Finally...a visit from the tooth fairy!

Well, it hasn't been quite a month yet so a shorter hiatus this time. I really truely think of my blog daily but just don't get around to doing anything with it. Its late so this will be a short post...

Logan finally lost his first tooth a couple of weeks ago. He was 7 in Sept. so has been wanting to lose a tooth for a long time! It must be genetic because Devin was 7 and half before he lost his first one. The toothfairy managed to get here the second night. She is a busy person and just couldn't fit us into the schedule that first night!

Halloween

Wow! I knew I was neglecting my blog but didn't realize it had been quite as long as it has been. Life has been busy her, as usual, and while I have thought many many times to post I just haven't.

Its been so long I don't know where to start...

Halloween...we went to my best friend Lisa's place...the girls were so cute. It was fun...the boys had a great time. Carolyn attends a tumblin tikes class once a week so the wek of Halloween, the kids all wore their costumes...they were so cute. Devin helped carved the pumpkins...Peter put one of the pumpkins over his head...and Carolyn stood in the pumpkin...LOL

Don't even know his name

This is the newest addition to Holy Angels Hospice Orphanage in Haiti. This is the orphanage that Peter and I visited on our mission trip. He has Hydrocephalus. Pray for this little guy!

Yea Peter!

Copy and paste following link to see the article in the paper featuring Peter. I can't seem to get it to link. I'm so proud of him!


http://www.newstimes.com/localnews/ci_10474561

Union Brother Singers

Last night we went to see the Union Brother Singers. They performed at our church. They are a group of guys from Haiti who use the money they raise from selling their CD'S and t-shirts to help kids in Haiti. The concert itself is free. Peter and I saw them in Haiti also so it was great to see them again. A great bunch of guys who are all brothers or cousins. They engage the audience in their music as you can see. Peter volunteered to "help" and is the 5th from the left. His buddy Cody is 3rd from the left. Our pastor, Stephanie is on the far right and 2 away from her on the right is Cody's brother Nick. They all had a great time.

cows

Carolyn loves cows...or at least the sound they make. She is actually terrified of the real thing. Whenever we mention the word cow she makes her Mr. Bill face and tries to make a MOOOO sound. She has gotten more accurate since this video was taken.

She's 1! Happy Birthday Carolyn!

Carolyn turned 1 on the 24th. Here she is opening presents:

She is a baby addict and this was her reaction when she saw the baby in the gift bag.

Here she is with her new baby...such a girl! She practically jumps out of the shopping cart in the store when we go down the baby aisle.

We had her party on the 30th and here is her cake.....notice the squished part in the lower right hand corner.....then see the next picture and you'll find the squished part.

This required a bath at Grammy's before we headed home

Here she is with her friends in the pool

opening presents again.....yes, she got another baby!

relaxing with Uncle Joe as mommy cleaned up.

The Homeschool Song

A friend sent this to me and I thought it was great! Since we are a homeschooling and public schooling family, I see both sides of the equation...enjoy!


The Homeschool Song

I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling)
Originally written and produced by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris
Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor
Mercilessly altered with apologies by Natalie Criss
============ ======== ============ ======

First I was afraid
I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never teach
'Cause I'm not certified.
But we spent so many nights
Reteaching homework that was wrong.
I grew strong,
so now I teach my kids at home!
We study math
and outer space.
I just kept on despite the fear
with a big smile across my face.
I bought a set of Base Ten blocks.
I bought books with answer keys.
My parents think we're nuts,
but they don't even bother me
Come on, let's go walk out the door.
We're on the road now,
'cause we're not home much anymore
My friends would laugh and say we'd be unsocialized.
I heard one mumble
that I'd give up by July.
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to read
I know we'll be alright.
I've got all my life to learn.
I've got energy to burn.
and I'll survive.
I will survive.
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart.
Decided to attend
a play date at the local park,
and I met oh so many moms
who offered eagerly to help.
They used to cry.
Now they hold their heads up high,
and so do we!
My kids are cool!
They're not those chained up little people
stuck inside at school.
So if you feel like dropping by
and just expect us to be free
you'd better call ahead first
'cause we're probably busy

The inside out Egg

I hardboiled some eggs last week and one of them has a crazy transformation. The inside was completely hollow and the yolk had formed a closing at the top of the egg. Pretty cool!

