You know what? Despite my own inner struggles mentioned above, the kids LOVE their valentines. They clung proudly to them all the way to the check out aisle. They worked hard to write their own names on all 36 and sound out the names of their friends if they could. They woke up yesterday morning THRILLED to take their generic valentines to school and deliver them to their classmates and neighbor friends. It was so fun to watch them!<br />
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So, if a store bought valentine is all you can muster or if you have a surge of energy to create something unique, remember that it is really so simple for kids. They want to give. That's where they find their joy, and that's where you'll find yours.<br />
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Happy Valentine's Day! lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-69001239310396341122014-12-02T23:36:00.000-06:002014-12-02T23:36:04.324-06:00Knox Talks: To A BullyIn the car on the way home from school today...<br />
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K: Mommy, this boy was really mean to me today at school. He kept pushing me.<br />
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Me: Did you ask him to stop?<br />
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K: No because I'm kind of scared. He's a third grader.<br />
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Me: Well, tomorrow if he does it again, ask him once nicely to stop. If he keeps doing it after that, tell the teacher that he's bothering you.<br />
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K: How 'bout I say this to him. <i>Then changes to his sweetest voice - his "kind" voice if you will.</i> Colton, please stop pushing me you lazy fool.<br />
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So, he might be coming home with a black eye tomorrow. Keep you posted.lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-57487962300422753182014-10-01T23:22:00.000-05:002015-07-07T23:29:32.290-05:00Knox: FiveHis big day started off like most birthdays do around here... a new mega book to study throughout the year. Courtesy of the sibs.<br />
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Next, the birthday boy's choice of breakfast. With Knox, it's always donuts. On Lakey's birthday, the donut lady overheard us talking about it and brought Lakey a donut with a candle. Knox was all over that like a rash, so on this day he burst through the door of the donut shop and announced that it was <em>his</em> birthday. Luckily, the donut lady did not disappoint. </div>
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Nino came up for the day and took Knox to Legoland. At home, a bigger bike and some new walkie talkies finished out the day. We let him go around the block and radio us on his journey. Big kid stuff! </div>
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And to end the day - ice cream cake!</div>
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And now for some things I want to remember about a newly turned 5 year old Knox:<br />
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1. He's a natural leader and it's crazy to me that you can detect it at such a young age. He doesn't worry much about what others think, or if he has the right answer, or if he does anything perfectly. Being basically the exact the opposite of this myself - it thrills me that Knox is who he is! <br />
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2. He's the teacher's pet. Ms. McKinney actually writes that on her weekly notes she sends home! He loves to be a helper, he thinks on his own, and he gets things easily. When he draws a picture of our family he sometimes includes Ms. McKinney in the rendering. <br />
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3. His favorite color is green, like his momma, and he says he wants to be a Baylor Bear, like his momma.<br />
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4. He is full of ideas, animated in his stories, and he reads! One of the coolest, most unexpected joys has been to watch the boys learn to read this year. They have unlocked everything now. <br />
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5. Knox's favorite person is Miles. His second favorite is his daddy.<br />
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6. Sometimes he shortens words. I don't know if it's laziness, but I tend to think it's awesome when he says things like, "Mom, can I have some more ketch?" Such a cool cat.<br />
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7. He's tech savvy and smart. He works until he figures things out. He has memorized all the different passcodes to mine and Jeremy's phones, iPads, our garage door, and even the code to my parents' alarm system. Mental note to lock away my debit card PIN and throw away the key.<br />
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8. He says the darnedest things. I'm thinking of the time when Miles was lamenting the fact that Santa brought him a bouncy ball on top of his popcorn tin instead of a sticky hand thing like he brought to Knox. To which Knox replied, "Well you should have asked God to make you Knox and then Santa would have brought you one."<br />
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So thankful for this kid. Happy birthday my darling Knox!lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-61415052586591267382014-07-31T11:46:00.000-05:002014-07-31T11:46:22.477-05:00Miles: SixThis birthday feels like the official release of any grip I may have thought I still had on my first baby boy. <br />
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He lost two teeth this week. He cleaned out his sock and underwear drawers and reorganized his closet this week without me asking. He starts real school in less than a month. He asked to go to IHOP for his birthday breakfast instead of donuts. See? He's practically an old man.<br />
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Some things I want to remember about Miles:<br />
