Momma robin camping out at our house

I've seen some birds flying around the back porch area, but I haven't been able to identify the bird(s) or find the next. Until yesterday. When I stepped on to the back porch yesterday, I saw this.

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My heart was beating fast. I tried to get a closer look or a up close photograph of the nest without doing anything that might convince the mother to vacate the premises, such as leaving my scent behind or getting too close to the nest. Oftentimes, when I opened the screen door, that was enough to motivate her to fly away. Eventually, persistence and patience prevailed, and I captured this.

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But, I predicted that she was sitting out some precious cargo; whenever she flew from the nest, she didn't fly far.

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Here she is, on a fence, not far from the nest.

Today, I was eager to spot her again. But, I did my best to give her as much peace and quiet as I could muster and only checked up on her a few times in the day. And, I told the girls to leave the momma robin alone.

"Why?" asked my girls.

Because, she's afraid of us and she needs to stay home to take care of baby robin eggs, where baby robins will eventually emerge. Here she is, again, in a close by tree.

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I am anxiously awaiting the sound of little baby robins. I do not have baby envy or baby-hatching envy. Lest you forget, I have four children, two of which are still babies. But, I do admire watching other babies in the making.

 2012-4-26

Take care Momma Robin.

2012-4-26

Decisions, decisions

I need to think aloud. Do you mind?

This (Monday) afternoon, after bringing the girls home from their respective schools, I heard a message that has kept my mind wondering. Isabella is eligible for a charter school close to home for the 2012-2013 school year, for the 1st grade; but until now, has been on a waiting list since last year. Is it time to switch schools?

The language immersion school she's attending now for kindergarten is a minimum of 35 minutes drive one way. That is about an hour and a half hour commitment to get her to school, since kindergartners must be walked inside and not dropped off. That's a minimum of three hours on the road. With three other children in tow.

Nearly all, if not all, the office staff at the language immersion school know Isabella by name and face. Isabella loves her teachers and her classmates. Being truly, fully bilingual is an asset so few possess in this country

Yes, yes - choosing a school closer to home, MUCH closer to home, would be better for my sanity and taking into consideration of caring for THREE other children - are very important considerations. But, I cannot bring myself to say 'goodbye' to Isabella's language immersion school or to give her a definitive answer about switching schools. That language immersion school has Isabella's name written all over it.

Over and out.

A new place to eat

After taking Victoria to preschool Friday morning, a church friend called. What are you doing?

Me: Packing the twins in the car and then leaving.

My friend: Where are you going?

I have a date.

I hope he's really good looking.

Ha! I have a coffee date with Amy.

Well, cancel.

What? No, I already agreed to meet with her. Perhaps I can see whether she'd mind if we postpone our meeting time by half an hour.

Yes, please. I only have until 11 am today for us to go take a look.

***

Bewildered, I followed her to a resale furniture store. She wanted my opinion on a table with a set of chairs.

***

Me: That's quite nice, but don't even think about buying that.

My friend: Thanks for your input on the furniture, but what I do with my money is my business.

 2012-4-21

Little did I know that she would pay for the furniture and arrange for a church friend to help deliver the furniture by the next day, yesterday. Down went the card table and folding chairs and in went this lovely table and chairs.

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Looks quite nice. And, as a added bonus, the furniture is not made in China. It's made in Malaysia.

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Already, the girls have enjoyed looking at books on it, doing puzzles on it, and other fun activities. Oh, the many possibilities.

I've got the wrong twin?

Last Friday, I went to a Ladies In Fellowship Together (LIFT) meeting. The eldest two were in school, and the twins were in childcare, provided by LIFT. A woman gave an interesting talk on the interaction of faith and science. When the talk was over, I headed towards the childcare area. There were two sets of twins present: mine and a friend's. One of the other set of twins, Madison, was being held by one of the childcare workers, but the twin reached out to me with both arms. Little Maddy was reaching out for me to hold her, even though I'm not her mommy. When the childcare worker motioned to take her back, Maddy, who's 14 months old, gripped her arms around my neck. I was touched.

