Summer is in full swing around here!

Well it has been a busy start to summer around here! I took the kids to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. We had an awsome time and since it was a free admission day it didn't matter how long we stayed. The museum was incredible! About 4 or 5 times the size of OMSI. They have an entire WWII German submarine in just one wing of the building! I actually managed to drive there and back myself which is pretty amazing considering that I refuse to drive in downtown Portland! We have also been invaded by the Cicada's. This particular "breed" only appear every 17 years and only in this small area. Fortunately there aren't many near our house but in some areas there are literally millions per sq. mile!!! They are really loud too - thank goodness they only live about 3-4 weeks!

Trace is thrilled to be out of school and loving all the time he gets on the Playstation! Caden is happy, for the most part, to have him around all day. They are both hoping we can make it to Vancouver in the next couple of weeks! With flying standby I don't want to give anyone a date, but we are going to give it a shot. So don't be surprised if you get a call that we are in town!

Miss Paige is keeping us on our toes! Last week she climbed up the stool in the kitchen and spent about 15 minutes sticking her spoons into bottles and putting everything from the drawer on the counter. All was well and good until she forgot she was on a stool and took a step backward! Today, after an evening walk, she had her first whole popcicle and loved it. We had a very kind gentleman tell us thank you for having big hearts and helping one of his "cousins". (He was Filipino) I understood his sentiment but inside I was thinking how we never once thought we were "saving" her. We needed and longed for a daughter and we knew without a doubt this was how God wanted her to join our family. It was never a rescue mission or an act of pity - she was meant to be here and there was never any other plan. I often look at her sleeping and think, "God, she is so precious!". Tonight it dawned on me - He knows that! That's why she is here!

The cutest cowgirl in the (mid) West!

Aunt Karen and Grandma, I bought this just for you guys! It reminded me of the outfit you got Trace when he was born and I just couldn't resist. I don't think there will be many other swimsuits like it around the pool this summer!

And, yes, she is definately getting another tooth! Despite my best efforts I couldn't get a picture with out her hands in her mouth!

A Couple of Days in the Sun!

I've added two new slides from last weekend. We flew down to Arizona to spend the weekend with Kim and getting to know Doug and Carter. The boys were completely water logged by the time we left on Monday! We all had a great time and totally enjoyed ourselves. I had a much longer post but the computer ate it and it's getting late! I'll post more later...

How to cross the rocks - according to Paige

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Finally an update!

Ok, I finally have a couple of minutes! Miss Paige has been sick with one thing or another it seems like for weeks. She is on antibiotics again for a probable sinus infection and possible double ear infections. Last night she pretty much didn't sleep and therefore neither did I! Isn't motherhood grand?!
School is almost out around here and we are looking forward to a looser schedule for a while. The boys would just like to spend the entire summer in a swimming pool! We have some plans but nothing set yet. Our plans to make it to Washington are sort of on hold because we can't afford the airfare and I refuse to fly standbye alone with all three kids! Go figure huh? I am hoping we will make it out to New Jersey to visit friends we met in China and go to our agency's annual picnic in early August. We also plan to get some camping trips in - just close to home considering gas prices!
Other than that, things are about the same out here! We may make it to Phoenix this weekend so I'll add new pictures after that!

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We're still here!

I promise to get some pictures up this week! I have been busy trying to finish our China photo album on Snapfish and get Paige's adoption video done. I've been working on both projects forever and finally got motivated to get them DONE! There isn't really much happening around here anyway. We had Paige's six month post placement visit and "passed" - not that they were going to take her away! The boys are keeping busy with soccer and finishing up the school year. I'll post more this week.

A Different Mother's Day

Mother's Day will be very different this year. Obviously because I now have three children instead of two! But also because I know my family is complete. I now have a daughter. A little girl to paint fingernails with, and hair to braid (eventually), to hopefully buy a dollhouse for and pass on my special dolls (and her Nana's and great grandma's). Yes, this mother's day will be different. Also because I have a two new mothers to honor this year. Women I've never met but dream that someday I might. One woman with love so deep for her child that she would risk her own life to give that child life. Another willing to take that child and love her for eight months only to have her heart broken. Two women I respect and admire tremendously. I may never know if Paige has her first mother's eyes or smile, and she may never know how loved "our" daughter is but I pray that deep in her soul God will give her peace. Paige and I will honor her mothers in China on Mother's Day in a personal way between the two of us. And each year I hope she will develop a stronger respect for what they did for her.

Twelve Years!

It is pretty amazing, but as of today we have been officially married for twelve years! We started dating four years before that though so we have been together for 16 years!!! I do not feel old enough to have been married that long. As our friends and family know we have certainly had our ups and downs. But with a lot of determination, counseling, support and just plain growing up we have succeded where so many don't. We are proud of ourselves but also very happy to finally be at this point in our marriage!
Now, I'd better get to bed tomorrow will be a busy day again!

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Maiden voyage ...

The boys had a blast camping this weekend. The camp ground certainly left something to be desired as far as the adults were concerned, but the boys found a little gully/canyon and decided they would be quite happy if we moved there permanently! They seriously spent every minute we would allow down there and came back muddy, exhausted and happy! Paige adapted very well to the great outdoors. She quickly discovered the joys of wandering off, both to get Mommy to chase her as well as to explore! Apparently the rocks tasted quite nice and the dirt wasn't so bad either. She managed to wear herself out though and slept beautifully. Well enough that I'm willing to discuss the next trip!

