Missing our Noah: August 2008

Hi!
I haven't posted in a bit..so I thought I would catch up on a few things...
hmmm...let's see...On Aug. 14th my wonderful hubby and my sweet -n- sassy 12 year old left on a 10 day mission trip to Arizona. They went to work at a home for mentally disabled adults during the day and at night they do a VBS program for kids on an Indian Reservation. It is a wonderful trip, I went with my other 2 daughters a couple years ago. It is long...getting up at 5 am, working outside in the heat all day..getting to bed about midnight. It is an amazing mission trip for our Jr. High kids.
I wasn't thrilled with Todd leaving so soon after the boys coming home...but the boys did fine. They were sad at times and kept kissing his picture on my phone, or would just sit there sad and saying "I'm sad, I miss Daddy and Tay Tay".
I had my older girls here to help, when they weren't busy:) I did really enjoy evenings with the other kiddos. TJ was the man of the house! The girls and I would hang out in the evenings and had lots of great girl talks. I think when Todd came home they even missed me sitting with them and hanging out, so I will keep that up, it was wonderful.
I was soooo sad too. After 16+ years of marriage Todd is so much a part of ME. I am super glad he is home!!
The day he left was a monumental day in our family as well. SHANAY got her drivers permit!!!! Jessica stayed home with the boys so I could take Shanay to go take her test...it was an exciting time, but so nerve-wracking as her Mommy...what if she didn't pass???...i was so anxious. She did great!!! I was so proud of her.
I pulled the van over when we got around the corner from our house. She had never driven the van before...she was going 10 miles per hour and was so worried about going over the line that she nearly hit all the parked cars on the road...i was freaking out!!! I so wanted to be the one to teach her to drive, since Todd was gone this was my chance...after that I wasn't so sure!!! I did take her out another time in the CAR that she was used to and she did better. Someone almost hit her though...HIS fault, not hers.
The day that Todd and Tay came home we were off to Monterey for a week to stay in our timeshare. I had to book this trip 13 months in advance because it's always booked...Jess had volleyball try-outs during the week so we had to drive her back home where she stayed with my friend for 2 nights, and then we drove back to pick her up and bring her back to Monterey. Thanks Jen Jen!!
It was great though...we could walk about 100 steps to get to the beach, 40 steps to the pool and about 15 to the playground. It was super fun. We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium....i love it there!! The kids did too. The boys did wonderful in the new environment. It's amazing how go with the flow they are. They are both doing great in the water. Soly will just jump right in, not wanting you to catch him!!
TJ, thanks to the olympics, now wants to join the swim club!!
I posted some of the pictures!!! I love that my girls are so into taking pics...i remember forcing them to take pics before...now it's like "take a picture of me doing this..or that...or whatever"...we have a ton of pics!!
The girls are even wanting to scrapbook. While Todd was gone, Shanay had the opportunity to go out with some friends but chose to stay home and scrapbook...i love it!!
I will try to post more about the adoption-attachment soon. Some days are great...other moments aren't...The boys are learning so much, they really are doing great. Markenley recently has lied a couple times...hmmm....but he has a gentle spirit. Soly is funny too..he is super happy. He is doing great too with learning what is acceptable. He used to hit when he would get mad. Sometimes he will hit but then apologize right away.
Markenley is playing soccer and had his first practice before vacation and did so good. Paid attention, did what the coaches said...I am so proud of him.
The kids start school tomorrow. Each year is so emotional for me. I hate them getting older. Shanay will be a Jr., Jess a sophmore, Tay in 7th (JR. HIGH!!) and TJ is in 4th. UGGGHHH
Markenley will be doing home-school preschool too!! He is excited.

The journaling above was written on the 23rd...i am just getting around to finishing it 8/29...
The kids did start school and are all doing great. Jess made the volleyball team and Taylor joined cross country. (in school I would have never CHOSEN to run!! I did anything i could to get out of running the mile :) You go Tay Tay!! Please pray for Jess as volleyball is draining...last year, i am sure it was because of volleyball, is when Jess got drained and ended up with Mono which lead to a whole year of feeling yucky. We are happy she is trying again and is physically able.
TJ wants to play the trumpet and also joined the morning broadcast team. Markenley and Solomon had their 1st day of home preschool and they loved it, it was cute.
This is officially Shanay's 16th birthday weekend. I have been trying to get her to plan a party, i wanted to choose a theme etc. but she hasn't come up with what she wants to do...she does know she wants to go to the SF zoo!! She LOVES Giraffes! That's why in some of the pics she is wearing a giraffe sweatshirt:) I am so not ready for her to be 16!
Well, gotta run to the school to do my PTO duties.
love you,
Renee