Mom, is it my birthday yet?

Being programmed to stand and smile when he heard his name, Justice still struggled to obey.  "Mom, they always laugh at me" was his response when given the 'evil eye' from Mom.

His sisters, each in their own varying degrees of pre-teen drama, stood and smiled.  One, quickly and meekly.  One with the flip of her hair and a cock of her hip.  One that actually curtsied.  The last, waving with her presidential smile.

Each week, another church...usually 3 different ones.  He was tired of everyone looking, poking, hugging, and laughing at him.  Why was it always funny when he stood up?

His Daddy, as always, introduced our family.  Starting with his wife, then the oldest child to the youngest.  By the time the congregation had seen the display from each of his sisters, and Daddy made a 'short joke'..."Son, are you standing?!  I can't tell!!" ...Justice was mortified.

Giggles erupted, his face reddened.

Mom, pushing on his backside..."Son....stand up!"

After a lightening speed 'stand up-sit down', his Daddy would say "Justice is 4...almost 5.  His birthday will be on the airplane."

How could folks not giggle at him....he's so darn cute.

But he doesn't understand that.  All that mattered to him was his birthday.

We threw together a quick party for him on the last Saturday we were Stateside.  Surrounded by my family to watch the season opener, we sang, ate a big cookie with an Alabama "A" on it, and he opened gifts and cards containing green paper.  -  "That's done."  I thought.  "Mark that off my Mommy to-do list".

 

But to Justice....it's wasn't done.

The next few days were filled with much stress.  Packing, repacking, unpacking, packing again.  What goes back to Portugal?  What stays.  Do we have room?  How much does this weigh?  What is most important right now?  Pictures of my childood, or pictures when all the girls were babies?  Both can't go.....

Justice played, watched American cartoons and enjoyed the last minute attention from grandparents.  All the while counting down in his head....thinking....."on the plane will be my birthday!"

We arrived at the airport in a whirlwind of last minute plans coming together.

Is Bro. Calvin here?  He's supposed to take our van.

Where is Pawpaw supposed to meet us?  We can't go through security yet, he's not here.

Gramps and Toni made it.  Gramps is never late.  (Like his oldest son)

Do any of our trunks weigh more than 50 pounds? "Lord, please no....I want everything that's in them!"

Deep breath....

Oh look, Bro. David came to say bye...but we're already in the security line.  Run, leave bags, quick hug.

Inconsiderate people.  Only concerned about themselves. Not offering to help a family of 7 with stuffed carry-ons, and help 5 kids remove their laced up, double knotted tennis shoes.  They pass us by in a huff....

"Patience, Nina......we don't have to do this for another 3-4 years."

Security alarm goes crazy....I look up...Lib is standing, eyes wide....."What did I do?"  She, my 'collector of little things' has an old, worn out cell phone in her pocket....Daddy takes it out roughly, tossing it into a tote going down the belt...frustrated....Lib gets a tounge lashing.

Justice still thinking...."It's about to be my birthday!"

We get on the first of three planes.

"Where is everyone sitting?  Who's scared?  Who's more scared and needs Mom or Dad next to them?  She got a window seat last time!  That HAS to go under the seat in front of you, for the 6th time! My stomach feels queasy and nervous.  Did you even eat breakfast?  I left my picture at Mimi's!  I'm SO ready to be home...."

These are random phrases floating through the air of the 4 rows our family takes up.....

We take off and I try to leave my stress and anxiety on the runway as we ascend.

The seat belt light goes off.....Justice looks at me....."Mom, is it my birthday now?"
"Not yet" I tell him.  "On the next plane, the really big plane that takes us over the Atlantic ocean.  On that plane you will turn 5!"  I try to sound excited for him.  My head pounding.

5 Hours later........

On the big plane, he sits in the row behind me.  With his biggest sister, surely she can handle him and let Mom and Dad sit together.  The flight attendant arrives, "Um, excuse me mam (In terrible English) "you have to stop your son from pushing the call button.  He keeps calling the flight attendants."

Deep sigh...defeated......"Come up here son...sit with me."

