Mason-Kate

2012-02-12T21:37:00.002-05:00

Eleven months home and today was BIG in her world. Church day. The day that, six months ago, I dreaded. Why? Because our girl would cling to me as we entered the building, accumulate huge crocodile tears in her big round eyes, and scream. We would leave her. Check on her. Still screaming. We would pick her up after thirty minutes and just hold her and hug her tight. Heartbreaking. Today, and might I add that it was the coldest day of our year yet, Maddox Ren decided to overcome all fears. We parked our car, and, as usual I went to get her out of her seat. She quickly let it be known that she wanted down to walk - this is where the coldest day of the year comes in, and windy, oh it was more than cold. Despite the negative temps, I let her walk. She held my hand. Walked through the double doors, into MK's class to drop her off, gave MK a kiss and a hug, walked down another hall and right into her classroom. Maddox then proceeded to take off her jacket, hang it up, kiss me, hug me and wave goodbye. No tears. Not one. Eleven months later and she is secure when we leave her, she is confident we are hers forever, she knows we will be back.
In other news, Maddox is all about play doh and coloring, two things she does on a daily basis. However, as one can tell from the pic above, she is not all about sitting in her booster seat to do said activities. She is Houdini I tell you. For sure. She managed to scramble herself out of her booster seat and then craftily climbed atop the tray for better seating????
Boys will be boys. What mother lets their child "paint" themselves with marker????
This crew is one of a kind, the best of friends, all of them.
Speaking of friends, my dear friend Sandi came into town over the weekend. Sandi was one of my very best friends growing up. When we graduated from high school, I remember being so sad because not only did she choose to go to a college out of state, her parents moved away that same year. I knew that seeing her would be a challenge. Of course, we have always kept in touch and visited sporadically through the years, the last visit being just one week before we received Maddox's referral. Recently, Sandi's brother-in-law and sister-in-law moved to a neighborhood less than five minutes from ours.....great news for us! Full circle.

Hatcher Family of 7

2012-02-08T22:08:00.006-05:00

There has been a lot of excitement in the air for the past two weeks all due to the arrival of this little one.....Miss Lulu The children have spent time this week making very special welcome home posters.....
and writing letters.....
and every morning and/or evening, their favorite thing to do has been to Facetime the Hatchers.....
tonight it all came to an exciting welcome home gathering at the airport.....I am pretty sure that this expression on Lulu's big brother's face sums it all up.....he was so precious, he looked at his mommy and said, "I am so glad you got her. I was afraid they weren't going to let you bring her home."
And we are glad they got her too! One less orphan.....one less baby girl going to bed tonight without the kisses and hugs from her forever family.....
Lulu comfortably took us in while she sat safely in the arms of her mother.....
And one more friend for Maddox....one very special friend. Can't wait to see these two together as they grow up!
Welcome home Hatcher family of SEVEN! We are so blessed to know each of you!

2012-02-05T22:11:00.004-05:00

My greatest accomplishment is my family. My husband, my boys, and my girls. Growing up, I dreamed of my family. I planned for my family. My children. Early on, like in 6th grade, I decided four children would be good - two boys, two girls, respectively. And they would be spaced accordingly - two boys, two years apart, wait a few years and have two girls, two years apart. A really good plan.

Only, it was my plan, not necessarily His plan.

During our adoption of Maddox, I truly felt as though the child bearing stage in my life was over. Our last child. Our last adoption.

I will never forget standing in front of our hotel room as we were leaving. We took a picture and I had this sad feeling of saying goodbye. I knew we would not be back. At least not to adopt.

Adoption is exhausting. The decisions. The paperwork. The money. Or lack of. The referral. The waiting. The lack of control. There is nothing smooth about it until it is over and, even that, sometimes is not smooth.

And when Maddox came home, I felt full. Content.

Fast forward several months. I was innocently looking at pictures of children waiting for their families. A little girl MK's age popped up. Her expression was so sad. No life, no smile. Her hair was shaved. Her dark eyes looked hopeless. She tugged at my heart. I said to Ryan, "You have to come look at this little girl. She is beautiful!" He came over, looked at her photo and said, "If we only had the money." This statement took me by complete surprise. It shook me. My thoughts were not on adopting this little one, I was just looking at the faces of the hopeless, wondering what would be next for me, for our family, ie, mission work, etc. The beginning of the "unsettling" began on this day.....

Recently I have been trying to decipher my plan vs. His plan. How do you know the difference? Quite unsettling. We do not have the resources for another adoption yet we do have the heart for to care for the unwanted. Realistically, we know that we cannot save them all. But could we make the difference in just one more? When is "just one more" enough? I always thought I would just know; I always thought that four was the final count; I really thought moving forward with our four children was the plan from here on out - after all, one six years away from college, one close to braces, one facing surgery in the next year and one facing surgery in the next two years, that sounds like enough, right? Yep! Yet, the unsettled feeling creeps in and the wonder sets in.....

And the "what ifs" creep up....

We are simply praying through our feelings of what lies ahead for our family. You have all been wonderful to us, supported us and loved all four of our children like no one else can. We continue to grow with Him and should we feel led to adopt again, should the doors open, yes, we will answer. However, at this time, we will be still and listen.

My Guys

2012-02-05T21:10:00.002-05:00

Colin finished up his first season of middle school basketball this weekend. Though their team lost this particular game, their team was quite impressive throughout the season. Ryan and I have loved watching Colin grow this year in a team sport. Where he used to be a bit turned off by the aggression seen in competitive sports, this season made quite the change in this particular trait. Now, he is a little aggressive. And he isn't as scared to get in the middle of the game. And he knows what it is like to win. And he likes that winning feeling.

In other Colin news, he had the opportunity to participate in a mock government day at our state house. The day was fun for all and everyone, even the "oldie" parents, learned a lot. To prepare for this day, Colin had to memorize scripture, read a book on US citizenship and write his own Bill to be presented to the student government. Oh, and the best part, was the purchasing of a sports coat. HILARIOUS. One has never seen a child so excited! I took the boys shopping for said coat and I was doubled over in laughter as they walked from mirror to mirror admiring themselves. And when the ties came in, the evening got even better. Lets just say someone really, really liked the bright red metallic tie - and it wasn't me!
And then there is Pryce. WOW. Pryce is in the middle of his basketball season and hasn't quite decided whether he is in love with the sport or not. However, he plays with gusto and he loves being on a winning team. Soccer comes into the mix next week. I love that he is wanting to give all of the above a try.

In between his sports activities, Pryce found time this weekend to attend the Pinewood Derby for boy scouts. Earlier this week, G-Dad found some time in his schedule to carve a car for Pryce; Ryan painted the car Friday night and Saturday morning Pryce took his turn on the ramp. We were all pleased when he placed SECOND in his division. So proud of P!
And then there is our furry little guy, Finley. I think his hair speaks for itself. We are driving him crazy!

MK

2012-02-01T13:55:00.002-05:00

*Last night we were watching Pryce play basketball. There was an Asian boy playing on the other team. MK shouted, "Hey, look, that boy is CHINESE!" We acknowledged her excited statement and continued to cheer for Pryce. A bit later she looked at Ryan and said, "Dad, I know where that Chinese boy came from!" Ryan asked, "Where?" and MK stood up and pointed to this Asian man behind us and said, "He came from him, that guy! That is his daddy!"

*The other night as I was putting MK to bed she said, "Mommy, don't tell daddy, but something very scary happened to me at school today." I said, "What?" She said, "I got chased by a BOY!" (Giggle, giggle, giggle) I said, "Was that scary?" She said, "Well, that is my favorite game ever! I think Daddy will think it is a scary game though."

MK went for her annual cleft team appointment today. It was another one of those "lets just wait another year and see" kind of appointments. So glad for their annual assessments and their diligence in tracking her progress. Of course, I left a bit weary of what is to come, ie, the headgear, the facemask, the possible speech therapies because of said headgear and facemasks, the breaking of the jaw possibilities, not to mention her next surgery in two years.....yikes! For today, we live in the "now" and she is happy, healthy and loved by many!

Chinese New Year - Take Two!

2012-01-29T14:45:00.003-05:00

The girls are going through a "posing" stage. Either they see the camera and immediately strike a pose OR they run from the camera (Maddox more than MK!) leaving me to photograph their backs. Sigh. Girls will be girls :) Nevertheless, CNY would not be CNY without a party and Chinese silks.

So, we invited a few of our favorite friends, who brought some delicious Chinese food for us all to indulge in, which led to some after dinner conversation for the adults while the kiddos played and played. A party, food, play, play, food and cookies/cupcakes for dessert! Yummm!
The added bonus....Facetime with the Hatcher family! Our dear friends, the Hatchers, are in China NOW hugging their precious new baby girl! Welcome Louisa! Can't wait to meet you!

Meanwhile, back at home, Amy's parents and and two of the Hatcher children were in attendance for our CNY celebration. Grandparent visitors are always a welcome addition to our gatherings! Thankfully, they made themselves at home and joined in the evening fun!
The red couch photo attempt.....looks very similar to the ones taken at the White Swan, right? A few are looking into the camera, a few are tired, some are smiling, some not so much.....
but, wow, look at these guys! Ten precious little ones.....nine adopted, one touched by adoption, all changed forever, all loved. My heart is heavy tonight. What if these guys had not been "chosen?".....what if there is another one waiting???? what if????? Colin asked me, "So exactly how much does adoption cost?" I said, "Well, around $35,000." He sighed and said, "So you are telling me we could adopt two more children instead of purchasing a Suburban?" Laughing, I said, "Yes. You can invest in a car or invest in the life of a child." Proudly he said, "I think I will take investing in the life of a child."

(Our boys are into cars. And they think we need a Suburban. We don't. Our van is good.)

Two And A Half (Already)

2012-01-27T20:57:00.003-05:00

Hard to believe our little bit is two and a half already. Admittedly so, I am struggling a tad with this. Two things describe our lives....busy and going by too fast!

To think that less than one year ago, she was living a different life, one without her forever family. I often wonder what she would be like without us....would she be allowed to explore her world as she does today, the jumping, the climbing, the outings....
would she laugh that deep, heart felt laugh that we all love to hear.....
would she have someone to play with her.....
would she squeal when enjoying herself....
who would she pick flowers (weeds!) for?.....
would she love peek-a-boo the way she does now?
would she pucker those precious lips when in deep thought.....
Today Maddox Ren is officially two and a half years old. And in our home, a half birthday calls for a celebration. Maddox was all for the cake part....
however, the singing wasn't stellar in her opinion, and there were a few tears shed....MK said, "What? You mean she didn't cry at her real birthday party but she cried tonight? That is crazy!" MK always has a way with words :)
No worries, as you can tell from the pic below, a big brother and a yummy chocolate cake were all she needed to bring back her sweet smile!
And as if that wasn't enough to get our baby girl smiling, bring on all of her siblings and let the silliness and laughter continue....

2012-01-25T07:23:00.002-05:00

Happy Chinese New Year! The actual new year day was on Monday, January 23, and being that our family has branched out in the last year or five and begun to eat Chinese, take out was an essential part of our evening! The mere mention of Sweet and Sour Chicken gets all of my kiddos into a smiling fit.

The best part of Chinese take out? The fortune cookies.
The girls were all suited up in their best Chinese silks for the day. I will have to work on photographing them.....they had their own agenda Monday evening and it did not involve me and my beloved camera.
I suggested they have tea party, thinking that this would lead into come very cute photos. Alas, before I could get to their room, their tea party was spread all about their floor on their best blankets....not exactly what I was thinking but we went with it!
I love this photo of Maddox. Anytime she has a choice to make, she will sit and evaluate the situation while saying, "UMMMM???" and that is exactly what she is doing in this photo - trying to decide which cup to pour her love into first!
And she did not want Goldilocks to miss out on the new year tea so she spoon fed the baby a spot of tea.
Finally, Miss MK....this little one just doesn't stop growing! Five years old is hard for me to say....I am still stuck on saying she is four yet she is clearly growing up everyday!

Talking

2012-01-21T20:03:00.002-05:00

When we made the switch to the waiting child program and checked off cleft lip and palate as a need we thought we would be suited for, the praying began. We prayed for wisdom. We prayed for our daughter's self-esteem. We prayed for her health. AND, we prayed for her speech. Before we were matched with MK, during our wait for MK, when we met MK, every prayer included a prayer for intelligible speech.

Let's just say our prayers were answered ten fold. The girl can TALK. And talk. And talk. To herself. To anyone in the room. To a wall. To the dog, her dolls, she can and will talk. Now we often say, "Mason-Kate, can you please just be quiet? For a minute?" It truly is a challenge for her! She loves her voice. She sings. She recites poems. Or class lessons. She tells stories. Anything to hear her voice.

So now we pray for Maddox. She continues to improve daily with her speech. She tries. And there are words that she says without any complications. But there are many that need lots of work. No doubt she is understood, the girl can communicate her desires. And she understands everything. Speech is such an intriguing part of life, one that I did not even think twice about the complexity of until my girls entered into our lives. So thankful for the speech therapists that have been there for our girls! What an amazing job and what patience they have!

2012-01-19T21:10:00.002-05:00

Mason-Kate's birthday was big this year! She has truly dreamed of turning five years old FOREVER. So, we made is super special with a special trip to the American Girl Doll store in Atlanta. Her gift? Her own doll and breakfast in the bistro.

In literally three seconds, she spotted McKenna and she was sold. She is the best little mother. She carefully listened to the attendant explain the best haircare and handling of the doll.
The boys were less than amused at the thought of going to a "girl" store so they stayed behind with friends. While dining, we took a look around the restaurant and decided they made the best decision for themselves. Somehow the pink fans and the tea cups and the dolls galore just did not make for their cup of tea!
No boys meant one thing.....girl time! And pretty much when they asked for something, we obliged. A carousel ride was at the top of their list!
We continued our celebration this week with a visit from most of the grandparents (Pop had to make a call to MK as he missed out of the celebration!), Aunt Nellie and some of our favorite cousins! Dinner was fabulous and quite an experience for all. A Japanese Steakhouse. So fun!
My brother's girls were able to spend a few days with us too. Hearing all of the laughter and just seeing them all together made my heart warm. Their time together is not nearly enough so they have already begun their plans for the next reunion!

I love this pic! The girls, ages 5, 6 and 7, were in love with their little umbrella drinks. Cheers were in order for our birthday girl and her big day(s) of turning 5!

Fabulous Five

2012-01-15T20:10:00.004-05:00

Today MK turned five years old. She has dreamed of being five years old since she turned two!

