2 YEARS

Two years ago today David and I met our third daughter, Madison. Madison was all smiles when they first brough her out to us, even letting us hug her. However, that quickly changed to screaming, crying, kicking her arms and legs once they told Madison she was leaving with us instead of going back with the orphanage director...I remember that day like it was yesterday.

You warmed up to us later that night and showed us what a BIG appetite you have, and still do:)

Our first night home Morgan was the first person you let hold you :). I can't even imagine what was going through your little mind as you drifted off to sleep.  New family, new home, new smells, sights and sounds. Oh how I wish you would sleep that soundly now!

Madison you love having two older sisters (most days) and you talk about your family all the time.

You have changed so much in the last two years. You have become much more secure in who you are and feel more secure in our family. You mention a lot that you were a baby in China and mommy & daddy came and got you.

You still have a smile that will light up a room!

But we still have days like these...although they are much better:

When you get mad, you are MAD! We are still trying to work on controlling all of our emotions and helping you moving past whatever has upset you in a timely manner...we still need some prayer on that one!

I am looking forward to seeing you grow up and what all God is going to do in & through you.

WE LOVE YOU!

So I will end with the many smiles you give me each day.

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL....DONE!

YAY, We all survived the first week! Morgan is exhausted ( none of us are use to getting up so early). Her first day was mixed emotions, she got lost twice and she found out there are some upper class men in a few of her classes, she was a little intimidated by this.

Day two was a little better ( although there were some tears) and by Friday she was feeling much better. She has made several new friends and seems to be excited. She did say high school was going to be hard.  When you go from being at a small private school with only 35 kids in your class to over 600 kids in 9th grade, I don't blame her one bit for being nervous.


The other two girls both had a great week and love their teachers. I also survived my week of "lunchroom duty" :) Madison is doing really well in the lunchroom. Madison comes home full of energy..SIGH! The kid never gets tired, EVER! McKinley, however came home everyday, put on her bathrobe & laid on the couch. ha.

And then there is Madison...she plays dress up & runs wild:

I spent most of the week filling out paperwork that the school sends home...

That was just Morgan's pile:) So that times 3!

So thankful for a good first week and I am praying for a healthy and great year.


Blessings~

2 YEARS AGO

Two years ago today David & I were on a plane headed to the other side of the world to meet our daughter. I can't believe it's been 2 years already.

Happy Saturday!

Kindergarten, 3rd, & 9th....IT's GO TIME!

Well today is the day that I have been dreading and waiting for. It was bittersweet, on one hand I am so ready for routine, and earlier bedtimes, and some peace & quiet during the day. But on the other hand I love my kids and I miss them when I'm away from them and I don't know of I've mentioned this before but Morgan is starting high school!!!! I am SO NOT ready for that! But ready or not the time has come.

So I will start with Morgan. This year she has to leave an hour...HOUR earlier than in years past. which means I have to get up at the ungodly hour of 5:45 am. It was so dark outside and it is my belief that no one should ever have to be up at this time of day.

David will be taking her this year so that I can get the other two up, ready and take them to their school. But I was sad this morning because this is the first time in 9 years that I didn't take Morgan to school on the first day:( But my hubby knew that I wanted pictures so this was the best he could do from inside his car..

Now onto McKinley & Madison..

Both girls got up happy & excited to start their day.


Madison's Teacher gave all the kids these little "Jitter Glitter" bags during open house. So the night before the first day of school we were suppose to sprinkle the "jitter glitter" on her head to help her sleep & get all her jitters out:). Madison LOVED it:)

I am volunteering in the lunchroom for the next 2 weeks..sigh! I am a Little worried about how Madison will do:) She tends to eat slow & talks and looks around etc so David & I have been talking with her about this and telling her that she only has 25 minutes to eat so she cant talk..Well today she came right in sat down and ate all her food, which I was thrilled about...I kept praising her BUT then she ate so fast that she had 15 minutes of just sitting there...which can be a problem because Madison is not one for being still or quiet! So here is a picture progression of her in the lunchroom, oh yes, I was there to work but I had to take pictures too.

So we are still gonna have to work with her on this:)

McKinley had a great lunch time as well:

I can't wait till they all get home and I can find out how their day went.


Happy Tuesday!

OPEN HOUSE

Thursday night was all 3 girls open houses for school, and of course they were ll at the same time! Ugh. We went to McKinley & Madison's first and David & I split up to save time. He took Madison to meet her teacher and I took McKinley.

You can tell by her face that she is just a WEE bit excited about school:)

Madison & Mrs.Aune

McKinley's teacher we have known for a long time & love her. Mrs. Wheeldon was also Morgan's 3rd grade teacher 6 years ago.

Then we ran home dropped the two"Little's" off with a babysitter and went to Morgan's high school open house....There is only one word I can accurately use to describe that open house STRESSFUL! I was completely overwhelmed. We are coming from a small private christian school where the total number of 8th graders were 35....35. and Morgan's new school has 600 9th graders...600!! I will leave it at that and just ask for prayers many, many prayers.

I had every intention of taking a few pictures of Morgan at her open house because there is NO WAY she is gonna let me take any of her there on the first day of school, but with all the stress I was under, Pictures never even crossed my mind.

I came home and then ate one  two spoonfuls of nutella to calm myself down:) It worked!

When we got home the girls were having fun with Jazmine taking pics:

Oh my, I don't know what I would do if I had that many kids!

Just two more days till school!!!!

ROOM REDO, MORE SCHOOL SHOPPING & SWIMMIMG

We took Madison to get all her school supplies.

 She is very excited about starting Kindergarten.

We've  also spent our days playing will baby dolls:

 Eating ice cream at 10 in the morning!!!! Don't judge me, its the last week of summer..we ALL need ice cream by 10 AM:)

 Morgan went to GAP camp at Newsome...Have I mentioned my first born, my baby, will be starting HIGH SCHOOL in 7 days!!!! 7 days! I am in denial big time.

She got her class schedule on Thursday. She's already sporting her Newsome shirt.

 She came to us a few weeks back and asked for a "teenage" room, well she did more than ask, in true Morgan fashion she made a model of what she wanted her room to look like:

So we did a total room makeover the past few weeks: ( I forgot to take a before picture)

 She wanted a couch:)

She was Happy with the way it all turned out.

And McKinley has been swimming a lot, she loves playing with the underwater camera:

I am counting down till school starts, we have had a wonderful summer, made lots of memories and got to visit with family But I am craving routine & organization ..all the homework, not so much but early bedtimes definitely!!

Happy Tuesday!