Beatin' the Heat

I think summer has finally decided to come our way so after VBS this morning we brought some of our favorite little people home with us to beat the heat.

I could watch these guys splash around playing together all day. I love the relationships they have. Love it!

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I finished our Summer To-Do List this weekend. I like how it turned out. Got the original idea from a blog called "eighteen25". I think she found the idea from somewhere else. At any rate, I liked it and so I copied it. I just used an old frame I had (10x20) and spray painted it. I stepped away from my paper scraps and made the background digitally (*gasp*). I know. To make up for the guilt I felt, I paper scrapped the header/title part. Here it is:

Maddy walked up to it this morning and said "I think today I am going to choose to get my brace off". Poor thing. That will happen in about 4 weeks (we found out next week the exact date). We did check off swimming and Sonic although those are two things I am sure will we repeat.

Keith, Chrisanna, Tex and Blacks

First, I want to ask for prayer on behalf of these guys.

(picture stolen from Keith's facebook)

After 20 long months of waiting, they are finally on their way to Ethiopia to get their new daughter! We are SO SO SO excited for them. Please pray for their safety and health in traveling, that their court appointment will go smoothly, and for Yemi's adjustment. Also, pray for Kiki, Jake and Brady and their adjustment to the new member of the family. Thanks in advance. I know they really appreciate all the prayers.

Second, I want you to meet Tex and Blacks. The newest members to our family.

They eat with us, go places with us, play with the kids, sleep with the kids. Yes, they are members of our family.

Tex and Blacks are a special treat from daddy. Our little Zhu Zhu friends have made these kids SO happy. They have seriously not put them down since Jeff gave them to the kids. Bryson's was even propped up on his lunch plate, to nibble on his apple, while they ate lunch today. It was quite funny to look over and see.

Well, Hello There!

Hello blog land...it's been awhile. Let's just carry on like I haven't abandoned this place for the last month.

We officially have a second grader in our home. Not liking the sounds of that! Sounds too old! Looking back at pictures from the first day of school and comparing them to yesterday, put a lump in my throat. I didn't think she had changed that much but she sure did.
She may not have physically grown much but she sure does look older!

The other night we all sat down as a family and made a summer to do list. I won't be hearing the words "I'm bored" over the next 7 weeks! We have a fun list of things to do and I am just about done putting together the cute little display for it. I'll show you when I finish it tomorrow.

Hooray for summer break! Here's hoping the next 7 weeks drag :)

Someday

Maddy's class has been working very hard on a very special project. They each got to write and illustrate a book. A book about dreams they have. It was titled "Someday" and last Friday they had a big presentation in class for the parents to come and hear a little of their books.

Maddy was so nervous for her presentation. Bless her heart! Thankfully she was one of the first ones to go so she was able to get it over with :)
The books were really nicely put together into hardbacks complete with a plastic covering to protect them. Definitely something we will cherish forever. Each student also dedicated their books to someone. Maddy choose to dedicate hers to Bryson. Wasn't that sweet?!

Someday:

Someday when I grow up I will be an artist and draw pictures.

Someday when I get my driver's license I will drive to Pojo's and eat (she had never even been to Pojo's before so this one made me laugh. :D)

Someday I will have a pet puppy, I will name it North and i will train it. (North?!?)

Someday I will meet the Chipettes and they will make me a rock star.

Someday I will invent a computer that does my homework.

Someday I will be a famous scientist and create new medicine.

Someday I will make my parents proud by making their bed for them everyday.

Someday I will help people heal when they are sick.

Someday I will be able to be a vet and I will care for animals.

Someday I will learn how to do lots of math and I will get them all correct!

Someday when Miss Keeney lets me teach the class, I will teach them how to make cupcakes.

Someday I will visit a roller skate place and I will make lots of skates there.

Saturday Morning Project

I'll let the pictures do the talkin'

A big thanks to Jeff and my dad who put a little sweat and a lot of love into the morning to make these two kids SO happy!

Memorial Weekend

We had a fantastic weekend visiting Jeff's family for Memorial weekend. We were finally able to get to know Janell's (Jeff's sister) husband. We had only met him once before, a few years ago. Bryson was SO excited to see his uncle, "the real army guy". James knew this so he made it a point to be in full uniform when we got there. Bryson immediately ran up to him and gave him a hug.
Friday night we hung out and Jeremy and Kelsey's house. We got there pretty close to bedtime so after the kids ran wild for a bit, we put them to bed and the sibling adults hung out. Talking, laughing, playing Star Wars trivia (yeah, I was real good at that)...having fun.

Saturday morning Jeremy and Kelsey made us a delicious french toast breakfast. We then headed over to see Jeff's parents who had just gotten home from the coast late the night before. The girls then headed to the mall while the guys watched a movie and the kids played outside. Our evening plans for a BBQ were rained out so we just ordered pizza back at Jeremy and Kelsey's and played football in the backyard once the rain let up.




We all like to describe Sunday as the perfect day. It started off at church and then lunch at Jeff's parents.

It was then naps for a few (adults) and playing outside for the kids who patiently waited for their mystery trip. Janell had set up a fun surprise out at her friend, Linda's, house to ride horses. So, late Sunday afternoon we headed out there for some fun. I may or may not have filled an entire memory card and may or may not have had to delete pictures as the afternoon wore on to get more pictures in.

Upon arriving at Linda's we were greeted by 3 fun dogs. And, what do you know?! Cooper came down from heaven for a visit. Maddy and Bryson were thrilled!

As soon as Bryson rode the horse once, he quickly became more interested in the pups. Turning down another turn on the horses. I was so impressed that Jeff's grandma hopped right up on that horse and took off!

When our fun mystery trip had to come to an end, we headed back to Jeff's parents when they offered to let the siblings (and spouses :D) go out to dinner while they watched the kids. What a treat! We had a fun time laughing and enjoying a meal just the 6 of us!

One of the kids favorite things to do at Mimi and Papa's is to play in their hot tub. Jeff's dad turns the temp down to bath water temps and the kids have at it!

Once we got back home from dinner a game of wiffle ball began. The kids quickly ditched the hot tub and joined in. Maddy and Bryson were both SO good at it! Smacking the ball farther than the adults at times. Good thing they have a big, open yard!

As much as none of us wanted, the day did have to come to an end. It was baths and bedtime for the kids and while us adults tried to stay up it didn't last long.

After a big, delicious brunch Monday morning and another round of wiffle ball it was time to head home. On the way out we stopped by Jeff's grandparents house, to say goodbye. They are just the sweetest couple. Like the kind who still hold hands and are always putting each other before themselves. When we got there, Grandma Wise was just pulling oatmeal cookies out of the oven for us to take with us for the ride home. The sweetest thing, I tell ya!

Thanks to all who made our weekend such a good one!!