Bouncy girl

Here is a short clip from our day at a local amusement park yesterday. It took forever to load so tomorrow I will post one of our little monkey walking! This is Peter with Carolyn and Devin fixing his hair.

Vacation snapshots

Calumet

We returned yesterday from our annual trek to Camp Calumet in New Hampshire. This is my absolute favorite place in the world...have been going since I was 12 yrs old. I was a camper for several years and then worked as a counselor for several years and now we go camping there every summer. Peter and Devin have been going as campers to resident camp and next year Logan can go. This year I was blessed to have my friend Heather join us for most of the week. Our friendship began at Calumet many many years ago. We had a great time and I loved getting to know her daugters, Olivia and McKenna. I look forward to next year when they will be up for the whole week. Our friend Amy was up with her family also. Our goal is to get the whole gang up.....a difficult feat but as far as I am concerned...mandatory. Pictures will be coming soon....I just haven't downloaded them off the camera yet.

Keira

This is a recent picture of Keira. She is the daughter of my former step-daughter. What a cutie she is!

Also my favorite color...sort of

Your Aura is Blue

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

What Color Is Your Aura?

What kind of shoe are you?

You Are Flip Flops

You are laid back and very friendly. Cheery and sunny in disposition, you usually have something to smile about. Style is important to you, as long as you can stay casual. It takes a lot to get you to dress up! You are a loyal and true person, though you can be a bit of a flake. You tend to "play hooky" and blow off responsibilities a lot more than most people. You should live: By the beach You should work: At a casual up and coming company

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

I'm Done!

Carolyn is very specific about when she is done eating....this is her typical face when she is finished and I try to give her another bite.

Don't come any closer with that spoon!

Kick-a-thon

Peter and Devin participated in a kick-a-thon on June 7th to raise money for St. Jude's Childrens hospital. It was brutally hot that day and all the kids ( and parents) were happy to be done and to get inside to the AC.
This is Peter:

Devin is in the back:

Peter in mid-air...he is the one on your right:

The gang:

It shoudn't take so long to come home

One of the men on our team for our Haiti trip is in the process of adopting a little girl from Haiti. Jacob and his wife started this process a year and half ago and it could take up to another year before they get to bring Nancy home. We were so lucky to be able to witness there first time meeting each other and then to have Nancy spend a few days with us. She is such a sweet little girland will be 7 in a few months. We also got to visit her orphanage and spend half a day there playing and cuddling the kids there. There were 47 of them and they all have adoptive homes to go home too. Jacob and his wife have also adopted a daughter from Taiwan, Mei. She is 2. They have a biological son named Ethan who is 3 and half.
Here are some photos from this day:

Visions of Haiti

Haiti

Peter and I are back safely from our trip to Haiti.....There is nothing I can say that will make anyone understand what it was like...unless you have been there. Its a totally different world and I am so thankful for all I have and for what my children have. I will be posting pictures here and there to share with you...will probably put together a slide show at some point. My heart has been broken for these children.....

This is Peterson...he was sent to the orphange 2 yrs ago because he was taking to long to die in the hospital after a failed shunt due to hydrocephalus. I spent 4 days caring for him. He smiles and laughs. He is fed through a tube in his nose. His eyes have cataracts...but I know he can see out of one of them..if only light and dark. He is on his back 24/7 and consequently has open wounds on the back of his head. I explained that he needs to be turned on his side ...they know...but its not done. I just wanted to pick him up and put him on my shoulder...but his head is just too heavy. I held him in my arms and after 10 minutes I had to put him down due to the weight of his head....He loved having his arms and legs and belly rubbed. The socks areon his hands because he pulls out his NG tube in his nose. When I fist saw him he had old mittens on his hands...one of them was taped. It had been a long time since they had been taken off...they smelled. I took them off and his nails were so long and the skin just rubbed off his hands. I cleaned him up...cut his nails. He was so happy to feel his hand in his mouth. I wish I had a picture of his tongue. He loved to stick it out so I could grab it. I left him with clean socks in his hands...who knows when they will be changed again. He loved any touch that I could give him. God has a plan for Peterson.....

update...finally

So much for keeping up with this blog on a regular basis. I envy my friend Susan in Georgia...she is great about her blog and has a new post almost daily. Our lives are busy here..it's baseball season for Peter and Logan and Peter and I are getting ready for our mission trip to Haiti next week. I will have lots of pictures to share when we return. It's brutally hot in Haiti right now so I hope we don't melt.

