Flashback Friday

1st day of school

4th grade and 2nd grade

The Cookie Jar

This came across an adoption yahoo group today- a very nice analogy of the hardship of learning to transition from orphan to much loved child.

The Cookie Jar

The Road to Exhaustion

Take a peek at a typical fall week at our house.

Sunday, September 16:

We gathered to celebrate Regan's birthday.  While we did not witness a tantrum that day, her parents assure us that she is definitely 2.

Monday, September 17

Wyatt attended scouts. I stayed the whole time with nothing to do.  This Monday we will drop him off.
Before we even got to scouts, I had to fit in a trip to see the doctor.  I had a little scratch on my hand that had swollen over the weekend, and a red line was working its way up wrist by the time I left work that day.  I knew I needed an antibiotic.  Not a big deal, but inconvenient.

It was a busy night as we also hit a sale to get Savannah's cowboy boots for homecoming.

Tuesday, September 18

We caught a break, or so we thought, when field hockey and soccer practices were cancelled due to weather.  We later learned that the soccer message was old...oops missed that practice.

I went out to dinner with friends and learned via text that a picture frame had fallen off the wall and shattered in the girls' bedroom.  Great.  I asked about the clean up upon my return and was assured the room had been vacuumed.  All was well until Wyatt ran down the hall and sliced a place on the bottom of his foot.  You guessed it...glass from the frame.  It  looked pretty bad, but in the non-expert opinion of Andy and myself, it couldn't possibly be stitched.  I really wanted that to be true for many reasons.

1. Wyatt was scheduled to go on field trip with his class to his favorite place in the world on Wednesday.

2. Wyatt really gets upset about seeing doctors.  I do not think he had positive experiences with doctors in China.

3. It was after 7:00 which would mean a trip to the E.R. or an urgent care center which would make for a particularly long night.

As it turned out the injury probably should have been stitched, but it has healed very nicely despite my bad parenting on this one.  It probably didn't hurt that my doctor gave me a prescription for Bacitracin on Monday and expected it to be used for the whole family.  Wyatt benefitted from that for sure.

The glass landed in the hall because the girls picked up the glass and carried it to the trash can instead of taking the trash can to the glass.  They learned a lesson on this one.  My hall carpeting is now stained as Wyatt sat in the hall watching his foot bleed all over the carpet.  Lovely

A side note:  Wyatt's field trip included a cave tour.  Everyone except Julia has been on this field trip, and she is scheduled to go in October.  The year that Zach's class went, he had stitches in the bottom of his foot and was on crutches up until right before the trip.  Isn't it ironic?  Both boys jumped on their injured foot.  Zach did so with the stitches still in his foot...ah, boys.

Wednesday, September 19

I took the day off to spend it with Wyatt on his field trip.  Naturally, my fourth grader hung out with his friends instead of his mom.  We both still had a great time.  This is an easy trip to chaperone.

Wednesday evening, I tried to clean my house around football and field hockey pick-up and dropping Savannah off and picking her up from C-group.  

cave tour

The picture doesn't show off how cool this waterfall is.

Wyatt's favorite activity-mining for gems.

candle making

Thursday, September 20th

Thursday was open house at my school.  Before I knew that, I bought tickets for a mother/daughter event for Julia and me.  I was so disappointed that I could not go.  My mother-in-law drove six hours round trip to take Julia to the event.  She brought birthday desserts for the birthdays she has missed since we last saw her months ago.  For Andy, it was strawberry-rhubarb pie.  I got cheesecake, and Julia got a cookie cake.  We are all sugared up here.

Friday, September 21st

Zach played a football game that was an hour and a half away.  Savannah had an evening field hockey game that was also away.  We divided to conquer.  Andy's sister, Dianna, and her boys joined Andy and Julia for the football game and then broke up their really long drive home with a sleepover at our house.  We stayed up past 1:00a.m. to visit.  

Saturday, September 22nd

We so paid for that late night.  Savannah had to be at the field for another field hockey game at 7:30a.m.  It was an intense game, and she stood on the sideline the entire time freezing. (Savannah did actually go to bed at 11:00p.m. on Friday night)

A little known fact about Savannah is that she needs her sleep, but she cannot nap.  She came home and tried to rest for her afternoon game, but sleep alluded her.  I think all the girls were tired for that last game, and it showed.

After leaving the field hockey field, I dropped Savannah off at home and headed straight to the soccer field to catch Wyatt and Julia in action.  Yep, Wyatt played on that injured foot and seemed unfazed by it.

