I am moving our blog to a new URL and I have decided to make it by invitation only. Don't worry, though, as long as I know you, you are still welcome to view the gooofy stories and pics of our kids! I just need you to email me at grimesfam@gmail.com and ask for the invitation (unless you have received one already, which means I knew your email address off hand).
You will need a Google account to access the page. If you don't have one, you can sign up at Google. Thanks for understanding.
Shadley
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Nother One Ice Storm
Geez. They are calling this The Ice Storm of 2007? Didn't we already have that last spring?? Apparently this one is more widespread...we have our little emergency pack on hand, I hope we don't need it! We do have one causualty though, Eden's color-changing My Little Pony is buried outside under a layer of ice and snow...oops. The other unfortunate thing is that our gutters are full of ice so the rain/sleet/ice that is falling is just pouring over the side, right onto the steps in front!
So far we have not lost power. I hope that is the case all night. I don't mind so much during the day, but you know me and candles. It's not exactly a relaxing environment for me when flames are licking up all around me and my little ones. Well we will prepare for the worst and hope for the best!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Veg-O-Mite!
I have often on this blog raved about what good eaters my kids are...it has reached all new levels. The other day the girls and I met Brynn and Marcus at the mall for supper...Eden wanted Chicken Teriyaki (as usual) so I got one for them to split. As Brynn and I were talking, the girls were eating their food and began to squabble. Brynn looks at me and says, "They are fighting over who gets the broccoli."
Then a few days ago, Elly asked for cookie, so I got out my little bag of vanilla sandwich cookies. "Eden, do you want a cookie?" I asked.
"No, I want something else."
"How about carrots?"
"Yay! Carrots!"
These kids are something. And I can't really take the credit for it, I eat vegetables only because I am grown up enough to know I should. :)
Then a few days ago, Elly asked for cookie, so I got out my little bag of vanilla sandwich cookies. "Eden, do you want a cookie?" I asked.
"No, I want something else."
"How about carrots?"
"Yay! Carrots!"
These kids are something. And I can't really take the credit for it, I eat vegetables only because I am grown up enough to know I should. :)
Saturday, December 08, 2007
I Love a Parade!
Our family (my side) entered my hometown's Christmas Parade this year the day after Thanksgiving...my older sister is quite competitive and worked us round the clock even with our bellies full of turkey. :)
Our hard work paid off, and we won the Holiday Spirit Award for our "Island of Misfit Toys" inspired float!
Santicus
Marcus' penchant for cottage cheese really works in his favor this holiday season...ho ho ho!
For any of you looking closely, YES those are his front teeth bulging painfully from behind the gum tissue...poor little guy has been working on those all week to no avail.
Seriously
Are these not the cutest kids in the universe?
We've been so blessed by Samantha and Dakota (our niece and nephew) staying with us on the weekends while their dad is in the Bahamas working (rough, I know). Kody is 15 and Sam is 12...I have never seen a fifteen-year-old boy more interested in little children and so natural with them (well, maybe except my other nephew Ethan who is equally as exceptional)...Last night Kody said, "Why don't you guys go to bed and we'll put the girls down." [pause for your mouths to drop] and Sam is so anxious to log some babysitting hours she jumps at the chance to fill a sippy cup or change a diaper. Needless to say, Dan and I have been enjoying our help! They are really great kids. Look closely at the pic of Dan and Kode, we call them "Lip Twins."
Friday, December 07, 2007
Quite Ellyquent, Part 5
Today Elly and I were waiting in the car for Dan, and a slow worship song came on and I was singing along with it. Elly scolded me, "Don't sing it Momma! It makes me feel all nigh-night!"
Later, again in the van, Elly was in a super-hyper mood. She kept asking me, "Momma, do you have any suckas in ya purse?" I kept saying no. Then she calls out, "How 'bout you Daddy? Do YOU have any in ya purse?"
Later, again in the van, Elly was in a super-hyper mood. She kept asking me, "Momma, do you have any suckas in ya purse?" I kept saying no. Then she calls out, "How 'bout you Daddy? Do YOU have any in ya purse?"
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Elly Talk
So this whole time we've been telling everyone that Eden was the more verbal kid and that Elly was a little behind her (though still seems to be ahead in general with talking). Then the other night we pulled out some old video tapes and there was a 2 year old Eden...seriously not speaking as well as Elly does now at 27 months...huh.