He's seated, buckled, playing his new video game.  I start dozing off.....

"Mom.....Mom....(poking me)...Is it my birthday now!?!"

I look at my watch, foggy headed trying to think what timezone we were in...."Yes, son.  In Portugal, it's your birthday."

Anticipation in his eyes, he starts looking around.  Almost in a panic.

Then it dawns on me...

He was expecting a PARTY on the airplane.



Exhausted I explain that's not what I meant and not what his Daddy meant everytime he heard his Daddy tell churches that he was going to turn 5 on the airplane.

Brows furrowed, he frowns.

"You are NOT the nice Mommy right now." he says.....

At that point, I didn't care.

I giggled, kissed his head and went to sleep.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A Very Happy 5th Birthday, to my One and Only Son!"

I Love You Justice!

Happy Birthday Justice!

My lil' man turns 4 today!  We celebrated last Friday so Nanny and Papaw could be here for his party.

He is such a joy and he melts my heart.  Something about this boy...my only son.

When I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, he said, "The black kind."  I'm hoping he meant chocolate and he doesn't remember me burning a birthday cake in the past!  (Cause I never burn anything...ahem...)

Now....in honor of Justice's 4th birthday I will list the top 4 things I LOVE about my son:

1.  He is one of a kind.  The youngest and only boy in a house with 4 older sisters makes him not only tough, but incredibly cute.

2.  He tells me daily, "Mom, I loves yous kisses!"  and he will fight his Daddy with all that is in him if he thinks his Daddy is going to 'steal' my kisses.

3.  He is my only 'cuddler'.  None of my girls really liked to cuddle when they were his age.  But they're beginning to see the benefit of cuddling with mom....

4.  He's mine!

"Happy 4th Birthday Justice!  You're my favorite 4 year old in all the world!"
Mom

Happy Birthday Justice

Ain't he a cutie?!

(That hersery's syrup in the picture was sent here from our good friends in Alaska!)


That little ball doesn't stand a chance....



Justice and his special friend, Sarah.







I can't believe my baby is three. It feels like I've always had a diaper bag, car seat and sippy cup with me. But not anymore...times are changing. We're coming into a new stage in our lives. Our babies are growing up, becoming more and more independent.

I'm enjoying every stage of their lives. From my almost adult sounding conversations with my 10 year old daughter...all the way down to my silly conversations with my son.

These are the days we looks back on with love and say...."remember when.....??"

My Uncle Danny, who was my Pastor for several years, used to shake my hand after church on Sunday mornings and say, "Girl, you've got it made!" But with several babies in tow, lugging car seats and a 15 pound diaper bag, I didn't really feel like it.

But today I do....I've got it made!!

(Especially since I received this in the mail on Wednesday....giggle....Thanks Rebekah!)



Have a great weekend,

Snapping Beans

Nanny, this is for you.

Trinity and Justice wanted to help snap beans yesterday. There were more ends and strings in the bowl than there were actual beans, but we sure had a fun time together. I later went back through and cleaned them up. It always takes more time to let the 'little ones" help out. I always find my ranch dressing in the pantry, or the peanut butter in the sink of dirty dishes. Usually where they try to help clean off the table. But one day, and one day soon enough, they will actually be a help. Right now....I can handle a few ends in my beans! These days with them will soon be gone.

Birthday's, Kids, Cats and Pizza

Happy Birthday to me!
I wasn't sure how I would react to having my first birthday in Portugal. Being away from everyone I love and everyone who may know it's my birthday. But after a morning like this one, how could I have ever thought it might be hard?! My precious children, who had worked for days on homemade gifts, woke me to shouts of "Happy Birthday" gave me a party hat and presented me with all their gifts. After that, my husband gave me money and sent me on a day long shopping trip all by myself. You may be thinking, "What fun is that?" But if you know me then you know I love to have a little 'alone' time, and it came at the perfect time. I even received calls from several Portuguese people wishing me a Happy Birthday, got a few cards in the mail from the States and had a few E-cards sent online. Then at church for the mid week prayer meeting the church folks had a little party for me after church. It was a good first birthday in Portugal!