With a party all decorated for a princess, you asked just before the guests arrived, "Excuse me, Mom, but what kingdom was I born in?"
Today was your day, MK, and you made sure everyone knew. When something did not go exactly as you had pictured you would say, ever so sadly, "But today is MY special day!" And it was.
Tea was served promptly at half-past two. Prior to the tea, your guests prettied themselves up with make-up, nail polish, and accessories galore.
And you were giddy with excitement.
Maddox joined in on the fun while the boys tried their best to steer clear of all pink involved.
While you all sipped on tea and ate goodies, your dollies were having their own little party.

We have loved watching you grow this year. You rose to the occasion of being the big sister. Even though Maddox can be less than nice to you, your way of guiding her and supporting her is like no other. During your fifth year, we also grew to love and admire your determination and will. Mason-Kate, you do not quit. At the beginning of the year, swimming lessons were in order. It was FREEZING. You jumped in and swam in the cold water without one complaint. All the while, I watched as child after child got out and begged to be warmed up! But you, you endured it cold and all. Fast forward a few months to swim team - wow, four years old and you were jumping off of a block with a crowd of people watching. You swam fast and you never stopped, you saved your tears for the end. Recently we were at a local park. You wanted to climb a climbing wall. You began and got stuck. You asked me for help and I said that I just didn't think it was for little girls as it was too high for me to help you all the way up. Instead of accepting this as an answer and moving on to something else, you came down, stood in front of the wall, methodically planned where your feet were going to need to go in order to make it to the top, climbed on again and up you went! Amazing. Then you said, "See, Mom, I told you I could do it!" And it is true, MK, you can do anything you set your mind to, even at the mere age of five!

MK, you make us laugh often. You are at that perfect age to explore uses of vocabulary and you innocently notice things that deserve a comment. My favorite recent quote was one night when you came home from church. Your bag contained a craft and a story. You said, "Tonight we learned about dictionaries. One was named Cathy like my teacher." Hmmm. Took us a minute to realize you actually learned about MISSIONARIES.

Your dreams are big. At this age, you wish to be a doctor AND a ballerina AND a mommy. And on some days you wish to be a tooth fairy but you aren't quite sure how that will work out with the wings and all!

You are truly our little princess. We kiss you goodnight each night and you are fully dressed in your pjs. Next thing we know, pjs are off and you are all snuggled under your favorite Hello Kitty snuggy in between your babies and pillows. You carefully place your pjs in the sham of your pillow so you can find them in the morning. However, most mornings when I come in to get you, you are all dressed in your latest favorite princess attire - crown and all!

Though we will never know the circumstances of your birth, every year on this day I pray a special prayer for your birth family. I wish they could see you now. Your big smiles. Feel your tight hugs. Touch your soft skin. Hear your giggles. See you dance. You are a joy, Mason-Kate, and we are so thankful that we were chosen to be your forever family. Happy five years!

How Do You Measure Debt?

2012-01-10T07:33:00.005-05:00

Debt is a common word in adoption land. Some discuss how to avoid it when adopting, others discuss how they survive it when adopting.

Many years ago, before we ever seriously contemplated adopting and before adoption was on the rise internationally, our friends were fundraising to bring home their child in Russia. They did numerous fundraisers and frequently sent out letters updating friends and family on their process (this was even before bloggy world became so useful!). These letters also contained info on how to go about donating or participating in a fundraiser to help cover expenses incurred with their adoption. I honestly did not get it or, rather, did not want to get it. Why would someone ask for money to bring home a child?

A 3 year old child. A 3 year old little girl in a cold, wet orphanage. A three year old little girl who went to bed at night without hugs and kisses, without someone to kiss her boo-boos; a three year old little girl who no one wanted except our friends who were desperately trying to raise money so that they could bring her home, love her, hold her and be her forever family. And what did we do to help? Nothing. It was not on our hearts. We did not understand. We didn't "get it."

Instead, we were much more into "getting" how we could purchase the many-thousands-of-dollars car that we wanted and the electronics that were top-notch and the clothes that we would soon grow out of and the jewelry that would go out of style sooner rather than later. After all, that is what people spend their money on - their desires, their "needs." We did this too well and incurred debt while doing it. Today, we have nothing to show for it; nothing but thoughts of how we should have used that money, how we could have used that money.

Fast forward several years. Adoption became a reality in our lives. And the money needed to adopt became a burden to our finances. We could have said no, but we didn't. Instead, we trudged forward and piece-mealed a plan of our own on how we would afford adoption. We never asked for help; we spent many nights working through the "what-ifs" and we worried endlessly how we were going to bring home a baby girl, one who needed several surgeries, one who needed therapies. One who needed a family.

Our Mason-Kate.

Even through this we did not "get" fundraising and/or helping families who are seeking to adopt. Our thought was pretty much that if one wanted to adopt a child, they should plan accordingly and have the finances upfront. Or not adopt.

Fast forward two years. MK is thriving. We managed to refinance our home (yes, this is always an option for the willing) and our debt was paid. AND, we had a three year old baby girl to show for it. A happy, well adjusted, little girl who went to bed at night knowing that she would awaken the next morning to a house full of love for her. Our plans to build our family once again through adoption became a reality. However, this time, we wanted to adopt "debt free." Hmmmm.

We tried. Really. And we thought the adoption would take so much longer. And, thankfully, it didn't. However, it is hard to come up with a mere $30,000 in just 10 months.

We will forever be indebted to those who willingly gave to us. The goodness. The love. I cannot tell you how many people sent money and said, "I wish we could do more!" What these folks did not know was that with each piece of money we were given, the large amounts and the small, we were taught so much more. Kindheartedness. No one who is adopting wants to ask for money. Choosing to ask is a humbling experience. Choosing to invest in a life, a deserving life that God has called each of us to do, is even more humbling. Finally, after two adoptions, we get it.

We get that adoption costs are a burden; raising the child is expensive enough. We get that the child may have needs beyond your average child; multiple surgeries, therapies that are not covered by insurance, dental work that was unforeseen; we get it. We also get that each child is so easy to look over until they become yours; or, until, they become a part of you. Through our girls, we continue to learn so many life lessons that we would have easily looked over had they not been a part of God's plan for our family. For this, I am so very thankful.

Boy Trip - Day 2

2012-01-08T19:05:00.004-05:00

Thank you to Gran and Pop for making our Islands of Adventure day possible! (And for taking extra special care of the girls for us while we were away!)

Ryan wasted no time stating what was on his A-List of rides - the Hulk. The boys begged him not to go and I egged him on to try it out. He rode. And screamed like a girl. And loved.every.minute.of.the.ride.
The boys had other priorities. Harry Potter Land. Having read all of the books and seen all of the movies, they were mesmerized and it took them no time to warm up the the seemingly real life land of Harry Potter.
I, on the other hand, have not read the books and have seen only the first movie. And that was a very long time ago. However, I was taken with the authentic looking set. It never ceases to amaze me the way the theme parks dress every "land" up to the most perfect tee.
And Harry Potter Land was no exception. It was like being in the movie. The shops. The train. The food. Every little detail.
After withdrawing ourselves from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we immersed ourselves in taking in more sites of the park. Along the way, we spotted a little boy feeding this little squirrel. The boys thought it a funny site to see a squirrel eating a french fry.
And eventually the real adventure began. Or ended, however you choose to look at it ;> At some point, Ryan jokingly questioned my sense of adventure. Well throughout the course of the day, I took this to heart and upon our last hour in the park, we came upon a rafting ride. As a child, I LOVED a good rafting ride. Somehow over the years, though, I have lost track of the many wet memories I have shared upon said rafting experiences. Keeping in mind that it is January, mid-60 degree temps, I convinced the boys to ride the rafts with me. I figured wet pants would be ok....we all figured out how we could salvage our shirts post-ride. We knew we were going to get wet.
So we got on the raft and dutifully packed our shoes and socks into the center console to stay dry. Then, we cuddled down into the puddles of ice cold water that was pooled into our seats, buckled up and the ride began full force. Colin got splashed on a good bit; Pryce was pretty wet; I, of course, was drenched beyond measure in the nastiest, most chlorinated water EVER. I may as well had jumped in for a swim. It was "epic" as the boys often say. Every opportunity for one to get wet sprang upon me. There was a couple on our boat wanting to get wet - they may have had wet shoes by the end of the ride, I got all of their water too!
And, so, as the sign above reads, the adventure lives on! So thankful for the opportunity to spend quality time with my boys and Ry. So glad that my girls were spoiled beyond measure at home with their grandparents. Loving this season of life!

Boy Trip

2012-01-08T17:58:00.006-05:00

A big thank you to G-Mom and G-Dad for our Legoland Adventure! The boys were given tickets to visit the newest theme park in Orlando and the four of us took off for some "big kid time" in Florida. Fabulous!

We were all amazed at the site of the little Lego cities on display. Below is Miami Beach....New York was a fav of mine and Las Vegas was incredible!
Of course, a theme park would not be a theme park without a bit of riding adventure. This jet ski style ride was a favorite of all of the boys, big and little :)
The bouncer and the roller coasters were also top entertainment throughout our day. Luckily, the crowds were small and the guys were able to ride and ride and ride.
Alas, our day came to an end. The boys curled up next to this Lego dude and didn't think twice about catching some zzzz's before our departure!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T07:29:00.000-05:00

A Year In Pictures.....

2012-01-02T16:29:00.011-05:00

January 2011 - MK turned FOUR, Daddy turned as old as mommy, we celebrated 13 years of wedded bliss, basketball season was full-on AND we had an unexpected amount of snow!

Not sure what happened to February. However, I do remember a trip to Seabrook to celebrate Colin turning 11, and I recall an unheard of amount of hoots and hollers when we FINALLY received word that we would travel to get Maddox - yay for TA, prep was in full swing with packing and assembling the crib and painting, etc.....

March brought on Colin's 11th birthday and unforgettable travels to China to meet Maddox Ren

Those sweet brown eyes.....so bright and full of questions. Thankfully, time agreed with her and the smiles were easier to come by!

April began with a day at the Masters with our boys, doctors appointments aplenty for Maddox, adjusting to life with our new family of 6, finishing up another successful year of homeschooling and

Maddox's first Easter.

We kicked off May with shouts of joy for Pryce! Nine years and counting for this "priceless" kiddo :)

May also brought on a meet and greet with Nannie Tisdale as well as standardized testing for the boys, finishing up Pre-K 3 for MK, palate surgery for Maddox and bottomless milkshakes.

With June came swimteam for Colin, Pryce and MK, continued recovery for Maddox, first trip to the beach for Maddox, friends, family and good summertime family fun.

Oh, and with the summer time came flip flops which means only one thing - 10 little beautiful toes being painted for the first time!

Beach with family,

beach with friends,

a little beach princess.

July rang in with a little ballet fun for MK,

our annual trip to Gran and Pop's mountain cabin....

and someone very special turned TWO.

With August came camp for the boys, a first day of Pre-K 4 for MK,

and because we just couldn't get enough of the beach, we chose to enjoy one last trip to our beloved Seabrook with great friends before we had to hunker down and begin a new year of school for the boys.

September

our annual Labor Day parade celebration with family in honor of Jay's birthday, Daddy gone for one entire week - not a huge deal for some but it was big in our lives! A trip to Atlanta, time with good friends....

and, Maddox has been home for six months!

October - MK mastered putting her hair in a ponytail,

mommy turned older than daddy - AGAIN -

MK graduated from speech,

baseball season was in full swing with Pryce on the pitching mound,

(I just love this pic of Maddox's little hands holding onto forever with her daddy)

and the annual pumpkin carving event.

November - the boys, Ryan and I being baptized in a family baptism service,

a trip to Nashville with Ryan, visiting with friends we met in China,

a Thanksgiving Feast with MK, celebrating 50 years of marriage for G-Mom and G-Dad, and the epic illness that swept through us all!

And, finally, December. This picture just says it all. Really. Yes, there are a lot of smiles, a lot of laughs, a lot of praising, obeying, a lot of lovin, but at the end of day, we are a more than average family who does have moments where we appear to be dysfunctional :) This pic sums each of our children up in a nutshell....Colin is being the obedient big brother, trying to get Maddox on his lap as quickly as possible despite the lack of cooperation; Pryce is done, the light is too bright for his sensitive eyes; MK is smiling because what else is a girl expected to do when there is a camera before her?; and Maddox, our sweet, happy-go-lucky-as-long-as-it-is-going-her-way two year old child.

Alas, thankfully, those moments are few and far between. December was spent with family, family and more family. We found the perfect tree, strung the lights accordingly, decorated each room, saw our fav Christmas Carol play, we were treated to a Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer puppet production, the children sang in the church Christmas program, we had friends for dinner, went to view the light displays, drank hot chocolate, decorated cookies with friends, made gingerbread houses, shopped and opened gifts, ate candy daily....

and through it all we remembered the reason for the season. Our God. Our Savior. We have been so thankful this year. Our family, together, home, under one roof. Ryan has a stable, job that has brought many opportunities for all of us. Our health. Thankful that we can give to others. Thankful for friends who supported us and continue to support adoption. Thankful for the friendships we made this year in China. Thankful for our adoption group. Thankful for parents who continue to be examples in our lives. Thankful for doctors and their diligence in treating our girls. Thankful for our homeschooling opportunities. Thankful.

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T19:41:00.002-05:00

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012

Fireworks seemed the fitting way to go out with a bang and welcome the new year with a shout of excitement in things to come....

Our precious little Maddox, our highlight of 2011.

And the rest, how we love them so! (This pic is just one glimpse into how they are always looking out for one another even if there are a few spats here and there!)

Our family. 2011 brought us together under one roof and made us whole. Here's to 2012 for more fond memories of our precious time together. Happy New Year!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T21:07:00.004-05:00

Christmas Eve. Slower pace. Traditional trip out to breakfast with the kiddos. Talked with an old acquaintance about adoption, praying for her family. The children spent time outside with friends. Went to see the Best Christmas Pageant Ever - a family favorite! Finally, time for church. The children kept saying, "Wow! Today has flown by. I thought it was going to take forever to go by!"

Then it was home, a visit from a good friend, annual pajama/book opening, the reading of the Christmas Story and.....
a different little treat. Because my parents were not with us this year, my father recorded Twas the Night Before Christmas for the children to listen to on Christmas Eve before bed. In years past, he has always been with us for the reading so the book. Following the story and prayers, the kiddos all tucked in snuggly to their beds for the evening - all in the boys' room. MK in her sleeping bag, Maddox in her pack-n-play, the boys in their own beds and Finley amongst them all! Last year Colin had such a hard time going to sleep on Christmas Eve, to the point that I actually felt sorry for him. This year he swore off sweets and soft drinks throughout the day hoping to divert any emerging sleeping problems in the evening. It worked, he was able to go to sleep and awoke stating he couldn't believe how well he slept.
Good morning! Before long, there were loud and excited squeals from the stairs! Maddox just took it all in! The children all ran into the living room jumping for joy and grabbing this and that and jumping all around with excitement. Maddox grabbed one baby doll and held it as she just stared blankly at her siblings who were acting a bit out of the ordinary :)
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care....and then appropriately emptied within a matter of milliseconds!

