Anniversaries...how quickly they come

On Thanksgiving 2010, we first saw this sweet picture of a little girl in China who was destined to be our daughter.  Five months later, she was placed in our arms in a smoky hotel conference room three hours from her "home" town.  She was so brave that day.  I remember how big her eyes were as she took in all that was happening around her, and listened to the nannies (not her personal nanny, but the ones whose job it is to bring the babies to their new adoptive parents) as they reminded her to "be good,"  "this is Mama and Baba and ge-ge." She was almost two years old.

First glimpse.  11 months old

17 months old---waiting on us.

First day. First bottle. First family.

12 days after we officially became family.

Her 2nd birthday.  A Boger for 2 months. See how her eyes have changed.

First Beach Trip.

6 months home.

And the personality shines.  Like crazy.

She is a swimmer. 3 years old.

She is an outdoor gal.

She is now an artist.

And a chocolate cake chef.

And a soccer player.

And an academician.

She is a scientist, curious to know, "WHY?"

She is a model who LOVES to be photographed.

Again and again.

She is a sister. And a princess.  And a boss.  And a Boger.

Most importantly, she IS loved.  She is precious.  She can conquer whatever challenges come her way, because she has her FAMILY to back her up.

We just passed her 1 1/2 years of being HOME.  She adds a sparkle to our lives.  She is so stinking cute, she is a major whiner  learning not to whine and to use a big girl voice, she is Trouble with a capital T sometimes, but she is ours and we are hers.  We are all improving everyday.  She has almost been with us as long as she was without us. She asks those hard questions, like "I stay with my nanny till you came BACK to get me in China?" prompting me to keep open the past for her.  The harder questions are yet to come, but family sticks together.  We will walk that walk together.  

Love begins at home and it is not how much we

 do, but how much love we put into that action.

We think sometimes that poverty is only being 

hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of 

being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the 

greatest poverty. We must start in our own 

homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

---Mother Teresa

It's Been Awhile.....

Time flies when you are having fun.  I never thought about what that meant when my Mom used to say that growing up.  I get it now as I look at my kids, growing like weeds, and how time just passes by when they are doing something they love.  Playing soccer.  Hiking in the woods, on trail or on adventure.  Sitting by a campfire.  Being read to aloud.  Coloring.  Cooking dinner.  Hanging with friends.  Time just flies.

So, it's been awhile since my last post.  We have all had birthdays, and the school year is well under way.  This year, we made a family decision to home school.  We have talked about it for years, you know, when I would go into the Parent Teacher Store and come out briefly enamored by the idea.  We decided after a thorough look at area school last winter (over 9 private/tutorial schools!) that if we were EVER going to home school, this would be the year to start.  We are 9 weeks in, and so far, so good!  Alex goes to a tutorial 2 days a week and loves it.  He is challenged by his work, and has learned so much about independence and time management.  Ben is also at a tutorial 2 days  a week (different days), and has loved making new friends and having the freedom to delve deeper into ideas.  Jack is home schooled all at home right now, which he thinks is the bomb because he can take soccer kicking breaks frequently!  Florie is also at a 2 day per week preschool very close to our home.  It has given her a new sense of leaving us and coming back home, and she LOVES her friends there.  She is one social gal!!  I am finally getting a grip on how things should flow and not pushing the kids too hard as I worry that they will not learn enough.  At the rate we went the first three weeks, I think they all would have been in calculus next semester!  It is fun to have them home more, and have more family time.  The house is a bit worse for wear, but hey....it can be clean later in life!

The kids are all playing soccer this fall...the older three do travel soccer, and Florie plays for the rec league with William as her coach.  We never go anywhere without a soccer ball now.  I think they fall out of my car when the doors open :)  The boys are also able to do home school swim which they have loved.  It is fun to watch how much they improve!  I have been running again (yay!) and will run in the Ragnar Relay coming up in a few weeks.  William has taken to trail hiking with our dog Izzy....they both love the freedom.