Some people think Brooklyn is Portuguese. Wonder why? She blends in with the other girls her age very well.

This is our pitiful kitten I rescued from the mud puddle. She is doing well, but will always have few lingering problems. Tigra is a nice addition to our family. Justice is pretty rough with her, but she's a trooper. He lays down in the floor and wrestles with her. He really needs a dog, but I'm trying to make the cat work. Michael says there's nothing like a boy and his dog. I say, "He's got Tigra...she works just fine!" He says, "It's NOT 'Old Yeller the Cat!"

This is what I feel like. I'm on a deserted island with no home delivery. I wish someone would show up at my door with a pizza! I'm getting pretty good at making homemade ones, but I long for the simplicity of calling Dominoes.

Finally...Watermelon!

Watermelon is a beloved treat in this family. All 5 of my kids adore this fruit. However, melons are pretty expensive here...especially when it takes so much of our American dollars to get a Euro. Anyway...I splurged yesterday and bought a tiny melon. Just enough for us all to have one small slice. It was about the size of a softball on steroids...

Boys....got to love 'em.

I know..he needs a haircut.

Faith is always wherever my camera is.

Notice the grass.

That grossed daddy out, so he washed it off for him.

Much better.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Very Much

I'm proud to report that Justice used the potty for the first time yesterday! Yes, I know....you are so excited.

I put him on the "big potty" with one of those little seats you sit on top. That way, he's terrified to get off. Great parenting strategy, huh! I left him in there with very specific instructions...."Go Potty". How hard is that?

After about 20 minutes of him drinking his sippy cup, playing with a car and screaming... "Mama...Daddy...sisters... Maaaaama...Daddddddy....siiiisters. (even louder) he finally went. Not just number one, but number 2 too....(2 too...that doesn't sound right....2 also...there, that's better). When I walked back into the bathroom there was the aroma that evidenced his obedience to my command. I had never been happier to smell poop!

However...he kept saying..."tee tee" and pointing towards a sprinkle that was on his foot and all over the floor. That little guard thing on the potty seat didn't work too well and he was grossed out by this, as was I. Any suggestions from you mothers who've potty trained boys would be helpful right about now.

After a little celebration dance, I quickly got him down and we both looked into the potty. Me with great enthusiasm and him with a look of confusion. He had no idea how that nasty stuff got in there and wondered why I was so happy about it. He in no way owned up to it.

Cards, Spiked Hair & Spain

Remember back when I posted and asked you all to help us pray concerning our necessary paperwork to be in Portugal? Well, we finally received our cards....yippee! They are 1 year temporary residence cards. We will have to renew them next spring and then hopefully we'll get cards that will be good for 2 yrs. Here they are!



He is too cute!

The girls with a friend from school.

Procession at the "end of the school year" celebration.

I love my new camera!---My kids don't stay still long enough to get a good shot of them, so flowers are my victims!


Monday night we drove up into Spain. Our main objective was to find cheaper gas. What we found was cheaper gas, but not cheap enough to go to Spain to get it! We decided quickly that we liked Portugal just fine and was actually relieved when we crossed the boarder heading back in to Portugal. We were only in Spain for about 1.5 hrs...but long enough to miss our "home"! Here are a few pictures. Not the best quality though, they were taken from inside the car. Now I can say I've been to Spain. Been there, done that...don't care to go back.

Working out the Kinks

My new camera has finally arrived! Nothing happens quickly around here for some reason. I'm working on all the settings and I've been snapping pictures like crazy all day today. So here are a few:

Trin and Justice cleaning their room

A distant neighbor flying the Portuguese flag

Brooklyn, Faith & Justice

Brooklyn hanging out the clothes

Faith trying to look sweet...only trying. Don't let her fool you!

Faith trying to look cool....again, only trying! Tonight we had a "family night out". These don't happen too often as we try to watch the amount of gas that we use. Gas is about $9.50 a gallon! Anyway, we went to McDonald's!! Yep! The girls got Happy Meals and these cool glasses were their surprise.