First week school update

Well it is the end of week one of school and both kids are still loving it!  They are both eager to get ready each day and go to school and Brayden was even sad that the weekend meant 2 days he didn't go.  I am sure by Monday he will be dying to go back!

I think this was on day 2 this week before school...all smiles!

Karis has had good reports all week and Brayden has too with the exception of day 2 he had to pull a card once for talking.  He is used to playing outside all day and doing his own thing so this school thing is an adjustment.  But yesterday he even got to get something out of the treasure box!

I am adjusting to the TOTALLY different personalities in my kids.  We are having to learn that we can't compare them or expect the same things from them.  God made them so very different and special and we will choose to cherish who they are, just the way they are.

While Karis and Brayden are at school I am loving having special time with Lucy.  It's crazy I know but I feel like she grew up some when they were both gone.  She has acted better and more mature and has been such a calm, sweetheart.  She came downstairs the other day just to say, "Mom, I need to cuddle."  Melt my heart!

We often say that Lucy is our little "ham."  At dinner she likes to perform.  On some show Karis and Brayden got this saying, "That is not my job!"  So they have been performing it for each other lately.  The other night Lucy got going and had us laughing.  DIVA?!

https://vimeo.com/47100304

       

Karis' new favorite song is Carly Rae Jepsens's "Call Me Maybe."  She sings it often and plays the video on my computer.  We also have been watching the Olympics alot so I loved this video of the Olympic Swim Team singing it.  It makes you want to get up and dance!!!

And here is Lucy performing it...

https://vimeo.com/47323222

Happy Birthday Lolli!

Today is my mom's birthday so we celebrated with her by taking her to eat at the Spaghetti Warehouse downtown and to ride the trolley.  The kids were pumped!  I am so thankful for my momma and so thankful I have her here to celebrate with!

One proud Lolli :)

The gang that came...we were missing Matt's wife Tiffany who is out of town and Jonathan and Jenna who are in Guatemala.

L to R: My brother Allen, my brother Matt, and my dad

Uncle Allen who starts a new job on Tuesday at the hospital...so excited for him!

The one thing the kids love about eating at the Spaghetti Warehouse is getting to eat inside the train car.  We sat outside next to it and they sat inside....they are so big!

My 3 little blessings....Karis (7), Brayden (6) and Lucy (3)

Uncle Matt of course came with his new foster baby who we will call Baby "C" for privacy reasons.  She got passed around and kissed on the whole time mostly by my kids...they ADORE her and are so good with her!  This was Jay's first time to meet her so he had to get his snuggles in!  But he had a little competition!

Matt brought mom some Muddy's cupcakes...yum!  He goes there so often they know him by name and his cupcake preferences ha!

Happy Bday Mom...Love you!

After dinner we went to ride on the trolley around town...one of the kids' favorite things to do downtown.

Matt and baby "C" and both of their very first trolley ride!  Matt is growing his hair out for locks of love!

Me and my man

 The sunset was beautiful over the river...

Great food, great scenery but even greater people!

Happy Birthday Lolli...love you!

Just a little underwater fun!

Jay bought me a Lifeproof case for my birthday while we were on vacation and I had a hard time figuring out how to use it in the water because I couldn't get it to be sensitive to my finger once it was under the water.  However I had a friend who took some pictures so I asked him how he did it.  He said you have to push the volume up button to snap the picture.  So after school since I was taking the kids swimming anyway, I decided to play around with and see what we could do with it.  I didn't plan on swimming today so I took these by just putting my hand under the water and snapping it.

It was fun and we did get some cute ones!

Our friends

As Pioneer Woman would say, here is our "cast of characters" for this year.  We have enjoyed having our friends here this week but been missing Karis and Brayden!

Happy Jake

Lucy and Jake LOVE going to the bus stop in the afternoons to wait on Karis and Brayden to get home.  It is the highlight of their day!

Cutie Patootie Everett

Looks like he is talking on the phone ha!

Hazel bug :) Always smiling!

Huh????  What did you say?!

As of this week, Hazel is now walking almost all the time!  Yah Hazel!

Love the curls and ruffles...such a girly girl!

  

The little ones have had so much fun exploring and seeing what they can get into!

Looking forward to seeing these little ones grow up before my eyes!  They are all so sweet and I love them all so much!

Isaiah

Isaiah has been kicking my tail lately!  There are so many incredible nuggets in God's word from Isaiah 52-55!  Here are just a few.  I hope it encourages you the way it has me.  The Lord has asked us to come to Him, and He will NOT dissapoint!