Always read the dessert menu first....

I was tagged to write a six word memoir. I have never been tagged before, since I am fairly type A, this kinda stressed me out. Do I write about my faith, because this is serious, right? Do I write about how happy my children and loving husband make me? Do I write about Dave? In the end however, I decided my memoir would start with....Always read the dessert menu first. When I go out to eat I always do, because I love sweets. I have been known to travel to the bakery in my pajamas just to get the first doughnuts in the morning. I also have sent Russ to the Jewel for a late night chocolate, whip cream cake....or tonight to the Dairy Queen for a box of Dilly bars. So here is to all of you dessert lovers, and always read the dessert menu first.

A week in review.....

No one has ever accused me of being a night owl, but here I am blogging at 10:22pm, I am usually asleep. However, my computer has been acting up and I am trying to upload all my photos to Walgreen's so I do not loose them.....I was uploading 415 photos and the process stopped at 388, now I will have to start all over.

I posted a lot this week so there is not much to update on. The Little Tike's pool deflated as soon as I drained it to move it to a new spot, lucky for June the nice people at Little Tikes are replacing it for us.

Yesterday we spent the evening with my grade school friend and June's Godmother. We had a fabulous time. I was hoping to have pics of the event, but forgot the camera...UGH. Thanks for the great night!

TJ continues to heal well and will get his stitches out when we return from our annual 4th of July trek to the cabin.

Speaking of the cabin this next week will be postless unless I can intercept WIFI from city hall. I plan on working on the digital scrapbook of our China pictures. My goal is to have the whole book completed by our one year anniversary(which is approaching rapidly).

I'm sure I could figure out more to blog but I am tired and I plan on going to bed. Hopefully when I return I will have plenty of new pics and stories to post!

The garden............

Thanks to Russ I was able to post a photo of the garden(he weeded). Thanks Russ!

Summer day........

I decided to take some pictures of June today with the new camera....boy do I have a lot to learn! Lucky for me I have a good subject.

Surgery....

Just a little update....TJ did have surgery on his hand yesterday. The doctor removed an 1/2 inch piece of fiberglass from his hand. The patient is doing great and hoping to salvage the end of summer break!

Sweet, Sweet, summer.....

According to Rolling Stone Magazine: “Summer means two things in America: It’s hot, and the Dave Matthews Band are on tour.” And this year is no exception.

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you know I am a huge DMB fan. This year I have tickets for 2 nights at Alpine Valley and I can't wait. However, that last statement is not entirely true. I am quite nervous to leave June with anyone because of the breath holding. Russ and I are getting used to it and I would hate for anyone else to have to go throug it because it is so scary! As the concert gets closer we will have to decide what to do....the other kicker is that Russ has a meeting he has to go out of town for and my not be able to go both nights....Ugh! So I anxiously await for our final Dave plans to come to light....whatever happens I know it will be perfect.....here's to you Dave!

The pool, again......

June had more time in the pool today, this time no duck!

Nikon D40..............

First photo with the Nikon D40

Rebecca and me in China.

For those of you who know me you know about Rebecca(Our Journey to MeiLin), we do many things alike, some even say we look alike. So when Rebecca decided to get the Nikon D4o, I had to have one too. The picture of the lily above is the first pic on the new camera.

June and the evil duck.....

June was excited about her pool until Jake turned on the hose....the spray that comes out of the duck is stronger than a jet engine. After being sprayed in the face and a short run around the yard June was done. Next time no duck, or as Jake calls it "evil duck".

More to come...

Fun in the sun to come this afternoon....

A week in review...............

I remember when I was in first or second grade thinking how long Christmas break was from the first day of school.....now I work for one of the world's largest retailers and we joked at work today that the holiday merchandise should be hitting the shelves any day! I guess I don't really have a point except one-half of this year is over and it is going fast.

We had a very eventful week here. It was the first full week of summer vacation and I think the kids had a great time. All three spent lots of time with friends in the neighborhood. I am so glad we live in a neighborhood with so many families. One of my favorite memories as a child was playing with friends on our block....still friends 30 years later.

Jake went to the Dells with our friends and had a great time. He walked on a dry Lake Delton, rode the fastest roller coaster in the state, swam, and shopped. Jake has always had a generous heart. One night he called and told me he was buying gifts for his brothers and wanted to buy something for June too. I told him not to worry about anything for June, however, my friend C informed me Jake had picked out a purse made of Chinese silk with a panda stuffed animal. Jake wanted to give this sweet gift to June on her GOTCHA day, how could I say no.

TJ spent a lot of time with his friends this week, I am learning to loosen the reigns a little and it is very hard. All in all, however, I think he had a good time. Unfortunately his injury last Friday is not doing to well. He apparently has a piece of fiberglass lodged under his skin and will have to have surgery to remove it.

June is doing great(we won't mention the two breath holding spells this week). She has been with us for longer than she has been without us...I was reading what her foster mother wrote about her and it just describes her perfect....stubborn, loves music, energetic, and likes animals. All of her descriptions were right on, especially energetic. June has blown my theory that girls are not as busy as boys. June has also mastered climbing, running, and playing with anything but toys, as well as pointing out any bird that passes by.

