A Celebration of Us

We opened the door and stepped into a local establishment. It was a little late in the evening and many more people were waiting to be seated than we normally encounter.

(Oh, goodness, shouldn't this place be a little less crowded? There is a new steakhouse in town!)

All eyes turned and most conversations stopped! My first inclination was, is there something on my face, are the kids clean, is some one's pants unzipped, or is someone picking their nose? NO, NO, NO, and NO to all the above!

A 30 min. wait? Oh, ok, Kensli wanted to come here for her Gotcha Day celebration.

(Yes, we have become quite the boring little family without much of a night life. Out to eat and a trip to Wally World wears us out!)

We are FINALLY called to our seat!

Kensli is now asleep!!!! (GREAT, this dinner was in her honor!)

I try to wake her up and realize we are being watched! Her head flops back against my chest and all eyes at the tables around us are on me, the mean mother, trying to wake her up! I let her sleep! The tables around us seem to breathe a sigh of relief that they didn't have to listen to a cranky child during their already noisy meal.

The waiter comes and takes our order. He seems pleased because we already know what we want. He remarks that we are an easy table with a look of relief! Glad we could help him out! A happy waiter makes for a much smoother meal!

Howard the Chinese cook comes out to prepare our food and says, "Ni Hao, to the Chinese girl!"

Toby responds that she is asleep.

Cook looks puzzled, points, and says, "No, I was talking to her," pointing at Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn starts her whole eye rolling routine!

Kensli is now stretched out with her mouth wide open!

Cook points to Nicholas and asks, "Chinese boy, too?"

Toby responds, "No, he was born in Guatemala."

Howard the Cook looks perplexed, points to Ricky and asks, "Where from?"

Now all the tables are looking and listening.

Finally satisfied that Kensli is the only Chinese girl (I thought we might have to supply a birth certificate as proof.), Howard the Cook smiles and starts cooking. (Yes, what we came in here for! Yum!)

Kensli is now snoring!

Howard the Cook, with his egg in his hat, leaves and a voice from across 2 cooking surfaces says, "You've got across the map don't you?"

My head flies up!

The whole table is looking our way and Toby nods yes!

Kaitlyn is now slurping her noodles! (What can I say? When in an Asian restaurant, do as the Asians do!)

Ricky and Nicholas are staring intently at this new disturbance during their yummy meal!

"That is amazing!", the man continues, "We need you as a Kiwanis member!"

I really thought he was going to sign Toby up right there over sushi!

Kensli is still snoring!

Her dinner, her "Ni Hao," and her nap! It was HER day!!!!!!

As we get up to leave, we attract new glances! Ignoring all, we walk out into the night full, happy, and satisfied that we celebrated "Her" day perfectly!

Toby opens the truck door and places Kensli gently in her car seat. As he is buckling her in, she wakes up and drowsily asks, "Is it time to eat?"

Ah........Her night.........Our Memories........A Family Celebration!

Just KENSLI

Three years ago we were handed a 12 month old, 18 lb., little bundle of spice that has thrilled our hearts everyday! Instead of posting pictures of Kensli's Gotcha Day(which I love to look back on), I thought that I would celebrate HER now through pictures and words!

Sugar

Spice

Serious

Cute

Busy

Precious

Silly

Just Kensli everyday!!!!!

Have a Wonderful Wacky Wednesday

Photography by Kaitlyn

SPRING FEVER UPDATE

Last week I posted about having Spring Fever, and how I planned to set about preparing our "little" family for the next season! So far I have gotten Mr. Bubbles, started some seeds in a pot, learned a big lesson, searched for tadpoles, and should get the ant farm any day.

First things first, introducing Mr. Bubbles.............

......and what a fine fish he is!!!!!!!

The kids have really been enjoying feeding, watching, and talking to him!

I started a few seeds in a small pot to see if the kids and cat would be compatible with gardening. Much to my dismay, the cat has a dirt fetish! She waited until the seeds started to sprout and then attacked with vengeance! I even found one of the seeds upstairs. Do not ask how she managed that! So, I will have to find another way to start some plants! Glad I tested first before planting a bunch of stuff!

I have alerted Toby's office of the ant delivery, and they promised they WILL call as soon as our farm arrives! I can't wait!!!!!!

I did search for tadpoles last week at mom's but it must be to early! I am not giving up hope and have roped my dad into looking for me when he goes fishing! Hopefully soon!

SPRING FEVER

I am fidgety! I want the weather to warm up and stay that way, to plant something, to watch my flowers bloom, to sit in the sun, to watch my oldest son play baseball,..........I THINK I MAY HAVE SPRING FEVER! Yikes, it seems a little early this year! We have been having some incredible weather for the past two weeks, and it has put us all in the mood for spring!

It dawned on me this morning, what this house needed was a bubbly goldfish, starting some seeds in pots inside, some sort of insect project, and searching for some local tadpoles. We have nothing else in life to do to keep us busy and I felt that we needed something.