We got home early afternoon on Sunday and decided to wash the six inches of mud off the Suburban. Caden and Paige laughed and shreiked away while Daddy squirted them with the hose. Trace was apparently too 'mature' for that so he sat on the sidewalk getting his baseball cards organized. We are all exhausted from our "vacation" and heading to bed early now!

Summer is comming!

We had a nice warm day last Saturday so I put this outfit on to try and get at least one use out of it. Nana bought it a long time ago and we thought it wouldn't fit Paige because it is only a 6-9 month! It fit though but thank goodness it only cost $1.47 because she got berry stains on it that I can't seem to get out now! Sorry Nana!

I don't have time for a long update because Caden is sitting on the couch telling me to get my buns moving. He is anxious to get the trailer loaded for our maiden camping voyage with Paige this weekend. We are only going a 1/2 hour away so if it is a miserable failure then oh-well! I think we'll be fine though. The weather is supposed to cooperate thank goodness.

New's on the home front...

Let's see. Caden is officially finished with speech therapy! I think he is as happy as I am about it - one less thing to do every week. Trace scored the only goal for his team last Saturday! He was SO excited and grinned from ear to ear. He was also exhausted because there were no subs for the game! Caden almost got a goal but the ref blew the whistle just before he got there, oh-well, maybe next time! Paige has finally moved up to a size three shoe! I have spent the last two days hunting for shoes for her. Let me tell you, they don't think anyone with size three feet should be walking because there are very few hard sole shoes in that size. And apparently they feel that if a little girl that size is walking then she should only be dressed up and certainly not near any dirt! Everything is dressy or all pink or white!! I almost bought her some little boy ones but finally caved and got some pink and white that seemed to fit her better. If she ever decides that being outside is ok then they will be filthy!

Well, got to get my "buns moving" as Caden put it!

Dinner time...

The following slide show is an example of what a desperate mother does when the baby is hungry and dinner won't be ready for another 1/2 hour! Paige had about three helpings and loved every bite. Afterward I picked her up straight out of the high chair and carried her directly to the bathtub to hose her down!

UH-OH Spaghetti-O's!

Why do some kidds have to be SO hard?

With Trace I can usually just talk to him and work with him to get cooperation. He is pretty moldable and wants to please us. Caden, on the other hand, I can't figure out! He wants our approval and love but doesn't seem to know (or care) how to get it. The past three days have been tough but this morning I finally lost it. He demands that I fix him an eggo without saying please or even asking me to do it. He pinches his brother for not answering him immediately then proceeds to call him names and mutter at him. All the while I'm in the front of the car telling him to STOP IT NOW. Doesn't care, just keeps at it. When I asked him to get ready for preschool he came back down with sweat pants. He knows we don't allow sweat pants to be worn to school and when I remind him his answer is, "well I want to be comfortable!" (Very disrespectfully) I told him to go upstairs and get a pair of pants that are appropriate for school. So he went upstairs and screamed at me that he doesn't have any pants that don't have holes in them - several times. When I got in the shower he sat at the bottom of the stairs the entire time screaming at the top of his lungs because he didn't know where I had put his sandwhich! (it was on the kitchen table).
I'll admit I finally lost it and gave him a little swat on the buns through his jeans. It didn't hurt him physically at all but I know it hurt his ego (which is apparently a little too big anyway!). So then I take him to preschool and on the way I told him that he was not going to watch any more Sponge Bob for a while. (his favorite show). I told him it is too disrespectful and until he can watch those shows and still be respectful then we wern't going to watch them. Well by the time I dropped him off it was obvious he had been crying and he was telling me he didn't feel good and didn't want to go. I felt terrible but I told him he had to anyway. I talked with him, gave him a hug and tried to get a laugh out of him with a tickle but he still walked away looking like the world was on his shoulders! I just don't know what to do with him any more. To ignore his behavior or try to talk to him only seems to make it worse. To spank or otherwise discipline seems to completely devestate him emotionally! Something has to be done though. Aaaaggghhh! Why oh why do some kids have to make life so hard!!???? I know this too shall pass, but I just really needed to get it off my shoulders!

Some pics from this week

Soccer Season Again!

Caden and Trace had their first soccer games today. Neither team won but both kids had fun (and that's all that matters). Caden sat out most of the second half because he was sweating and his legs were hurting. So much for our hope of an athlete! Trace ran like crazy and wore himself out. Rick and Paige and I nearly froze to death in the sub zero temperatures! We are spending the rest of the day trying to get warm. I didn't get any pictures of Trace's game today because we already have a lot of him. Caden is #1 and has the blue stocking cap on.

Spring Break Fun

Trace got to introduce Daddy and Caden to the fun of Lazer Tag this week! They had so much fun they did two rounds. Paige and I sat and visited with strangers in the snack bar. We owe them a trip back for bowling now!

Other than that Spring Break has been pretty much a bust around here. It is too cold to be outside so the boys have played far too much Play Station. Soccer practice started and I've sat out and frozen to death while watching. Paige wound up with an ear infection, Caden has a nasty cough and is running a fever periodically and Trace got up this morning complaining of a head ache! School starts back on Monday and I know at least one person who can't wait!

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