After 4 years, 9 months and 25 days

he's is attempting to drink. WE ARE SMILING!
The time frame, that is when he officially became my precious son.
For those of you whom don't know...
Pookers used to have silent aspiration. In the orphanage, baby tea was, Literally, poured down him. He has outgrown this problem but the fear of liquids has remained. Slowly but steadily (at a tortoise pace) he has made it here. I just can't help but cry with joy and Praise.

Finally..............

Autumn is here

Let's Trade Bikes

Yet another brother

into soccer............

Why can't grownups have shoes this cute?

Definitely............... Bedhead

Gardening

Gardening in the NW is so very different from southern coastal FL. Things just dawdle along for weeks, then months; they don't really grow but are certainly alive. Then.... in a day everything starts going crazy and you have big, beautiful plants and their bounty. The boys have been excited to garden.... planting, feeding, pruning, picking, cooking, eating. It is winding down now as Autumn is here and we are harvesting less each week. I have loved watching their enthusiasm and their own growth in this process. Look at those faces; no wonder everything tastes so very good.

Bon Jovi Yes we will, Have A Nice Day

The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame's 2011 ballot was announced this morning....... Cay you say Bon Jovi? Yippee, hooray, WTG!

I didn't buy these

but aunties know them well......

What's Bug up to?

Hmmmmmm, I'm not too sure about this homework deal.
But I love school.
I love my flip-flops no matter the weather.
I help my Mom.
One moment the tooth is there and
the next it's gone.
When I get to choose something to "read" on my own...
Ahhh, another Tony Hawk :)

Hook Em

The Big 12 ready to go.... the Longhorns go into Lubbock to avenge the 2008 loss, you remember, right? Michael Crabtree catching the game winning touchdown pass. BUT........ this is a different team.
Here we go.......................

Life's Rhythm

Each one of my sons is a constant reminder to stop and take a mindful moment because he needs mommy for something........ and often. A typical day includes non-stop picking up, cooking, cleaning, packing backpacks, loading and unloading the car, laundry (that just another blog altogether) and any other day-to-day agenda item. These days I'd like to keep closer to home and we do whenever we can; we just stop. And sit. And be.

When my kids are on a schedule, when we have routine, we are all easier to be around. Less chaos, fewer tantrums and circular insanity; we have more love, learning, thinking, growing. Summertime in the NW, the sun is still up way past the littles capacity to be awake; but as with all kids, they struggle on. Summer is full of non-routine. Fall brings a recognition of their weariness and they are happy for bedtime. In essence, bedtime routine starts when we wake up in the morning. The more rhythmic and routine the day, the smoother life is, the more we all, all 6 together, appreciate that final blessed hour.

Bedtime is an important process, one I love. Like the seasons and the diverging light, we adjust and change as evolution happens, bodies grow, books become memorized.

I realized, tonight, that bedtime routine is now an hour long, potty, jammies, teeth brushing and face washing, lovey gathering, book choosing, snuggling and a story. It is the most precious hour of the day, it is slow and peaceful, it always happens.

A dichotomy

It is wonderful that he can love both of these equally :))

My boys bring me so much joy. I owe so much to them. They are so happy and free. The world is so intriguing to them.
The littles are curious and carefree; they spend the day just taking it all in, exploring their new world. Alexi is so imaginative and he thinks so differently than I do. When we read books together and I ask him questions afterwards, he comes up with answers, by pointing usually, that are so simple and so correct, yet, I never come up with the same answers.
Jesse-Ray still makes me laugh and smile when he's retelling the story to me and he can't understand why. I see me; I remember what life was like at his age. I want to learn to think like that again.

With time they are teaching me to remember all the things I've forgotten from my childhood. I want to live thru their eyes, to remember how simple things were and how wonderful things are.

My kids have taught me patience and love. They've taught me joy and happiness. They've taught me what's important in life and what's not. I hope I can, in return, teach them a thing or two along the way.

Time is a thief and gives nothing back, so enjoy every moment you have, you'll never get it back.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

Have you forgotten?

The world was forever changed.

Sad and Happy......

at the same time.
This week has seen, in just ONE orphanage alone, a precious little boy go home to Father, a little girl transferred from the Baby House to the institution (where children with Ds typically survive less than 18 mos), and a third reunited with his bio family (YIPPEE).
How can my heart rejoice for the little one home with his bio family and their bravery, then at the same time feel so broken for the loss of another............. not from illness or accident but because of neglect.
I sit here looking at my 5 and know this is soooooo right. I am so very blessed.

This little guy looked and looked for his brothers today..... aah.

1st Day of Kindergarten

The boys had a GREAT time and all was well. Yeah, but why would you expect anything different.

HE CAN SEE

It appears that pookie can see better with his glasses. This is what we were hoping for all along. You don't really know but behavior is a pretty good indicator. He leaves them on and has had some small squinting (with the good eye), as if his brain is trying to figure it all out.
And truly..... isn't he just darling in them?