Reflection...

I have to sit and reflect on the events of the past year. There are so many reasons to be happy and thank God for everything we have been blessed with. It is so easy to take for granted so many things. We have really been trying to instill in the children gratefulness. I am reading a book called "Growing Grateful Kids" and it really makes you think about how the things we say to our kids just in day to day life can affect their attitude. We have so many things to be grateful for, including each other and family. This leads me to someone: Elijah. Man, did we get lucky. This boy brings so much sunshine and laughter to our family. The kids (especially Preston) run to his room the minute he wakes up. It is literally a race to see who can get him first. Our kids have been told everything about the adoption and openness has been the rule. Of course they are careful not to make him feel like he is not one of them. On the flip side, he needs to know where he came from and his heritage. He is one fortunate kid. The love he gets from everyone around and the love the other four get from this "branch" of family we have stumbled upon is amazing. They do not realize how blessed we are that things have happened the way they have. Not all situations are like ours. Eli is now 1 and I have to step back and remember the last year of events. He is walking everywhere and eating EVERYTHING. He always wears a smile and lives for his siblings. I think I see the biggest bond between he and Preston. Preston seems to have a connection with him that is really unique. Just look at the pictures from birth until now. There has been a tremendous amount of growth in all of our kids, but especially our littlest. Adoption Day in the courtroom. Oh how we cherish you little ELi!

Ollie is 3!!!

Well the next in line for August birthdays is Oliver, otherwise known as O Town. Ollie is the child you cannot get mad at because he is so darn cute. We are so thankful for him. His sense of humor at such a young age, his love for his Mama, his cute little body, his facial expressions when he says something that might be borderline unacceptable but the face makes it so you can't be mad, the quickness about him, and more. I cannot believe he is 3. I can remember the day he was born. He was not going to wait for anyone: not even the doctor. :) Maybe this will be a turning point in the days when I feel like I cannot go one more minute without losing my mind. Don't get me wrong: I LOVE this kid. But, I am human and there are days when I do something and he un does it ten times worse. Over and over again. Or he is on the counters pouring his own drink as it is not making it into the cup but onto the freshly cleaned wood floor instead. I am the type of mom who lets the kids learn to be self sufficient and independent even if it is mess producing. However, I have often reconsidered this philosophy MANY times this last year! There are times that I say aloud "Please, God, help me maintain my composure." The girls just look at me. Hey, whatever works! The bottom line: WE LOVE YOU OLIVER!!!! Oliver with Aunt Sarah and Amelia

Preston is 5!

I cannot even believe that all of our boys are a whole YEAR older!! These birthday blog postings will take me a bit but I want to make them special. We are so thankful for Preston. He is the "laid back" one of the boys. He's such a sensitive guy and his total love for his siblings is sincere. He is addicted to Transformers and so we had a cake for each he and Ollie. Grandma and Grandpa J came up for the celebration and the kids were in their glory. The boys decided they wanted to go to a Michigan State game instead of having a "friend" birthday. This was fine by me! I know, even though I am not a big football fan, I am glad to have a break from birthday parties. Don't get me wrong. I think they are great for the kids. Preston is always the one to "wait" for the other kids to be tended to. I feel bad about that. He is patient and such a great big brother. We ALL love you P Dog!!!!

Empire

I am a little behind on some of our summer outings but had to get this one in. Our dear friends the Cueter's have a cottage in Empire that is so peaceful. The lake is like a bath and the kids adored the pontoon. Our kids also made some new friends. Mary's sister and husband were there with their six children and wow were they great! Of course our children LOVE Grace, Josie and Johnny. But you know the excitement of meeting NEW friends your own age. So fun that the next day I had very depressed kids. They woke up "missing" them. Especially since they live in Canada. The pictures tell it all. Isn't it so great that kids can become instant best friends. They are not judgemental or critical and they are so accepting. I love that about them.

Family Pics...

We figured since we now have a one year old fifth child that it was time to get a current family picture taken. Our cousin Jordan was here from California for Christmas In July and she was kind enough to put her photography skils to use! Yes, she agreed to take OUR picture. Even with five crazy kids (including one VERY strong willed almost three year). Needless to say, the kids listened to her every direction and were good as gold!! We got lots of good ones to share! Thanks Jordan! These were all taken on the beach where papu grew up. It is now cousin Brenda's house.

More...

Here are more pictures from the event.

Christmas In July

It is a tradition in our family (a fairly new one) to hold Christmas in July at the vineyard. Because many of the relatives on my father's side live out of town and only come in the summer, we celebrate the holidays in July. This is something we ALL look so forward to now, especially the children. It is amazing how kids can become instant best friends even though they have not seen eachother in a year. I LOVE that about them. The setting is beautiful at my parents' house with the vineyard surrounding the house with the pool and a tent set up in the lawn. Lots of yummy food and LOTS of pictures. The worst part: DRAGGING the kids out of the pool when we are done. Man do they have fun.