If you don't take them out, how will they learn?

So the summer is drawing to a close which means it is time to hunker down on the summer to do list. Many icky jobs have been left to the very end, ie shampooing the carpets,trimming the hedge, washing the windows. (OK, so there is no way I will finish the list) But the Becker summer list alsoincludes fun things we want to do or see and I am happy to report that the fun portion of the list has been accomplished and thensome!

I decided early on that the way to survive the summer was to keep the family in motion. So daily trips to the YMCA, pool, museums, parks, zoo, even shopping mall have kept us sane and eased the stress on the home and husband.

Don't get me wrong, outings are NOT easier entirely, just tough in a different somehow more fun way. Taking 20 month old toddlers and a 5 year old to museums, restaurants and malls is at face value, STUPID. But truly, if you don't take them out in to the world how do they learn?

So the big girls and I put on a brave face, muster our courage and descend on whatever the chosen venue is! The result is almost always chaos, but fun too. Experiencing our favorite places through the eyes of the little ones is amazing and something we have been waiting to do for three years. It never disappoints!

The school year approaches and I haven't read a single book for pleasure, seen even one movie in the theater, or taken a real vacation. But I have had numerous adventures and traveled

through the city like a tourist watching my new children see things they have never dreamed of while holding the hand of an adoring big sister.

Windows, woodwork, garage cleaning be damned! I have been to the zoo 9 times this summer!

One side of the list doesn't look too hot, but on the outing side, I am a virtual over achiever!

Keep little ones still? STUPID

Keep the chaos to a dull roar the surgeon said. HA! He had girls and only two of them. Weenie.

He obviously never had Bruiser either.

Monday and Tuesday went by well below the dull roar.

By Wednesday, Jean was way past the dull part and his sister was ready to join him. Things have been wound up ever since.

Big girls are home, Nanna has been visiting and today I even found time for a hair cut. (and color, but don't tell anyone)

So the Beckers are all together again and life feels good.

Stupid move of the week: trying to explain the toothfairy to #3. She put two teeth under the pillow for the fairy and was practically traumatized trying to imagine the fairy coming to visit her in the night. She woke up this a.m. and was afraid to look under her pillow. When she finally did look she was afraid to touch the money.

Brave move of the week: child #3 hearing about this fairy that takes teeth in the night and still being brave enough to go to bed!

Gratitude

Today is about gratitude which is never stupid and doesn't take bravery.

#3 and her dear brother had their umbilical hernias repaired today. In 7 hours I was to the hospital and home again. So definitely grateful to new technology and talented medical staff. UNMC did very well for us and #3's smile and her dear brother's big brown eyes won over the whole staff.

In order to leave at 5a.m. with 2 of 3 kids in tow we needed help. So I am also grateful, again or should I say continually, for a mother who always puts the needs of her grandchildren and children and everyone else for that matter, ahead of her own. The Bruiser seemed completely happy and lovely when we returned.

The entire surgery process from physicals to post surgical treatment is being done free of charge thanks to our fairy godmother and her lovely parents. (and generous folks at UNMC) We are so grateful for that as well!

Finally, when the house is quiet (talk about having gratitude!) and your babies are home and healthy, I can't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for all the good fortune and love in my life. Both things manifest themselves in different ways through different vessels but both are ever present.

So thank you friends, family, strangers who cared for us today and thanks and praise to God who put us all together.

A daily blog: stupid thought!

Seriously I did think that certainly I could take 10-15 minutes each day and blog a bit. HA! So chalk this idea up as stupid. I will TRY to blog every day, butseriously in my brave but not so new world, weekly is more likely.

There have been many BRAVE and STUPID mo

ments this past few days.

Let me share and you can judge too.

Friday, 8/6

1. Thinking I could get up and run 6.5 miles and be home by 9a.m. (you guessed it, stupid!)

2. Running 6.5 miles and then trying to get through a super long day with the terrific trio. (ditto)

3. Taking the trio to meet their fairy godmother and

wander in the Joslyn Outdoor Gallery.

(OK, so kids and an art gallery sounds stupid to some brave to others, but really it was just plain cool)

Fairy godmother knows all about this art stuff, especially Omaha's public art. (www.publicartomaha.org) Plus she is super great about kids who climb, eat, stomp, splash or any other manner of attack, all pieces of art. So I got to learn about the art pieces, when I wasn't chasing a kid, and relax and enjoy the experience because I was with a friend who was loving the experience too.

4. Tutor a wonderful young woman. (not brave or stupid, but lucky because I learn a lot from her too)

5. Run errands with kids in tow (and hubby) STUPID and when will I learn!

Saturday, 8/7

1. Host brunch for family. Family great, hosting events including preparing food is stupid when the dynamic duo are involved.

2. NAP- brave because who knows when the babies will wake and there was tons to do. But it would have been stupid to pass up the opportunity for some rest.

3. Take terrific trio to pool. BRAVE because kids and water are scary, but super smart too. Kids need to learn to swim. www.btaquatics.org Brownell is

the best place to learn.

This brings us to Sunday and so far we have shopped at JCP, gone to church, hit the grocery store and all are napping now. Which

is why I can update this!

Tomorrow Child #3 and her darling brother are having their hernias repaired. This is happening because I was smart enough to accept help when offered. This entire adoption journey has been helped along by some wonderful people and a fairy godmother!

I am sure there will be no post as I will be caring for the little patients.

Keep them in your prayers.

