Merry Christmas!!

It's beginning to look sparkly at our place...

One of the great things about Daniel growing up is that he can actually HELP with things.  (yeah - instead of just attempting to help and really just getting in the way and making things take longer.)  He was really a big help with putting up the tree this year....

Of course, what kid can resist a ladder?  Don't worry - 2 seconds after I snapped this I said, 'now get down from there - your grandmothers would have a heart attack if they saw you up there!'

No ornaments yet, but it looks so pretty just with the twinkle lights.....

Slow down!!

I am constantly marveling at how quickly the years are speeding by.  I can't get over how big Daniel is!  I just want to freeze him just as he is (or even go back a few years).  I just didn't get to enjoy little bitty Daniel nearly long enough.  We're trying to appreciate each new milestone and the joys of these years.  He is learning so much in school and some days he goes on and on about the most interesting things.  Just this week he has been enlightening me with all kinds of great facts on the following topics - Louis Braille, bedrock and xylophones.  He still loves playing with Legos and he is also starting to read spontaneously (without an assignment from mom!).  Just when I get to thinking he is so big, he turns around and surprises me.  (mom - where's my bear?)

We went to a counselor a bit over the summer and she told me we should be so thankful because it's totally obvious that someone in Daniel's past loved on him.  He is so affectionate, and always has been.  She says a lot of adopted kids have trouble giving and receiving affection and she was amazed at how loving and snuggly he is.  Even before he was ours, God was looking out for him.  What a great reminder to be thankful for those first years.  No matter what we might say about the care he received, he was cared for and we are seeing the results every day.  Thank you Lord for sending someone to hold and snuggle him before I could!  My heart overflows with the love this child showers on us. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

We are continuously thankful for our big bundle of joy.  His loving spirit, his sweet evening prayers, his endless questions, his tickle moments, his innocent play, his exhuberance - wow - we are so blessed!!

Happy Halloween

Daniel was a Ninja when we went to the Halloween party at the zoo but by the time trick or treating rolled around, he changed his mind and was a SWAT team member. He's a boy - it's really all about the weapons! If you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, he will say either a policeman or a scientist. I love it!! We had great weather and it was a lovely evening for a stroll. We don't have many years of this left before he will be too cool for trick or treating, so we both went out with him. I turned off our porch light and took our candy bowl with me and handed out candy as we went around. A good time was had by all!!


Look out bad guys here we come.....

 Even Pop got into the spirit!  (minus the weapon)

We carved our pumpkin to look like a pirate,

and off we went....

We had fun trick or treating with the neighbor kids (we'll miss you next year!)

It was a successful night!

Colorfest at Bernheim Forest

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Halloween party at the zoo

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Artist

We recently went to a restaurant that was remodeling, so they were letting the kids draw on the walls with markers.  How fun!  Mom wanted to get down there with Daniel and draw!!  So we rooted through our Toy Story Uno game and found a picture of Zurg.  Check out the great drawing he did!!  I always say that I am not a good drawer, but I am a good copier.  If you look at a picture of something, it helps to draw it.  I was so proud......

Rain Gutter Regatta

We're really enjoying scouts and tonight was our first real event - the Rain Gutter Regatta.  (it's similar to the pinewood derby but not as high pressure)  Daniel and Pop made his boat from a kit and then Daniel painted and decorated it himself.  (with a U of L theme of course)  They had it on the parking lot at the church and each child got to race his boat 4 times - against various opponents.  It was a good opportunity to practice winning and losing gracefully.  He lost the first bout and had a few tears in his eyes but he showed great maturity.  I was so proud of him!  No melt down, just a little bit of disappointment that he was able to suck up and then we were focused on learning from how the other kids were doing it and what we could do differently.  He won his next 2 races and then lost the last.  He had a great time, showed self control and we were so proud!

Our little boy is growing up.  I can't believe he is eight years old.  What a big boy!

Verse

Cub Scout

I have tried to be really deliberate about not signing Daniel up for too much.  If you read this blog, it may not seem that way but it's true.  We do different activities at different times, when it fits our schedule but I don't want to be that parent that has a different activity every night.  I want Daniel to have time to relax, be home, play with toys and not always run run run to the next event.  So, our one thing was soccer.  Yes he did karate, but that was more for after school care (with side benefits).  He decided he wanted to take a break from karate this year, so we're doing something different after school and our one thing is still soccer.  (which is still a big commitment - practice on a week night and Saturday games - UGH!) 

But then, a few weeks ago they had someone come to school to talk about Boy Scouts.  Well, this person must have been an excellent sales man because Daniel has talked about nothing else since then. 

'Mom, I really want to be a boy scout.' 
'Mom, they do archery.  I love archery!'
'Mom, they get to camp out on the baseball field!'
'Mom, I like camping.'
'Mom, I think boy scouts do hiking.'
'Mom, I might need a pocket knife.'
'Mom, I really want to be a boy scout.'

