As they tend to, things changed in our foster family today when QP+C moved on, and another placement joined the family 💜 This was a happy occasion for us in some ways, but not to discount the love we already carried for the Quarter Pounder. Emotions are always mixed, thats for sure. However, everyone involved feels like this was the right move, ourselves included. So forward we go!

As the day moved along, I pulled some cookie dough from the fridge and made some gingersnaps for Christmas. It sure paid to make the dough ahead of time because it made the actual rolling and baking go SO much faster! And they turned out!!

They’re already in the freezer, haha! I should’ve eaten one first. Darn, lol!

And then, once that was all done and done, I made supper. And while it wasn’t fancy, it just really hit the spot for me today. I had goals, but realized a little late that I was short ingredients. So instead of making a slightly more special potato thing, I just seasoned the baby potatoes a bit more and figured we’d just eat them as is, even though the kids don’t prefer that. Plus sausage, and roasted broccoli with garlic and parm. And MAN it turned out.

The picture doesn’t do it justice, but no one bucked it. Thats saying something!

I’m so full, but also, I’m anticipating a snack and dessert a little later. Perhaps I’ll even pull a couple of cookies out for an occasion such as today.

I happened upon a handful of GHOSTS at Kinasao last weekend, and unlike all of the lesser educated ghost hunters, I got pictures!!

😂 You have to know I’m kidding, right? Good.

The conversation of ghosts came up a number of times, as is unsurprising, since the insider began with the Dahlsjos. We were sharing the joke with another friend as Laela and Avery were decorating graham cracker nativity scenes, and our friend happened to be doddling with an edible pen on a marshmallow. And wouldn’t you know that marshmallow turned out not only to be A GHOST, but THREE GHOSTS!!!

Another notable ghost would be the one we saw during the light tour!! Rowan exclaimed “A GHOST!” But alas, it was a polar bear. Still, it counted, and I laughed really really hard.

Avery is a gift giver, and she crocheted each and every member of our family *gasp* A GHOST!!! Mine had purple features 👻💜

And to top the whole thing off, Sadie was squirming from the moment we arrived until she could sneak me away to open a gift she had for me. And wouldn’t you know this girly learned a new skill in order to make me something beautiful!!! 😍 I bet you’ll be surprised to learn its *gasp* ANOTHER GHOST! On the front of a cozy hoodie, no less 💜

How fortunate are we to have so many goofy jokes and so many beautiful things and so many lovely people all around us?? Amazing. Thank you Lord for all you have provided in this season.

It is a strange season being back to having a needy little bitty baby on my hands. I am eager to get Christmas baking going, but having a newb like QP over here makes it a challenge. However, I had an opportunity today. QP hurled absolutely everywhere (effectively being renamed as the Quarter Pounder with cheese! Ewwww 🤮) and then settled beautifully in the swing, so I made my way to the kitchen and worked on peppernuts!

I made a giant batch of dough last week and made up a good chunk of it to bring to the advent retreat. It was shared around and then a container was sent with the Dahlsjos.

Today, as QP+C dozed in and out, I made pan after pan of peppernuts. Being the total dork that I am, I’ve kept track, and I crossed the 1200 cookie mark today! 🥳

They’re not perfect, but they taste GREAT! If you like that kind of thing, anyway. I sure do. As does my family. Still many loose ends to tie up, but we are on our way over here 💜

I’m pretty grateful we had a home day today. Not only to rest. Bathe. Unpack. Drink water. But because we had some unknowns that needed to work themselves out this morning. So the first hour or two were pretty messy, but once we got through some of the fuss, the day could move forward.

I felt pretty off today. Its hard. My mind is a little bit elsewhere. But God is bigger than our trials and unknowns. And thank goodness for that because MAN stuff would be so stinking hard without faith! Whew! Thank you, Lord, for your continued goodness and mercy!

Tomorrow, the kids will go back to school. Hopefully life at home will be a little slow. Maybe, maybe not. No big activities for the kids on Tuesdays. We’ll eat something yummy for supper. Something low pressure. I really need to tie up some loose ends with Christmas shopping. But beyond that, things should be low pressure from here on out 💜

I hope very much that you all have a restful night and a joyful kickoff to the morning.

After one of the worst nights we’ve had since the Quarter Pounder joined our family, we had a really beautiful morning at Kinasao before we packed up and said our goodbyes to our dear Dahlsjos 💜 We wont see them again until the new year, but we will all be busy doing all kinds of things that I imagine time will pass quickly. Still. We love you guys 💜 Travel safe!

We drove home in a fairly quiet van full of tired children after a really nice weekend. The vibe was good.

And then something kind of hilarious happened!

As we drove, we started catching a vehicle. A super basic, nondescript white old passenger van. Brady got a little nostalgic, talking about his big beast of a white van that he used in his last stretch as a contractor. He had some good vehicles and some really bad vehicles for work in the past, but that van was the BEST. He felt professional in it. Like he officially fit the bill. Like people would take him seriously in a different way. He LOVED that van. It was sad to get rid of it, but when he was ready to list it, it was snapped up by a man with a large family who was so excited to use it for travelling! So it softened the blow pretty significantly.

