Team Smash and Team Agassi

Ali and Rachel began tennis lessons a few years ago - and they loved it. So this year when Miss Julie was beginning a Quick Start Tennis Team, we signed up right away.

Ali and Rachel were able to be on the same team - but Sara had to move up to another team - which was a little nerve racking for us all. Older kids for her to play with - and yet they had probably at least SEEN tennis before. It was a great experience for them all.

The girls really loved the game - and while they each were able to play individual matches, it all got lumped together within their teams and they won or lost based on what the team averaged out for each session. It was a great way to learn to cheer each other on as a team - and still develop some of their own skills.

We love Miss Julie and are so thankful to her for her patience and the wonderful way she has with the kids.

Tabitha's Visit

Tabitha has been coming to Kentucky for the summers for the past two years. It has been such a blessing for the kids to get to spend time with her... and to know their cousin! They really love having her here!

This is the day that she came out to the house for a short visit.

For the short amount of time that she was here we managed to work in some horse rides, playing with the puppy, swimming in the pool - and some WATERMELON. Yum Yum.

Father's Day 2009

Father's Day 2009: I think we finally felt as if we had hit a "groove" as a family. All four children home, and as of this date we still have not begun any new adoption processes. Tim has GOT to be feeling a little more settled. ;)

This year we decided to meet Mom, Dad, Tabitha, Jamie, Chuck and Briana at Cheddars. Mom and Dad just returned from Arizona with Tabitha and Briana... and they had to be exhausted. But they were good sports about the whole thing and met us for lunch.

Afterwards, we dropped by Mom and Dad's house. I had been telling the kids all day that Mamoo had a new pet bear and that they needed to be very careful, bears have very sharp teeth. :) I'm so sweet.

They were all so excited to meet Little Bear, Mom's new puppy. He is very cute. It was also great to get to see Tabitha again. Two times within two months... the kids are beginning to get "spoiled". We sure do love family time!!

May Comes To A Close...

Seriously...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. :) Getting caught up on the blog has been a trip down memory lane - and yet it makes me a little sad to see how fast our summer went by. It's a bit of a reminder how quickly our lives can get away from us.

This last post from May is a personal favorite of mine. It's kind of one of our more "typical" days. We hang out a lot - just our family... and lots of times with our friends. We seem to find so much fun in the simple things in life. The kdis are such a blast - and it's great to watch them enjoy simple things. Even when it's "work" disguised as fun.

This particular day we are washing the Cessna after it came back from some minor repairs and being serviced. The kids had a blast - and were completely involved in all aspects of the "helping".

Rachel's Recital

For Rachel's birthday last year - we gave her dance lessons. She has wanted to be a ballerina for a very long time. She LOVES her dance classes. She loves them so much that instead of walking through our house - she will instead

Chasse' her way from room to room - with a periodic Grand Jete'. As she is sitting in the house reading - she will have her legs split - reading up against the wall to strectch and work on her splits. (ouch) And getting dressed takes about 4 times as long as everyone else each morning, as we have to plie' and releve' about 50 times. My personal favorite - is watching her make her bed, whilst doing her balance' back and forth. Like I said... each task takes about 4 times as long.

Finally it rolled around to RECITAL TIME. Anyone that knows much about me - I am not a girlie girl. My favorite cothes are a pair of jeans... ask anyone that grew up with me. Dressing up was for church - and that was about it. Rachel is my girlie girl - and I was WAY out of my league with the whole recital thing. :) But...we managed.

You have no idea how much goes into each of these routines... as well as the performance. I was in awe of the shows that I have seen in the past... but WOW to be behind the scenes and to see what is involved....I have so much respect for all the dancers, teachers and the people that put all the work into the show.

Her dance routine was absolutely adorable - her class were all dressed up as brides and the song was "Get Me To The Church On Time." It was so sweet. She worked really hard - and they did a really good job.

The dance school does and excellent job with the girls - and it was a wonderful show. She had a blast... and we were all very proud of her!! She had quite the following...and it tickled her to death that so many people turned out to support her. (WHO had my camera and took pictures afterwards...? They cut Uncle Chuck out of the photo... and Rachel ADORES her Uncle Chuck!! oops.)

I think the entire show was fabulous - and while I would like to think that the performance that Rachel gave was the talk of the town... I think there were a few "sinlge ladies" that really stole the show. The last picture is for them - a little blurry ... but you get the idea. ;)