Celebrating three years

This week we celebrated KJ's 3rd homecoming anniversary. It's hard to believe it's been three years ago that she and I stepped off that plane to find the rest of the kids waiting anxiously to meet their new sister (Greg had actually already met her in the summer of 2005 when he took a quick trip to Haiti just to meet her). We are continually amazed at the wonderful adjustment she has made into our family. I am once again struck with the fact that I am so blessed to have the privilege of being her mom. She is one special little girl. Here are a few of the pictures we took of the special event this week.

KJ also had her new little friend over for a playdate this week. They had a great time playing together. I think we are going to make it a weekly "date" for the girls.

We are having a three day weekend due to Malaysia's Independence day, which takes place on Monday. We are required to take certain Malaysian holidays off and this is one of them. Doesn't hurt my feelings to have a day off so close to the beginning of school. It has been raining A LOT this week, and the forcast calls for a pretty rainy weekend, but I'm sure we will all enjoy the days off anyway. I hope you all have a great weekend as well.

Weekend and first day photos

Here are the first day of school pictures I was hoping to put in my last post. Guess it decided to work today! yipee!

We have had a nice, relaxing weekend. Greg did his fantasy football draft yesterday with friends and I had a nice chat with some friends and a good workout...next thing I knew it was three o'clock and I felt like I had gotten nothing accomplished! I guess some days are just like that. Today it rained almost all day long which means we all should sleep great tonight without A/C. I think the rainy season has officially begun!

Tomorrow starts another week. I think we are all settling in better and are getting used to our new routines, although Greg has told me I have been a little too stressed in the mornings trying to get myself ready and the kids out of the door on time. Guess I will have to work on changing that this week... ;-)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Back to school

I don't think this post is supposed to happen. This is the second time I have tried getting it up (with pics) and am running into snags...The first time I had part of a post written and then it wouldn't save and I lost it. Now I can't get my pictures to post...Hmmm...





Here is a quick update: school started Tuesday. Everyone is settling in nicely. KJ is in school full time this year (the first time in 16 years of being a mom I don't have a child home at least part of the school day). She made a new friend (her two best buddies are stateside for six months)..another little adoptee in her class...they are very cute together and have very similar personalities..lots of energy and enthusiasm!! I will try to post a photo sometime soon. KR is loving 3rd grade. She was apprehensive at first as she doesn't like to change teachers, but already loves her teacher and her teacher loves her :-) I hope that means it's going to be a great year! ha! KL didn't get the teacher he was hoping for (there are two sixth grade classes, one taught by a lady and one by a man. Having had all female teacher thus far in school he was hoping to get the guy) but he's adjust nicely anyway. He's a good kid and easy to have in class so I am not worried. KD is at the "top of the heap" now in 8th grade. He says there really aren't many perks to the position. Both of the little boys spent Friday night on the annual middle school retreat. They both had a good time and stayed up too late, per usual :-) KB has suprised us this year by trying out for vocal ensemble (and making it) as well as trying out for varsity soccer (tryouts this week). He must be turning over a new leaf! His academic schedule is pretty full this year, but his attitude is good (so far) and we are anticipating a great year for him :-) I have 30 Spanish students this year, more than any year in the past. I am also doing an elementary Spanish club and helping with KR's girl scout group this year. I'm sure I will keep busy even with my extra "free time". Greg is teaching Calculus, Algebra II and Algebra I. He also continues to be our school's Advanced Merit Diploma coordinator.


That's the quick update from our end for those of you who might still be checking in on us! I hope to get a picture posted soon...not sure why I can't get that part to work!! In the meant time I hope everyone is doing well!!

in the States

All of the family arrived safely in the US on the 6th and 9th. I spent the first couple of days relaxing in Cody and trying to get over jetlag before taking off to NE WY for a few days to visit with my cousin as well as my brothers and their families. The time went all to quickly and before I knew it I was headed down to SD to be here for the arrival of my new nephew, Zane Alexander, who was born yesterday (the 18th) via c-section. I have enjoyed the past few days with the kids and my mom and grandma, visiting and catching up on life over the past year. I am planning to be here for a few more days before heading back to WY for other adventures we have planned. I am fortunate to be able to post pictures from here since my mom's computer has a card reader on it. Here are a few from the events that have happened since we have been here:

The night Greg and kids arrived it snowed a few inches. The kids really enjoyed playing in it and building snowmen (as you can tell they were dressed appropriately...not! I guess they were afraid the snow would melt if they took time to put on some pants and a jacket! :-). KD was so bummed he missed out on all the fun (since he was traveling with me and we left three days after Greg and the rest of the kids left).

Grandpa and girls.
This is the day that we drove over to NE WY. I left the boys with Greg so it was just me and the girls....my the drive was quiet! lol! This is the view from the Big Horn Mountains. It is so green and beautiful here this time of year.

