First Day of School!

Do we really have 2 middle school age children??????? That is crazy how time flies. I remember older, wiser friends and family warning us about how fast time goes with children when we had 2 babies in diapers. They would look at us and say "Enjoy them while they are little because before you know it, they will be grown". That is such a hard concept to believe when you are in the midst of busy parenting, diaper changing, constant chaos, busy schedules. It is still a hard concept to believe in the midst of running kids around, family schedules, wondering who has what when. Brian and I juggling where everyone needs to be -often times splitting up to make sure everything is covered. I remember thinking date nights were hard when they were little still in diapers, but wow...now date nights are even harder. The older they get and the more kids...the more things to coordinate. If only we would have known back then to take advantage of those "slow" times. It takes more coordinating, more juggling, we have to work harder on our relationship. It is even easier to let that fall to the back burner now. We thought it would get easier as the kids got more self sufficient. Oh...the lessons of life:)

The kids are enjoying school. Brianna is still in taekwondo, Landon is playing middle school football. Carli and Mayli are enjoying 1st grade. Carli loves reading and Mayli loves music class!

Grandpa is fun!!!!!!!!!!!

We love Gpa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa Bob, Grandma Charlotte, Lindsey and Maddy came to visit us before school started. We had fun at the pool with them!

Grandma and Grandpa Camp!

Carli and Mayli spent a week in Arkansas at Grandma Marys and Grandpa Lens. Gma and Gpa kept them busy with many activities, such as a petting zoo, alligator farm, tennis lessons, fishing, boat rides, visiting friends and helping out with the dog Toby Joe! They loved it and are ready to go back next summer. Carli already requested that they stay 10 days next time! haha gma and gpa!

The girls had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa!!!

This is what grandma said about their visit.....

Everyone who met the girls comments on how outgoing, loving, intelligent and of course how cute they are. They have been so good. (Of course, I had to throw in grandmas words:)

Our new boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Friends, the Ovingtons totally blessed us with this boat. Their family enjoyed it on the lake for years and since thier kids are all older, they passed it on to us!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brian and Landon have had such a fun time getting it to work again---THANKS MIKE MENGES, the boat expert:) Landon has really taken ownership of it. It has been so fun and so inspiring to see his happy face when he tells us about how they made this boat come alive! We have already had such fun going out on it and it's only month 1 of summer. YAY for the Ovingtons and YAY for out new boat! We are definitely hooked on boating now..........uh ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

me n the kids with cousin Conner

Congrats to our kindergarten graduates!

All of the other kids just walked in very calmly with their hands at their sides but NOT CARLI!!!!!!!!!!!! She walks in like a celebrity....a grand entrance!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and here comes Miss Mayli..........................

Stand in the Rain

Isn't life about the climb? As we were listening to the radio one day, Mayli looks at me with big passionate eyes and says "Mommy, I love this song, I feel it in my heart, my brain and my fingertips". We have known that music moves this little girl from the day we met her in China. The song was CLIMB by Miley Cyrus. It starts out "these dreams I'm dreamin, I can almost feel it, but a voice inside my head says, you'll never reach it". She belts that part of the song out. She is trying so hard to learn all the english words so she can sing this song at Gma and Gpas church. Her drive is tenacious and her passion is inspiring. I believe this little girl knows in her heart that these words move her because she has already had to climb, she has already had to stand in the rain of life. Watching her even through my frustration teaches me valuable lessons about life.

Here are some pics on a rainy day when the girls and I decided to play in the rain on our driveway. I was reminded about this song below (you'll have to stop the music I already have on here by clicking the stop botton on the playlist at the bottom of this page so you can hear the video) and about how we do have to stand in the rain of life. We must stand our ground when that voice says we are going to fall. Often times it is a choice we must make. Everything within us says to lie down, but we must not let our emotions make that choice for us. We just have to stand, have faith... and simply trust.

Lovin Being a Mom!

It is official.........Brianna and Landon are both taller then their mom!!!!!!!!!!! Each year has been my favorite age with the kids. I love 12 and 13! Of course I also love 6 and what is cool is now I have experienced each stage the girls will get to with Brianna and Landon! (i should be a pro and know what is coming, haha) It is so fun to see each age, each stage. This weekend as I was getting ready for church in a very quiet house (smart husband that took them for breakfast and let me sleep in:), I was thinking about something that each of them did this weekend that made me smile, made me very proud to be their mom!

Landon- As we were sitting by our bonfire Sat night with friends and neighbors, he was showing off his pryo tendancies by lighting body parts on fire with GermX (of course all of this was under the supervision and participation of his father)

Brianna- watching her test for her black belt Sat morning. I am so proud. She was so tough but I could see her "having fun" giggling and smiling while sparring against the boys. She is precious. Sharing clothes, shoes and accesories is fun too:)

Carli- goes up to the neighbor and says "why are you so lazy and don't mow your own yard?"

Mayli- she actually followed instruction when I reprimanded her. I told her she was an angel so the rest of the weekend anytime she would test me, she reminded me "but mommy, I am an angel" as she put her halo over her head and smiled really big

Sometimes I want to run away from my children but mostly I am very happy and proud to be their mommy! Happy Moms to me!

gotta love this angle (double chins)

I know it doesn't take much to be taller than me but it still feels weird