We will be studying insects in the spring using Apologia, Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the 5th Day . So, I started the whole getting into the mode and ordered an ant farm. I am so excited!!!!! I remember as a kid, we had an ant farm in our 2nd grade class and I loved going to the Science table to watching them. It was the coolest thing to me. I am not sure why I did not think of getting one sooner, but I am anxiously waiting to see the looks on my kids faces!

Hopefully we can go tomorrow and bring home Mr. Bubbles! My youngest two have never had a fish to watch and I do not want them to miss the experience!

I will be looking for some local tadpoles this spring. We looked for some last year and didn't find any. This year I will try at my mom's house! It is not quite time for them yet, but I will be watching for them in the little creek behind her house.

I think that we will start some flower seeds in some pots soon for the large pots outside. I would like to get some tomatoes seeded, too! We are planning on having a small garden this year if we can keep the dogs out. It may take some fencing to accomplish that feat! :)

My computer whirs, I am trying to decide which seeds to order, what tomatoes would be best, how to feed tadpoles, and waiting on a confirmation on my ant farm order......

DREAMING OF SPRING!

Valentine Fun

We have never been elaborate celebrators of Valentine's Day! We celebrate simply by spending the day with the ones we love!!!!!

I can remember as a kid getting these heart shaped cardboard Valentine boxes with chocolate candy in them. I looked at T*rget and got all 4 of the kids one. This morning, when they got up, their Valentines was waiting on them from Mommy and Daddy. The kids were so excited!!!! I actually surprised them for once. No one even had an idea that they would be getting anything, especially chocolate candy! :)

Kensli beat everybody to the candy!

Kaitlyn looks pretty even when she just gets out of bed!

Ricky and his cheesy grin! He would not smile until I took this picture and then I get this!!!!!

Nic looks like he slept hard last night!

Usually, hubby and I do go out, but not this year. I was sick all week with stomach issues, which came from eating out last Sunday, and I was not in the mood to chance another week of pain! Bummer, I know! Something about the way some places prepare food just gets to me!!!! So my dear, sweet husband said, "No problem, we'll just cook here!" He grilled steaks and shrimp! YUM, YUM, GOOD!!!!!!

After lunch Kelli came by and brought the kids some of her absolutely, best ever cupcakes! She could hardly set the box down before the kids, and of course the big kids, were in them! By the time she had to leave there was only one left!

Kelli and kids

I was trying to get a few good snapshots of the kids and the cupcakes and as soon as the camera flashed Kensli stuck out her tongue!

Doesn't she look pleased with herself?

When cupcakes were eaten and coffee and milk drunk, Toby and Ricky went to Wal*art and picked up the new swing set. Guess what the guys will be doing tomorrow between church services? Yep, working to make a little boy and two little girls happy. Ricky was a little bummed because he is to big and old to play on it, but is resigned to the fact that it is all part of growing up!

Tonight we are going to our 2nd Spanish Church Service at out church. It will be totally in Spanish, and pray I can keep Kensli busy and QUIET!

Blooming

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all. --Mulan

(plant actually blooming outside my backdoor)

I read this quote one time and thought it was a beautiful thought! This winter I have witnessed this very thought in my backyard. I have an azalea in a small area against the wall outside my backdoor that has bloomed all winter. The poor little plant has bloomed its heart out!


I began to think that as people we go through many things in life. Kensli is one of these people. Soon we will celebrate her 3rd Gotcha Day and it is a time to reflect on our becoming a family. I think of the things shared and the things she has overcome......

Survived her abandonment.

Survived approximately 365 days in an orphanage.

Learned to take care of herself.

Given to strangers.

Accepted a new family.

Learned to trust.

Survived heart surgery.

Struggled with sleep horrors and is overcoming.

Learned to let others take care of her.

..........and the list goes on and on!

At night when I rock her to sleep, I see a very strong little girl that has bloomed and I celebrate her triumphs. When I hear her laugh, I realize how close we came to never hearing her laughter. When she fights me at night, I realize the sorrows that are hidden deep inside. When I watch her carry her "baby" book around, I feel the pride she does! This is her story, her quote, her life of blooming in adversity!

Bloom, Kensli, Bloom!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday

Jumping for joy is good exercise. ~Author Unknown

My Backyard

When we sold our house and moved into the "big city", one of my main concerns was not having enough room for 4 kids to play. I prayed and the Lord gave us the perfect backyard. It is huge for an in town yard, even with a pool. We spend a lot of time outside and really enjoy the room to move. We have several projects going on right now and hopefully I will be able to post the after pictures soon.

Here are a few pictures of our little haven.....

Side yard looking toward house.

One of the projects... the back door that needs some serious sprucing up.

Our nosey little dog that tries to get in every picture.

One of the flower bed projects.....I think I will fill with Day Lilies.

View of most of the back yard from the back door area.


Where Ginger spends most of her time. "There are squirrels in them there trees!"

Just because she is so pretty!

I am hoping to get our projects finished early spring. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE flowers!!!!! Last year, because of the move, I missed out on the all the beautiful seasonal plants. I plan to be ready this year!!!!!

