Using utensils!

Firefighters

Manhattan Waterpark

Daddy and S walking to the toys

S loves when the water falls all over him...he is such a water baby!

M and Z on the slide

We went to the Manhattan City Pool today. There were a ton of great toys to play with and ride on!

Coach pitch baseball

M up to bat

And it's a hit!

Ready for any grounders that may come his way

M is playing coach pitch this year and loving it. He is quite the hitter and is getting better at throwing and catching!

New backsplash!

Over the weekend we installed a tile backsplash in our kitchen. Mark did most of the work and it turned out amazing!! We are very happy with it:)

Splash Park

Dad, M, and Z waiting for the bucket to drop on them

M playing in the water

Z running through the tunnel

S LOVED the splash park!

Today was M and Z's 1 year anniversary for their adoption so we had a fun family night. We had a picnic supper and then they got to play at the splash park. M and S loved the water, but Z kinda just hangs out on the edge. After we dried off we went and got ice creme. Happy Adoption Day M and Z!!

An interview...1 year later

Since today is the 1 year anniversary of M and Z's adoption I decided to ask them a few questions.

M's answers:

1. Who is in your family?

Mom, Z, Dad, me, S, dogs and Daisy (the cat)

2. What does it mean to be adopted?

Your mom and dad will take care of you forever.

3. What is your favorite part of being in this family?

Playing the Wii with everybody

4. What is your least favorite part of being in this family?

Dad going to Iraq

5. What special things do you get to do in this family that you didn't do in your other families?

Sports, play games, have a good mom and dad, I have pets

6. What is your favorite thing to do with:

Mom- Have fun

Dad- Roller Skate

Z- Play catch

S- Play with him and make him happy if he's sad

7. What do you remember about your adoption day?

Mimi and Grandma came. Dad was in Iraq.

Z's answers:

1. Who is in your family?

Mom, Dad, M, Jacob, Grandma, Popo, Chloe, Aislyn, Aunt Janelle

2. What does it mean to be adopted?

To be in our family

3. What is your favorite part of being in this family?

Playing games like the Wii

4. What is your least favorite part of being in this family?

Being in time out

5. What special things do you get to do in this family that you didn't do in your other families?

Play games

6. What is your favorite thing to do with:

Mom- Play games

Dad- Go outside and squirt him with the water guns

M- Having fun

S- Teach him to drink

7. What do you remember about your adoption day?

Being with Grandma

He's walking!!!

On Saturday S started walking!!! We thought he'd be 4 and not walking but he has mastered it before 18 months! We are so excited and he thinks he is quite the big kid now:)

Sorry for the sideways video...I can't figure out how to flip it...

S's pool

We got S a new pool for wading in and he loves it! He is such a water baby!!!

One year

S one year ago (5 almost 6 months old)

S now (at 17 almost 18 months)

Today is the one year anniversary of when we got S. We got him when he was almost 6 months old and at that time he wasn't doing much. He couldn't sit up or really roll over. He just laid wherever you put him. He didn't have much expression and didn't talk or respond to speech. He didn't look at people in their eyes and didn't have much attachment to anyone or anything.

He has grown so much in a year. He is a very happy little boy who is almost always smiling and laughing. He has a ton of teeth and eats almost anything put in front of him. He is talking more and more everyday and knows a few signs for common things. He is cruising along furniture and loves walking with his push walker (he is still about 6 months behind his peers). He is an absolute joy and we are so thankful that he is in our lives!

Church Camp

M at the entrance to King Solomon Christian Camp. He went Wednesday morning and stayed until Thursday afternoon.

M's cabin

His bunk. He slept on top...although he didn't really sleep (and we paid for it dearly when he got home)!

Campers during free play

M (in red) playing tether ball with one of the counselors and another camper. Overall he had a great time!

Train ride

M waiting to ride the train at the Topeka zoo

Z waiting

The train has arrived!

Super excited to ride the train!

S LOVED the riding the train! He is getting to be such a big boy!

T-ball

Z's t-ball team...they have no idea what they are doing:)

Yup, that's our son drawing in the dirt

His favorite bat is the bright pink one...

Running home

Z is playing t-ball this year. He seems to enjoy it, although he spends most of his time chewing on his glove or drawing in the dirt! Maybe sports aren't his thing:)