Before long, it was time to give the new wheels a spin - who needs clothes???!!!
I loved the look of pure joy as the children unwrapped their gifts. There were a lot of "wants" that were given as well as a few surprises. The best part was hearing them tell one another thank you and give hugs! LOVE!
This pic pretty much sums MK's day up....she has wished for an umbrella since this time last year; her blue eye shadow was applied every hour on the hour from the time the gift was received - one can never have on quite enough ;); her daddy gave her a "music box" that she absolutely adores - we have heard the song play over and over and over and over and the little ballerina figurine just dances and dances inside; and the shoes, well, one can never have enough!
Last Christmas Eve, we went to bed as Maddox was awakening on Christmas Day in China. And then when we awoke on Christmas morning, she was going to bed, without us, us without her....so glad she is home with us this year! She sang with me at church, she clapped for the children in the play, she loved unwrapping gifts, and all the while, she would come over and give hugs and kisses!
Throughout the day, we opened gifts. And played with new toys. And took a little nap. And watched some home movies.
Ryan gave me a set of dvds. The dvds were family movies from when the boys were much younger. The quote of the day goes to MK. While watching Colin get cleaned up after his birth, MK proclaimed, "Well, I am just glad I was not born of the tummy!"
It was a pj day in our home. Well, for most of us anyway. One of the girls did get dressed and the other decided to not wear any clothes at all!
This was Christmas Eve! The children were so excited. And happy. And they even agreed to take a pic under the tree.....
and then this happened! They love a good funny shot! Merry Christmas 2011!

Christmas Adam

2011-12-25T00:24:00.005-05:00

Christmas Adam has been dubbed the day before the day before Christmas. Christmas Adam, Christmas Eve, Christmas.

Christmas Adam began with Matthew who suggested in his own little elfish way that we bake the day away. So, we did. We began with pancakes and the works, concocted reindeer food and ended with cookies for Santa and gingerbread houses for fun!

MK was first to make her reindeer food. The more the glitter, the better for her :)

Each child decorated a cookie for Santa.....Colin, a Christmas tree; Pryce a snowman with candy cane arms and a candy corn nose; MK - her was an assortment, I know the yellow Spree was to be a star and the pretzels were to be arms, and from there it is a toss up :); Maddox ate her cookie she made for Santa - no real surprise there! So I threw in my own rendition of a sugar cookie reindeer.

The children were so precise on their decor. They worked together. The boys on one house, the girls on the other. I am most positive that MK got the raw end of this deal. Maddox could be seen eating on the job. In fact, she was caught quite a few times taking her decor, smearing it through the icing on the house and then licking the icing off! Ewww.

The boys were quite meticulous. They drew up their plan and never looked back.

With MK on the job, the girls' house had potential.

Meanwhile, on the other side - notice the cookie in Maddox's mouth!

The boys.

The girls.

All done. All happy and sugared up. Love these four guys!

Cookies Anyone?

2011-12-21T20:04:00.004-05:00

Thankfully it is the holiday season. A season where I tend to look the other way when my children are surrounded by sweet after sweet after sweet and I just let them eat, eat, eat....

Cookie decorating can take a turn of its own when done by a 4 year old :)

The strategies that these kiddos put into place during their decorating frenzy would make even the best of the best decorators cringe with envy.

We are pretty sure that some plates were rightfully decorated as well.....

and I love that some were so dainty with their choices....

and each bite taken was a delicacy within itself!

Love the look of the reindeer - what a clever little idea!

Yummmm!

Pink sprinkles were a must for our divas who ridded themselves of their holiday best to put on their most beautiful princess attire.....

Another favorite for Maddox....I am pretty sure cookie decorating is at the top of her "must do again" holiday list....

Finally, the big brothers showed up! There was a lot of football going on out back but their hunger pains got the best of them and they decided cookie decorating was not too shabby....

Ta-Da! The red couch photo - these guys are all growing up so, so fast! Unbelievable! We are so blessed to have each and every one of them in our lives. We love these guys and we love that we were given the opportunity to celebrate with them during this special season of Christmas!

Post-party: Though Maddox is pretending to sleep in the doll bed in this particular pic, she did in fact fall asleep here after everyone left!

A Carolina Christmas

2011-12-19T21:43:00.002-05:00

For the first time in my 38 years of life, I will be without my parents on Christmas. As I have stated before, I grew up with a very traditional Christmas....Christmas Eve was always spent at my mother's parents' home, we then drove to our home and everyone gathered together once again on Christmas morning; then, my grandparents got a bit older and the tradition moved to my parent's home - Christmas Eve gathering with friends and family followed by Christmas Day with everyone; and then, the tradition changed again and we moved the Christmas Eve party to our house, my parents have always come for Christmas Eve service, my father has always read to the boys the Christmas Story and Twas the Night Before Christmas, the children have always gotten pjs and books to open from Gran, and so on and so on and so on.....though I know I must share my parents, I also know that I don't like to share them at Christmas :) I feel as though I have been robbed. And I digress.

So, in order to celebrate Christmas extended-family-style, we crossed the border to SC and then bounced from house to house throughout the weekend taking in time with both sides of our family.

We opened a few unique gifts that we were super excited about....

and we spent some time outdoors in the beautiful southern weather......

and then we received a few surprises......

and some gifts that have been desired for months!

And though our little Maddox was not feeling the best, she endured the weekend like a champ!

We ended our SC travels with my father's family with the guest of honor being my grandmother. At the age of 91, she remains sharp as a tack and her biggest smiles come when the children engage her with their many antics.

Little M was in need of a nap earlier than expected today. She was obviously more than tired but not so tired as to let go of the stylish purse she had been wandering about with all morning.

(If you had been a fly on our wall today, you would know that the most endearing part of this picture is not the purse or her sweet little sleeping face, it is actually the shoes. Maddox has an opinion about her shoes and she must change shoes at least 10 times a day. She always puts them on the right foot which is an art for a two year old. Today, her shoes of choice were these old sandals....nevermind the fact that our temp today was less than 55 degrees! Alas, I kept hiding these from her and everytime I turned around, she had them on again!)

2011-12-15T21:20:00.002-05:00

Today was a day for MK. She rarely gets my undivided attention AND her father's undivided attention at the same time. Very rarely. So today we took time to indulge her and we surprised her at school to sing Happy Birthday Jesus and eat cake. After wrapping her gifts and getting her face painted, it was onto bigger and better things.....celebrating Jesus's birthday with friends.

Having daddy there was a treat. And when he told her he was going to be home for the rest of the day without returning to work, MK looked at him with her "what-chou talkin bout, Willis?" face.....and then followed this face with giggles of happiness.

The children gobbled up their cake and performed a few songs for us.....this was our favorite, something about a melody???? It was hilarious watching a room full of four year olds dance, each with their own little sprig of uniqueness.

With shouts of joy and mountains of laughter, the day came to an end. The children filed out one by one and all look forward to a long winter's break!

2011-12-14T07:13:00.002-05:00

Share the Light, one of our favorite times of the season. Each year, our church sponsors children for Christmas and they have a special evening service where all donors come to give their gifts. The children sing, the scripture is read, the sermon is spoken and then the gifts are taken down to the alter. It.is.neat. And it will warm anyone's heart to see the givers so excited about giving.

These guys were some of the excited givers. This year we chose two children, a boy and a girl. One by one I took them shopping to choose what they would like to give to their chosen children. P was so sweet the entire shopping trip. He would suggest a gift and then, thinking it through, he would ask questions like, "Well, do you think we should get him a helmet?" "What if he lives in a place without a yard?" "If we give him clothes, will he be able to wash them?" Loved this time with all of my children, watching them choose the perfect gifts and seeing the light in their eyes when they realized the happiness they were going to put on someone else's face - LOVED it!

Twas the night of the service, when all thru the house.....

MK was so happy to be in the program. She is our little performer, both on stage and off.

Pryce.

My parents were able to come for the service to see the children sing. In between the caroling, my dad happily entertained our youngest.

Following the service, the children were "starving" so who was I to say no to a visit to Krispy Kreme. Maddox has the sweetest tooth of all of my children!

Gran and the children plus baby. The poor babies in our home, they are never found with clothes on!

And to all a good night! These little boos were all tuckered out following our busy day!

Tradition

2011-12-10T18:36:00.005-05:00

The Christmas season is by far my most favorite time of the year. As a child, my family did the same thing every year, the tradition. Christmas Eve stands out in my memories. Each year we would make the short trek to my grandparent's house. On the way, we would stop by one of my mother's childhood friends and visit. Then it was on to my grandparent's home for the annual Christmas Eve party. As I type, I can specifically remember where food items were placed each year, the aroma that filled their home and I can hear the laughter and Christmas cheer that was felt throughout the evening as family members and friends gathered. Then, as luck would have it, the festivities would die down, folks would meander their way to their cars and the evening would come to a close. Our family would assume our positions in our car and drive home all the while listening to the Santa sightings on the radio. Warm. Close. Memorable. Once home, we would get ready for bed and the annual slumber party to be had in my older sister's room. I think this particular party began when my younger brother voiced his thoughts on Santa and threatened to sleep behind our couch in the living room to see for himself. Tradition. Christmas morning would arrive, my grandparents would be driving up our driveway as we were all awakening from our Christmas Eve slumber. We would wake my parents and wait for them at the top of the stairs. My dad was the first one to make his way downstairs.....first he would bang on the wall, you know, to scare Santa away; then, he would peek in the living room door and say, "Well, it looks like you all have been good this year!" or something to that affect. We would walk in, oooh and ahhhh over the gifts, open more gifts and the making of breakfast would begin. Always.

Because of the family traditions that were established in my childhood, I strive to build traditions for my children, our family. Of course, the number one tradition would be the tree farm. Definitely a must in our book.....us because of the tree, the children because of the goodies.

And Matthew. He arrives on December the first each year with bells on. This year in particular, he has been quite naughty. He has strung toilet paper about the house, he has pretended to be a wise man in the manger scene and he has been found mimicking the caroler decor in our home - naughty indeed.

St Nicklaus Day. Love this tradition though our children truly have no idea what it really means other than it is done in Germany and children leave their shoes out for treats. What else is there to know, right?!

And the perfect Christmas picture. I did the children a favor this year and had a professional conquer this one for us! Alas there are many more traditions.....the decorating of the gingerbread houses, the cookie decorating party, the Lights of the South, Christmas at the Zoo, skating (We all went yesterday - MK was quite good!), the Hook party, the Tisdale party, the filling of the shoeboxes, the advent calendar, Christmas Eve service and friends over for dinner, reindeer food making, going to see A Christmas Carol, pictures with Santa (C says this is his last year but I am holding on for at least one more!).....the fun is all there yet we are striving to make this season more than just fun. As our children grow, we want them to know the season of Christ's birth. We want it to be a tradition that our children remember our Savior during this season. We want Him to be first and the fun to be second. One of my favorite times this year has been the advent calendar. Instead of getting the anticipated candy each day, every other day they have received a good deed card. They have written letters to loved ones, hurting friends, thank you notes, they have delivered goodies to neighbors, bought gifts for children who do not have a home.....these "deeds" have been the "fun" in our home this year that will stand out in the years to come. And I hope it will be our newest tradition!

2011-12-06T14:41:00.002-05:00

The mind/imagination of a four year old never ceases to amaze me!

MK: "Mom, I can't decide what to be, a mom or a mom fairy. Or maybe even a tooth fairy, I just don't know."

Me: "Well, you mean you may want to be a tooth fairy when you grow up?"

MK: "Yes, but I don't really know how I could get my kids to go everywhere and then get back to change into my wings and stuff. I just don't know."

Me: "Hmmm." At this point, I was at a loss for words.

The Tree Farm

2011-12-05T07:15:00.002-05:00

Every year, our family enjoys a day out together choosing just the perfect tree for our home to celebrate the Christmas season.

Following a hayride into tree neverland, we all hop off and begin our hunt for the tree. It is always so interesting to me to see each child choose a tree and their reasoning behind it. We have everything from the "Clark Griswold" size chooser - aka the bigger the better, to the economical chooser to the "lets just get this one so we can go get snacks!" chooser.....

Maddox just decided that her siblings could choose the tree while she made her list for Santa.

Alas, the tree was chosen and chopped down. On to the Christmas Cafe for some yummy eats and treats.

I think all six of us would agree that our favorite part this year was playing hide and seek in the Christmas trees. We ran around for what seemed like hours hiding from one another and dashing from tree to tree.

I love this pic.....P is saying "I found YOU!" and MK is looking like "Where?Where is she?"

Sweet Maddox.....again, just so glad to have her HOME! As this season progresses, I find myself reflecting on where we were in the process last year to bring her home. We were so close to having her yet it was agonizing to wait for each approval knowing she was across the world without us.

Every year, the boys have received a Lionel train holiday car from my father. Last year they received the ever-so-important engine and track. Dutifully, we set it up around our tree and they all enjoyed the train fun. However, we realized during the fun that our "real" tree was causing a real mess on the track - the needles were dropping and it was hard for the train to get around the track. Soooo, we were off to Target early the day after Christmas to purchase a not-so-real tree for the train to reside under during the subsequent holidays. The funny part....this year, we forgot we had purchased the tree so it was a real surprise to us when we were pulling out all of the decor and we found this big box with a big tree.....and the even funnier part was putting the tree together with the boys! I grew up with an artificial tree so I knew how this part worked - match the colors, etc. The boys were just bewildered by it all.

The final not-so-real product. P was feeling horrible in this pic, not yet quite over the looming bug that was in our home during Thanksgiving. Amidst feeling horrible, he was determined to get the tree up and the train running before retiring to bed.

What They Are Like Now.....

2011-12-01T12:57:00.004-05:00

Thankful for this guy who is our leader of the pack. At the age of 11, C is homeschooled; his favorite subjects are logic and debate; he is our reader - always reading one book for school, another book for fun and somewhere he finds time to read yet another book just because!; he has been taking piano lessons since the age of 5; he is an avid Clemson football fan; he is loving his first year in youth group at church; he is on the area homeschool basketball team - loves it!; he relishes in a good cup of coffee; electronics are his fascination; and, he desires to be a pilot.

