Archive for the ‘Benjamin’ Category
Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Here is our “something big”. 
Our handsome chauffeur
12-passenger capacity for us to work on
Any of the benches can be removed for cargo space
The kids are in love with the large flip down screen
The Honda looks so tiny now!
So there you have it. We are so very excited and feel so blessed that God provided this new van for us. Our Odyssey was just feeling a bit cramped, as it was full to capacity, and we didn’t have any extra room for visitors, friends, or for our family to grow. Instead of getting a basic 12-passenger van we chose to make it feel a little less bus-like and had a slight conversion done on it. We visited a great dealership while we were on vacation in Florida (thanks for the recommendation Charlene!) and after we got home we prayed more about a new vehicle and felt the go-ahead to make a deal.
Chris got a flight out of town at 6am yesterday and was pulling out of the dealership by 11:45am, as I wrote about yesterday. It was an awesome God-wink that at that very moment the deck guys were pulling away from their completed job on our new deck. Chris drove home in 12.5 hours and only stopped once along the way! Needless to say, the van has a huge gas tank and Chris has a strong tank himself. Ha! It was very good to see him home safe and sound in the wee hours of this morning.
Thank you, Lord, that you bless us beyond what we ask or imagine. May we use Your gifts to us for Your purposes and to bless others through them. Can’t wait to pick up our first guest passengers at the airport on Tuesday! Did I mention His perfect timing?!
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 8 Comments »
Friday, June 25th, 2010
We are trying a garage sale for the first time at this house (today and tomorrow). We don’t have the best location for a sale and didn’t know how it would go. Well, despite good signs and advertising we didn’t have much traffic at all. The kids are pleased enough so far because they get to divide the profits, but for Mommy’s time and efforts I would much rather have just donated to the Goodwill. Hopefully we’ll see some more sales tomorrow and then the garage will be all cleared out.
Sorry, the kid isn't for the taking; he's a priceless treasure!
The BEST news of the day is that at 11:45 am Daddy called to say that he was heading home with our “something big”. And get this…..at the EXACT same time the deck guys were pulling out of the driveway leaving behind our completed deck! Yea, God!! I’ll post more pictures of the deck later, and I can’t wait to post pictures tomorrow when Daddy is home.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
We finished up our two weeks of swimming lessons today. Ami, Johanna, and Elijah have all had a blast. They also each passed to their next respective levels.
Ami's class practiced using life vests in the diving well
Elijah and Johanna's class in the 16 ft diving well
On the home front, Benjamin has been fascinated with Iron Man, even though he hasn’t seen the movie. He is working on creating a whole outfit to somewhat replicate all the pictures he’s seen. This is one of his helmet creations from Legos.
In other news, Chris flies down to Florida tomorrow morning to pick up something big. I’ll post pictures when he gets back on Saturday. The kids and I will hold down the fort and have a garage sale this weekend. The deck is just about done. And we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of lots of family here next week! That’s it in a nutshell at Wolfe park.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna | 3 Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
We had somewhat of a low key day, but enjoyed celebrating the wonderful father in our household. We treated Daddy to cinnamon rolls for breakfast, some nice gifts, and then dinner out after church. We are very blessed to have Chris as a positive role model and Godly example to our kids.
Looks like a crowd around Daddy, but I bet we could fit another kid or two in, don’t you? 
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 3 Comments »
Friday, June 11th, 2010
A lot more progress was made on our deck this week, but it still feels like it’s been slow going. We’ve had a bit of rain to contend with and a lot more predicted in the next few days. Hopefully in another week we’ll have it completed.
The cedar smells so good and looks gorgeous!
So weird to see bodies just outside our living room windows!
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 5 Comments »
Friday, June 11th, 2010
We’ve had a busy and fun week. Aunt Alicia, Aunt Kate, Elle and Zane came over to play for a couple of days. It had been too long since we were last together and the kids were chomping at the bit to play together.
It was fun to chat about our new cousin, Titus, and to hear more details. We are hoping and praying that he will be home in early August. Isn’t he too cute? He fits right in with our family with those dimples!
3 months old
More rides in the "carriage"
Zane practiced his new climbing skills and discovered the top bunk
Still cute when crying for mama
Mama makes is all better
I love how Zane is holding onto Michaela's hand. He did get brave enough to pet the kitty.
