Flashbacks to IKE

About 4:00 today the sky got dark and the wind began to blow. It was amazing how fast the weather changed. The rain came down accompanied by hail and lots of lightning. After the rain let up a bit we looked out front and saw this LARGE limb that had crashed down from the house across the street.

David and Trent went out to move it out of the way, so that cars could go by. Namely, my car because I had to go pick Kaylee up from Girl Scouts. And Zane would be arriving soon also. Zane was scheduled for his 2nd football game but it quickly got cancelled.

The power was out for nearly 3 hours, I hear reports that some parts of Kingwood are still without. I'm not sure if this was a Tornado, I'm waiting to watch the 10 news.

Ty was ready to help out on clean-up. He was just a little off on the correct equipment to wear.

Want to follow along?

The sister of my neighbor who is almost my dental hygentist, (got that?) is currently on a plane to China to adopt her second child, a son....

If you want to follow along with me you can go to www.bringinghomemichael.blogspot.com

1st Class Baby!

1st Class is a rank in Boy Scouts earned on the path to Eagle Scout. Zane earned his 1st class during the summer. When he ranks up he is given a new patch and a pin for his mother. The scoutmaster has the scout pin his mother then give her a kiss. It's a neat tradition, I totally approve of it. (the scouts on the otherhand.....)

His troop awards each of the boys who earn 1st class with their own tent. They can use their tent to camp during the campouts.

So this weekend Zane wanted to set his tent up. We were going to camp in the backyard but there was a 40% chance of rain at that night, so opted to camp in the living room. The kids all slept in the big tent and Zane slept solo in his own tent.

First day back to school

You know it's back to school time when all the lunch boxes are lined up on the kitchen counter. Zane has graduated from the box to a brown paper sack. Less things for him to have to hold on to once lunch is over. From Left to right is Zane, Kaylee's Trent's Mia's and Ty's. I wasn't really sure what why we bought Ty a lunch box. He gets out of Pre-K at 11. But everyone else was getting one and the transformer box matched his new shoes and backpack. Then the teacher asked for the kids to bring a little breakfast snack if they were not eating breakfast in the cafeteria. So, I guess he has a breakfast box instead.

First up was Zane. He headed out of the house early for his first day of school and Football practice. He had to be AT school by 7 am. So the pic I took of him was in the dark. We went by to pick his friend Aaron up also. I thought I"d be sneaky and snap a pic of him walking in the school. But as he walked away Aaron said, "Hey Zane, your mom's got the camera" To which Zane responded, "What's new?" At least he didn't melt from embarassment.

Mr. Ty was all ready for his first day. We would like to have had more pics of him going in his class and such but he took off into circle time and barely looked back. The tears I feared were no where to be found.

ON the other hand, we fully chronicled every step of Mia's morning. She was all to pleased to be the Queen-of-kindergarten...

Kaylee helped Mi check out everything in her cubbie.

This is Mia's teacher, Mr. V, he's a really sweet man and has so much imagination. Just what Mia needs.

When Mia got home she told us, "there were chicken nuggets today for the people that ate in the Bear Branch Restaurant"

Here's Trent, excited about seeing his buddies, not all that thrilled with the work ahead of him.

Kaylee has the same teacher this year that she had in 1st grade. She Loves, loves, loves the teacher so there were no real worries for her this year.

A hunting we will go

Well, maybe not hunting...but target practice.

We drove out to "the old place" and walked around for a bit. But the grass was really high and a lot of the area that I once played in is now overgrown. There is an old barn, steps where my dad's house once stood and a dipping vat. Kaylee remembered the dipping vat I wanted to find it. And we did..in case you're not familiar it's a concrete area that the sheep were marched through.
Here's Rocket frolicking through the grass, having a wonderful time.... UNTIL we started shooting the guns... Then this happened.

Into the car he went never to return. NO amount of coaxing or persuading would get him out. Apparently he is a city dog

Go Texas Day!

Several years ago when we were first adopting Mia I met a mom at school who told me she was a lawyer. She specialized in adoptions. Her daughter and Kaylee were in the same class together. She offered at the time to file the papers so that Mia could receive her Texas Birth Certificate. Just in case there is a natural disaster or fire it would be easier for her to get a new birth certificate than to try to get one from China. This mom/lawyer also offered to do it for me "for free" With us only having to pay the court costs. You know I'm all about "free" So we waited until after we brought Ty home to do both of their certificates at the same time.

So three months ago we filed the paperwork and patiently awaited our court date. We were to be at the courthouse in our "business casual" dress ready to go before the judge at 9:00. We got there a little early and waited outside for a while and then in the hall for a while, then in one courtroom for a while, then in a second courtroom for a while, then in a waiting room (which had a TV thank goodness, for a while) Until Finally the 3rd judge we were assigned could question us.

