Izzy Kitty

Around Valentine's Day, we adopted a sweet, 4 month old calico kitty. We always knew we wanted a family pet. We thought that pet would be a puppy, but quite honestly, our season of life doesn't allow for a puppy right now! We wanted something furry and cuddly that would curl up with the girls, and eventually the boy, at night. Preferably a pet that we could leave at home without worrying. A kitty was the perfect fit. We started looking online for the youngest kitty we could find. Not only because they are so adorable, but we also wanted to get a young one so that we could train it to fit our lifestyle. To become comfortable with our kids. We were afraid of getting an older cat that was set in its ways. We looked online, we went to the Animal Rescue League, we went to PetSmart...We searched. We held kitties. We thought LONG and HARD about this.

Epic Parent Fail: We tried to be a puppy family. We adopted an 8 week old beagle last August. She was sweet and adorable....and SO. MUCH. WORK. I grew up with dogs, and so did Hubs, but we never had to be the caretakers and trainers, and my dogs were ALWAYS outside dogs. We both had NO idea what we were doing. It was stressful. We would have totally made it work, because we all loved her. Until, one day, she jumped up at Drake's face, playfully. Then, I'd notice him on the floor and puppy would go up to lick and play with him and he would just roll onto his belly and cover his head. Scared. Anxious. Unsure. All things I did not want him to feel around animals. We prayed. We cried. We lost sleep over this pup. Finally, we decided that this puppy needed a new family. We drove puppy back to the breeders.

Six months later... We still dreamed of a family pet. We were {obviously} scared to go down that road again. And to disappoint the little people of the house. I had a cat growing up. I remember how laid back and awesome it was. I have tried to be a cat family since the day we became a family. Hubs needed more convincing. After searching and visiting and talking and reasoning... we found her. Her name was Roxie. She was 4 months old. The previous owners had to give her up, as their newborn was allergic. (How sad!) She was litterbox trained. {Ahhhh!!} We went to visit her and she immediately snuggled up to my chin to say hi. She was sweet, she was pretty, she needed to be ours. Even as Hubs filled out the paperwork to adopt her, I don't think he was as certain.

Izzy's "Gotcha" Day
We found her, we wanted her. The girls had a late start due to the roads, but that didn't stop us! We went to visit her. She was so sweet. They brought her into a room with us. We played with her. Drake squealed with delight! The girls were excited, but cautious. Unsure if we would go through with it. We talked about renaming her, and all easily agreed on "Izzy". I told Hubs yes. He filled out the papers, unsure as well. I was sure. Well, I was sure that we wanted her. I was definitely worried that she wouldn't adapt well, or wouldn't like Drake, or would have accidents. When Hubs was done, we had to get the girls back to school while Izzy had her final check up there. We dropped them off, ran to Target for kitty supplies and then went to pick up our kitty! We got her home, let her out to roam, filled her litterbox, food and water. She just walked around our main level, sniffing, wandering. She found her food, water and litterbox. She did so well. She slept with Lili and in the clean laundry in the hallway. It was surreal. I expected problems. I expected accidents. There were none.

Best Buds

From Day 1, Drake has been in LOVE with this kitty! He squeals at her and shrieks in excitement! He loves waking up and seeing her walk down the stairs with us. For awhile, I think he was just surprised that she was still here! It only took a couple weeks for him to catch onto her name, and now he says it all the time. "Hey Iz! Hi Iz-Iz!" {You can also find him telling her "Noooo" or meowing at her.} Those two are quite the pair! We really appreciate that when she is sick of him picking on her, she goes and hides and comes out when she's ready again. He loves to wrestle with her, and she doesn't fight back. He lays on her, and she just lays there and bats at his head. He is obsessed with putting his finger in my mouth, and he does it to her, and she lets him. We could not have imagined a more perfect pet. Just yesterday, Drake ran into the entryway to play with Izzy on the steps, and he tripped and fell. Izzy was in crazy, playful mode, but as soon as he fussed, she ran down the starts and patted him on the back while trying to look at his face, as if to make sure he was ok. It was incredibly sweet.

So, here we are! A happy CAT family! The girls leave their doors cracked at night and Izzy sleeps with one of them each night. She roams freely when we are here and gone. My sister sent her a toy and a scratch post, which she LOVES to use. It has gone flawlessly. We love having a kitty to cuddle and play with!