Other than that, we have been cooking dinners, folding laundry, running to practices, and just hanging. Funny, I have very little time in front of the computer nowadays.  There is so much more to do!

Anyway, a few of my favorite pics from recent events:

Celebrating my Grandfather's 95th Birthday!!

What a lucky gal to know her GREAT Grandad!

Spending the day competing with the rugby team on Dragon Boats

And we WON!

First Field Trip as Home School Kiddos!

Learning about the different stages of a trout's life

Yay IMAX!

Touching his favorite animal...remind me next time to put them in SLEEVELESS shirts!

They are like magnets for butterflies....

and a butterfly garden is in the works :)

Hmmmmm...

Yep, we like SILLY!

The aquarium never gets dull...

A perfect night.  Face painting AND ice cream, AND the princess chair??!!

Jack in the wild...he adventured for hours!

Ben collected the MOST AMAZING leaves!

Early morning cocoa

Two breakfast choices....oatmeal or oatmeal...

The only people on the camping trip who regularly visited the "potty"

Free time to sit, and just stare at the fire

I heart my peeps!

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.  ~e.e. cummings

Twelve Years...Happy Birthday ALEX!

Better late than never, right?

My oldest Alex turned 12 on August 18.  His birthday gift this year was a special trip to New York with William.  We wanted to especially celebrate the beginning of becoming a "man" in this year of TWELVE!

Alex is my STRENGTH.  He always steps up to the plate when needed.  I can trust that he will get things done when the time comes.  He is caring, dependable, funny, loving, and absolutely makes me smile when I see him.  Alex is calm.  He loves to play soccer, and when he plays, he always has the same look on his face as he does when he is at church or school----cool, calm, and collected.  It shocks me that he is only 10 pounds and 3 inches smaller than me already!  Alex is BY FAR my healthiest eater and will try absolutely anything I put in front of him.  His wife will be very happy one day :)

Serving as Captain at the Atlanta Cup

His first field trip as a MIDDLE SCHOOLER!

CHAMPION...boys love their bling too!

Celebrating with his Dad for Father's Day

Some days, school is just a DRAG!

Alex and his new "attachment" Florie.  She cried everyday when he first started 6th grade!

Loving to hike and be outdoors

Or stay inside and make fun Lego creations from scratch

MATH was his favorite 6th grade subject....he won 11 th place in our county Pre-Algebra competition

Fishing....another favorite pastime of Alex's

And yes, another trophy...bling bling!

All the cutest girls ADORE Alex

and cheer him on to run faster!

Self created Halloween costume....

Alex always willing to share the limelight

and soccer treats!

Science is a close second to math....and social studies!

Last picture without BRACES 

A driver in the wild he is.

Silly boy!  Florie laughed forever!!!

Her chosen seat on the plane....next to her biggest brother.

He could and does ski all day when he can...the more Blacks the better!  I have no chance at keeping up with Alex any more.

Analyzing his new phone

Alex loves to try new recipes for smoothies...

A rose for me on Mother's day at the soccer field...sniff, sniff!

Almost ready to put the tent up alone

Outdoors is always fun

My handsome beach dude

who designs the MOST CREATIVE breakfasts in bed!

or builds patterns at the Frist...

He soars like a bird

or is silly with his Dad

Alex and his favorite warrior

He still poses for pics for me

and has not reached that "embarrassed" age, and I pray he never does 

He is all about learning.....from the Midway

to the Empire State building

to his beloved team CHELSEA who happened to play in New York this summer!

Alex even saw the Liberty Bell

But, the night he came home, his first choice was to take Florie around at our church carnival....and was she EVER happy he was home!

One of my most cherished notes that Alex handed me while I was leading Amanda's memorial celebration...

And I only have SIX MORE YEARS with him at home.

My Prayer for Alex:

To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)

Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (NIV)