End of the year Choir Performance

Where’s Catherine?

Where’s Hannah?


The girls have enjoys Choir so much Hannah decided to join middle school choir for zero period! It was great to hear the songs and be able to see the songs they sing at school! I especially loved the African son by where they play percussion on their chest! 

Helpers

You get the idea...

End of the Season

Catherine has worked hard and was able to be catcher! 

Even better was he pitcher...HANNAH! Sister pitching to sister catching! They are a dynamic duo!

Tomato time!

It’s a tradition...our annual home grown tomatoes are planted thanks to this diligent gardeners! Can’t wait to harvest what they planted! 

Visit from Aunt Anne and Aunt Chris

It was such a relaxing visit. Chatting, laughing, eating and playing games. Oh and of course S’mores!

Little song bird

Emmy makes up some of the greatest songs about anything she sees. I love listening to her happy melodies!

Hurricane Harbor Water Park

The day was hot. The lines were long. The slides were fun. The family was together. Couldn’t  be better than that! 

Blowing Dandelions

Our little Gabriel is always on the go! He is exploring and going every where he shouldn’t be! But, one of his favorite roaming activites (besides finding and throwing rocks!) is blowing dandelions. He now picks any flier and tries to blow them. He has such a sweet spirit to stop and notice the flowers! I love him so much!

Recovering from Suzy’s graduation

We returned from CO on the 6:30 flight so once again we were up and out early after a late night at Olive Garden with the family. When we got home hengirls got ready for school, Jeff took a nap before working at home and I took the Littles to the park. When I put them down for a nap Emmy slept for four hours straight! Buddy woke after 2 hours then fell asleep on me then went back to his crib making for a 5 hour nap

Total!! When he girls got home from school Catherine crashed on the couch. RL went to bed at 4 and wouldn’t even get up for dinner and and Hannah was working on school projects when I made her stop to

Rest. She o my slept for an hour but she I woke her for softball she was a grump! And when o woke Catherine she got up and I said “Gran a quick snack then get ready for softball practice.” To which she reponded, “But what about breakfast?!?” She highly she had slept through the night! Suffice it to say, we were all beat!

Suzy’s Graduation

It was an early rush to get to the plane, and jeff went to park the car adding time onto his check in process and almost causing him to miss henpmqne! But we all got there and had a wonderful time celebrating this beautiful girl and her perservancr through high school! 

Belated Mother’s Day with G-ma!

To celebrate Mother’s Day we went to a new place in town that will for sure become a favorite: Habit Burger! Everyone loves dinner and of course the best part was being together and celebrating the bonds with have with each other! My mom is such a gift to our family and I love being her daughter! Thank you Hod for their special gift!

Reading to Doll-Doll

My little Emmy loves books. Add a blanket and a doll and you have the perfect trifecta! She loves books so much that I often see her reading to her dolls. It usually ends with me reading to her and her doll doll and I love every moment of it! I’m so blessed to be her mama and I love her so much!

4th and 5th Grade Award Ceremony

With the end of the year approaching there have been a lot of celebrations at school! Thei yesr Catherine wonthe Wondrous Writee award and Hannah won Socia Studies Guru as well as being recognized for her help in the PE class, as a courageous cougar (the leadership team) and as Student Citizen of Vannoy. So proud of my girls and the work and learning g hey have done this year! 

And just to show that you don’t have to win awards to be winners:

Catching rain

One of our favorite daily activities is walking to and playing at the park. As we walk home we usually take a moment to sit on the bench and take in he lovey view. This day at the park we were surprised by a passing rain cloud (a few times!) and Emmy kept singing, “I stand outside with my mouth open wide singing Aa-a-a-a,” and trying to catch rain in her mouth. It makes my heart glad to see her enjoying life so much. Her brother in the wagon was a different story...

Little kisses

It seems like at least one kid is getting hurt and in need of little kisses to feel better. Thankfully with some soap, water, kisses and a prayer this little gal felt good as new! 

Okay...she also needed a few silly selfies to recover 

A boy and his wagon

Hi!! I have drool down my front, my suspenders have fallen off, I’ve lost one shoe from my wagon but it’s Friday and I’m happy. 

And if your wagon falls over just Jeep right on walking. We’ve got this.

Baby Boy Turns One!!

Sweet Gabriel turned one back in January! We tried to see Opa and Oma to celebrate, but with them moving in December it didn't work out. But with so many friends around that love Gabriel we gathered people together, had pizza and cake and enjoyed watching him eat CHOCOLATE for the first time. Such a sweet party and the perfect way to celebrate our sweet boy!

Dear Gabriel,
You entered our family under the impression that you would only be with us a few months. After having you in our house a few days I knew we couldn't leave you again. Jeff was hold you on his lap and playing with you and he looked at me and said, "He knows us now and feels comfortable. We can't  leave him. We should try to take him to DC with us." (for our trip we were going to leave you with another foster family for respite care) We began praying, asked others to pray, and called every social worker we could to get approval to take you on our trip to DC. It was incredible when the court approved the trip (it took us 2 months to get Emmy's court approval!). It was one more way that God confirmed you needed to be with us and we needed to be with you. Your vocal and easy going personality newborn stage has grown into a giggly baby and now into a curious toddler that seems totally baffled when we tell you "No" as you stand on top of a table. We pray that these traits we have seen in you this year will continue to grow into a young boy and eventually a man that loves the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind. May you use your vocal gift to speak the truth in love, your easy going personality to serve different people in life, you giggles to laugh at hard times and enjoy the good, your curiosity to ask hard questions and get reliable answers and your wisdom to listen to people around you who love you and want to protect and teach you. We did not give you the name Gabriel, but it means "God is my strength." May he be your strength and ever present help in trouble as you navigate the days, months and years of life. We love you deeply and are blessed to spend this year with you watching you grow and change.
With all our love,
Mom and Dad

Lord we pray over this little boy that you have entrusted us with. May he grow is wisdom and in stature and may you be his source of hope and strength all the days of his life. Be near to him and keep him near to you.

Love me some pasta!