This month has been a whirlwind of activity with swim lessons, the Olympics, getting ready for school, gymnastics starting, and a lot of anxiety from Jacob about 2nd Grade. He's been a handful to say the least...anxiety is a wild monster! Fortunately, school has started and he has began to relax a bit. Julia has started Kindergarten (sob!) and Jenna is adjusting to being the only child at home during the day. Whew! I'll let the pictures below tell you more....
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Six Years Ago & One Year Ago
Six years ago we adopted Jacob from Ukraine on August 2, 2002. He was 15 months old and we were naive first time parents! Jacob has taught us a lot about being parents over the past 6 years and boy has he grown up too! We are so surprised at how fast time as flown by...it seems just like yesterday when we walked into that Ukrainian orphanage and saw our little boy for the first time. What memories!!
God is so good to us that only one year ago on August 2, 2007, we saw Jenna for the first time. Our 3rd child and baby daughter in China was waiting for us and the face was priceless! Two beautiful children seen for the first time on the same date...amazing! Jenna has grown so much in the past year and it's hard to fathom what life at home was like without her.
Jacob's Ukrainian Passport Photo taken at 15 months old.
Jacob now in 2008 - 7 years old and all boy!!
Jenna's referral picture - our first look!
Jenna now - one year later and so sweet!
God is so good to us that only one year ago on August 2, 2007, we saw Jenna for the first time. Our 3rd child and baby daughter in China was waiting for us and the face was priceless! Two beautiful children seen for the first time on the same date...amazing! Jenna has grown so much in the past year and it's hard to fathom what life at home was like without her.
Jacob's Ukrainian Passport Photo taken at 15 months old.
Jacob now in 2008 - 7 years old and all boy!!
Jenna's referral picture - our first look!
Jenna now - one year later and so sweet!Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Camp Daze
Jacob and Julia are at camp this week so I'm finding a little more downtime to post! yea! Things are very quiet from 9am to 3pm with just Jenna in the house. I forgot what it was like during the school year...and now I know what it will be like in about 4 weeks when school starts for the kiddos.
I've enjoyed my time with just-Jenna. She's so much fun and growing so fast! One of the funny things about her is that she makes little jokes and cracks herself up. Just today I asked her what a cow says and she said "quack, quack" and then bust out laughing. I have trained Jenna to climb into her high-chair, into the van, and into her car seat...she's been climbing up the stairs and down the stairs for weeks...the lure of Julia and Jacob was too much for her to bear! She's becoming so independent now.
Fortunately her independence saves my back a bit; I went to the doctor yesterday (with only 1 child in tow...yea!) to check on my back...I've been having trouble just standing up straight so I needed a check up. Turns out my L5 disc in my back (the very lowest one for those who don't know) is degenerative and is causing me all my pain. I will be starting PT soon and have some nice drugs in the meantime to stop the pain and allow me to function like most moms. Yea!
We traveled to the Columbia Zoo about a week ago and had a great time. I'll post some pictures of our trip below. Three more weeks of summer! Yea!
Jacob & Julia LOVED feeding the Giraffe!!
Jenna and Daddy watch the animals.
Jacob & Julia watching the Elephants.
The kiddos on a baby elephant statue.
I've enjoyed my time with just-Jenna. She's so much fun and growing so fast! One of the funny things about her is that she makes little jokes and cracks herself up. Just today I asked her what a cow says and she said "quack, quack" and then bust out laughing. I have trained Jenna to climb into her high-chair, into the van, and into her car seat...she's been climbing up the stairs and down the stairs for weeks...the lure of Julia and Jacob was too much for her to bear! She's becoming so independent now.
Fortunately her independence saves my back a bit; I went to the doctor yesterday (with only 1 child in tow...yea!) to check on my back...I've been having trouble just standing up straight so I needed a check up. Turns out my L5 disc in my back (the very lowest one for those who don't know) is degenerative and is causing me all my pain. I will be starting PT soon and have some nice drugs in the meantime to stop the pain and allow me to function like most moms. Yea!
We traveled to the Columbia Zoo about a week ago and had a great time. I'll post some pictures of our trip below. Three more weeks of summer! Yea!
Jacob & Julia LOVED feeding the Giraffe!!
Jenna and Daddy watch the animals.
Jacob & Julia watching the Elephants.
