~Fun With Cousins~

My sister in law and kids came to visit last week. We had alot of fun! Having 9 kids has really made doing things without our hubby’s around a little harder but we manage!! They have just moved back from Okinawa, Japan and hadnt met Mia yet. We went to a fun festival at our co-op church host Calvary Baptist. Mia loved jumping on the bouncy!!! A few of the cousins out swinging on our swing in the yard…:) Austin, Amelia, Mia Grace, Elizabeth and Paul.

We went to a water park called Sunset Beach. THey had loads of fun on the water slides.

Mia went down the slide over and over again with her big sister Chloe. I tried it went time and Mia went flying in the air…struggling for her breath…yes I am probably the worst mom in the world. I only did it once.:( I felt terrible…I could barely catch my breath!!

Mia Grace and Amelia had lots of fun playing in the baby pool. I am betting Mia swam while she lived in Korea because she loves …I mean LOVES swimming in the pool or tub!!!

Matching tutus for 2 cuties!!!

~Tot School~

The big kids are gone this week and I am left with my 2 little sweeties at home! We are missing them terribly. But decided to get busy getting our homeschool ready. One new fabulous issue we are dealing with this year is a little preschooler, so we must have things ready to keep her busy and I don’t allow the TV on during school ours, so that is an out. I have made some fabulous new friends through this adoption process that have fantastic ideas. Something I have learned from them is Tot School. Basically, not just providing them with learning toys but being INTENTIONAL with them doing it. How many learning toys do we have at the bottom of our toy boxes that never get played with? Well we are intentionally playing with these toys. I have come up with about 15 different activities that we will alternate throughout the weeks and intentionally put them on a ‘Tot Tray’ during school hours for her to do.:)

Here is one of the activities that she had to get started on immediatly. And of course my little social butterfly is always ready for a picture!!! She is matching little foam shapes to the coordinating colored page. Here is my little ‘tot’….sorting her little colored bears into colored cups. Her hair is pulled up….not cut!;) Couldnt cut those curls!:)

Tot Trays Blog to follow…onto to older homeschool planning.:)

~Flight 93 Memorial~

After our fabulous camping trip, we decided to go over to the Flight 93 memorial, which was only about 30 minutes there. On the way there, Kenny asked me if I would like to tell the kids about what happened that morning. I immediately start crying. I cant even talk about it. I can not imagine how the families feel. I didn’t know anyone directly involved in any of it. I am still a basked case over that morning. I am ashamed to say this is our family standing in front of the temporary building for the memorial. We can spend millions of dollars on Casey Anthony, millions on a failed foster system, millions of dollars on gay rights and abortions. This happened almost 10 years ago. Why is this taking so long? Why is the 9/11 memorial not even have restrooms??????

Off my soapbox…this is the actual site. My friend Lori, was in Shanksville on 9/11. She heard the plane crash. She was there for her mothers funeral. After her mothers funeral, she took the flowers from the funeral and took the crash site and started the memorial site.

Cute pictures of our families, sad building behind them.!!


The boys thought they were talking to this Park Ranger…you know asking what kinds of weapons he carried??? It was hilarious!!!

Some of the different things from the days and weeks following..and Camye reading the call log from the people who died on Flight 93….heartbreaking!

Mia and Mommy inside the memorial reading what happened on that day.

~4th of July Camping~

Fun Fun Fun!!! We had such a wonderful time camping with some great Christian friends!!!! We went to Shawnee State Park in Pennsylvania. We were very happy with the campgrounds and they had great bathrooms and showers….which is a must when I am camping!! Camye, Mia and their sweet friends Alycia and Jamie. They played in the lake for hours every day!!

Our good friend Andy, brought this cool thing for Kenny to pull Mia with his bike. She LOVED it.

We even put the men folk to work one night, while we made a Walmart run!

Camye and Mia Grace!!

Mia’s cute little feet in the sand!!!

