First Grade Blues

Ryleigh LOVED her first day of first grade, but I, on the other hand, have contracted a case of first grade blues. It was not any easier to leave her this year than it was last year, so that was my first disappointment. I made it to the van and then the tears started flowing. I know that lots of people look so forward to sending their kids to school, but I am not one of them. I like when we are all home together. Yes, Ryleigh sometimes drives me crazy, but I would much rather have her home! Second disappointment was not knowing the daily schedule in her class at all. No idea when she has recess, what special class she has, when she eats lunch, etc. I am totally out of the loop and I don't like it! If only I was a two year old who could throw myself down and have a good old tantrum! Third disappointment of the day, Tim is picking her up because he got a new extra duty this year where he helps at the bus transfer station at her school. So, I am not the first one to hear about her day. Luckily, she usually tells me a lot more than she tells her daddy. I am very impressed with Mrs. Coffman and I know Ryleigh will have a great year. And somewhere deep down, I am happy about that. But right up front in my mind and heart, I am jealous, because someone else is spending more time with my baby than I am.

Things at home were much quieter with the 4 non-school age kids! Reagan, Ben, Justin, and Lindsey had a blast yesterday. They played so well together, cleaned up great, and all took good naps. As Justin so eloquently put it, "There's no big girls here to be bossy!" Madison did wonderful on her first day of kindergarten. I suppose it won't take very long for us to be in our new routine. I often wonder what life would be like if I didn't babysit. What would Reagan and I do all day?

Reagan is going to a trial run in a gymnastics class tonight! She is very excited! I don't know that she really understands what's going on, but she does like the attention she is getting and everyone asking her "Who's going to gymnastics tonight?" I can't wait to see how she does! If it's anything like swimming lessons, she will move right out of the toddler class and on up with the big kids! And I suspect it won't be long until she falls and breaks a bone as daring and energetic as she is! It will be her first activity that is just for her. Hopefully her big sister will be able to handle being out of the spotlight for 45 minutes!!!

Not much else going on. We know several families who are getting ready to travel to China. It's always so exciting to follow other families on their journey to their children! Too bad it's not us. I am starting to wonder if our little Reese has been conceived yet. I pray that her birth parents will take care of her and put her somewhere safe and that they will be comforted by God's loving arms, knowing that she will be taken care of. I know they could never imagine what her life will be like here, but I hope that can be at peace with their circumstances. I cannot even imagine what it must be like to be faced with abandoning your child. I feel so blessed that we can adopt her and give her the life she deserves and that she will fill our lives with joy and happiness, just like her big sisters. What a complex, emotional situation it is. I just have to keep faith that it's all in God's hands and He will work it out for all of us.

Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see."

Summer is Winding Down!

Yikes, I cannot believe I didn't post anything to this blog for 2 months! I am terrible at keeping up, especially when Tim and Ryleigh are both home! Well, I guess I can only do better!

We have had a busy and fun summer! We haven't done anything big and fabulous, but we have done a lot of little things close to home! It's cheaper and easier that way! Tim taught summer school and his first class at Drury, so he didn't have much time off. And when he was at home, I made him help me with all my projects and all the kids! We did take time off from me babysitting and let Grandma and PaPa keep the girls so we could spend 2 nights in Eureka Springs. It was so much fun, we wondered why we don't get away more often. The girls had a blast with my mom and dad, so there was nothing to worry about! It was a real treat for us to relax and spend time alone! The cabin we stayed in was beautiful and very secluded, perfect for us! And we had satellite tv- yippee- I got to watch reruns of Beverly Hills 90210 and Little House on the Prairie and Tim watched a million episodes of Man vs. Wild, which gave me lots of time to nap and read my celebrity gossip magazines!

Both the girls learned to swim, so the water has been much more fun this summer. We spent a day at the Camdenton Water Park with Brett and Ryleigh had a ball! Reagan, Lindsey, and Ben had a great time, too! Luckily Tim was with me to help keep track of them! We took a trip to the zoo last week even though it was super hot. They all had a good time, especially watching the River Otters. They were the only animals that were really active!

We spent Father's Day weekend in Kansas City to celebrate my parents' 40th anniversary. My grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins, and my brother's family and sister's family all stayed at The Great Wolf Lodge. It was so nice to all be together and the indoor waterpark was enjoyed by everyone! The kids loved their special rooms decorated like a little log cabin!

We learned some exciting news about Yan, the 13 year old we prayed about adopting. Her forever family lives about 2 hours away from us! We will get to meet her!!! She is so beautiful and joining a very lucky family! I just know that God has some special things in store for her! We look forward to getting to know her family and her!

Ryleigh is all moved to the basement in her very awesome new room! We did a great job decorating and it was defintely a family effort! I love it! Reagan sleeps with her about half the time, but so far there have only been 2 times that I had to intervene and send Reagan to her own bed because of excessive giggling! It's so adorable watching them! It reminds of the fun of growing up with an older sister. Hopefully Ryleigh won't be as bossy and snotty to Reagan as Lori was to me! Ha Ha, just kidding, Lori! They have really gotten along well this summer.

I had a mommy meltdown when Ryleigh got her letter in the mail from her 1st grade teacher. I just freaked a little when I read the part about sitting at her own big first grade desk! I hadn't thought about her not being at little kindergarten tables anymore. The image of her sitting at a real desk, made me cry! It all goes by so fast! Thank God I have been able to stay at home with my kids. We went to "First Grade Sneak Peek" last night so we got to meet her teacher and she got to pick out her own desk! We know she is going to have a great year with Mrs. Coffman, she seems like an excellent teacher and perfect for Ryleigh! Everyone will be happy, but mommy!

Reagan is still working on being a big girl with the potty training thing. We have resorted to bribery with a Snow White princess dress. We look at it everytime we go to Wal-Mart to remind her that big girl princesses wear panties. I am not holding my breath...

We are 5 months into our wait for Reese. Still at least another 18 I am sure. The referrals that came out last week were the people logged in on Nov. 21, 2005. So, there's no point in doing anything but working on patience around here! Her room will stay the way it is for awhile, it will be too sad to have it all ready and then have to wait another year and a half.

Well, hopefully I will post more sooner rather than later!!!