Family Time at the Grocery Store

**DISCLAIMER: I am not a fun hater. I usually welcome any chance to giggle or add some fun to a situation. However, on this particular day, I was not up for much fun. Thank goodness for my hubby!**

A friend of mine said it best when she posted a picture of her son with a little red shopping cart on Facebook and said they are "the best and the worst thing ever". I COMPLETELY agree. On Saturday, Hubby, myself and alllllll of our kids headed to Fareway to get our groceries for the upcoming week and supplies for Christmas candy making. As I cringed when I saw the little red grocery carts and quickly tried to hustle everyone past them, my amazing, fun, awesome-dad of a husband stopped and pointed them out. And offered one to each kid. It doesn't take ridiculous strength or a super power to be a hero to your kids, and I am pretty sure that morning, Dad was their hero. Rescuing them from a boring Saturday morning at the grocery store.
We started out, Hubs had a list, and I had a list. The first thing the girls asked for, I said yes. They were genuinely surprised, and I was too. I told them that they had a limit to things they could ask for, so choose wisely. I wouldn't always say yes, but they didn't need to ask for everything they saw, either. We continue on our way, getting everything on our list. And Drake throwing things in his cart too...I guess he had a list of his own! We are having fun. The kids only need a few reminders that this is not a go-cart track, but we are doing fairly well. There is one lady in particular who would disagree whole-heartedly. She was not very amused by our family outing. She would look at us and just shake her head. Then there were other people that would giggle and say "what good helpers you have!" There are two kinds of people.
We ended the trip, all pulling into the same check out line, coming in under budget for groceries, and loading into the van. All smiles--Thanks to my hubby and his nonchalant way of going about things, and not caring what other people in the store thought. I am grateful that he saw the potential for happiness that day. I was clearly not even looking for it. 

Lili Logic

This one is sweet....

There has been a little boy at school that is just not very loving (I have a strong sense that he doesn't get very much love at home and that's why he acts out at school). Lili sits at a table with him. Now, she has dealt with bullies before. Why does it seem that bullies are attracted to her? Or that she is always put next to the bully? Here's why... Because Liliana has thee biggest heart. She truly cares and understands compassion. This girl is going to do huge things. She is going to change the world. It gives me goosebumps.
We were talking about this little boy the other night, and I mentioned that he is angry because maybe anger is all he knows. Lili knows love because she is loved and is surrounded by love. Maybe this boy knows anger because he is surrounded by it. {Grab your tissues now} Lili looked at me with big, blue, sad little eyes and said, "Mommy, I want to make E a picture. And I will make him one every day so he can feel loved and then he will be nice to me. I will tell everyone at our table to do it too."
Oh, my little Liliana. How I love your heart. God is going to do great things with you. This is only the beginning...and even the beginning is changing me and making me better. 

Soccer Monster

Nervously hugging her Teddy on the
way to her first game.

"I am a soccer monster, I love a soccer ball.
I'd rather play soccer than do anything at all.
You can be the kicker, I will be the blocker
Doesn't really matter, as long as we play SOCCER!"

This is a beloved Backyardigans song. Aunt Sares instilled the love of the Backyardigans in Cadee nearly 8 years ago. Cadence LOVED to watch them and sing along (And she and Lili still have Backyardigan marathons once in awhile). She would go through phases of what her favorite episodes were, and this particular episode fits her life so perfectly right now.
We have our FIRST kid in their FIRST sport! Cadee has chosen to be a soccer monster! She has been practicing at home and has had team practices for about a few weeks now. Last Saturday (Sept. 7) was her VERY first game! She was timid, she had a nervous tummy, she wasn't sure what to eat before the game, she was projecting her nervousness onto me by being snappy and cranky...but the entire time she was with her team and on the field, she had a big ol' grin on her face (Except when I caught her attention yelling, "Cadee! Go get the ball, girl!" She didn't appreciate that very much..)!

My Little Soccer Monster

It was the highlight of my week watching her play, and I hope it will be for many many Saturdays to come. I had a vivid view of the future, a premonition if you will, the moment before we left for the game. I saw a high school girl sitting in front of me, hair all done up, soccer gear on, grabbing her ball and heading out the door to practice. It was a quick glimpse at what may come.
My Little Soccer Monster, you make me so proud! I am excited to cheer you on in whatever the future may hold for you. 

Sharing My Story

Baby Liliana

I am sharing my post-baby stories at Des Moines Moms Blog today and my experience with postpartum depression. A very personal blog post for me to share with our DMMB readers, but I feel it's pretty necessary. Moms need to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it's so hard to see that when you are in a dark place. 

Summer!