Thankful for my number 2! P is just like me, a second child, a middle child. His smile warms a room and his empathy for others will melt your heart. At the age of 9, P is all about sports - baseball being a top favorite, watching football a close second and basketball; he detests corn; he is in his second year of piano; he is homeschooled and loves math, his strongest subject; he is developing a love for reading and can often be found absorbed in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series - sigh; he is measuring himself daily for growth - his mean mother STILL makes him sit in a booster seat due to the fact that he falls a bit short of the non-booster seat requirements!; he is the king of laughter - always wanting to make others smile; he desires to be a pharmacist or a "kids doctor" when he grows up!

Oh MK! How we embrace her determination and love her strong will - hoping we continue to shape these two characteristics in our sweet girl! Thankful for her belly laughs and her sweet heart. At the age of 4, MK loves ballet; she is willing to try most foods and LOVES anything sweet; she goes to pre-school four days a week where she is all about chasing the boys - sigh!; she is often found asleep with pj pants on and pj shirt off all cuddled up in her Hello Kitty snuggy; she understands that she was born in China (and Maddox too!) and the boys grew inside mommy's tummy; she loves to put a pile of random items in her purse; she likes to wear her hair all down, no bow; flip flops are her favorite shoes even in 32 degree temps; she wants to become a doctor, a ballerina and a mommy when she grows up.

Our caboose. Maddox Ren. How thankful we are today that she is home with us forever. How thankful we are that her two little arms wrap around our necks each day with a big squeeze; she is two and in this season of her life, she is all about mommy; her favorite drink is chocolate milk; she eats when she is hungry and turns away food without a second thought when she is not; she has been home for almost 9 months and she understands everything we say to her but has a limited vocabulary of understandable speech; she does speech therapy 3 times per week and occupational therapy twice a month; she wins over everyone she meets be it through her contagious grin or her engaging dances; she loves animals; she is a great puzzle solver; she loves babies and strollers; she is a climber; she is loved by all and we are so thankful to hold her when she sleeps and cheer her on when she meets a goal!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-26T21:37:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving 2011 was "epic" as Colin would say. This time last year I was pacing the floor of our home, tapping my fingers on every surface available, praying, praying and praying for our Letter of Approval so that we could go and bring Miss Maddox home forever. It didn't come and I was so sad....this year she was home with us, there was no more pacing, but a lot of loving and taking in all of the things that we have to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving is the one holiday each year that Ryan and his siblings are all together. Yes, there are celebrations throughout the year for this and that but someone always seems to be missing. No one misses Thanksgiving. This year proved to be no different. In honor of Ryan's parents' 55th wedding anniversary, we all met at a "mansion" in the mountains for the occasion.

Maddox wasted no time at all roping G-Dad in. They could be spotted throughout the holiday putting their heads together to see what was on the agenda next. Dancing was at the top of the list.

Maddox's first Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for you little one. We are thankful for your giggles, your smiles, your love, your trust.

The children spent hours upon hours playing air hockey and pool.....

and Ms. Pacman......

and Simpson pinball.....

and cards with the cousins.....

Thanksgiving evening, everyone gathered together for a special toast to the wedding anniversary couple. We told stories and laughed at the memories......a great time of sharing!

Nightfall came and we happily retired to our beds.

That is when it all fell apart.

Black Friday. Cloud 9, our home away from home, slowly became known as The Infirmary.

While thousands all over the US were out shopping, I lay awake in bed feeling a bit unsettled. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was sprawled out over the coldest, most comfortable bathroom floor there ever was. I was beyond sick - I was selfishly bargaining with God to free me of the pain and let me see my children grow up.....it.was.awful. On this very weekend 16 years ago, I met my husband. I asked Ryan the last time I had been this sick and he said he thought this was the worst he had ever seen me....it was horrid. While I curled up, barely conscience of the world around me, Ryan would frequently come into check on me AND he would give me the update - aka the who's up, who's down. We began our Thanksgiving weekend with 20 people in one house. By Saturday evening, 6 of the 20 remained illness free. Luckily, it was short lived, 24 hours max and sleeping, be it in a comfy bed or on the bathroom floor, was the best remedy.

Though we are not thankful for the stomach virus, we are so thankful for the time we were able to spend with Ryan's family.

STRAW!

2011-11-22T19:52:00.003-05:00

She did it! She drank through a straw! And I was teary eyed as I watched. I didn't see her very first smile nor did I have the opportunity to cheer her on as she rolled over for the first time as an infant. And those first steps, we missed those too. However, I have watched this precious baby girl go from being scared to being an outgoing little enthusiast; I have heard her scream out of fear in the church nursery and now the screams soon cease once she gets settled in; and today I got to watch her eyes light up when she was able to drink milk from a straw - she would suck in, a bit of milk would enter her mouth and her eyes would get oh so wide out of her own surprise! It was the cutest thing ever and once she realized the praise that was involved, she wouldn't stop - she drank and drank and drank!

Missed Photo Ops

2011-11-19T07:35:00.003-05:00

While in Nashville, an older gentleman made the comment to me, "You have your hands full!" He the made the comment due to the fact that I had two little ones singing and dancing their way to the lobby of our hotel followed by two older, more, ahem, mature guys laughing at their silly sisters - it was a scene and it was, in fact, quite funny. I smiled at the man and said, "Yes, I do, but not for long enough!" You see, every day I am reminded that my children are our blessings, they are growing up and, one day too soon, my hands will be less than full. However, at the moment, our hands are full and we are having the time of our lives! I try to photograph the craziness but, alas, this is not always done due to pure laziness or forgetfulness. This week we had a lot of moments that could have been photographed......

One, art night with co-op. All of our children participate in a homeschool co-op. And all of our children had art on display during their special night. And all of our children received awards during this annual event. From logic and debate to Meet the Masters to A Book About Me to a colorful tree.....an abundance to relish in yet not one picture for a memory, sigh.

Two, Maddox. This little one is always into something. This week, her choice was markers - the not so washable ones. I blame everything on the fact that she is the fourth child....I would have NEVER allowed this to happen with the other three yet the fourth knows exactly where to go to find said markers, help herself to them, color every.single.inch of her skin that is showing AND, apparently she wanted to add a little flavor to our tv cabinet as well - ack. Admittedly so, I laughed. It was kind of cute. Kind of. Until I couldn't get it off. For Christmas, she is asking for WASHABLE markers.

Three, Operation Christmas Child box making. Love this time with my kiddos.

Four, Colin's first middle school basketball game. They rocked. They won. And, I am told, Colin made a few "game saving" plays - way to go C!

Five, our adoption gathering. NEVER have I let a gathering go by without a picture of our kiddos on our beloved red couch. We had a full house - one that was filled with giggles and football and dress-up and delicious food. Our family cherishes these gatherings. We love the families and we love the time that we spend with them!

2011-11-17T20:44:00.002-05:00

Our little pilgrim.....

she awoke this morning with nothing but giggles and smiles in anticipation of her "very special day!"

Twas Thanksgiving Feast day in preschool and our little pilgrim and her friends were the cutest!

After singing a few songs and reciting a poem, they each took their seat and said a thankful prayer.

And then the feasting began....

What a treat it was to spend some extra special time with MK! I am thankful for her and the smiles and trials she brings to our family - she is a one of a kind, beautiful little girl!

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-17T06:52:00.005-05:00

Today I am thankful for our family - keeping it real, I am thankful for them everyday! Last week we enjoyed a week together not like most weeks - all six of us in one room, no cleaning, no laundry, no cooking, some school, daily sightseeing outings, swimming, waking up with Ryan (usually he is long gone before we all awaken!), listening to all of my kiddos breathe peacefully as they sleep, knowing they are safe - so very sweet....jaunts away are truly one of my favorite times together.

Ryan was involved in a training program for his job - lucky for us, we were given the opportunity to visit him one afternoon to see his "training" in full action. I am told making a catapult and launching balls to hit a target all day really is working :)

MK. She travels well. She travels with everything but the kitchen sink, but the girl has this traveling thing down. Give her two comfy chairs, push them together, spread a pretty pink princess sleeping bag over said chairs, and there you have it - the most perfect, comfy princess bed.

And my boys. Give them a few pillows and plush bedding followed by a remote for the tv and their plethora of electronics, and they are all set. It is all part of the experience. Throw in a few Pop Tarts for breakfast and there you have it, two very happy, happy boys.

And Maddox. Our sweet little one. Oh, I can tell you over and over again how she just tugs at my heart to go adopt again and again and again. She will sleep anywhere at anytime; she will smile when you need a smile; she will dance when she is feeling the beat; and MK is positioned just-so in the pic above - she is always by her side watching her like a good little mommy would!

I will say that I wonder what goes through our little M's head. Our trip to Nashville was the first time we have stayed away from home, in a hotel room for a length of time since China. She has been home 8 months but I still get the hunch she remembers, maybe she always will.

Day Four - Opryland Hotel

2011-11-12T07:14:00.002-05:00

Our last stop for the trip was the Opryland Hotel. We were all in awe of the decor and the plants and waterfalls as well as the size of the hotel itself - amazing. We chose to take a boat ride inside that gave us a bit of history on the hotel as well as some interesting facts.

And following the boat tour, we were off to explore all on our own. The statues proved to be a lot of entertainment for my kiddos.

In between posing with statues, I was able to capture a somewhat serious photo too.....

and then it was back to being silly.....

and even more silliness!

Nashville - Pancake Pantry

2011-11-12T06:52:00.004-05:00

Day four began with a treat - PANCAKES.

Pryce chose Swiss Chocolate Chip pancakes.....the chocolate was melted just to add that special touch.

Colin chose Blueberry pancakes while MK devoured her display of silver dollar pancakes accompanied with eggs and bacon!

We were all just giddy for our pancakes! The best part was that I was able to snag a bite from all of the above.

Afterwards, we played outside for a bit.

Maddox, who was not excited about posing for pics, was all about running like the wind.

My kiddos just fell in love with little Lily.

They helped her find helicopters in the sky.....

they loved making her laugh.....

and they loved playing running games with her! We were all sad to say goodbye. The minute we got into the car, Pryce said, "I am going to miss Lily. When will we see her again?" And then they all chimed in, "Yeah, when will we see all of them again? We miss them already!" Thank you, Rankins, for making our time in Nashville that much sweeter!

Nashville - Day Three

2011-11-11T22:23:00.002-05:00

Day three we chose to visit the Adventure Science Center. This proved to be loads of fun for all of my kiddos. Maddox enjoyed driving the ambulance, MK was taken with the laser shooting game, and the boys would most likely have a hard time deciding exactly what their favorite exhibit was....so much to choose from. They maneuvered their way on a flight simulator; they went on a moon walk - twice; they constructed a bloodstream using barriers in a water exhibit; they loved the laser game; they went on a star gaze; all was fun, all proved educational.

Following our day at the science center, we were pleased to go and visit some friends we made in China while adopting Maddox.

While we were in Guangzhou, the boys spoke to Amy and Michael during breakfast one morning - commenting on Lily's cuteness, no doubt :) Again, I love the people that have been carefully placed in our paths by Him during our adoption journeys.

Nashville - Day Two

2011-11-09T10:27:00.003-05:00

The Parthenon

The children were speechless when they saw the replica for the Parthenon in Nashville....

then, it was time for a photo op.....

what started out as one child getting a photo taken.....

turned into all three posing for a pic.....

and this little one was not going to be left out either!

The rest of our day was spent touring the local Cheekwood Gardens. The children, one of whom anticipated NOT enjoying the train exhibit, ALL loved the exhibit as well as the well manicured gardens on the property. Only once did I have to pull a particular little bit from the newly planted flowers :) The children were more than excited that I opted to leave the camera in the car! Our daily routine is setting in.....we get up, do school, explore a bit, rest a bit, have a candy snack - a real treat :) - and then it is out to dinner followed by watching football until lights out! The real treat has been having Ryan with us for breakfast - he is always well into his day of work when the rest of us awaken. And, he isn't wearing his traditional work attire, a company shirt and jeans. Instead, he is able to wear a button up shirt and khakis.....the children have all asked why he isn't wearing his "work clothes." Creatures of habit, that is for sure!

Nashville - Day One

2011-11-08T16:33:00.003-05:00

The children and I are studying American History. We were so excited to visit the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson.

Though it is hard to tell from the pic, MK was all dazzled up with her headset for the tour. She impressed me by walking up to each station and typing in her number to hear the next bit of info.

We took a little wagon ride which shared a good bit of info in reference to life on the plantation.

And have I mentioned here how beautiful Nashville is???? The colors are breathtaking and I have done more than my share of photographing :)

The children were allowed to pick cotton to take home as a keepsake. Maddox was taken with the softness.

She picked enough for all of us to take home!

And then I tried my best to get a GREAT photo of the kiddos.....

and this is how it turned out! Maybe next time.

As we were meandering our way through the trails preparing to leave, I suddenly caught a glimpse of this guy in front of us! YIKES! We were literally two steps away from stepping on him! Needless to say, we took the scenic route and detoured around so as to avoid any conflict with this creature!

Ruby Falls

2011-11-08T07:55:00.002-05:00

It is road trip time for our family! First stop, Ruby Falls.

The falls were beautiful - we loved taking the walk in front of and behind the water.

The natural formations were quite impressive.

Watch your head! The tour guide warned us going in to watch our head. He stated that there was a rock in the cave for all ages to hit their head on and he was right!

I must say that the older I get, the more questionable things become when it comes to an adventure of sorts. Meaning, this year our family has done two sightseeing tours that I was relieved when they were over. One was in China - the cable car we took over the South China Sea. My children kept saying, "Wow, what happens if this thing falls?!" Ugh, not the thing to ask me when I am wondering the same thing yet I know the answer :) Two was Ruby Falls. There is one way into the cave and one way out - an elevator. It was just creepy and I couldn't help thinking about miners and how they do this everyday for a living! It was dark and the room to walk was narrow - so glad to have the experience and so glad it is behind us :)

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-03T13:43:00.003-04:00

Today I am thankful for new job opportunities....

I am thankful for carpooling.....

I am thankful for speech and occupational therapists.....

I am thankful for two boys who rarely complain of their workload.....

I am thankful for a daughter who is the best cheerleader ever when it comes to her baby sister....

I am thankful for Fall.....

and, lately, I am thankful for the occasional afternoon nap!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T07:04:00.003-04:00

The annual pumpkin carving.....

Maddox was impressed by all of the goo....

the sweet children.....

and the "lets act crazy" kiddos.....

