My Almost 5th Grader

Owen has had an excellent school year. We are so proud. He is conscientious, but not a perfectionist, which is sometimes hard for me to comprehend ;) It's nice for us that he doesn't get stressed out easily.
Last week, the fourth graders held a "museum" in the school cafeteria for all the grades to walk through and learn from. Each student was a museum curator and helped explain his or her artifact. Owen had previously written a report on Arthur Ashe and then the second assignment was to create an artifact relating to his report. He chose to make a tennis racket. He made a racket with Mim's help, using an embroidery hoop, string, paper towel center and duct tape. Here he is explaining his project to one of my good friends and mom of a student in his class.
Apparently the strings for the first tennis rackets were made with pig, donkey or horse intestines. Gross! We just stuck with kite string ;)

 This week, he received a few awards during the 4th grade assembly.

I couldn't resist a pic of my girl ;) 

We got a billion compliments on her dress. My mom made it. So cute!

Tatoo Artist

She loves to draw...

everywhere but on the paper (skin, clothes, walls, you name it). I ran inside for something and came back to find her looking a tad different.

First Basement Suite Guest

EJ's mom was our first overnight guest in the new basement (2 weeks ago). Nothing like having a guest planned to help check things off the list. She was very gracious and referred to it as her "spa." I suppose compared to sleeping in Owen's twin bed and sharing a bathroom with 4 children it didn't take much;) We've had another guest since then who actually had mini blinds in the window instead of a plastic tablecloth curtain. (There is a reason I haven't posted completed basement photos yet!)

We enjoyed Mim immensely. She treated us to several meals which meant less cooking than normal for me :)

I was not good at taking pictures during her visit. She attended Mason's party and 1 baseball game. I also ran lots of errands by myself in preparation for a BIG party we threw the following weekend. Her visit was perfect timing and it won't be long til we see her again. So glad you like your new guest quarters, Mim.

10 Months Home

Not a very lady-like pose but it captured the door mat- "HOME" she now says "home" when we pull in the driveway. It's the little things that keep this momma going ;)

 

Everyone thinks she is getting so big. I think it's more about the hair than weight and height. She is a whooping 23 lbs 32.75" at 33.5 months of age. I haven't decided if I am "growing out" her hair. I love it short. I keep trimming the back until the sides catch-up. It's almost even. She has the sweatiest head in the heat and I don't think I want to deal with tangles just yet. We have plenty of other reasons for tears.

She is SO comfortable with our home and family. I love watching her be relaxed, silly and happy. What a blessing. She still has a very high pitched scream and she is quick to let us know when something is bothering her. She continues using new words every day. Even "prays" at meal time.

 2 YEARS ago today, our application was accepted and approved by Lifeline to start the adoption process. This time last year, we were not so patiently waiting our travel approval. Today, we met with our social worker today for her 1 year post adoption visit. Crazy how time flies. The report is due July 22, but with summer travel plans we thought it was best to do ahead of time.

Mason's 7th Birthday Party

This year it was Mason's turn to have a "big" party. Or in other words, some place other than our home ;) It took a long time for us to make a decision. It was worth the wait b/c this was a party made for Mason! Engineering for Kids hosted a "Dragon Battle Robotics" party.

First, they explained how the "brain" of the robot works. The boys did not assemble this part but there is a class or camp offered to teach that.

 Then they colored their dragons that would eventually be taped on their robot.

 Next, they picked out pieces to make their robot battle ready.

 The boys worked in pairs and very well, I might add.

They took turns battling each other. The goal was to push the opponent off the mat, or turn it over. We had a lot of stalled circling b/c they'd get tangled together. Then teams would quickly reassemble or reconfigure and bring it back for more. They was a lot of energy in the room at this point.

 Last, they all battled at once. Lots of cheering ;)

 Then they had pizza and "cake."

 Mason requested this same cake. I was thrilled because it's so easy.

I forgot the candles. Thankfully EJ's mom (who was visiting) bought party blowers, so they did that at the end of Happy Birthday.

It was such a fun party. It was great to BE there and not be in charge! Mason has some great friends.