Maddy and I took a little trip to see her mommy. I was honored that a twin who wasn't mine would choose any allegiance to me, and I couldn't wait to share the news with her mommy. A friend and the preschool director at this place, Joyce, quickly informed me that the little one in my arms isn't my twin. "You have the wrong twin, Lily."

Awww, you mean this little 14 mo old girl isn't mine?! I have twins? What? I'm confused.

With a naughty little smile on my face, I continued towards Maddy's mom. I wasn't sure she was done conversing with people around her, but I was too proud not to share what had happened.

Easter

The girls have been super excited about Easter. They've been asking nearly every day for a week to a week and a half whether Easter has come. Truth be told, they were thrilled about Easter eggs and possibly new clothes.

Then came Easter, and I showed them the new outfits Grandma and Grandpa had gotten them. Getting photographs taken of the children have been a total nightmare for me the last few times, so I took it upon myself to take photographs myself. My original plan was to go to church for the pancake breakfast and then for service. Didn't make it to the breakfast. Was nearly 40 minutes late for service.

Well, I had four little people to get dressed. And, I had to take photographs of my brood. Can you imagine how difficult it was to get everyone looking at the camera? I also was hoping the eldest two wouldn't let the youngest two fall off the couch (by doing a face plant and falling forward). The "quick" photographing session involved plenty of shots with only one person looking at the camera, people moving and waving their arms, people looking at each other, people not smiling, one little babe sticking a hand in the other little babe's face, people sticking fists in their own mouths. Oh, what fun photographing was.

Everyone's looking at the camera here.

2012-4-8

This was my best shot. Three of four were smiling. No one was sitting in precarious positions. No fists in mouths.

2012-4-8

Christine finds the camera a very odd thing. She'll front plenty of smiles for me, but if I place a foreign object in front of her, she's not all smiles at all. Not sure what's going on with Christian. Well done, girls; this is one of few shots they're looking at me, rather than each other.

2012-4-8

Smile twins, SMILE!

2012-4-8

No? Okay, never mind. Your older sisters are setting a rather nice example.

2012-4-8

Thumb, fingers, fist, anything will do.

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Precious, precious child of mine. You have endured so much as of late, and yet, you have so much spunk and energy about you. I love you, precious Bella.

2012-4-8

Dear, dear Victoria. We are about to leave for church; really, we are.

2012-4-8

We spent Easter afternoon with some dear friends. The girls were thrilled and delighted about going on an Easter egg hunt and playing games.

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Dressed like twins

2012-3-31

For those of you who are wondering, I am not the one who chooses to dress them alike. A-ma and A-gong got them some clothes, and the second born wanted what the first born had chosen. Just so we're clear, I'm not the one who's dressing the Isabella and Victoria alike. And neither is it the case that Victoria has no individual preferences; she has plenty. She simply looks up to her sister.

Six months, six months, six months

These two little ones aren't so little anymore. They're six months old today. SIX MONTHS! So different in personality. They're as similar to each other as they are to their other two siblings. They just happened to be born 11 minutes apart, instead of, say, 20 months apart.

At this time, Christine's very much into observing the world around her. Christian's interested in mommy stuff and in flipping and turning.

2012-4-1

Christine's so interested in observing what's around her; she'll take a good look at me before nursing, even if she's quite hungry. Christian just wants the goods when he's hungry.

2012-4-1

Christian loves to show off expressions. Christine wants to grab things in front of her - teething toys, hair, brother's head. . . When one is screaming his or her head off, the other can continue sleeping.

2012-4-1

They've spent a lot of time together in utero. They've spent a lot of time together in the world.

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He drools a ton. She doesn't drool as much.

2012-4-1

Fingers work better than pacifiers. Sometimes fists are preferable.

2012-4-1

Happy half birthday babies. I love you and want to smooch you all the day long.