King Kong and Stanley

The hamster we call King Kong got loose tonight...while we were gone. It took a while, but Chad found him and returned him to the cage. One of the kids left one of the openings open....they, of course, blamed the baby....

I'm SOOOO glad that Chad found it. I don't think I could sleep if he didn't. And so anyway...it's a good thing that I stayed up so late "chatting" with Russ or I never would have heard what I heard. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have never believed that the hamster could climb up the side of the cage and literally unscrew a section of the lid to try to get out. Stanley was peeking its head out looking at me when I got to the cage after hearing the weird noises...I guess that none of the kids left that part off after all. I took the lid and pushed him back down in there. Then I freaked out just knowing they could do that! So...after "discussing" all my options with Russ via im...I decided to tape it. No tape in the house! Remembered some in the van. So...here are a few pictures. No way they get out now!

Here's the whole cage. The hamster climbed up the left side on the wires, and literally unscrewed the part that is now taped down. Sneaky boogers!













It's a little dark...but the black stuff is the tape...and it is definitely taped up. To the point that you probably can't tell in this picture below that the lid is actually a bluish purple color.

Petting Zoo Population Down 2

No...not the hamsters...although I injured one of them tonight... It's too difficult to explain on here.

BOTH frogs died today. We had a ceremonial flushing. As they went down the toilet, Drew said, "Bye bye, we love you, froddies!"

It was cute.

Other than that, the highlight of my day was cleaning up an overflowed toilet from Drew stuffing an entire roll of toilet paper in the bowl, and Evan flushed it multiple times until Luke came running out to me yelling and laughing, "Evan made the toilet pee everywhere!!!" Gabriel was just standing there tapping me over and over and pointing at his brothers in disgust...and wouldn't you know it? THIS week I decided to buy the triple rolls!!!!

Never a dull moment!

Prayer Request

Hey guys,

Thanks for reading this, and if you get a chance, will you please pray for Chad and I? We are facing some decisions that need to be made, and we would like to have God's Hands leading ours. Don't worry about us. We are fine, our kids are fine, our marriage is fine...it's just that we need to make some changes, and we'd appreciate your help in prayer.

Love you!
Michelle

Two new additions

Either I'm a sucker for my kids and their grins and giggles or I'm just not very smart. We now are the proud? owners of two teddy bear hamsters. Luke's is golden brown and named "Stanley." This is because he had a guinea pig a while back named Stanley. He must like the name... Drew and Evan are sharing one. It's name is quite interesting. It's full name is Batman Superman King Kong, but we're calling him King Kong for short. He's grey and black and white -ish. This now puts us at 1 dog, 2 frogs, 2 hamsters, and 5 fish. Chad is helping them handle them because they are still pretty wild. When Chad was getting King Kong out tonight, it bit him in two places....needless to say the kids were somewhat alarmed. Better him than the kids. So I asked Chad, "How are we going to tame them if you won't let the kids hold them?" He just gave me this look...and I know where it was headed...I said, "You're going to have to handle them every day and get them tamed." He laughed and said, "Nooooooo! You bought them. What do I look like the hamster whisperer?" We'll see how that turns out...

Anyway, it's been an eventful evening.

So that's how our day has been spent!

My Belle

Before I got married, I got a Shih Tzu and named her Belle. She was the BEST little puppy ever! I LOVE her. When Chad and I found out we had twins on the way, he STRONGLY suggested giving her to some friends of his parents....I hesitated, but it came down to being submissive. I often tell him that giving her up was probably the BIGGEST act of submission I could ever manage...
ANYWAY, I saw her tonight! The kids were with me, and they loved her. Of course, they didn't understand why "my" dog was leaving with someone else. BUT I LOVE THAT LITTLE GIRL! She was just as spunky as ever.

I'm glad I occasionally see Lou walking her, but it DOES make me miss her. I love her! Someday, I hope to have another Belle.

My baby. My Father.

Gabriel will sit for long periods of time on my lap in front of this computer. Most of the time, he doesn't want anything from me. He just wants to sit with me. Be near me. For the most part, he doesn't even give in to the temptation of pushing the keys on the keyboard or playing with the mouse. He is amazing. He doesn't talk much yet, but I know he loves me. He wants to be with me almost everywhere I go. When I wash dishes, he sits on the counter. When I fold clothes, he takes them out of the dryer. When I want to watch TV, he wants to be right there with me. I remember it being this way with the other boys, but with Gabriel, there is something unique about him and his desire to be with me. I can't really explain it.

As I am sitting here reflecting on the beautiful gift that is watching my fingers move as he gently strokes my arm and rests his head on my chest, I wonder if this is how God feels. Or am I holding up my end of this scenario? Do I give God the feeling that I would be content just to sit with Him? Be near Him? Just sit and watch His every move?

It is my goal to make God feel the way Gabriel makes me feel. I love that Gabriel wants to be close and occasionally turn his head around, and tap me (which seems to be his main form of communication) just to see if I am paying attention to him. Do I make God feel this same way? How much more does He love me than I love my little one? I stand amazed.

Will Gabriel always be this way with me? I truly hope.

Will I always be this way with my Father? I truly hope.

Father, I love You. Just to be with You, I'd do anything.