Our sweet middle girl turned 10....

Today our sweet middle one turned 10...and somehow I just can't believe it. 10 years...where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital...tiny little thing, dressed all in pink. And now, she's (as Daddy puts it) "in the double digits". She was way beyond excited about this day and even started counting down the days a month ago. To her this day couldn't have been any better, filled with lots of presents, cake and balloons.

You may be getting older but to us you will always be our sweet little girl...we love you!

Next time it's Daddy's turn...

"Oh Lord, please let them be fast"...I prayed silently as I closed my eyes. The screaming grew louder as the second shot went in and the little arms around me squeezed tighter. I opened my eyes again as the fourth and last shot was being done. My smallest one's eyes were so red and just pleaded with me that we "bolt" from this doctor's office as fast as we can. As I scooped her off the examination table, I turned to see two more kids incredibly anxious and one with tears already streaming down her face.

I truly hate immunizations. It is so hard to watch, hold and know that it has to be done for your child to be healthy and safe. To cause so much grief and tears...as a parent, seems unnatural. We are there to protect and love not to cause pain. So as the last of my kids held me tight and the shots kept coming, my heart by this time was in my throat and the tears were in my eyes I realized two things...

...some days it's just hard being a parent and...

...next time Daddy gets to do this.

Moments like these...

You remember the story of Noah...the boat, the flood, the animals and all that rain...lots and lots of big ol' fat raindrops rain. Well, he had 40 days and 40 nights of it and we had only 24 hours...so really we can't complain. But...I'm bettin' that Noah didn't have to cook and take care of his 3 kids and a dog (without any help) and control the mud (lots and lots of mud) in a 16 x 20 space for 24 hours. I mean he might have just jumped ship, or at least been smart enough to not camp in the rain.

Actually, our camping trip was not that bad...o.k., yes, the mud was that bad and it did rain ALL DAY LONG...but it had it's moments...wonderful, moments. I loved it when all the kids were finally clean with pj's on and were snuggled in their sleeping bags and I got to read out loud to them chapter after chapter of a good book. I loved it when we broke out the card games and laughed so hard when one of us won. I loved the fact that in the middle of the night, my smallest reached into my sleeping bag and held my hand. And I especially loved the fact that no matter how hard it was during our camping trip, and how much rain and mud we had to deal with, I will never forget this moment.

I am so thankful that God gives me moments like these.

The things that never go as planned...

My husband left this morning for a week long business trip out of the country. Now, he doesn't really have to travel that much, maybe once or twice every couple of months. Which really is a good thing, cause we miss him terribly when he's gone. So for this business trip, the kids and I decided to keep our minds off the fact that he's not here and go and do something fun...like camping.

Of course, wouldn't you know it, the few days that we had planned to go the weather forecast is calling for rain. Well, we leave tomorrow and...we are undeterred. Because sometimes, the things the kids remember most...

....are the things that never go as planned.

With smiles plastered on their faces...

Yesterday, we took the day off from school and went to our huge county fair. Since the local schools are back in session we thought that the crowds would be a little lighter. It turned out that we were right, and even better than that, the weather was fantastic - cool and a little cloudy.

Now, we don't usually get around to going to the fair every year, so this was a special treat for my kids...and they loved it. We rode a few rides (thankfully, nothing that involved large amounts of screaming, turning or plunging), just ones that really made us giggle.

We ate food that was on a stick (everything...and I do mean everything...is on a stick at the fair) and we saw all the baby animals you could think of. The kids even got to ride on a camel and see a "zedonk" (yep, that's really it's name...believe me, I saw the stinky thing).

They had a butterfly house that had over 5,000 butterflies in it (that kind of freaked me out with so many things flying at you and sticking to you...butterflies or not). Finally, late in the afternoon a quick ten minute shower came down and reminded us it was time to go home. So I dragged three over-stimulated children home with smiles plastered on their faces.

Check this one off our list...

In order for us to go and get our son from Ethiopia, we needed A LOT of shots. So with a pinch and a sting and a smile on our face, we got most of the needed shots. Our kids were there, and just so that you know, that whole thing you tell your kids when they're getting their immunizations...you know...that shots don't hurt that much...that, definitely comes back to haunt you. We have to go back for one more round of shots in a month but we are checking this one off our list.

Just hold son...we're coming as fast as we can

I am...

On Monday, we started back our school schedule full time. (Now, we will take a few more days off here and there to do fun stuff...but my kindergartener just couldn't wait any longer...she had to learn).

Today for Language Arts, my son had to write a personal poem entitled..."I am". With his permission, I wanted to share it with you. So sit back, be blessed, and remember what it's like to be 11...

I AM
I am a creative boy who likes nature.
I wonder what God is like.
I hear the tinkling of the stars.
I see the wind moving through the trees.
I want to see new places.
I am a creative boy who likes nature.

I pretend to be a hero.
I feel happy when I fly.
I touch the moon.
I worry about scary things.
I cry that so many people die.
I am a creative boy who likes nature.

I understand that you have to work hard to get through the problem.
I say let everyone be happy.
I dream to be a hero.
I try to be happy.
I hope to see Jesus someday.
I am a creative boy who likes nature.