The kiddos on a baby elephant statue.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Family Camping Trip and July 4th
Yes, I know, July 4th was quite awhile ago....but time flies in the Summer!
We took the kiddos camping just before the 4th of July and had a great time. They really enjoyed the hikes and daily activities. Sleeping in the tent was a challenge, however. We have have a 5 person tent and slept in this order: Jacob, DH, Jenna, Me, and Julia. The kiddos were restless and took a long time to sleep each night but eventually would crash. The very loud birds would wake us up every morning bright and early and one day....we had a massive thunderstorm. The campground flooded just before bedtime, but fortunately we were okay and could still sleep in the tent that night.
We spent the 4th with friends as usual. Our neighborhood had a bike parade lead by the local fire station...a reall treat for Jacob. He was CRAZY over the firetruck! Later that night we went to a friend's home and they set off fireworks in the rain...yes, in the rain. The kiddos loved being able to run around in the rain with their clothes on...it was good fun.
Jacob and Julia are off to day camp next week so I will get a lot of free time with Jenna. It will be nice to have a slower week...being a daily camp director for 3 demanding children is a challenge! School will start in about 4 weeks for Jacob and Julia too. I'm looking forward to a new schedule!
Hope you are all well!
We took the kiddos camping just before the 4th of July and had a great time. They really enjoyed the hikes and daily activities. Sleeping in the tent was a challenge, however. We have have a 5 person tent and slept in this order: Jacob, DH, Jenna, Me, and Julia. The kiddos were restless and took a long time to sleep each night but eventually would crash. The very loud birds would wake us up every morning bright and early and one day....we had a massive thunderstorm. The campground flooded just before bedtime, but fortunately we were okay and could still sleep in the tent that night.
We spent the 4th with friends as usual. Our neighborhood had a bike parade lead by the local fire station...a reall treat for Jacob. He was CRAZY over the firetruck! Later that night we went to a friend's home and they set off fireworks in the rain...yes, in the rain. The kiddos loved being able to run around in the rain with their clothes on...it was good fun.
Jacob and Julia are off to day camp next week so I will get a lot of free time with Jenna. It will be nice to have a slower week...being a daily camp director for 3 demanding children is a challenge! School will start in about 4 weeks for Jacob and Julia too. I'm looking forward to a new schedule!
Hope you are all well!
Monday, June 16, 2008
June Bugs
As I mentioned before, Summer is well underway at our home. I am finding it tough to regain my sanity some days with 3 kiddos. Jacob is a very "hands on" and "on the go" kid...he is a BIG challenge for me so far. Things are difficult with him and his control issues. We are continuing with therapy for him....psych and OT...but I'm starting to wonder if he needs medication too. There are just some things with his personality that I can't comprehend or handle and I often wonder if he needs more help than just therapy...only time will tell.
The girls are doing well, however. Jenna is growing like a weed and Julia is just as sweet as ever. I'm truly blessed with these two beauties. Well, not much time to update here. We are just hanging on to time and trying not to be too bored! I think some time in the sprinkler will do wonders this afternoon.
The girls are doing well, however. Jenna is growing like a weed and Julia is just as sweet as ever. I'm truly blessed with these two beauties. Well, not much time to update here. We are just hanging on to time and trying not to be too bored! I think some time in the sprinkler will do wonders this afternoon.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
The Month of May
- Julia had an ice cream shop field trip
- Jacob had a field trip to Lazy5 Ranch
- Jacob turned 7!!
- DH and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary
- Muffins with Moms at preschool
- Donuts with Dads at preschool
- Preschool Awards
- Preschool Graduation
- Last Day of School party for Jacob
- Beach Party at the local YMCA
- My MIL had her birthday
- My SIL had her birthday
- My Dad has his birthday (Happy 75 Dad!)
- My nephew had his birthday
- Jenna had a virus and shared with the entire family
- Julia had another virus
- Jenna got Roseola
- and Jacob had a 7 year old well check...
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Sickness Update
We are all well...for now! Jenna's hives have disappeared along with the poop issues. The doctor said the hives were probably her body's way of getting rid of all the toxins from the virus. Nothing serious, yea!!
Jacob celebrates his 7th birthday this weekend so we will have more pictures to show off then.
Happy Mother's Day!
Jacob celebrates his 7th birthday this weekend so we will have more pictures to show off then.
Happy Mother's Day!
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