Fourth of July part 4

And........by the end of the weekend everyone was tired, and cranky, falling asleep on the couch (Calvin), and in Skip's lap (Z). I think we wore them out! We did finally get a decent family pic, though.

Fourth of July part 3

I'm amazed I could get 6 kids to sit still, let alone all look at the camera at the same time. Your standards on photo quality are lowered w/ each child under the age of 4 you add!

Fourth of July part 2

The kids really enjoyed the sprinkler park. There was a nice break for popsicles, and then back out to play!

Fourth of July pic part 1

Why haven't I been blogging you ask? Well, I'm attempting to do a series of why I haven't blogged. We have been super busy enjoying our summer.

The first of my series is our Fourth of July trip to my parent's house. We invited our dear, dear friends from college to join us. Rene & I lived together in a dorm, many years ago at KState. Brian lived across the hall from Skip, same dorm, same floor as us girls. Brian & Rene began dating w/in a month of Skip & I. We got engaged w/in a month of each other. We were married w/in a couple of months of each other. We witnessed each other's vows as part of the other's wedding party. Their girl is 2 years older than Em, their son a year older than Calvin, their youngest a year below Zac. It is a match made in heaven and we are blessed to call them forever friends! It is funny, b/c we camped out at this same lake for the 4th about 7 years ago, with their girl being just a baby. (I was bit by a snake on that fun trip). It was fun to have a nice laid back weekend with our good friends.

My parents are in the process of permanently moving to a house very near a nice lake. We are beyond thrilled to find time in our schedule to go visit them and hang out at the lake.

While we were there we blew bubbles, went to a sprinkler park, went fishing, watched some fireworks, dodged a surprise thunderstorm, (some of us) slept in a tent, created a slip & slide out of an old air mattress, roasted s'mores, played games, used our imaginations, & created a bunch of fond memories to reflect upon years from now. The lake was closed due to algea issues, but that didn't stop our fun. Ironically, Rene & I had a neighbor named Jessica in that same dorm years ago. Her family has a house on the same lake w/in a mile from my parents, so we went over to visit her & use her swimming pool. What a fun weekend!

Kindergarten is over

I can't believe that Emerald is already finished with kindergarten. She is growing up so fast. Here she is with her friend Peyton and at her kinder program. I also had to add pics of our 2 goofy kids. Their imaginations are exploding this summer. Any little piece of paper turns into a piece of gold, a leaf is a forest where the lions live, a spoon turns into an oar to swim across the ocean watching out for whales. Every thing is a toy! I love watching them continue to blossom.

Random

My ladies helping me cut labels for school

Daisy Head Maisy

Emerald the architect

Where's Zachary?

Why don't I blog? I'm too busy lately! With what you ask?? Everything......... Here are a few of our random happenings. More to come.

A bug's life

My kiddos showing off their critters

Emerald was impressed with the slime trail it left on her arm

She wasn't squimish about holding him at all

Calvin had a rolly-polly that was a little harder to get a close up (maybe it wasn't the bug's fault)

Last week we had a gorgeous spring day, finally! The kids enjoyed digging in the dirt and showing off their finds. They wanted to keep their critters forever, but eventually let them back out in the wild. This week is was 75, then 95, now it's 48 outside. Incredible temp changes. It has been a cool spring except for the very few HOT 95 days.

Emerald's cupcakes

I forever feel I'm playing catch up in my life. These were the cupcakes Emerald wanted to take to school--I thought they turned out pretty cute. Also thankful to her Godparents for sending Laura (yes, she named it herself) a new little critter that joins her in bed each night, and an art kit. She has loved playing with these items.

Happy Gotcha Day Calvin

The first moments after meeting you

A picture of you before we even met you

Starting to crawl

I have always loved that smile!

We loved your fangs, when you first got your top teeth

Our little golf ball

*courtesy of Artistic Expressions* One of my favorite photos of my older 2

Just b/c you were so stinkin' cute

Hamming it up with your sis Christmas 2008 (probably the last picture of you as the baby of the family)

Meeting your baby brother for the first time. You weren't so sure about him in his bed.

Your 2nd birthday

I have always loved this picture of you, one of my favorites.

The first time daddy took you fishing
Y
ou love playing in the snow

Calvin, happy Gotcha Day (a day late)! 4 years ago you were placed in our arms and forever etched a place in my heart. They say there is a special bond between moms and sons--they are right!

