Winnie

Winnie came to live with us a little earlier than expected! She is such an awesome little dog! Everyone, that has met her, comments on her calmness and sweetness! She has adjusted nicely to all the commotion of our house and evens adds to it with an occasional bark! Her favorite thing to bark at is T'K (Kensli), when T'K is fussing at her! It is so cute! T'K will fuss at her in Spanish, which keeps us laughing! Guess Winnie will be bilingual in fussing! :)

T'K did have a few jealously issues, but seems to be over it now! At first she accused me of not treating her the way I did the puppy! Guess it didn't dawn on her that at times I put Winnie in a crate and we go places without her! Jealousy just doesn't see things clearly! :)

K. has been very helpful with Winnie! She has even gotten up during the night to let Winnie potty!

T'K told someone the other day that she had met Mrs. Claus! They wanted to know where and when!!! She explained that Mrs. Claus had brought Winnie to us early! (Sorry, Tammy, you will forever be Mrs. Claus to our youngest!)

Welcome to the Family, Winnie!!!!!

IMAGINE CHRISTMAS

This was the year for Imagine Christmas production at our church! R. and K. were both in the production, so a lot of time was spent at the church in the last few weeks!

It was an awesome musical production of the Christmas story!

R. and K. in costume with some of the other cast members!

Kaitlyn had a speaking part this year and did awesome! R. and K. both love acting and do a good job at whatever part they are cast! After 3 nights of performances and countless rehearsals the kids were tired but sad to see it come to an end!

AWESOME JOB, CAST AND CREW!!!!!!!

Thanks for bringing the Christmas story alive once more!!!!!

What does Snow Bring????

Screaming, Squealing, Giggles, and Lots of Eating is what SNOW brings to our house!!!!!!

Yesterday morning we woke up to the weather channel heralding the good news of snow coming our way! We were under a winter weather advisory!!!!!! I understand tornado watches and warnings, hurricane advisories, and flash flood watches, but not winter weather advisories!!!!!!


Ricky was the first to realize it was snowing, and he came tearing through the house shouting the good news loud enough to make the rafters ring! The kids had to go flying outside and see the wonderful sight! When I got outside, I had to run everybody back in because no one had shoes or coats on! Yes, we are not prepared for snow!!!!



After the kids were properly attired in whatever we could find deemed warm enough for this kind of weather, we flew back outside to enjoy our little slice of a winter wonderland!



Quotes I overheard:

"Look! They turned it on again!!!! --Kaitlyn

"Wow, this is the best day I have ever had!"--Nicholas

"If you put your hand on the snow and leave it there, your hand starts to freeze!"--Ricky

"Snow makes me SO hungry!"--Kaitlyn

"It's like ice cubes falling from the sky!"--Kensli

"When can we make a snowman? Can I make a snow angel?"--Kensli and Nicholas

"They lied! Where is the 3 inches they were talking about on the weather channel?"--Kaitlyn

"My fingers are frost bitten!"--Ricky

After a while the novelty wore off and they all decided that the warmth of the house and chocolate chip cookies was a better idea!

It's SNOWING!!!!!

Last night was our Christmas Banquet, and by the time it was over it had stopped! It snowed around 4 hours, and here that really is a MAJOR WEATHER EVENT!!!!

Our wagon this morning! Looks more like a dusting than a real snow!!!!

Enough snow to throw a snowball!!!

The sun is shining this morning and Nicholas just announced that the snowing is falling from the trees! It won't last long, but is was fun for the kids while it lasted! What a wonderful way to start off the Christmas season!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving and the Beginning of Christmas

We spent a very relaxing Thanksgiving this year at my parents house, with a nice visit Thanksgiving night with Toby's family! We started our Thanksgiving celebration on Wednesday, so that the guys could go to the beaver ponds near my parents house to fish! Ricky caught more fish than my dad again!!! My dad had said that because it was such a clear "bluebird" day they would not catch anything, but if R. wanted to practice casting they would take the rod and reels. Toby said that they hadn't even gotten the other two boats in the water before Ricky had already caught a fish!

