Ketchup Post

I have been a terrible blogger! I know!!

Between teaching a few swimming lessons, Avery going to camp last week, and keeping up with 4 kiddos, by night time I am totally exhausted. My other blog was called “Confessions of a Tired Mom” and I’m thinking of calling this one, “Confessions of an EXHAUSTED mom!”

We have really had a GREAT summer so far! We’ve seen both sets of grandparents, dipped our (40 Pink) toes in the ocean, spent time with friends poolside, and slept in  slept past 7am. I have tons of blog posts floating around in my jumbled head, none if which comes out when I sit in front of the computer! Ashley has her first ear infection so she’s been a fussy mess for a few days. Dr. finally prescribed her some meds, so hopefully the smiles return soon.

Speaking of, my baby girl is doing so well! She will have conversations with us now….

Mama: Ashley where is daddy?

Ash: I don’t know! Daddy at church?

Mama: YES! Daddy is at church!

Ash: Mama, where “CE CE” (annalyse)?

Mama: I don’t know, where is ce ce?

Ash: Ce Ce right there! (pointing)

We go for her two year well visit next week (yes, she has a BIRTHDAY this week!) and although I am not the expert, I really believe her language is developmentally on target for a child that was born hearing English….she has over 30 words and uses them appropriately….pretty amazing for a child that has only heard the language for 5 months :)

She’s also SWIMMING! yeah!! Video coming but she loves it, finally! She can swim UNDERWATER and is doing so well.

The other girls are enjoying being able to stay up late and eat popsicles all day long. Summer is by far my favorite time of year and we are enjoying every minute of it!

We got Annalyse and Ashley “big girl” beds last week and are thinking about just the right time to transition into that. We’ll see how much longer the crib lasts with Ash. I’ve had a child in that crib for 7 years straight and it’s almost time to retire it. It will be a sad day for me to see it hauled up to the attic. It’s a “rite of passage” of sorts for us…the next phase of life where we’re done having babies and just focusing on raising  great,Godly kids…I’m ready for the change but scared to death at the same time! All of the sudden having a baby seems so easy!

I’ve added a few more pics from Orange Beach…oh how I miss it already…I could seriously LIVE at the beach!

More from the Beach!

Happy Fathers Day, Daddy!

We are so so proud to call you our daddy! You are the best "girl daddy" there is, and we love you so much!

Sneak Peek from the Beach! More to come!

Ally Turns FIVE!

My "Ally Girl" has officially turned five! I must say that her turning five has been bittersweet...my baby girl is turning into a BIG girl and I just want her to stay little! However, she has informed me that,
"mama, I have waited a LONG time to be five! I don't want to be four!"

Ally is all things "girly" and has such a sweet, kind heart. God is going to do great things with her and through her! We adore you, Ally Shay!!

One Year Ago....

Our paperwork was on it's way to CHINA! After an 18 month paperchase, our work was done and it was out of our hands! Little did we know that just a month later we would get THE CALL! Looking forward to re-visiting our "one year ago" memories over the next few weeks. Also, i'll be posting some photos of Ashley we recieved during her stay in Love Without Boundries Foster Care...so check back!

Just in case you needed an Annalyse "fix"

"LOOK MAMA, MY EYES MATCH THE POOL!"

5 Months HOME...

In so many ways, it feels like Ashley has been here forever. I guess we always knew we had a daughter in China, but I mean this is different...

I cannot believe she has only been here 5 months, and then I can't believe how fast this 5 months has gone! She has become such a huggable, snuggable TODDLER, who every day tells me "I yub you too!" and, "mama, ashee's mama!" I still go into her room and stare at her in her crib and am amazed at her. Your family LOVES you, baby girl!

Best Pool Toy BY FAR....is a Daddy

What a Week!

Summer is officially here.

Just a week after school was out, the summer stuff began! Which for us, means VBS, Swim Lessons, spending hours outside at the pool, and gearing up for all our summer birthdays!

VBS was this past week and the kids had a blast! We had over 500 people each day and the girls had wonderful teachers. I direct the Elementary portion of VBS so we had to be there early each morning, which was NOT fun...hello?, 4 kids dressed, fed, and out the door by 7:30? No thank you! Somehow we managed but we were worn out. On Thursday, we all took a 4 hour nap!

Afternoons (and mornings and evenings) around here are spend poolside. I am so thankful for the blessing of this house where we can spend so much FUN family time here in our own backyard! Annalyse is my little fish...swimming the length of the pool with no floaties! Ashley is really afraid of the water, so we got her a small baby pool and she is content to just play in that and watch her sisters. I will get her in and do some lessons in a few weeks, though! She has to learn! If you hear screaming from this general direction, please do not call the police:)

I'm also doing a few swimming lessons for friends' children. We wrapped up our first week and it went great! I had three little girls (my experise!) and they were all swimming great by weeks end:)

I'm hoping to get some video of Annalyse swimming today...check back!

Here's the summer b-day line up:

June 17 Ally
July 1 Ashley
July 15 Daddy
Aug 7 Mommy
Aug 14 10 Year Anniversery!
Aug 20 Avery

It's a summer of celebrations!! Poor Annalyse...way out there in November:)