Sunday Snapshot: Austin

I don’t know why I keep thinking I can do these weekly blog linky things… (um whatta ya call em’s)?  But, I saw this one on Stefanie’s blog and decided I just had to try it. Maybe it will force me to blog more consistently and take pictures more often too. I am NOT a good photographer at all and really don’t think I have the will or the time to learn to be better, but I have been hit over the head lately with the realization that my kids are growing up a heck of a lot faster than I like. So, if I want to remember them as they are now I better do something to help preserve these memories. Sunday Snapshot seems like a nice way to do that.

Speaking of kids that are growing up, Austin is 13 and just recently graduated from Middle School. Meaning he will be going to HIGH SCHOOL (cue scary music) next school year. Lord help me!

But, at least I know he still loves his Mama. Well, he does – he just may not want the whole Middle School to know it. Can you see him trying to get away? tee hee. He’s still catchable for a little while longer, just another reason for me to keep running.

I can clearly remember standing outside his Kindergarten classroom peeking in to spy and see how he was doing. How he worked so hard to learn how to read and now he’s moving on to Honor’s English. How they kept telling me he was so smart, but almost every day he was being sent to the Principal’s office and I kept saying, “Smart kids aren’t supposed to be the troublemakers”.  Now, he’s been accepted into the Governor’s School. I am so proud of him.

He’s even got a hug for Dear Old Dad. This is the man that has pushed him to try harder, even when he didn't think he had any more to give. He doesn't always like it, but I think he's learned that hard work really does pay off in the end.

Look at that, Brotherly Love! I love it when I can catch them in moments like this. Especially since they don’t last long. 
      
See? It’s already going downhill.

Yep, that’s a little more like what I usually see. Honestly, most of the time I love the relationship that is developing between him and his younger brother.


I absolutely love this picture. It is one of my all-time favorite shots of him. I love how they are both looking at each other. This is my younger brother’s little boy, Jayvion. Austin’s three year old cousin. He is so good with him. Listens when Jay talks, helps him figure things out, encourages him.

Recently we were at a party and Jayvion didn’t know any of the other kids so he didn't want to leave Grandma’s (my Mom) side. Austin came over to Jay and asked him if he wanted to go play, held out his hand and Jayvion went happily – knowing that if Austin was with him he’d be ok. Does this mama’s heart good.


The Grandparent’s. They love him. And he loves them back.

Question For Ya

 

 

A friend of mine gifted us a really nice black Coach Purse to sell for Liza’s Adoption Fund and I was planning on putting it on Ebay but then the other day I had an epiphany, and I asked myself:

Me: “Self?”

Myself: “Yes?”

Me: “Why don’t we do a giveaway on the blog with that Coach Purse? Might be fun……!”

Myself: “Hey, that’s a great idea!  Hmmm, I wonder if anyone who may be reading would really want it?”

I: “Let’s find out, I’ll go ask them on the blog right now.”

 

So, Me, Myself, and I wanna know; would anyone really consider donating to Liza’s Adoption Fund to have their name thrown in for the Coach bag giveaway? And/Or, would you be wiling to put the word out about what we’re doing so anyone else who’s interested can take a look? Leave me a comment and let me know or shoot me an email – you can find my email addy on the sidebar.

 

Thanks!

P.S. Yes, I know the Me, Myself, and I thing is corny, but cut me some slack! It’s Summer and I’m spending all day every day with four dudes, three of whom are 20, 13, and 11. I have to do something to amuse myself :)

Renaissance Faire

Does anyone else love going to Renaissance Faires/Festivals? I was introduced to my first one, the Georgia Renaissance Festival, in 10th grade. I was in Mr. Horton's History class and we were taking a field trip there one Saturday. The only problem with that was I had just been hired as a Hostess at one of the local Waffle Houses in our VERY small town (yes I worked at Waffle House and yes there were more than one - less than five miles apart) and I had to work that Saturday, and my Mom wouldn't let me take the day off - teaching responsibility or some such nonsense (just kidding Mom!) So, to make it up to me, Mom arranged for Me, my best friend, BFF's mom, and Herself to go to the Ren Faire another weekend. That was it, I was hooked. Totally loved it and everything about it. Maybe it's goofy, maybe it's "nerdy", but I still love it and would go a couple times a year if I could.

A couple of weeks ago Rick and I took our kids to the Virginia Renaissance Faire during Pirate Week. It was H.O.T. that day but it was still a lot of fun. AND maybe the best part of the day - there was a guy dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow. He looked just like, him, walked like him, and even waved/smiled like him. He waved at me and smiled and I wanted to follow him like a little puppy dog. I felt like I had been warped into a pirate movie for a second. What is it about Jack Sparrow that makes ladies love him? I'm not the only one, right? I wish I had gotten a picture of him. Ah well....

Where was I? Oh yeah.... took the kids to Ren Faire. They learned the Medieval alphabet, apparently we added a few letters since then, and they learned that they would have probably had a job by age nine. I think they were glad they were born when they were. There were a couple of guys there doing an acrobat/comedy routine that was really funny and of course the “Queen and her Court”. Not to mention all the other pirates wondering around and the quest to decide who would be the Queen’s official “privateer” which is different than a pirate but still kinda the same… yeah…..

Some snapshots of what we did:
  

The boys got to throw sharp objects at targets. Let’s just say Noah will never be an axe murderer…. or a wood-cutter either, but it was fun to watch him throw that axe at the wall.

  

  They didn’t do too bad with the bow and arrow, but I think it felt a little awkward at first.

 
The Lovely Step-daughter and I decided to stick with something a little more lady-like, so she had her face painted and I got my hair braided.  Pops (AKA Rick/Dad) just hung out, drank a little wine, and somehow managed to not be in any of the pictures. It was a good day.

What’s the News?

Wellllllll…….. The I171-H finally came and the entire dossier was sent to Richmond to get the pretty little Apostille seals on each of my hard-worked for documents.

See aren’t they pretty?

All that money just for a an extra sheet with a gold seal on it? Yep.

Then I took the “Beast” (as it has been dubbed by a Reece’s Rainbow mom) to the local “Mail It Store” (Whadda you call those, BTW?), got it all packaged up in a safe looking box, and sent it via DHL to Eastern Europe.

Can you believe all my hard work is in that box?

Don’t they look just SO excited?! Yeah, I know…

I really was excited, but also a little nervous.

I don’t think it really hit me what I had just done until I was emailing an update to the Reece’s Rainbow group. Then all of a sudden I realized that I had just sent my dossier to Liza’s country. Actually, every time I type it out or actually say it, it hits me again. I FINALLY shipped our dossier to Liza’s country! I do still have to send a couple things that need updated, but at least I know that the bulk of it will be there soon – most likely tomorrow – and will be getting translated and ready to be submitted when the new pieces get there.

We are finally going to be on our way very soon! Yay! Please keep praying that the road from here on out will be smooth. No more delays, no more roadblocks, just smooth sailing from here till we bring her home. We are also praying for the last little bit of funds that we need to come in so that we know we will be covered with food, lodging, and any other miscellaneous expenses. Anytime in the next 4-8 weeks I will be posting pictures of myself  and Rick holding the cutest little blonde haired, blue eyed promise IN. OUR. ARMS! Wooooo!!!

**Updated before I could even get this posted – Dang leafed out trees crapping up my internet connection. Anywho…. I just checked and the Dossier has made it to Liza’s country and been processed for clearance. I think that means, we are just waiting for it to be delivered to our facilitator!! Ya-hoo!! I may just be a tad excited…..**