The beaver ponds

On Thanksgiving day we had a wonderful lunch with my parents and grandmother! Gran is 85 yrs old and still getting around very well! My kids have been so blessed to know this wonderful lady! Not every child can have such wonderful memories of their great-grandmother!

The only ones missing this year was my brother and his family! They will not be in at all this year and it makes the celebrating a little sad!

The Thanksgiving crew without me, of course!

The Friday after Thanksgiving is Christmas decorating day at our house!!!! No Black Friday shopping for us! It would probably be a good idea, but I can't seem to get up early enough to really get the deals! I let the kids decorate the tree in the living room and I did the one in the hearth room! Ricky was so surprised at how quickly it was all done this year! Another year older for Kensli helped in the snatching, grabbing, fussing, and crying department! For the last couple of years she has had a meltdown when we decorated the tree! This year she seemed to understand that she can't hang all the ornaments! :)

The kids decorating their tree!

My little tree in the hearth room!

My tree is a natural tree and my favorite! A few years ago I started liking birds on my tree and found out that nests on Christmas trees were good luck somewhere (need to find out which of my kids birth countries that was)! So, I went out and bought birds, a couple of nests, berries, mini grapevine wreaths, and picked up pine cones in the back yard for a natural tree! I didn't add lights until this year and I added them because I can see the tree better!

Christmas is here and there is such excitement in the air! We are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas season! The kids and I talked about keeping Jesus as the reason for the season today during devotion! Hoping for a stress free holidays!

Just Believe

Lately there have been several needs in our life that I felt like was almost impossible to supply! We have been in the need of a music minister for the Spanish work for months now! There has been great spiritual unrest in our world, because when you step out to do anything for God it will make Hell really mad! Also, God has been dealing with me on a very personal issue lately, that I think I want to happen, but have really drug my feet about! Yikes!!!! I have been dragging my feet, because of what others would say or think concerning this area of our lives! And to top it all off, Toby had received very bad news from his job!



I was already feeling very down the other day, when Toby called me to see a virtual pond in our front yard! The line from the main meter and the house had broken, it would have to be repaired pronto and that we were really in need of re plumbing the entire house! All I could think of was how much is it going to cost us! We have braces to pay for, Christmas to buy, we just received bad news on the job front, and my mind just went on and on! I sat down in my chair and begin to weep and pray! Honestly, I can't say that it was the most powerful prayer, more like a grumbling one! About that time Ricky came into the room and said, "Mom, what is the matter?" He was very concerned because this was not the norm! We are honest and open about things the family is facing, but tend try to keep it up beat and positive! For some reason I just laid it all out for him! When I got through, he looked and me and said, "OK, why can a little lady in China, Africa, or Central America, that needs food, believe and the next day it is on the door step? Why can a missionary need money, pray, and the next day a check arrives? If it happens for them, why can't it happen for us? Why are we so different here in America?" I replied, "We're not any different. We have just learned out how to survive without needing to believe for everything, I guess!" He said, "Well, sounds like we need to start believing around here for everything!" Why can't I be more like him, I thought! The rest of the day, I thought more and more on believing! My prayer changed!!!!!!!



The next day, Toby walks in and tells me that his job situation was resolved on his behalf without a problem! This was just the first! This weekend we had a family here that will be joining us as our music leaders for the Spanish services! She is fluent in Spanish and plays the keyboard! Thank you, Jesus!!!! We have been praying for months over that request! Also, our pipe is fixed and we can wait awhile on the rest of the plumbing problems! God is so good!!!

I am not going to drag my feet anymore! I know what God has spoken to me and I know that He will in time fulfill His promise! There is a lady that has so inspired me that I am almost ashamed to admit, even in adoption, I sometimes lack the faith I need to see Him work! So, looks like we will adopt again, just not from the country that I had originally thought! I am now saying yes to another miracle from a country that I have never really wanted to commit to, but that God has been dealing with me about for some time!!!! No longer am I going to be concerned with what people will say! Yes, there will be 5 kids!!! No, it will not be easy all the time!!!! I know how old I am!!!!!! Yes, it will be more love and miracles!!!! Right now I am not even sure, when we will start!!!!! Just watch out, because.......

