OH BABY! And More . . .

 Well, it’s been a while since I’ve last updated this blog with anything, I’ve been saving up I guess! Honestly, I’ve just not had time to even take a breath let alone string two thoughts together in the form of a blog post. That means there’s lots of news to share! The first big change with us came back around Thanksgiving time – we decided to take the girls out of school and homeschool them! Not a small change at all, huh. We gave it a great deal of thought and prayer and we decided as a family that we felt it was something we’d like to try. It’s an idea that Casey and I had been discussing off and on for several years – we finally took the plunge! Thanks to some great guidance and support from some friends and fellow homeschool families we got everything in order and are now doing school at home. Along with this new endeavor, I’ve moved to working a compressed week so I work 4 longer days which allows me another full day at home to do school with the kids. I do most of the schooling but Casey helps some as well. It really gives us a lot of quality time together and we’ve found it just really fun to be learning together. We’ve also joined a local Christian homeschool group here which seems to be an outstanding resource. We’re learning lots of fun stuff together – we’re studying Astronomy this year for Science – the girls built a model of the solar system which they enjoyed thoroughly and they can now remember all the planets in order (and I even can as well – yay mom!). The girls both agree that Literature is their favorite subject. We’re reading the first book in a series called Kingdom’s Dawn. I have to admit, I love it too – it’s a great story and we’re learning a lot. I’ll share more as we progress along – it’s bound to be a journey.

Now on to the REALLY BIG news –MAX! We are so excited to share that our family has grown once again. Maxximus Isaiah has been placed with us for adoption just last weekend. We found out we had been selected to be Max’s parents on Friday, Dec. 3rd our adoptive worker and Max’s adoptive worker and Max’s county social worker were so excited to tell us we had been selected they surprised us with a little party and a bouquet of “It’s a boy!” balloons and a framed picture of Max – it was so special and we are so grateful to have Max’s team to share in our excitement. We soon learned that Max was in a foster home of someone we knew and worked with in the past on another foster care case. She’s a wonderful and nurturing Mom and we knew Max was in great hands which was really a comfort. Casey and I went to meet Max the next day – Saturday afternoon. Max’s team ( a group of social workers that make decisions on Max’s behalf) thought it might be best to not take the rest of our kids to the first meeting as everyone was expecting it to be very difficult for Max to transition to another family and another home. However, Max was about to surprise everyone – we arrived at his home with a bag of gifts for our new son and a flutter in our hearts. He greeted us warmly as we walked in and his foster mom nestled him right into my arms as soon as I got in the door – he came willingly, gave me a good hard stare for a minute and started babbling and pointing towards some things around the house. I followed his gestures and I believe we bonded as we counted stockings on the hearth. Soon we were sitting on the floor and playing with Max’s toys as he ran around and occasionally dove into my lap. Max played and teased with Casey, Max clearly admired him right away. Casey wrestled Max around and tossed him in the air a couple times and Max giggled and screeched with delight. Max’s social worker sat and stared in disbelief. The initial meeting went so well it was suggested that we just go ahead and take Max home for a few hours and introduce him to the rest of the kids and his new home – we gladly agreed and got him ready to go. The visit at home went equally well. We took him back to the foster home and put him to bed and made plans to pick him up the next morning to spend the day with him. He had to sleep at the foster home for several more days until the appropriate paperwork was complete so Max continued to spend days with us and I would go to the foster home and put him to bed and then return in the morning to get him up. The foster mom has just been amazing to our family – I do believe we’ve probably made a life-long friend in her. The paperwork all got in order by Tuesday and Max was able to start sleeping at home as well. His first week has been great. He has settled and started showing his personality. The rest of the kids just adore him – he’s got four of the best older siblings a kid could have!

I suppose a few more details might be in order about this new miracle-boy in our life – that’s the first thing I have to say – he’s a total miracle – he’s been through quite a lot and overcome it all, as is the case for every child that endures the loss of a birth family and a life in the foster care system. He’s a really special baby and we’re totally in love with him. He’s 21 months old and his deep belly laugh brightens even the grumpiest of moods. He’s just adorable and we’re so grateful to get to be his parents. Through this first week, it’s clear to us that God has brought him to our family with purpose – Max is right where he belongs . . . . HOME.

