Monday, June 30, 2008

Summer


I have really been enjoying my summer. It is so nice not to have to follow a schedule. Some will think I’m a bad mom but I hope most will admit that they too can be lax at times when it comes to bedtimes etc……. We have been allowing the girls to stay up any time between uhmmm, 10:00 – 10:30 BUT they do sleep until 9:00 and Gracie will even sleep as late as 10:00. I know this is not ideal but Gracie enjoys being outside and playing with her buddy Logan (our neighbor) so much and I find it hard to make her come in and go to bed at a decent time. Isn’t that what summers are all about though? I remember my summers. My sisters and cousins and I would ride bikes all day and play in the woods on our family property. We would swim in our underwear in my grandparents pond, yes, I said pond. That’s where I learned to swim, no pools for us!!! When Mama would finally drag us in I can remember lying in my bed exhausted but feeling Oh so good. I didn’t have a care in the world and all I would think about was what kind of little fort would we build next to the creek that ran behind our house. I think extra curricular activities are fine for children but I also think it’s equally as important if not even more important for children to just play. I had an active imagination and Gracie has an incredible imagination. She and Logan will play for hours outside with just a notebook and pencil in hand playing spy, or Survivor Girl and Boy and I can’t tell you the number of treasure maps I’ve made for them.
I’m looking forward to the day when Laurie Alice can join them. Although, she does enjoy going out and being pushed on her tricycle or blowing bubbles. She still hasn’t gotten used to the nats. They pretty much drive her crazy and she swats at her face so much that she becomes miserable and we have to go in. Lately her favorite thing to do is jump. She has figured out in the past couple weeks how to jump and she is soooooo pleased with herself. Her little feet just barely (I do mean barely) come off of the floor but you would think by the smile on her face that she was jumping several inches off the floor. I’ve video taped her jumping but I’m going to try and video tape her with my camera and then attempt to load a video to this blog. So keep checking back and keep your finger crossed I can do it.
The girls have a Dr’s. apt. tomorrow. Gracie’s 6 year check up and Laurie Alice will receive another round of shots (yuck). Our insurance finally got straightened out and they have added Laurie Alice to the plan so we had to take her last week for blood work. I had to hold her down while three nurses worked on her. She did cry a good bit. The poor nurses didn’t know that she is terrified of stuffed animals so they couldn’t understand why when presented with a cute cuddly teddy bear she became hysterical. It was only after she got a Popsicle did she finally settle down. She’s so cute, she will point to the place on her arm where they drew blood and frown and jabber to us about what I assume must be her thoughts and feelings about the whole episode.
I still feel continually blessed by my girls and will continue to enjoy the rest of our summer break together. I’m posting some random pictures of the girls. Oh, Gracie can now jump off the diving board and pretty much swims on her own in the deep end of the pool. I still like for an adult to be in the pool with her incase she gets tired.

Sisters

Waiting


Gotta Go!

Helping Mama

Gold Medal for the Cannon Ball!!



Well if Sissy can do it then I can too!


Favorite swimming buddy.

(can't seem to get the titles under the next few pictures)

Cousin Blake (9 years old)

Cousin Brayden (6 years old)

Best Friend Jada (6 years old)


The Gang


Watch out Olympic swim team!!!!!



Friday, June 27, 2008

The Girls Room

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of the girls room. It is hands down the best room in the house thanks to MeMa. She did a fantastic job!!!!!!
















Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Thankful Thursday

It has been awhile since I posted a thankful Thursday but it certainly doesn’t mean I haven’t been thankful, quite the opposite. I am filled with even more joy and thankfulness than ever before.

I am thankful for our sweet Laurie Alice. I can’t imagine our family without her. I can’t believe that there was a time that I had some reservations about adopting another child. I felt so incredibly lucky to have Gracie and God had blessed us so much through her. I felt like I would be greedy to ask for another child. I also couldn’t imagine loving another child as much as I love Gracie. I’m so glad I’m married to a man who convinced me that those reasons were pure nonsense. I look at Laurie Alice and I think about what we would be missing out on if we didn’t have her in our lives. I’ve learned like all mothers do that your heart just grows for each of your children and although you love them all very much you get to have unique relationships with each one. I’m thankful they have such different personalities. I get to have two different experiences.

I am thankful that all four of us are home together until I go back to work on July 24th. It has been a wonderful summer. We have had fun hanging out at Laurie’s pool; playing outside and sleeping in.

I am thankful for all the wonderful families that we have meet through the adoption process and on our trip. They will be lifelong friends and I’m looking forward to watching their children grow up.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Happy Fathers Day to the Best Man!

I am married to the best father and husband in the world! I hope he has a very happy fathers day because he certainly deserves it!

I love you honey.



What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

~~Author Unknown.~~

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Gracie's 6th BD Party

As I mentioned in an earlier post we decided to keep things simple this year for Gracie birthday party since we had just returned from China. We only invited family. I've always made Gracie's birthday cakes with the exception of her first birthday which my Aunt made (she has made all the children in the families first birthday cake). Anyway, in case you can't tell it is supposed to be a sand castle. I got the idea from Family Fun magazine. It doesn't look exactly like the one in Family Fun but it worked.

Here are pictures from the party and yes I've even posted one of ME in the pool!!! What am I thinking, of course it's only the top part of me and the rest doesn't show. I haven't completely lost my mind.