Will Work for Tubes

(Don't let the perfectly styled hair and flawless complexion fool you. This is my first morning appearance, non-altered, for your viewing enjoyment.)

Bad news. The insurance company is making us wait until after June 1 for Ian's tubes surgery. Pooh. Something about a 12-month waiting period, yada yada. Sigh. Sooo, Ian's surgery has been postponed to June 2. And even so, what they will pay is so small, we'll end up paying a huge chunk-a-change. Serious bummer.

Sometimes the weight of everyday life is overwhelming, eh? But, in the midst of this week's discouragement, I know God is in control, and He has encouraged us.

Sometimes, God reminds me in the simplest way--He's there. This morning while washing dishes, I turned around and saw this vision:

Wow. My two most precious gifts. Dishes never looked so good.

Like my cool speech bubble? Got the idea this week in my inbox from Photojojo. Check it out here. Don't want to pay $30 for one? Then make one like I did!

Step 1:
Provide snacks to keep the natives happy/busy.

Step 2:
Cut cardboard or chipboard in the shape of a speech bubble.

Step 3:
Spray paint with Chalkboard paint.

How are you? What would YOUR speech bubble say today? I hope your message is more cheerful than mine!

Ian+Surgery; Shrimp+a Show; and . . . FORTY

Yesterday I mentioned things were bustling in Yeeland.

First, IAN IS HAVING SURGERY.

For almost an entire month, the poor kiddo has been severely hearing impaired due to fluid in his ears. (who knew a child could have chronic fluid and earwax issues and NEVER have ear infections?!)

Want to experience genuine mommy-hood sadness? Watch your dear one retreat from the social realm slowly but surely over the course of several weeks. See him descend into his own world because he cannot hear what is going on around him.

On May 5, he will have his adenoids removed and tubes inserted in both ears. Woo-hoo! Bring it on!

I choked back tears in the ENT's office Wednesday when Ian said, "Mama, can't they do it today?" and then, "I'm sorry I couldn't hear, mama and daddy."

Ouch.

On to much less significant news . . .

Nathan and I had a real date. Ian and Lilly stayed overnight at Uncle John and Aunt Manda's house (we love you. we love you. we love you. did i mention we love you?).

We ate at the glorious Ocean Zen.


What's a date without a couple of these beauties?

And we headed to see this, tickets also courtesy of Uncle John and Aunt Manda (again--we love you. we love you. we love you. we love you):


It had me clicking my ruby red slippers, I mean, white sparkling flip-flops, together with joy.

Thank you, John and Amanda!

Oh and one last, eensy-weensy, teeny little thing:

I've lost FORTY pounds. And I MAY be participating in some sort of athletic event soon. Oops. Did I let that slip? Hmm... stay tuned.

Any guesses? And has anyone gone through tubes/adenoid surgery? What should we expect?

Too Good

Don't let the snow boots fool you.

Because the weather (and life in general) is positively perfect lately in Yeeville. Those boots are just Ian's self-made quick-and-easy Anakin costume.

It's been much too gorgeous outside to sit inside at a computer and blog.

The weather has us all in a happy mood.

Life here is good. Hope it is for you, too, my friend.

And several interesting things are developing in our world. Updates coming soon. Happy spring, everyone.

Garden Goodness

Piecing together a new little garden this weekend . . .


Daddy had lots of help.

These guys were definitely the highlight.

Ian, Lilly, and Garrett (aka neighbor or honorary sibling) ran back and forth, back and forth, collecting

and depositing them on the table inside the screened porch. Notice the chalk drawings Ian made for the worms? How sweet.

In spite of (or because of--you decide) their adoring admirers, the poor worms were deceased within a few minutes. So sadly, I cannot say, "No animals were harmed in the making of this post."

Have you started your garden yet? Did all of God's creatures survive? What is your best gardening tip?

Leotard Lilly

Little Yeebird is expanding her portfolio of God-given gifts and talents.

Previous list includes:
1. Cuteness
2. Manipulation by cuteness
3. Persuasion by cuteness
4. Naturally curly hair (see #'s 1-3)
5. An exhaustive amount of other things, including early language development, a keen knack for problem solving (see #2), and independence. And if you don't believe it, just ask me. Or her dad. Or grandparents.

New talents acquired . . .

Last week she went from this

to this

Graduating to independent jumping on grandma and grandpa's trampoline is HUGE.

We thought she was ready for gymnastics, and with the promise of a girly, crushed velvet leotard waiting in the wings (thank you Tonya B.), Lilly was out the door and strapped in her car seat faster than you could say Mary Lou Retton.

Tonight--her first gymnastics class--turned out to be one of the highlights of my parenting experience so far.

Happiness? Joy? Giggling? Glee? Bouncing? Bounding? Flipping? A myriad of "Again, mama!" and "My turn, my turn!"? Yep. All of the above, in large doses.

She even made a new buddy. Here she is showing her mirror friend her smiley face hand stamp.

Lilly Ruth-Sweet-Yee . . . you are a superstar. SUPER. STAR. Tonight brought me great joy. It's the reason a gal wants to become a parent in the first place. You stole the show. I love you.

CAN-CANdy Corn Skirt

Candy corns at EASTER? Oh my . . .

That's right. We do things a bit different around here. To me, candy corns are all sunshine and gold, baby chicks, creamy Cadbury centers and all that good Easter/spring stuff.

How better could I spend the wee hours of the morning than by sewing miles and miles of buttery, golden, candy corn colored chiffon ruffles?

This guy coordinated perfectly in his yellow polo and orange undershirt. Here he is, sporting that classic IAN grin.


Lilly knows that, when surrounded by a house full of boys at grandma and grandpa's gigantic Easter bash, she has to be that much more girly to balance the snakes/snails/puppy dog tails.

I think she managed just fine.

Dana of MADE fame, your CAN-CAN skirt pattern is fabulous. We hope you like our CAN-CANdy corn twist on it!

How was your Easter, blog friends? Any candy corns?

Happy Easter

Envious Alice

Alice would be jealous.

Come to think of it, Alice was the only thing missing from this exquisite mother-daughter tea party WONDERLAND today. See what I mean?

Tonya, Tammy, and little Kaitlyn, I can't say enough about how much this day meant to Lilly and me. It. Was. Glorious. As hostesses, you thought of absolutely every precious detail.

What a joy it is to be friends with such fabulously talented people.


I know Lilly was by far the youngest little girl at the party. Thank you for including us. Lilly felt like such a big girl--so special--so like a pretty, pretty princess.

So did I.