21 years old!!!

Enjoyed a night out with these two 21 year olds at the Pumphouse...so glad to enjoy adult time with them.

Delaney turns 6!

Delaney has grown up so much over this past year!  She has embraced school and loves to speak Spanish.  She told me recently she speaks more Spanish than English.  lol.  She wanted to go to Charandas for her birthday celebration even! She has taken off on her reading and is following in her brother's footsteps with reading very quickly.  She tries to write things all the time, she doesn't get spelling yet, but she knows what she is writing. 

She loves to play sports with her brother and tried basketball and is about to start soccer this year.  She has several friends she talks about at school and still enjoys going to church.  She tries hard on everything she puts her mind to and uses art to release her stress.  She still wants to be with Mommy all the time, but gives life a try too.  

Her birthday party this year was an American Girl Doll party at our house.  She had about 15 friends come over for "tea".  We quickly found out this was way too many kids for her to handle at once.  We will cut back to 1-2 next year.

Coalson's birthday party

Coalson's birthday party was to play basketball with the Winthrop basketball team...Blake loved it!  He looks so little out there on the sidelines with the players.  It was a fun experience for all the kids!

They even came to have a cupcake with the kids after the game...Jimmy Gavin is a great guy, he stuck around for a picture with the boys.

21st birthday presents...

For all our nieces and nephews and kids we got a bottle of wine, with the help of Walter Sherman, from the year they were born that will keep for 21 years and be in it's prime to drink at that time.  We don't have Lilli Jane's from 2013 yet, but here are the rest and a picture of the big kids with their bottle they will drink with Kevin and I in 15-16 years.  How fun!

Sweet Blake's Gotha' Day!

We went to dinner, just the 3 of us, to Fish Market in Fort Mill all dressed up.  He ordered an adult Shrimp and Grits, it changed his way of thinking about food.  He LOVES new dishes.

Baby Lucy

Chuck, Katie, and Lucy Collins came to visit today!  She is our God daughter and we just adore her!  She is the sweetest 1 year old and my kids love playing with her!  I think Lilli Jane thinks her baby dolls are supposed to come alive like her.  Last night we got some kid free time with Katie and Chuck on my birthday.  It was so nice to see them and spend some time catching up.  We gave Lucy her first scooter and it seems it's a hit!  Blake rode her around for 30 minutes on it!  

Blake's 7th birthday party

A wonderful party with friends from the past, school, church, and the neighborhood!  Blake had about 20 friends and their siblings to celebrate with at the Winthrop Basketball game today, PLUS, WU WON!!!

Cousin at iHOP

Coalson spent the night with Blake for his birthday and we went to breakfast the next morning. They have a great time together.

Birthday boy!

A great day to have a birthday!  I can't believe my boy is 7!

Blake has come out of his shell this year!  He is independent in many things he does, including personal hygiene, reading silently, playing, and other things.  He recently had his first spend the night party with a non-family member, his friend David from school.  His friend said to his mom, “I like hanging out with Blake because he loves God like I do and he’s kind”.  Oh, what wonderful words for a mom to hear about her son!  He loves to be with his friends and still plays with his cousin, but has new friends from school and likes to include them all.  His birthday party this year was at our local college’s home basketball game and he invited 25 kids!  He wanted them all there and their siblings.  He used to not do well with big crowds even if it was just his family, but he loves his friends and that part of his personality has changed quite a bit.

He’s excelling in school reading above grade level in English and starting to read books in Spanish class too.  He is still in the immersion classes and now his sister is too.  I am hearing him speak more in the language and he can listen to others talk and know what they are saying.  It’s not a translated word for word thing, but an understanding of the language.  His school isn’t far away and I go volunteer once a week so I get to see him interacting with his classmates.  He does well with this and all the kids seem to like him.  His big beautiful brown eyes can light up a room, but when they are angry he sure can show it in those eyes.  He still get real angry at things, but more these days it’s at himself when he can’t do something perfect.  He will tantrum on average once a month, but we have learned ways to get him out of this depression.  Blowing out fake candles, writing words, and when I force a hug on him are all skills we use frequently these days.

He’s playing basketball at church this year and did last year, but he’s cut back on organized sports.  This school year he started piano lessons and Boy Scouts.  Both of these things are important to our family and will give him lifelong skills he needs to succeed in life.  He is learning all the notes on the piano and can hear if it’s right or wrong (one place he gets mad at himself).  He is good at playing and entertained me with Christmas songs this year, however I cant’ get him to play for a crowd.  His dad helps with Boy Scouts and they are enjoying learning together all the ways to be a Tiger Cub, taking care of the Earth, doing good in his community, and honoring God and his country.  He’s a great memorizer and knows the oath and the law well.  He still memorizes Bible verses and enjoys learning them.  He went roller-skating for the first time this year and loved trying this so much he asked for skates (and a skateboard) for Christmas, so of course Santa brought them.   He was good to all three kids this year.  He still loves swimming and started learning strokes this year.  He is a little fish!  We spent 60 % of our time at the beach again this summer and he lived in the pool.  He’s great on a bike and rides it all over the place.  He is still very cautious about everything he does that he hasn’t yet mastered.

He is still a great big brother, but he has started to argue and fight more with his sisters, especially Delaney (5 ½ years old now).  They love each other so much and you will find them wrestling, playing, laughing, snuggling, but then all of the sudden they are yelling at each other.  He even hit her today.  So they are very normal brother and sister.  They enjoy sleeping in the same room lately, but he’s fine alone too.  He likes a little light on and the door cracked open.  He also doesn’t like wearing pjs anymore while sleeping.  He eats well and doesn’t mind trying new things.  Nuts are one of his favorite snacks these days and he enjoys spicy things. 

We go to church regularly and he is passionate about being there.  He attends Sunday School, choir, and RAs (a mission program).  He can tell you about many stories in the Bible and prays beautifully.  He cares about others and wants to make sure he does what makes others happy.  He is such a JOY in my life still everyday and I can’t imagine what life would be like without my precious angel!  We love him dearly and he knows how much Lisa loves him, we talk about her and her other sons very often and pray for them.  We thank Lisa and God all the time for the wonderful gift!

Eliza's cookie decorating birthday party

The little ones must have thought this was Santa. Just Eliza's granddad.

Lilli Jane is 2!

She woke looking beautiful and happy to be alive!

We had a great day with family celebrating her big day!  She is a bundle of joy and always giving us lots of laughs.  The hat was a little big at Charanda's but she wanted to go there after her sister's in February.