Life with the Goodlins

Out for a bit

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 03:07:00 +0000

The girls an I are going on a little trip to California (2 weeks actually). Our first stop, the smallest town ever, and I probably won't have any access to the interwebs, so this blog will probably be quite for a little while.

Thank you for all of your kind feedback it is so encouraging!

I will leave you with this photo

Gonna miss this guy sooo much!

One of my Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:39:00 +0000

So, I have had many of you ask me, when do you have time to "do it all?" You know like manage a household with 3 little munchkins, cook, clean, nurse, wipe booties, make crafts, be a wife, and blog? It is not always easy, and everyday is not perfect, but I have a few hard set rules that allow us to survive.

The biggest key to my success is the 7pm bedtime routine. Yes, that may seem early to many, but it is a lifesaver!! I put all the girls down at this time (sarah even earlier sometimes). We brush teeth, go potty, read and pray. The girls know that even if they aren't totally sleepy they can stay in their beds and read. This is just one thing I won't budge on, having a quite house by 7:30 pm. Mind you, it is not always perfect, sometimes there is a crying child, or we are out late, or we just decided on a movie night, but we make it happen as much as possible.

This time is key for me, it allows me to clean, read, watch tv, shower, blog and just simply be with my husband. I need this time to decompress, to have separate from my children. I need to to be with my husband, to help keep our marriage strong. I LOVE my children with all of my heart, but everyone needs a little time to themselves, just to regenerate. This time helps me to be a better mother, I get more rest, I get a bit of time to relax and it helps me to start the next day off on a better foot.

If you get one piece of parenting advice ever from me, just let it be this: Make sure to make TIME FOR YOURSELF!

We are blessed with having great sleepers!

I have no idea how Maya is sleeping like this

Just so you know, I do still feed Sarah one more time at night (around 9ish) but then put her right back to sleep, she is only 5 months old

The second key to my success is, starting the day with the girls at 7:30am. I get up at 7 (hopefully, on most days and have 30 minutes to myself) and the girls are up at 7:30 (yes, all 3) and here is how I do it:

Sarah is just a really good baby and gets up at 7:30am or later. This is what she is used to, we have her on a routine/schedule (I know not everyone agrees with routines, but it is wonderful for our family), I know what she needs, I know when she is hungry and when she is tired (I have used a great book to help guide me), this makes my life so much easier!

For Maya & Norah, they are pretty used to waking up anywhere between 7 and 7:45am, if they wake up at 7am, they aren't allowed to come out of their room until 7:30. You might ask, how do you keep them in their room until 7:30? Well we have this wonderful app on an iphone called Mr. Moonlight. It has a picture of a moon during the "sleeping hours" and when the sun comes up on the phone (7:30am) they are allowed out of their rooms, one of the best $3 we have ever spent! If you don't have an iphone, other smart phones might have a similar app or you can also buy a kids alarm clock that "wakes up."

I don't make this unreasonable. For example, my girls are not waking up at 6am and forced to stay in their room for 1.5 hours. The time is set for an time close to when they normally wake up, it just helps for more consistency on the days they are up a bit early.

Is this 100% full proof and perfect everyday, no, but most days it is, and most is what I need. I certainly know that this is not for everyone, each person has their own ways of "making it" but these are 2 things that help us during this time with 3, 3 and under.

What are your survival methods?

I'd rather be outside

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 03:57:00 +0000

This is the time of year when I can hardly handle being inside anymore. The cooped up winter days have had their time and we are ALL ready to go outside. This is the time of year when I start to get that glimmer of hope, the warmth starts to show itself, the days start to become just a little longer, but unfortunately in Colorado this is the time of the year where we get the MOST SNOW! ahhhhhhh I will take any warm day we can get and go Outside! Everything is better outside, somehow even just playing with a puzzle outside is more fun!

We were stuck inside for a while with yucky sicknesses, so a puzzle marathon was in order. Not trying to brag or anything but Maya & Norah are really good at puzzles!

At age 2.5 Norah masters the 28 piece barbie puzzle

At age 3.5 Maya masters, not 1 but 3 100 piece puzzles

Maya getting a little nose pick action in (I try....)

And Sarah, she's working on eating puzzles or playing in her jumper

don't you love her tiny hands

She likes this gadget too

love her little cubby legs

I do let Maya play on the computer 1 day a week and I am pretty sure my friend Celine has the same photo of her son, Lane with the same computer and Maya & Lane are the same age. love it!

