Adoption Sunday...Coming Up!

We go to a really BIG church (10,000 members!) and there are a fair amount of adoptive families involved in our church. We all took pictures of our families, along with short summary's of what adoption meant to us for adoption Sunday. They were taken by a gentleman (photographer!) in our church who is compiling pics for an adoption book. He also has a great blog that I posted on my blog list. The blog highlights different adoption experiences from every angle...from the birth mother/father to the adopted child...check it out! Anyway, here are our pics...happy Fall Y'all (from Ky!)

Days of Color...

At first I couldn't believe there were pumpkins at the orchard already! We had gone to pick apples and there were pumpkins everywhere. Then, my husband pointed out that the first official day of fall is Wednesday (only 2 days away!)...so, since we were there picking apples I went ahead and took all of our "fall" pics as well! Why not? Of course, the kids were dressed for picking apples (i.e. dirty play clothes), but when an opportunity arises...we take it...right?

Can you believe it is Fall! The year has passed by so quickly...too quickly if you ask me! Our oldest is in 5th grade...his last year in elementary school! It breaks my heart to see him turning into a preteen...seriously! I love him so much and I really don't want the teenage "drama" to begin with him! I know it changes them completely. Morphing them into overgrown 2 year olds almost overnight. I am not ready for that! Not that any parent ever is! And then, to have a 2 year old on top of a preteen...wow! That is enough to make you feel like an "old" mother! :)

We are all doing great though! The boys are well into the school year by now. Taryn and I are still getting used to each other. It is hard to be her soul source of entertainment during the day! I have her on a waiting list for a mother's morning out program...but, she has been on the list now for 2 months with no calls regarding openings! So, until then, we are together ALL OF THE TIME! Can you tell I am getting a tad "burnt out" with parenting! I need a good break...maybe a vaca with the hubby by ourselves...HA! A girl can dream...right?

We have some friends whose LID is the NEXT TO BE CALLED! Yeah! I love it! I love seeing a long wait come to an end...don't you? Adoption has been such a blessing for us...I would do it again in a heartbeat if the wait wasn't 7 years now and the cost wasn't through the roof! But, to those of you still in the process I have to say-it is SO WORTH IT! Hang in there people!

Until next time...

Better Late Then Never!

It took a while, but we finally got Taryn's 2 yo pictures taken! She is only almost 2 1/2! Look how cute our little Princess is! I will be back to blog later! Enjoy!

First Day of School!

Our 5th Grader...Obviously, NOT too happy about the 1st day!

The "big" 3rd Grader...a little more smile than his brother! ;)

Princess T getting in on the action!

The "throne" sits empty for now!

I can't believe it, but summer is gone! Over! That is so hard to grasp even as I was driving my kids to school today! Now, the house seems too quiet and poor Taryn is watching TV...alone! :( Wesley, as you can tell by the picture, was NOT impressed with going back to school. Garrett was at least "bribe able" to take a good picture (I don't know if that is a word...made it up!). Taryn had to get in on the action. Poor thing doesn't understand why she has lost her two best friends! And, to top it off, they wouldn't let me walk them in this year! Yeah, that's right, I was "booted" out of the first day of school! They are in 5th and 3rd grade and apparently to "old" for there Mom to walk them in! That makes me sad!

Anyway, for those of you that have been waiting with baited breath on me to report potty training news...I haven't done that, BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEWS! That's right, our potty training, as brief as it was, didn't quiet work out! I tried...for two days...and she, all of a sudden, acted like she wasn't going to have anything to do with it! Yeah, she peed on the carpet one too many times for my liking as well! So, even though she wants to change her own diaper (seriously?) she isn't acting like she wants to use the big girl potty at all! So, as soon as there is news I will report it...I promise!

To those of you waiting for your little one to still arrive and you are "chomping" at the bit to hold her/him...I haven't forgotten you! The wait is excruciating...I remember! I pray your little ones will be in your arms soon! It will happen sooner than you know!

Until next time...R.

Not all "happy, happy" this time!

Right off, this is NOT a happy post! This is an "I need a place to vent" post! My coping place...if you don't like it...really sorry, but just skip this one then! I just have to ask...what is up with sibling fights? Does anyone else have to deal with this? My boys fight ALL OF THE TIME...Seriously, ALL OF THE TIME! I don't know what to do about it. It makes me feel like a horrible mother. I can't get them to stop and the more I try the harder they seem to fight! Today has been the worst yet! They are getting sick of each other this summer and it is escalating into fights every other hour. I don't remember fighting like this with my sister at all...I mean, don't get me wrong, I remember fighting with her... just not all of the time. So, what do I do? Do I butt in? Do I stay out? Do I take them to counseling? Seriously, I can't hardly stand it anymore! They are constantly saying they "hate" each other...which breaks my heart! Brothers aren't supposed to "hate" each other...are they?
Okay, see, now I feel a little better! Just getting that off of my chest! See, it isn't "happy happy" ALL of the time around here! Just in case you were thinking that! :)

Gotta love that Dolly!

The brothers were very sweet about riding the "baby" rides with Taryn!

Wesley is "making fun" of the baby ride and it's "mad speed"! :)

Wesley at Nascar Speedway!

Taryn on the Merry-go-round...she didn't "love" it but she didn't hate it either!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! It is going by WAY to quickly if you ask me! I mean, school will be starting back in several weeks! That is crazy! We just got back from our vaca to Gatlinburg TN. It was SO nice to get away and to spend time together as a family. It was the first vaca Taryn has been on with us since bringing her home. She did fabulous! She slept in that uncomfortable port-a-crib every night w/o complaints...maybe because she was worn out from the days activities! I took all kinds of pics and not a one of the beautiful cabin we stayed in...go figure. I just kept thinking I would get around to it and never did...I have been having those "senior" moments a lot lately! :)
Enjoy the pics of us at Dollywood and enjoy the rest of your summer! God bless...

AHH Picnic

Our families...We traveled with this couple to China!

Taryn is fearless!

Taryn and Emmali eating lunch...

How sweet are they! Holding hands! :

Fun in the sand!

Playing on the swing and getting used to each other!

Every year our adoption agency hosts a picnic for all of the families that have adopted through them. This year it was held at a local orchard that also has an area set up for the kids to play. We met with one of the six families we traveled with. It was really great to catch up with them and to see the progress their daughter was making. Steve and the boys were unable to come r/t a long planned camping trip...so, it was just Taryn and I having all of the fun! Taryn and Emmali were very cute together. It was such a joy to see hundreds of children playing and laughing...all given a family through adoption. Enjoy the pictures!