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1. He loves for me to read to him. <br />
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2. Baseball and swimming are his favorites.<br />
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3. He wakes up early, and he wakes up happy. <br />
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4. He cannot stand for Knox to get ready before him. This may be why he gets himself up and dressed so quickly each morning without any coaxing from me. You know, because he might die if he misses out on something. Knox is so the opposite of this. In his mind, the party doesn't start til he shows up, so he is never in a hurry to get anywhere.<br />
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5. He is not very affectionate until he has been away from us for a few days, and then he goes around the house telling everyone (and everything) how much he loves and missed them. <br />
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6. He's pretty shy. If he doesn't know you or isn't comfortable with you, he pretends to be deaf.<br />
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7. However, if you are lucky enough to be one of the few that he feels safe with, he will machine-gun you down with conversation and questions. <strong>All the live long day</strong>.<br />
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8. He is adventurous, but not fearless. He wants to try things, but he wants Knox to try them first. <br />
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9. His favorite color is still red, yet he wants to be a "Hook 'em Horn." Guess he'll have to make a choice someday.<br />
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10. His favorite person is his daddy. His second favorite is Knox.<br />
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My heart overflows with thanksgiving for this one.<br />
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Happy birthday Miles boy!<br />
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<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-25954874188518047592014-07-08T16:23:00.003-05:002014-07-08T16:23:49.303-05:00Three: Lakey Ming JiaOur sweet girl turned three today.<br />
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Now she has lived almost half of her life with us.<br />
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She has surprised me. I expected a meek and mild little girl for some reason.<br />
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But as she grows more and more comfortable, she has proven to be outspoken, good humored, happy, loud and moody.<br />
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Oh, and hungry. All the time.<br />
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At the age of three, her favorite things are...<br />
Hello Kitty<br />
Minnie Mouse<br />
Gummy vitamins<br />
Her "pack-pack" (backpack)<br />
Her Hello Kitty "swim soup" (swimsuit)<br />
Gymnastics<br />
Her Hello Kitty "foam" (a musical toy iPod thing she thinks is a phone)<br />
Her black/hot pink Nike shoes that her friend Ashlyn handed down after she outgrew them <br />
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Her favorite songs to sing are... <br />
<em>It's A Small World, Edelweiss, Hey Jude, Twinkle Twinkle and Thank You Lord. </em><br />
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Her favorite color is hot pink. <br />
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She wants to wear her hair in "Anna baids" (braids like Anna, from the movie <em>Frozen</em>) every day.<br />
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I can't think of a cooler three year old. <br />
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Happy birthday Jodgy! We love you!<br />
lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-65038364695630806052014-07-03T12:49:00.000-05:002014-07-08T10:25:29.243-05:00Walt Disney World 2014We did it! <br />
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Jeremy and I took the kiddies to Walt Disney World back in May, and this is me rested, recovered, and living to tell about it. Let's face it - I had my doubts. <br />
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<em><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">unknown source</span></em> </div>
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Brace yourselves for an onslaught of photos.</div>
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This trip was akin to having a baby. You want to do it so badly, but thinking about what you're really in for brings about pangs of dread. Once it's booked, there is no turning back. While you are there, there are real painful moments (i.e. line management with a 2, 4 and 5 year old) that are quickly eclipsed by the overwhelming thrill of it all. You come home exhausted, but after enough time passes, you forget and find yourself wanting to do it all over again. </div>
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I might have predicted that Miles' favorite park would be Animal Kingdom. I've heard some people ho-hum this park as being just another zoo. But a zoo is never. EVER. just a zoo to Miles. And AK has roller coasters too. So this was pretty much heaven on earth for Miles.</div>
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<em>Lakey's first encounter with a Disney character. She was unimpressed and absolutely NOT taking her eye off Minnie for one second.</em></div>
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Animal Kingdom has a super awesome roller coaster called Expedition Everest that the boys talked about for days.</div>
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We spent two days at the Magic Kingdom, and this is by far the most remarkable, magical place on the planet. In an engineered sort of way. I'm sorry to be so dramatic about it, but there is no other way. MK is so amazing, and every memory I have as a kid going to WDW comes from this park. I beefed up our Disney DVD collection a couple of months before the trip and then forced the kids to watch a different one every weekend so that they could appreciate all the goodness they would behold at the Magic Kingdom. I think it was a good move on my part. Fist bump to myself. Blow it up.</div>
