GOTCHA!

Happy 6yrs home Michael Odelin!

"Oh who could have guessed? Who could have seen! Who could have possibly known?

All of these roads we have traveled, the places we've been-

Would have finally taken us home?

So it's here's to you and three cheers to you!

Let's shout it 'Hip Hip Hooray!'

For out of this world so tattered and torn,

you came to our house on that wonderful morn,

And all of a sudden a family was born.

Oh happy adoption day!"

(by John McCutcheon)

Each of the kids get woken up to our obnoxious singing of this song on their adoption day! This year, Michael chose to go ice-skating for his day-what an adventure! Will and Michael are our roller-bladers and they picked up on it right away. The other kids and Mike soon followed....after a few rounds, the little boys came over and asked when I was going to get out and try-my response "When I'm done being scared!" So John went over and brought me a cone and said "We'll help you." And off we went!!!

Fourth of July Fun! Yay! We had a fun BBQ with family and then fireworks at night(sans mom, she was putting out fireworks on the Adult Unit). John-John was fearless this year with the "fire-pops" and didn't even hesitate when he burned his finger. Everyone had a blast :)

So we finished up 2weeks of swimming lessons....apparently I am raising fish! Judah is just amazing, fully swimming underwater. Emily is getting really good at her strokes! Michael is doing well, but needs to learn to not panic!!!! John-John's hilarious because he is absolutely fearless and wants to swim underwater, but always floats to the top-lol! They will definitely be waterlogged by August!

Memorial Weekend with Fam

We have had a lot of fun this weekend-in spite of allergies! My Aunt Dian, Uncle Hosea, and cousins Anita and Scotty drove up from Oregon to visit. They were fun when I was little and they are still fun now! My kids love to see them. Aunt Dian always brings fun things when she comes and this time it was costumes. We all were laughing so hard...and who knew that Will could be the funniest of them all. I'll post his 'purple' outfit, but you have to imagine the Jay-Z songs "If you're feeling like a pimp" playing in the background(it's not a bad song :)) We had BBQ courtesy of Mike of hours of visiting.

young love :)

Judah went to Chuck-E-Cheese with John and Dad a couple of days ago before John had to go to school. After counting up his tickets he went to browse the goodie counter and spotted 'Best Friend' necklaces that he had enough for....here is what he told Mike "Ooh I can get those and share with Baliegh(flash back to b-day party post). I'll get the blue because there is no purple which is her favorite color." When they got to John's class he got out and gave Baliegh her half...so sweet!

Fishing Day!

This year for Tri-Cities annual Kids' Fishing Day all of my kiddos got to go! It is really cool too because they each get a fishing pole, t-shirt and can catch 3 fishies and someone in the church pays the $5 fee for all of the kids who want to go each year. Well this year they caught the 15 between them...then we all went again the next day as a family and caught a bunch more...then Mike took the little boys the next day...and then the next day Michael got to skip school and go...pretty much a whole week of fishing! They loved it! John appears to be the most dedicated-even staying out in the rain and Michael has the casting down to an art.

Michael Odelin's 9th Birthday!

So Grandma and I scrounged up our best Chuck-E-Cheese coupons and Mo got to have his B-day party there :) He had fun with the family and a few friends. I love boy parties...they are so low maintenance-food, fun, and no frills! They had a blast! Still can't believe he's 9......