It's ADDICTIVE

I just thought blogs were addictive, but I just hadn't met Facebook yet! I promise it is more addictive than anything I have been on yet! Thanks to my friend Emilie, I joined this past week! Now I have to find the time for blogging and connecting. I already have more friends than I really know what to do with and some of them I haven't connected with in years. So, with my new found addiction, I am VERY connected!

It really is a very small world!

It is FRIDAY & the Week in Review

I really do not think a Friday come around at a better time this week! It seems that LIFE has a way of sabotaging anything and everything that we call important! Sometimes I really enjoy these happy little breaks in a somewhat boring routine. Due to so many happy little breaks this week and trying to keep the routine going, I am glad that tomorrow is Saturday and we can take a break!

We have all been under the weather for the last few weeks, and on Tuesday I got a call from Toby that he was on the way to the dr. because he was SICK again. Ok, do not get me started on how he will not slow down and get better before taking on his never ending list of projects. He sees the dr. at the walk-in-clinic, because our regular GP was closed for the day. He had the start of strep and during it all he meets a very nice Pakistani/American Doctor that is a died- in-the-wool Republican. I asked Toby how that all came up and he said that he wasn't sure, but the conversation was quite one sided and you knew exactly where this man stood on every issue. HEEHEE, nothing like a shot and a good political discussion to cure what ales. Needless to say the dose of politics, the shot, the antibiotics that were prescribed, or God did the trick. I have a very strong feeling it was the later!

On Tuesday morning my dad came and picked up Ricky to help him split and haul some firewood. My mother had been helping (drove the truck and loaded some wood), but after a flat tire and breaking 4 fingernails, she refused to help anymore. My mom is so not the wood hauling type!!!! So, it was Ricky to the rescue. My dad taking him fishing didn't hurt either.

With Ricky gone the rest of us had a little more relaxed school time. We stayed on the our routine, but there just didn't seem to be as much to do! Next week should be back to the heavy schooling.

It's the weekend! Bring on the fun!!!!!!!!

Have a Wonderful, Wacky Wednesday

Santa in training!

Happy "Birfday"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy "BIRFDAY", Tiger!!!!!!!

Yeah!!! Yipeeeeeeee!!!!!

She tried and tried to blow out her candles and was having a hard time.

She took a really big breath and they were all out.

(the middle candle has her new age on it)

There is nothing like pink icing to get the party started!

Kensli has been waiting patiently on her "BIRFDAY" for quite a while! It seemed like everybody else had either a birthday or Gotcha day before her "BIRFDAY"!!!!! Well it was finally Kensli's turn and we spent the entire weekend celebrating. (Well, until Sunday when we were sick.)

On Saturday, Mam-ma, Pap-pa, and Granny drove down to see us and help celebrate. Kensli was so excited because they had kept their promise. I am not sure when they have never a kept a promise, but this seemed like a huge accomplishment for them to Kensli.

Kensli did tell me that since was getting to be such a big girl she would eat her vegetables now. That is so great to hear!!!! Wish my other 3 would realize this is what they are forgetting to do now that they are "big".

This weekend, in true Kensli fashion, she had the "best, worst, and dumbest BIRFDAY" ever!!!! Here's to many more wonderful "birfdays", Tiger.

Our Tet/Chinese New Year Celebration

First let me say............

HAPPY TET & CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

The Year of the OX!!!!!

May it be a happy and prosperous year for all our families!

I was a little unprepared for this year, but we did manage to do a little celebrating. We went to a great Asian steakhouse here in town that turned out to be a big hit. We had never been to the one here in town and it was absolutely fabulous. The kids loved that they cooked the meal right in front of us.

During our dinner, 0ur Asian waiter asked if Kaitlyn was a Chinese girl and totally ignored Kensli. Kaitlyn just rolled her eyes at him, and thankfully he did not seem to notice my daughter's outward frustration with him. It is a scenario that happens a lot (For some reason, Asian adults do not seem to even notice Kensli, until it is pointed out she is Chinese.), and it makes Kaitlyn so mad. We even have one Chinese restaurant here in town that every time we go there to eat we get, "Oh, 4 Chinese babies." I think it's kind of funny and do not even try to explain now ( I have in the past and is was just a waste of my time.), but Kaitlyn has no patience with an Asian that cannot tell she is Vietnamese. She is genuinely proud of her birth culture and wants the world to know that she was born in Vietnam. We have talked about this several times, but the minute someone makes the mistake of calling her Chinese she becomes outwardly frustrated. Guess we need to learn a lesson in not showing our feelings on our face.

My beautiful Vietnamese and Chinese daughters!

I could not find any red envelopes this year because I waited to late. I did find these cute little red and white "gift bags."

I put some money wrapped around a piece of candy in each. We did have oranges sitting around and we have gold and red streamers strung around the house. Kaitlyn really enjoyed decorating. I have to buy some lanterns for next year. I have been planning to buy some every year, but I haven't yet. Hopefully next year, I can be a little more prepared!

No one in the adoption group here did anything that I know about. Next year I think I may need to step up and try to plan something. Just wished BOTT, Nic's gotcha day, and Kensli's birthday didn't come around the same time of the year so I would have more energy to party!