Vacation (aka Doctor appts and Jellystone park) begins!

 We stayed up LATE tonite (after swimming lesson #2)

celebrating the beginning of vacation 2011. 

Our bedtime snack was Ramen noodles (request of Ava) and at the last minute

I decided to only put out chopsticks and

Korean spoons to see what kind of reaction I got. 

Which also made me realize that a trip to our favorite

VERY authentic Korean restaurant

and a Caribe Creole restaurant called Boogaloo

might be the perfect destinations

on this interesting  STL vacation we are embarqing on.

(I do think I need to do this more often...they enjoyed it immensely.) 

Recently I have been questioned alot about their birthlands...so I do believe it is time to begin absolutely celebrating and experiencing those things unique to each country. 

And what a great time to do that - on our vacation!

Which officially begins tonite...but truly no traveling happens until Wednesday.

Monday we have dr. appt. after dr. appt...

in Columbia (watch out "Going Bonkers!)

and

Thursday is dr. appt after dr. appt after dr. appt...

but after that we are completely tourists enjoying the big city of St. Louis!

Friday night we are hanging out with fabulous friends

that we miss so much.

One day we are going to the zoo and pet some stingrays..

and possibly see some giraffes (Alec's request).

We are contemplating an afternoon at the water park...it is just a little hot!

Needless to say - we are a bit excited about this vacation.

I do wish our destination was a beach - they desperately want to do that...

and next year that is definitely happening.

This year we just need to stick closer to home...

to get these dr. appointments under control...

(poor Ava gets the brunt of the testing and Dr. appts as usual)

and just have fun where we are.

Jellystone Park

(which has a train ride, pool and Yogi Bear, so in other words - Kid friendly!)

watch out...

the Bryant's arrive Wednesday...

and you may never be the same.

Haircuts

so cute!

Sunday Spotlight...."exhausted"

What a week...and what a weekend!

The heat is horrible...so it was the perfect time

for the kids to start swimming lessons!

They are crazy swimmers in our little pool...

but it is time for them to learn some real swimming.

We decided to hire someone to privately give them this first lesson...

and I am glad we did.

She is wonderful...and they are learning alot.

We go again this Friday and Saturday. 

Alec is not as fearless in the water as the other two -

 but he showed me tonite in our pool how to "scoop the ice cream"

and blow bubbles! 

Korbyn got tubes in her ears Thursday.

Much needed...and I think she will be talking in full sentences by her birthday.

She wasn't too excited about her ear plugs and headband...

but decided it was worth it to go swimming! 

Friday and Saturday we were totally blessed by our very special visitors...

Miss Raena Joy (and her parents!)

Rae has changed SO MUCH and is a smiley happy baby! 

So fun to cuddle...

she is absolutely precious. 

And very beautiful if I do say so myself! 

Saturday night Sammi came to spend the night...

and got here in time to hold baby Rae! 

Plus do a little gator driving!

It was a fun busy weekend.

We are completely exhausted.

But in a very good way!

Vacation Bible School

Alec LOVES Vacation Bible School.

Loves it. 

Ayden has some trepidation - but does seem to enjoy it once he gets going.

And tonite he had WAY more fun. 

(Cause Kaitlyn chased him in "Duck, Duck, Goose")

Ava went last night after hanging close with me in the craft room for over an hour.

Tonite she called her Dad to come pick her up. 

You just never know do you?

She was so excited to make sure Alec had fun...

cause he was going to the big kid 4 year old class...

and she thought he would be scared.

And instead he is totally rockin' it without her.

Every day is a surprise.

T Ball

Ayden had a FABULOUS final T-ball game tonite!

He hit a wonderful line drive from a pitch.

He caught a grounder and threw it to first base without too much coaching...

He ran the bases instead of walking them.... 

And he had fun!

Prayers...

Praying tonite for the sweetest family....struggling with the most devastating thing that can happen.  Their son Jordan - was diagnosed with lymphoma today.  He is a baseball playing, funny, smart, darling 5th grader....and if you happen to be praying tonite....I hope you will say an extra prayer for them.

http://jordon24.blogspot.com/

Our kids were absolutely precious tonite..at our dinner prayer. 

Praying for their long list of people they love...with Jordan at the top.

My favorite phrase...

"I love you Jesus...Amen." 

This family is leaving the dishes in the sink tonite....

and going swimming.

Life is indeed precious and we better live each moment. 

Sunday Spotlight...roadtrippin'

This weekend consisted of some serious roadtripping!

Shannon and I took off for Nebraska for my 30th class reunion.

(Without kids!) 

and we just got home tonite....6 hours on the road Friday..

(we ran some "farm" errands in the morning and then drove to KC that night)

6 hours on the road Saturday...

(detoured because of the Missouri flooding)

9.5 hours on the road today.

Aunt Kristi and family kept our 3 (and Korbyn Friday night!)...

and if she is telling me the truth....

they were well behaved!

They told me tonite as I was tucking them into bed...

that they had a wonderful time..

swimming, going to the races, playing games..

and hanging out with all their cousins!

Mom and Dad were also in NE this weekend - celebrating Mom's 50th class reunion. 

They had a fabulous time visiting with old friends.

And so did I - it is always fun to catch up with people...

and it always feels like "going home" when I travel to Nebraska.

We spent Friday night in KC...

so of course we had to stop and visit Rae before we headed out of town! 

She is smiling and interacting and getting BIG!

More pictures to follow on the photo blog after I get some time to play around with them! 

Dad brought us some gorgeous glads before we left...

and a little "friend" came along for the ride....

and built a BIG spider web in our absence! 

The kids thought it was pretty cool.

I am thinking he can go outside now!

July 4, 2011

It was a fun 4th of July.

Family, fireworks, swimming, swinging, eating, laughing, horseshoes and washers.

What a great way to celebrate our country!

Sunday Spotlight - Hanboks

 A few months ago we got a surprise package from Korea.

In it was two beautiful hanboks. 

And a wonderful note from Alec's foster family.

It always makes me so happy...and so sad to hear from them. 

 I know how much they loved our two.

And how much Ava and Alec loved them.

And we reap the benefits of that love every day....

cause they are some sweet, sweet kids.

Ayden was thrilled that I bought a few "extra" hanboks when I was in Seoul...

so he had one to wear as well! 

Doesn't he look super handsome in his "summer haircut"?

Can you get much more adorable than this...really?

I look forward to printing these pictures....and writing letters to two very special families.

Two families that will always be part of our children's lives...

It seemed very fitting as we will be celebrating the 4th of July tomorrow...

and how much we love our country...

that we also celebrate our children's Korean heritage

and the gifts we were given.