Carolyn continues to be a very happy girl...she is crawling and pulling herself up on the furniture. 4 teeth have emerged and she claps her hands. Yesterday was her 9 month check-up and the doc said she is doing great. 22 lbs 14 ounces and 29 and 3/4 inches. A big girl for sure!




Peter was confirmed on May 10th. Here is a picture of him with his mentor, Mike.

A gift

I received something in the mail today. A baby picture of Devin. He was 9 and half month. I just keep staring at it...I'll post it here but I am not sure how the quality will be as I had to scan and crop it.

For those of you who don't know, Devin came to me when he was a month and half away from being 4. We had no pictures of him before that time. His bio-mom was asked for one long ago but she said she didn't have any. I got a call the other day from the boys old social worker asking if she could send it as bio-mom had sent it to her. She also included a letter. I don't know at what point I will share this with the boys but it won't be now. They also do not know about the picture yet. I want to have it enlarged professionally so the quality is good.

The dress

I love this dress! My friend Sue bought this for Carolyn and she wore it to church yesterday. Such a pretty girl!

My goofy oldest son

Multi-tasking? Holding sleeping baby and playing video games...Such talent!

Carolyn loves to jump and probably spends at least half of her awake time jumping in some form or another. Here she is in the johnny jumper...gives my arms a break.

Peter decided have a fashion show with some baby clothes. These were clothes I was passing on to goodwill. I can't believe he actually got them on his body...they are a size 18 months. Such a goofball!

Carolyn

Here is the newest addition to our family. Little Miss Carolyn is a happy baby and she slept through the night on her first night here....yeah!!!! We don't know how long we will be blessed with her but for now we are enjoying her. She just loves the boys...the can really get her cracking up.

A Cloud

My mom sent this to me tonight.....I just have to try and believe that all these bad things that keep happening to me is all in God's big plan. That's hard to do some days...especially when I feel like I have a black cloud hanging over my head.

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did
God do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation!
; A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong.
She's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best
friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she
would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love
your cake'.
'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her
daughter.
'How about a couple of raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'
'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those
are all yucky!'
To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad by
themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they
make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go
through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He
puts these things in His order, they always work for good! We just
have to trust Him and, eventually, they will make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a
sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in
the universe, and He chose your heart.

Goodbye Charlie!

We are so saddened by the loss of our baby Charlie. There was an unfortunate accident on Monday night and he is no longer alive.

He will always be in our hearts.

Changes

I can't believe it's been so long since I have posted...well....actually I can believe. I have always had a hard time making changes in my life...I do ok for awhile but then I just slack off. I have quite a few things I am trying to change/adjust right now in my life/in our home. We are all still adjusting to my work schedule which in understandable but surprising to me that I am having such a hard time. I used to work at home but went to school for 6 years so it's not like me leaving the house is new. In fact, I am gone less now than when I was going to school....and I am getting paid so one would think it would be easier this time around. I just realized last night that I am working for the next 4 evenings...which means I won't get to have dinner with my kids for the next 4 evenings, won't get to tuck them in before bed etc. I really don't like working more than 2 evenings in a row let alone 4! 2 more weeks of orientation and then I will have more control over my schedule.

I will try to make an effort to post more (after the next 4 days...LOL)

The Lantern Festival

Peter and Devin had a lantern festival at their karate class this past week. All the kids had to make a chinese lantern to bring it to class. I didn't take any pictures of the lanterns (whoops) but here are some pictures that a friend of mine took at the festival.

Devin and his buddy Ryder...second son of the mom who took the pictures.

The dragon...Peter is in front and Devin in there somewhere.

Peter and Robin running a Kata