First Day of Homeschooling x 2

because you can never have enough bling...

Well, I made it through my first day of homeschooling two kiddos! Ian began his kindergarten studies with gusto, determined to be reading by the end of the week (he gets his patience from me) and Gabby completed all of her first day of 3rd grade assignments with a smile on her face! (and that is quite an accomplishment--there is a big jump from 2nd to 3rd grade...!) Evie got bored with workbook pages in about 3 minutes, so she watched a video for the first hour of our schooling and then we waited until she went down for her nap this afternoon to finish up the rest of the schoolwork for the other two.



This was an unexpectedly quick start to our school year (we had been planning on next Tuesday, the 8th) because of an opportunity our family has to go to Walt Disney World the end of next month! yay! ~ we are so excited to get to go, but I didn't want to start off the school year already a week behind---and there is NO WAY I am taking school work to WDW! :p



I am sighing with relief *sigh* and trying to stay focused on one day at a time right now.



Tomorrow begins the busiest/craziest month our family has ever purposely planned. (and, of course, it will get busier and crazier when the unexpected happens ~ please pray that I am flexible and will meet the inevitable changes gracefully!)



I will attempt to keep up with posts ~ but if I don't see you all again until October, well, know that I am still here...just may not be able to fit blogging into the equation. ;)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I'm not saying how many candles were on the cake...but it was a milestone birthday :) So glad we were able to celebrate it with you, Mom!

~ I love you and wish you a blessed year ~

northern oregon coast

Monday Gotcha Day Memories

Evangeline, we dreamed about you and prayed for you long before you were even born. Today my Monday Memories are about you. because this week is your Gotcha Day. (we 'gotcha' !) :) A term that is so casually tossed around in adoption communities, but a reality that holds such a wealth of emotions.

precious princess in her Sunday best

mommy and daddy hold you for one of our first photos as a family big sis gets hold of those squishable cheeks :)

and here we are. today. with our treasure from China!

I love you, Evangeline. I love being your mommy. I love your goofy times, loud times and pretend times (when you insist on being called tinker bell, minnie mouse, horsey or puppy), I even love your grumpy times. Even during all of those prayers, I could not have imagined a more perfect daughter, a more perfect addition to our family. My life is so much sunnier with you in it.

The County Fair is here!

making their own fun on a not-so-fast ride :)

getting to ride 'all by myself'!' ~such a big girl!

All smiles as Gabby finds her painting ~ she is our resident artist, and first time fair entrant!

Ian, also entering for the first time, was surprised to find a "Best of Class" ribbon decorating his entry!

Farm animals, fried food, exhibits, carnival rides, and 3 exhausted children. It was a wonderful day :)