We can only handle so much time inside though, so off to the park or anywhere outside!

Me outside = Happiness

The girls begged to walk to the park on Monday, not a task I am hugely fond of with 3 small children, but I gave in because it was WAY to nice

I wish you could hear this photo and all the giggles that went with it!

This moment made my whole day!

If you'd ask me, I'd rather be outside

You belong here

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:06:00 +0000

One of the things that has been a barrier to me bonding fully to Norah is allowing myself to let go of Carrisa as her earthly mother. I have always felt that I am not honoring Carrisa, or taking something away from her by allowing myself to fully be Norah's mommy. Then I had one of Carrisa friends tell me, "God chose Carrisa to be Norah's mother for the first18 months of her life, now he has chosen you." That was a big deal for me to hear.

I hope people to not misunderstand. Carrisa is and will always be Norah's mommy, but right now on earth I am hers (still hard for me to grasp). Allowing myself to understand this has really made a huge difference in connecting with Norah. It is a strange dance, allowing myself to fully embrace the role of mommy to Norah while honoring and remembering my sister. It is not always easy.

We made a little video for Norah, now that she is adopted, from mommy and daddy. We want her to know how much we love her, and how much she belongs here, we want her to know she belongs with us!

New Project from Brett and Jenni Goodlin on Vimeo.

It's Official

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:32:00 +0000

Last week we got an unexpected call from our Lawyer that there was an opening for a hearing on Tuesday, Feb 28th for adopting Norah! This was very unexpected since we were planning on the end of March or April to get a hearing date. So we made it work with our crazy life and drove all the way to Georgetown Colorado yesterday for our adoption hearing. It is not easy have 3 children, 3 and under go to 3 different places, but I had so much help!

Everything went great with the hearing! It was easy, fun, and Norah was so cute.

My favorite part, when Brett was asked what Norah calls him, "well it depends on the day, most days she calls me dadda, but others it's dadderton." and then Norah bursts out loud, "Dadderton!"

Can you even believe it? That is has gone by so fast, and so smooth! We have been blessed tremendously and have seen Gods hand throughout this entire process. He has taken care of our every need from money, to lawyer, to paperwork, to help from others, to home study, to everything!

We seriously cannot thank all of you who have helped so much as well, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Norah is a true blessing

Here are a few photos from the event

A special day deserves a special treat, how about a pink donut!

Getting ready for our 2 hour journey to the mountains

On the road

Norah with our Adoption Attorney Seth Grob

Wrong way Dadda!

This is the right door

Just waiting for our hearing

proud mama

proud dada

Here we go!

And it's official Norah is a Goodlin.....

(she is getting heavy)

FOREVER

Best Birthday EVER! {30}

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:19:00 +0000

Ok, so I like to celebrate! Life is worth it! Birthdays matter to me. As my birthday approached I heard my husband ask someone, "who even wants to celebrate their 30th birthday?"

Me: "Ummm I Do!"

Husbands response: "I don't know how to do that, you know, how to throw a big party?"

Me: "Oh, I don't want that. I want a Limo, with my friends!"

Husband: "Ok!"

Did you know that I have never been in a limo, not for a wedding or anything, which is one of the reasons I wanted one! I wanted my closest girls friends, I wanted fun music and I wanted yummy food that I didn't have to cook.

Prep work

1.I asked my friends for at least 2 of their favorite dance party songs (no judgements on what they picked) and my friends are awesome, they picked GREAT songs!

2. Brett handled all of the limo preparations

3. Brett helped to compile a dance party mix for the limo

4. Brett bought some yummy drinks

5. Brett made homemade caramel party favors and burned a copy of the cd for all the girls to have as party favors

6. We baked some cupcakes

7. We tried to make a reservation at the Cheesecake factory (fail) oh well, Red Robin will do!

Ok, seriously people I have the BEST husband!

We met up at my friend Sara's house. She made homemade salsa with chips, yum!

Limo time

It took about 2 seconds to get the party started and it was SO MUCH FUN!

"I gotta feeling, that tonight's gonna be a good night" (1st song)

I am still smiling about it as I write

"We're gonna party likes it's your birthday" (or mine!)

Raise your glass

3 favorite quotes of the night

1.Caitlin: "I loved that I had so much fun with Moms!"

2. Gabby, "It is really hot in here, that would have been great if you put the song

"hot in here" on the mix"

Me: "oh I did!"