Hurry School, I'm Waiting! (sorry child #3 but I think this is stupid!

On Wednesday Child #3 and her amazing preschool teacher went over some school assessments to see what grade Ms. V should enter in the fall. Child #3worked hard and the amazing teacher worked hard and several hours later an email from the head of lower school came saying Ms. V would enter Kindergarten! Sweet! #3 has no idea what this means exactly. She will take any grade or school as long as it starts tomorrow.

Her teacher mommy begs to differ.

I think the #1 rule of all time is NEVER ask summer to go by quickly. NEVER. No Matter What!

Summer is about messed up sleeping schedules, seeing tons of family, owning your own time, playing, reading for pleasure and all other things luscious. I think you have to be A) a teacher of B) a student over 15 or C)a very cool parent to understand rule #1.

That being said, it is really fun to have such energy and enthusiasm in the house.

So today (Thursday) we celebrated with a trip to the BT closet to selec

t some lovely uniform parts for #3. She wanted to wear all of it to the zoo, our next stop. She settled for a fashion show at home for dad.

We took Nana to the zoo with us today and spent time playing in the water of many fountains and watching lemurs eat. Lemurs are #3's favorite a

nimal and she could have watched them all day.

So much to think about: big girls gone, animals and funny behaviors, school's approach, all that I haven't done yet to prepare for said approach.

With nap time almost over, I better get 'thinking.' Wasting a nap time is never a brave move!

Surviving in grand style and feeling pretty BRAVE!

So mid day yesterday my dear husband says, 'How many days have the girls been gone?' I reply, '3 1/2.' He looks at me and says, 'I think we are doing quite well!' (I should hope so! We have 5 kids and better be able to parent any or all at any given time or we made several mistakes in our planning!)

Anyway, after my sarcastic inner comment, I replied, Yes we are! And we are. There is a bit of routine going on now and we are all sort of in sync with it. It is kind of nice.

The theory is go like Hell so everyone drops at both nap and bed. It is working swimmingly.

Tuesday was busy.

1. running through the halls at Duchesne while I dug through used uniform parts.

2. taking Daddy to the botanical gardens so he could see the way cool train.

3. swim lessons- last of the year and Jean didnt cry once!

4. NAP

5. playtime in the basement

6. Y-parents exercise, kids go to playroom

7. Yummy grilled dinner

8. Collapse into bed.

Not bad for a family of 5 missing their + 2. (The girls will be home in 5 days, but who's counting)

Home Sweet Home- A Brave move 10 years ago.

In the great year 2000 the eccentric genius and I thumbed our noses at the Y2K freaks and bought a home. Not just any home, a lovely 1927 bungalow in charming Fort Calhoun. All 2 bedroom, 1 bath, galley kitchen of it was ours. We lived in the charmer in that state for 9 years.

No shower. 1 bath. 1 living room. 1 dining room. 1 den. Terrific yard. Superb neighborhood. Great woodwork. Did I mention no shower?

The home has a full basement and it has been called everything from Edgar Allan Poe's writing workshop to the bomb shelter. Quite honestly I never thought it would amount to anything else.

However, with a great husband and slow but sure progress, the basement moved along.

In July 2oo9 after a summer of work my lovely husband finished a custom shower and 2nd 1/2 bath in the basement. HOLY COW! We couldnt believe the luxury!

In December 2009 my lovely husband finished two bedrooms for child #1 and child #2.

I should remind all readers at this point that the decision to adopt, first child #3 and then the dynamic duo, was made pre shower, bedrooms, and any other improvements. (Stupid)

Well, finally this summer my hubby has worked and painted and Viola! a basement family room! Bringing home toddlers with no family room and no space to burn energy in the middle of February is sheer stupidity. My poor mother who tried to corral the duo all spring can attest to this.

But here it is August 2010 and I spent the day playing in the basement. Shooting hoops with Duo member #1 and finding a time out spot for Due #2 and watching child #3 set up and

conduct her first tea party. Amazing. Almost amazing enough for me to enjoy the day and not really really miss my big girls!

The Parent Trap

So day two has come and gone, mostly. We have done quite well and are feeling almost proud of ourselves. I have determined that nothing out of the ordinary will get done for 10 days, but that it might be OK. Who says I must produce projects and or major house and yard care at a rapid pace all summer long? (oh, I remember, I say that!)

So Day one involved a trip to the Farmer's Market in the Old Market downtown. Something I have wanted to do all summer. A) notconducive to a double jogger B) not entertaining for children or hubby. Stop number 2 a park for major steam blowing and sand playing. Good stop.

3rd stop Walmart- OK say stupid right now. You are right. Bad choice to push one more stop on the kids and a Walmart is never a fun stop. So the day ended with naps, dinner, baths, hair fixing and bed. Whew.

Day two we knew better than to push our luck. So, Church, and then divided missions. I tutored my dear student at Barnes and Noble, which I thoroughly enjoy! Thomas took the kids to the park for picnic lunch. I was so proud of him. Then naps, playtime in the basement and dinner, movie and soon BED. My lovely brave husband is currently in the lazy boy with lovely twins, a glass of wine and a bowl of popcorn. Lion King is entertaining us all.

The most fun part of this movie watching is that child #3 is now singing all Disneys songs with real heart! So fun!

The week ahead is sure to be packed and I plan to revert to the best advice ever given to a mom: nap when they nap! This time I will follow it!

I have heard from the travelers and they are having a lovely time, boy do I miss them.