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Side note: I wonder why The Sword in the Stone doesn't get any street cred at WDW? It's one of my very faves. Anyone with me?</div>
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We started everyone off slow with rides like Dumbo, Little Mermaid, and Peter Pan. </div>
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Then we high tailed it over to Tomorrowland and put the boys on Space Mountain. Suckas! </div>
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Who doesn't love Space Mountain? Well apparently Knox, as evident from the tear stained cheeks and eyes as he exited the ride. He was not happy. And with that, I vowed to nominate myself for Mother of the Year another day. Luckily, Miles loved it and was up for an encore round which meant I was able to ride it too.</div>
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The kids got their faces painted. </div>
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I love how Miles carefully selected a superhero design that left plenty of room for his glasses. </div>
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True to form, Knox went with something a little more dramatic. Galactic Tiger I think this was called.</div>
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Of all the glittery fairy and princess options, Lakey was dead set on getting fixed up like her worst enemy - a dog. A superhero dog. Just whatever. I had them sprinkle on some glitter anyway for good measure.</div>
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Character dining is probably the best way to experience and interact with all the different characters without forging the long lines elsewhere in the parks. Here were some of our favorite friends.<br />
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Please note the absence of Miles with Sophia the 1st. He was not into the princesses AT ALL. Here is additional evidence.<br />
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See? Wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.<br />
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Knox was more than happy to represent with the ladies, however.<br />
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What can I say? I drink the Mouse punch too.<br />
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Belle is my favorite because she reminds me of me. Just kidding about that last part. We actually had to coerce Miles into this photo, but I think his face reveals the truth.<br />
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Next up was Epcot. Jeremy and I really liked this park but there weren't as many rides for younger kiddos. We managed to make a full day of it though.<br />
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We saw some great flowers and sculptures.<br />
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And guess who we found? That would be the Figment of your Imagination. I have no idea why, but I had a stuffed Figment as a kid and I think he's still loveable. Knox did too and tried to snatch up all these wares from the gift shop after the ride.<br />
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The last park we went to was Hollywood Studios. I would definitely say that this park is geared for adults and kids older than ours. But it does boast one ride that was the entire reason we were there - Toy Story Mania. Jeremy said this was his favorite ride of all the parks, and if we go back he just wants to ride it over and over and over again.<br />
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This is also the place to be if you're a Star Wars fan, which I <em>am</em> thanks to growing up with a sci-fi loving older brother and two equally enthusiastic parents. Sadly enough, the rest of my crew doesn't have the same respect for the glory of the Jedi, but there was this glimmer of hope.<br />
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Lakey was totally digging all things galactic. Such a good young Padawan.<br />
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Nonetheless, we only spent a half day at Hollywood and then hopped back over to the Magic Kingdom to finish up our Disney experience. <br />
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See ya real soon Disney!<br />
<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-83367787636978435422014-06-03T08:58:00.001-05:002014-06-03T08:58:04.691-05:00something sweet.<br />
Last night after Lakey and I read a book together, I asked her if she wanted to talk to God before she got in bed. She said yes, and this is what she said,<br />
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<em>"God thank you, making me happy."</em><br />
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Then we sang, <em>Thank You Lord</em>, together at her request and I almost died of joy.</div>
lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-75195559491203448222014-02-17T11:50:00.003-06:002014-02-17T11:50:47.304-06:00One Year with Lakey<i>One entire year.</i><br />
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Sometimes I go back and read my posts from China. Every time I see the <a href="http://lindsaycutt.blogspot.com/2013/02/gotcha-day.html" target="_blank">pictures</a> from the first day we laid eyes on Shang Guan Ming Jia my heart jumps into my throat. For the rest of my life she will, in my eyes, be the bravest girl I've ever known. To remember her standing there in front of me that day, dressed in all her best layers, refusing even a sideways glance in my direction still makes me weep because I know that little 19 month old soul could sense change was coming. And though it took her several minutes to mull it over, she finally mustered up the fortitude to turn and look me in the eye. And literally, Lakey never looked back to the ones that brought her to us.<br />