3. All of us " I see a little silhouetto of a man,

Scaramouche! Scaramouche! will you do the

Fandango?! " (Bohemiah rhapsody)

I just loved so much about it! The girls that were with me (Ihave such great friends), the dancing, the fun fun fun. It was so fun to dress up and get out of our sweats (ok, I actually I never wear sweats and neither do most of my friends) but you know, have fun as moms!

Oh and I actually got gifts, which I wasn't really expecting, like tangible, wrapped gifts

Dinner at Red Robin

I am still wondering what our limo driver thought about it all, I really hope he got a good laugh.

On our way home

And Caitlin, she was the life of the party! See!

Thank you to Caitlin and all of my great friends for helping to make it the best birthday EVER! Really though, thank you Husband, for doing all of this and allowing me to have fun with my friends and forget I was 30 for a few hours! You are the best!

Sarah {5 months}

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:13:00 +0000

What? how is it possible that Sarah is 5 months old? beats me.

What a joy you have been every month Sarah!

You just seem to get more delightful!

I was very worried about you for a bit, you didn't even gain 1 lb between 2 & 4 months of age, you just lingered around the 12 lb mark (yucky flu). You seem so much better now and I think/hope your weight is going up!

Even when you aren't feeling well (yes another cold), you still smile and squeal at me.

You are still only eating mommies milk

You role over from you tummy to your back all the time (i think mostly because you hate being on your tummy). Although I have seen you role onto your tummy one time also.

You are a great sleeper, like your sisters, and you are very nice about giving us lots of rest! You still take 3 1/2 naps a day and sleep about 12 hours at night.

You love toys! You will reach and lean and do your best to access any toy possible and then it goes straight to your mouth

Sometimes when I lay on the floor next to you, you grab my face and stare at me, it melts my heart

You have been making these weird old man faces, but it is so stinkin cute!

and you still love your feet

I love these little yellow leggings on you and gold shoes, so sad you are about to outgrow them

Your sisters completely adore you and are excited you can play a little now. Maya will sometimes just ask if you can just stay in her room in the exersaucer, she just wants to be with you, so sweet

sometimes it is easy to forget to jump in a photo with you, so I made sure to grab a few with you this time! (moms seriously don't forget to do this with your kids!)

Monthly progression

(lets go back a littler further)

I love how you fit into our family so well Sarah! We love you!

Valentines Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:45:00 +0000

What a sweet day, all about L.O.V.E.

First of all thank you to all of you who sent girls Valentines!! They just loved getting to open mail for 14 days straight, so fun!

We celebrate Valentines as a family, a love day. We make dinner and hang out together, simple and easy. Oh, and I take cute photos of the girls.

probably one of my favs of Sarah

A few days prior to V-day the girls attended the annual Daddy/Daughter Dance (go here to see last years). Brett headed out with the 2 older ladies, 3 in tote might have been a bit much.

We got invited to a cute little Valentines party at Lindsay's house. The set up was way to cute! The party was very sweet and fun, eating, crafts, playing, and more eating.

tiny Sarah

the kids

eating

My favorite craft was Norah's, she put fish crackers on it.....

Lindsay reading Maya a "love" story

Emerson and all of his Ladies

I love my little family

what has been one of the hardest things as a parent

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:42:00 +0000

There is a lot to anticipate and expect as a parent, there are many many fun things, and many difficult and challenging things. One thing that I did not expect or even think would be hard is dealing with so much feces!! You know, pee and poo poo my friends! I mean it is constant at our house, almost E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y, there is some kind of baby blowout or pee pee, poo poo, or diarrhea accident from one of the girls.

I seriously CAN'T HANDLE IT, it is disgusting (even from my own kids) when it is all over the carpet, blankets, skin, clothes, fingernails, you name it, it is so gross!!! I feel like I need a sanitizer bomb in my house STAT! I feel like the girls room has a lingering pee smell, and every week, no matter what, I am scrubbing something nasty off of the carpet!

So on Friday I had a special adventure at Costco (aka my favorite place to shop)

Here is the story.

1. Girls did great at Costco, so I decided let's get lunch!

2. Order at hot dog (don't worry they are kosher), and was told it would be another 5 minutes until they were cooked, no biggy, it takes me about that long to get the girls out of the cart and seated

3. Sarah starts acting fussy

4. Decide I should take her out of her car seat so she can hang out with us

5. Immediately notice a baby poop odor

6. Realize it is all over my arm and shirt

7. Another realization comes: I don't have the diapers (they are in the car of course) and I have 2 toddlers sitting at a table, a baby in arms (that I can't set down), and a hot dog still cooking that I have already paid for

8. uhhhh what do I do?