Chloe and Adam were able to go Kayaking. They had so much fun but it was ALOT of work. Chloe said it was great, Adam did everything!

Mia having fun in the sun!!

Mia and her great friend Caleb, she loves Caleb and loves to yell his name randomly around the campsite. He always wants to play with her!!

Chloe and Mia having fun in the lake!!! Mia loved the water!!!!! I wonder if she hasnt swam before!!

Paul, my little red headed, freckled face little boy! I have wanted one, and his hair is definetly red this summer!!

Yes..I am this cute!!!

Trying to get 10 kids to pose in front of an elephant after 4 days of camping…not such a great photo OP!…

My 3 littles sleeping away…..

~Latest Going On’s~

So that others don’t say I am playing favorites, I will show you my Chloe’s toenails. They look so awesome! She has been babysitting and saved her money to get a manicure. Mia Grace has learned to wink!!! And it is incredibly adorable!!!

She loves the puppies!!! Actually she loves to drag them by one paw around the room, but it’s a start! She loves squealing and pretending they are chasing her!!


Oh yes and she loves pushing Penny in her shopping cart!!

I love this picture! She loves to sit in this chair and not be bothered. She sits here and listens to her Korean Kids music. It was a gift from her foster parents. She loves it!! Anyone traveling to get their babies from Korea, I strongly recommend getting some for your little ones!!

~Mia’s First Tea Party~

Okay so I have the MOST awesome friends!! My friend Tina and Jennifer came up to my house and gave the most fabulous TEA PARTY!!! EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! The food was very tea party-ish. The menu included: Cucumber sandwhiches, salad, potatoe soup, chicken salad on croissants, deviled eggs, fruit kabobs, sugar cookies and cupcakes. Drinks included all sorts of teas, lemonade and punch!

When I said the food was fabulous..I didn’t lie…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Tina made these adorable little butterfly cupcakes for the little girls!!

Mia had a blast!! She loves being the center of attention!!! Danielle, Myla, Mia and I…hoping the girls are as close of friends as Danielle and I are!

Logan being adorable as ever!!!

Katie and I…she is such a sweet sweet girl!


This picture brings back such great memories of my childhood. This picture could very easily be Staci, me and Jennifer. But it is Bailey, Camye and Madison…the next generation..new and improved!!;)


Mia LOVES new clothes and toys!! She is a typlical girly girl!


Great friends, The Zotolla’s got her a flashlight with her name on it!! She loves it and was trying to take pictures with it!

One of her favorite gifts…Ritz Crackers!! Thanks Miss Lori!!!

Mia and Myla jumping in circles!! They are so cute together!!

Chloe and Chloe….2 beautiful, godly girls!!

~Vacation Bible School Fun~

We have such a busy week this week!! My friend Lori and I committed to planning VBS, and then we decided to adopt! Who would have thought the process would have taken 7 weeks from HSTK to get her!! Well it did…so directing VBS with Mia has added a little challenge…but with a challenge this cute, it doesnt matter!!:)

This morning Mia had her foster parents album out and was looking at it. She looks at it everyday! She always kisses her Omma and Appa. She loves looking at her album and showing us how cute she is!

We are so thankful for the fabulous job Mia’s foster family did with her. They have showed her such love that has helped so much with her transition and her outgoing personality!

She is so funny with her albums! My friend thinks she did such a great job with Mia, they want to adopt a baby from the same Korean foster family. If only it worked that way..:)

Above is Mia riding on Caleb’s scooter. She loves Caleb..as all the toddlers do. Last night he ran by her and she yelled Caleb come here!!!

Daddy and Camye girl!!! Having fun at VBS!!

Mia is so precious…she just runs around and plays!! She is a little chatterbox!!!

Paul has been having a blast all week at VBS!!

Mia and Daddy-Appa!!

Me and Mia Grace!!! She was loving her snack last night! She had a Lucky Charm marshmellow in her mouth!