Elly got a later start by about a month, but apparently she has caught up and then some. Some of her favorite phrases are:
"That's 'cary!"
"That's too 'picy!"
"I wohn be naughty evah evah evah no no no again. Mommy be wiwee mad."
"Is Ee-en in bewy big twubble?"
"Wanna see my new bed? Daddy make it!"
"Wanna see my tee? Daddy make it!"
[apparently my children think Daddy makes the sun rise and fall]
Another one is
"I nevah 'pill cocoa on youw pooter again Daddy! SSSOOOOWWWWYY!"
This one came after an incident with a big mug a cocoa and Daddy's WORK laptop...oops. Thankfully it works.
Elly got a later start by about a month, but apparently she has caught up and then some. Some of her favorite phrases are:
"That's 'cary!"
"That's too 'picy!"
"I wohn be naughty evah evah evah no no no again. Mommy be wiwee mad."
"Is Ee-en in bewy big twubble?"
"Wanna see my new bed? Daddy make it!"
"Wanna see my tee? Daddy make it!"
[apparently my children think Daddy makes the sun rise and fall]
Another one is
"I nevah 'pill cocoa on youw pooter again Daddy! SSSOOOOWWWWYY!"
This one came after an incident with a big mug a cocoa and Daddy's WORK laptop...oops. Thankfully it works.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Want Baby Will Travel
If you are interested in following our adoption process, I have started a new blog to document it here.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Guilty Conscience, Elly Style
This weekend we were basically stuck in the house due to an ice storm, so Dan and I were cleaning and sorting stuff while we waited for our niece and nephew to get here. We were in the basement and we hadn't heard from Elly in a while, so I went looking for her. I found her upstairs in her room, with my make-up case spread out in front of her (I know, some of you are thinking, Shadley ownes make-up?) and she was painting her face like she was about to perform for Barnum and Bailey. I came in and said, "Oh! No wonder you were quiet!" and began laughing. She immediately burst into tears! Here is her face:
Latest Antics
Eden is very excited about taking pictures lately; this is her most recent:
The three girls at Grammy and Papa's for Thanksgiving (watching Rudolph)
Marcus is basically walking now (he's 11 months old now)...here he is "helping" with Christmas stuff.
Elly and Marcus continue to develop a sibling-like relationship and they are starting to play more together. They were pushing their strollers up and down the hallway.
Eden doing my Denise Austin tape:
The three girls at Grammy and Papa's for Thanksgiving (watching Rudolph)
Marcus is basically walking now (he's 11 months old now)...here he is "helping" with Christmas stuff.
Elly and Marcus continue to develop a sibling-like relationship and they are starting to play more together. They were pushing their strollers up and down the hallway.
Eden doing my Denise Austin tape:
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Elly on God
Elly has been quite a pistol lately. She is talking more and more and expressing her feelings quite loudly. Today I had the morning with just her and it was precious to get to connect with her one on one.
As we were driving in the car, she was talking about something and I said, "Do you know who made you? God made your body. And do you know where God lives?"
She replied, "In the forest!"
As we were driving in the car, she was talking about something and I said, "Do you know who made you? God made your body. And do you know where God lives?"
She replied, "In the forest!"
Monday, November 26, 2007
I Love a Parade!
Our family (my side) entered my hometown's Christmas Parade this year the day after Thanksgiving...my older sister is quite competitive and worked us round the clock even with our bellies full of turkey. :)
Our hard work paid off, and we won the Holiday Spirit Award for our "Island of Misfit Toys" inspired float!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Announcement...
We are excited to announce that Baby #3 will be arriving at the Grimes home in about a year, by way of Ethiopia!
We have spent the last two years or so thinking, praying, and talking about adoption, and it is God's time for us to take the plunge! We feel like it is a precious way to expand our family. We chose Ethiopia first, because of the great need there and secondly because Dan has always felt a special connection to Africa (I have always felt a special connection to babies :). The process will take about a year (or longer) before we can travel to Africa, spend about a week in Addis Ababa, and then finally bring baby home! We will not know boy/girl for about 3-6 months. We are requesting an infant; most babes arrive home at about 10 months old.
