HO! HO! HO!

Grammy came to visit for the week but wasn't prepared for the noise level from 6 kids running around the house

Lilly got some cool stuff from the Ritz's

Maddie hates to have her picture taken, can't you tell

Maddie became the official photographer of the evening and actually did a great job!

The original Crabtree clan

Lilly had too much Christmas cheer

Emme and Maddie- kissing cousins- best friends

The Jan Brady Syndrome

This snow guy is kinda evil looking isn't he?

Lilly telling santa all she wanted was a book for christmas. Oh to be two again!

We were pretending to be festive in our sweaters but it was about one million degrees in this room.

Sometimes I feel bad for Lilly because she is that classic middle child stuck between her big sister who gets to do more fun stuff than her and her baby brother who gets the babying most of the time. Not that she is deprived in any way, but it is good to get some one on one mom time every once in awhile. That's why it was cool that I got to take her to the Pancake and Paws breakfast by herself (maddie was sick) the other day and she thought she was big stuff. She was also much more behaved than usual (go figure).

Five Year Old's Faux Pas

Five year olds do not know anything about being politically correct. That is what cracks steve and I up about the kids everyday. Sunday was no exception...
So we are sitting at lunch with the kids and Greyson starts throwing food on the floor (his favorite pastime besides sticking his hand in the toilet or throwing batteries in the toilet etc etc). I scolded him for it and he started crying.
Maddie says oh I think Greyson is crying because he wants his real mom!
It is one of those moments you want to cry and laugh at the same time. We chose to laugh!

Greyson Needs a Haircut!

Before the trauma began

The trauma began but this was before three grown men had to hold him down.

Doesn't he look like a big boy???

A certificate showing Greyson has entered into barbershop "manhood"

Greyson needs a haircut! That is what our friend from Rwanda told us while visiting our house on Thanksgiving. It was becoming a little unmanageable…….dry and kind of kinky and just generally unhealthy. We had made the mistake of washing it nightly just as we did the girls. That apparently is a big no-no. We attempted to reverse the damage we had done by conditioning nightly but it was all for not. So there was only one option. Cut it off and start again.

I began the search for a good black barber shop…..not so much because we didn’t think he could get it cut anywhere else but because the barber shop is kind of a cultural hub for black men in America, at least that is what my black friends have told me. So, because Greyson has me as a father, a white mom, two white sisters and even a white Westie as the family dog…..I feel it is really important for Greyson to be exposed to African American men in as many ways as possible. I also felt it was important for me to take him…not sure why but I just wanted to.

So after recommendations from some African American friends and another adopting family we headed off this morning to Haskin’s barber shop. It was a funny experience. It was kind of like those movies where the white guy walks into the black bar and the music stops and everyone looks at him. In this case, everyone saw Greyson and put two and two together pretty quickly. Now, I didn’t know this but a haircut and shave takes a little more time than what we are used to at Supercuts. It was about 30 minutes per person but we were 2nd in line so no worries. Unfortunately, about half way through the guy before Greyson, I realized the shop did not take credit cards. Ugh! We had to give our spot up and go get cash. We came back and now we were 3rd in line.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the conversation amongst all those in the shop. It was great. Just common stuff, kids, the news and of course, wives. Everyone agreed it just does not make sense to argue….just do what you’re told and your marriage would be fine. I was surprised to find it a fun time listening to all the conversation. Funny, the presumptions you take with you into new experiences. I loved it...it didn’t really have anything to do with the fact that it was a black barber shop but that it was kind of like a boy’s club where there were no girls and just good fun ribbing back and forth. All men should go to a barber shop.

Luckily, the men in the shop saw Greyson getting antsy and let me go to the front of the line. I told everyone I had to take a picture or Heather would kill me. That is when the guy who said it was best to do what your wife tells you jokingly told me to quit being a punk and stand up to my wife. With that bit of ribbing I felt a little more accepted into this group.

That is where the fun started. Greyson did well for about 3 seconds before coming unglued. As Eric, the barber started his work you would have thought we were cutting Greyson’s fingers off. He was inconsolable. He was yelling and squirming and angrier than I have ever seen a child. It took three of us to hold him in the seat so Eric could cut his hair. Every man in the shop was trying to help. One person grabbed a sucker and gave it to him while one helped hold him in the chair. It was a group effort! It was over in a few minutes. The barber gave Greyson a certificate for his first cut and we were done. The men said to make sure and call them next time so they would know when not to come! More jokes. Well, it was fun and I think I had a better time than Greyson. Man time, you know?

YouTube - The Lazarus Effect

YouTube - The Lazarus Effect

Watch this- Good to remember this time of year when everything gets crazy. Lately, I have been thinking more and more about what God wants us to do in Africa. I still have a strong pull there but am not sure what we are supposed to be doing. I know doing nothing is not something I can do.

A Blessed Life...

Just wanted to show you some pics from thanksgiving. We had my sister and her family, my parents and our friend Connie (originally from Rwanda) for dinner. It is always so cool to have everyone gathered and I always look forward to the holidays for that reason. The turkey was great thanks to steve's able cooking skills and the kids ran themselves ragged. IT WAS GREAT!

