parenting and stuff=)

Oh what has happened since i last posted...our ever crazy life just keeps getting crazier. But we are blessed (sometimes I have to remind myself of that multiple times a day so i don't go completely nuts!)

Daycare is HARD! The hardest job i've ever done. It is wonderful too. I am exhausted at the end of the day. I am hoping it will get better because the kiddos are getting older...but it's hard!
Some days it's more like I am running a mini hospital ward with all the runny noses..I feel like i can't ever get completely better...it's a vicious cycle. Taking sick days is hard for me, i feel so guilty because I am inconveniencing so many others. The kids are sweet though....when they aren't crying or biting...it's so cute how they interact with eachother. I have one little boy who's one and he is my little police man/daycare helper. He tells me if I've missed something, where the babies need to sit, who's crying, it's cute.

The boys are doing great. I really don't think they have any attachment issues...but that worries me too, am i missing something?
Last night we were at the fabric store and Markenley announces that people in Haiti drink pee. I think that was something he heard on tv....too much CNN.
I don't think Soly remembers Haiti...i'm sure it's inside him. He speaks so well and is a hysterical little guy!
Markenley has been doing great in school and his 'freak outs' are less. He LOVES tv, but we try not to let him watch it much. I was noticing that at times it seemed that tv and freak outs went hand in hand...not sure, so we limit tv. God obviously knew that we were the right family for Markenley since he seems to be a lot like one of his big sisters and we know how to handle behavior like that. NO tolerance for such behavior! He is such a sweet kid.

Shanay and Jess are doing great...they both have boyfriends....UGH. I like both boys...just not too into the idea of boys in general with my girls!! The girls are strong in their convictions...i trust them. We're just trying to make sure they stay on the right path. Really following God's direction. Sometimes boys can confuse us. Maybe I'll share my story of how a boy changed my life sometime. ;)

Taylor is Goldilocks in her school play but still aspires to go to Hollywood and start her career! She is a dreamer, i like that!

TJ is Alex, the lead in Velveteen rabbit! How exciting. He also is starting baseball today, as well as Markenley! (More sitting in the cold cheering on my boys!)

Sharene is turning 21 soon...21 really?? I met Todd when she was 1. She's growing up to be a beautiful woman! I'm proud of her.

Todd is doing good, working hard at church, and being the world's best husband and Daddy.

OK. that's it for the boring update posts...i'll try to post more exciting stuff from now on.

xoxo
renee

Devastation in Haiti

This past week has been such a surreal week. Our world was shaken, literally. Many lives were lost..too many precious people. I can't believe it still. I think back to our trips to Haiti and the amazing people we met. We have seen firsthand the Haitian people, with so little worshiping God in such a powerful way....and now on the news you see them worshiping still when they have NOTHING! God is alive in Haiti. I see our kids standing in the kitchen complaining that 'we don't have any food to eat'. Which means we don't have anything they want at the moment. Alot of these people have NO FOOD. Can you imagine?

We don't know the fate of our children's birthparents. We are heartbroken for them. Will we ever know?

Seeing the images of these orphans is killing my heart. Lord, what are you doing?

I am praying praying praying for many of the children of friends I met in Haiti or through our adoption to get their kids home this week on Humanitarian Visa's. Lord, you are almighty, you can move these children to the waiting arms of their parents. They need to feel safe, loved and get the help to deal with this tragedy they have witnessed.

We are blessed...to bless again.

XOXO
Renee

There are so many orphans....we are blessed tremendously by our Haitian babies...would you consider being blessed too?

Fabric-a-holic

I think my obsession started years ago..but it's only getting worse! I LOVE fabric! I love to dream up things I can do with it. I am really into making purses right now. I LOOOOOOOVVVEE Anna Maria Horner. She has amazing fabric and her family is adorable. Her studio is amazing!!
Melly and Me is one of my favorites!! I have made 2 of her purses recently and they are super cute! The only problem is that the only time I get to sew is in the evening...projects usually getting finished long after midnight.
I am really interested in learning how to do metal stamping so I can make cool jewlery! Just need more time...
XOXO

Emotions

Baby Shanay
Taylor, Shanay, Jessica and TJ...so young...

My kids now!

Tomorrow is a huge day in our family...a day full of excitement and joy and dread and sorrow....the first day of school. Markenley starts kindergarten!! An amazing opportunity that if he stayed in Haiti he may never have been able to experience. How blessed are we, even though it seems our school system stinks right now, that we have the opportunity for our kids to attend school. He is so excited...with his new shoes and new clothes all layed out! I think he will do great, I am a little worried though that he may get overwhelmed at times and am not sure how he will act. At home he will just refuse to obey at times..usually when he is overwhelmed..or unregulated..when there has been too much out of the ordinary going on. This happens so much less frequent than in the past so I am praying that he does ok. We are fully aware that this is a trial situation and if we need to homeschool we will. He is also playing soccer again this year! I am sure he will do better this year since he now understands english!!

TJ starts 5th grade and is excited to see his wall ball, tether ball buddies. I am excited that he will get to walk his little brother to class, something he hasn't gotten to do before:) He is a great big brother. TJ is doing amazing at the piano..a true natural...we MUST get him in piano lessons this year!! He goes online and learns songs himself...he's amazing! He is also into making and editing videos..he's quite talented. His new thing is ventriliquism to go along with his comedy/magic routines.

Taylor is in 8th grade and is right on cue..freaking out about what to wear!! Even though she has a whole new wardrobe nothing seems to look right! She is beautiful and it all looks great!!

This is her last year of Jr. High!! How exciting for her. She admited schools not that bad. =) I'm praying that she has a great year!

Jessica is a Jr. this year...sheesh...where does the time go. This year she's not playing volleyball because she has a part time job at church as the intern for the Jr. High group! She is praying about being a youth pastor so this is a great opportunity for her!

Shanay is a SENIOR...HOW??? WHY??? UGH UGH UGH

I am so not ready for this...tomorrow she will be driving herself and Jessica to school...I don't even get to see them walk onto campus...they will go by themselves....EEEEKKKK

She is trying to figure out her future!! Teacher, social worker, vet...?? Where to go to college? She wants to stay here, I am truly hoping she will but praying for God's will.

She has a job as well this year as the intern in the church's children's ministry. I am so excited to see how God uses this job to grow her...she is a lot like me...more reserved ..Jess is like her Daddy..outgoing and confident. I think this will be a great opportunity for both girls. They were both chosen for the jobs because they are amazing young ladies=)

This is so hard for me emotionally...Shanay is my baby...I don't want her to grow up...then I know Jess will be right behind her..Lord, prepare my heart. I can't imagine that someday my girls will be wives and mommy's someday...my boys will be husbands and daddy's. I love my babies...I pray that they all have a great day at school tomorrow. I love you guys much more than you will ever know.

Solomon is excited for all the kids to go to school because after they leave he gets ice cream!!! He will get to do home school preschool with mommy and the daycare babies!!

At least he's not leaving me!!

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Eric and Todd have a tradition of tossing the kids in the pool!! =) Soly LOVED it!!













I went into the boys room recently and this is what I found!! A friend gave Soly this adorable bed...not too comfy for bigger people! Shanay is such an an amazing big sister.












We absolutely ADORE Markenley's smile!















Getting ready for Soly's 3rd birthday party!

boys first time singing in church!!