I (Shadley) will answer here some of the questions I have already received:
1. Why not domestic adoption?
I totally understand this question, and all I can say is that we are open to what God has for us. We know there are many children in this country in need of homes. We don't know why God has led us to this international process and both Dan and I are unified in the decision and we trust His plan. We feel like a home for any child is a good thing and that we are blessed to be able to provide it.
2. What about the racial difference?
We will be white parents raising a black child. We know this. We do not claim to know everything about this, however. We are committed to being the best parents we can be and to providing every resource (whether spiritual, emotional, physical or otherwise) we can to help our child become a well-adjusted human being who is proud of the way God has created him or her. We know we have lots to learn and we are open to learning it. I am blessed to have different races represented in my family and to have parents, in-laws, siblings, grandparents, and friends who are excited about this journey as well.
3. How do you afford it?
Since we know that this is God's plan for us, we are trusting He will bring the money. We have thought it through and we know that we can do it, though we are asking God to show us His will for the financial part of this.
4. What about the health of the child?
I would be lying to say I haven't worried about this. Hepatitis, HIV and other diseases are rampant in Ethiopia and many countries around the world. Our child will be tested for these diseases and others, and his/her medical information will be made known to us before we accept a referral. Beyond that, we trust God for who He has created for our family. We do not get any "health information" on any children we conceive on our own, nor do we get guarantees on the lives or health of any of our children. Children of Ethiopia, including orphans, are considered healthy by developing countries' standards. Most of the children available for adoption into the U.S. are malnourished and have developmental delays that resolve themselves as soon as sufficient nutrition is available.
5. What do the girls think of all this?
Eden prays each night for the baby and is so excited to "Dopt a Baby." She did come to us teary-eyed one night asking if we were going to "adopt her out." There were tears on both sides as we explained to her that this would never happen. We are trying to just give them as much information as they need at this age and not overwhelm them with details. They are excited though, and Eden has told everyone she can get to listen to her--the lady at Pizza Ranch, her carpool driver, our elderly neighbors, etc.
6. What about your blog? It's called "Eden and Elly."
Yeah, I know. I have already reserved a new blog url so that we can expand our family blog. I will also start a new blog documenting our adoption process so you can check in to see how it's going. I will post that as soon as it is up and running.
7. Are you just doing this because Angelina and Brad did?
Okay, so this isn't a real question, but if any of you need to hear us say it: Uh, NO.
:)
---
So I have blathered on about it. Here are Dan's thoughts:
Shadley and I always imagined we would have a larger family...at least three. With Shadley dealing with some health issues, another pregnancy and delivery would be a strain. Adoption became a very exciting option. Like Shadley said, I have always felt a strange draw to Africa...more than just a place I would like to visit someday as a tourist. That made Ethiopia stand out immediately to me.
It is also amazing to think of the parallels of our relationship with God and adopting. God sees our need and reaches down and invites us into His family. We have an opportunity to display His awesome love in a similar way. We are so excited to welcome a new member to our family and enjoy him or her as we have Eden and Elly. -d-
(And he forgot to say he is praying for another girl!)
Thanks for reading, everyone! We hope you will pray for us as we embark on this patience-testing journey! We are blessed that our friends Andy and Jamie are on a similar ride--they are a few steps ahead of us in their adoption of a boy from India.
We are using Bethany Christian Services as our agency. Their website is www.bethany.org if you want to check it out!
We have spent the last two years or so thinking, praying, and talking about adoption, and it is God's time for us to take the plunge! We feel like it is a precious way to expand our family. We chose Ethiopia first, because of the great need there and secondly because Dan has always felt a special connection to Africa (I have always felt a special connection to babies :). The process will take about a year (or longer) before we can travel to Africa, spend about a week in Addis Ababa, and then finally bring baby home! We will not know boy/girl for about 3-6 months. We are requesting an infant; most babes arrive home at about 10 months old.
I (Shadley) will answer here some of the questions I have already received:
1. Why not domestic adoption?
I totally understand this question, and all I can say is that we are open to what God has for us. We know there are many children in this country in need of homes. We don't know why God has led us to this international process and both Dan and I are unified in the decision and we trust His plan. We feel like a home for any child is a good thing and that we are blessed to be able to provide it.
2. What about the racial difference?
We will be white parents raising a black child. We know this. We do not claim to know everything about this, however. We are committed to being the best parents we can be and to providing every resource (whether spiritual, emotional, physical or otherwise) we can to help our child become a well-adjusted human being who is proud of the way God has created him or her. We know we have lots to learn and we are open to learning it. I am blessed to have different races represented in my family and to have parents, in-laws, siblings, grandparents, and friends who are excited about this journey as well.
