The long awaited.......

Lake Weekend! The kids have been waiting to go to the lake all summer. We have been so busy that we had one free weekend this summer since Memorial day, I know, crazy. We headed to Grandma and Grandpa's lake house this weekend to play, and play we did. Noah and Della both rode the jet ski. It took Della a bit of time to decide to but she ended up liking it and saying "Wehoo." Noah's whole goal this weekend was to learn how to water ski. He worked really hard at it. He got up for about a second, long enough for me to snap a pic below and then was down. We tried to explain to him that one weekend was not quite enough time to learn but he is quite determined. He finally got tired and took a break. The kids both went tubing with Steve. Della liked it until she fell off the tube and got water in her nose.

Marlee did well. She doesn't sleep great in the car but she is such a happy camper that I guess it really doesn't matter. She had a good time on the boat and even got in the water some. On the way home we had three tired fish but they had a great time. Next year we are hoping to make it more than once!

Lake fun!

More to come!

Fair and school!

Grandma took Noah and Della to the fair and Della got her face painted so I took some pics of that. Noah started 1st grade last week and I captured our morning. He is growing up too quick:(

Final show pics!

I am just catching up on posts. I have a ton of pictures from when we took the kids to the lake and lots of stories to come so stay tuned!

School Started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was Noah's first day of first grade!! He was so excited he woke quite early. We all walked him to the bus and then the girls and I had a peaceful day of running errands and cleaning out cupboards. Sounds like fun, huh? Actually separating Noah and Della makes things remarkably calm. Those two are day and night and they don't have very much in common at this point so it shows in their behavior. It sounds like Noah likes his teacher too. He told me about his day and said they worked on some math and then he said, "Mom it was really easy." Noah does multiplication in his head, he has also done square roots. Yes first grade. Both Steve and I wonder where he gets it. I do have many engineers on my side of the family, maybe that is it. Either way, I am a proud mama!

The show closed Sunday with a big audience. I can't believe summer is over. It went fast. My best friend Alicia and her husband brought their oldest two girls to see the show and they enjoyed it. I will post some pics in the next post, not enough time now. Della stayed with me while Steve took Noah to his ice cream social and she was in all her glory. I took her back to the dressing rooms and on the stage. I think we know now what her calling is. She has been singing "Notice Me Horton" since Sunday and I even heard her sing it during the show. It makes me happy to see her love something that I also love.

Miss Marlee got two shots today. She is quite the talker lately too. Loud, so yes she fits in fine. Everyone in our family has a descent set of lungs. Things are about to get more calm, I think! Well pics to come! I have to go make sure Noah gets off the bus!

Priceless Pics!

Ever since Della saw the show she has been in love with Gertrude McFuzz. She has now started putting a boa in her Cinderella outfit for her tail, just like Gertrude. Can't wait until she is on stage! This is what we have been up to recently!

It has been a while....

and with a few gentle reminders I am finally updating my blog. Thank you to those who care enough to tell me to get on the ball!

Obviously things have been busy around here. Last week was the week before opening weekend of "Seussical" so I had rehearsal every night until 11-11:30pm which those of you who know me, is much past my bed time:) Opening weekend went so well! I had a great time and the kids came to the Sunday matinee, all three. My mother and my in-laws were there as well to help Steve. From what I hear or didn't hear, the kids were wonderful. If you know Della you know that says a lot. They loved the show and we have gotten so much good feedback on it. Still two more weekends so come on out and see it. Even if you don't have kids it is quite entertaining!

Let's see, Marlee has been with us for 4 months now and she is 9 months old. She is crawling and pulling up all over the place. She is so lovely! She knows exactly who Mom and Dad are and at times prefers us. She is still very social and content but will scream to tell you she is mad! We could not have been more blessed with her. God definitely matched us perfectly. I will say when we started we were told if she was 5 months when we got her it would most likely take us 5 months for her and us to feel like we are fully connected. Whoever that was, you were right. For us, adoption has been a learning process and we have had many hurdles to overcome but it is the most amazing experience. Adoption is a journey and I know that the hurdles are just starting and will continue to happen but I feel like this experience has changed our lives in many ways. Thank you God!