9. Ummm there are 2 strangers over there, they are women and look nice enough

10. "Umm excuse me, excuse me, my baby just had a poop blow out the diapers are in the car, I have 2 daughters over there and a cart full of groceries, can you watch them?'

11. Strangers reply "sure, we had kids once"

12. run to the car

13. scramble to change Sarah, get poop everywhere, change her into a onesie that already has a poop stain

14. run back inside with a baby in my arms that only has a onesie on while it is 30 degrees outside

15. children are safe

16. get back in line for my hot dog (still)

17. Sarah spits up all over the floor and my favorite boots

18. I am sweating

19. Finally eat and take this photo

20. Of course the girls have to use the restroom

21. Finally get to the car (2 hours later)

(little stinker)

22. Maya is hysterically crying because Norah ripped the Costco receipt

23. oh and its not over yet.....

24. Get home and rinse off poopy clothes

and then Norah leaves me this

Poop OVERLOAD!

30 gifts for a friend turning 30

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:31:00 +0000

February is not just the month that I turn 30, but is it the month where, not 1, but 3 of my Sarah friends have birthdays! 2 Sarah's will be sharing their 30th birthday with me (Sarah H. & Sarah L), and Sarah Cz with be on her 31st b-day. Yesterday was my best friend Sarah H's birthday; California, High school, Best Friend Sarah! We wanted to get together so badly to share this moment together, but decided we should wait until just a bit later in the year to celebrate our birthdays (nursing a baby always makes things a little harder).

I wanted to send her something special since I couldn't be there, and I decided it would be fun to give her 30 gifts for her 30th birthday! It wasn't super easy, took some planning, and many of the gifts are personal to our friendship, but she is totally worth it! Here is what I did

I spent about a month purchasing and looking for little things to buy. The dollar spot at target was helpful, so I didn't end up spending thousands of $$$$ (even though you are worth it Sarah!). I had one main gift (#30), so it didn't feel like she was getting a bunch of random things. And Sarah is great at cooking, so I tried to do a few things related to that.

Each gift was packaged in a similar brown bag (with the exception of a few larger items)

Here is what her gifts include (not all are pictured)

1. Chevron kitchen towel

2.Box of Junior Mints (one of our favs!)

3. Pink Mittens from Old Navy

4. Nail Polish

5. Stationary

6. Big Pen

7. Eye Pads

8. Toms of Main Toothpaste (yes, I am an hygienist and had to get her that!)

9. Recipe Cards from this website

10. Vitamins for women age 50+ (had to do at least one joke)

11. Socks

12. Sugar Free Gum

13. Cd with some of our favorite songs growing up

14. Headband I made

15. Peach Gum Rings

16. Photo of us

17. Journal

18. Boot Slippers

19. Clipboard

20. Scarf

21. Aromatherapy Bath Salt

22. Kinkless hair ties I made

23. Ribbon (for crafts)

24. Cute Fabric

25. V.S undies

26. Sonic gift card (so she could get a yummy slushy)

27. Pink Lotion

28. Decorating Icing

29. Cupcake Stencils

30. Personalized Necklace from Just Jaynes. I know it is hard to see but the necklace has Sarah's children's names on it.

Ready to Ship

Package received

Sarah,

It has been a joy to have you as a friend and I love that we have been best friends for all of these years! I love that when we get together it is still so easy and we still have so much in common, we even buy our husbands the same clothes! I have loved watching your family grow and I have loved all of the support and encouragement you have given me throughout my life! What a blessing you have been! Happy birthday to you!

Jenni

Embrace the Camera February 16th

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:33:00 +0000

I had to put this photo up of Maya, Norah & Daddy! It is so sweet! It is from the Daddy Daughter Dance

Isn't it soo sweet! Love

Why I cried on my 30th birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:16:00 +0000

I used to say there were no good birthdays after age 25 (haha and I still kind of think that). I always wanted to be done having kids by the time I was 30 (and that is probably the case). I have been blessed in many ways in my 30 years, but as many of you saw I had some tears entering the THREE ZERO age.