For us, Halloween this year brought a new tradition.....the Boo Bucket. I am all about a tradition....

the children were elated with their surprises, even the toothbrushes that were included, and we all began our day accordingly - with CANDY.

later came the big fun, dressing up - this little pumpkin did not miss a beat, she was all ago for putting on her costume and even begged for the hat....all four of our children have worn the pumpkin costume....

and then there was the diva....MK just knew she was going to be a princess for Halloween and she insisted on wearing the Happy Birthday crown that my grandmother wore on her 90th birthday celebration last year! (and, on a side note, the princess insisted on the high heal shoes for trick or treating AND no coat - bad mother for letting her go as she was! Meanwhile, I had on a sweater as well as a jacket and I was STILL cold.)

and the boys....they speak for themselves.....this year, I decided to give them a day of rest for Halloween, no school - they, of course, loved this idea!

our crew.....we did our traditional chili cooking, adults mingle, Halloween festivities this year and then we were off to find some treats for the kiddos.....our two bigs were all about going as far as they could go in the neighborhood....I am pretty sure they would still be going door to door this minute if it were allowed.....

Thankful!

2011-10-30T20:16:00.003-04:00

Today I am thankful for a loving, thoughtful and caring husband - he always puts others first.

I am thankful for the child that makes me laugh especially when I hear him tell a friend that he has a very important appointment with his doctor tomorrow - "Dr. Couch and his nurse, Miss TV."

I am thankful for the child who strives to see the good in people, the child who always wants to help those in need.

I am thankful for the child who says thank you to me for the little things.

And, I am especially thankful today for our church nursery staff. They have been so supportive of us and so kind to Maddox in the midst of her desperate cries for us. Today, Maddox stayed for the very first time in the nursery all by herself, no tears (except at drop-off), she played, she had snack and she was all smiles when we went to pick her up!

MK-isms

2011-10-29T19:23:00.002-04:00

"Mom, is it dribbling outside?" - aka raining.

"Mom, I have splinters in my feet because of these shoes!" - she was wearing plastic dress-up shoes and now she has blisters.

Pumpkin Patch - Take Two

2011-10-29T08:02:00.002-04:00

The serious side of things....the funny pics are so easy; the children are all so willing to pose for those! The "lets take a picture for memories" photos are a bit harder to capture....all four looking in the direction of the camera is a feat among itself.

Our newest little pumpkin was all about the patch....her cuteness factor grew ten fold during our trip!

She loved seeing the many different shapes, colors and sizes, but mostly enjoyed trying to redecorate the patch putting the pumpkins where she saw fit....

And if she wasn't redecorating, she was dashing to and fro.....the freedom to roam was another highlight for her :)

And then came decision time.....which one would she choose?

Colin liked the green......

Pryce preferred the light green......

MK was all ago for the one that fit right in the palm of her four-year-old hand.....

Maddox, well, she gave up.....and then she found this scarecrow friend and insisted on a pic with him!

So glad to be home with this little one! Seven months and counting, she has added so much joy in our lives - definitely the missing piece to our family!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch - Take One

2011-10-28T18:55:00.002-04:00

What was supposed to be a fun, family-centered, good bonding time experience for our family, turned into just that plus a little silliness involved....

As the boys grow up, their humor grows with them.....and it is all boy humor, trust me.

One picture was snapped and then they came up with a million other ideas for me to shoot.....

thankfully, no one actually tried to take a bite of these things!

Meanwhile, on the other side of the patch, Maddox was struggling to pick up a pumpkin she fell in love with. She was yelling her newest word, "HELP!" at the top of her lungs.

And then there was MK. She was spent.

CAUTION: This Post is Questionable

2011-10-28T08:24:00.003-04:00

MK went to see the play Cinderella on Thursday. Due to a speech appt. for Maddox, I was unable to attend the play with her. Following the show, I picked her up and began the usual questioning of how the show was, her favorite part, and what the play was about. She was rambling off several things and then she said, "Hey, Mom, you know how you got daddy pregnant?" Luckily, I managed to keep my car on the road! Dumbfounded, I said, "Ummm, yes???" She said, "Well, that is what Prince Charming did to Cinderella!" It took me a minute, well, several minutes, to finally grasp what she was trying to tell me......Prince Charming and Cinderella got MARRIED just like we did. Of course, "pregnant" and "married" are so confusing to the average four year old, right??? (Obviously, we need to clarify these too sooner rather than later for her - after all, misinformation is how rumors get started!)

2011-10-27T21:29:00.002-04:00

Pryce has been playing baseball since he could hold a bat in his hands.

Tonight we wrapped up a season of Fall ball. At the age of 9, this was Pryce's first experience with "kid pitch" and he was pleased to accept an award for Most Strike Outs By A Pitcher!

This was also the first season "stealing bases" was allowed....

and he took it quite seriously, always looking to walk off the base a bit once the ball was pitched!

One can see the thrill in his eyes! What a pleasure it has been to sit in the stands and cheer for this kiddo!

Homeschool Co-Op

2011-10-26T21:48:00.004-04:00

We made the decision to homeschool our boys three years ago. One of my biggest concerns was making sure that the boys maintained their school friendships as well as obtained new friends in the homeschool community. We decided to join a local co-op and we have been more than smitten with this group! The relationships that we have formed with these guys is amazing - a sense of family - and they offer a great deal of support!

Our co-op focuses on science, geography and art for the elementary kiddos.

This week, Pryce had to prepare an animal notebook as well as dress like an animal and bring in a food that his animal eats. We had so much fun with this project! While we were in China, we visited a safari and had some amazing photos of animals to include.

As for dressing up and eating, Pryce was a Fire Salamander who took gummy bugs to eat! Others included a horse, a cheetah, a zebra, a penguin.....

These guys were quite proud of themselves and their accomplishments of our year thus far!

Meanwhile, I managed to snap a shot of some of our guys!

In co-op, no one is left out! Our two and three year olds spend quite some time with crafts and stories.

Maddox agrees to do art projects yet she is not about the mess that accompanies them. She is so funny - one to play in the dirt but not one to tolerate glue on her fingers!

I believe her favorite time at co-op is time spent outside! She loves to swing and....

talk to the little ones in the windows!

She continues to do so well! She finally stayed in our church nursery without crying the entire time!!!! You know your child has made quite an impression on the staff when they all come up to you at one time or another throughout the week and state how well she did on Sunday!

And MK! She is full of joy these days! I love watching her play. I love that she is taking the initiative to play by herself at home. I love that her sister's eyes light up when she arrives home from school. I love to hear her cheer Maddox on. I love to hear her ask Pryce to play with her. I love to hear her ask Colin for help. She has been on a pink-cowboy-boot-wearing frenzy! Nothing else will do but her pink boots. So very cute! She participates in co-op too and loves every single minute of it. They do music and art and learn to write - she has also been taught to recite her address, her entire birthday, our names, our phone number - lots of good things to know!

2011-10-23T07:31:00.003-04:00

A day at the zoo.....with MK all better and with one child who has an animal notebook project due next week, we felt there was no better time than now to spend a day at the zoo.

Our last name is Drafts. It is a simple name??? Not so much. Often, people pronounce our name as "Giraffes".....

These three guys are the bestest of friends. They all have an animal notebook project due this week so they spent their day at the zoo saying, "Hey, take a picture of this! We can use this one in our project!"

And these two, "the Kates," had their own agenda for the zoo. They were often heard shouting, "Hey, take a picture of us!"

There was a moment when I suggested we take a pic in front of the Fall decor. The above shot is what came out of that suggestion! There was some music playing and the kids turned into dancing machines!

ALL of them!

Even Maddox was feeling the beat.

And then there were the Lorikeets.

And then we saw the lions and tigers. Maddox walked through the entire zoo (we were there 5 hours!) with an unclothed baby doll and her snack container all nestled in her hands. After seeing the lions and tigers, Maddox felt the need to roar.

Our trip was complete once we visited the aquarium. What a beautiful day!

*************************************************************************************

In other news, Maddox had a follow-up appointment with her surgeon on Friday. We will be seen again in two months by the entire team and concentrate on orthodontics - there was mention of an appliance being made for her to wear temporarily to help her form some of the sounds that she is having difficulty with. Though she does continue to do well and she has improved so much with speech therapy, she is still delayed where speech is concerned. We are doing our best to provide her with everything we know to get her up to par!

2011-10-19T22:20:00.002-04:00

Here is silly little Maddox....she poses for the camera, hand always on at least one hip and she squints her little nose up and just laughs and laughs, she knows she is being cute :) She is beginning to shed some hope in her speech - she now says "I love Momma", well, ok, I do help her! However, she is getting several phrases and words that at least we can understand....and she is blowing her little horn! And with every sound she immediately puts her hand in the air for a high five! She is so proud. She continues to just charm us all :)

And this little girl....wow, you just don't know how sick she was!

Poor baby girl sat on our couch or in the car for a whole week, not eating, not talking, not smiling, nada - she was in PAIN. Today, though, we are glad to have her back!

She said today, "It doesn't hurt when I eat!" "I can even eat ice cream and it doesn't hurt my tongue or my throat!" and my favorite, "I can finally eat again with my family!" Tonight at dinner she prayed and she thanked God herself for her healing - yep, so glad to have her back!

An Update

2011-10-18T21:10:00.002-04:00

We saw our MK today! She is back - her smiling, sassy, giggly self. And she was hungry, real hungry! She has eaten ALL.DAY.LONG! Peanuts. Tacos - soft shell, of course. Cereal. Yogurt. Pudding. Jello. And then more peanuts, tacos, cereal, yogurt, pudding and Jello. No kidding. My favorite MK saying for today was when she announced, "I feel like smiling!" So glad to have her back!

2011-10-14T17:33:00.003-04:00

This week I have missed this - our silly, happy, talkative MK! Tuesday we discovered that she had Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. I now have two viruses that I will avoid as if they were the Plague - HFM and the stomach virus. What began as one seemless little blister on her gums, transformed into a raging bunch of ulcers covering every.last.bit of her mouth, throat, tongue, cheeks and everything in between. She has not eaten in days. Yes, DAYS. She will only drink Publix very sweet tea - never has she been given tea before! She is quiet and the only sounds she makes in when the pain gets so unbearable she begins to cry, big, wet crocodile tears. Last night, when I reached the brink of my sanity, I dug deep into our medicine supply and found some pain relief meds that were offered to us post-op....that, along with a concoction the pharmacist suggested, gave a bit of relief. The only good that has come of this is some good cuddling time for mommy :) Please say a prayer for our girl!

2011-10-13T21:31:00.004-04:00

Tonight our power went out.

C was at basketball practice. P was supposed to be at a baseball game. MK was SICK. And Maddox was exhausted after a long day of play.

I curled up in the bed with Maddox and held her little body against mine while she settled in for a good night's rest. As I lay there, it occurred to me.....just seven short months ago, on this day, our baby girl was given to us. She was stiff as a board, screaming and scared to death. Now, seven months later, she is nestled in my arms asleep. Seven months.

I was subtly reminded earlier in the day just how short seven months really is in comparison to the nineteen that she spent in China. We began occupational therapy today for Maddox. The therapist was working with her and asked me if Maddox was walking when we got her. I responded yes. She went on to say, "Yes, I am thinking she never crawled. Have you ever seen her crawl?" I was a bit dumbfounded as I sat back and thought, "Geez, what parent doesn't know if their child ever crawled or not?!!!" But, no, I don't recall Maddox crawling. I was most concerned about walking and she could do that.

Seven months home. The first nineteen months of her life we know little about but I can tell you detail for detail on her seven months home.

A Girls Gotta Eat!

2011-10-12T15:10:00.000-04:00

Our Graduate

2011-10-11T21:20:00.002-04:00

Not too long after we returned from China, we became acquainted with the speech therapist at our local elementary school. "Miss Colleen" became our go-to friend when we had a speech related question or just needed encouragement. When MK turned three, we crossed our fingers that Miss Colleen would become MK's therapist and, as luck would have it, she did! For almost two years, we have worked night after night to accomplish our speech goals set for MK by Miss Colleen. And for the same amount of time, Miss Colleen has offered her smiling face and open arms each and every time we have gone in for therapy - twice a week! Miss Colleen and MK are kindred spirits, each loving their girly-girl fashion and bling. Though we were so pleased to hear that MK has met all of her speech goals and no longer needs speech therapy, we were all sad to say goodbye - the good news is that we are more than positive Maddox will be entering Miss Colleen's sessions next year so we asked her just to save our spot and we would see her soon:)

To MK: Sweet girl, you have come so far. You have been home for 3 years and 7 months. We love watching you grow and we love these special days when we get to cheer you on and celebrate your accomplishments!

2011-10-06T15:13:00.005-04:00

Surprises are my favorite things. Only rarely am I truly surprised because I always figure it out. This condition is a challenge for my husband. Bless.his.heart. - I say that in honor of our southernness. However, he met the challenge head-on for my birthday this past Monday and, after having to throw me off here and there with my many questions, he surprised me! YAY!

To kick off my "birthday week," as Ryan has chosen to call it, the children and I spent sometime Monday morning doing random acts of kindness. We had so much fun leaving little tokens of kindness in random places - we filled drink machines with money, left dollar bills hiding in the dollar store, baked goodies for neighbors and bought breakfast for a couple. It filled our hearts with joy! My "birthday week" has flown by entirely too fast and has been filled with basketball practices, baseball games, ballet....and, SPEECH. Yes, our MK has been in speech every Tuesday and Thursday morning for the past year and a half at our local school. Today I met with her therapist as well as other facilitators and we all agreed that MK has met her goals and no longer needs speech therapy! She is thriving! She loves school and loves her friends though we are a bit concerned that she talks mostly about the boys :) And we know she is listening and learning....example A - today I was taking her to ballet. It is very quiet in the car, I was thinking and I really thought maybe she was asleep. Out of the blue she says, "I think he was from Spain." Now, I was thinking of every one possible that she could be talking about and when I couldn't figure it out I said, "He was from Spain? Who?" And she said, "Christopher Columbus, that man that got on the big boat and thought he was going somewhere but came here instead." Yep, she listens. And we are proud of this little one and so happy she is with us!

