born imaginative.: Family

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Anna-Kate Turns NINE!

Anna-Kate Turned 9!

Anna-Kate, you are now 9, but are beyond your years conversationally! You will talk, talk, talk talk to everyone and anyone. And if there is ever silence...wait. There won't be. You talk in the shower, you talk in your sleep, you talk when you're eating, you are always, always talking.

You are the most flexible girl out there when it comes to adapting to fit the situation. You'll be a friend to older ones and younger ones. Ones who like stuff like you and ones who don't.

You are an excellent reader, loving to hurkle durkle in the morning. You enjoy picture books and chapter books, all books that you can dive into right away. However, if the book is a slow start, you'll abandon it.

You enjoy shopping, more for interacting with the people than the getting things. You love having people over. You love entertaining. You will someday be bringing people together!

Your favorite foods are mango and mango flavored as of late.

Your sister is right next to me as I type and she describes you as the sweetest little pumpkin, although very needy. She is right that you love having company!

You love to have your hands busy, be it a project or hugging.

I know you are a natural born leader and I'm eager to see where your next year takes you!

Love you, Anna-Kate!

Love, Mom

Happy Birthday Adrian!

Happy 15th Birthday to our Adrian!

Adrian, I'm so proud of the dude you are. We affectionately call you "Steve" after the song "Me and you, you and me, and your friend Steve", because you're always right there. Right there to chat or to help. You definitely love your parents!

You are hard working, always loving the manual labor. You are soaking in all the info you can about vehicles and building things. You'll mow and haul things with the lawn tractor, split all sorts of wood and cut down trees with your chainsaw. You help move hay bales everyday. You're a tank of muscle, with a belly full of cookie reserves. Everyone who hires you appreciates your hard work. You're our resident fixer.

You are still into drawing, your art is so intricate. You're still enjoying matchbox car collecting and building your own matchbox cars. Your new collections are workwear and power tools, specifically Milwaukee. Your daily belt is one you made. Your new hobby is being the grill boss.

I think the thing that is the most you is FOOD. ALLLLLLLL the food (except eggs). You can eat a family meal by yourself and ask "What else is there to eat?" You've never been too full for dessert or a twizzler.

How exciting that this will be your year to get on the road. I am going to be chauffeured! You'll definitely be a better driver than me.

I know you have your brain set on adulthood, but don't go so fast you miss being a teen. I love you, Buddy!

Love, MA

Community events catch up

So much to catch up on. I have fallen way behind. In no particular order, here are various activities we have worked hard on for the community/friends over the last few months. I've fallen behind because in addition to this, we've expanded to a family of 6. More to come on that, but for now, here's a brief recap of our community events.

The big one: We hosted a wedding at our house!

Everyone who comes to our house gets flowers.

I enjoyed helping setup and work the annual curriculum sale.

We wrapped up the wiffle ball year (I coached Anna-Kate's, the other kids played baseball).

We hosted a Science Experiment Extravaganza.

We hosted several 4-H meetings.

I've made dozens of cat blankets to match the exact size of cages for the cat shelter.

We've spent hours cleaning, unpacking trucks and cleaning at the shelter. Getting kitten snuggles too, obviously.

We've hosted Beachcombers 4-H club.

We hosted a large plant swap.

I've hosted Fellowship on the Farm in May and June. I wanted to do July, but our plate was full.

We did, however, host our weekly ice cream socials from May to July, only skipping one or two weeks.

We've had several flower stands.

We've brought flowers to the nursing home.

And we planned the art show at our Co-op, donating art to the nursing home and participating in a game show with nursing home residents.

We had a homemaker preserving party, from garden to freezer.

This is the very last picture we took as a family of five, as we are now a family of SIX!

So many more updates forthcoming!

Surprise!

They why behind my sporadic posting..

We have very full hearts that things are finally in motion. Having an extra pair of barn boots has started this week and will be our everyday starting next week. As one of my fave adoptive mom says, love makes room. Welcome home, buddy! The plan is 6 months of foster care and then adoption. We are overjoyed to be a party of 6!

Audra's 13th Birthday Recap

Cherry Lemonade, Caesar salad, Potato Salad, Fruit Salad, Cheese and Crackers and fresh Snap Peas for this birthday girl.

Ice cream cake for dessert.

Happy Birthday Audra!

Audra is 13!

12, 11.5, 11, 10 and a HALF, TEN, Nine and a HALF, Nine, Eight and a HALF, Eight,Seven and a HALF, Seven ,Six and a half, Six ,Five, 4 1/2, Here's 4 , 3 1/2, 3 years, 2 1/2 years, 2 years 18 months, 12 months, 9 months? 6 months? 3 months? Just being born

Happy 13th Birthday, Audra!

There is nothing you love more than animals. All the furry ones especially so you can groom them. You are always gentle with animals, take consistent care of them, notice if there's something wrong, do the hard things, do the medical care and take time to communicate with them. You volunteer at the cat shelter and you've even been doing some animal care for pay.

You've been working on gaining more responsibilities, specifically taking Stop the Bleed and CPR as well as a 2nd babysitting course. You volunteered for 2 VBS programs and were responsible for being a 1:1 for a girl with special needs. You are good at caring for others.

As always, you go big or go home. You've been doing less crafting lately, but you are super focused on organizing your room. You have been working so hard, it's looking so much better.

You're new interest is skin and hair care. You have all the products and really do a nice job finding what works best for not only you, but your sister too.

You have lots of happy folks with your baking habits...dog treats, cat treats and cookie treats for your dad! I think you'd be tickled pink if meals were just fresh fruit and veggies..with a potato.

Your most calming activity is an audio book on your own and I'm so proud of you for setting that up on your own regularly. I know everyday is so very hard for you, but you work so hard doing what you can to keep a moving. I love you and am proud of all your efforts.

Love, Mom