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck

Country Bumpkin

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it ~anonymous

Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think. ~Benjamin Disraeli

Crazy Drivers!

The kids always love driving “the gator” at g’ma kate’s.  This trip was no exception.  The boys just loved off-roadin around the yard.  A source of constant laughter.

Goin to Grandma’s House

We’re getting ready to take a trip to grandma's house this weekend. Today is Monday. We leave on Friday. Despite the fact that the kids all know those two key pieces of information - when they saw Daddy come home today – they all started hurriedly packing, running and yelling like you would not believe! All the kids had their pillow, blanket and several books in hand and ready to go out the door. Apparently, none were planning to change clothes at grandma’s but they’ve all come to know that Grandma’s house is more than one good book away from ours. I think they really all lost their minds at once for a little bit there with the excitement of the upcoming trip. Kenzy yells to me "Mom, we need a bag for some toys for the trip up here right away!"  Seriously, they were all OUT OF THEIR MINDS!

All the anticipation is not without reason, there ARE going to be 7 adults and 9 children (ours being the oldest) at Grandma’s this weekend, it’s bound to be fun. We’re looking forward to a bit of rest and relaxation with all the extra adults around – those numbers are 4 adults in excess of what we’re used to operating under. Meanwhile, back in the family room- I asked Mikah if he was planning to sleep in the van for the next 4 nights until we were ready to leave and he threw down his things in a huff and said in the most angry voice he could muster “Mom, you mean we shouldn’t get packed up right now?” Really, I’m all for planning ahead, but even I would not pack my pillow in the car more than a day in advance! Then Kalister came streakin through, arms still loaded with the necessities - "I wanna take the dinosaur book, my cars and my blocks, can you get those for me?"  Seriously?! Who's crazy kids are these!?  "Where's your Dad?"

Montessori School!

The materials have arrived and our curriculum is here, let the learning begin!
We've decided to do Montessori Preschool at home with the boys and we're starting the year off strong.  The girls were helping me set up our school room and were really enjoying some of the materials - they are so fun to use, I have to agree!  I'll post some pictures of the boys and their work soon - they've been busy, busy, busy!

Ordering numbers to 100 and looking at number patterns.

Mikaela loving the geography puzzle.

Mikenzy and the 1000 bead chain - she counted them all to make sure they were all there - not even kidding!

Mikaela was just immersed in her work with these color tiles for a couple days, she was unstoppable!  They designs are pretty but are actually quite challenging to make, especially the ones that go vertical.  She did some amazing work through all that dedication.

First Day of School for the Girls

The girls are pretty excited to start at their new school - that very first day is always one of nerves.  It all turned out good, they've made some friends and both just love their teachers.

Butterfly Project

Some good friends gave us a butterfly kit - a jar, some cheese cloth and some rubber bands so we decided to start searching the milk weed near our house for monarch caterpillars - wouldn't you know we found some!  The girls found 3 actually - they were so excited.  So we fed them every day and they made their amazing cocoons.  Then 2 of the 3 came out of their cocoons and we set them free - they were so week at first but gained strength and took flight - amazing and beautiful!

This is the one that didn't make it - we actually got to see him make his cocoon - it was very cool - Kaela got it on video.

Carpenters in Training

Football Birthday Party for Dad

For Casey's birthday, the girls made Casey a home-made pound cake and frosting.  The decorating was beautiful!  They also helped me make him a yummy steak dinner - they're getting to be quite the kitchen crew!  He loved it!  The kids also decided to use markers to decorate themselves like football players since Daddy likes football.  Don't mess with this bunch because they are TOUGH!

All Our Stuff is IN!

I promised pictures of the new place after we made it our own.  Here they are.  YEP, all that junk is ours and we are so glad to be done selling/buying houses for a while!  We LOVE it here!