handsful

When my kids start to ask when I’m gonna blog again, I know it’s about time to blog again.

A lacing party…

I think my kids enjoy seeing themselves on the blog :)

Here goes. A few random thoughts on this last week or so…

Last I stopped in, it was Halloween. The kids are busy scarfing down their candy these days. I took a cue from another mom friend of mine, and the kids have “Candy Hour” from 3-4. During that hour, they can eat their candy – no limits. Well, I try to limit the littles. Interestingly, the big kids don’t gorge themselves like you might imagine. They eat a few pieces and then call it quits. And, I’m not nagging them to stay out of their candy bags all day. Win!

We had a meeting with our adoption social worker last week, to put together the 12 month report for China. Our last requirement for Dylan’s adoption :) Rumor has it that our travel group was one of the last that’s ONLY required to have 6 and 12 month reports. From now on, adoptive families have to send in reports at the 6mo, 12mo, 2yr, 3yr, and 5yr! I have no issues with sharing with China how amazing our adoptions have been and how much we love our kiddos…but, if each visit also comes with the price tag of a social worker visit? Not so cool. Glad we’re on this side of that line.

Last Saturday, our family took part in a 5K to benefit the kids youth choir, Testify. It was about 41 degrees, with wind. Cold! But, we loved it. Well, most of us did. Lainey was okay for the 1st kilometer, complained during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, and was thrilled that it was almost over during the 5th. We were floored, she RUNS everywhere…why wouldn’t she love this? Not that we RAN. For us, it was a 5K walk. I’d love to do it again!

Have I ever mentioned that Marley is good with animals? It’s taken her a while, but she’s beginning to build quite a client base for watching dogs in our neighborhood. Since last Friday, she’s watched 1 dog for the whole weekend, 2 additional dogs for the weekend through today, and she begins watching 2 more dogs this coming weekend for 7 days. The girl’s wallet is bulging. I’m expecting a pretty swell Christmas present :)

A butterfly by Lainey. We’re working on Kindergarten skills this year with her, and Dylan is absorbing a lot, too, since he also MUST “do school”. I was a little worried this time last year, she just wasn’t interested in learning her sounds, numbers (could barely get her to count to 10), nothing. This year, it’s finally clicking for her and she’s the one asking to write, draw, play letter games, etc.

Abbey is a busy girl, too. She’s now taking voice lessons with the director of her youth choir…Susan is amazing, and such a huge encouragement to all of our kids. We’re blessed that she has such a calling for youth and for spreading God’s word! Susan told Abbey that she’s making wonderful progress and hopes that she’ll try out for a solo in the spring. She already has a trio part in the upcoming Christmas musical (as well as a dancing part).

Oh, and Ethan also has a duet and Payton has a speaking part. Marley is still getting her feet wet with Testify, but is already talking about trying out in the spring. Yes, my shy kiddo.

But, back to Abbey…she tried out for a local volleyball club today. She played on their developmental team last year, and we expect that’s where she’ll be this year. Fine with us, being on the travel club is $$ and BUSY. We have no more time for busy. Just sayin’

“Homework” with dad. If the answer key isn’t enough for them, then it’s dad to the rescue. Thank goodness he was blessed with math genes. I was not.

Speaking of math, I’ve spent the last two nights making Algebra photocopies. For 4 kids, and ONLY on Unit 2. Remind me to NEVER again buy curriculum that I have to copy myself. Ever.

I guess that’s about it. I’ll keep on swimming this week with our homeschool co-op, speech therapy, youth group, guitar lessons, horse riding, volleyball, and another speech therapy. That’ll get me to Friday. Saturday is pretty tame, and then Sunday we dedicate Dylan AND we’re being interviewed on stage by our pastor in honor of Adoption Appreciation Month. Eek. That reminds me, we’ve gotta go clothes shopping. Guess I’ll add that to the otherwise tame Saturday.