One proud Mama!

  My little boy is now in middle school.  It is hard to believe the phase of us having two little kids is over.  Time has just flown by since he went to school.

  Last night we were blessed to see his elementary completion ceremony where he finished with a bang.  He received the Character Trait award for cooperation, the Outstanding Academic Achievement award, The gold seal President's Education Award including a letter from President Obama, and the Principals award which is one boy and girl from his grade level.  His name will go on a plaque in the hallway.  He was very excited and I was very proud and so thankful that God gave me such a sweet little boy to raise.    

Last night one of the teachers who does not know him very well said when they called that final award the gym teacher next to her said oh good - they could not have picked a better kid to give the award to.  She said she went on and on about how he was such a great kid.  It makes my heart swell to hear that.  

I couldn't be more blessed and proud of him.  He has been a joy to raise.  He is the most easy going kid I know.  

1 week

1 year

My favorite

1st day of kindergarten

Last day of elementary school

5th Grade Completion Ceremony

Receiving the Principal award.

Graduation

Yesterday we had the pleasure of watching Rooney graduate with high honors from high school.  I feel so bad that my camera gave out on me last minute so I did the best I could with my phone and ask another host mom to capture some shots which I hope to get soon.

It was Rooney's Day so we let him pick where to eat and what to do.  He loves sushi so we made reservations at a GOOD sushi restaurant and gave it a try

Jeff and Rooney picked the chef's choice sushi for two.

Carrot went with some chicken and rice with a few california rolls on the side and topped off her meal with a fried brownie.

Jeff trying sushi for the first time.

I like to play it safe so I ordered california rolls which I know i already like.  Not crazy about how these came with orange fish eggs on top but they were still good.

Memorial Day

We had planned to do an overnight on the boat this Memorial Day weekend but the chilly temperatures and 25 mile per hour winds called that off.  We still were able to get out for a few hours on Memorial Day the the sunny sky that quickly turned gray which was a disappointment.

The kids wanting to get in the little boat by themselves

At this point only Carrot had been brave enough to jump in but she was coaxing John and Banana to give it a try.

"ah it is so cold....ah so cold"  LOL we heard that over and over again

This begins the serious of silly jumps off the boat that John wanted me to document.  He showed me how to take multiple fast photo's with my phone in order to capture this

Take two

After the strange jumping contest we got ready to leave and pulled the anchor and started the engine only to have the engine make a strange noise then stop - GREAT.  Jeff realized that the boys probably left the rope they had been playing with in the water out and it tangled in the engine thus sending Jeff to have to go into the cold water himself and go under the boat and untangle the rope from the propeller.  Every breath he took to go under the boat I was holding my breath as well.....this boating stuff causes me too much anxiety.

Fun and Fitness Day

Last week I had the pleasure of attending fun and fitness day at my kids school.   The weather was hot but not too bad and the kids always have a blast. 

Carrot was on the white team

I can't believe this is Banana's last fun and fitness day 

 On the blue team

Korea signed Hague

Korea signed the Hague treaty yesterday  Global post article Here .  I know there has been talk of this but I was kind of hoping it would not happen until our adoption was complete.

The Hague is a treaty or set of rules that establishes international standards for intercountry adoptions.  The Hague is aimed to establish best practices keeping the children's best interest in mind.  I think overall this is probably a good thing but I am hoping there are no more delays in the program.

I guess we will have to wait and see what this will mean for us.  It could be that they will grandfather those who currently have an I-600 in the program and we will not have to redo our paperwork or since we are not matched with a child yet they could ask us to redo our paperwork and complete the I-800 process.  I  don't mind doing more paperwork but the last 10 months the Korea program has been going through constant change the process would change from one week to the next.  They would make a set of procedures then change them.  It is very frustrating and leaves you feeling like you can't not fully attach to the idea that your family will grow through this adoption process because you are hesitant something will happen.

I am going to try to look at this as a positive for now.

Planting our garden

It was wet but we decided to plant the garden anyway.  Hoping for some yummy veggies this summer.

 Right before the dog was filthy

Pre-planting instructions

 Ah oh.....she thinks its a big litter box

 Almost done

Carrot picked all flowers for her section of the garden

 This garden will be Banana's responsibility for the summer.....I will take a picture in a few weeks so we can see how high the weeds are :)

Beautiful night for boating

 Friday night we spent a beautiful night out on the boat.  I forgot almost everything from our sailing lessons last year so we just sort of took it slow and sailed back and forth in the river not far from the marina.  I figured sailing was like riding a bike and it would come back to me rather quick :)

We packed a picnic dinner and ate out on the boat and then just spent some time sailing around until it started to get dark.

Banana learning how to follow the compass

Me and my mini-me

My cute fluffy puppy

 More puppy

...and more puppy on Jeff's lap headed home on the dingy

I know I have to stop taking so many pictures of the dog he is just so darn cute in his little life vest.