Pumpkins!

This past weekend we spent a day together.  With the busyness that has engulfed us, we are trying to carve out family time.  It is definately not easy to find time, but I can see my children growing into adults right before my eyes and I am determined to make the most of the time I have left with them living in my house.  It was a cool and crisp Saturday and we headed out to pick up Hannah and the boys.  We took off to a cute little feed store that has tons of pumpkins.  Wayne has recently finished a job that was along the way so we stopped to give it a test!  It is a series of climbing rocks that honestly does not look like much, but it was so fun to climb on them!

After our backs were killing us from climbing and lifting we finished playing, we headed on over to get our pumpkins.  All Sydney wanted was a "baby punkie".  We were all doing our best to talk her into a bigger size that we could actually carve.  So when we went inside to pay, the owners said that they had been watching her want the little one, and they just gave it to her.  So sweet.

We tried to sit the kids up on pumpkins to get a decent shot, but the little ones kept falling off their pumpkins.  It was so cute.  But we did get a semi-decent picture.

Sydney proudly loaded up her baby punkie and set it right beside her in her carseat.

Then we headed off for lunch and one more playground where my big girls got into a jumping competition.  Actually they were trying to jump out of the swings at the same exact time.  Didn't happen.

Eventually we got them off the swings, home, and carving pumpkins.

 

We tried to give Sydney's pumpkin Asian eyes, but they came out looking more evil than Asian.  She wasn't too sure she liked it.  In the end she preferred her baby punkie!

Where' s Sydney?

It's that time again...

 

Oh yes, she is inside our couch.  I do not know how.  I do not know why.

Volleyball Victory!

Oh yes. 

Last night was the biginning of the end. 

It all comes down to this tourney. 

It was the district tournament finals. 

If you win, you keep playing.  If you lose, season is over.

And we were up against our rivals, the Bismark Indians. 

We wooped up on them in 2 straight sets!!!!

  It was soooooo fun.  I was so proud of our girls, they worked so hard.  We had 2 of our girls named to the first All-District team and then ASHLYN was named to the 2nd All-District team.  I was a bit misty.

We went into districts ranked 4th in the state.  Bismark was ranked 3rd.  We now advance to the sectional playoffs on Saturday evening.  Not sure my nerves can handle much more.  This is such a flashback moment for me.  When I was a junior in high school, we won the state championship.  Such a sweet memory.  I am not even gonna think beyond Saturday.  We will play at 3:00 & I'll keep you posted!

Busyness and a Crown

Well we have spent the last few weeks covered in glue, glitter, sand, and tissue paper. 

Ashlyn was elected as the Junior class Fall Festival candidate.  We were forced into the chaos of had the priviledge of building her a float, organizing a skit/talent, building a booth, and buying a dress.  It actually was quite fun, even if a bit overwhelming.

The overall theme was "Remember When...".  We chose the individual theme of "Remember When the Beach Boys Were Hot!"

And without further ado,  the float:

The skit:

The booth:

And the DRESS:

And at the end of the day, a crown.  Yes she won!  It was alot of hard work.  But it was alot of fun too!

Ashlyn has a great group of classmates and friends.

Ash and RayVen.  They have been friends forever!  RayVen is a sweet girl that we all just love!!

Ash and Anna, our exchange student from Germany.  She is staying with some of our best friends, Dale & Laura.  They helped us soooo much with all the work.  Anna is so fun!  We want to keep her!

Ashlyn's escort was her buddy, Cody!  He was such a good sport!  He is a good guy!

Ash and her buddy Shawn.  He tried really hard to learn the dance, especially the twist!  He is so fun!  Sydney absolutely loved playing with him!

So that is what the last few weeks have included.  In the grand scheme of things, it is not too important.  But in our family it is alot of great teamwork and memories.  Several times throughout the day, a sadness would come over me and I would think, "Abbey is missing this."  I really wanted her home for this.  I am having that feeling more and more as time passes.  It is the miracle of adoption.  God knits our hearts together before we even meet.  I cannot wait to go get her.  God is providing for every need.  He is confirming things to me constantly.  I will share some of them later, but right now I have to go find Sydney!