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I can barely process it even still. We are so thankful to God every day for creating this sweet girl and bringing us together. This has surely been a year we won't forget, and the best is yet to be!<br />
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<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-1632120754531765992013-12-17T13:32:00.000-06:002013-12-17T14:00:20.121-06:00Christ The Savior Is Born<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>Merry Christmas with peace and love,</em><br />
<em>Jeremy, Lindsay, Miles, Knox, and Lakey Ming Jia</em>lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-48474270414495315732013-12-01T09:26:00.000-06:002013-12-02T09:30:46.859-06:00Crossing It Off The ListThere is no easy way to say this, so I'll just say it.<br />
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There will be no Elf on a Shelf at our house this year. Or any year after. <br />
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Judge me if you must. This is a decision I made about 5 minutes ago, and I haven't even discussed it with Jeremy yet. But considering that he heaves a big sigh every time I send him to the attic to bring down yet another Christmas tree (We have five. Keep on judging, Grinch), I can't imagine this news will disappoint him.<br />
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It's just too much for us (me). The thought of one more task to complete every night makes me want to induce myself into a coma. And frankly, isn't the idea of a miniature person flying in and out of your house every night, watching your every move, reporting to the Man in Red, and rooting around in your knives and marshmallows a little Creepy Creeperson? I say yes. <br />
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And, while I guess the main point is to add another layer of magical goodness to Christmas for children, it's undisputed that parents hope the elf will curb some bad behavior for a month. Right? Let's discuss this please. Does this really work for any of you? We had an elf last Christmas, and I am a mother of mischievous boys. So at our house, Elf-Elf (as the boys so creatively named him) served as one more figure for Miles and Knox to defy. Literally moments after I read them the passage from the book that says you're not allowed to touch the elf or he loses his magic, Knox went nose to nose with the little guy and put his grubby little finger about an eighth of an inch away from Elf-Elf's cheek, while Miles looked on screaming, "NOOOOOOOOO!"<br />
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This is drama we don't need, folks. So I'm saying no. I hope the kids won't be upset. Is it too much to hope they will have so much fun with other things that they won't notice? We'll see.<br />
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<em>*I cast no judgment against those of you that enjoy this tradition. I'll have fun seeing pictures of your elves on Facebook tonight while I watch The Voice free of all thoughts elfin.</em><br />
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<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-88910075846667021332013-10-01T11:48:00.002-05:002013-10-01T11:48:24.531-05:00Knox: FourIt's gut wrenching.<br />
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Last night I asked him to please stay three years old and he said to me,<br />
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"I can't. This is the way God made me."<br />
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Knox is one of a kind. My kind, according to my mother. Which might explain why he sometimes makes me the most pull-my-hair-out crazy. But then sometimes, dare I say it, he makes me the most happy? </div>
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He is as ornery as the day is long. He charms, he jokes, he sticks out his lip and fills his big eyes with tears just before telling me that his heart is really sad that I've lost my patience after telling him six bazillion times to brush his teeth. His stall tactic at bedtime is to fake cry (but somehow summon real tears) and tell me that he just needs one more hug, sugar, and a high five so that he can sleep better - only to admit the next morning that he was just kidding with the big dramatic production of being scared of the dark.</div>
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Oh this boy. A few weeks ago I caught him giving Miles a quarter from his piggy bank. When I asked what he was doing, he said,</div>
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"I'm giving Miles a quarter to clean up the toy room by himself."</div>
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That was shortly after he had brought me a sack of toys he wanted to sell to earn money for his piggy bank because he "didn't want them anymore." Upon inspection, I noticed that the sack contained toys that specifically belonged to Miles. </div>
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<i>Sneaky Pete.</i> </div>
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But then, what do you expect from a boy who saves a cereal bar for The Joker in the mornings?</div>
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Oh, but then he can be as sweet as sugar. Like when he saved some candy for Miles and Lakey from a treat bag he got at a birthday party only he was invited to. All on his own. He can be really thoughtful and generous.<br />
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<i>Sweet Petey</i>.<br />
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Either way, I love my darling boy. Happy birthday, Knox. You are a rich blessing from our glorious God!<br />
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<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-29547201646418207832013-08-29T14:01:00.001-05:002013-08-29T14:20:50.062-05:00Miles Files: Tell the TruthLast week Miles' teacher for the summer was explaining to the class that it is not always best to put a Band-Aid on our wounds because some need air to heal. A scrape, for example.<br />