After soccer, I crashed, really crashed.  I had grand plans to take a little nap, do a little laundry, get in a run and go to the next field hockey game.  I barely awoke on time drop the little people off at Tessa's and to get to the game.

While at the game, my dad contacted us to invite us to dinner to celebrate Joshua's birthday.  Zach was at work, but the rest of us made it and had a good time.

Zach intended to go to a bonfire after work. It was the first time he was driving himself that far, that late.  I did not rest until he was safely at home.  

Dad told Andy to say something to embarrass Joshua.  Andy has a quick wit and responded with, "Cheers to Josh on his successful colonoscopy.  Congratulations on passing."



Today has been a nice, relaxing Sunday.  Maybe this week won't be quite so crazy.  Yeah, who am I kidding?

Flashback Friday

Savannah's first season of field hockey with the school team.  

6th grade, 2009

Savannah actually played at the Y before playing for the school team.  We have tried to learn this sport and have had a lot of fun with these girls and their parents.  We don't know what the future holds, but it appears this may be Savannah's last field hockey season.  She is considering a return to soccer, so a new adventure may await us.

Action!

I should definitely be sleeping instead of blogging, but sleep is hard to come by here lately.  This week really launched us into fall craziness.  Wyatt started scouts on Monday and loved it (pictures to come later).  Tuesday found us at practices for all four kids.  C-groups kicked off on Wednesday, and we now have two high schoolers involved.  A field hockey tournament started on Friday followed by tailgating (sort of- we picked up our prepaid meals and took them home so that Savannah could shower) and football.  Saturday found us back at the field hockey tournament and at soccer as well. With all of that and laundry, dishes, etc....yep, I might sleep again during Thanksgiving break.

We ended the evening shopping for a homecoming dress, and we scored with a $17 bargain.  Savannah likes to be different, and homecoming is no exception.  Her dress would look really cute with some cowboy boots, and yes, we are going to go there.  I will post pictures after the big dance.

Now, I really must sleep.  Goodnight blog.

Flashback Friday

More soccer history

looks like a  lineman to me

fierce!

She still cracks me up almost every day

Our latest great quote from a child came last night.
Said with full drama, "I need water, just like Hagar." - Julia

Flashback Friday

In honor of soccer season, I take you back to the first season that Wyatt and Julia played.

Wyatt flipped around in an open field while Julia's team played.

It didn't matter where the action was, she stayed in this stance when she played goalie.

My Own

I am not a proponent of the politically correct movement. For the most part, I think it divides us more than it unites us.  However, there is one term that I wish to correct on behalf of adoptive children.

Lately, I have heard a few conversations that go something like this:
"Do you know the such and such family?  They do so and so, and they have three children; one adopted and two of "their own."  Now I know the intention is to identify the children as adopted or biological in relation to the parents. Truly I have never heard this stated with any ill intent.  I do not correct people on this or even get upset though it does make me cringe a bit.  I cringe because my four children are all "my own."  The sleepless nights when the fever wouldn't budge to medicine tells me so along with the countless times we reviewed spelling words and Bible memory verses together.  Those afternoons waiting in carpool and signed permission slips and teacher conferences, and a gazillion hugs and kisses all indicate that all four of them are my own.  The mountain of paperwork and fees and travel say my children are my own.  They bear the same last name as me and are my heirs.

I am thrilled that God chose to build my family through both biological means and adoption.  Both are beautiful. Adoption is an amazing journey. However, adoption is also painful.  It starts with loss and pain no matter how well it turns out.  I wondered often when John McCain ran for president how his family felt about the press that always referred to his children and then his adopted daughter as a separate child. How do young ears feel about this?  I know it is such a little thing, but sometimes little things really matter.

I am a Gentile by birth.  Much like my children I do not understand my own adoption into God's family, but I am confident that He calls me His own.  I am not somehow separate because of my adoption.

So if you ask me how many children I have,  my answer is simple.  I have four.  I do not qualify how they came to be my children.  If we get to know each other better or if you meet them, you will know.  Regardless of how they came to be a part of my family, they are my own.

First Soccer Game of the Season

After staying up late for the first home football game which was a heart-breaker lost by a field goal in double overtime, Wyatt and Julia played their first soccer game on Saturday morning.

Wyatt was a stopping machine!  He did an awesome job!

Julia did well but did not seem to be totally in the game- probably too tired from Friday night football.

ball stopped by Wyatt

The best part was playing with a great friend and then enjoying lunch with her family after the game.

We won!
Go Bears!

Wyatt has informed me that the next time I need to get a picture of him when the ball is engaged with his foot.  Uh, thanks for the tip, will work on that:)