What a Difference Seven Years Makes

Our family took a Northwest road trip in 2004 and this summer we visited a few of those same places.  I'm finally sitting down to sort through our vacation pictures (I only quickly looked at them before for daily blogging) and can't help but look back at photos from 2004 to compare.

Here are some "before" and "after" photos.

Prairie Dog Town, SD

Badlands National Park

Redwoods with Paul Bunyan

Redwoods drive thru trees

Redwoods

Big Tree - Redwood National Park

Lake Tahoe

One Week Down

Only thirty-three more weeks to go, but who's counting!?  :)  We got off to a pretty good start with school this last week.  We haven't added in all of our subjects and activities yet, but within the next two weeks we'll be going full force.  It's good to be back into routine again after our fun, crazy, busy summer.

Benjamin is doing more of his schooling independently this year, a pretty big change for him.  I'm proud of the initiative he is taking and the growth that I've seen in him.  School is best for him when he gets to do science experiments!

Michaela and Johanna finished their first sewing projects and I could tell they had such senses of accomplishment.  Now that they're off to a start, they are already creating and working on their own pieces outside of our school projects.

Pillowcases!

First Day of School

Even though Michaela got a head start on us last week, for the rest of us this really was the beginning.  We made today a lighter day so that we could ease back into things.  We also celebrated with a Greek lunch downtown at the yummy Int'l Cafe, hit the library, then had an impromptu play date at the park with friends that we bumped into at the library.  We're looking forward to a new school year and all the new experiences and learning that it will surely bring.

My lovely students:

 (and school mascots)

Sophomore!

Now in Jr. High, 7th grade:

Unofficially a 6th grader:

5th:

Kindergarten!

Another Teen in the House!

Today was Benjamin's day.  We enjoyed celebrating him today and he enjoyed soaking it all in.  From the moment he came upstairs this morning to the moment he went to bed he was all smiles.

His breakfast of choice was cinnamon rolls and of course coffee.

He opened presents after breakfast.  He had been asking (jokingly) for a 4-wheeler, so that's what he got.  Ha!  He enjoyed some fun gifts, but his main gift this year (same as siblings) was a season pass to SDC, which we've already enjoyed a couple of times.

Lunch of choice was onigiri (Japanese rice cakes) with cantaloupe and cream soda.  We had also made a trip to Starbucks for his free birthday coffee.

For dinner Benjamin chose sloppy joes, more cantaloupe and pretzel/strawberry salad.  All that was topped off with chocolate cake.  Oh boy, lots of sugar today!

We are very proud of the young man that Benjamin is becoming.  He always manages to lighten the mood and make us all laugh.  His playful spirit and helpful attitude is a great combination.  He is a treasure that we prayed for, a gift we received, and a blessing to all in our family.  We love you Benjamin, and can't wait to see what God has in store for your future.

The End of Summer

You sure can tell that things have slowed down around here because I haven't blogged in a few days!  It's been a nice shift and we're enjoying soaking up the last few days of summer vacation before getting going on school next Monday. 

Actually, Michaela started in this week because her curriculum goes a couple of weeks longer than the rest of the kid's does, but it's been fairly light work for her.  I also started in with Michaela and Johanna on our sewing class that we'll do this semester, but that's more fun than other school.  It's been something I've wanted to teach them for a long time, but never got around to it.  Now that it's on the schedule we'll be sure to get it done. 

So this week we've had a couple of play dates with friends, the kids have enjoyed playing outside with the kittens, and they've pulled out some crafting things to be creative with.  Five more days until school starts, but who's counting?  :)

Yes, that's Benjamin outside playing in Ami's sandbox while the others get creative.  The boys have often taken over the sandbox with their army men.

Michaela, diligently working away....the bright light by her head is her new fish tank.

Animals and Parties

So the latest on the animal report from our woods is that we saw the triplet fawns again.  So cute!  Then we had this mama turkey and her nine "little" ones.

The new kittens are doing just fine and have adjusted to being outside, although they still aren't quite best fur-friends with the older two cats.  I think they should be Salt and Pepper, but their official names are Marshmallow and Twix.
 

We joined our local FCC group for a picnic today.  We always enjoy getting together with other adoptive families and sharing stories.  Although the kids don't seem to particularly notice, it's nice to be among other families that look a little bit like ours.

This evening we invited Grandpa Hires down to celebrate his birthday with some cake.  Scott and the kids created a fun welcome on the driveway for him.  

We are blessed indeed with friendships around here.  They add a richness to our lives for sure!

Lunch Date!

For quite some time, Chris and I have had a long standing lunch date once a week, but for the last two months we've not been able to make it work with all of our traveling and company. 

Today we finally got back on schedule.  It's so nice having an older child that can take care of things at home.  We appreciate Michaela very much.

It feels like things are finally slowing down here a bit and that we can enjoy the last little bit of summer before school starts up again.   Since June 22 it's been nonstop with traveling and company.

We're not through with house guests though!  The day after Chris' parents left we welcomed Scott into our home.  He has taken a job in our area and is waiting for the rest of his family to arrive from Georgia after the sale of their home.  Our house is God's house and we're glad to be able to share what we've been blessed with.

Disappointments and Sadness....Perspective

Today was to be a big day.  Michaela has had braces for two years and this was finally the big day to get them off.  We greatly anticipated a trip afterwards to the candy story at the mall, corn-on-the-cob for supper and more.

It was all too short lived.  Somehow over the last month, one rogue tooth decided to deviate from the plan and go it's own course.  Our orthodontist felt terrible having to put things off for Michaela, but he wants the best and we appreciate that.  He felt so badly that he gave Michaela generous gift cards to the movie theater and to a local pizza place.  He even offered to pick her up on his Harley and bring her to her next appointment to get her braces off....hopefully next month.

Michaela handled it well at the office and we helped her drown her sorrows later in Junior Mints and Starbucks.  We're proud of her maturity and will all the more greatly rejoice with those braces really come off.

On a very sad note, we found out today that friends of ours lost their two-year old little boy.  We are heartbroken for them and cannot imagine being in those circumstances.  Despite our own disappointments of the day, things were really put into perspective.  This we do know.  God is good, all the time.  We know that He aches with us and rejoices with us.  We will trust in Him no matter our circumstances.

Our hope is in Him and we celebrated that tonight with Johanna's turning two as a Christian.

Johanna has such a spiritual maturity about her.  We are so thankful for this treasure and for our other four treasures that we have been blessed with.  In our perspective today, they were hugged a bit tighter tonight.  Each day is a gift.

Another Good-bye

This morning we took G/G Wolfe to the airport.  With both sets of grandparents living overseas we are somewhat used to these good-byes, but it's not something we'd wish upon anyone. 

After the airport we got to meet up with Kate, Elle, and Zane for lunch.  It's so fun to see Ami and Elle interact, such good pals.  Elle had brought a bracelet for Ami and Ami had brought a ring for Elle.  They even think alike!  :)

We hung out for just a short bit and then had to head home.  Our Wolfe Bed & Breakfast hasn't closed just yet, we've got another guest arriving tomorrow!

Our two most recent fur friends are doing just swell.  Here are some more sweet shots.

Yes, that's a squirrel sprawled out on the stone to cool himself as "Twix" looks on.