It Begins

Today this awesome Big Guy starts his first day of Kindergarten.

Go, Big Guy, and conquer that first day with the awesome joy only you can bring to a classroom of new friends. I don’t know how long you’ll still be with us or where you’ll be when you finish your Kindergarten year, but I do know this… we love you so and today ENJOY the excitements of a new beginning.

And yes, buddy, today you finally get to EAT LUNCH AT SCHOOL!!!! =D

It’s the simple things that mean the most in your world.

Happy first day!!!

They can’t possibly be ready for all your personality. 😉

August 15, 2013 0

Mr. Wonderful

Someone delightful turned 6 this past summer.

And we had a transformers birthday of fun with the cousins.

Sweet Big Guy,

We may only get to know you for a short part of your life, but you have blessed us so. You have opened our eyes to unconditional love. And raise a crazy boy who loves crazy boy stuff. You have pushed us to be better friends. And family to one we cannot keep. You have challenged me to listen better. And challenged me to think harder at how to teach someone who I am just getting to know. Your reckless laughter. Your over-the-top excitement. God has protected and sheltered you so. I know you miss your Mom. I hear you when you tell me your heart is broken, I know you want to be there… while you are wanting to be here. I know I tell you to control yourself. And for goodness sakes stop running and rough-housing. I know I even push you to remember 2 step directions and focus on telling one story at a time. I know I ask a lot of you. It’s because I love you. I hope you hear that enough from me. I hope you really receive my hugs. I hope you really receive my “I love you, buddy” reminders.

You have changed me. You have grown me. Thanks for giving me a second chance. Thanks for being willing to talk to me. And share some of your hurts. Thanks for playing with me and rolling down hills with me.

You are a wonderful boy. You love hard. You are so full of life. And you have so much ahead of you.

Run hard, dear one. Run hard after “right”. Ask more people if they pray and remind them that they should (just like you did that lady that drives you to visits). Be brave enough to tell your brothers when they are mean to you. Rise to the challenge of seeing bad examples and choosing to “do the right thing”.

I’m really proud of you, sweet boy. You have risen to the challenge again and again.

You should be proud of yourself.

You are a wonderful boy.

A WONDERFUL boy.

Happy birthday, Big Guy.

We love you so.

August 13, 2013 0

At Bat

Well many things have happened since we last spoke, dear Readers. You’ll be seeing more entries popping up again. Summer is winding down to the last little lull of revamping before the school year begins. Things are returning to schedule and routine, which is lovely for this planner of a Mommy.

Since we last spoke:

Matt and I took the girls on a 3 day trip away and a 1 day “just us” return.
The boys had a MARVELOUS time at respite (staying at another foster home – sort of like babysitting) while we were away and were spoiled as well.
It sort of fell into our laps to have the possibility of enrolling Big Guy in Christian private school (with Mom giving the okay) and we’ve been riding the county and scraping together everything needed for enrolment since pre-registration. [Sidenote: Dude, enrolling a kid in school is intense PLUS the whole “you can’t sign for anything” side of foster care!]
We’ve all managed to catch a high-fever bug and pass it amongst ourselves, with the exclusion of Matt and myself.
Had an awesome playdate with an old high school friend and her two sweet boys.
Attended another good ol’ foster care license upkeep trainings. WOOT! (NOT!)
Had a girls morning out to Ikea with my lovelies, a friend and her little girl.
Played way too much of this online facebook game…. I’d tell you the name, but then you’d play too.
Took the masses out to a few traveling playgrounds in the area for fun-packed outdoor play that produced strong napping tendencies.
And signed MY oldest up for ballet – tear. I’m working through letting go, people… but I still have until she moves out for college.
Oh and my dear Rachael also started Piano Lessons with our dear organ/piano player, Ms. Betty. So that’s been quite fun to sit down for 30 minutes a day and help her practice as well as watch her build in confidence in her mastery of beginning music skills.

So that’s us lately… hence the reason for the silence in blogville.

But I’m getting it back together, people. =)

August 10, 2013 2

Today’s Running Shoes

Turn them out… out of doors!

The Batmobile.

And he’s off!

Creativity at it’s finest!

Their middles names could all be Joy, really.

Our patient and gentle teacher – love him so.

You can do it, girlie!

Look at her accomplishment!

Some day soon this will all come easily for her and the learning will be a memory soon forgotten.

But today the watching of her own feet means she’s still little… and she still needs our running-alongside encouragement.

She’ll take off on her own soon enough… too soon some days.

So we’ll delight in today’s running shoes.

Let’s go, Rachael.

We’re right here with you.

– They are a treasure.

July 11, 2013 2

Ice Paint

Rachael had a friend, Danielle, over for a play date. The night before we had prepped some ice paint (food colored water and popsicle sticks poked through aluminum foil for stability in the ice-cube trays).