I am BELIEVING!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Look Around Here

Thursday morning Ricky got braces put on his top teeth!

He was so worried about how it would look and feel!

No worries, he is just as handsome as ever!!!!!!

He starting to get used to the way they feel, and we are learning how to take care our teeth in a new way!

They must be good luck because he went fishing today and caught 5 bass!

Our Thankful Tree

I have been wanting to create more traditions around Thanksgiving for sometime! Christmas is filled with things and events that we hold dear and do every year that brings our celebration alive. Somehow Thanksgiving is swept under the rug, so to speak, except for food! Last year I found the Thankful Tree and really liked the idea.



Our tree still looks a little bare but we are going to add to it up until Thanksgiving! I also figured out that we wrote upside down! Last night at Bible study people were trying to read them with their heads all cocked sideways!

This and That and a Little More

We got a new picture of our little furry baby today! Isn't she absolutely darling! I can't tell if that is a bow in her hair or if it is on the present behind her? Kaitlyn thinks it is in her hair and is thrilled!

Went by Pet Sm*rt the other day and I had not realized all the things that an inside puppy might need! Blankets, clothes, diapers, bags, etc.........she will be one spoiled little thing if the kids have their way! :) If they are this bonkers over this puppy, what will they be like when we adopt again in a few years!


On family weekend I had forgotten my camera, but a friend was kind of enough to send me a few pictures she had taken of the girls! Here are a couple of her amazing pictures!

With the holidays approaching our lives have become quite hectic! Seems that the two oldest have quite a large social and events calendar already and they are not even teenagers! What with retreats, Bible Quizzing, plays, parties, etc. I feel like the a bus driver!

The other day I noticed that K. was abnormally quiet! Trust me, she is never quiet, so when she is something is up! I found her just like this on the couch.......or, half on and half off the couch!

I think that she must have been just a little tired with all the going that we have been doing!


Tonight was Worship Downtown and K. and N. were asked to participate! They are in a interpretive song waving streamers in time to the music. I took my camera last night to dress rehearsal and snapped a few pictures! This is the first thing that N. has ever performed in and he took his part so serious! He did not crack a smile the entire time!

Part of the stage!

I was sitting to close the get the entire stage!

Kaitlyn looking a little confused!

If she was confused, I hope they cleared it up with her before tonight's performance!

N. taking his part serious!

He was too cute!!!!!

I decided not to go tonight to let Lil K rest! Lil K and I sat most of the day waiting on either K. or N. or both! She is conked out right now on the couch! Hope she sleeps tonight!

Introducing..........

TA DA, (drum roll please) here she is..................

Winnie!

Winnie is a Maltipoo!

The kids thought that since she was a "poo" that she should be called Winnie!

Thanks Tammy for taking and sending us a darling picture!

A Night of Fun

Several years ago we quit celebrating Halloween in our home! The main reason is because it scared Kensli to the point that she would have nightmares! She is a very sensitive child and doesn't like anything that looks or sounds scary!

Therefore, I look for things to do on this night that will be fun and make memories for us all! This year the guys went to a football game while the girls went to see a production of Cinderella! Kensli has talked nonstop about the play ever since!

Kensli was able to meet Cinderella and told her how much she enjoyed watching the play! On the way home, Kensli said, "I am so mad!" I asked her why and she said, "I forgot to get Cinderella's phone number in case I need to ask her something!" :)

The girls before the production!

Before the play, we went by a shoe shop to find Kaitlyn some brown flats. Instead we left with two pairs of stylish boots.

They wore them to the play and just about ever since!

A Picture of Mom

Nicholas has decided that he wants to be an artist when he grows up! The other day he decided to paint a picture of me and told us not to look until he was done! When he was finished he proudly showed me my portrait! I was a little shocked when I first saw what he had painted! When asked, he explained that it was me standing outside in the dark looking in the window.

