Where to begin...

I have not completely abandoned my blog.  I promised I would update it and here we are.  The only problem is I'm not sure where to begin. A few bullet-points seem in order.

• Buster is no longer a resident of the Law household.  If there has ever been anything to convince me that 4 children is plenty for me it was getting a dog.   
• We finished our first repat.  It was awesome and included lots of Costco pizza.
• We made it back to Saudi. (This deserves it's own bullet point because it was really hard to get myself on that plane.)
• Calvin started Kindergarten and learned to ride his bike without training wheels.
• Beti taught herself how to swim.  How are my kids growing up so fast? My heart is breaking.
• We traveled.  

Life is good.  We're happy and the kids seem to be adjusting to life here.  Small victories are what we're counting - and they're the best kind.

The invisible mom...

I've always dreaded entering into this phase.  For moms, somewhere between having cute-as-a-button babies and too-cool-for-school teenagers there is a place I like to call the invisible mom stage.  When you no longer get stopped by strangers who tell you how cute your little bundle o' joy is you've entered it.  It encompasses things like permanent teeth, the birds and the bees, learning to play the recorder, "Clarissa Explains it All" fashion choices, and ears and teeth growing faster than the rest of your child's body.  And as a mom, you disappear behind the scenes, lost in tooth-fairies, testosterone surges and after school activities.

Except...

I love it.

I love that Naomi lost her four front teeth all at once.  I hope I never forget that toothless smile.
I love Tal's ears, and big teeth and freckles.
I love to hear my kids plunking away on the piano...watching their brains grow is fascinating.
I love to see what outfits my kids put together.  Some days, I even let them wear them.
I love watching Tal ride his bike with Calvin to school.  Even though I'm there and he's much faster and it's not very cool (except, that it's actually very, very cool)
I love when Calvin stops me in my tracks with a sincere, thoughtful deed.  Like the calm in the eye of a storm.

I even love the hard moments.

The ones when you have to send your babies off into the world and you want to cry because you know that what's facing them isn't easy. Or, when your son prays for a best friend so he'll have someone who always wants to play with him.  And you pray too.  Or, when you mediate yet another (and another) girl fight because they are "Best Friends Forever." Or, you stay up late quizzing your daughter on the difference between rural, urban, and suburban because you just realized she needs the help.

These moments, I wouldn't trade. I loved the baby stage.  I'm sure the teenager stage will be fun.  But this stage I love.

Elbow-head

Beti fell and bumped her "elbow-head" a few months ago.  In case you aren't as versed in three-year old slang as I am let me clue you in.  An "elbow-head" is the area of you face directly above your eyebrows.  Some people may  refer to it as a forehead but why settle for the common word when you can dazzle it up a little.

My kids have a thing for anatomy.  Remember Tal's leg-pits?

I got my wish.

Those of you who have known me for a long time know that I have always wanted a "nerdy" son.

Don't get me wrong.  My kids are all cool.  Really cool.

But once in a while, they do little nerdy things that my heart delights in.  Lately, Tal has been channeling his inner-geek with one-liners kike these...

Naomi: (in a squeal only a six-year old girl can produce) ewww, a bug!
Tal: Oh.  Highly evolved.

Tal: (displaying his rock collection for one of my girlfriends to see) These are fascinating rocks.

I wish I could record his commentary because it's SO much better in person. But for now, you'll have to use your imagination.

Buster

Meet the newest member of the Law Family.

Also known as, "the-reminder-why-I-didn't-have-five-children."

Why?  Why did I think this was a good idea?  It's one of the mysteries of the universe. But it's too late - my kids are completely in love...and I can't blame them he's a pretty good guy.

This picture perfectly encapsulates our experience over the past few weeks.  Beti LOVES this puppy...a little too much.

Power Rangers

Calvin and Beti are at that age. The to-be-dreaded can't-get-them-out-of-their-heads Power Ranger stage. However, as much as the PR's annoy me they do provide lots of entertainment. This afternoon Calvin and Beti spent a good chunk of time outside with their improvised power ranger weapons fighting off the bad guy...me.

Poor little guy...

Calvin is sick. Ear infections and pink eye make for a long, sad night.