My Cup Runneth Over

I miss these guys!

 

(And Trevor, too - but I don't have any new recent pics of him!) Below is the crew right before they left on Monday morning for Lake Powell. Four of the boys' buddies were able to go on this 10 day trip with them and they are having a fabulous time! Yesterday two of the dads and one older brother flew to Powell to join them for the weekend. Even though I miss them all a bunch, and I am really glad I am not a full-time single mom (Ugh - I don't know how those gals do it!)... I am SO glad they have this great opportunity every summer to go spend time with their Dad, Grandpa and sometimes other friends or family members. What memories they are building and they grow in their relationship to each other and the Lord. Their days consist of a TON of time on the wetbikes, tubing behind the boat, swimming, hiking, morning devotions and evening movies. Here is a couple shots of the girls saying good-bye. Eloise got pretty teary when Trevor told her goodbye the night before. She was glad to get out of bed just in time to grab another hug that morning. That girl has definitely fallen in love with her daddy more and more over the years. Such a change from 4.5 years ago when she wanted nothing to do with him in China! God is so good! The girls and I have been super busy visiting with friends, taking walks, shopping, seeing movies, swimming & going to parks. We're tired - but having fun! But, we'll all be glad to see these guys in a few days.

                          

 

 

July 3rd & 4th

                       

            

The Fourth of July seemed to sneak up on us this year. Perhaps due to the cool, rainy weather we've had. The girls each have some patriotic hand-me-down clothes - so they wore something in honor of the Fourth all week long! Our Fourth celebration was so pleasant and relaxing. Lots of visiting, eating and playing with the girls. We had planned to see the fireworks where we go to church, but it rained all afternoon and evening. However, the sun popped out right before sunset and the rain stopped. Just in time for fireworks. We stayed here in town and watched them go off over the country club. It is a good show. We parked near some friends and family and enjoyed the fellowship while we waited. All in all a great day. We are so very, very thankful for our country and the freedoms we have here. With all of the changes lately - we pray that our freedoms are protected or that God gives us the grace to live in different circumstances.

                          

                          

                           

                      

Swingin' into summer (finally!)

                       

Even though I didn't mind our wet, cool spring and early summer - I was glad when summer felt like it really arrived the past few weeks. I do so love to be outside with the kids - soaking in God's amazing creation, seeing how all of the rain turned everyting SO bright and colorful! I actually don't like the hot, sunny days so much unless I'm in the pool! But, I so enjoy summer nights - when the air has cooled down a bit and yet it's still soft and warm. Or after a great thunderstorm comes through and the sun comes back out across the horizon - trees reflected against the deep grey sky. Oh yea - that is so beautiful!                                    

The kids have pretty much finished up their school for the year. (not too bad - our goal was by the end of June). They boys will take July off and we're hoping to start sometime in August. I'm sure moving this month will throw things off.  Loe attended a VBS here in town with several friends and cousins. She had a great time! This week she went to our church's 3 day VBS and again, had so much fun. The boys helped as group leaders and were in a couple skits. Our homeschool conference was the week before last and I tell you - I am so glad that we don't have to get up every morning like we've done the past few weeks to be somewhere! It did give me lots of one on one time with Ren which was really fun. We went to different parks, Starbucks, a few pet stores (her favorite!), shopping and took a few walks. She is such a hoot and of course is a lot easier when Loe isn't around to compete with! I love her passion for animals and nature. Her zest for life. Her contagious laughter. 

It took her a year, but Ren just recently decided she likes to swing. I'm looking forward to many park days and seeing this smile! I know the rest of summer is going to fly by - I wish I could slow it down a bit somehow. Trev & the boys are heading to Powell on Monday and will be gone for 10 days - then we're hoping to move soon after they get home. We're in the process of looking at, what we hope, is the last of a list of houses we've checked out over the past month or two. Looking forward to getting settled into a house and preparing for our upcoming school year. Happy 4th of July!