Yeah, the whole getting older thing isn't that much fun, but that isn't why I cried. I cried because, well, it has been a Hard 30 years. I am a reflector and I am sentimental, so as my birthday approached the memories of my life overflowed. It is hard for me to not have the people I have loved so much around during these milestones. I wanted my father to crack some lame joke, and my brother to hug me and tell me he was proud, and I really wanted a popcorn popper from Carrisa....... sighhh. All of these things overwhelmed my thoughts as I sat alone during my last few hours of being 29. My husband wasn't home and I just needed a friend. And to be honest it is hard for me to call people, I know they care, I just feel like a bother, or I make up excuses for them, like they are busy, they have kids, etc etc. So instead I just sat alone. I was ok, I just needed to cry.

So onto my birthday

here is a bit of my 10,950 day on earth

beautiful outside

My husband made me breakfast and a delicious latte

We went to church

I got to spend time with these lovelies

My day was special, very special. My main birthday celebration is not actually happening until this coming Saturday, so I didn't have a whole lot planned on my actual birthday. Brett made sure my every need was taken care of and he let me go shopping in Denver with a wonderful friend (and no kids!!!!).

It was such a GREAT time, hours with just an amazing friend, it was just what I needed! We laughed, shopped, ate yummy food, and talked and talked! I love how God puts certain people in our lives, sometimes in strange ways like cleaning their teeth :O) Lindsay is a true blessing and totally spoiled me on my birthday! Thank you Lindsay for making a special day, truly special.

Plus who wouldn't be happy going to H&M and the While Chocolate Grill?

and don't forget this amazing-ness!

Happy Birthday to me!

On my birthday I was overwhelmed with wonderful birthday wishes from so many of you, it was very encouraging and uplifting, so THANK YOU very much!

Hoping the next 30 will be filled with Life!

1 year with Nory

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:44:00 +0000

A year, a year with Norah, so hard to believe. I had a friend ask me how my day was on our 1 year anniversary of Norah coming to live with us and I told her, "it was great, it feels like Norah has always been a part of our family." That is really how Brett and I feel, like Norah has just always been here, always been a part of our family, she is a part of our family.

Brett and I wanted to take Norah on a special date, so we had our sitter come watch Maya & Sarah. Norah's main request, "I want M.A.C.A.R.O.N.I!" of course. So we went to Old Chicago and Norah enjoyed her delicious kraft mac & cheese with mom and dad.

Oh and she HAD to bring her blankie

She also got a heart shaped balloon

Love

The Mac N Cheese was DELICIOUS! See

Then we took her to chick-fil-a so she could just play

It was a special time with just Norah. It was easy and fun.

And since it has been 1 whole year since Norah has lived with us, yesterday we were finally able to sign her adoption paperwork!!

We went to Brett's work, Compassion, to have all of the paperwork notarized. It was fun to have someone we know notarize everything, it made everything feel a little more special and personal. So thank you Angie, for being a part of this process and helping us sign our lives away, or should I say Norah's.

Paperwork in hand

The girls waiting while we sign

and the signing begins

thanks Angie!

and the official notarization

Look how much she has changed in a year

Norah

you truly are a blessing to our family! Everyone always says that you are lucky to have us, but really, we feel so lucky to have you. You have changed our lives, turned our world upside down and taught us how to love in a new way, you are and will always forever be our daughter, our little Nory.

30 on 30

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:20:00 +0000

Sunday, February 12, 2012 will be my 30th birthday! C.o.m.p.l.e.t.e.l.y hard to believe! I am not exactly looking forward to this number milestone, but it is what it is.

I decided to kick off my pre-birthday celebration with giving you 30 things that I have done/that have happened in the 30 years I have been alive!

1. I was born, that is a pretty big deal!

2. I have lived in a trailer park

3. I have lived in 11 different houses, 5 different cities, and 3 different states

4. I have lost a father

5. I have lost a brother

6. I have been an aerobics instructor

7. I have nearly drown in a river

8. I have had plastic surgery (on my ear to remove a keloid)

9. I have been the MVP on a high school basketball team

10. I have lived in the middle of America, Omaha Nebraska

11. I have hiked the Incline in 43 minutes

12. I have died my hair red

13. I have smoked 1/2 of a cigarette (haha, that is about all I could stand)

14. I have been to 21 of the 50 states

15. I got married!

16. I have gotten a $108 tip on a $38 bill (yes I consider that an accomplishment!)

17. I have been to Piccadilly Circus in London all by myself

18. I have gotten lost and the picked up by a stranger

19. I graduated from dental hygiene school (hard hard hard, so hard!)

20. I have hiked up to the top of Pikes Peak (and 2 other 14eeners)

21. I have been to Africa

22. I have been white water rafting

23. I have lost a baby
24. I have lost a mother in law

25. I have lost a sister

26. I have had one child via Epidural

27. I have had one child all natural

28. I have had one child via adoption

29. I have had blow out diarrhea and vomiting simultaneously with my husband

30. I have had 3 children 3 and under, (whew, still there)

I have done a lot in 30 years,
and have many more to come,
but when all is said and done
all that really matters is that I have led a life loving and serving Christ.

