So long, 2nd Grade!!!

Well, 2nd grade is in the books.

Next stop..... 3rd grade!!

We are so proud of our Oldest. Our Firstborn. He has a place in my heart all for himself.

When he was only 4 months old, he contracted a very serious Respiratory virus and infection. His first Thanksgiving, he went into respiratory failure and was rushed by ambulance to the nearest Children's Hospital, where he was quickly put on a ventilator and wheeled to the PICU where he would spend over 2 weeks in an induced coma.

While his body rallied, and eventually fought off the nasty virus and his lungs healed, it is moments like these, where I am reminded vividly of how lucky we are to have him. To get to celebrate Kindergarten and beyond....lucky, for sure.

This year was an amazing year for our sweet Boy. 

He excelled in Math, beefed up his "chapter book" reading, learned cursive and joined his school's Running Team. We were so fortunate to have an amazing  Teacher. Nick loved her and it was easy to see that the feeling was mutual. She cheered when he excelled and rallied around him where he met struggles. A great mentor, for sure!!!

While he is sad to spend a few months away from his classmates, he is anxious to do lots if THIS......

I'm fairly certain this is where I will find him everyday of his Summer vacation!!!

 

Shopping Buds

So glad I get to spend my days with these two, helping me run my daily errands....

Lollipops always help...

It's gettin HOT in here!!!!

Outside

Outside

Outside

That's where we are spending ALL of our time!!

Bathing suits, towels, water.... That's going to sum up our Spring and Summer!!

We have enjoyed a visit from sweet Friends who live in California (they were in our travel group while in China!)

It was lots of fun to get our Girls back together... They even took their first tube ride together!!

Our oldest is wrapping up his last few days if school, so we headed out to cheer him on at field day.

Mommy even got to participate in the "Parent hoola hoop relay"....(no photos allowed of THAT one!!);-))

We took the plunge and purchased a lake fixer-upper, in an attempt to get my dad to relocate and spend a little more time down here!!

We are excited, but we have a lot of work ahead of us!!!

Thank goodness my dad enjoys "projects".... Because we just bought him a big one...haha!!!

The Boys had so much fun deciding where THEY could make THEIR bedroom! (Yay for possible overnight visits!!!)

We are excited about having him here a little more often and for longer periods of time!

We hope that this post finds you happy and well! There are weeks when I think about ending this blog, as it was originally started to chronicle our adoption journey, but I stand in awe at the number of potential adoptive parents who read this blog through our agency's websight and the websight of our Province Orphanges (Henan Kids). So many of you have reached out to me personally, through email, to discuss adoption and special needs, and THAT in itself is all the reason to keep it going. We love being linked to their sites to reach you all....and to potentially play a role in making an Orphan out there, ONE LESS!

Blessings,

Angie

Too good not to pass on.....

Morning reflection....

First one up this morning and taking advantage of the peace and tranquility that comes from the early morning sunrise (and 3 sleeping kiddos)

Sitting out on the deck reflecting about all we have and how fortunate we are, and praying how to pay it forward...

I love these moments of alone time. When I'm able to just sit alone and be alone with my thoughts. To pray. To ponder. To dream.

It's like plugging my soul into an electrical outlet, to recharge.

And what I come away with, is knowing that today is going to be a GREAT day!!!

Oh... Look who came to join me for an early Breakfast.....

3 more weeks of 2nd grade!!

Blessings,

Angie

Graduation Day!

Yesterday, our 5 year old said good-bye to the sweet feel of Pre-school and Graduated from 5K. 

While it was still "Kindergarten", he attended a Private Church school with a very small class size and all the comforts that come along with a pre-school; and needless to say, we are so sad to see his time there come to an end.

Because he has a late Fall Birthday, he will do another year of kindergarten next year, only at at a much BIGGER school, with a class size double what he is used to. Oh Boy.... Momma is NOT ready!!!

But, I'm quite certain HE is!

He's anxious to be at BIG School....where his Big Bro and older Friends are.

Did I mention before, that Momma is NOT ready??

Well.... Good thing we have 3 more months until we have to cross that bridge.

Last night, we gathered to celebrate his accompaniments and to celebrate the ending if one chapter and the embarkment  of another.

We are so proud of our sweet Boy. He is such a Firecracker. Outgoing, rambunctious, loud, witty.... Everything my husband embodies... And I do not;-)

 He has the sweetest heart, but is certainly all "Boy". 

We have been so blessed as we have watched him grow and mature these last years; slowly becoming a true BIG BOY.... 

Just as likes to remind us, he is...;-)

He made friends so easily, and is sad to say goodbye to those special buddies, even though we assure him, next year he will have loads of Friends to choose from. (This year, he only had 2 other Boys in his class!)

We were blessed with sweet, caring Teachers, who loved him as their own, and nurtured him every step of the way.

And so now, we will enjoy our 3 months of being able to stay up late, sleep in and NOT pack lunch boxes (wooo hooo!!!)

We are going to play hard and enjoy every bit if this break, before the next school year starts!!

Blessings,

Angie

It's BOAT time!!!

The weather is warm... So you know what that means, when you live on a Lake...

Its BOATING season!!!

This weekend we finally ventured out to take our first boat ride!!!

Ohh how nice it was to feel the heat from the sun, the breeze of the air and to see that crisp blue water!!! 

Mia absolutely loved it, and was much more entertained this year, than last, which gives me hope;-)

Nick was exhausted from the race he had just finished, and so he cozied up to Maw-Maw and decided to snooze. 

It was a wonderful day and we can't wait to spend all of our spring and Summer weekends on the water.

That's where you'll find us!!!