Looks just like me, don't you think?

A Few Curls and Riding a Bike

The other day Kaitlyn wanted to roll her hair on the ends and when Kensli realized she had to the same. Kensli's hair is thin, fine, and much shorter than Kaitlyn's, so the curl really took in her hair. She looked absolutely darling!

Curls everywhere!

She looked like Shirley Temple!

A few weeks ago Nicholas got on his bike and just took off riding for the 1st time! We are so proud of our big boy!

Family Weekend

I told you all something has been dreadfully wrong with me lately! This past weekend was Family Weekend and I do not have one picture to document the entire occasion! EGADS!!! HORROR! It is close to Halloween! My kids even wanted to know why they were not having to dodge the camera! Not sure myself!!!!!!!

Actually, I forgot to take it with me!!!! Can you believe me forgetting the camera? Also, I was just a little bit preoccupied with checking out the different dog breeds, clingy Kensli, and Hispanic ministry to notice I did not have my camera!

We are in search for the perfect, low shedding, cutest, little dog to join our family! Our church family are dog people and I saw all kinds of breeds at Family Weekend........English Mastiff to Yorkie, and even quite a few designer breeds that I didn't even know existed! I think I have found my breed, and will be announcing the newest member of our family as soon as I obtain our her!

Also, I must have looked extremely tired, because if I had one person tell me that with 4 kids I must be worn out, then it must have been a hundred people! Mercy, by Saturday night I was beginning to believe them, and we didn't even participate in the children's parade on Sunday! I think I need something to make my face look better or me more alert! Well, today I really am tired and I am so glad that those same people can't seem me now! HEEHEE! What would they think!

All and all we did have a great Family Weekend! Going to start taking my energy pills and whatever else I can find now, so I'll be looking rested! Also, I am making a list of everything to take next year and my CAMERA will be number 1!!! Can't wait!!!!!

Sounds Minor, but Really a Major Accomplishment

I am so happy to post that last night Kensli slept all night in her bed and didn't get up the minute I did! Most kids by her age are sleeping all night in their own bed without a problem, but Kensli has had sleep issues since coming home from China. Well, last night it was actually a little more than just a sleep filled night!!!

Here is what Kensli accomplished:

• Sometime during the night Kensli started fussing. I waited and she calmed down and never got up or called my name. I did go check on her and she was sound asleep! What a big accomplishment from a child that has a hard time self-comforting herself!
• She slept through the alarm clock, me getting up, and the sun rising!
• Usually if I start down the stairs she starts crying, so I normally I just go in and get her before I go down. This morning when I went in to get her, she mumbled something, rolled over, and went back to sleep! She slept another 45 minutes!

I am so thankful for her accomplishment this morning! Last week we had several sleepless nights! Maybe I should have waited until she had accomplished this for a week or longer to post, but just one night shows me that in time she will overcome and will even start going to sleep without having to be touching me!

BIG CATCH UP POST

I am not sure what has happened to me!!!!! Something in my life has ground things to a sudden halt!!!!!!!!!!! I have been planning to update this blog for days now and I just haven't seemed to have the time! Guess as I was told by my four year old the other day, "Let me splain it to you!!!!!"


SCHOOL......I really think is the culprit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nicholas has finally gotten old enough to handle the tedious task of learning to read and write! Just the added child for half of the day has really eaten into my free time! Some of you veteran homeschoolers may wonder why a six year old would take half a day to complete phonics and math! Two words.....ATTENTION SPAN! Lots of breaks and movement is required! :) Gotta love my boys!!!!

Guess this will be a big catch up post and maybe I can start doing better at keeping my blog more up to date!

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Ricky has really been enjoying school so far this year! I bought the D.I.V.E. cds for Saxon Math and this has really helped him!