My week was good because I figured how to arrange the HTML to add the lovely background papers you now see on the blog. One might say I was on a mission. Next week on to my new camera, hopefully, R will have figured hers out and she will give me a lesson and I can post some new pics!

Blog Help...........

Three years ago when we started our adoption journey I could not even send an e-mail...this week I have been editing HTML computer language to update the blog. I have only finished the test blog, but I am on my way. Thank you to this fabulous blog.

June and the swing...

A week in review......

And yet another Sunday night rolls around....We had a very active week as you can see from my posts during the week. I guess the big news is Summer Vacation. The boys were very happy to start their break. As I said earlier the boys went out with a bang, what I did not post is that all three boys ended the school year with straight A's, we are very proud of all of them. Also, speaking of school I have started the countdown to the beginning of school you can follow our progress on the sidebar.

Soccer has finally ended, it was a very long season for me! The two younger boys had their end of the year soccer party on Thursday and TJ had his on Saturday. Summer sports include golf camp and Max would like to take guitar lessons. Next fall we will start football which will be something new for us and we are looking forward to the change. TJ tried out for 2 different travel teams and decided to try a new league, he will be playing in his age division for the first time since he started travel soccer.

There are no pictures of the garden this week because it is overrun with weeds. The relentless rain this week has kept the weeds growing and me from pulling them.....hopefully next week we will have it looking a blog ready!

June...As you saw from some of my posts June had a good week. She seems to be a little more brave in her choices in larger groups of people. We had two soccer parties this week and she spent time with some of our friends, she let them feed her and interact with her more than usual. June is also turning into quite the character....she loves to dance whenever she hears music and engages others to play with her(usually ending in a good belly laugh). In church today a baby(one year old) was crying and June kept saying ...."baby, baby", of course not recognizing she is a baby herself. June also had her 15 month check up this week and she is doing great! Breath holding is still an issue but the episodes are have been fewer and farther in between(hopefully the trend will continue).

With that good night and of course Happy Father's Day to all, especially to Russ!

New stuff everyday.....

One thing I love about having a one year old in the house is that almost everything is a first. Today June pushed baby in the stroller for the first time and she enjoyed her first popsicle on a hot summer day!

We also attended our first soccer party with June, it was so much fun to see her interact with every one. The boys love having their baby sister with them and she really had a good time, she especially liked the "Cheetos"!

June's first sprinkler fun.........

June had her first time in the sprinkler today, she had a great time!

Let's talk....

I have watched "Dan in Real Life" at least four times and I have added it to my favorite movie list. For those of you who have not seen it yet I highly recommend it(you know who you are :). I could watch it over and over and not get tired of it. The story line is sweet and entertaining and yes, real.
OK, now on to bragging on my kids....I can do it because it is my blog. TJ received the Presidential award for academic excellence this year, as well as awards for straight A's in science and social studies.....way to go! Young Max won the 2nd grade spelling bee(a skill he did not inherit from me, I love spell check!). Tomorrow is the last day of school, wish me luck!

A week in review.............

Well, I can honestly say I don't remember much about this week and as far as I am concerned that is a good thing....nothing notable!

No soccer practice for the little boys and we had their last games on Saturday. Max scored his second goal for the season and ended on a good note. Jake's game ended in a rain out(surprise, surprise). TJ has one more game next week and has tried out for 2 different travel teams, hopefully we will find out soon.

On Thursday we participated in a 5k to in memory of a child from our community. We live in a small community and it is so remarkable to see all the support the people, businesses, and neighbors give to others in our town. We are blessed to live in a place where people care about others and are ready to lend a hand when needed.

I guess last but not least is "Kung Fu Panda".....Russ took the boys today and everyone loved it. Some quotes included, "best movie ever", apparently I missed out!

The Garden............

I promised pics of the garden and here is the first one.....it is not looking to good right now, we went from freezing cold to soaking wet! It has been raining here in the Midwest for what seems like days...with more rain to come.

Peonies.................

Lilacs and peonies are my two favorite flowers, we have both of them in our yard. Today I cut peonies to freshen the kitchen, if you could only smell them!

June's week.......

Babies, 5k's, boxes, brothers' shoes and much more!

June and her babies....

A week in review........

Sunday night and as I type one of my favorite movies is on TNT, "Pretty Woman", also Friday night "16 Candles", both movies a blast from the past.....

We had a great week, as you saw we spent Monday with friends and this weekend Russ turned 40! School is winding down, only a week or so to go. I am hoping to have the house back in some sort of shape before the boys get home for the summer. Soccer is also winding down, next year will be much better. Only TJ is playing travel ball, the other boys have chosen football. After next week we are soccer free:)!

The garden is almost complete, all I have left is the herbs and the potatoes(which are still on order). Hopefully by the end of the week everything will be in!

June continues to keep us busy....she is non-stop, curious, sweet, and did I mention cute(ha ha). She is walking quite well and adding new words and skills every day. She is getting good at climbing playground equipment and lets you know what she wants....

Since one of my favs is on I am shutting down for the night!