What are you living for?

Goodlins 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:06:00 +0000

It is overwhelming to me to do a homemade scrap book photo album. I mean we have sooooooo many photos, actually about 12,000 in iphoto, which is kind of ridiculous!

So this is what I decided for our family in regards to photo albums:

-I will do online photobooks.

-Each child will get their own "1st year" photobook

-Every year we will have a "Family" album that has sections for each child

Maya already has her 1st year album

Sarah has not quite reached that mark &

Norah's, well hers is going to be hard for me, so I may need help from some of you. I have a cd with some of my sisters photos of Norah, but there is a lot I do know about dates and milestones. I know that some of you who read this have a cute photo of Norah, or Norah and Carrisa and I would love to have it! I feel like this photo book will be very important and special to Norah and the more time that passes the harder it will become to do it. So please email me the photos if you have any!

About 2 weeks ago we got our "Goodlin Family 2011" Photo album in the mail, it was an exciting day! I think the girls look at it daily. So, we wanted to share it with you. Just a warning, it is super long and there are tons of photos! It was so hard for me to eliminate pictures and I tried to keep a lot of it as family only so the book didn't end up with 200 pages. Check it out!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Build your own high-quality photo books at Shutterfly.com.

Embrace the Camera February 2nd

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:53:00 +0000

I haven't embraced the camera for a while, which means I haven't been in any photos with my girlies for a while, so I had Brett grab a quick photo one night after swimming.

not the most beautiful photo, just every day life!

I love cuddling with them!

Ribbon Wand

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:22:00 +0000

Hi, we have been trying to get through some of these blah January days.

I found a really easy DIY ribbon wand on this blog and thought it would be fun for the girls to do!

I was a bit nervous, with all of the colored liquids, especially with Norah, she is such a wiggle worm, but to my Amazement Norah did A.W.E.S.O.M.E! It was like she was a different child, sitting still, waiting for my instruction, not going crazy or splashing everywhere, it made the project so much more enjoyable!

Getting our supplies

Whatever you do Norah, do not pull the towel down!

Wahhh La, time for a dance party

I will leave you a photo of this rare occasion

isn't Maya making such a delightful face? Norah looks pretty cute too, ha!

Adoption Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:21:00 +0000

about a week and a half ago we got our 400 adoption papers emailed to us! If you don't recall we have to have Norah live with us for 1 year before we can file for her adoption. So we can't sign anything until February 10th, 2012 (the day after it has been 1 year). It is just sitting here, all read through to make sure every binding word is perfect.

So after February 10th (if both parties have signed all paperwork) our attorney will file for an adoption with the Clear Creek County Court outside of Denver. After that, he predicts that it will take about 30-45 days for a hearing to finalize her adoption. Whew! Can you believe it has almost been a year since Norah moved to Colorado?

This process has been nothing like I ever expected. It has been a whirlwind and has hardly left me any time to even realize my sister is gone or what has happened in our life. One of the hardest things for me has been to find someone to talk with, someone to relate to.

For most people adoption has been something they planned, something that has been years in the making, they have read books, rearranged their lives, gone to adoption groups, talked with psychologists and even picked where their child was coming from. I always admire those people, the ones who chose to bring in someone they don't even know, to give them a home, to bring them into their family and love them. Although our story is not much different than that, it feels very different in so many ways. Adoption was obviously not something we were planning (anytime in the near future), or something that was years in the making, we are blessed to be able to have children of our own, and we certainly hadn't even met with an adoption group, ever. I would just love to sit down with someone who feels just a little bit like I do and have a heart to heart conversation. Are you out there?

People always say to us, "what you guys are doing is so wonderful!" And in my head all I can think is, "wouldn't you do the same?" I mean there wasn't even a second thought about Norah being part of our family. And I know about 10 other people who would have taken Norah in if they had to, so really if this happened to your family, wouldn't you do the same? That is what family is, that is what family does. Norah is our family. Norah is our daughter now and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Some days are hard, really hard.......

but

I can't even come close to picturing our life without 3 girls, 3 daughters, 3 gifts.

got mail?