3. How do you afford it?
Since we know that this is God's plan for us, we are trusting He will bring the money. We have thought it through and we know that we can do it, though we are asking God to show us His will for the financial part of this.
4. What about the health of the child?
I would be lying to say I haven't worried about this. Hepatitis, HIV and other diseases are rampant in Ethiopia and many countries around the world. Our child will be tested for these diseases and others, and his/her medical information will be made known to us before we accept a referral. Beyond that, we trust God for who He has created for our family. We do not get any "health information" on any children we conceive on our own, nor do we get guarantees on the lives or health of any of our children. Children of Ethiopia, including orphans, are considered healthy by developing countries' standards. Most of the children available for adoption into the U.S. are malnourished and have developmental delays that resolve themselves as soon as sufficient nutrition is available.
5. What do the girls think of all this?
Eden prays each night for the baby and is so excited to "Dopt a Baby." She did come to us teary-eyed one night asking if we were going to "adopt her out." There were tears on both sides as we explained to her that this would never happen. We are trying to just give them as much information as they need at this age and not overwhelm them with details. They are excited though, and Eden has told everyone she can get to listen to her--the lady at Pizza Ranch, her carpool driver, our elderly neighbors, etc.
6. What about your blog? It's called "Eden and Elly."
Yeah, I know. I have already reserved a new blog url so that we can expand our family blog. I will also start a new blog documenting our adoption process so you can check in to see how it's going. I will post that as soon as it is up and running.
7. Are you just doing this because Angelina and Brad did?
Okay, so this isn't a real question, but if any of you need to hear us say it: Uh, NO.
:)
---
So I have blathered on about it. Here are Dan's thoughts:
Shadley and I always imagined we would have a larger family...at least three. With Shadley dealing with some health issues, another pregnancy and delivery would be a strain. Adoption became a very exciting option. Like Shadley said, I have always felt a strange draw to Africa...more than just a place I would like to visit someday as a tourist. That made Ethiopia stand out immediately to me.
It is also amazing to think of the parallels of our relationship with God and adopting. God sees our need and reaches down and invites us into His family. We have an opportunity to display His awesome love in a similar way. We are so excited to welcome a new member to our family and enjoy him or her as we have Eden and Elly. -d-
(And he forgot to say he is praying for another girl!)
Thanks for reading, everyone! We hope you will pray for us as we embark on this patience-testing journey! We are blessed that our friends Andy and Jamie are on a similar ride--they are a few steps ahead of us in their adoption of a boy from India.
We are using Bethany Christian Services as our agency. Their website is www.bethany.org if you want to check it out!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Edenisms, Part 13
Eden is very excited to go to Clarinda for Thanksgiving. VERY excited. She's been talking about Ka-rinda all week. This is how our conversation went today:
Eden: Does Ka-rinda have stores, like K-Mart or where you buy bananas?
Me: It has a Hy-Vee and Fareway, and a Dollar General. But no Walmart or K-Mart or Target or anything like that.
Eden: And DEFINITELY no mall, right?
Me: Right.
Eden: Do they [pause] churn butter there?
Me: [laughing]
Eden: It's just like life long ago!
Eden: Does Ka-rinda have stores, like K-Mart or where you buy bananas?
Me: It has a Hy-Vee and Fareway, and a Dollar General. But no Walmart or K-Mart or Target or anything like that.
Eden: And DEFINITELY no mall, right?
Me: Right.
Eden: Do they [pause] churn butter there?
Me: [laughing]
Eden: It's just like life long ago!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
I've Been Made
That was a little throwback to all you Alias fans. In reality, my identity has not been compromised, but I have been tagged by fellow Blogger Mom and friend, Laura.
Here goes:
Name 5 things you were doing 10 years ago:
1. I was freshmeat at the U of I
2. Calling my mom crying lots of nights :) due to an insensitive roommate and an oversensitive me
3. Dating Daniel, a long-haired, guitar-playing Chem E major
4. Traveling back to Clarinda every weekend (I was homesick)
5. Trying to decide what the heck to do with my life
Name 5 things you were doing 5 years ago:
1. taking care of a one month old
2. started having vertigo, almost to the day
3. just moved into our house on Hickory
4. working part time for Parkview as a graphic designer
5. traveling with Beautiful Feet
Name 5 things you were doing 1 year ago:
1. had a one year old
2. had a four year old
3. blogging!