Am I crazy???

I kept hinting that I wanted a dog for my b-day and steve kept telling me I was crazy since I already have to take care of three little ones all day long and am always exhausted at the end of each day. However i wore him down and here is my new baby- little Maisy. And she is a baby, one that poops and pees and cries all the time. I am not complaining just accepting that my life is supposed to be sleepless. Anyway, isn't she cute?

Is Halloween Over?????

Trunk or Treat at Church in front of our beautiful trunk

Greyson finally did not cry when we put on his costume! Hooray!

Lilly and Maddie trick or treating at Kentucky Kingdom in the FREEZING drizzle

Maddie makes another costume change! We had lots of fun trick or treating at Norton with Melanie and her gang.

Melanie at her friend Mason's Halloween party

Getting ready to go trick or treat at the zoo

We seriously have gotten our fill of Halloween this year- Enjoy all of our festive pics. Would love to hear from you if you are reading this !

Big Sisters are the Best!

Lilly is 3 years younger than maddie and so often times she really really gets on her nerves. Lilly adores maddie and wants to be like her and look like her at all times. She follows her everywhere and imitates what she does and Maddie at times just wants to be alone with her deep thoughts. At times Maddie can be a bit harsh to Lilly and the sisterly love is just not there. But then... she goes and surprises me.

The other day I noticed it was much too calm at bedtime and I walked in Maddies room to find her teaching Lilly how to brush her teeth and telling her that the cavity creeps would get her if she didn't brush really good. Lilly was taking all this information very seriously and was doing everything Maddie told her to do. It was one of those really sweet moments that makes a mom's heart all warm and mushy.

First Annual Wehrheim Halloween Bash

Lilly my sweet fairy

Did we mention Greyson likes cupcakes?

A very tired steve with a very tired and grumpy Greyson

Playing a competitive game of pass the pumpkin

Our spooky witches brew

The wicked witch of the west roasting hot dogs over the open fire

David checking out the ginormous pumpkin

Maddie and her best school buddy Mackenzie

We had so much fun having our first Halloween party for the kids. I am a Halloween fanatic and with my friend Therese's help we transformed the house into a haunted but not to scary wonderland. We had about 12 kids and their parents and had most of the festivities outside. The kiddos roasted hotdogs and then played lots of fun games and got to trick or treat around the yard. I was the Wicked Witch of the West and had a lot of fun playing that part including making a big witches brew made up of about 6 boxes of spaghetti stuffed with fake bats, worms and lots of other creepy crawlies that the kids got to pick out. Everyone had a great time and we are looking forward to making it bigger and better next year.

And Their Off...

Mom and I had some good girltime last week at one of my favorite places, Keeneland. This has become a girl tradition for the Crabtree family gals but this year my sister could not come because she is in nursing school hell right now. We missed you and love you sherry! After nursing school we are Big Apple bound so get your suitcase ready sister!

Mom and I won no money but we had a great time!!!

Fall Break and many pumpkins

I cannot get enough of fall. I love this season especially when the leaves actually change. But I am happy even if they don't. The kids and I love visiting pumpkin patches and doing everything that fall has to offer. We certainly got our fill of pumpkins last week as we visited Hubers as a family (steve was off- yeah) and then Biwater farms with my parents in Georgetown.

We managed to get by without any major mishaps on all these trips except for Lilly getting her finger bitten by a horse she was feeding.

We capped off the week by visiting Shannon, Kylie and Isabella in Shelbyville on Friday and then going to the zoo trick or treating. Oh yes and I forgot! We had two cool parties to attend on Saturday- a birthday party for Parker and a halloween party for Maddie's school friend Mason.

It was exhausting but oh so fun!

Zoo Fun

I think as a mom with young kids you always try to wake up with a fresh perspective on the day. You wake up and think that today my kids will have fun going to the zoo- They won't misbehave and embarrass me and we all will make memories that will last a lifetime.
That is just what I thought last Friday as we met up with Amanda (my cousins wife) and her two cuties, Jill and Caroline. I was really excited to hang out with them and thought Amanda and I could catch up and the kids would have a blast together and maybe get some education from the experience and on top of it all I could get some exercise.
Well the day did make lasting memories but I have to say it was very trying for me and Amanda. Poor Amanda was frazzled because Jill was sick and fussy and Caroline wanted to walk most of the way and go at her own pace (or run away). I was frazzled because Lilly was acting at the peak of her terrible twos fussing and screaming about everything she did not get to do her own way. On top of that she OBSESSED over a hair barrette that she threw away and then expected me to dig down through the half eaten pizza and hot dogs with bees covering it all in the trash and get it out for her. She COULD NOT let the subject go. Greyson was an angel through all of this.
So needless to say both of us moms were worn out mentally by the end of it all and our kids were overtired. By golly we gave it the old college try and maybe we got out two full thoughts in conversation the whole day.
Life is never dull right????

Letting Go...

I heard this song on my ipod the other day while I was running and I literally just started bawling. I think I try to control so much in my life at times and especially when it comes to protecting my kids. I think when I heard this it just reminded me how out of control I ultimately am and how at peace I should be just letting God take control of EVERYTHING, even my sweet babies.