Also, we have finally gotten the hang of the nut allergy situation! He remembers to carry his pens with him without being told. He has become good at asking questions and reading labels before eating anything! Only one scare with some chocolate so far, but it wasn't bad enough to use the epi pen!

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Kaitlyn has been practicing her violin for the Christmas Concert. Christmas sounds fill the house and really puts us all in the spirit a little early!

Also, she sold her bike this weekend in our rummage sale and now is riding a new one! Her dad told her that if she could get a certain price for her bike he would give her the rest she needed for the new bike. Talk about a little girl praying daily in our morning devotion for it to sell. Friday she stuck her price on the handle bars and put it by the road. It sold in less than two hours. She was so proud and told everyone how God had answered her prayer!

K. has been trying to develop a love for reading! I have had to help her see the need for this love, but she seems to be coming around to my way of thinking!

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Nicholas has learned to ride his bike this past month without training wheels! He wanted the training wheels off last year sometime, but would not even try to ride the thing. About two weeks ago he gets on and takes off! YEAH!

N. is doing great in school this year and begs to do extra work! I had really worried about him in the past, but now realize that it is better to wait until they are ready!

N. has taken a liking to art and has decided that he wants to be an artist! This is great news, since it the first thing besides soccer that you could really refer to as his own interest!

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Kensli has just been herself! Where would one begin to start to tell what has been going on with our SPICY, ENERGETIC, VERY TALKATIVE, LITTLE FIREBALL!!!!!!!!!!! Literally it is hard to share just one or two things that she has been up to!

She loves rummage sales, because of the customers! She will follow around anyone that she deems worthy of her attention and just talk and talk! This past weekend, she found several new friends! The line up of people that Kensli thought worthy of her attention included a high school English teacher that loved her verbal skills, a 7 year old boy that she evidently liked because he just nodded and let her do all the talking, a beautiful little African American baby girl that she informed the baby's mother that her baby was the same color as Kaitlyn, a lady that looked at the Halloween costumes that we had for sale and didn't buy one which made Kensli want to know why not, and a dog named Leo and his owner that she stalked the entire they were shopping!

One of the funniest things that I overheard her say was her conversation with another homeschool boy(age 6) whose family had dropped by our rummage sale to look around! The little boy, who was a good bit bigger than Kensli, had made the mistake of grabbing her arm with a puppet!

Kensli (with hand on her hip): "I can hutt!"

L. Boy totally ignored her and kept playing with some toys!

Kensli (hand still on hip and added neck movement): "I said I can hutt!"

L. Boy still ignored her!

Kensli (hand and neck movement and add loudness): "HEY, I SAID I CAN HUTT!!!!"

L. Boy finally turned and looked her.

Kensli (before he could respond): "DO YOU WANT SOME HUTT?"

L. Boy: "No!"

Kensli: "Then you better leave me alone!"

At this point I step in to remind her that we do not hurt anyone, and the little boy ran off to play ball with Nicholas! Whew! I am not sure where she gets it all from!!!!!

She got a new bike, too! It is a big girl, princess bike with training wheels! She loves to ride and sing songs she makes up!

She has also taken a liking to Pippi Longstocking! We read the books outloud and then watched a movie! Kensli goes around pretending that she is Pippi, thinking up new words, and wishing she had braids that stuck straight out!

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So, that is some of life here for the last few days.........fast and furious, crazy and funny, happy and loving...........are just some of the words to describe our days! I wouldn't change anything for the world!

PS---I am not sure what has happened to my spacing on my posts! I have worked very hard to get it to look right, but the spacing is still messed up! Any thoughts or suggestions?

HACKED

Sometimes in life things can happen to make you feel so vulnerable! A couple of weeks ago I began to notice a few changes on my computer that I couldn't explain! I couldn't even go online without the spyware and virus protection going nuts! Experts were called in an it was determined that someone was trying to hack my computer which was causing problems. AARRGGHH! Now we have put even more protection in place to be sure this doesn't occur again in the near future. I am sure that at some point something like this will probably happen again, but until then I AM BACK!