                      

                           

CCAI Reunion

                        

Last weekend was our agency's annual reunion. We met up with three families from Loe's travel group and two families from Ren's group. After experiencing something so incredible with a group of people - they truly become like extended family. We did, after all, witness an incredible time in each of our lives - the day when we all welcomed a beautiful new daughter into our family. Then spent two weeks together - sharing meals, diapers, medicine, snacks. There were stories of first smiles, first bottles, passing each other as we walked hallways in hotels, shopped in the local stores, watched the girls in the playrooms. We laughed together and cried together. We spent hours and hours and hours together on planes and buses and going through airport after airport. Let me tell you - these things bring you together! We have been able to spend time with the two families in Loe's group - at least once if not several times each year since we brought our girls home over 4.5 years ago since they live here in Colorado. The third family lives out of state - but we've been blessed to see them 3 times since China - twice when they come visit family in Colorado and once when we met up with several other families in our group in DC a couple of years ago. We got to know the families in Loe's group while spending time together in China. But, I think the communication and get-togethers with several families since we all got home is what has really strengthened our bond. We've seen each other through a lot. We miss those of you who couldn't make it out! HOPING for a big reunion in CO sometime in the coming years! :) We love you guys!

What a treat it was to see some of Ren's group. Traveling alone caused me to really rely on everyone - which grew some good friendships. I will always be SO thankful for the help and support I received in China. I still feel sadness that Trevor and the kids didn't get to go along and therefore, didn't get a chance to get to know these families like I did. So, I am so glad for the times we've had together. My goodness the girls have all changed SO much in the past year! They have all gone from babies to toddlers and are on the verge of becoming little girls! It was GREAT seeing you all! We look very forward to seeing more of our travel group buddies in the coming months and years!

Above is Jade, Ellie, Loe and Hannah. Below is Meredith, Joie & Ren. (Getting the little girls to pose was quite the challenge!) Aren't they all so precious?!

                         

                         

                         

                          

                         

                       

                                                  

One year ago today...

...I met Renice QingYang for the very first time!

 

June 16, 2008 - Changsha, Hunan, China

 

June 16, 2009 - Home in Colorado!

 

 

 

 

Chess Club Swim Party

                        

Friday we met for our Chess Club swim party. These kids are just such a hoot when they are all together. I love watching them! We continue to thank God for the gift of so many great friendships within this group - between adults and kids. All week we've had storms and cool temps - rain, hail and tornado warnings! But, on this day we were blessed with mild, sunny weather until just after dinner.

                         

                          

                           

   

Reasons we homeschool

I read a blog post this morning here, that made me smile and nod in agreement all the way through as she talked about how precious it is to see our kids spend time together. We saw the light of friendship between our boys start to fade and almost burn out when they were in school. When we brought them home it quickly fanned back to life and is still burning strong today! I'd could add many other reasons to why we homeschool:

• Being able to pray anytime through out the day (in quiet or aloud!)
• Reading the scripture and having devotions together (or alone)
• The kids get to see us work through all areas of life - marriage, adoptions, finances, family relationships - everything. Hopefully they continue to learn despite us!
• Getting to choose what they learn, how they learn it and when - setting our own schedule is a huge bonus.
• Choosing curriculum that fits us and them and switching if we need to.
• Staying up late on occasion (OK this happens often!) and sleeping in if we need to (though there are mornings this doesn't work - and we do try to maintain a schedule as much as possible).
• Watching them grasp a new concept dig deeper into a subject of interest.
• Doing school in our pjs while sipping creamy, hot drinks.
• Or doing school outside (we do get dressed for that!) under a tree or in the Colorado sunshine.

I could go on and on and on. And I could list a few of the hard parts of homeschooling. Like any form of education there are pros and cons. The pros just FAR outweigh the cons in our family. (and some of the cons are actually a way God gets to work on our character flaws...like lack of discipline to work on records instead of blogging!)