The day after we arrived at my cousin's was the annual Hulett Rodeo and parade. Usually I am not there in time to take it in, but this year I managed to make it. It was something I did almost every year as a kid so it brought back lots of memories.

Here is my cousin throwing candy from the window of the ambulance. This past winter she worked very hard and got her EMT license. I am very proud of how well she did.
My younger brother is on the volunteer fire department. My nephew and niece rode with him in the truck and had fun throwing candy as well.
KJ at the rodeo.
My brother, his wife and kids and KJ and KR.
Cousins after eating blue raspberry snowcones.
On Tuesday my grandma, the girls and I headed down to SD to be with my sis at the birth of her fourth baby. Here are the kids at the hospital waiting for the birth.
Zane Alexander. 7 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches long....so beautiful.

First family picture

Proud great grandma.

KR is so happy to hold her new cousin.

KJ needed in on the action too.

Another sweet picture.
Here are Keegan and KR showing off their hair. Both girls did locks of love this year.

That about sums up our adventures so far. I am looking forward to others to come as the summer progresses. I hope I can post again soon.

So far behind, there is no way I will catch up...but I am going to try:-)

I cannot believe how long it's been since I have posted an entry. If it didn't take so stinking long to upload pictures than maybe I would find time to post more often. Or maybe my life is just so crazy busy at this time of year that I just don't find time to post...whatever the reason, this may be my last post for a bit as I am headed back home for the summer where I will have a hard time posting any pictures...and if I can't post pictures then I don't like to post at all!! I will try my best to figure something out this year, but I won't make any promises..that is if anyone at all is still checking in on me! Here are some of the things we have been busy with these past few weeks!

KR had a good sized part in the elementary spring musical this year called "Pirates of the I-don't-Cari-bean". She was an angel disguised as a pirate. She had numerous lines and she and a few other little girls sang a little song (I wanted to put the video on here but it exceeds the maximum size allowed...bummer). The music teacher said she did a good job of helping keep the other girls on tune! She did a wonderful job (proud mommy moment). I think she may decide to try out again next fall...

KJ trying to get in the picture...too cute!

KL and his classmates did beach cleanup one day. Guess he won the award for biggest piece of garbage retrieved! lol!

Here he is with his friend (who is big brother to KJ's friend, Kaitlyn).

KD has his spring band concert. I thought I got some video, but can't find it now...probably would take me too long to upload anyway...sorry.

The week before school got out was the annual girl scout bridging ceremony. This year KR and her friend got to bridge up into the next group. They will no longer be Brownies, but will be junior girl scouts. I was the mom who helped this year and enjoyed it a lot. I think I might be doing the same role next year, which will be great. KR has seem to enjoy having me be a part of the group, so being able to do this with her has been a special treat.

Here she is receiving her new sash from one of the other junior girl scouts.

Quick picture of mom and daughter.
Of course I have to include one of her with her BF.

On the day before school finished KJ's preschool class, along with the pre-3 class, had a pool party. The day started off nicely, but before long it decided to pour rain! At least no one got sunburnt! You can tell from these pictures that KJ found it a little chilly!!

The rest of the elementary students took a hike/boat ride to a beach on the island. They also got poured on during their visit, as you can see from these pictures of KR with her friends.

This past Sunday night we attended Athy and Bruce's end-of-the-year beach party. As always, the food was fantastic and the fellowship was sweet. It was particularly bittersweet this year knowing that this will be the last one with them since they are returning to the US. It's highly doubtful any of the rest of us will have the gumption to plan and carry out a party of this size next year without them. They will be truly missed (and not just because of this!).

KR and friend having fun in the sand.

Picture of all (or at least most) of the ladies).KJ and friend enjoying the waves. Too bad the water isn't cleaner...

Graduation for the class of 2009 happened on Wednesday night. Here is KJ with her friend, Riley, earlier in the day. He graduated and will be attending college in Canada this next year. I know KJ will miss him a lot as will the rest of us. He's such a great kid and has so much going for him. He won the All Around Student award this year and I can't think of a more deserving student to win it. I know his parents are very proud of this young man. And it's so evident that he cares about KJ, which means a lot to us.

KJ was asked to be a junior marshall in the graduation ceremony this year. Her friend, Kaitlyn, had an older brother who was graduating and the class thought the two of them would make cute additions to the ceremonies. During rehearsal KJ was a bit squirrelly and was doing all sorts of silly things (you could tell she was out of her comfort zone), but during the evening itself she did a fantastic job. We thought they both looked so beautiful in their matching dresses!
I did get some pictures of her and I together that night, but then forgot to take them off the camera before Greg took it with him to the states...so I will have to post those at a later date, if I can.

Greg and four kiddos headed out to the states on Friday night. KD and I leave tomorrow night. We both wish we had been able to go with the others..this waiting around and traveling separately is not all it's cracked up to be!! The bright side is I wouldn't have found time for the lengthy (I started this yesterday and managed to finally finish up today) update if I had gone on Friday...so maybe it was worth sticking around here after all.