One First Grader and Two Preschoolers

This year Abram started first grade and Jack and Luke started three year old preschool.  Abram started a week before the boys so we were able to celebrate for just him and then the following week we celebrated just our preschoolers.  

This year, Abram is 6, he likes to play with legos, his brothers and go swimming. He wants to be an engineer when he grows up and design roller coasters. 

My friend made this for Abram. Every year we are going to take his picture wearing it so we can watch how much he grows!

I love taking these pictures every year!

In front of his school, West Riverside Elementary School.

And, a week later Jack and Luke started preschool.  They go to a sweet school that only meets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Chris and I decided (after much prayer and talking to other teachers) to separate the boys this year. We knew it would be tough on them but in the end we also knew it would be what's best for them. We love that they are best of friends, but we also want them to be independent and have experiences as individuals. We went the week before school started to meet their teachers. Jack was fine... Luke, not so much. He screamed the whole time because he wanted to be with Jack. Poor Guy.

In Jack's room... he was so excited!

Jack LOVED this painting in their bathroom. He insisted on a picture. Luke is still traumatized. 

Then, the night before school started we read the book, "The Kissing Hand." I always think it's harder for me to read it to them than for them to listen to it. It's such a sweet book!

Then, they were off! They were thrilled that it was finally their turn to take a picture with the sign!  I love their smiles!

They had a decorate a picture of themselves and bring on the first day. They turned out so cute and they were so very proud!

Look at that smile!

Luke, with his Little Luke!

I just love this picture! 

And their HUGE backpacks!!

So excited!!

We know this year is going to be great for our first grader and preschoolers. So very blessed to be able to send them to such great schools with sweet teachers. And... after the first week, Luke did great and Jack cries as I leave but his teachers tell me that he calms down quickly. It will get better!

Abram 5th Gotcha Day

This year was Abram's fifth gotcha day! We can't believe we have been a family for five years. Its just crazy.  This day, and the days leading up to his gotcha day, are always full of questions, excitement and celebrating. It seems like every year Abram's questions get deeper and more thought provoking. We always want to tell Abram the truth about his story, but we want to give it to him as he is ready.  Every year we let him choose a family activity that he gets to do with everyone. This year he chose to go kayaking at one of our springs. It was extra special this year because Abram's cousins and aunt and uncle were here to celebrate.  We all loaded up and headed towards the springs.  After a quick picnic, we got in the freezing cold water.  There was a storm on its way so they weren't renting the kayaks, but we had fun swimming and jumping into the water. Abram, Jack and Luke were so brave! We had a blast jumping in! What a fun day!

Our annual picture.  He loves doing this!

Our family picnic.

We love our sweet boy!

Our family... so uniquely designed by God. We love it!!

Jumping in with Abram and Luke!

Jumping in with Jack!

Abram, you have taught us so very much in these brief five years.  You are such an amazing kid and we are so completely honored that God chose us to be your parents. We know God has such an amazing plan for your life and we can't wait to watch it unfold.  You are strong, resistant, smart, and so very kind.  You love figuring things out, creating, and asking questions.  You are the bravest boy I know.  Many people tell us how lucky you are to have a family. The truth is, Abram, we are the lucky (and so completely blessed) ones that we have the joy of watching you grow up. Our prayer is that you grow up having a heart for God and that you find a way to bless others.  

"It is important to realize we adopt not because we are rescuers.  No, we adopt because we are rescued." (David Platt)

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy!

We had a wonderful summer! At first I thought it would be boring because we couldn't take a vacation... Chris is the only meteorologist at Mayport which means he can't leave during hurricane season (June-November). But we made the most of it and we tried to have something fun planned for every day.  Staying at home would make everyone crazy!

This is how we started summer... Abram loved coming home from his last day of kindergarten to the front door decorations. 

We did manage to squeeze in one small trip... my mom came for a visit and Chris and I took Abram on a quick road trip.  We went to Tampa to see the Seattle Mariners play the Rays and to Universal Studios. It was a fun trip and Abram caught the first foul ball of the game!

Since we had to stay around Jacksonville, I found fun things to do around our town and made a schedule. We had Make Something Monday, Treat Tuesday, Wet Wednesday, Lazy Thursday and Fun Day Friday. We had fun exploring new places and trying new things. 

Abram went here for a field trip. He was excited to show his brothers this nature center.

Jacksonville has many big bridges since a huge river runs through our city.  This park has miniature bridges from the city to play on. 

We have a famous museum in our city called The Cummer Museum.  Saturdays are free, so we took a trip on Saturday to check it out. The boys did great! It was interesting to see what caught their eye.

We read a book at home that has an ice cream truck in it, so we were on the lookout for one to take Jack and Luke to for their first visit. We finally found one and they were thrilled! Messy, but thrilled!

Treat Tuesday... making dirt cups with pudding, chocolate cookies and gummy worms.

Movie Night complete with popcorn! This night we were watching an old movie that I grew up loving, "The Flight of the Navigator." Abram loved it!

First time bowling with all three boys!

Another exciting thing happened at our house this summer... Jack and Luke are potty trained! They did great and now they can attend preschool!

So proud!

Treats for doing so good!!

We also spent lots of time with our friends! We love play dates!!

But our most favorite thing this summer was staying wet in this heat! The twins realized they love the water so we were in the sprinkler, at a splash park or swimming as much as we could!

Our sweet Gram also came for a visit this summer! The boys always love having her here and so do we because she lets Chris and I take as many breaks as we want to. She spoils all five of us so much and loves us so well!

Also, my sister, her husband and my niece and nephew came for a visit. Abram, Jack and Luke just can't get enough of their cousins. Its so sweet to watch them play together!

Beach time with Ella

Aunt Julie introduced the boys to pop tarts for the first time!

Sister time!

Every evening we played board games! Chris is upset because he was losing... bad!

And Jack and Luke realized they love the beach!

I love this so much!!

Sweet boys!

Also, this summer Abram was on our local swim team and he did one week of violin camp! Abram is a great swimmer, but it took him a while to figure out how to do the strokes correctly and quickly, but by the last meet of the season he took second in breast stroke! We were so proud, and so was he! 

And he is amazing at violin. We love watching his talent grow! Can't see what he learns this year.

We also celebrated the Fourth of July... we had fun snacks at home, painted some pictures, went swimming and of course did fireworks! A fun, easy day!

And we ended the summer with our "End of the Summer Donuts." We talked about our favorite memories from the summer and what we are looking forward to in the new year. 

It was an amazing summer but we are also looking forward to first grade and preschool!