Hoochie What!?

So the littles and I were driving down the highway jamming to some Disney tunes and suddenly Shannie shouts (remember she rarely talks, SHE ALWAYS YELLS!!!):
Shannie: "Look at that hoochie momma!"
Connor snorts laughing (why he knows that that's funny, We will entertain another day) and I spew yummy Chik fil a lemonade out of my nose.

Mom:  "What's a hoochie momma?"
Shannie: "Look at that dog mom, it looks like hoochie Momma!"
Mom: (looking at the tractor trailer next to us in stopped traffic with both our windows open...)
         "honey that's called a chihuahua."
Shannie: "I know it's just like hoochie mama!"
Mom:  "Who's hoochie momma?"
Shannie: "It's my friend Alex's dog."
Mom:  "Are you sure they call it hoochie momma?"
Shannie:  "Acutally, I think it's name is poochie mama."

Mom: "oh, well that makes it all better."
Connor: "this is the best car ride ever!"

From Sacrifice comes blessings beyond imagination....

Ok, so this blog post isn't a super funny about Shannie...  it's a super sappy about her parents.   16 months ago we made the decision to completely change our lives.  At the time we were living just a few miles from both sets of parents and some of my siblings.  We were surrounded with an incredible support system of friends and family and all felt "just right."  In fact, looking back it wasn't "just right." It was easy in that world for us to go our separate ways.  I had a job that I absolutely loved, and I was surrounded by amazing people who challenged me and supported me and just loved me!!  Because of that, it was easy for me to allow that to be fulfilling in my life.  I didn't necessarily need to pour my life out into my marriage, because I was pouring my life into the people I worked with and for, and was constantly rewarded for it.

We rarely went to church together, in fact we rarely attended many activities together at all.  While we enjoyed each other's company, something was missing.  at the time it didn't feel that way..but in retrospect, I can see it as plain as day now.  when will had the opportunity to move to Kansas City, a whole world away from the comfort and support system we had built for ourselves in Tennessee, I was hesitant, but at the same time excited.  Perhaps I knew of the disconnect, the small little seam in the flow of our universe.

So I tearily said good goodbye to everything I seemingly had ever known... and set out on a grand adventure with my teeny tiny little family all on our own.  Looking back through Facebook status' before and since, memories of the same, I saw that seam close right up.  It seems that from the moment of "I do."  the "I do" I am referring to is the "I do" commit to loving you and supporting you all the days of our lives, back in June of 2003.  I did that: loved, supported etc. all the while forcing my "will" upon every situation.  Where we lived, when we had babies, who was in charge of the kids and when.  It was like we were doing a simultaneous dance without ever touching or looking each other in the eyes.

So, I said "I do" again.  this "I do" was different, it was a throw it all away kind of "I do."  I think this "I do" was said from the depths of my heart, from the place that knows that this man I have chosen for a husband loves me more than anything in the world.  From the place that knows that if I said "no, I will not move to Kansas City," he would not go.  How could I say no?  He has given me everything.  A family I loved, every bit of love he could muster in all the ways and times that were hardest and most important.  the amazing part of this particular "I do" was that this one seemed to trump the first.  Like perhaps the first was setting us up on a road to say "I do" over and over and over again throughout our lives together.

Our move to Kansas was eventful to say the least, we lived in a hotel for 7 months waiting for our home to sell, we shared 1 car for the majority of the time, we enrolled in a school that we knew we would only be in for a short time, we were technically homeless (we are pretty sure the only homeless family in the school district, you think I'm joking).  but all the while, through all the frustrations, and the tears (and there were lots), I was steadfast in my knowledge that this was the right decision.

Now, don't be fooled, I was sad, some might say depressed for a long time, as I mourned the loss of my parish family, the nearness of my mom, and the comfort I had been accustomed to.  But never did I say "I just want to go home"  it was always "I just want to start our life again."  tonight I found a song my husband sent me last May, on his first day of work, and his first week of 12 without us.   His post says simply "to my beautiful bride - I am so lucky and I cannot wait to start our new live together (again) :)   you are amazing in every way, and I cannot ever express all my thanks and gratitude for your love and support."  and attached is a sweet song called "Lucky" by Jason Mraz.  It basically says I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend.

Looking back, that was the start of our new start.  the start that can't wait for him to come home from a trip, not because I need back up, or another grown up hand in the house, or a babysitter, but because I truly love his company and his presence in our home.  The start that makes my heart leap for joy when I can watch him playing and spending time with our children.  the start that keeps us going to bed at the same time every night, and finally sleeping after seemingly hours of talking, giggling and snuggling.  He truly is the most amazing person in my life, and I wonder what the rest of our lives would have looked like had this sacrifice not happened.

I wrote you a note....

Yeah, that's what a million scribbles on a giant piece of paper means.  A note, a letter, or a list of things to do to make her "smile and dance."  Today the conversation went like this...

Shannie:  "Mom I wrote you a note!"

Mom:  "Thanks Shannie what does it say?"

Shannie:  "You know I can't read you'll have to read it to me."

*this is the part that causes the problem...  I have absolutely no idea what she was thinking when she wrote this umm...  note, so it continues...*

Mom:  "Dear Mom, thanks for making me breakfast and..."

Shannie: (interrupting)  "That's not what it says silly mommy."

Mom:  "Okay, what does it say then?"

Shannie: (rolling her eyes) "I can't read!"

Mom: (trying again)  "Dear Mom, today I had a lot of fun doing puzzles..."

Shannie:  (exasperated)  "MOM! that's not what it says!!"