And wouldn’t you know. This van was THAT van.

Ok, give me a break. I’m not super creepy, but it was so unbelievable! The same worn strip down the side. Same hubcaps that were spray painted. And once we were in front of it, the same wrinkle int he bumper. It was the SAME VAN! And Brady excitedly pointed out that it was loaded with kids!

And he wasn’t sad 💜

It was like… seeing an old friend. Reminiscing for a second. But not getting too stuck or hung up back there. Honey, correct me if I’m wrong here. But it seemed like such a nice memory that wasn’t riddled with regret or grief, really. Brady had wanted a good, big passenger van for work for years, and he had finally gotten it. It would’ve been nice to have it sooner, definitely, but it was a really amazing thing for him while he had it. A truly perfect setup. And it was so bizarre to see it out there today, still going strong.

Anyway. Maybe this is a strange post, but it felt like a warm thing and I wanted to share it on here so we remember it 💜 An homage to Bradys contractor days, perhaps 😘

Today was a day for music by the fireplace. For crocheting and drinking coffee. For the Morsel making new friends, playing guitar with the worship leader, and dragging Kelly around by the hand. For talking to the people you’ve seen around but never actually shared a conversation with.

Today was a day for decorating cookies. For graham cracker nativity scenes. For tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. For popcorn.

Today was a day for kids to connect with new kids. For playing tag. Mafia. Treasure hunting. Sledding. Doing crafts. Singing campfire songs.

Today was a day for driving the twinkle tour that we missed last weekend. For staying inside where it’s warm. For hot chocolate and cookies.

Today was a day for storytelling, and reminiscing about Gods goodness to us. How we got to where we are today, and where we dream of going in the future. And how we only want to go where God sends us.

Today was a day of beautiful things. Thank you God.

I would write more, but goodness, we have had the MOST fun this evening with this beautiful group of hooligans and I am both spent and filled to the brim with cozy feelings and hot chocolate 🥰

Merry Christmas from Kinasao to you!

It’s good to be back 💜

I had a pretty good list of things to get done today. I waited anxiously for the babies to go down for naps and would you believe me if I told you that ALL THREE napped at once?!?! Of course, QP had to nap in the swing, not in bed, but that was ok. There is sooooo much vomit that comes out of that baby, the swing is my saving grace sometimes.

I got to work tidying up some spaces that have just filled with junk. Some stuff that needs attention. Some stuff that just needs to be reorganized. Lots that needs to be carried downstairs. Stuff that the kids have dumped. I was elbow deep in a big bag of yarn that I wanted to re-roll and donate to the local Fibrary when I was reminded that I was participating in a baking exchange this weekend! So considering I had done most of what I could in that moment anyway, I dove into baking. And while I thought I might just finish part of the first batch possibly, but I accidentally finished up a nice double batch of homemade oreos ✅✅

Yes. They are as good as they look! And, as a bonus, somehow I had way too much cream cheese frosting sooooo its saved for the inevitable next batch of these suckers!

Mmmmm. Tis the season for treats.

Our little performer is getting all geared up for the fun that is to come! Last week, she had the chance to audition for the Christmas play that the grade sixes put on every year. This year 🙌 The Grinch! She’s a funny one, and had a pretty specific idea of what role she wanted. Partway through the day today, I got this email from her 🤣

She was VERY happy to be given the role of the mayor of Whoville 🤣

So when she came home from school, she was buzzing with excitement. It wasn’t long after that when I reminded her she had yet another audition coming up later that evening for the musical her school is putting on in Spring. She got a little in her head at that point and I let her be for a while. As the time got closer, she asked if we were driving or walking. I told her I wasn’t planning on going with her since it was right around suppertime. She crumbled into a bit of a heap and told me she wanted me with her. It was like, little girl nerves in my very grown up little girl 💜

Needless to say, we went together. We bailed the moment Brady rolled into the driveway, and I sat in the hallway while she auditioned. She went in pretty nervous and came out looking so confident and at ease. My girl.

She told me as we headed home that she really wants the bigger role she auditioned for, but that she would still be super happy with a small role if not. She just wants to be in it, and I love that. She will work HARD on it, this I know for sure.

Its a fun season upcoming! It helps balance out some of the weariness that has come with fostering recently. God always provides.

I had to duck out with everyone today for a little bit. The Lemon Drop had an appointment. It was my first time taking everyone together! While we didn’t all go in anywhere, but we went out together, haha! Basically, it was my first time packing a diaper bag for all three babies.

It was an easy one. It was only going to be a short outing. Only bring a little bit of everything.

I made an 8 oz bottle. And a 4 oz bottle. Both overkill, but offered me some security in case it took a little longer than planned. I filled a sippy cup with water, and added a nutrigrain bar to the bag. Wipes. And – the best part – three different sizes of diapers.

Yes. Having three babies is a lot, especially when you’re trying to adjust to the new one and learn all the ins and outs. But some of these novelties never get old 💜

I’m VERY grateful for the life we’ve been given.