Florida Vacation 2009

I guess you could say that we are just "BEACH BUMS!!!!!" If you ask my kids where they would like to go in the whole world it would be Florida and the beach! I think they enjoy it even more than Disney. So this year we packed our bags once more and headed out to the beach. We had a wonderful time just being together as a family without an agenda.

Ricky and Nicholas before heading to the beach.
Look at the excitement!

Chillin' !!!

Kaitlyn and her Skim Lizard!

Just hand her a Skim Lizard or Boogie Board and she is immediate action!

Snow Crab! Yum!

Kensli learned to crack her own this year!

My favorite photo!

Remembering 9/11

I have often heard my grandmother talk about where she was when certain events happened. She can remember where she was and what she was doing when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, President Kennedy was killed, etc. As a kid growing up I often wondered what it felt like to remember something so vividly that you could remember feelings, thoughts, people, sounds, smells, and places when it happened. On 9/11, I became familiar with just such feelings!

I was in bed when the 1st plane hit! We had only been back from visiting my brother and his family in Alaska for a few days and we were not yet adjusted to the time difference. Dad was working off somewhere and Mom called me. When I picked up she said, "Something terrible has happened!" While we were talking the second plane hit! I remember her saying in stunned disbelief that another one has struck the second tower! We talked for a few more minutes and as we hung up Mom told me very seriously, "Whatever happens, I love you!" Immediately a very sickening feeling hit me! This was real!! I immediately called my brother who is 3 hours behind us and woke him up with the news. We talked and discussed what could be happening and ended the conversation with, "Whatever happens, I love you!" I switched on the radio and the voices of stunned commentators came across the airwaves describing every detail. The rest of the day was spent glued to the radio or TV. I tried not to let my kids see the horrid pictures, because the two oldest were only 3 and 1 at the time.

For the next few days, the feelings of horror, fear, helplessness, pride, disgust, sadness, pain, and shock overwhelmed us! I would hear 18 wheelers on the interstate at night and sit up in fear! I was proud of the way our President and Leaders handled the enormous task of trying put the country back together. But more than the leaders, I was so proud of the American people who stood up and faced the tragedy with a spirit of patriotism! Ordinary people that put aside themselves and did what they could to help!

I will never forget those first few moments, the feelings, the tears, the puzzled looks on my kids faces as to why every one was crying, and the time that we took to tell even perfect strangers how much we cared! Now I truly understand how my Grandmother has felt all these years! I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!!!!

New Talent Discovered

Look where I found Nicholas today!

He climbed up there all by himself!

The other kids said he has been doing this for sometime now!

Oh really?

Gave me quite a start!!!!

Wonder if this will be a needed talent one day?

Maybe he could tryout for the next Spider Man movie!

Scary Nut Saga Continues

I took Ricky to the doctor yesterday and he has referred us on to an allergist on the 23rd! He also prescribed us an epipen pack to taken with us every where we go! Now I am trying to figure out what he can eat! I didn't realize how much stuff contains or is processed around nuts! Well, from what I have found so far, Ricky and I can't eat the same things! This is a blessing!

What I have learned so far:

• Read all labels.
• Large name brands are better at posting allergens in their products.
• Cross contamination is probably the most dangerous. You will not know that they are there until you eat the food.
• Some of the strangest foods are processed on machines used to process nuts.
• Domino's Pizza is nut free according to their site. May call to make sure!
• Restaurants will be the hardest thing to try to figure out! Back to the unknown cross contamination!

I am sure this list will grow drastically in the next few weeks as we try to navigate our way through this new adventure that life has handed our way!

Scary Brazil Nuts

I have often heard that parenting is not for the faint of heart! With four sweethearts doing everything with in their power they possibly can to scare me to death, I would have to agree!!!!!! This weekend, though not Ricky's fault, the probability of me being scared out of my mind was a reality!

