chains

I think we need to install a few chains on the doors and additional locks on the windows. I can already see that boys will be looking for ways to get in to see our girl; good thing there is a great daddy to stand in the way!

Boy, oh boy

I wish Matthew would come out of his shell more.

Maybe even become a dare devil.

And try things that none of the other kids would while running through the sprinkler.

I mean, really show us some personality.

Maybe when he comes out of his shell his personality can really come through in photos, just maybe.

the oldest birthday boy

This handsome young lad is the newest 12 year old in the house! I can't believe he turned 12 today; it seems like only a short time ago I was trying to make his crazy, cowlicked blond hair lay flat. He's nearly completed his first year of middle school and I couldn't be more proud of his achievement and poise.

He chose a homemade marble cake with chocolate frosting for his birthday celebration. He is now set for the summer after receiving many large books (Jacob loves to read!) and the new Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii.


Whoa, that is a lot of candles on that cake!
Making his wish before blowing out the candles.

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.
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A couple of weeks ago it was not me who struck up a conversation with a lady shopping with three children, two of which were adopted from China; no, that would seem downright stalkerish and I would never do something like that. I would never obtain things like her name, website, email and church name in just under twenty minutes; who do you think I am, a detective or something? If I did do something like that I might come home and immediately Google her church and find where they meet and what time.

I did not warn all the children Saturday night that we were trying out yet another new church and lay out their clothes with explicit directions for Sunday morning. Wake up, eat breakfast, get dressed for church; got it? Somehow we were all ready for church an hour early so we ran an errand beforehand to save time in the afternoon. Of course, I double checked the directions to the church before leaving because I would never assume that I instinctly knew where the church was located because I had been down that road several times. No way, I always familiarize myself with addresses and directions before taking off somewhere new; I can't rely on my friendly GPS anymore, remember?

After driving around for half an hour I might have admitted that I really didn't know where the church was. After deciding to abandon the search for that church we decided to return to one that we've visited several times before. Upon pulling into that parking lot we realized that something wasn't quite right; the parking lot that is usually packed at 11:00 was now nearly deserted. By this time we may have been driving around for an hour and one child in particular was starting look a little green.

After all of this we did not completely give up the idea of worshipping God in a church building and decide instead to take in His beauty at a park playground with the kids dressed in church clothes. We did not get any funny looks about having two girls frolic around on playground slides with nice dresses and white shoes on; nope, that is completely normal. Right?