Mom:  "Okay...  can you remember what you wrote?"

Shannie: (Almost in tears)  "Just read it!!"

Mom:  "Dear Mom, is that part right?"

Shannie nods.

Mom:  "Today I danced with princes and rode purple ponies through the wildflowers in the most beautiful part of the world.  (shannie nods)  I met fairies, and magical creatures."

Shannie: "only nice magical creatures."

Mom: "ok."

shannie:  "but there's more (pointing 1/2 way down the scribble page) right here."

Mom:  "on my way home I met a nice queen who traded me a sparkley horse for my purple pony, it made me very happy."

shannie: (nodding again) "and then we had dinner.  The end."

Mom: "Oh, I'm glad you remembered that part."

Shannie: "don't worry mom, I'll go work on another one right now."

Mom: "I can't wait."

Name that Baby...

We asked Shannie the "always" question:  "Do you think you want a little sister or little brother?"

Her response (as expected):  "A little sister"

Next "always" questions:  "If it's a little sister, what do you think we should name her?"

Shannie:  "Snow White"

Me:  "What if it's a little brother?"

Shannie: "We'll name him Dopey"

So, we call Baby L "Dopey" I'm certain it's a name that will stick and our youngest child will forever be known as "Dopey Lehman"   Yay for us, starting the life scarring scenarios earlier than most.

When Shannie has to go... Shannie has to go!

"When Shannie has to go... Shannie has to go"

Apparently many of our "issues" have to do with the bathroom, sorry about that!!   When Shannie has to go... Shannie has to go.  Most likely when Shannie has to go, it's already too late.

Picture this... a nice leisurely walk to the nearby park, soccer ball and kite in hand.  We were ready!   10 minutes upon our arrival.

Shannie:  "Mom! I have to go potty!!"   

Mom: "Didn't you go right before we left home?"

Shannie: "Yes, but this time I have to go poop!"

Mom: (in my head: OH SH@#$!, literally)  I didn't bring any supplies!  (Shannie needs supplies, usually wipes, extra underwear, the whole deal...  we have, what is quietly termed, potty issues)

Mom:  "Well, it is a park, and there are dogs who poop here, so we'll just go find a tree."  (yeah, I know.. shining parenting moment #437)

Shannie:  "Cool!"

Mom:  (after locating a tree with no poison ivy, use your imagination here... its was umm quite comical)

"Here's a good one honey, just lean up against this tree, relax, and the poopy will just fall right out!"  (yeah... right!!)

Shannie:  (what seems like hours later, as I watch for dog walkers, joggers, and that guy that plays golf on the soccer field right about this time ever day) "Success mom!!"

Mom:  "Well done Shannie, now let's use these leaves to wipe your bottom" ( I was SURE it wasn't  poison ivy)

Shannie: (always obedient, giggly, and pleasant, well okay mostly) gladly obliged.

We continued on with our park play, no worse for wear and with a funny little story to share.

***Until the next day***

While sitting at dinner...

Dear Husband:  How did you scratch your face like that it looks terrible (he's not heartless, it really looked terrible, and it was said with genuine concern)

Me:  "I don't remember scratching my face, but now that you say it, it does kind of hurt a little."  (thinking nothing of it)

***The next morning***

Me:  (to dear husband) "does this look like poison ivy on my face?"

Dear Husband: (trying not to laugh, but failing miserably, used all his boy scout skills and diagnosed the mysterious scratch) "nope, but it sure looks like poison oak!"  

Me: "Poison Oak!?  How did I get poison oak on my face?"

(Suddenly it dawns on me...  potty issues, in the park, leaves, tree...)

To end this lovely story, imagine the look on the doctors face when I walk in with poison something on my face, trying to explain how I got it and that most likely that poison something was also all over my sweet daughters backside, just not yet visible.  Then, imagine hearing the snickers and giggles from the nurses as the story was shared up and down the hallway, I mean seriously...  what's a good story if it isn't to give others joy and giggles.

"I'm gonna luv that baby"

"I'm gonna luv that baby!"

"That baby" to which Shannie is referring is "our baby."  The upside down picture below proves it.  (can you see... it's a baby in case you are, like me, completely clueless at the art of photographing microscopic miracles).  As a side note, it's also clear that I am completely clueless about the art of cropping and rotating pictures, I'll get there, have faith!

We are thrilled with the new addition to our family, and no one more so than Shannie.  She is beside herself with joy. Everyone in the state of Kansas certainly knows of our family situation.  Shannie is not shy, she's shared it with the neighbors, the neighbor's dog, the checkout clerk at the grocery store and the nice grandmother in the bathroom.

So say a few prayers for a healthy little Lehman and a patient mommy.  March is FAR AWAY and we are not very good at waiting for beautiful things!

"Just the Essentials"

"Just the Essentials"

When we first moved to Kansas City we lived in a sweet little hotel for about 6 months while we were waiting for our house to sell.  There's a lot of great stories from our "hotel days" that I'll share over time by this one happened not soon after we arrived.

Daddy had just secured us a weather radio, we figured since we now lived in Tornado Alley we should have such a thing.  Suddenly the weather radio beeps, all ears perk up and the announcer says something to the effect of:
 "severe weather is heading your way (not our way we soon learned but somebody's way), please gather up your essentials items and head to the basement of lowest level of your home away from any windows and doors... blah blah blah."   As daddy and I discussed our options, nervous dwarf hunkered down in the bathtub with a book,  Shannie gathered up her essentials.  Really what more does a girl need?