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"Just like you would never put tape over your mouth because you need air to breathe, the same goes for certain boo-boos. They need to breathe in order to heal," she said.<br />
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I can just picture Miles sitting in the semi-circle with his peers - elbows on his crisscross applesauced knees and his eyes giving a sideways stare to the ceiling, as if he's already heard this a million times before and her words deserve no attention from him. But kids at this age are taking everything in, of course. As the teacher rested her case on wound care, Miles chimed in.<br />
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"Well I don't know what the big deal is. We are all gonna die someday anyway."<br />
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Alrighty then.lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-19118886280970232832013-08-17T21:09:00.000-05:002013-08-19T22:21:42.126-05:00lakey: six months later.Today marks six months since Lakey became our forever daughter. And in six months, I have learned some things about her.<br />
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She is delicious. I could eat her up with a spoon.<br />
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Give her a snack and you've got a friend for life.<br />
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She takes a particular liking to corn on the cob. It was love at first bite.<br />
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She is sometimes bossy and is slightly dramatic. Her favorite phrase is, "Sit. Right. Here." <br />
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PoPo was spot on when she said that Lakey lets you know if something doesn't meet her mind. I froze solid from this icy glare after I helped myself to a bite of her eggs one morning. Yikes.<br />
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She <span style="text-align: center;">has an adventurous spirit.</span><br />
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She is a beauty.</div>
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She mixes perfectly with her rowdy brothers.</div>
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She is loving, and she is loved.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I think she is happy with us so far.</span><br />
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And I am so glad about that, because we are 100% in love with her.<br />
<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-41889150283138611282013-08-06T21:13:00.000-05:002013-08-06T21:13:44.750-05:00Knox Talks: Missing the Boat A Little<br />
"Daddy, when are we going to take Lakey back to China?"<br />
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<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-8677511500501744092013-08-01T21:46:00.000-05:002013-09-20T21:47:04.112-05:00miles boy is 5A party for our boy to ring in his 5th.<br />
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Captain America style.<br />
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There were costumes...</div>
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Basketball...<br />
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There was a cash register...</div>
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some friends...</div>
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And afterward, some surprises from those friends...</div>
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Mima came to visit the birthday boy and helped him do science experiments.</div>
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Then Nino came and shared in his favorite meal.</div>
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Really Miles, five?</div>
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It all added up to make one very happy boy.</div>
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I love you Miles. I'm thrilled to be your momma.</div>
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<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-46123361900712133402013-07-31T21:52:00.000-05:002013-09-20T21:49:49.649-05:00Miles: FiveWithout even asking me today, Miles went and turned five.<br />
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The nerve.<br />
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I love this boy to pieces.<br />
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He is smart. The glasses don't lie. He rarely stops talking, for his curious mind keeps a river of questions flowing. Just the other day as we were finally inching up on thirty seconds of silence and my twitching was beginning to subside, he rolled out with this.<br />
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"Mommy, how does wind power work?"<br />
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I rent my clothes and curled up in a fetal position. Then, I did what any mother of average intelligence would do. I started slowly by saying, "Well, the wind has to blow really hard..." And as the very words were coming from my mouth I knew the rest was gonna be a big load of BS, and so I saved myself the embarrassment of alternative energy ignorance with a quick change of subject.<br />
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"Hey, how bout a cupcake!?"<br />
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Miles knows what he likes, and here is where I write it down so that the world's worst memory (mine) doesn't forget what the five year old Miles was like. He loves the color red, baseball, Elvis Andrus, Batman, Captain America, swimming WITHOUT floaties, bacon and eggs, games, Little Einsteins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, giraffes, story telling, Tom and Jerry, science experiments, and Chick-Fil-A.<br />
