Weekend in Review

We had a busy weekend with our final soccer game, the kids's fall festival at school, church...etc. I let the big kids do something my brother and I used to do as kids which was sleep on the trampoline. They told stories to each other and finally fell asleep after 9pm. To my surprise they lasted until 5am when they came in due to cold and possible rain. They were so excited they are going to do it again this Wednesday with Shane too.

Also, more tooth drama but the second of the upper teeth finally came out Sunday afternoon. Now all she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth.

And finally, the three amigos...we had some bubble bath fun this weekend too!!! They sure are cute and fun to play with.

Jacob had his last game for the fall today. He is really enjoying playing soccer this year and I have to say the team is really starting to gel well together. They have made some amazing strides and are beginning to play strong. Jacob has been alternating from defense and middle forward. He has had several assists and has scored 4 goals....he is very proud of himself. He usually asks me to put a Mohawk in his hair to look more intimidating since he is usually one of the smallest players on the team...but being small also means he is fast and he can beat most opponents to the ball. His mother (that's me) is a bit crazy on the side lines too. Now I know how my mom broke her toes from jumping up and down watching my brother play. It is intense for me...Shane has to sometimes tell me to be quieter. Heeeheheeh! We start the second half of the season soon and  will play through March. He has a great coach and over all club soccer has been a great experience. The photo is from the leagues fall tournament a couple of weeks ago...cute bunch of boys!!!

Sisters...forever!

The girls and I were invited to their older sister's birthday this weekend. They haven't seen each other since May and what a joy to visit Asjiah! She has grown and blossomed into this amazing little girl. She was so happy, calm and at peace and I know God has her exactly where He wants her, which was always our prayer when she left us. We are walking this path of adoption and wanting to keep the kids in a relationship while each one grows in their adoptive homes. It was a privilege to see her and can't wait until the next time they can get together.

This is right after they came to us in May 08...Ayana was 18mths and Asjiah as 3...they have grown so much but still super cute!

18mth

We are hitting the 18 month mark with Leah. It is easy to fall in love with her...she is a bright light in a dark room. Her smile melts away any concern. She has a nice little stubborn streak too. She is busy, busy, busy and getting into everything which is about to drive this mama mad. I can't have anything on the counters in the kitchen because she just finds stools or chairs to move around the kitchen and get into things like the halloween candy or dirty dishes. We also moved her from the crib to the toddler bed and into the girls room. (which has been an experience all in itself) Anyway, again, like always what a blessing we are experiencing with having this sweet girl in our home. Praying for God's ultimate plan for her and hoping it is with us forever, but His will over ours ultimately.

First nap is the big girl bed

And this is how I found her a few days later. Since this time we actually put up our bed rail because she has always pushed herself up against the sides of the crib to sleep and she has slept better since we gave her another border. I love the one shoe...so cute. She is enjoying the independence of getting in and out on her own and so far the transition has been smooth.

Happy 4th Birthday Nathan-ator!

Nathan is FOUR!!!! Oh my goodness that is so hard to believe. And we received and incredible gift for his birthday...termination of parental rights. We spoke with the adoption lawyer this week and we should be good for finalization after the first of the year. In addition, the lawyer wants to schedule both Ayana and Nathan's hearings back to back and make it official for both of them. (That thought makes goose bumps rush all over my body!) Nathan of course is still baseball obsessed so he got a new blanket and pillow case. His Aunt Tess got him a bike which he loves. All in all it has been a blast together these past 4 yrs.

Not only a privilege, but a duty!

Of course we all know today is election day. As I pulled into the local church where we vote, all the kids in tow, I had a quick thought of  "I should just skip it this year". It can be a struggle to take all the kids into a place that I swear is more quiet than the public library, concentrate enough to vote the way I feel is the best, and keep the kids from screaming at each other. But just as I had that thought Jacob asked what we were going to do and I said it was voting day. He remembered the presidential election 2yrs ago and asked me why we vote. Ahhhhh, a teachable moment. I talked about how we as Americans have the privilege of choosing those men and woman who make our laws. How we can make a difference with our vote if we feel the leadership is steering the country in the wrong direction. I also explained that we have a duty to vote as well. So many other countries in this world do not have the luxury of voting that we do. They have no voice, no choice....we have a duty to be an example to others.

This election took on an additional meaning for me as well. I always scratched my head before at the list of judges to be chosen to stay or go...I never gave them much thought before now. After having spent the last several years in the judicial system and experiencing 3 different judges for our kiddos cases I felt a much bigger obligation to vote for the "good" ones....the ones that have a history of what I think is the best interest of children. I was proud to vote for 2 of the judges on the list that have made the tough decisions to severe parents, but also give these kids a safe, secure home. It was an honor to hopefully put them back on the bench.

I hope you voted...I hope God is leading this country down a more spiritual, moral path. I pray that He grant grace to this country when we are so far from His path.

Halloween 2010

All the kiddos all decked out for trunk or treat at church.

We went to Westernfest with friends and Nathan's brothers. The kids got to trunk-r-treat at the classic car show.

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Our annual pizza and pumpkin carving party at Grandma and Grandpa Self's! The kids LOVE this early event the most...i think even more than trick-r-treating.