Christopher's First Day!

Christopher started 8th grade today. He was so excited to go back to school and see all of his old friends and teachers and meet some new ones, as well. We weren't sure he'd be able to go back this year as we anticipated a job change for Pete, but it all worked out in the end and we are thrilled...and so is Christopher. His school is the best. It is all boys and very nurturing. They know boys well...they really get it. He gets so much exposure to art, music, community service...the academics are great and the environment is both challenging and encouraging. I wish all schools were more like this one! He's got a day and a half of school and then the 8th grade goes on a 3-day camping trip next week in order to help the boys get to know their advisors and their advisor group peers since they will spend so much time working together during the year. Christopher was up at 6am and in the shower by 6:15 (so not him!). When he arrived, everyone greeted him so warmly and appeared to be very glad that he was back. He was all smiles. It's his community and I'm glad he gets to remain a part of it!

A Trip to the Playground

Matt's a Senior!

Hannah started 1st grade yesterday and Matt started 12th grade today. He's now 6'1" (and still growing), he's been taking driving lessons and is about to take his license test. He is also about to start the college application process. I can't believe this is is last year of high school...and his last year at home :( Where did all the time go?

First Grade

Hannah started first grade this week. She has a young, new (well, to our school), enthusiastic teacher who seems very nice. She is also a dance instructor! How she does all this with one year old twins, I don't know but it sounds like she has the energy to keep up with Hannah.

Hannah wasn't as nervous heading back to school as she was last year before she started kindergarten. In fact, it sort of snuck up on her. The night before the first day, it dawned on her she'd be gone ALL day instead of 1/2 a day like last year. She got a little emotional and worried. She wondered if she'd find the bathroom (kindergarten bathrooms are right inside the classroom) or what it would be like to go to the BIG cafeteria for lunch. She worried she would miss me too much. We snuggled in bed and talked about it all and she asked, since she would be away from me for the WHOLE following day, if I would stay in her room to sleep and cuddle with her that night. It was very sweet....and I did. We had a big breakfast the next morning and in spending all that time relaxing over pancakes and eggs, we almost missed the bus. It's always hard to let them go in the fall. Summer never lasts long enough for me. I miss all that time with them!

I'm Back!

I can't believe I haven't posted since May. So much has been going on. I was away with the kids for the summer. Most of that time (and before) my computer was being repaired by the Geek Squad (no comment :)) and it is now about to go back in for the third time so I'm trying to upload photos and do a few posts before that happens. I plan on buying a new computer because I'm not sure this one will ever be coming back home again (a lemon) and I cannot do without one while in school (which starts again next week). I have a lot of catching up to do with photos and posts of what we've been doing for the past three months. I also have to catch up on most everyone else's blogs, too. It was great spending our summer by the Ocean, but it is good to be home again and getting back into the normal routine again.

New Film

http://orphan-movie.warnerbros.com/

Have you seen this trailer? Warning: it's really creepy and unsettling. I wonder what impact it will have on adoption, specifically older child adoption. I can't imagine anyone experiencing a film like this will feel quite the same about adopting or adopted children after this. Makes me sad for all of the older kids who wait for families. I haven't seen the movie and I wonder if it will impact the perceptions people have of my girls. "It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own"....a line from the trailer that kind of got me.

Wondering....do you guys think this is harmful to orphans? It would be interesting to hear (leave a comment). Wonder if the producers (Leonardo DiCaprio, for one) really gave this much thought. I would hate to make my living doing something that harmed children. Anyway, I guess a movie character could be anyone; a man, a woman, a child, a school teacher, or an orphan who seems evil and kills people?? I gave Warner Bros. some feedback anyway. I don't know if I even left it in the right place, but I tried. Here's the link I used if you feel like giving them your opinion on this film.



http://www.warnerbros.com/main/help/customer_service.html

Where have we been?

Someone asked...and I guess we've been all over the place...ballet, baseball, violin, school, etc. It's a busy time of year and I haven't been able to journal it because both my laptop and our desktop computers crashed several weeks ago. On top of that, I have been trying to finish up my semester work so I haven't even had time to get the computer stuff straightened out (I using a borrowed computer at the moment). I start a photography course on Tuesday and I'm praying to have my own computer back by then. I have lots of cute photos sitting on my memory card that I want to put here soon!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We are hoping to have fun and relax, perhaps on a beach, with a bit of yard work mixed in (though the beach sounds like a lot more fun).