This is all a matter of formality since the kids are both legally adopted AND US Citizens. However, the judge we were assigned was absent that morning. So we were sent upstairs to see a different judge. We were told that we would be the next case, because there were children involved. Well, when we walked into the courtroom it was F U L L. There were lawyers, bailiffs, reporters and CRIMINALS....locked in Shackles around their waists and feet. It was quite a production. Men and women both. Trent wanted to know what all the "robbers" were doing in there. This judge finished arraigning the convict and he asked if we could all go to his chambers where he would meet us and do the paper signing.

But on the way to the chambers the clerk said, "let me just see if Judge so-in-so can see you all. He's new and doesn't have quite as full of a load" So we were escorted to another waiting room, which thankfully had a TV and the kids who had sat Oh-so-patiently-for-the-last-two-hours could now watch Spongebob.

Our lawyer went in ahead of us and then came out to retrieve us when we were called. David and I both had to raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth the whole truth.......
She asked us a couple of questions about our trip to China and then I was ready to take pictures of him signing our paperwork and approving our petition. However, he at that point decided to ask to see a clear background check before approving. Apparently, he had watched an episode of Law&Order that had convicts adopting from oversees because they didn't qualify for domestic adoption. Law&Order? Really? At which point Mrs. Free Lawyer says, "Sure your honor, we'll get that for you right away"

So we left without great scrapbook pics of us with the judge, without pics of him signing our petitions, or sitting behind the bench. But as David always says, "It's not all about the scrapbooks"

Honor the Texas Flag...I pledge allegiance to thee Texas one state UNDER GOD one and indivisible

(Did you catch that...Under God? that was added last year) The kids have to say the Texas pledge every morning at school.

taking pics in the hallway... Trying to amuse ourselves.

Lemonade

This summer while visiting the grandparents, Kaylee and Hallie set up a lemonade stand. Hallie is my friend, Rachel's daughter and their grandparents live just a few blocks away. Hallie happened to be visiting the same week we were. (love it when that happens) Rachel and I played together a lot and it makes me so happy to see Kaylee and Hallie getting along so well.

One time Rachel and I took a bunch of food out of her mom's refrigerator and stirred it up while hiding in the closet. We said we were trying to make Ambrosia. I had never heard of Ambrosia, fruit salad yes but not Ambrosia....Well, I digress..


Apparently Grape was a pretty hot commodity

And apparently we need to work on some spelling too

Zane's pride and joy

A professional photographer came to one of this summer's swim meets. He took this photo of Zane and needless to say we had to have it. Zane really likes it and so do I. I have really enjoyed have an almost teenager around. Even though I don't think I am old enough to have a 12 year old I greatly enjoy having real conversations and am proud that he has learned to give us gentle jabs and humor.

August Fun

Since August 1st it seems we've been moving at Warp Speed. We had a great visit with family. Which included a shopping extravaganza. Well, it seemed like it anyway. I remember as a teenager you could shop for hours and visit 20 stores in one day. Then sometime after kids and life and laundry, going to 4 stores in one day "Just wipes you out" But while they were here we visited: Sam Moon, Sam Moon Home, Sam Moon Gifts, Incredible Pizza, IKEA, Cheesecake Factory, The Container Store, Lego Store, Bare Escentuals Make-up, Sephora and your various starbucks and restaurants....Plus a viewing of the movie G-Force.

On the 8th we had a summer social with our Life group friends. It was a pool party at our friends house. We had a fun evening and probably overstayed our welcome. And for the last 3 weeks the homeowner has been bringing various items to church that were left at her house. I think 4 out of 5 of them have been ours.

Then on the 9th we had a Pool Party scheduled for Trent's 7th birthday. I was so proud that we were actually having his party on his actual birthday. In this part of Texas it has not rained for the ENTIRE summer. But wouldn't you know it.....one hour before his party the rains came down in full force. Since it was the summer we just postponed the whole party to the next day...Same time...same place.
We were all ready to party that day and guess what? YES it rained AGAIN one hour before the party. But at this point we were either having a party or I would have to make a new cake. So we had a party. The kids came over and we played some games inside and then had cake and ice cream. By the way if you are wondering what is on the cake it is a Bakuugan ball. It's some new toy phenomenon that I don't completely understand but it's something like a Pokemon and Trent likes them.

"Mess with me you get the Lizard"

Another driving day

We had another LONG day of driving. From Gulf Shores, AL to Cape Canaveral, FL. It was "suppose" to take about 6.5 hrs. But some how we tacked on an extra 3 hrs to the trip. We normally don't make a lot of pit stops along the way so David and I were both dumfounded when we were still driving at the 8th hr and the GPS said we still had 40 minutes to go.

We did make a Wal-Mart stop, had some bad weather, and stopped every 15minutes to pay the toll. But the kids did super and were real troopers through the whole day. Since all day was driving I decided to post pictures from the Beach, I thought it would be better than pictures of Subway and the Raceway restroom.

" Are we there yet?"

The good news is we are safely here and can almost see the port from our hotel room. In a few short hours we will be crusing

On the way

We made to Orange Beach. We had a great day at the beach. I'd like to write more but we're headed out for FL now.

On the way we made a stop at LSU to see the tiger exhibit. Mike VI was a little sleepy so we only got to see a little of him.