Boys vs. Sea Lion

The boys were minding their own business having fun on the platform. Until they had a visit from an uninvited guest.
They were SCARED and couldn't figure out what to do next.  Us moms were wildly gesturing from shore for them to jump off and escape the beast. 
They ditched the platform and headed for shore.  The rascal sea lion claimed his territory for the rest of the afternoon.

6 word Meme

So.....I got tagged by a blogging friend,  i am not quite sure how all of this works because i am new to this blogging thing.  I was supposed to pick six words to describe my life.  Everyone else who has done this has seemed so eloquent.  My assignment was to summarize my life in 6 words.  It was impossible for me.  Here is the best I can do: I made a few attempts.  i worked on it for at least three days.   Here Goes... I will not tag anyone since I rarely have anyone who reads my blog.  I hope I do not mess the whole thing up.

Family means the world to me

Never know what I'll do next

*Usually* take the road most traveled

Love to drink wine with friends

Pissed off some of the time

Living for the next big vacation

Leading by example, God help me

Desperately hoping to adopt once again

Trying to be what God wants

Sometimes guilty for things done wrong

Trying but failing to be Supermom

Plugging along at my own speed

**Thankful for the life I have**

Take it or leave it, this is all I have.

Just for the Joy of it

A few photos of my Gymnast in action.  My friend Jenni caught her having fun on the beach.  I have no idea why the 2 are so small. but you get the idea.  

We are Warriors!!

Due to our Bdad and his failure to commit, our dreams of adopting a special needs kid are nixed for the time-being. (Remember, I believe in miracles...so what?)

Well, we have signed up to be in a program called Prayer Warriors through Reese's Rainbow. We have been matched with a special little girl who happens to have been born with an extra chromosome.  She is half-way across the world in a baby-house and desperately needs a family.  My sweet kids and myself have agreed to to pray for this angel every day until a family finds her and brings her home forever.  The kids have also decided to start a recycling project to put in a fund for the family who will adopt this angel. I am so proud of them.  We will be getting her picture this week.  Very Cool!!!

JP

We had visitors this weekend.  A favorite couple that BDad used to work with as his business partner and his wife.  I have missed them so much since they moved away.  These are the kind of people that you can talk with for hours.  I love them.  

This was the first time they had met Nicholas.  The other kids adore them so, of course, Nick did too.  They had many questions about his adoption and adjustment to family life etc.   Throughout the evening I kept hearing them call Nick....JP.  I am thinking to myself,  What are they talking about? Why are they calling him JP?  Finally I asked, "What is JP?"

They said  "JACKPOT,  We think that kid hit the jackpot".  I of course replied....NO!!  Are you CRAZY??? It was we who hit the jackpot, when we found him.  Anyway..I still think the nickname is kind of cute.   

Summer 'Do

My T-Man decided to go for the buzz cut this summer.  We usually threaten to shave his head when he acts up or messes around when he is supposed to be doing something semi-important, like playing well in basketball or making a few hits in baseball.  Honestly... we were just kidding. He made this decision all on his own.  I was a bit disappointed because now we have no punishment to hang over his shaved head (i am kidding, again) I did like his long hair, oh well.

It grows back at some point.  He has lived most of his 10 years being either bald or buzzed. 

No one better get their shears on Nicky this summer, I forbid it. He does not look good with a buzz. He has a crazy shaped head. 

On the adoption front, we are still hoping that one member of the crew comes around at some point.  Big Daddy is not quite there yet.  I thought he was getting close. I was mistaken.  My heart is so torn. I am so thankful with the family I have been blessed with right now, but there will always be the longing to adopt again.  It is already in my heart.  Again, I came across the photo of an adorable little kid that will most likely be in the institution all of his childhood until he is thrown out to the streets at age 16 or 18 with no life skills or family. Not good things happen to kids in that situation.  I am ready to do it again. Put me on that airplane.  In the meantime,  I will wait. 

Something is Brewing

And it is not only the neighbor's home brewed beer that we have fermenting in the big fridge in the garage.  It is adoption related and all I can say is to PRAY!!!  I am waiting patiently for some things to fall into place.  I am hoping that we may need a babysitter for a few days,  maybe 4 here and 9 there.   Crazy??? I think not. 

Finally!!

Sophie lost her first tooth today.  That is very exciting for a little girl in Kindergarten. Especially when she is one of the only ones in her class who did not lose a tooth during the school year.  Luckily, there are still a few days left of school so she can show off the new space between her teeth.  Thanks to Uncle Bill who is the official tooth-puller in the family.  The kids wait to see him,  he does the deed, then gives them 5 Bucks.   It is all very bloody and fun. Sophie has been in a good mood all day!! Now let's hope that the Tooth Fairy "remembers" to visit tonite.  Sometimes she forgets which causes distress among the ranks.  Way to go Sophie! A great way to start the Summer.

Good Eats!!

We had some delicious food yesterday.  Big Daddy used all of the leftovers from Tony's Baseball Team Party.  We had some Chiles Rellenos and some Pizzas.  Claire and Sophie made this pizza.  It had sections of all kinds of different stuff.  The Chiles had shrimp, cheese, chorizo and tomatoes.  They were fantastic.  Big Daddy gets all excited whenever he can fire up his pizza oven.

We had a great team party.  All of the boys and their families were here.  There were about 50 people in all.  The highlight of the night was a showing of a DVD of our team made by one of the dads.  It was nothing less than amazing.  The boys were cheering and the moms all had tears in their eyes.  Though we did not have a winning season, we had the nicest group of kids and parents.  The coach was superior and the boys learned a lot about baseball and winning and losing with dignity.  It was a fantastic season.  A crazy fun way to end it.  Now....on to All Stars.