While I type Loe is coloring, Ren is playing with the colored pencils, Hunter is studying downstairs, it's Chase's one morning a week to work with his Dad and Grandpa. Later today I'll do a bit of school with Loe - though she doesn't even realize it's "school". She'll read to me and if she doesn't have a dozen cards she's working on that she asks us how to spell about 800 words and names - then I may have her do a page of her handwriting book. We might work a math sheet in. The boys will spend some time on the last few subjects they have left and Trevor will probably go over a bit of math or history with them. (If we can pull o)urselves away from the marathon of 24 we've been doing as we catch up on teh seasons we missed before we started watching! They are motivated to finish school this month so they can take July off. Tonight after Tae Kwon Do (aka - PE) we'll enjoy the delicious dinner Trevor is making and then settle down to watch a movie together. I think 'Faith Like Potatoes', which we've heard from a few people is very good. 

Yep - some days are crazy, some days we're grouchy, some days (and even weeks or months!) we don't get everything done and some days I pray that Ren will take a longer nap so I can escape to the bathtub for a loooong while! But, mostly we enjoy being together and praise God for this opportunity. (Sure doesn't seem like being together learning and growing with our kids should be viewed as an 'opportunity', but in this day and age (and political climate) it is!  

Another worship dance class!

                       

Eloise had a chance to participate in another worship dance class through our homeschool group. Each spring a few of the energetic and amazing moms organize a bunch of classes.They offer several choices of classes over a 3 hour period - once a week for 4 weeks. The boys took a few - an investment class, and ballroom dancing. Seriously! Chase went to two of these dances last fall and Hunter went to one. They had a great time! There are always more girls then boys who sign up, both for the dances and the classes - so they BEG for boys to join them. Chase was willing, but I had to talk Hunter into going. Chase also took a videography class. Hunter helped with preschool PE and both helped set up and clean up. Loe got to take Messy Art (which she loved!), science and this worship dance class. She enjoyed them all. The dance class did their song at the homeschool talent show a few weeks later. They were super cute and I get goose bumps and teary eyes when I think of how much this pleases Jesus. Loe did so great remembering all of the sign language and dance moves. They got to make their flags or bracelets during the classes. And now Ren grabs them upon any opportunity and drags them around the house.

                         

Speaking of Ren - before the show started - she decided she would put on a show of her own and crawled around on the stage - flashing everyone many grins and displaying a great amount of silly antics. She is such a goof ball - but oh so cute!

                        

                         

                          

   

More of my sweetie

 

I remind my kids all of the time that when they were the baby - I took tons of pictures of them, too! I can't help it - my camera is just drawn to the youngest. I love seeing life through their eyes - experiencing all the new things with each of them. They are so precious, so unique and beautiful - each one. I continue to be in awe that God blessed us this much 4 different times. Ren loves animals of any and every kind. Bugs are quite the fascination and I love it when she does the sign for bug - she pinches her fingers together like she's holding a bug and circles her hand around saying, "bzzz, bzzz, bzzz" though it sounds a bit different then that! Super cute. She squeals at all flowers we pass while walking and begs to smell them all. She is such a happy little girl - often humming a tune and bobbing her head back and forth (or all out dancing) when she hears music or any kind of beat. She's a sweet blessing - that is for sure.

And for some reason I just loved these shots in sepia - something about the overalls I think.

 

 

 

 

Bubble Blast

                       

Today the girls talked Grandma into heading out to the backyard for a few minutes after lunch. They proceeded to beg to play with bubbles and so a few minutes turned into at least 30 minutes. :) They had all kinds of fun make big bubbles and little bubbles and 'double bubbles' with the bubble wands. (Gotta love that dollar section at Target!) Even though it seems we've had an extended spring... (which I am not complaining about - things are so green and pretty and while I love summer and most of what comes with it - I do tire some of the hot, hot days in mid-summer and often wish for a longer spring and fall - so I'm enjoying it while we have it. The heat WILL come!)...this was a very summery activity. When Loe was telling Daddy about her day - she referred to it as "The Bubble Blast"! Along with soaking up the weather - I can't soak up enough of the girls in their bare-feet and especially Ren's precious, chubby, toddler body! Man-o-man isn't she the sweetest thing in those little short-overalls that used to belong to Loe? I've got a few more pics of them that I'll save for another post.