Noah and Della are also doing great! Noah starts school two weeks from today! I think both of us are excited! N and D are starting to get along better but still have some rough moments. A couple of cute quotes from them this weekend. First Noah, after my show we planned to go out to dinner with everyone and Noah whispers to me "Mom are you wearing that to dinner?" My costume is great but not dinner attire! Red, feathers and fishnets probably wouldn't fly at Red Robin, or would it, HA! I thought it was cute that he was so concerned, he is definitely growing. Now Della! Since Della was little I have always told her, "I love you more than the sun and the moon and the stars." Last night I hear Della telling Marlee, "Marlee I love you more than the moon and the stars, I think!" Very cute!

I will leave you with a few pics after the show! I promise to post some Marlee video and pics soon, I just have to download them. The pics are of the kids and I and Della with the "Cat" and I and then my Mom and I.

Summer fun!

I know it has been a while and I don't have much time to write but I did want to post a few pics of the kids in their new pool. Yes we went to Walmart and bought a big blow-up pool and it has kept all the kids occupied for hours, even Marlee. I can not believe Marlee wants to be in it. I had her in today and then stepped in the water to feel it and it was frigid. It was the best $30 I have spent all summer. I don't do our pool we belong to without Steve. It is more like a water park and there are to many places kids can go and not enough gates. Anyway enjoy the pics. Things are getting quite busy, opening night is in a week and a half!

The Fourth of July!

It has been a great long weekend, not quite long enough but great! We enjoyed the 4th of July. I was in the local parade for "Seussical" we had a float. There are some pics of before we got wet, really wet. It rained quite hard but I had fun. Then in the afternoon we went to our local festival and I worked at a booth and Steve took Noah and Della around to have some fair food and games! Marlee stayed at Nana's house to nap. We didn't do that much at night. We were going to have my cousin and her tribe over but one of her little indians got sick so we ended up postponing. We did sparklers and watched all the neighbor's fireworks. I know cheap, but I couldn't see keeping Marlee up until midnight to go see the big ones. We will have plenty of time for that. All in all, no complaints about the weekend. I had rehearsal this afternoon and am looking forward to the show!

The above pics are of the parade float and Horton the Elephant and I. Steve also took some pic of Della and Noah doing one of the fair games. They had a blast. I am surprised Della did it.

I LOVE PARTIES!!!!

We had a wonderful time Saturday at our party for families who have or are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. There were quite a few people here and everyone brought a dish, the food was great! We were scared Saturday morning because we woke up and had some rain showers but all it did was cool it off for us to sit outside and relax for the party! The kids had a blast and were all so cute. Many people brought pictures of their little ones they will be picking up in the next month or so. It just takes me back, what a wonderful life-changing trip they are all about to embark on. I miss Ethiopia sometimes. I can't wait to go back! I asked Steve after the party what he thought about adopting an older boy in a few years, if they would let us adopt between Della and Marlee. He didn't say, no, but he just said lets give it some time. That is a start. Really when Steve says that, he really means yes but lets wait a few years! We will just have to see!

The above pictures are a few from the party. It looked like everyone was camped out to see fireworks or a show! Marlee met a new friend Addie who was absolutely adorable and could not keep her hands of Marlee, loves to hug! It was so cute. Then I had to put one of Marlee in with her very cool outfit that Aunt Gracie got for her, love Aunt Gracie's taste!

Busy week this week! We don't know what we are doing for the 4th yet, last year we took the kids to the fireworks but this year with Marlee we are trying to figure it out! I will be at our festival working a booth for our local Community Theatre and then doing the parade because they need cast members of "Seussical" to pass things out. Have a great holiday week! I need to get the kids some red, white and blue, time to go shopping. Ya don't really need to twist my arm!

My little Diva!

I have no idea where she gets her fashion sense or flare for the dramatic but this was Della this morning. She put on the hat, boa and glasses that Steve got her in Vegas. She also got new pajamas from a friend of my mothers and has not wanted to take them off since. At least she took the pants off and put on a skirt today!