first day of school

Today was our official first day of school, since Irene came through town and delayed all the schools one day.  Today is the first day they are all in school full time.  To be honest, I was a little worried about the timing of everything. 

Grace and John both have a pick up time of 7:50 and although I can see the bus stop from our house, I hated the thought of him being at the bus stop without me on the first day (or maybe it should read; I hated the thought of me not being with him at the bus stop on the first day of school).  However, we still have some back roads closed in our area due to the Tropical Storm over the weekend so Grace's van was late today.  I was so happy to be able to stay at the bus stop with John until his bus came for him.

I love his totally posed picture at the top of the bus steps.  Thankfully, he will still pose for me and kiss me at the bus stop.  He is ready for 2nd grade and really happy to have the same teacher from last year.

Grace has the same van driver and (Praise God) aide as the past 2 years.  We were told that there may not be an aide on her van this year.  Which seemed like a bad idea to me, since they transport 5 disabled kids and none of them can talk but I know that not all decisions are made with reality in mind.  Grace has a new teacher and I'm looking forward to having Grace make some progress this year.

Luke is my last one to get to school and I am determined to be on time.  We live (literally) 2.1 miles from his school and have been late most days for the past 2 years.  Since he is going to Kindergarten (sniff, sniff) this year, we need to be on time.  Today we made it!  He seems really excited to be back in school, but I'm not sure he realizes it will be every day.  As we were leaving he said, 'I so happy it's just the two of us!'  I will miss this sweet boy and our time together.

I told him I was going to be a little sad leaving him and hoped he had fun today.  As I was leaving he said, 'Mom, I'm not scared I'm brave and I love school'.  It made me smile, which was good because I was feeling a little teary eyed.  But they I came home to an empty house.  Let me repeat that so it can sink in, I came home to an empty house. 

I am going to spend some time organizing and straightening up things around here reading blogs, editing pictures from our summer and enjoying the quiet.  Then before I know it it will be time to pick up Luke.  We are going to go to the grocery store, I'm hoping they have restocked from the panic buying of Friday and Saturday.  We are going to make Happy 1st Day of School Cupcakes!  I can't wait to see how all their 1st days were.  So far mine has been good...

ready

We are ready for Hurricane Irene.

We live west of Philadelphia so we are under a Tropical Storm Warning versus a Hurricane Warning.  Which means we will still have heavy rain, wind gusts in the 55 - 70 mph range, localized flooding and widespread power outages.  In order to prepare, we have battened down the hatches (love that phrase).  We have removed all of our porch furniture, stored the deck furniture and taken down any thing that can fly away. 

Inside we have gathered all our candles, flashlights and batteries into one location.  Moved boxes away from the sump pump due to projected power outages.  I went to the grocery store today to stock up on food for Grace, Doritos and coffee.  Although, if we are out of power I guess I will not be drinking any coffee.  We also have bottled water and (I'm a little embarrassed to admit) I filled the bath tub with water.  I'm not sure why this step seems extreme to me but I decided I'd rather be safe than sorry and if we loose power for longer than 24 - 36 hours I may be glad to have the water.

Mark helped with the preparations and then left for work.  He is working about 40 minutes south of here, which puts him in the Hurricane Warning area.  We are thinking that he will be able to get home before the worst part of the storm hits around midnight or two am.  However, we are not sure he will be able to get out to go to work tomorrow due to the flooding they are predicting.

We also spent the last week of summer checking things off our summer list and hanging out as a family.  One of the kids favorite places to go to is the 'Horsey Park', which is actually called Carousel Park.  It is large park that has, wait for it, horses.  They have barns you can walk through and areas for riding lessons.  But our family loves the big, fenced in pastures where the horses roam free.  We try and call them over to the fence by snickering.  John is really good at this.

If that doesn't work, we lure them over with hay and grass we pick up from the ground.

The boys just love this park.  And sister really loves the horses.  She has no fear.  She walked up to a huge horse and reached out to pet his face.  Neither one of the boys will do that.  I was too nervous with her so close to the horses to get any pictures of her petting them.