After a rough winter it was so good to see Zane healthy and happy
The aunts were relentlessly teasing Benjamin about his beloved Kitty, but he took it all in stride and dished it right back.
The second our cousins were leaving down our driveway Ami said, “Mom, I miss Elle and Zane. “ Hopefully we’ll see them sooner than later this time! Thanks for coming guys, we had much fun.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 6 Comments »
Sunday, June 6th, 2010
I thought I’d try to get in a post before the week got started and got away from me this time!
Yesterday we enjoyed getting together with our local Families with Children from China (FCC) group. Elijah and Benjamin are vastly outnumbered by all the girls, but they all had fun together. There was a Hollywood theme and Ami wanted to dress up in her cheerleader outfit. It’s neat to ooh and aah over all the kids and watch them grow. Even though we all just want our adopted kids to be regular kids, they do have a special background and it’s often noticed by outsiders who don’t see beyond the fact that you are a Caucasian with an Asian child. It’s good to be with similar families and just enjoy playing together.
Also, thanks to those of you who left comments on my last post. I appreciated reading your thoughts and insights. They were great food for thought.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 2 Comments »
Friday, June 4th, 2010
We haven’t had a lot going on to post about. It’s been really nice to enjoy being home more without so much of a schedule. With school out and some of our regular activities finished it’s been a breath of fresh air. We’ve finally seen a little bit of progress on our deck and hopefully it will be finished next week. We are really looking forward to the outdoor living space and to sharing our home with visitors this summer. Here are some pictures from the week.
Screaming Eagles landing to start the Memorial Day parade
It felt like a hot July day despite being May for the parade
Elijah enjoyed being patriotic by waving his flag. After he understood what Memorial Day was about he said, "I want to be a soldier so I can help my country."
Day 1 of progress
Day 1 - Exciting to visualize things better
Today's progress, starting to get a look at the cedar
The kids have already spent hours on the rope swing this summer
Oh the ladder always scares me, but they get so much air from the top!
Such a pretty girl!
I want to ask adoptive parents about this last picture. When we were in China last we bought two of these shirts, one for Ami and one for Elijah. It seems like a bad joke, but at the same time it’s cute in a way. If someone outside of the adoption realm were to have given us these shirts I honestly probably would have been appalled. They seem tacky to me, yet cute enough that it was okay for me to buy them. It’s still a dilemma for me. I haven’t allowed the Ami or Elijah to wear them away from home. I love that two of my kiddos were born in China and I want them to be proud of that fact, yet I don’t want these shirts to degrade them as if they were a commodity that can be purchased. Know what I mean? So any of my adoptive friends that are reading this, feel free to share your thoughts!
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 8 Comments »
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
We are enjoying our first week home with no school. Ahhh, summer break is nice. Here are a few pictures from the week.
I'm sure this is the only time you or I will ever see our boys holding hands. Benjamin was pretending to be blind and Elijah was guiding him down the library steps. They were mortified when they found out I had taken a picture!
We've had a busy week trapping coons in our garage. They come in the cat door and have become quite an annoyance. We've caught four now and relocated them.
The four youngest have played a lot in our mini pools this week. Thankfully the big pools open this weekend and we can go to a "real" pool!
We spent quite a bit of time in our local Amish area yesterday. We bought lots of FRESH strawberries, eggs, and other goodies.
Our favorite BBQ rib place
We enjoyed our local Memorial Day Air Show today
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 2 Comments »
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Today was our last and best day at the beach by far. We were out early by about 8:30 and it was clear, the water was warm, and we saw lots of sea life. We saw dolphins, dolphins and more dolphins. I guess that’s a pod? Anyway, it was just breathtaking and exciting to see them jumping and flipping and playing around in the not so far distance. We oohed and aahed for quite some time. We also saw a huge school (?) of large manna rays swimming by just 6 or so feet from where we were jumping the waves. The kids also caught a large crab and a small hermit crab in his tiny shell. So fun!
We did our usual lunch break and then headed out in the air conditioned van to do some geocaching. After three strikes we decided to get ice cream and cold drinks before heading back to the beach in the late afternoon. It was hard to leave the beach this afternoon since it was our last time there. We will head out early tomorrow for Kentucky to catch up with some friends there. We’re looking forward to visiting with them and then heading home on Saturday.
If you look closely you can see a black spot that is a dolphin
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Jocelyn, Johanna, Michaela | 1 Comment »