Tuesday's Best : My Favorite Collection Yet

20 seconds before gerald vomited on m&m.  even when he's not feeling well he's smiling this big.

big love.

the return of the coolio braid.

mohamed started singing a song from church and sweet mamie threw her hands up
 and started singing along with everything in her.  love this girl.

whistling and a hometown shout out for mom.  golden gophers!

Tuesday's Best: Long Live Elton John

the babies brought some of their birthday presents to our skype call this morning and it's official...

coolio is dead. 

 long live elton john.

yes.  those are groucho marx glasses on gerald.  

so.stinking.funny.i.don't.care.who.you.are.

elton john

three years old.  learning how to show us three fingers.

geraldine didn't take those glasses off the entire time we skyped.  god bless.

happy tuesday's best!

m

Tuesday's Best: Big Head Little Body & The Best Yes I Ever Said

well, it's week two of birthday skyping bonanza here at gung ho heart.  this friday the twins turn 3.  sayonara babies, hello growing toddlers.  last night i made a late night trip to the grocery store to get a few essentials for our birthday skype this morning and made it all the way to the checkout line (and by checkout line i mean the do it yourself lane because who really waits for someone who's minimum wage salary is matched by their minimum effort take-your-sweet-time scanning attitude at the ghetto kroger on 8th anyways???) before realizing that i was holding two number 2 candles instead of two number 3 candles.  the kids.  they grow up so fast.  and by saying that i believe i just solidified my rapid transformation into my grandfather.

our connection was pretty blurry today, but the smiles were there.

we asked mohamed if he knew when we were coming to visit and this smile is what came along with a joyful, "JANUARY!!!!"

blowing kisses

our stick figure cutout birthday cards were a hit.  totally josh's idea.  the kids laughed so hard!  

blowing out their candles

birthday dance party.  duh.

the coolio braid has transformed into an antena.

our connection even wanted to party!...

...twice.

josh and i were up 'til the wee hours of the morn bringing to life his card idea.  

i give you: little body, disproportionate head.

to my faith testing, heart stretching, joy filled, miracle (almost) 3 year olds...

you were the best yes i ever said.  thank you for changing my life.

love, mom

Tuesday's Best, A Christmas Story, and Gung Ho Giving

me: "guess what time it is!!"

you: "tool time?"

me:  "no, but omg jonathan taylor thomas was such a babe!  i miss that show.  what was with the creepy neighbor who never showed his face?  and how pamela anderson was 'heidi' and then all of a sudden she was just gone and they put somebody in her place like people weren't gonna notice that..."

you: (scrolling your mouse toward the 'unsubscribe' button) "yeah, right?!  what was up with that? ha" (nervous laughter).

me: "no wait!  don't go!  it's tuesday's best!!!!"

(yes.  i'm aware that it's wednesday.  yesterday got busy, ok?  just go with it.)

 i mean, that smile!  that single coolio braid!
(also, note how mohamed is so happy because he's looking at a picture of himself)

story time.  everyone turned toward mohamed as he read to us.

what book did he read?  the christmas story.  duh.  it's only the best story ever.
and if anything warrants a little early october celebration preparation it's jesus's birth.
it's beginning to look a lot like christmas.

this one's just to prove that mamie has a face.  poor girl always gets covered up by coolio braids.

man i love those kids.  3 of our 4 kids have birthdays in the next two weeks and it's going to rip my heart out not to be there.  there will be candles on cupcakes and balloons and streamers on our end of our skype call, that's for sure.

in other news... remember when i (politely) told you to go bling or go home????  well you still have a couple more days to get your orders in through our link with your proceeds going directly to the raining season.  the trunk show closes THIS FRIDAY so get your orders in now!

shop here:  http://www.stelladot.com/ts/raui5

and remember... it's beginning to look a lot like christmas (shopping).

xo,

m