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:14:00 +0000

I was at Target a few weeks back (and everyday since) and saw these super cute mail boxes at the dollar spot, I thought it might be fun to do something for the girls for Valentines day with them.

The next day, I saw this post on one of my favorite blogs with a great idea for the mail boxes! So I had to copy it.

So starting at the beginning of February the girls will get a card in their mail box, a love note from someone they know. This was actually the hard part (and more of my idea), I had to contact several people to see if they would write the girls a love note. Brett and I will write notes, Grandma & Grandpa, and some other relatives, but we need a total of 14 love notes and are still shy a few! so if you want to write a love note for each girl and send it to me that would be awesome!

Here are the Mailboxes I designed

Supplies:

Mailbox

Salvation army Candlestick

Spray paint

Hot Glue or Gorilla Glue

Paper

I spent $3 buying 3 mail boxes, and $ 3.27 buying 3 candlesticks from the Salvation Army. I already had some pink spray paint on hand, so the project only cost $6.27 and I can use it for many years!

Help-

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:53:00 +0000

My blog is broken! Can't you tell? I need help! I need someone who can design one for me without being to expensive. Do you know of anyone, or are you that someone who can help??? It looks so terrible right now.....
Oh, and I don't want to use Cutest blog on the block.

Sarah {4 months}

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:09:00 +0000

Here she is, my little 4 month old love

Sarah Eileen

It seems like you have changed so much this month!

You love toys and ALWAYS want to hold them and put them in your mouth. Everything goes in the mouth: hair, books, clothes, toys, hands, feet, whatever you can get in your mouth goes there.

You were really sick this month and gave mommy a few scares, so no more fevers, rashes, and purple legs, okay? This week you are back to Sarah self and my heart is happy.

You found your feet! You are always always grabbing them, holding them up when I change your diaper, pulling them toward your mouth, you just love them. I remember Maya finding her feet around the same time

You are holding your head up so well, even though you really don't like to be on your belly

Your happy, determined, and delightful

Every time I put you in a bumbo you look so tiny and cute

I love that I don't have to bribe you for photos, it is easy right now. And your sisters..... well I usually have to bribe them, that is until the ysee me taking photos of you, then for some reason they want a photo too, see

Month Progression

photo journal

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:54:00 +0000

I always love when I get good ideas from other blogs, even if I don't always do them, I just love others ideas! That is why Pinterest is such an addiction. Anyway, I am sure this idea is somewhere on the interwebs, but I actually thought of it without seeing it anywhere.

Just about every small group I have ever been in has encouraged regular journaling and I haven't always been so good at it, but then I thought, "what if I journal specifically for each of my daughters?" I could write down what they are like at certain ages, funny things they say, prayers that I have for them, or scriptures that come to mind with each girl. Then, once they graduate from High school I can give them their journal to read. I just thought it was be such a special gift, and maybe they will even be able to see their strengths and abilities and remember ways God moved in their lives even at a young age.

At first I was just going to buy cheap journals, but then I saw that Shutterfly.com had personal ones, and after using like 4 coupons, I think they were only about $4.00 each so I had to get them!

We just got them in the mail last week. I am glad I went with personal, they are way cuter! I am sure if you want to do this a $1 journal will suffice, but I like cute.

Maya

Norah

Sarah

I love that I am starting so young with Sarah, her little personality is already starting to come out and I can't wait to look back and read and see what I thought she was like as a baby and what she is like when she is older.

While I was taking photos of the journals this is what was going on around me

Our neighbor got the girls these cute heels for Christmas and they were dancing and clanking away in a circle as I photographed.

I treasure these girls

and these moments

Each little lady already has at least one entry (Norah has 3 because she is always saying and doing so many funny things like calling a Snickerdoodle a "Dickerdoodle" haha, love her).

And while Maya & Norah were dancing, clanking, and singing away, this little lady was peacefully asleep

I will certainly treasure this moment, because it is not going to last much longer

I can't wait until the pages of the journals are worn, with rips, stains, time, and a life full of memories

Danae's Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:54:00 +0000

We were all so excited for Danae to come to Colorado! It was her first time here since we have lived here and the girls were just over joyed to know she was coming! We even did a paper ring count down!

