Happy Blogiversary to me!

Not such a big event I guess since even I missed it! Friday marked three years of my ramblings here, and this coincidentally is my 365th post. Given the infrequency of my posting of late, one must conclude that I was a much more faithful blogger at one point in my career to still maintain a once-every-three-days average. Blogging is for me a fun way to document the events we enjoy as a family and my occassional thoughts on life, God, adoption, and other random bits that occupy my brain. When I slow down long enough to have deep thoughts, you get those. When life is crazy busy, you mostly get mediocre photos. As you can see, this is one of those latter stages! Thanks for sticking around these three years, and please don't give up on me yet!

Play ball!

What happens when you attend a "A" baseball game on a Sunday night in a distant suburb?

a. you get your choice of prime seats

b. your daughter gets to be the winner (a.k.a. sole participant) of the "spelling bee."

c. your son gets run the bases in a one-on-one race with the mascot

d. your entire family enjoys the small-town stadium, beautiful weather and great company

e. all of the above

Toothless

Last summer an incident between our active boy and the bunk bed ladder resulted in this gross photo. The affected tooth almost miraculously held on, though Parker was left with a scraggle-tooth smile and another tooth that sometimes turns grey. It hasn't bothered him, and I think he likes that it makes him look a little more like a pirate. A trip to the dentist yesterday, however, changed all of that. The low-riding tooth had apparently developed a little infection, and the Dr. determined Parker won't have to wait for first grade for a visit from the tooth fairy. She pulled the thing right then and there. My boy was brave, and he now looks so cute... and so old!

Painless!

The veteran and the newbie

Cousins (minus the bitty babies)

Summer is over, but the sting is absent! In the weeks before Alyssa's 1st Day of school, I was a bit of a mess. I absolutely dreaded losing her for hours a day to a teacher who couldn't possibly appreciate her as much as I do. Even after a year of experience, Alyssa's 1st day of 1st grade was hard on this mama's heart.

But Parker's first day was a breeze. Must have something to do with the fact that I didn't have to say good-bye (plus #1 for homeschooling!). Since there was no dramatic send-off, we started the day with a family doughnut party (plus #2!). All the cousins and grandparents graciously joined us for breakfast and play so that there would be some distinction from summer besides having to sit quietly at the kitchen table for an hour. After they left we spent some more time with daddy, enjoyed a little family worship, and finally settled into "school" around 11. We're not huge morning people so we're pretty excited about these lazy mornings. Sure beats getting up and out by 7:45 (plus #3!). We easily finished everything on my schedule and then some, and even had time for a trip to the library and Costco this afternoon. I'm sure we'll get busier as the year progresses, but so far this gentle method is working for me, and my joy will undoubtedly multiply on Wednesday when I would have had to ship out 2/3rds of our little clan. God has been so good to change my heart!

Burning up the pavement

Even Reagan has finally gotten in on the action!