2011-10-02T07:32:00.002-04:00

Our boys. Saturday they made me smile big. As their mother, I am always quite aware of their huge hearts yet on a day to day basis, I am so caught up in school and sports and the chaos of life that I don't always see their hearts. On Saturday, I saw their hearts plain and clear. The boys want desperately to go on their first mission trip next summer. Every June our church takes a group of people to a city in Georgia that is known to have the largest migrant population in the south. Once there, the group delves into a weeklong mission of witnessing to the children and adults of this community. Because the trip does have its costs, we told the boys that if they could earn half of the funds associated with the trip, we would meet them half way and pay the remainder. They have been brainstorming for weeks on how they were going to meet their goal. Saturday was their first fundraiser, a garage sale. The boys were up at 5:20am as a result of their excitement - it was almost like Christmas morning! After pulling everything out, the people began to show and the rest is history. Colin and Pryce spent the next five hours wheeling and dealing and sharing their mission with complete strangers. Many items were sold, a good start to their funding was accomplished. It did not take them long to speak out and tell the garage-sale-goers their goal and, before we knew it, the boys were receiving donations as well. Ryan later stated that he was so proud of our guys - he could not believe their boldness and their confidence in sharing their mission at such a young age. And, even to those that walked away, our guys told them thank you every time.

2011-09-30T20:46:00.002-04:00

What a fabulous week we have shared together! No better way to top off our fun than to take a trip to the local Steed's Dairy Farm for a farm-friendly field trip with great friends.

Maddox LOVES animals. And, she has gotten quite good at imitating their sounds....we saw some "oinks" and some "quack-quacks" and some "mooos," to name a few. She was in awe. She even got to pet a baby rabbit.

Where one child was overjoyed and mesmerized with the lesson on cows producing milk, one child was less than enthusiastic to learn about this process. Nausea set in and he had to walk away before it got the best of him!

MK took charge in the corn maze and led us through. She is quite the little leader and had no problem with this task.

And Pryce led the way to all the playground equipment had to offer. They have these huge tunnel slides that are a hit every year as well as a big jumping pillow - these two tied in with duck racing and swings and sand and hay, phew....we were all due for a good nap!

And two funny photos of Maddox....she is always into something and comes up with the craziest combinations all on her own!

Our sweet girl continues to thrive. We went in for a follow-up with her ENT and her ears are great! Hearing is great! And....drum roll please....we gained yet another pound! She really is growing and the clothes that once were too long, are now a bit on the short side - sigh. We had Maddox evaluated for occupational therapy services and she will receive some therapy for the next six months to strengthen her up a bit.

The Scar

2011-09-28T15:39:00.003-04:00

Our dear MK. She is growing up. Too fast. So tall. So beautiful. I envy the beauty of her hair. I envy her determination. Her heart is strong. She is an emotional roller coaster these days. One minute she is flying high and the next minute she is at a low all because her shoes, seated right beside her, cannot be found - you get the picture. She goes to school four days a week and LOVES it. Then, she comes home only to remind me that we need to do school at home. I am trying out a reading program with her - she is so ready to read. And I hear, "Hey, mom, did you know that I can spell...." at least a million times a day. She is our little speech therapist to Maddox, always asking Maddox to repeat after her and always cheering her on for the effort put forth. So cute. As she grows up, I feel the need, even more so now than ever, to protect her. She is at an age where differences will begin to be noticed. We were at our homeschool co-op Tuesday. I took the girls to the restroom and MK, out of the blue, looked at me and said, "Mom, do you see this on my lip?" She was pointing to her scar. I said, "Yes." And she said, "Well, what is that?" She even sounded quite a bit, shall I say, put-off that it was there. I told her that was her scar, the scar that formed when the doctors repaired her cleft lip. And then, I showed her Maddox's scar. She shrugged and went on to speaking of other things. I, however, was left in thought, praying her scar will always be something she shrugs off and doesn't put much effort into worrying over. Praying that she will continue to be that strong little MK that we have all grown to love. Praying that she will never choose to hide behind her scars. Praying she will allow God's hand to lead her through the journey He created for her.

2011-09-24T20:43:00.002-04:00

Our week at a glance....we began our week enjoying a little game time outside. Chess has been the game of choice lately. At camp, they were taught how to play and they have been challenging each other ever since. Tie chess in with piano, baseball, basketball, tennis, Latin and art, and that makes for some pretty well rounded kiddos I should say! (Yes, yes we are doing all of the above with a little ballet for MK.)

Our week could not have ended on a better note. Friday, we had our adoption group over for a gathering and it was wonderful to visit with everyone, catch on adoption news and advocate for my little four year old girl that continues to tug on my heart in China. I use the word "my" lightly....she is not ours but I do hope to follow her journey to her forever family - she is oh to precious and looks as if she just needs the biggest hug ever! (If you are reading and are interested in knowing more about her, please contact me!)

The two Chongqing princesses, even from the same SWI!

Look at these faces....and to think that we will be getting two more within the next year! Yes, TWO of our ten families are in the process to adopt again from China. Both have been matched with baby girls - Louisa and Kristen!

MK had no trouble whatsoever choosing what to dress up in for her friend's princess birthday celebration! She even had to accessorize with the phone and the purse.....what true lady leaves home without them?!

This is the aftershot....notice there is a bit of makeup on those eyes, oh my! Thank you, Jaida, for sharing your special day with MK!

Mommy and her Carolina girls. It is a known fact that Ryan is a Clemson fan, the boys too; I am a South Carolina fan, the girls too. Throw a little Bulldog in the mix, and, well, it gets fuzzy! Either way, I sure did enjoy cuddling up with my girls to watch a bit of our Gamecocks in action!

2011-09-19T20:18:00.002-04:00

One year ago tonight.

We saw her face.

Her big brown sad eyes.

And that little bit of hair.

She was so cute with her little unrepaired lip - wish I could share pics but I don't know how!

She had a bright smile.

And a look of promise.

Knowing that a new shared list was going to be coming out on the evening of Sunday, September 19, 2010, I called our agency on that Friday, September 17, 2010 to do a little checking up on the status of our paperwork. Our paperwork had just gone to China less than two weeks prior to this date. Friday proved to bring good news - not only did China have our paperwork, but we were given a log-in date and we were able to be possibly matched with a child on the new shared list. (If you are not in adoption land, this might be more than you want to know - sorry :) )Anyway, I talked with our agency on Friday. There was a baby girl in Guangzhou, just one year younger than MK, and her list name was "Juanita." She was such a sweet looking child and her name was the same as my grandmothers so I decided to inquire about her. We were told they would look into her case and get back with us the following week. And I specifically remember saying to our agency contact, "Well, if she is not available, will you please try to find a match for us on Sunday?" She promised that she would look but that she could not guarantee anything. I swallowed and reminded myself that I was not going to get worked up about being matched. After all, God had handpicked our baby girl and I had to trust that she would be revealed when the time was right. Those words are so easy to type and not nearly as easy to live by! I was already worked up even though we had been told to expect a 6-12 month wait for a match - and we were not even on ONE month!

So, the night came. We knew that IF we were to get a call, it would occur between the hours of 10pm and midnight. So, as usual, Ryan and I chatted, watched tv and fell asleep in our den. I remember waking up around 10:45, I woke Ryan up and said, "Well, I guess we really didn't get a match tonight." And with that, we climbed into bed and fell fast asleep - disappointed to say the least.

Around 11:30, in the calmness of the night, the phone rang. My heart was racing, my hand flung over and hit Ryan on the back and I shouted, "Oh my goodness, we have a baby - they found her!"

We floundered across the room to the phone and the only words I remember hearing were, ".....she is 13 months old and she is in Guizhou province and she is beautiful! Are you interested in seeing her file?" I believe I shouted "yes" before she even finished her description. The words, "13 months old...." left me in quite a stir - I was thinking 2 or possibly 2 1/2 - but 13 months old and that poor baby was just sitting there!

And, so it went.....we sat in front of the computer, the dino one, and waited for what seemed like eternity for it to kick into gear. Finally, we saw her. I said to Ryan, "So do you think she looks like a Drafts?" And in his convincing, smiling way, he said, "Yeah, I really do - she really looks like a Drafts."

Ryan, who has the gift of sleeping through anything, fell back asleep peacefully. I, on the other hand, thought about Maddox. What was she doing on that particular day? Who was caring for her? As the result of one little phone call, her orphan status was no more - and our life as the parents of four children began. It was a long, dreamy night for me :)

2011-09-17T21:34:00.002-04:00

Our day at the aquarium....these guys had quite the time together!

And the girls, well, they spent their time entertaining themselves....

Pryce did some hands-on learning.....

And we all needed a good pic together.....

And, then, outside, MK made friends with this "girly" dolphin....

And, the boys, well, they decided to imitate their dolphin of choice....

And, then, the trip to Atlanta was over. And life began to take a turn for our boys.....an Athens-bound turn. Though I do believe our boys' hearts remain dedicated to their beloved Clemson Tigers, they are showing signs of peer influence when it comes to football. Today, they attended their very first Georgia Bulldog game - my hands struggle to type those words! Not only did they attend the game with their very best friends, they also were treated to box seats (thank you Aunt Becca!)! They were beyond impressed! They came home and talked non-stop for 30 minutes about the game!

2011-09-14T15:53:00.004-04:00

This week has been a roller coaster....one day we were climbing up and needing help, the next day we were coasting by with the air streaming through our hair, and then repeat. The highlights include

Pryce pitched for the first time ever during his opening season game of Fall baseball. (Struck the guys out, yes he did!)
Ryan left on Sunday for a week of work away from home.
We met up with the Gruskin family in Atlanta for a day of play at the Georgia Aquarium. (It happened to be a memorable day for us all as it was also the re-adoption day of little Junie)
The children and I spent the night in a hotel located by one of our favorite places - Northpoint Mall. It is a fave because it has something for everyone - Apple store for my guys; American Girl for my girls; and, drum roll please.....Cheesecake Factory for ME! Yummm.
The hotel was great fun, until, the fire alarm went off at midnight. The alarm was the loudest, most piercing sound I have ever heard. And it went off forever. And my kiddos, all four of them, slept right through it. Unbelievable. I spent the next hour lying awake in bed trying to figure out just how I would manage to get all four of my children to safety if there truly was a fire.
I was getting the children ready for bed. There was a room with two double beds and then another room with a pull out couch. I slated the girls to sleep on the pull out couch. MK was most upset. When I asked her what was wrong she said, "I want someone to sleep with me in here." I said, "Mason-Kate, Maddox is going to sleep with you in here and mommy and the boys will be right in the next room - the door will be wide open and I will leave a light on so you can see." She immediately began to protest and cried out, "No, mommy, I need a HUMAN in here with me!"

Alas, Friday came. It was a long week for all involved. I think in all of our thirteen years of marriage and our two years of dating, this was by far the longest we have ever been away from one another. And our children. MK seems to be our one with words lately and she said the cutest thing tonight when we went to pick up Finley from the kennel. Giggling she cried out, "I am so happy. It is so much fun getting our family back together again!"

Six Months

2011-09-13T22:55:00.006-04:00

Six months ago today, we met her. She was already a part of us, but on this day six months ago, we got to touch her sweet skin and embrace her in our arms. We were all in awe. And we were oh so excited to see her. She was so very scared.

This picture pretty much says it all. Her left hand is scratching her head - she did this a lot those first few day. Stress.

And then, ever so slowly, she began to show her sweet self.....

And she began to let down her guard.....

And this happened! A smile. Life. No more stress filled eyes. No more scratching. Just love. And hugs. And kisses. And laughter. This little girl who laid stiff across my lap on Gotcha Day, now goes limp in my arms when she is held - she is a cuddly little one. She gives random hugs and kisses to everyone, even Finley. She is a parrot, trying to copy every thing that MK says. She is a girl of many styles - she feels the more items she can get on her little body, the better off she is; either that or she is trying to make a fashion statement. She loves, loves, loves chocolate. And peanut butter. Especially when served together:) She loves a good, overstuffed purse to carry on her shoulder. And she loves shoes....her shoes, the boys shoes, MK's shoes, my shoes, anyone's shoes. Our one obstacle is leaving her. When left at home with a sitter, she is fine. No tears. Even goes to bed without a fuss. However, take her to church and she will scream, scream, scream, the.entire.time.we.are.not.with.her. We have tried it all - we have gone with her for several weeks, MK has gone with her, we have taken a blankie with her, her favorite doll has visited the class - and she still cries. I know I have mentioned this in probably every post lately, but it is truly an obstacle that wrings on my heart. She did keep it honest this past Sunday. MK asked her on the drive to church if she was going to cry. Maddox politely nodded her head yes. And sure enough, she cried. At least she is honest. Beyond that, Maddox is doing great. She has grown 3 inches, gained 3 pounds, says a firm, "NO!" Six months later, and life is good.

MKisms

2011-09-12T22:25:00.003-04:00

MK says, "Hey mom, I can hear my heart beeping!"

When it is barely raining, MK proclaims, "Mommy, it is dribbling outside."

Out of the blue today, she announced that possums are nocturnal animals. So I asked her what that meant and she explained in great detail how possums sleep while we are awake, etc.

The other morning, I went up to get her out of bed and I walked in to find my baby girl without a shirt on and her hair in a pony tail. For one, she takes her shirt off at night and carefully places it under her pillow - this is how she sleeps. For two, she found a rubber band and maneuvered it into her hair, a perfect ponytail.

Just Because....

2011-09-09T19:33:00.002-04:00

I took these.....

just because she is always on the go.....

she is always thinking of what she can get into next.....

and because she is happiest when she is outside....

and because I just love that smile.....

and because she is ours!

Continued Education

2011-09-08T06:46:00.005-04:00

Child #1 - Blew us away. We thought we knew exactly what we would do with a baby, we ignored the "your life is going to change forever" comments, because we knew we had it under control. Then, he arrived. All 7 lbs of him. And he taught us a few things. Like, all babies DON'T sleep through the night at 6 weeks. Nope. C, our beloved firstborn, was the child that when we read a parenting book that stated, "Most children do......," we knew that he wasn't under that "most" umbrella. Instead, he was under the "but some children do......" Always.

Child #2 - Relaxed us. He slept the entire time I was pregnant. And while he slept, I pondered how in the world I was going to go grocery shopping with a baby and a two year old. Seems very silly yet I was very concerned with how that was all going to play out. That, and the fact that I knew sleep was not going to be had for at least another two years. He arrived and though his birth was a bit breathtaking (literally), he was/is the child who calmed us. He slept the first night home. He ate whenever he wanted. He was happy and just plain easy. Of course we thought this was because he was the second child and we had this parenting thing down:)

Child #3 - Taught us that girls will be girls, and boys will be boys. Only, this was tough because I didn't "get" girls for about the first year she was home. The spice. The whine. The maintenance. Ah, yes, our MK has taught us a lot about patience, determination and good, down to earth belly laughter! We stared into her eyes for three months during our wait - three months staring at a picture and dreaming of who she was and who she would become. And then we met and she is so much more than our dreams allowed us to dream!

