Bend it like Katie

First day of practice
OK, just kidding, she isn't really bending it at all, but she is on a soccer team.

The first day of soccer Katie was really nervous and afraid to kick the ball without me by her side. During the practice scrimmage she stood with one of her friends in the goal. But Mark did some bribing and by the time her next practice rolled around she was kicking during the drills without looking at us and chasing the ball during the scrimmage with the best of them. Now if she would just kick the ball when she gets to it.


Katie had her first game on Sat and what she lacked in courage she made up for in looks!
She did a good job running after the ball and even made contact with it a time or two during the game.

Ella, Katie, Jazzie (some of her church/dance friends)

Katie and Jayden (another friend)

Her real skill was when she was in the goal. She did a really good job, and wasn't afraid to run out and get it when it came close to her.

Mark giving Katie some pointers on being goalie

The team

Happy, Happy Birthday ...

I am officially baby-less in my house--right, 2 years old is a toddler?

I know Katie would like to change that, but I must say it feels good.

How crazy that two years ago we were in Texas. On Addy's and Marcus' birthday I was thinking about our experience there, how intense it was. I don't think I have ever written about what happened while we were waiting for Courtney to have her c-section. The twins birthfather (also, Courtney) came to the hospital with his mother to try and stop the adoption. The social worker sent Mark and I into the hallway while she met with everyone. After talking to them, the socialworker came into the hallway and told Mark and I the adoption was off, that the birthfather wanted the twins and that we couldn't do an adoption without his signature. Hiding our panic, we explained to the social worker that that was not Texas law. For some reason everyone we met in Texas thought 'law school'=lawyer and Mark's words were gold (even though I am the adoption expert), so the social worker suggested some mediation between us and the birthfather and his mother. I can't even think about how I felt, how my hands were shaking, as we met with them. The terror ended in him signing the adoption paperwork, I still don't know why. Maybe because we told him we would take him to court; maybe because he would have had to fight for them; or maybe it was because Mark and I got emotional when we explained to our children's birthfather that we loved them already, that we had everything ready for them, we had a mom and a dad together, that could financially support them. Whatever it was, Addy and Marcus are ours, and they are loved by everyone in their lives--birth and adopted family.

(Courtney (birthfather) came back a few times to see the twins and hold them before we left the hospital, he and his mother contacted us on the twins birthday last year and asked us to start sending them pictures and updates.)

The twins birthday this year started with a bang.

We had a mini-cookie party in their pre-school class.

Then after their naps we opened presents (and played with balloons).

Addy got a princess dress from Grammy, so Katie ran upstairs and put on her princess dress "so they could be princesses together."

After dinner we invited the neighbors over for cupcakes. They have a little boy who is 6 months older then the twins and all 3 of my kids love to play with him.

Friday Mark took off work and we headed to Tweetsie (a Western themed amusement park for kids-complete with Train rides and cowboys). Marcus was a little nervous about the rides for the first couple minutes but he quickly overcame his fears.

Please notice the seatbelts on this ride--yes that is a rope, tied, and Addy is trying to undo it, I spent the duration of the ride praying they wouldn't fall out and thinking about how much money I could make if they did--luckily my cautious not greedy side won out.

Eating lunch while we waited for the train ride to start

Marcus didn't enjoy getting locked in the jail as much as we enjoyed locking him in.

Oh blessed day...

Now that we are home from all our crazy traveling, real life has to start. Real life in our house includes all the kids in preschool--I know you can't really call it preschool for a two-year-old, but that is what it is. Katie goes 4 mornings a week and Addy and Marcus go 3 mornings a week. I walked around like a crazy person the first day they were all gone, not sure what to do with my time. Now don't let my confusion make you think I have time on my hands, because I don't, but...without kids there to force me to multi-task, I got a little confused. But seriously, I am able to get most my work done in the mornings so that when the kids come home I can just hang out with them. Life is a little more peaceful.

When I told the kids it was time to get in the car, Marcus ran upstairs and got his blanket and monkey and curled up on the floor. It was so cute. But I did feel bad when we got outside his classroom door and my poor little baby, with his little backpack on his back, started backing up, saying "no, no, no, no".

The Mountains

After we got back from Utah we had a few days at home, and then headed up to my parents house in VA. Bethany came back from her mission while we were in UT and I was so excited to spend time with her. Also, Jenn, Ryan and family can into town for the week, and Tripp, Rhonda and Jake came from the beach. All of us met up in the mountains and had a little family reunion.

most of the gang, there are a few people missing

Dalia girls

Maddie, Karleigh, Ella
Chloe, Katie, Baylee, Talia and Addy
(all the granddaughters)

Jake, Marcus, Cohen, Carson, Max
(the older grandsons)

Like always, the kids were in heaven while we were there, with all the animals and open space. We took a lot of gator rides, had a couple picnics at the park, went on a hike and spent a lot of time just hanging out. Katie and Addy joined the gang of girls and disappeared for hours at a time.
Addy and Mark on the hike

Bethany and Addy

Me and Marcus

Madeline, Katie and Emmie


Mark and Marcus