4. finishing our basement
5. anxiously awaiting Marcus Edward's appearance in the world
Name 5 jobs you've held:
1. Computer Lab Monitor
2. Substitute Teacher
3. Graphic Designer
4. Daycare provider
5. Domestic CEO
Name 5 of your favorite snacks:
1. I too love the Diet Cherry Coke
2. Mint Three Musketeers
3. Chex Mix
4. Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
5. chocolate chips
Name 5 things you did yesterday:
1. Took Eden to preschool
2. Went to Target
3. picked up Eden at preschool
4. Eden and I wacked each other's bum bums with an empty giftwrap roll until it broke in half!
5. dishes
Name 5 things you'd do with a million dollars:
1. pay off student loans
2. buy Dan a nice guitar or maybe a couple of them and maybe an amp too
3. give a hunk to some missionaries
4. give some to my parents
5. buy a bigger house (but not too big- I gotta be able to keep it relatively clean)
Name 5 things you hate doing:
1. getting angry and not resolving it
2. being around open flames, I'm neurotic
3. trying to stay awake when I am tired
4. driving long distances
5. spinning (the Big V)
Name 5 shows I like:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Dancing With the Stars
3. Men in Trees
4. SVU
5. Golden Girls reruns (hysterical)
Name my 5 biggest joys in life:
1. Coming back to Christ
2. Birth of my children
3. Watching my kids grow
4. Being married to my best friend
5. Being around family- especially the other two triplets :)
Name 5 people to tag:
1. Rachel Govig-- oops, Bardwell!
2. Brynn (she's like Madonna, she doesn't need another name)
3. Jamie Kampman
4. Emily Malone
5. Carrie Sterner
You're it!
Here goes:
Name 5 things you were doing 10 years ago:
1. I was freshmeat at the U of I
2. Calling my mom crying lots of nights :) due to an insensitive roommate and an oversensitive me
3. Dating Daniel, a long-haired, guitar-playing Chem E major
4. Traveling back to Clarinda every weekend (I was homesick)
5. Trying to decide what the heck to do with my life
Name 5 things you were doing 5 years ago:
1. taking care of a one month old
2. started having vertigo, almost to the day
3. just moved into our house on Hickory
4. working part time for Parkview as a graphic designer
5. traveling with Beautiful Feet
Name 5 things you were doing 1 year ago:
1. had a one year old
2. had a four year old
3. blogging!
4. finishing our basement
5. anxiously awaiting Marcus Edward's appearance in the world
Name 5 jobs you've held:
1. Computer Lab Monitor
2. Substitute Teacher
3. Graphic Designer
4. Daycare provider
5. Domestic CEO
Name 5 of your favorite snacks:
1. I too love the Diet Cherry Coke
2. Mint Three Musketeers
3. Chex Mix
4. Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
5. chocolate chips
Name 5 things you did yesterday:
1. Took Eden to preschool
2. Went to Target
3. picked up Eden at preschool
4. Eden and I wacked each other's bum bums with an empty giftwrap roll until it broke in half!
5. dishes
Name 5 things you'd do with a million dollars:
1. pay off student loans
2. buy Dan a nice guitar or maybe a couple of them and maybe an amp too
3. give a hunk to some missionaries
4. give some to my parents
5. buy a bigger house (but not too big- I gotta be able to keep it relatively clean)
Name 5 things you hate doing:
1. getting angry and not resolving it
2. being around open flames, I'm neurotic
3. trying to stay awake when I am tired
4. driving long distances
5. spinning (the Big V)
Name 5 shows I like:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Dancing With the Stars
3. Men in Trees
4. SVU
5. Golden Girls reruns (hysterical)
Name my 5 biggest joys in life:
1. Coming back to Christ
2. Birth of my children
3. Watching my kids grow
4. Being married to my best friend
5. Being around family- especially the other two triplets :)
Name 5 people to tag:
1. Rachel Govig-- oops, Bardwell!
2. Brynn (she's like Madonna, she doesn't need another name)
3. Jamie Kampman
4. Emily Malone
5. Carrie Sterner
You're it!
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