Child #4 - We really thought that by child #4 our parenting intuition and skills would be complete. We thought we knew it all - on sleep, on separation, on discipline, on germ control. Alas, child #4 has taught us that we, in fact, do NOT know it all. She has taught us that one can sleep through anything and one can sleep anywhere on anything, hence the many, many photos we have of her sleeping in her high chair or in the backyard swing. She has taught us that if a child were to drop a raisin on the floor of the pediatrician's office, one can eat it and remain somewhat healthy. Sigh. She has taught us that there really are children who a parent can just give "the look" to and they will do as they are told. She has taught us that a child really will eat whenever they are hungry and a child really can thrive on what seems like the diet of a bird. And, she is teaching us about a broken heart. Maddox's eyes have always been so full of seriousness. In every picture we were given during our wait, her eyes were bright with wonder. When we met for the first time, her eyes were wide open with worry. When we walked into our house for the first time with her, her eyes were full of awe. You can tell a lot about her by just looking into her beautiful brown eyes. Today, I saw big crocodile tears in those eyes. Her speech therapist was using reference cards to get Maddox to say words. The first card she pulled up was a picture of a mother. The therapist said, "Maddox, say 'mommy.' This is Mommy, say 'Mommy'." Maddox immediately jolted her head around to meet me eye to eye, she made a sound of desperation, her hands flew up and her body bent over - she wanted me to hold her, comfort her. Maddox was scared. And she shut down. That lady on the card was not her mommy, it was a stranger and this clearly bothered Maddox. Six months home - almost. And though we have had a somewhat seamless transition, today reminded me that Maddox's little mind is still far away at times - I think she has memories and I think she is sad at times and today confirmed that she continues to process her adoption and her forever home.

2011-09-05T21:24:00.008-04:00

Happy Labor Day 2011. Labor Day will be one of my family's memories of growing up for two reasons. One, our nephew and cousin celebrates his birthday every year on this holiday. Two, part of the birthday celebration is going to the annual Chapin Labor Day parade in my hometown. MK said it best when she announced, "Mommy, that parade we went to was the funnest one ever in my life!"

The children are just about all old enough now to know the "Ready, Set, Go!" routine of the parade. Once the floats begin to appear on the route, all children must get their candy bags prepped for loading up on the gobs of candy they acquire during the one hour long display. It truly is amazing the amount of candy each child leaves with each year!

C is getting a bit older. In fact, today he celebrated his "half birthday," much to my dismay :( He is now 11 AND 1/2. I know, right?! Great for him, going by too fast for me. Alas, in this stage of his life, he has chosen to take a liking for coffee. And who better to share a cup of joe with but his Gran.

With the parade in full swing, the kiddos took their spots.....

and waved to the passers by.....

and clapped for a job well done!

(I love this pic. I could publish a story on this pic alone - it tells so much. Look at the faces. The anticipation. The conversations. Just makes me smile to see it and imagine the thoughts that were taking place at the moment this shot was snapped.)

And this special day occurs every year because of this special little guy. Happy 4 years Jay-man!

***One more MK comment. I asked her what her favorite part of the parade was and she said, "I LOVED those girls what was pretty!" AKA, the pageant/beauty queens. I love that she is sooo very girly!

Sisters

2011-09-02T21:03:00.007-04:00

Once upon a time there were two little girls. One was happily awaiting the arrival of her baby sister. She prayed for her "baby" in China. She missed her sister in China. She loved a baby sister she had yet to even meet.

One day the two little girls met. The one little girl told the other little girl, "Don't be afraid. We have waited and waited for you. We have loved you from afar. We are so excited to be your family."

The baby girl wasn't so sure about having a big sister. She was a bit jealous, to put it lightly. But with time, the baby sister began to trust and love her big sister. The baby would look to her big sister for help. And for hugs. And the two girls would talk to one another at night until they fell fast asleep together. And they would wake up together each morning....

and giggle or sing songs or read books or played games- always together.

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. ~Isadora James

2011-09-02T18:27:00.002-04:00

"I am sorry Mommy. These papers fell out accidentally on purpose." This is my favorite MK quote yet. Her four year old mind is having trouble grasping the concepts of what is an accident and what is done on purpose. Love the innocence.

2011-08-29T06:36:00.003-04:00

Going back a bit.....this time last year we were frantically trying to get our dossier completed. This time last year we had no idea who our Maddox was. In China, this time last year, our Maddox was having surgery, a lip repair. No mother. No father. No family. Yet, she was loved. We know this.

Adoption....Ryan and I were recently invited to share our adoption testimony with our small group at church. Our stories are different. Where I grew up with positive images of adoption all around, his experiences where adoption had been in his life, were not as rosy. I knew I wanted to adopt. Always. My neighbor growing up was adopted, positive. Annie was my hero, positive. Instead of "house," I played "adoption agency." I had a never ending love for children, all children, and I knew I could love any one of them, born of my flesh or born of my heart. This fact was confirmed in college while mentoring an eight year old girl. My dream was to be a mother. I knew, one day, somehow, I would accomplish this. And I did with Colin and Pryce. But, I wanted more. Adoption was the answer, it was part of my heart.

For Ryan, the story is not so glamorous. Unfortunately, for him, every.single.adoption experience in his life growing up did not have a positive impact on his life. Instead, they left him with a sour taste in his mouth. He was so unsure of adoption. He knew my heart. He knew my desires yet he questioned his ability to love a child, any child, the way he loved our boys. And the "what ifs" plagued him.

The other night, as I was clicking my way through available children in China, I came upon the most adorable four year old baby girl. She looks so sad. Her big, bright brown eyes look so lost. Her little head is shaved. And she is a month older than MK - four years old, four years waiting to be loved. Almost five. She reminded me of our girls. She is beautiful. Ryan was passing through the room and I said, "Awww, come look at this little girl. She just needs some love and a little hair and a bow in her head! I can't believe no one has snatched her up. She is just like our girls, repaired cleft lip and palate." Ryan looks. He shakes his head and says, "I know, B. If we only had the money." My mouth dropped. I said, "You mean you would go get her if we had the money?" He said, "Yes, why wouldn't we?"

Full circle. Adoption has changed us all.

2011-08-29T06:29:00.002-04:00

Yesterday MK was watching a Disney show on tv for a moment while I finished up some work. She looked at me and said, "Hey, mom, I think that girl is China. She is small." Because I really was busy, I didn't say much to her other than acknowledge that she was talking. However, I knew what she meant. Later, we were out running errands and I said, "MK if someone is born in China then they are Chinese." Her response? "Yes, I know." So I said, "You were born in China but you live in America, so you are Chinese American." MK said, "Yeah, and I speak English. That is why I am American. Mom, there is this boy in my class who looks English but he speaks Spanish. I don't know what he is!"

Shactaw

2011-08-26T06:23:00.009-04:00

Meet Shactaw.

We found this little guy on the way home from taking MK to her first day of school. He was in the middle of the road and, in our opinion, was looking at a tragic end to life without our help. So, we scooped him up - with the intention of leaving him safely on the side of the road - and before I knew it, both boys were out of the van, turtle in hand, running home and discussing what to feed him and where to keep him. In a mere split second, our goal to merely save the turtle turned into a "lets keep the turtle and build him a nice little home." I think this decision was made when I was reminiscing about my pet turtle that I once had as a child. The boys decided on a name - he was named after the two tribes that the boys will participate in next year at camp - they found him a home, added some grass, fed him some apples and the rest is, well, history.....

until yesterday. Yesterday we convinced the guys that it was really not a good thing to keep Shactaw, he needed to be in his own element. So with the turtle in hand,......

and the much desired GERM-X in tow.....

we headed out on a little walk through the neighborhood to one our favorite little hangouts - the pond.

We were so proud of Pryce. This kiddo has the heart of gold. Tender. And he hates saying goodbye.

The kiddos wanted one last photo with our turtle treasure.....

and within minutes of putting the little guy down, he was gone.

In Maddox news.....she is doing magnificent! We all just continue to love her to pieces and can't believe that it has almost been SIX months of forever with her.

2011-08-23T11:24:00.003-04:00

MK is a true girl from the inside out. She is full of laughter and smiles. She is all things shiny and pink - the shinier and pinker the better. She is a talkative little one. A thinker. She is sensitive. She is caring. She LOVES shoes. And, sigh, she has the attitude. It is innate. No other way to put it. Over the weekend we spotted her rolling her eyes when she was asked to do something that was not on her radar. When we asked her to not roll her eyes, she responded, "Oh, I wasn't. I was just looking up." Ah, yes, and in true girl fashion, she has an answer for everything.

S.E.A.B.R.O.O.K.

2011-08-20T16:00:00.011-04:00

With the beginning of our school year looming, we chose to take one last hiatus to Seabrook Island. With the sun high in the sky and the ocean glistening while waves crashed continuously, we made our through the sand and enjoyed three days of nothing but swimming, eating, playing and catching up with friends.

Skimboarding was a hit with the "bigs".....

there were some injuries for these guys and that had us moms thinking a different sport would be good:)

Thankfully, the "littles" were quite content to keep busy in the sand or on a boogie board.....

Maddox took in a lot of quality time with her friend Julia.....

and when she wasn't busy with Julia, she was napping poolside or beachside.....difficult life :)

The "bigs"....

and the "littles" minus one.

Another great week at Seabrook....oh, how we will think of these good times when our noses are pressed inside school books this week!

First Day of School for MK

2011-08-15T21:19:00.006-04:00

Today was a much anticipated day for MK! For MONTHS she has asked, "Now, is today when I get to go to Ms. Cathy's class?" And my response has been, "No, we have to go to China first and then you can go to Ms. Cathy's class...." or "After we go to the beach you can go to Ms. Cathy's class...." or "First you have to go to ballet camp and then you can go to Ms. Cathy's..."

Last night before bed, we picked out her special outfit for her special day.....and we packed up her lunch just as she asked.....and we prayed for her first day at school.....and she said, "I think I will need to get up super early so that I am not late to Ms. Cathy's class!"....oh, no, being late for Ms. Cathy would not be good.

And so the time arrived, with all children in tow along with their many electronic devices for pics, and we made our first walk into school for the 2011-2012 school year.....and MK FINALLY is in Ms. Cathy's Pre-K class....

This pic says it all....she was soooo very excited to arrive. There were no tears. No looking back. Pure joy!

She was given a few instructions on her morning routine.....

and then came the big hug and welcome from Ms. Cathy! You see, Cathy played a role in MK's coming home. She and her family will always be dear to us. It was Cathy who held my hand when I miscarried the first time - we barely knew one another, little did we know what God's plan was. It was Cathy that just happened to mention her husband's cousin who was born with a cleft lip and palate - I didn't even know what this was until this conversation. It is always Cathy who comes to my rescue with scripture to read. It was Cathy who cared for our little Finley when we traveled to get MK - she even set Fin up with his own little lamp in our garage. Cathy is just one of those people that everyone should have in their lives, truly one of a kind! So glad to see MK in her class and we are looking forward to a great pre-k year!

Dedication

2011-08-15T06:45:00.003-04:00

Surrounded by the people who love her the most, Maddox Ren was dedicated at our evening church service on Sunday. She was all smiles!

The service was so sweet. And to make it sweeter, two other families with children from China AND who are in our group of ten that meets frequently, were a part of the service as well - so wish I had taken a picture!

2011-08-14T13:29:00.002-04:00

Five months of forever.

Maddox is happy. Giggly. Shy. Sweet. Jealous. Affectionate. Comfortable.

Maddox loves to dance. Climb. Feed her baby. Swing. Swim. Read books. Go outside.

Maddox can feed herself. Put clothes on and take them off, even if they are not hers :) Go up and down stairs. Jump. Do puzzles. Go to sleep on her own.

Maddox says "no, no!" "ball" "milk" "hi" "hello" "bye" "ma ma" "wow" "oh no" "uh oh" "quack quack" "meow"

She receives speech therapy once a week in our home and we will increase this to two times a week in September. She will not go peacefully into a nursery setting so we are taking baby steps to get her used to this environment. She did make the 20lb mark this past week - yay! And, we know this because she was sick - boo! All better now though.

Our adjustment to a family of six has been quite comical. Often, we find ourselves still saying "Table for 5" or "We have 3 children." And of course it has been five months and we STILL don't get the diaper bag packed accordingly - it either has diapers/wipes OR it has snacks, never does it have all of the above :) MK is doing great in her role of big sister. Her biggest challenge is the behavior of her little sister - little sister, as sweet as she is, can be a jealous little soul and she will push or hit MK. We continue to work through this. Thankfully, MK just takes it all in stride and doesn't retaliate. The boys are the boys - older, helpful, silly, fun and they LOVE having two sisters. They will go from playing baseball together to playing a board game with MK to watching Barney with Maddox. Ryan and I are just taking it all in - loving these days with our fab four!

Boys Will Be Boys

2011-08-12T21:51:00.005-04:00

Today our family was reunited under one roof again. After a much anticipated trip to camp for the boys and a great week in the mountains with Gran and Pop for MK, we all came together again. What a wonderful feeling to hear the stories and the laughter and the songs and see the crafts they all worked on throughout the week. It has most definitely not been a dull day in our home:)

Some memories for our boys first overnight camp:

"Uh, mom, you probably want to wash these.....I have had them on now for three days!"
One boy went to camp with seven clean pair of undies and came home with seven clean pair of undies....
Both boys saw the "camp bear" - yikes!
Calvin Ball, Sock Wars, Pillow Polo, Water Slide Kickball, Four Square, Tribal Council
The BLOB
One boy jammed his finger playing basketball. We asked him if he was ready to come home when that happened and he said, "Home? I wasn't thinking about home, I was just thinking about how fast I could get to the infirmary!"
One boy was telling a story of how during his "rest" time, he and his cabin mates went out to look for the bear. I asked, "Rest time? Shouldn't you have been resting? Did they not make you stay in your cabin?" His response was, "Well, our counselor liked to sleep during rest time so he didn't see us." Oh.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, MK indulged herself while in the company of my parents. I checked in one day and my mom said, "Well, she had a Coke tonight before bed - that is what she asked for." She also got her favorite Pop Tarts. And cereal. And she painted rocks. And colored. And picked flowers. And did school work. And went shopping for none other than her favorite Barbie movie.

Needless to say, all went well and they were all exhausted.....

2011-08-08T22:07:00.002-04:00

Gotta love a girl who enjoys helping out with the laundry!

2011-08-08T06:55:00.009-04:00

Happy birthday to my mom! My dad, my sister + BIL, my brother + SIL and our combined nine kiddos were all together under one roof for the weekend! The scene was a rare and beautiful sight.