We also took the kids to the Delaware Museum of Natural History.  We went last August during their Dollar Tuesdays and the boys wanted to go again this year.  It is a nice museum but we only went again because it was a dollar.  This year we took Grace too.  It had one new exhibit otherwise everything else was the same as last year.  We raced through in an hour spent an hour there looking at all the animal exhibits and then went out to lunch.

We took some pictures outside the museum with the sculptures they have on the grounds.   Here are some pictures by the wild boar that spits water out of his mouth.

Next, the boys wanted their picture taken by the bear statue.  When we got over there, Mark decided it would be fun to put Luke in the arms of the bear.

As you can see, Luke did not like that idea.  So Mark put Grace up in the bears arms.

Grace didn't seem to mind it.  But after that experience, Luke was done.  So we left...

We are also ready for school.  Yesterday was a spectacularly bad for us.  The boys spent the whole day either not listening or fighting with each other.  Unfortunately, we had to take Grace to feeding therapy at the hospital and then go to Grace's school to meet her new teacher.  So instead of separating them and sending them to their rooms until school starts on Monday.  We got to be out in public during their terrible behavior.  To add to the fun, Grace had a particularly nasty diaper on the hour drive to her school and then starting crying and fighting to get away from me as I was changing her.  That was the exact minute I met her new teacher.  It was perfect timing (she says sarcastically), I was tired, frustrated, poop covered and close to tears.  But her new teacher has been in the Special Ed field for 30 years so I explained my situation and she was very nice.  I have learned to just say, 'that's how we roll' to many, many situations that arise from having a significantly disabled child and two rambunctious boys.

I also took Luke to his sneak a peak Friday morning and we got to meet his Kindergarten teacher.  I need a minute to compose myself every time I think about that.  His class has 12 kids and 2 teachers.  I think it will be a good ratio for him.

We also got to meet a few of the kids that will be in his room, and found out that he knows two boys from previous years at this same school.  There is also a little girl adopted from China and another girl adopted from Guatemala in his room.  This is the first year we have had any other internationally adopted children in any of the kids rooms.  I think it will be fun to get to know these other families. 

John had sneak a peak on Thursday but we missed it because the boys were at a birthday party and since John has the same teacher he had last year he didn't feel the need to go.  However, we did buy him a new backpack this year (in July) and a bunch of new school supplies.  He has had his backpack packed since we bought it and is excited for the first day of school.

So we are ready.  We hope we are for Irene.  We know that we are ready for school to start on Monday.  Although, we are not sure if we will have school.  I guess it all depends on Irene right now. 

weekend recap

We had a busy but fun weekend!  Full of end of the summer activities and parties with friends.  It was the perfect last full family weekend of our summer. 

On Saturday we attended a surprise 50th birthday party for my brother-in-law Steve.  It was fun to be among the many friends and family members that wished him a Happy Birthday.  The balloons were so cool but kept blowing in the wind.

It oh so fun to surprise him.  He is really hard to surprise.  Here is his face when he realizes the party is for him and not the person he was originally told it was for.

The house has a pond and tons of extra fishing poles for all the kids to use.  John and Luke spent most of their time either fishing or watching the other kids fish.  The fish are so tame that they kept coming for food.  Here's John with one of the fish.  I think this guy was caught and then re-caught the whole night, and he got quite a good meal in the process...

On Sunday our church was hosting neighborhood back to school / get to know your neighbor's picnics by school district.  We were all looking forward to attending the BBQ.  Unfortunately, due to the forecasted 70% chance of thundershowers, all picnics were moved inside.  Our picnic was held in the church.  The kids had a great time running around our sanctuary and chasing each other while the parents visited.

After dinner some of the dads got involved in the chase.  The kids really had fun trying to evade capture and by the looks of it the dads had a ball too.  Just as the moms gave the five minute warning, two of the youngest kids in the chase collided.  Head to head.  Literally, Luke's face and his friend Josh's face hit.  It was painful.

Luke has quite a shiner today.  The bruise is raised and his eye is swollen so that he has trouble looking down and has to move his head to see.  You can see the swelling better in the picture below.