Well, who could say no to that?  I know scouts are a great organization with a great focus.  I have always wished he could be a part of it, I just didn't want to overfill our schedule.  Well since he caught the bug I just couldn't say no.  Off to the scouting store - we marveled at all of the fun stuff they have there.  We have been anticipating all of the cool things he'll get to do, practiced the scouts promise, practiced tying the neckerchief, marveled at all of the cool stuff in the bear book and counted down the days to the first meeting.  Tonight it was finally here!  He woke up talking about it, (Mom I can't wait!) and thoroughly enjoyed the first meeting.  Is this just the cutest scout you ever saw or what?

Soccer game!!

Yes, soccer season has started.  I can't believe it's already here!  Daniel has moved up to the Junior soccer league at church (based on age) and it's big time now.  I didn't know it when I signed him up but it's actually a week night practice and Saturday game.  A much bigger time commitment than before!  We have practice on a school night - yikes!!  So far it's been OK.  We've been able to get homework done and fit it all in.  The season is short so we should be able to swing it.

They have been doing a lot of practice through August and now today was his first game.  He scored two goals!  WOW!!!!  Soccer is really his game.  In the beginning we tried out everything, but it seems obvious that this is where he is strong so we're gonna focus on soccer.  His boundless energy and fierce determination are really a bonus out on the soccer field.  And it's a good boost to his confidence to be good at something.  We're so proud...

KY State Fair

Daniel loves to ride the rides and eat junk food (who doesn't?) and I love to look at the decorated cakes, photography, and ugly lamp contest.  We both enjoy the balloon animal display, the BMX show and watching those hilarious ducks going down the slide over and over.  We make a good fair going team!  If only it weren't 96 blazing degrees!!

Third grade is going amazingly well.  I was really worried about this year and how he would do as the work gets harder and harder.  So far, so good.  His teacher is amazingly sweet and we might still be in the honeymoon period but it's going well so far. 

We've been going to counseling to work on Daniel's self esteem and his melt downs and anger when he gets frustrated.  I don't know if it's helping him or not, but it's been totally eye opening to me.  When she says things it makes total sense but I just didn't think of it that way before - of course crying as a baby and not having anyone come to comfort him would make him think there is something wrong with him.  It makes sense when she puts it that way.  Even though we know that's not the case, he needs to work through that and believe it himself. 

Some things that we can't fix with counseling, I know the Lord can help him resolve.  He has a plan for Daniel and we can trust that His plan is good.  Despite the things we're still working on, I can't tell you how many times Jason and I marvel to each other what a sweet boy we have.  He has completely changed our world and it is such a joy to be a part of his adventure!

First day of THIRD GRADE!!!

I can't believe Daniel is a big third grader.  The years are just flying by and he is growing up so fast.  Here is a photo recap of this week's events.....

School Orientation:

At his desk:

Meeting Mrs. Mitchell:

First day of school:

With his teacher:

He wanted Chucks for his back to school shoes (I love it!):



And now for the annual 'First Day of School - look how much I've grown' montage:

These photos don't really do it justice.  He's grown 10.5 inches in the last three years.  It's amazing!  At this rate he'll be over 6 foot tall by the time he is 16.  Wow!  He is so big and yet still mom's sweet boy.  He'll still come to me and say, 'Mom, big hug!'  He loves to give hugs and snuggle.  Whenever we sit together on the couch, to watch TV or read - he is just glued to my side, buried in my armpit and I love it!  Such a sweetie!

Diving

Today Daniel and I went swimming with our friend Ms. Peggy.  He had never jumped off the diving board before, but today he decided that he was gonna give it a try.  We practiced jumping off the edge first - into 8 foot deep water - and then swimming to the ladder.  Once Mama was sure he could do that without assistance, we were off to the diving board.  Here is the first jump, so brave!!

After a few jumps, each one getting more and more confident then he was ready to go for the fancy spin...

And then after about a dozen jumps off the low dive, he runs over and says, 'Mom, I want to go off the high dive!'  Well sure, go for it!  I didn't know if he would really go through with it or not but sure enough, right up there and off the end.  No fear!

Look how high!  It was so great.  I was really proud of him!  (I took a video on my phone.  If I can ever figure out how to transfer it, I will share it with you.)  He must have jumped off at least 50 times.  He loved it!!  He'll sleep good tonight for sure!

July 4th

I meant to upload this a month ago...

Bubble boy

Catch up

Sorry for the long silence.  We've been busy, enjoying summer and celebrating milestones.  Here is the highlights reel.....

Daniel turned EIGHT years old (I can't believe it!) and had a cool skating birthday party with his buds:

We celebrated the last day of school:

Met friends for a smashing day of fun at Holiday World:

Had a great day celebrating America (and loved playing with fire):

And just got back from a truly lovely vacation at Niagra Falls (where Daniel complained A LOT about getting wet - go figure!)

He is growing up so fast.  We just marvel at how big he is!  I am trying to treasure every day, every moment, every kiss, every sweet prayer.  I know we'll turn around and he'll be heading off to college.  I am trying to live in the moment, love on him as much as possible, and enjoy God's handiwork in this awesome kid!