Little Kemp. The youngest of the nine. What a handsome blessing he is.

A day at the pool, a day of games, a day of playing in the rain be it on the playground or by the pool. No worries. These guys loved their time together.

Our two MKs! Mason-Kate and Mary-Kate.

To look at their faces, one would not guess that these guys were cheering the rain on.

Later, the sun came out and the balloon wars began. MK found her job and took it very seriously.

All too soon, our weekend ended and our family went their separate ways.

After waiting for a year, and after anticipating their camp adventure ALL summer long, the time finally arrived. The boys were so excited to be given the opportunity to spend a week away at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys. Me, well, when we dropped them off, I felt not one bit of worry whatsoever. About four hours later, the reality set in - I won't talk to them for one.whole.week. That is FOREVER in this mommy's world! My mind was put to rest when I logged onto the camp website and viewed photos from the boys' first day of camp and read the blog - from the looks of things, all is well with my guys! Can't wait to hear all about their fun!

2011-08-01T22:10:00.005-04:00

Many people ask, "Why China?"

We know we were first introduced to the China program years ago through friends of ours who attended an informational meeting on adopting from China. At the time, the process to adopt from China was fast, less than one year from start to finish for a non-special needs baby girl under the age of one year. Fast. We tucked away that knowledge and went about our daily lives.

We did not consider domestic. We believe in domestic adoption and certainly support domestic adoption, but it was not to be for our family. I have spent numerous hours volunteering for child advocacy groups and childrens shelters. I spent a year working with a little girl at a local childrens home. Some say, "Why go to another country to adopt when there are children here waiting?" To fully grasp why one would choose to go to another country over the United States is just too much to get into - there are many factors and when discussing this topic, one has to be willing to accept that adopting domestically is not for every family. In our world of adoption, we hear a lot of families state that they chose to adopt from a specific country because that is where their heart was. I find this, for our family, to be true. China just felt right. It was easy to picture. I saw this perfect little olive-skinned, dark brown eyed, pigtail baring little girl in my dreams. I wanted the dream. And Ryan agreed.

2011-07-29T14:45:00.002-04:00

I read the other day that 37% of all Christian families consider adoption. Only 1% adopt. If all Christian families adopted, there would be no orphans. Something to think about for sure.

Pryce recently asked if we were going to adopt again. Our answer to this question right now is, "No." To say that we will never adopt again is a bit much for us both to swallow, but right now we want to dig deeper into local and international missions. After talking with Pryce about this, he sighed and said, "Well, when I grow up, I am going to adopt." Adoption is life changing, for everyone involved.

An observation I have made since bringing home Maddox is this: Colin is taken with this little girl. We all are, but Colin goes out of his way to help her, play with her, laugh with her....he is just smitten. I said to him one day, "You are so proud of her and that makes me happy." And he looked at me and said, "Well, I am actually proud of her (pointing to MK) too!"

I asked the talkative MK if she just liked to hear her voice - she talks non-stop, no kidding. She smiled and very seriously said, as if she was doing me a favor, "Oh no, mommy. I talk so much so you can hear my voice."

Maddox is now saying, "Mo!" for "NO!" and "Moe" for "More" and "bye, bye" and "hi" and her own version of "I love you."

Happy Birthday Maddox!

2011-07-27T19:43:00.015-04:00

Two years old.

A Family. Her Family. Her Forever Family.

A sister. Someone excited to see her learn, excited to teach her new things, excited to share a room with.

A brother. One to make her laugh. One to take her outside. One to jump on the trampoline with. One to dance with.

One brother. One to help her. One to hold her. One to show her how things work. One to cheer for her.

Two years ago today, we vacationed with friends at the beach. Unbeknownst to us, on the other side of the world, a baby girl - our little Maddox - was born, tiny and frail.

Look at her now....so sweet, so charming, and she has such a heart for her babies.

She is the icing on the cake.

Two years old. Three homes. Three primary caregivers. Two surgeries. All in two years.

Again, look at her. How happy. Shining with joy.

Now with her forever family. Forever. And she fits right in.

And her mother is so glad that her birthmother decided on life. So very glad.

Happy birthday sweet girl! We love you to pieces.

2011-07-26T20:55:00.003-04:00

Four and a half months later, and Maddox doesn't recognize or respond to the Chinese language. Interestingly enough, we were visiting our neighborhood pool today and there was a Chinese lady, her mother and her sister, all of which speak Chinese. They were talking to one another right in front of Maddox and she never blinked an eye. I asked them what language they were speaking and they said, "Chinese." I pointed out Maddox to them and they immediately started ooohing and ahhhing over her and telling me how adorable she was. Then, they started speaking in Chinese to her and she just looked at me and began to whimper - it was too much and they were kind of close to her, too close in her opinion.

2011-07-25T06:54:00.004-04:00

Three little ladies.....

and their SIX China babies!

Over the weekend we did quite a bit of celebrating with our Maddox. Shhhh - she will turn two on Wednesday, TWO, and I, of course, just want her to stay ONE for a wee bit longer :) Donna and Ashley drove the, ahem, two hour drive over from Atlanta with their families to be with us! We were so excited to have them and could not wait for them to meet our peeps and for the girls to play and swim and just hang out. These two will always be special to our family! We are all woven together through our stories. Donna's family was the first family we followed in blog world to China to adopt their little girl with cleft lip and palate. This made a huge impact on our decision to switch to the special needs program back when the special needs program was not nearly as popular as it has become now. And Donna has a wealth of adoption knowledge that has led me through both of our adoptions. The neat part this time around is that Donna and I were on the same timeline - she found her baby girl a few weeks after we were matched with Maddox. We ALMOST traveled together but instead missed each other in the air - we were on our way home and she was on her way there! And Ashley, her family takes our family full circle. We met in line for fingerprinting in Atlanta - two strangers, same hearts for adoption. We had been matched with MK, they were applying to adopt a healthy baby girl from China. We got MK. They waited. They met MK. And continued to wait. I got Ashley in contact with Donna and not too long after, Ashley's family found their little Junie. When they accepted Junie's referral, we were in the process to adopt again from China via the special needs route. We were not 100% sure that cleft would be a need we would choose - our main concern being finances later for surgeries, COLLEGE, etc., and it will all come to a tip around the same time! I remember seeing Junie's sweet little face in her referral pic and knew that no matter the worries, we COULD do cleft and one month after they traveled for Junie, we got Maddox's referral!

Our friendships will last a lifetime and our girls' stories will be told that much longer! Love you guys!

2011-07-21T21:38:00.005-04:00

Tea For Two

Sharing tea is definitely fun for two....

and these little ones have been playing more and more together.....

so a tea party was in order to continue building the bonds between these little ones....

and we could not forget their special babies.....

and then it was over too quick, the "tea" was all done and the girls were ready to move on.

Fwd: (no subject)

2011-07-19T16:01:00.002-04:00

Pudding makes for great entertainment!

First Speech Evaluation

2011-07-17T19:21:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, Maddox had her first speech evaluation. Nothing too shocking but our girl is going to have her work cut out for her! She was very receptive to the therapist doing the evaluation. For this, we are thankful.

Maddox, you will be reading this one day. And on that day, I do want you, as well as the general population to know that though I think you are the sweetest of hearts, you have a dark side. This became apparent once again this morning prior to going to church. All four of our kiddos on the couch. Maddox decides she wants to sit next to Pryce - which is where MK is. Poor MK. Maddox opens mouth, moves in to MK's back and chomp! The bite. The tears. From both. Eventually we make it to church and as we are walking in, people are commenting on Maddox and how cute she is and how sweet she looks. MK looks at one of the ladies and says, "Yes, but she bites!" So, back to speech, we are praying for a few quick words so that Miss Maddox will not be feeling the need to use her TEETH :)

And as I type this, it is 7:30ish on a Sunday evening. Ryan just came down to inform me that MK is asleep - not because we told her to go to sleep and definitely not because it is quiet in our home. You see, our boys are taking turns on the drums teaching themselves how to play songs that we sing in church.....sounds good but it is LOUD.

Happy 1/2 Birthday, MK!

2011-07-15T14:54:00.017-04:00

This is what four and a half looks like on MK!

Our little girl is growing up. Too fast. I know, I say that about each and every one of my children but it is sooo true in my world. MK has been so big in the past four months. She has willingly stepped into her big sister role without so much as a flinch. Watching her with Maddox, and witnessing her grow, has put me in awe somedays. She came to us broken and unsure, and now, three years and four months later, she is so full of zest, determination, laughter and a confidence about her that makes me so proud. My girl, as with most girls, loves for things to be all about her. In a family with four children, rarely is everything all.about.one.child. Today, however, has been different. Today was declared her day - per her request, blueberry muffins for breakfast,we had a picnic at the park for lunch, out to dinner at Moe's and off to see the movie Cars 2. (Can you see where the priorities are? Food, food, food, oh, and movie at which we had FOOD!) Doesn't get any better :)

In other news, the boys participated in a basketball camp all week. They could be found practicing or attempting bball tricks during their spare time.

Spare time? Ha. I made sure there was little "spare time" in our lives this week! I wanted the boys to enjoy being home, doing camp and hanging out with friends. I love a house full of kiddos laughing - it makes my heart glad to see my children enjoying life with their friends. These guys are the jokesters....if they weren't telling each other an old joke, they were making up new ones.....

These three are the movie makers. They have a producer, executive producer, a script developer, a cameraman, an editor and they even have lines that they memorize for each production!

We had some painting time with Xin this week! Xin is going to welcome home a new baby sister sometime soon and Maddox was giving him a rundown on how baby girls really are....Xin is going to make a fabulous big brother. He was very attentive to our little miss and patient with her too!

And these two girls thought Maddox's crib was great fun during their playdate!

MK, Maddox and I had some girl time shopping, eating breakfast with friends, swimming with friends, having friends over to play and just hanging out. Maddox continues to do well. She is such a little sweetheart and we feel so blessed to have been chosen to be her family!

Maddox has so many different looks....the one below says she is up to something. A little sly cutie she is.

And this made me laugh. I got the camera out and as soon as she saw me with it, she stopped in her tracks, placed her hand on her hip, scrunched up her nose and waited for me to take a picture of her....the one thing that was non-negotiable was the cookie. She liked the cookie just as it was.

And our little mermaid.....well, sort of. Who said fashion was important???!!!

All tired out....

Bump In The Road

2011-07-10T14:58:00.002-04:00

The day we arrived home from China, two local families were leaving to go to China! They set off to bring home their baby girls who are close in age to Maddox. After three months of being home, we all got together for dinner to celebrate our homecomings. We also invited a family to join us who is in the process to adopt. So good to see these babies home with their families! During our visit, I asked one mother what her biggest challenge has been since bringing home their daughter. She responded and then asked me the same question. Well, I answered honestly - it really hasn't been a challenge with Maddox. Yes, it is one more child which means more responsibilities, more laundry, more bodies to bathe, mouths to feed and teeth to brush, but that has really all fallen into place. Yes, we have had a few overwhelming moments and, yes, Maddox is very much a "do not touch my mommy or I will hit you" kind of girl, but, honestly, it has been a very smooth transition for all of us. Until today, I would not have classified anything as, well, a "challenge." However, because Maddox is now all healed from surgery and because we desperately want to participate in our church services together as a family, we placed M in the nursery. Oh, how she screamed even before I signed her in. She knew exactly where we were. She hung on to me with fear. Her eyes were huge and full of crocodile tears. Pitiful. But, I let her go, told her goodbye and then stood in the hall and listened to her cry....I have done this with all of my children and all have cried no more than a few moments at the most. Not Maddox. She cried and cried and cried. Finally, I went in to her rescue and whisked her away and held her tight for comfort. I took her into our SS class and when she saw Ryan, even though she would not go to him, she cried happy tears and clapped joyously.

Three days from now, we will celebrate four months with Maddox. And while those four months seem like forever to us, it is in moments like today that I realize how small her forever is. She remembers. And I was sadly reminded of how hard she cried on Gotcha Day and how I could not comfort her. The difference today was that I could comfort her. So happy for how far we have come and I am thankful for today's reminder on how far we have to go!

Prayer Time

2011-07-09T12:03:00.002-04:00

MK has been teaching Maddox how to say prayers. Today her snacktime prayer was, "Dear God, we know we have to obey you and please help us to obey our mothers and our fathers when they are on the phone. Amen."

2011-07-05T21:00:00.003-04:00

Going back a bit.....Ryan and I met in 1995. We have differing tales on how we met but that is about all we disagree on. We dated for one year. We were engaged for one year. In January, 1998, we married and we are enjoying our happily ever after. Together. With our children. However, before there were children, there were adventures even still. Six months into our marriage, we were transferred to Turlock, California. Being that I had visited southern California many times during my childhood, I was all about living in California. I pictured my pool, the neighborhood park, the bike rides through the park, a short drive to the beach - oh, my picture of our life in California was perfect, only, we were moving to northern California. No longer had we stepped off our plane in Sacramento did I wreck our rental car into a non-English speaking gentleman as I tried desperately to navigate through a town I knew nothing about. The next morning we awoke and instead of smelling the salty sea, we got a whiff of the cows in the pasture. Definitely not my perfect California. Alas, Ryan and I made the best of it. We prayed hard. After visiting the northern California sites we wanted to see, ie, San Francisco and Yosemite National Park, we departed California for a new start - Ryan left his job and luckily found a new one in Georgia just six weeks later. We were young, no children, and it was a good decision. We moved to Georgia in September 1998. Ryan loved his job and was set on a fast track to the top. Only, the top meant moving every other year or so. Our first move came on Colin's first birthday. I will never forget the day that I took C to his one year check-up with our pediatrician in Georgia, then whisked him away to the photographer for a one year session, then drove to Columbia to be with my parents for a night or two and then off we went to a snow-packed Boston. We arrived in the evening, circled the airport several times due to the snowy weather, landed and then drove to our new abode. Early the next morning, we were greeted by our neighbors and wouldn't you know, they were from the south, South Carolina to be exact. Small world. We were thrilled to have a southern-accented man living next door to us! We lived just outside of Boston for almost a year and a half. During this time, we grew very close to our neighbors. After all, they drank sweet tea and said "y'all" with just the right drawl. Every night during my pregnancy with Pryce, they would call over and take my order for a blizzard from Dairy Queen. The night Pryce was born, Nancy came over to stay with Colin when I went into labor at midnight. Just a month later, we moved to Florida. Now, ten years later, we still see Nancy and Marion at least once a year during their visits to South Carolina. Nancy and Marion always remember our children and their birthdays as well as send them books and other school notes throughout the year! We are so happy to have them in our lives!