Around 2:30 PM Ricky discovered some Brazil nuts at my mom's house. He has never eaten a Brazil nut, as far as we know! He asks to try them and they proceed to crack and enjoy the oily nut! Within 5 seconds of putting a piece in his mouth he began to have an allergic reaction! My mom called me at my Grandmother's house and said I should come there now! When I got there he was in the bathroom, struggling to breath while throwing up! He looked like he had been severely sun burned, he was so red! His face and eyes were so swollen that around he mouth was white. He kept saying over and over, while gasping, that he was dying! My Dad said he needed to go to the hospital now! I didn't hesitate and started gathering my purse, keys, and him for a trip to the hospital! Mom and dad live in the country, so many times it is faster for you to drive the 15 minutes to the hospital than for you to wait for the ambulance to find you! Dad is a retired state trooper and that does help with local police departments. I let dad drive while I took care of Ricky! Trust me, his state trooper training kicked in and we got to the hospital in record time! We did call the police department and they wanted to send us and escort, but we were at the hospital before they could get one in place! While on the way, I called the our church family and they began praying!!! When we arrived at the hospital he was showing signs of being confused with simple instructions. They immediately put us in a room and stuck him with an epi pen and started pushing a couple of other meds in him. Within minutes his breathing and confusion became better and with in two hours the swelling was gone. After Ricky was feeling better, the doctor on call told me that we did the right thing by getting him there as soon as we did, because he would have been in trouble if we had waited! They released him later that evening with a stern warning about eating anything with nuts in it and to see an allergist this week! So, tomorrow we are off to the doctors!!!!!

Ricky has been woozy all day today and a little down about the food situation! That is to be expected, I guess!

After being home and reading about nut allergies, I am just so thankful Ricky is ok! It could have been so much worse!!!! I am thankful for a praying church and professionals that are there when you need them! I am a very blessed mom tonight to have my son with me!

Toby was in Guatemala this weekend on humanitarian projects and missed all the excitement. He will be home tonight and I am sure he will be wanting to hold his oldest son just a little tighter!

We Use What in Our Hair?

Today I probably had the most interesting conversation with Kensli yet! I was busy in the bathroom getting ready to go the library for story hour when Kensli comes barging in the door! After a slamming the door and causing me to jump, she climbs up on the toilet, opens the doors to the cabinet, and announces that it is a mess worthy of only her organizational skills. After puttering around in the cabinet while talking non-stop and getting everything just so, she turns and surveys the tub area.

Kensli: "I need all those bottles to put in here."
Me: "Why?"
Kensli: "Because I'm organizing!"
Me: "Oh, OK."
Kensli: "I want the coconut monkey shampoo first!" Obediently I hand her the one with the coconut and monkey on the front. (Hey, who am I to stand in the way of a girl and her organizing!)
Kensli: "Now hand me the bird poop shampoo."
Me: "THE WHAT?"
Kensli: "The bird poop shampoo!"
Me: "Why are you calling it by that name?"
Kensli: "You know! It is made by birds pooping in the bottle!"
Me: "No, I didn't know that was how it was made!"
Kensli: "Well, there is a factory where these birds live and they poop in the bottles and that is how it is made!"
Me: "And how did you figure this out?"
Kensli: "Sissy told me! Now doesn't this look so much better in here?" She then gets down and leaves the room singing loudly her version of some song!

Curious, I track down her sister and inquire what she has been telling Kensli and why!!!!! She tells me that when she had to help Kensli shower and wash her hair the other night, Kensli would not cooperate! She tried everything and finally told her about the bird poop! Kensli was all excited to wash her hair with bird poop!

Oh dear, now I know why I may be having trouble fixing my hair lately! I'm not sure Bird Poop Shampoo is good on blond hair!!!!!!

Life According to Kensli

Driving to church a couple Sunday's ago, Kensli told her daddy that she had organized her sock and underwear draw. He told her how nice that was for her to do and she replied, "I know, and guess what? IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!" Can you diagnose a 4 yr old as obsessive compulsive?