Your story: We had been contacted by 2 other birthmothers before you came along. One was from KC and chose to parent, the other actually lost their little boy just before he was born. It was a sad story. Then, a week before we got you, we were offered 1 year old triplet girls. Imagine, having your 2 year old sister (2 and about 4 days) and getting 3 more GIRLS all within one year of each other! God knew what He was doing by guiding us to the decision of no, because just one week later Kim (our caseworker) called and told us about you. You were 9 weeks old and had stayed with Miss Debbie that entire time (a Gladney transitional care family). Kim told us you might be a little challenging, as Miss Debbie admitted that you were her most difficult baby she had taken care of out of 56! Even hearing this, we knew we wanted you as part of our family. Miss Debbie had called you Greyson Gladney. While we liked the name, Daddy & I loved the name Calvin and it seemed appropriate for you. Kim called mommy on her way in to pick up tickets at the Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Rangers. I had to step out of an important meeting to take the call, but everyone in their office jumped for joy when I shared the news (they were total strangers). Mommy was so nervous to get a boy--I just didn't know what to do with boys, how would he fit in our family? It all worked out!

When Miss Debbie walked in the room, your smile lit up the room. You were a little curious, but didn't hesitate going to me or Daddy at all. Emerald was so excited to meet you. She had brought a special monkey, BoBo, to placement. In the same room we had received Emerald, we were again given a gift too amazing for words--our 2nd miracle! We had gotten the call on a Monday, and gone to Gladney on a gorgeous March Thursday to pick you up. We got to take you home just in time for Easter. The bluebonnets were blooming along the hill at Gladney, and I will always remember your placement day upon seeing the bluebonnets! It was late by the time we got you home, it had been a long & exciting day.

Calvin, you have taught me so much about being a parent. Before actually having children, I was the best parent on the planet! You have taught me that each child does get their own set of rules, their own standards, and comes pre-programmed with their own likes & dislikes. Not in any way, shape, or form do I want you to take this the wrong way, but you were a difficult baby!! You cried non-stop. You demanded attention. You had more (minor) medical problems than your sister, like RSV at 5 months, your childhood migraines, a minor surgical procedure last year, the expensive forumla for your reflux, and several other things. Some of your difficult first year wasn't your fault. Daddy had a major business trip planned the week after we got you, to play at Bandon Dunes. That was hard on me to be alone with a new baby & your 2 year old sister. We decided to put the house on the market and move back to Kansas just 2 months after getting you, that made things more difficult. You were stuck in the middle of our chaos! We finalized your adoption on October 1st, and moved October 18th, 500 miles away, to a new job, a rental house, and a lot of changes. 3 weeks later the entire family fell sick to the nastiest bug I've ever seen--I was too sick to even take care of my own babies. You had to endure another move, as we moved into our new house on your 1st birthday. We stopped moving boxes to sing you happy birthday with your monkey cake. Through all of this you continue to be a sweet little boy for the most part.

As you got older, your sister loved to push you in the stroller (made for baby dolls), hold your hand as you learned to walk, teach you things, hid in forts, and do so much with you. You have looked up to her with admiration, almost all the time, and have begun to display that same level of love for your little brother. You had a harder transition to becoming an older brother as you lost your mom & dad to 6 long weeks of hospital visits, and 1 1/2 years of doctor appointments that were focused on someone other than yourself (and you weren't even 2 yet). In the midst of it all, you show us every day how intelligent you are, how you can crack us all up with your humor, and how stubborn you can be. I predict you will be a salesman of some sort, or maybe a lawyer, as you will not take NO for an answer.

Calvin I love you with all of my heart and soul. Even through the challenges you keep me smiling, you bring out the mama bear when someone isn't pleasant, you are super compassionate to others, you give the best nose kisses on the planet, and I cannot ever imagine my life without you. I was so proud this year when your preschool teacher called me and asked if you could remain in her class next year as a peer model. She described you as "sweet, sincere, compassionate, and fun loving, and I HAVE to have Calvin in my class next year". This made my heart swell with pride. Though you may be a bull in a china shop at times, you have the heart the size of the moon, and you love people with every ounce of it.

My sweet son, you are the light of my life! My Calvinator, I promise to love you always and forever. Happy Gotcha Day!