Mother's Day

See... I told you I was behind in posting!!!

Mother's Day was so much fun!  The kids and I splurged on season passes to Great America last fall which enabled us to go to Fright Fest last October and will get us in free all summer.  They had a great deal when you bought four, included upgrades like free parking all season, and we took some of our gift money for different things and purchased these to use all summer.  So our first time going was Mother's Day... my kind of celebrating!

We had a Blast!

It was a gorgeous day, but chilly.  And even so, those crazy boys decided to go on the ONE water ride that was open.  And their even crazier mom let them! :)  I did mostly because Braeden doesn't like rides.  I know... he doesn't like rides but you bought season passes?!?  Yes, because he loves the FOOD :) and the experience.  He rode THREE rides this day, so I let this be one of the three.  I made them take off their fleece jackets before going on...

and I'm glad because they were SOAKED!  So we stripped the shirts, wore just the jackets, and hung our laundry to dry. :)

This pic cracks me up... I only wish I knew WHAT he was telling Bugs! :)

A very happy Mother's Day indeed!

Way to Go!

So behind in posting!  This time of year is so busy with IEPs and end of the year meetings and paperwork and all that jazz.

Olivia ended the year doing so great in track and loving every second of it!  She made it to sectionals in the 100m dash and was a sub for the eighth grade relay team though she didn't end up running it.  No one from her school unfortunately made it to state, but as we said, there's always next year!

She used blocks for the first time at sectionals and had a little help figuring it out...

It was quite cold this day but she ran like a champ with no complaining...

She ended up third in her heat.  First and Second went on to the finals and she missed it by just a hair...

All in all it was a wonderful experience.  She shared with me that she prays before every race.  BUT, she was adamant that I know that she does NOT pray to win.  Instead, she told me she would pray she "doesn't get hurt or hurt anyone else and prays for God to lead me through it and that I won't quit."

How I adore her heart!

Updates... How I Love Thee

We received an update on our Macy!  It's not much, a short email and one picture, but oh how it helps my heart to see and "hear".  This email shared a bit about her personality, who she is, and not just medical and historical detail like her referral.  She loves pink, and she loves to be "the princess."  I think she'll fit in just fine. :)

Celebrating Even When It's Hard...

Our Macy (waiting in Haiti) turned three on Friday. 

Words can't begin to describe the feeling of knowing your child is having a birthday... and yet you're not with them, not even in the same country as them, and cannot celebrate or see them on their special day.

So in order to stay connected, and to help with those feelings of not doing "something" and letting the kids feel a part of the process, we decided to have a birthday party.  We invited some friends and their kids, I looked up some very fun ideas on Pinterest (of course!), and we planned!

Macy's orphanage is called Rainbow of Love.  In addition, I found a very fitting saying that spoke volumes to where we are trying to keep our heads in this time of waiting.  Combined we created the following invitation and celebration...

Cheesecake covered with frosting and then rainbow Sixlets.

Two layer white polka dot cake with vanilla frosting.

Rainbow trifle!  White cake colored purple, blueberries, Green colored cream (mix of white chocolate pudding and cool whip), white cake colored yellow, orange colored cream, and strawberries... YUM!

We had great weather so the kids were able to play outside.  It was so special to be able to share this day with some friends who "get it" and who care enough to come and celebrate with us.  If my house was bigger I would've invited even more!  (I kind of overdid it on the food!!!)  We are so blessed to have so many special people in our lives!