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Miles is a fun-loving boy, up for most anything, tenderhearted, inquisitive, always needing to know what every one is doing and where they are going, and in general he is our rule following kid. Bless him for that. Because the boy that busted into the world on Miles' heels...<br />
<br />
Whoa.<br />
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Miles, we love you more than I can describe in words. We are so proud of you! Happy 5th birthday!<br />
<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-10678629753840989732013-07-24T16:19:00.001-05:002013-07-24T16:25:11.005-05:00From Four to FiveMy sweet Miles turns five years old next week, and it's a knife to my heart.<br />
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But that's not what this post is about.<br />
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One of the most popular questions we've fielded over the last few months is, "So what's it like going from a family of four to a family of five?" Or some variation of that.<br />
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Well, it's exhausting to have three kids. But, it's exhausting to have two kids too. And the fourteen months that we only had one child is only a faint memory now, but I'm pretty certain we were exhausted then too. So from that angle, nothing has changed except my bedtime. And I don't mean that I go to bed earlier now. Oh no. It's about an hour <em>later</em> because it takes us longer to feed, bathe, play with, and get three kids in bed each night. So that means that I start all the normal, day to day things that make our house run a little later too (I work full time). <br />
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Keep in mind that the ages of our children today are two, three and four. Jeremy and I encourage them to help around the house, but let's face it. The number of times we have to repeat ourselves and the smattering of arguments that have to be squelched just to get a room full of toys picked up burns a significant count of tick-tocks off the clock and a significant number of our brain cells. The tattling and whining has fueled thoughts of building a padded cell to occasionally lock ourselves in. And yes, Lakey tattles too. At least I think that's what she's doing when she comes up to us, furls her brow, and rattles off in jibberish (or Chinese, who even knows) while pointing to one of her brothers. <br />
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I had always heard that going from two kids to three was a hard adjustment. That may be true if your youngest is a newborn and you are struggling with sleep deprivation. But since Lakey joined our family as a toddler, for us it feels like another log on the fire (metaphorically speaking, of course). We all eat the same food and sleep in our own beds, so no one has a special or different routine from the other. That makes it nice and really quite easy. And while it's true that we've had to switch our defense from Man-to-Man to Zone, it has surprisingly been an easy transition. I mean, if you already have a headache from two children's inability to access a quiet voice, what's one more gonna do? <br />
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In a nutshell, life at Chez Northcutt is exhausting. But don't feel the slightest bit of sympathy for us. The joy that these three little souls bring to our household is unmatched. As every parent knows, the laughter, excitement, innocence, and random hugs, kisses, and "I love you's" totally erases all frustration in the twinkling of an eye. If I didn't think there was a real possibility of going deaf or ending up in a mental institute before it's all said and done, perhaps we would even add to our brood.<br />
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Then again, five is a nice, round number.<br />
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lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16734360.post-15249523149002912502013-07-09T23:04:00.005-05:002013-07-09T23:04:45.010-05:00lakey. two years old.oh goodness.<br />
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it's that time of year. it starts in july and it's a snowball of crazy until next year.<br />
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lakey turned two yesterday. i don't think she's ever celebrated a birthday. at least not with a cupcake and a candle.<br />
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or with voices singing "happy birthday."</div>
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the candle almost brought her to tears, but thankfully knox was <strike>chomping at the bit</strike> willing to blow it out for her.</div>
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good news is that once the candle was removed, she could tell that there was an edible item underneath.</div>
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and lakey LOVES to eat.</div>
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in the end, the cupcake brought her to her feet and drew out her happy face (or pirate face, however you want to look at it).</div>
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she got her first baby doll, and it was love at first sight.</div>
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for him too.</div>
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lakey pushed her baby around the rest of the evening and it was first on her mind this morning.<br />
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it's ridiculous how smitten we all are for this girl. <br />
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and it's ridiculous how crooked i cut her bangs. i remedied this tonight.<br />
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we love our sweet girl. <br />
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so much. <br />
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happy birthday miss lakey ming jia.<br />
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<i>*we miss you miles! </i><br />
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<br />lindsaycutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07978756839260097812noreply@blogger.com1