In My Arms-Plumb

your baby blues so full of wonder

your curly q's, your contagious smile

and as i watch you start to grow up

all I can do is hold you tight

knowing clouds will raise up

storms will race in

but you will be safe in my arms

rains will pour down

waves will crash all around

but you will be safe in my arms

story books full of fairy tales

kings and queens and the bluest skies

My heart is torn

Just in knowing you'll someday

see the truth from lies

knowing clouds will raise up

storms will race in

but you will be safe in my arms

rains will pour down

waves will crash all around

but you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble

dreams may not come true

but you are never all alone

because I will always always love you

clouds will raise up

storms will race in

but you will be safe in my arms

rains will pour down

waves will crash all around

but you will be safe in my arms

1000 Words Of Hope

Yet again God spoke to me through one of His faithful. Last night I was blessed to have a three hour conversation with Elizabeth Vaughn at Starbucks (the conversation would have gone longer but we closed Starbucks down and our husbands called worried about us thinking we had been abducted)

Elizabeth and her husband Matt are Adventure Christian members like us and are embarking on an amazing adventure to start a non profit called 1000 Words of Hope. The premise of this amazing outreach is to give orphaned children and future orphaned children in Africa hope by simply giving them a family picture.

As most already know, 8 million children in Africa have already lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS and most don't have a picture to remember their parents by.

Steve and I witnessed this firsthand as we looked in Greyson's mom's home and saw she had one tattered picture of his father. We were lucky enough to take a great digital picture of that photo, but most of those kids aren't so lucky, and may even forget what the face of their loved ones looked like.

Steve and I think it is an amazing idea and such a great use of the gifts Elizabeth and Matt have. Elizabeth is an artist- and she simply wants to use her life and her talents to make a true difference and show Christ to these children.

They leave Saturday for their trip to Ghana and are leaving their 18 month old for the first time. I know how painful that experience is and I am truly praying for peace for Elizabeth imparticular as a mother as I see her pained everytime she even thinks about leaving her.

If you are reading this post please take a minute and pray for the Vaughns-
1. Pray for their safety
2. Pray for peace as they leave their child
3. Pray that the enemy does not get in their way or discourage them
4. Pray that others see Christ in them as they offer hope and love to the people of Ghana

I am continually amazed and blessed to meet people who have said yes to carrying the cross.

So Blessed

I got to meet some wonderful people today and left feeling so incredibly blessed. Sirgute was the hostess for this gathering. She is from Ethiopia and is married to an American and has lived here for many years. She is good friends with Harper, a wonderful lady who I had heard ALOT about, who had adopted two Ethiopian children. Harper was the first person I had heard of in this area who had adopted from Ethiopia and we actually had spoken on the phone nearly a year go when we began the whole process. It seems everyone has heard of Harper or knows her and all have wonderful things to say about her.

Susan was another guest at Sirgutes house. I had also heard about Susan's impending travel to pick up her two kids from Ethiopia and so it was great to meet her.
It is really cool, because Harper, Sirgute and Susan all leave for Ethiopia on Saturday. Sirgute is staying for several weeks to spend time with family and Susan and Harper will be there for a little over a week.
We are hoping to get all the kids together when everyone gets home and settled and I am so excited that Greyson will have such a large Ethiopian community to be with here in Louisville because I always want him to have an understanding of what a wonderful place he came from.
My goal is to get a package together for Harper to take to Greyson's mom via Wide Horizons. I desperately need to get pictures of his first birthday and some small gifts for her.
One other lady I met at Sirgute's house was Connie. Connie is a beautiful lady with a sweet smile from Rwanda. She and her family are refugees and she shared some of the atrocities that took place in her country. Many people she knew and loved were killed during this time. She has such a sweet spirit and I would love to spend more time talking with her when I don't have kids running around about to break things!
I left Sirgute's house thinking what a great God has brought me in fellowship with these beautiful women and their children. We all share a common bond and I just feel so blessed to have connected to their lives in some small way.

Goodbye Summer, Goodbye Kentucky Chingdom

From the first day of summer, Lilly has woken up and asked me if we were going to "Kentucky Chingdom". It is her favorite place in the whole entire world and I have never seen her have more fun than she has had there. We have had a fun summer riding rides at the Chingdom, swimming at the pool in happening Shelbyville (I will not miss seeing that pool until next summer), being able to hang with Nicole and her kiddos, Melanie and Shannon and the kids, and all of our Strathmoor friends. Summer is definitely the best time of the year for me because #1 its hot and #2 it is so laid back.

We had some fun with Nana and Papa yesterday on Labor day to say goodbye to summer. Now I think we are ready to say hello to alot of new friends from church and school, new schedules and routines, and STRUCTURE again.

For some reason at the beginning of each new season I get really excited and hopeful and I feel that way again. We are starting in a couples small group at our church and just starting to get involved there so I am really pumped. Maddie is having her difficult moments with her new school but all in all is adjusting great. Steve's job is going well too- he is becoming quite the roast beef sandwich afficianado.

Now if I could just lose those last 20 pounds...