Tuesday's Best: ReindeerS, America, and Most Bestest Perfectest

this morning's tuesday's best was the best so far.  if i could call it the most bestest without the grammar police attacking me i sure would.  because it was.  most bestest perfectest.

next tuesday is christmas, and the week after that is new years, so we won't be skyping for 3 full weeks.   normally this would make me all sorts of sad, but not after this morning's call.  this morning, we really felt like a family.

the kids sang us christmas carols and asked us to sing them a few as well.  after realizing that we didn't know any of the verses to 'we wish you a merry christmas' josh suggested that we teach them 'rudolph the red nosed reindeer' and it should be noted that josh seems to think the plural of reindeer is reindeerS.  really.  he sang it both times.  i have video proof.  we will obviously not be homeschooling...

i played guitar for them and taught them a portion of a song for them to sing with me (can one collect skype royalties? hypothetically of course), geraldine got up on the chair and did her standard booty dance (oh boy), mohamed asked us to bring him socks when we come visit in january and a photo album full of pictures of himself (hilarious and sweet), then the best thing ever...

gerald leaned in close to the camera and said, "go there!"

we asked him where and he shouted, "america!"

be still my adopting heart.  the kids don't know that we are trying to adopt them.  in case something terrible were to happen and adoption was no longer a possibility they only know that if it was ever an option for us to bring them home we would love to do so.  i couldn't bear for them to be as devastated as we would be if that didn't happen.  to protect their high hopes and their trust in us that we will follow through with what we say, they have less than limited information on what we are fighting for this side of the pacific.

america.  soon enough, sweet boy.  i promise you.  soon enough.

merry christmas to my favorite four.  may you know that you are loved.  may you know that you are wanted.  may you know that you are fought for.  25 days until i pick you up and don't put you down for a solid week.

merry christmas to all and to all a good skype.

america

singing christmas carols

the booty dance that will be the death of me in her teenage years

guitar time.  this is pretty much what every audience i've ever had looks like... ;)

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

May Days

today is june 12th and i am just now catching my breath from may.  that lil' month had me traveling all over the country this year and i loved every minute of it.

what: key west songwriter's festival

why: because we songwriters have really hard jobs and need to get away every now and then (lie)

what really happened: i played a one hour show during the course of a 5 day vacation

  

what: mother's day

why: because it was my first (sort of) one

what really happened: ol' fashioned southern overeating

what: asheville, north carolina writer's retreat

why: because i have reeeaaaaally generous friends

what really happened: guitar time, wine, food, wine, great songs, wine, wine wine wine

what: southern california

why: my boyfriend booked one of his artists at the ranch and YOU MUST GO THERE ONE DAY 

what really happened: country music in california, two stepping, one of the best meals of my life that sent my inner fat kid to foodie heaven, new friends, a much too short visit with an old friend, brunch on the beach, and even more wine than north carolina

the in between: surprise wedding fun, ascap at night, mister darlin snuggle, bgv's at rachel loy's cd release party, jameson ep release also known as the most fun ever. 

phew.  may, you were lovely.

Tuesday's Best

little man started drumming on the table.  baby girl jumped up on her chair, put her hand on her hip, stuck her butt up in the air, and started shakin' what her mama gave her.  

i guess some days you gotta dance.