Danae is about 5 1/2 years younger than me. Her and I are probably the most alike out of all of our siblings, we have similar personalities, quirks, and I think our voices even sound similar. We are alike in many many ways, but we are also very different and I love that about her. She is amazing with children, I mean amazing! I loved watching her with the girls, she had so much patience and grace, and just a natural ability to communicate with them. I really wish we lived closer! Oh and I love that Danae is just about the only person who calls me "Jen" I actually prefer it.

About 10 minutes after Danae walked into the house she already had a fort built for the girls

She finally got to meet baby Sarah

We had to do a trip to focus on the family, especially since it is to hard for me to take the girls by myself these days

We did lots of crafty things while Danae was hear also, she is probably the best crafter out of all the Cox girls

Courtesy of my husband, Danae and I got to go out on a date together.

We had a really good time, just talking, catching up, relating to one another like no one else. I mean she is really one of the only people I can relate to. She knows what it is like to lose a father, to watch a big brother die at home, and to lose a sister we both loved so much, she understands............

she really does.

I sometimes forget that Danae and I don't have the same memories of our dad. She was only a tiny baby when our dad got sick, and was only 4 years when he died. She really didn't know him at all. It makes me really sad, at least I have more memories to grasp onto, to know what he was like, to know a piece of who I am. While she was visiting I tried to tell her of some of the memories I had of him, of what he was like, how he laughed, how he played with us, how he loved....

The day before Danae left it was BEAUTIFUL outside, we had to go to the park

yep, multi-tasking, having a picnic while feeding Sarah (she is under the hooter hider)

This is probably one of my all time favorite photos of Brett and the girls

We also did some silly photos

and a cute one

Danae has a special bond with Norah

There is no one like a sister

I forgot how much we need each other.

A little history

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:28:00 +0000

For those of you who don't already know, I grew up in a family with 6 children (later 7 children, with 1 step brother). I had 3 sisters, 2 brothers, and 1 step brother. My mom remarried, several years after my dad passed away, to a wonderful man named Ed. They have been married ever since.

This is how the kid line up used to look (birth order)

Darren

Candice

Brian (Ed's Son)

Jenni

Jordan

Carrisa

Danae

Yep, I was in the middle

ha, I love how the soda Carrisa is holding is bigger than her head

Here is how it looks now:

~~Darren~~ (Died @ age 21 from a Brain Tumor)

Candice (34)

Brian (34)

Jenni (29)

Jordan (28)

~~Carrisa~~ (Died @ age 25 from a Cardiac Dysrhythmia)

Danae (24)

Yep, I am still in the middle, only with a few more tear stains and scars......to many

Isn't my Grandma so cute?

I know I do not always talk about my living family very much (other sisters and brothers). I love them all and will share certain things about them as they allow, but I just want to respect their personal lives.

I am eager for my siblings to get married and have children of their own, because as it stands now I am the only one married. I do have one nephew from my step brother Brian, but none of my other siblings have children and our little Goodlin girls would love to have cousins on my side of the family!

With two siblings already gone I cannot help but fear that someday (to soon) there will be even fewer of us, some people don't think that is a legitimate fear, but for me it is. I try not to dwell on it and trust that the Lord has plans for our family to continue to expand, but the thought still lingers.

So now that you know a little about my family I can post about my little sister Danae's visit, tomorrow!

12 things, kinda random

noreply@blogger.com (Jenni Lynn) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:57:00 +0000

Sorry for the quietness in my blog this week, my youngest sister Danae was visiting from California. I can't wait to tell you about it! I was going to write a more interesting post tonight, but I am drained. Sarah is sick, I am not sure what is wrong, she has had a rash, fever, more poop than usual, and some congestion. Norah has been sick too, fever, runny nose and rosey cheeks. So for now I am just going to leave you with some of my thoughts.

1. I already miss my sister

2. Maya was in a wedding in October, have a mentioned that? Anyway, you can go here and see a few photos of her

3. I have a cold sore. Ewww I hate them with a passion!

4. I am worried that baby Sarah has food allergies (like to peanuts and/or dairy)

5. Brett starts school again this week and I am not looking forward to less time with him

6. I don't really like January

7. Maybe I should write something happy

8. Brett and I have been watching National Geographic lately

9. Did the Broncos really lose that bad?

10. I am going to be 30 in less than a month!

11. Villa is going to have an outdoor pool day this month and I really want to go!

12. Here is a sneak peak of Danae's visit