Things have been CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY busy around here! Yes, I had to type it 3 times. We have had so much fun this summer. Between the trips to see grandparents, to the splash park, to visit friends, sleepovers, play dates and SO much more, we have been filling our summer up with as much fun as possible. I am just a teeny tiny bit excited for school to start- just to have our routine back. But I will miss my girlies. They motivate me and keep me smiling. Drake is going to have a huge void to fill!

Top Ten Favorite Summer Memories:

~ Drake learned to walk this summer. We have all loved watching him toddle and master that skill!

~ I braved a day at a local beach with all three kids on my own! And it was probably one of the best days of our summer. We had such a great, relaxing (yes, relaxing! That can happen with 3 kids!), sunny day at the beach! Lots of giggles and thankful hearts that day.

~ All of my Thirty One parties have been so much fun! I have been able to catch up with friends, laugh, build confidence (and my inventory!), and just spend some good, quality girl time. 

~ Because of my sister's upcoming move to Arizona, we have been spending alot of time with her. And it has been nothing but sweet. We will miss her dearly, constantly, but I am beyond excited {and sometimes jealous} about her new adventure!

~ Des Moines Moms Blog has been thriving! And it has been sweet to meet some of the moms in our community! The contributor team is the most amazing group of women that God could have ever brought together, and I am flabbergasted that I was a part of that vision! I thank God for this group of encouraging, Christ loving, God fearing, beautiful, intelligent, trustworthy, prayerful, powerful, enlightening, amazing women each and every day.

~ We were a part of our friend's 30th birthday celebration! I love celebrating friends! And this particular friend has a lot to celebrate. 

~ My dad got us a small little pool early this summer. The girls used it everyday. Until it was too gross to use. Then it rained alot, so we dumped it out and [with all of the traveling my girls did this summer] we neglected to fill it up again. But it was definitely worth it and we hope to fill it up again!  

~ The girls had their very first "Homemade Lemonade" stand this summer! They LOVED it! It was fun to see their business and advertising skills developing. We will definitely do it again. It helps that we live across the street from some very sweet, elderly couples. They love our kids and go out of their way to visit with us and make us feel welcome. 

~ I *started* the summer reading the Bible (supposedly in a year, haven't been as faithful as I intended), and got my dad to read it with me. I love when he calls me and just starts telling me all about what he read and what he got out of it. God is good, all the time. There is truth in that great Book. Relevant truth.

~ The girls were excited when Lili lost her second tooth last week! Lili was excited because she's Lili and her genuine excitement when something new happens to her is contagious. Cadee was excited because Lili let her pull it out! In exchange for one item in her room. Haha love it!

There you have it. My top ten most memorable moments of the Summer of 2013. Or at least the ones I could remember. There were so many fun and memorable things that happened this summer! If something we did together didn't make the list, don't worry- you were number 11. 
Just a couple weeks of summer left before school starts back up! I hope to soak up all the fun and sun with my kiddos by my side in the next couple of weeks! 

Random Rachel

There is something magical to me about staying at a hotel. The smell of chlorine. The excitement. Cranking the a/c at night. Unlimited pillows. Eating out. Swimming to your heart's content. I just love it.

My Cadee Grace is growing up entirely too fast. I cannot believe she will be 9 years old this year. She is half way to being half my age. Yeah, do the math.

My new business of being a Thirty-One consultant has been such a fun adventure! I am loving it. And continue to love all of the free and discounted products I get in on. Top that all off with all of the sweet women I get to meet, and I am one blessed lady. The paychecks aren't bad either. (If you want to know how you can be a Thirty-One consultant, just ask me!) 

We got new bedding! Yahooooo!! But it's so hot in our room, that we are currently only using the sheets. 

I am not a fan of extreme, humid heat. Therefore, not a big fan of July.

The kids and I went to a beach last week. We had a blast! Just the 4 of us. Making memories. 

The girls are at grandmas' this week. Which means, this is the one week out of the year that I WILL catch up on dishes and laundry! 

Our Fourth of July was spent at a small town celebration in our area with just me, hubby and our babies. It was such a great evening. Filled with plenty of giggles, ooo's and ahhh's while the fireworks lit up the sky, and snoring in the van on the way home. 

Garage sales.... I'm not convinced they are worth the time and effort to have one. But, my girls had a "Homemade Lemonade" stand, and absolutely loved it. So, in the future, I will put more of my time and effort into their stand. 

I love my husband. And all of the ways he continuously reminds me just how much I mean to him. He is my rock. My main squeeze. My home.