It's a Beautiful Life!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Post after Post

Last night I dreamed I wrote post after post for this blog and just kept on publishing them in quick session. And then I broke through that dream and said to myself that I should date those posts to upload on different days. And then I said to myself..... it's just a dream anyway, you don't have time to write post after post!

Am I the only one that talks to myself in dreams? 'Cause the hubby says I'm a FREAK!

Freak or not, I am determined to write another post this week! And just to make it more confusing, let's do Part I of spring break ..... you know, now that you've already seen Part II. HA.

Part I is the week THEY CAME TO TOWN!

They, being the Gulkes..... or at least half of the Gulkes.

Surprise!

At least it was a sweet surprise for me when they called the week before and asked if it would be okay for them to head on down for a little spring break reunion.

Ummmm, HECK YEAH!

Gour Bed and Breakfast is always open to friends and family.

And the Gulkes count as both!

Besides, it was a great excuse to use the two family passes we had just acquired for Charlestown Landing. A place we have not taken our children in years!

Fun for all ages!

The weather was beautiful..... and so was the company.

Although I didn't see any rules posted..... I'm pretty sure this kid broke some! I won't disclose the lengths to which he had to go to get into the loft where that window access is..... nor go into detail about the wild animal that was none to happy about him being there!

We were unsuccessful in getting him into the stocks for his punishment.... but, somehow his sister ended up there.

As did his father!

A different day found us loaded into the van for a beach day.

And a wonderful day it was! One of the best I've had in a long time. The weather was perfect, no one was sunburned at the end and there was plenty of food and fun for everyone! Not to mention the sightings of a huge pod of dolphins playing nearby.

Our group, plus a few extras in the form of some of Isabel's besties and Asher's Godsisters.

Isabel, with two of her closest friends, Abby and Stephanie.

So much fun!

And the rest of the break was spent just enjoying the company!

The wonderful company!

The End

Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter and Stuff

We usually go out of town for Easter. This means going to an Easter service on Saturday night, then getting up and packing everyone in the van for a day on the road. Last year we weren't up to it because Asher was so new to us. And this year? This year we decided that we weren't up for it either.

Instead, we went back to serving at Boone Hall, where our church does a community wide Easter celebration. We were up at 6am and on the road by 7am. That's pretty good for a family of 7! It was a beautiful day for it, too. Sunny, but cool with few bugs this year! Isabel and I rocked babies in the infant tent, the boys and Paul served as ushers, welcoming some 4000-5000 guests to the worship tents!

Afterwards, we ran into Isabel's God-family and ended up with an invitation to picnic on the lovely grounds of Boone Hall Plantation. Sadly, I've no pictures to share of this.

But, I did manage to snap a few from our lazy afternoons this week during Part II of spring Break. I have found that since getting our chicks, we spend a lot more time in our back yard. Good thing?

Well, the chicks think so! They love it outside. Naturally. But, still spend their nights inside. Why? Probably, because I like hearing them peep at night and in the morning. Certainly not, because they aren't big enough or feathered enough now. Plus, we have no idea if these are hens or roosters and I don't want to find out after the neighbors let us know!

But, also because they don't have a secure area yet. Just a playpen that we fashioned out of chicken wire.... that they fly right over!

Time to clip some wings.

And Paul is working on a chicken coop that will be finished soon!

We also dyed our eggs outside this year. Much less worry when it came to spills and things!

Asher was too cute! But then, isn't he always?

Adorable.

And Isabel always let's her own artistic style shine!

Big boys spent time enjoying our new hammock, which I love, love, love! And reading in the spring sunshine.

Of course we had egg hunts on Easter Sunday too.

Everyone got into the fun!

And Daddy read the Resurrection Story to the kids.

With the Resurrection Eggs.

We don't dress in Easter finery, since we serve outside for church.

But, I got some cute pictures, none the less! Like this one of a kiss from sister to brother.

That's what happens around here when you are not so sweet to your sister..... she gets to kiss you and you have to let her!

Did I mention that we LOVE our new hammock?

And our kids are pretty cool too!

Oh, and so are cousins that visit for Easter egg hunts!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Catching Up.

I'm really turning out to be a bad blogger. I know. I've been composing a post for several weeks, that is still waiting to be published. But, thought I'd do a quick update anyway. I'm out of town right now. Took my youngest three and came to see my Great-Niece for the first time. Very exciting! I couldn't wait to get some snuggles. And, I got to spend some time with the rest of my family too!

Yes, she really is this beautiful! No Photoshop necessary.

Yes, I really did take 50 pictures of her in one sitting.

'Cause who can resist?

And, who doesn't love baby toes? Seriously!

So, I totally remember holding Kennley's MOTHER when she was this small.

Crazy.

Now that I've spent a day holding her, I guess I can go home tomorrow.

And take care of my chicks.

Yes, we are raising a couple of chicks. Right now it's just a project. But, IF any of them turn out to be hens, we will keep two for eggs. For a little while anyway. My grandmother had chickens when I was growing up. Hearing their little peeps in the box reminds me of going to the post office to get her chicks whenever she mail-ordered some new ones. They came in a box with holes and she would let us hold the box on our lap for the drive home. They would peck at our fingers through the holes. It makes me happy to hear them peeping.

No, I haven't raised chickens before. Yes, I know they smell. Now, that we have that out of the way, the kids and I are learning. Isn't that what it's all about?

Do not ask Paul how he likes the peeping. He says that if we get ONE MORE animal he's going to charge zoo admission to anyone that comes over!

Maybe that can fund our homeschool activities! The kids would love to do more projects like this one.

'Cause who doesn't love a moon phase activities that involves cookies?

And eating them afterwards!

I know these kids did.

And yes, those are all-natural!

That's how we roll!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Fitting in

A year ago right now, we were on the other side of the world. We were just hours from meeting our little wild-man for the first time. Oddly enough, everything else seemed familiar. We had been in the same city, same hotel and gone to the same orphanage a few years before to meet Claire. So, I may have been a little too comfortable to to be able to fully anticipate what we got with Asher.

And, oh my did he break us in good those first days in Tianjin! Yes, there were days when I asked myself if this child was really going to fit into our family. He was definitely out of my comfort zone! Loved fast food. Pitched fits for attention. Ran from us.

Never.

Slowed.

Down.

His hands were in constant motion trying to touch, push, pull or squeeze anything and everything. We couldn't get on the elevator and ride up or down without making multiple stops because he was so fast and would punch as many floor buttons as he could the first chance he got.

And now The L'il Emperor has been with us for a year! We all survived. More importantly, we all thrived!

Physically, he hasn't changed much. Grown a few inches. Gained a few pounds. Lost a few teeth and grown out his hair. He's the same cutie pie, wild man we raced around the world to bring home!

But.

He has calmed down so very much this year. I believe that a lot of his behavior in China was a reaction to the situation. I still think he was quite spoiled by his foster family and that didn't help. But, I also think he had a touch of Post Traumatic Stress. Who wouldn't?

My fears about his not fitting in were totally unfounded. You wouldn't know that he hasn't been a part of our family all his life. He is loved by everyone and loves us all with the same wild abandon that made me nervous when we met! Turns out, he was exactly what we needed! A little spice. A little reckless hope. A whole lot of happy all-boy fun!