This was totally an accident.  The dad that was chasing Josh felt terrible but it was completely accidental and no one's fault.  Truthfully, I'm surprised it didn't happen earlier in the night.  I will say, that it is a bummer it happened this week because we have family portraits scheduled with a photographer Wednesday.  I'm praying that the swelling goes down and that the bruise doesn't get any worse.  If the swelling is still there we will probably reschedule but otherwise we'll just see how much editing needs to be done. 

four years ago

Four years ago this week, we touched down on US soil with Grace and she became an official American citizen.  I'm pretty sure I say the same thing in every homecoming or birthday post, but I can't believe it has been four years already.  But seriously, how can this little butterfly be four and a half already?!?!

Isn't she the cutest little thing?  I remember buying that bib and sending it down for her to wear.  And then being so surprised and excited when I got pictures of her wearing it.  

One thing about Grace's homecoming that Mark and I will always remember is how Grace immigrated to the US in nothing but a diaper.  She had an amazing diaper blow out on the plane and I did not have any extra clothes in my carry on bag.  The blow out occurred just when the beverage service came out and the flight attendants would not let us get past them nor could we go to first class with the baby, so I just changed her right on my lap in the seat.  Another adoptive couple offered me an outfit for Grace but I didn't think I would have the ability to get it back to them in a timely manner so baby girl came to the US in a t-shirt, diaper and wrapped in a blanket.  There were about 6 or 7 babies coming home on our flight and we all ended up in customs at the same time.  For some reason, Grace's name was called first and we cleared customs before any of the other families.  The dad from the couple that offered us the outfit, heckled us.  He said, we got called first because Grace had no pants on.  It was hilarious!

Our little girl has grown and changed so much in the past four years.  She has caused us to grow and change in ways we didn't ask for and at times don't want.  We call ourselves accidental special-needs adoptive parents because we did not set out to adopt a child with special needs.  Although, we know that her adoption and placement in our family was no accident.  We believe that God, our Father and the author and finisher of our future, knew all along that Grace was destined to be in our family.  I simultaneously pray that He has equipped me for this journey and thank Him for preparing us when we didn't know we were being prepared for this role.   

{Please excuse the terrible picture of me.  I took it of us yesterday, the old hold the camera at arms length picture, when she was having a snack.  Although I wouldn't normally post a picture of me that looks like that, it is the only one where we are both looking at the camera.}

I struggle so much to put into words what it is like raising a child like Grace.  Some days it is not much different from raising a typically developing child.  Other days it brings me to tears and I am easily frustrated and quick to loose my patience with those around me.  Still other days it brings me unspeakable joy to be able to take care of my daughter in ways that one should not be required to take care of a four and a half year old.  And still other days, it just makes me tired. 

No matter how it feels, we are thankful for Grace being placed in our lives.  We are thankful for the brave woman who gave birth to her and pray that she somehow know that her daughter is being well loved and cared for by our family. 

Grace is showing signs of truly being one of the family.  Yesterday she was giving Mark kisses and I wanted to get a picture of them.  As I was snapping pictures and kept missing the actual kissing part.

So baby girl, held daddy's head to hers and looked at me out of the corner of her eye to make sure I got the picture.  Seriously, she held his head there until I got the picture.  See her looking at me from the corner of her eye? 

So cute!  She kissed him for a good 15 minutes.  And that is why her current nickname is Gives-Many-Kisses.  I read this series of books on the recommendation of this local blogger (Jo-Lynne is a great writer and it is such a good blog.  She is an awesome resource for information on whole foods and local farm markets).  It was a good book series, a little racy for me at points but overall I really enjoyed the series.  Now, in honor of the Mowhawk Indians, I have given all the kids and Mark nicknames.

 Four years ago we became a family of five!   Happy Anniversary Baby Girl.

beach blanket baby

Grace really enjoyed the beach this year.  Both in the Outer Banks in June and this past week at Bethany Beach, DE.  This is a HUGE, major change from last year.  In the past, Grace has hated any form of water.  For over 3 years she screamed every time she took a bath for the entire length of her bath.  good times.  Last year Grace cried every time we took her down to the beach and pretty much cried every time she was in or near the pool.  It was not fun.  This year she did not seem as afraid of the ocean.  I think the sound and size of it was overwhelming for her little brain.

Even though she did not cry, Grace was not particularly interested in going in the water.  We would walk her down to the waters edge and she would pull away and avoid getting her feet wet.  This time was no different.  Due to how crowded the beaches are in this area, I brought my chair down to where the boys were playing in the sand and water.  After trying to get Grace into the water without success, I put her in my chair.  She sat there for a little while and then got up on her own and walked down to where Emily, John and Luke were playing in the surf.