Once a year our pastor sends communion home for us to take as a family. It is usually a very touching time of tender prayer and worship as a family. Kensli was really excited to be taking an active part. She was intrigued with the communion cups and wafers. She was so excited that I had to hide them from her that day to keep them from getting opened and spilled! Our devotion prayer time went longer than Kensli thought it should, because during a pause, she exclaimed, "Oh, come on, when are we going to drink that juice!" Needless to say, I lost it and so did everybody else!!!

While driving home the other night we passed the new Son*c that opened by W*lmart. Kensli, who doesn't miss anything, remarked, "Hey, Mom, the new Sonic is now officially open!" Officially? I am in so much trouble!!!!!!!!!

Happenings

We have survived our first week back at homeschooling for the year! It is always hard to get back into the routine, but I think it may be harder on me than the kids at times!

Things Accomplished This Week:

Worked on our routine.

I figured out some things that will and will not work!

Math lessons

Music lessons

Worked on scripture and poetry memory.

Ricky wrote a story! This is a huge accomplishment!

Lots of books read!

Computer learning games.

Phonics for the younger set.

Science

History

Geography

Kaitlyn followed a recipe and baked Banana Nut Bread!

Visited the Library! Story hour for the younger two!

Followed my Menu plan. (Big accomplishment for me!!!)

several messes

some tears

lots of laughter

a bunch of fun

I am trying to think outside my box this year for my youngest two little learners! Nicholas, the oldest, is a busy, active little guy who would rather play than do anything! Kensli is a smart little preschooler that can learn while listening from the other side of the room, but can not sit still for 2 seconds! Lots more energy than my first two! Should be a very busy, active, hands-on, fun year with them!

Also, I am trying to take a wait until you are ready approach with Nicholas. I pushed my oldest
daughter when she was this age! Maybe that is the reason for her not enjoying reading!

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I have no idea how, but my computer came down with a virus this week! It liked to scared me to death! After some work on it, hopefully all is repaired now!

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Kaitlyn strained her back on Friday while acting silly on my bed. She was trying to reach down and get something off the floor and fell! During the fall she tried to twist around and land on her behind, which resulted in very sore muscles. She has been on a heating pad most of the day today! If not better by Tuesday, guess I'll be heading to the doctor!

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It's official! I had baby fever again! A friend of my came over with her two week old infant and I got to hold her, rock her, kiss her soft head, and smell her sweet baby smell! Then she became fussy and wouldn't quit until she had downed 5 ozs of milk, was thoroughly burped, diaper changed, and walked a little while. Boy was I glad to hand her back to her mommy when she started, especially when I thought about that happening several times a night for awhile! I have learned with Kensli's sleep issues that I really like my sleep! Like I said, I had baby fever for little while! When we adopt again, I think a toddler will work just fine!

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My dad is home from Georgia and I am so thankful! He had an accident and he has been having some problems ever since. He had to quit his job and come home for tests! Friday he had an MRI and he should find out the results Monday! We are praying that everything will be fine!

Guatemala Adoption Group Social

Today we attended a cookout for the local Guatemala Adoption Group!

We had a wonderful time mixing with families that were formed through adoption!

City Park Fun

Today, we went to the newest attraction in our little city, The City Park Water Park! The kids had a wonderful time cooling off some way besides the pool. It is definitely a place to go back and revisit!

One of our little pals that went, too.

This is his pouty mad look from the side! Too cute!

Our two little friends.
Not sure if the big, wet, sloppy hug was appreciated by both boys.



He loved this water soaker! It was his, he thought!

Under the waterfall!

Look at the smile!!!

Kaitlyn and Ricky both thought themselves a little old at first!

After a little while they couldn't resist the fun!

Kensli loved this waterfall!

When it would go off, they would sit and wait!

Rewarded for her patience!

"Out of his belly, shall flow rivers of running water..."

I love this picture that Lexi took!

She took most of these pictures, actually!

Nice to be able to sit while someone else takes pictures of the action!

Nicholas looks like he is break dancing in the water!

Another cool water shot!

Not a big fan of pictures of me, I have to say this one is not so bad!

Kaitlyn took this shot!