Spring Break Action

Don't worry, we didn't go anywhere too wild for spring break. We did make it to Clifty Falls State Park for a night though. It was pretty fun. It would have been better if the weather had cooperated a little bit more but we had fun. We got to swim a lot and we did get to do a little bit of hiking. We will probably go back when the weather is warmer and hike some more. We also played a game called Boccerball. The kids really enjoyed that. I have included a short video of some Boccerball action but it is kinda dark.

We enjoyed staying up late watching basketball but it made it hard Sunday and Monday when we had to get up to go to church and school/work. I am anxious for spring to get in full bloom for every reason except for mowing grass. I am thinking about buying goats and turning them loose in my yard for the summer. Perhaps they would respond to an underground fence??

Here is a picture of Coy with his Great-Grandfather Wigg. Wigg has a lot of wit and has a likeable tendancy to tease and aggrevate, which may be where I get some of my tendancies. I can remember laying on the floor of my Grandma and Grandpa's house as a little kid and him pulling and popping my toes. Now I enjoy pulling and popping my kids toes. Is that cruel?? I stop if they ask me to stop and I usually don't keep pulling them if they don't pop right away.

Happy Easter

Ok, so it has been a while since the last post. It has been almost two weeks but it seems like months ago. We have been very busy, but healthy. I have been traveling a lot for work and between soccer and baseball and science fairs and Awana and Easter Treks and Parent/Teacher conferences, there just has not been much time to sit down at the computer and let everyone know what is going on.

I had to go back through the photos to remember everything that has happened since I last posted. Pictures from the snow storm as well as Coy's big performance at CBS were items that I forgot.

Stacey and I have begun to work on Coy's annual report that we owe to the Ukraine Consulate in Chicago. Today, I went through some of the paperwork, digging out information that we need to include in the report. It is hard to believe that it has been a year almost since we adopted him. The one year anniversary of when we first met Coy is just a couple of weeks away. I have to admit, that just looking at some of the important papers (adoption certificate, court decree, birth certificate) brought back a rush of emotions for me. Coy seems happy enough now but I can't help but wonder what emotions he might feel later when he reads what we knew about him. We can only hope that we can prepare him and let him know that he is as much a part of our family now as anyone else and that we love him and we are glad to have him here with us. We also need to convince him that he is here for a reason and that it was not luck or happen stance that he ended up here with us. I believe that it has been just as much for our benefit as it is for his. People have often told us how lucky Coy is to be here and that is true but Stacey and I would both say that we are lucky to have him. He brings a balance and a perspective to our family that we can't help but appreciate. It is hard to be greedy or selfish when you imagine what those children that are still in Ukraine, or other parts of the world are having to endure.

The Easter season is going to be the last "first" for Coy. Actually, the Derby will be the last "first" for Coy, but I'm not really going to count that.

Stacey bought a dozen "Resurrection Eggs". She hid them inside tonight and let the kids find them. She then lead them through a devotion as each egg had an element that described the Easter story. Caleb and Katie both knew almost every detail but Coy probably did not. I know that we talk to him about pieces of it and we read stories to him about it and that they teach him about it in Sunday School, Honeybees, and CBS but this Easter season will be pretty much the first time that Coy hears the Easter story. I don't know how far it will sink in with him but it sure makes an impression on me when I watch him listen and try to imagine what he is thinking.

OK, he is probably thinking -"Where is the candy?" but I will give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that he is thinking "I am so lucky to have Jesus".

Something funny that Coy says sometimes after church is that Jesus is coming to our house. He says it with such enthusiam and conviction that I wonder if he is disappointed when Jesus does not physically show up at our house. We try to explain to him that Jesus lives in our hearts and that he is with us in spirit but I am pretty sure most 3 years don't grasp that. Hey, I'm 36 and I have to convince myself that I kind of understand it almost everyday.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" You shine on Coy, you shine on. And keep on Shining till Jesus comes big boy, keep on shining. I love seeing your not so little light shine.

Snow Day

I will try to post more later. I did create this little movie while the kids were watching TV earlier. Try going to this link: http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/Mc5tKcTZr1ibqkSzcIZLK1eq
We did get to go outside today (twice actually) and we have pictures so I will try to post them later too. Unfortunately, the snow has postponed the concert so we won't get to go to Casting Crowns tonight.
Stacey got up and ran her 8 miles on the treadmill. She is one tough cookie.
The kids all enjoyed the snow. Caleb got outside and was cold enough to come inside before we got Katie and Coy outside the first time. Later in the day, the wind died down and the sun came out and we got to stay outside for an hour or so. We packed down the little hill and we were able to sled down it a little bit. Everybody except Katie enjoyed that. She was too busy working to have fun on the sled. She shoveled snow most of the time we were out. The only time she did not shovel, she was busy building a fort. But, that was after the driveway was clear.

A GREAT BOOK TO READ

Here is the book that Caleb wrote in his "Young Authors" section at school. He was quick to inform us that he did not win any awards for his efforts but we were quick to tell him how proud we were that he had done his best. It is a unique glimpse into the eyes and heart of a 6-7 year old that is very special to me.

A couple of FAQs that have come up from other readers of this book that I will share with you.

1. Straps=seat belts or the straps on a child's car seat.
2. We were actually gone for only 26 days.
You may need to click on each page to see the picture and to be able to read the words.

Kids grow fast. Everybody knows that right?? Here are the grandkids on Stacey's parents side in late February 2007. Compare that to the photo a couple of posts down where the four of them are now hanging around our table.

We got out and enjoyed the warm weather today. The kids played outside almost all afternoon and then our neighbors brough supper over and they played inside most of the evening as well.

We got the kids' science projects completed over the weekend too. Now all that needs to be worked on is the presentations. Caleb did an experiment with paper airplanes and Katie did an experiment with hoola hoops. They worked hard on the experiments. It is nice that they are motivated and interested and we are not having to drag it out of them.

I just realized how much earlier Easter is this year than last year. Last year, we were leaving the Tuesday after Easter but this year, Easter is not even the last Sunday in March. Strange. As is changing the time after the first full week of March.

Caleb is on a baseball team with his best friend in Lanesville. The mom of Caleb's friend called to get his number preference. Caleb picked "7". I was glad. I really can not remember ever telling him what my number was in high school.