And just like that, my little beach blanket baby became a water baby.  I could not believe it when she walked with Emily into the surf.  I had tears in my eyes.  This little girl just keeps on amazing me.

It was so fun to see her reaction to the water and the pull of the waves on her legs.  She wasn't quite sure what to do when the water began to recede.  I'm sure the sensation of the pull on her legs and the waters attempt to bury her feet was strange and probably scary.  However, she stayed in the surf for a little while and then walked over to me, put up her hands to be picked up and snuggled into my arms.


My sweet, brave, special little girl went in the ocean...

quick trip

This week, the kids and I took a quick trip to the beach to visit my parents.  My parents rented a beach house at the same beach we went to as a family for years and years.  It is one of my favorite beaches and about 2 hours away.  It is the perfect place for a quick get away.

Mark had to work so I took along one of our favorite babysitters, Emily.  During the trip Emily and I agreed that Mark should buy me a beach house for next summer and we would live there together with the kids and he could visit on weekends.  I've pitched this idea to him for about 10 years and has always shot it down.  But I'm hoping my persistence wears him down eventually, although now that I've thrown in a full time nanny I'm probably farther away from my goal than before.

The boys have really grown to love the beach.  We went every day for about 3 hours, which turned out to be the right amount of time for all of us.  Primarily because the house was almost a mile from the actually beach and it took two trips by car to lug all our crap stuff to set up our camp.  They love digging in the sand, jumping waves and even learned to body surf this trip. 

I have no idea what the three of them are doing in this picture.  But I'm so thankful that it was Emily they chose to play with like this and not me.  I was busy taking pictures care of Grace.

They also love the fact that they get ice cream every night at the beach!  But who wouldn't love that...

The beach has a trolley service that runs either every so often (I think it was every 15 minutes but I just can't recall the times) and it costs a quarter.  So the first night, we walked into town for our ice cream and decided to take the trolley home.  The trolley is open on the sides and the boys got such a kick out of riding it.  They begged to ride it the rest of our stay at the beach.

Even though she has not been mentioned much in this post, Grace was with us too.  I am in the process of writing up a separate post on her beach adventures but thought I'd include this super cute picture of my princess.

We had a really good time with my parents and the boys are already asking when we can go back to the beach.  Of course, since I want to live there, I'm ready to go back too.

wordless wednesday - silly girl

hello august

It seems incredible to me that we are in the home stretch of our summer vacation.  We are fully into our summer rhythm around here and the boys have been enjoying the lazy days that summer vacation calls for. July zipped by in days full of swimming and playing with friends!  

We had a little taste of what the school year will bring last week, as the boys attended a local church's VBS (vacation bible school).  It was a rude awakening for all of us, but especially me.  I forgot, or maybe blocked from my memory, the challenge of getting three kids up and ready for three different schools with three different pick up and drop off times.  By the time I dropped the kids off for VBS I needed a break.  But then I realized something else, I was alone.  It quickly hit me that this school year is the first year that all three kids will be in school full time.  I'm looking forward to it and dreading it all at the same time.

July brought us really hot and really humid weather.  Which is not uncommon for the mid-Atlantic states but it seemed hotter than usual.  The only way to be outside and survive this weather is to be in the water.  And evidently, my children are not too particular about what type of water they are in...

At the end of our driveway there is a place close to the road where the grass does not grow (for some reason that sounds like lyrics from a country song when I read it out loud).   Anyway.  The kids wanted to play with the hose the other day and didn't want to use the slip-n-slide or the sprinkler, so I let them just play with the hose in the driveway.  This is what they came up with, they flooded our dirt and built a dam.

They had so much fun that they begged, I tell you begged, to do it again.  Since there was no fighting, crying or whining during this play I time I quickly agreed to it.  This time they brought toys out with them.



If you flood it, she will come.   Evidently, Grace loved the idea too.  Sister walked right over and sat down in the water and started playing with it.  She had so much fun

 I'm quite sure we will be doing this again.  And Mark may need a second job to pay our water bill, which I'm guessing will be double what it normally is this time of year...