Happy 17th Birthday Madison

I cannot believe my first baby is 17 years old.  Even though it makes me sad, I have to say that I am so proud of the man he is becoming.

He is so good to his little sister.  He was happy to let her help him blow out his candles and open his presents.

He celebrated on Saturday by having about 15 of his friends over for a bon fire. ( Sorry no pictures.  I wasn't allowed near them with my camera) and then tonight we had a small get together at Mammoo & Pappy's house.  I made him his favorite meal, chili with rice and fritos.  We had a delicious chocolate cake and ice cream.  He got lots of cash, some Adidas sweat pants and several pairs of skinny jeans. 
 What more could a teenage want?

Happy 3rd Birthday Sophie!

Today is Sophie's 3rd birthday.  After I picked her up from Mother's Day out, we waited for Madison to come home and we headed to the Mall so Sophie could tell Santa everything she wanted for Christmas.  She loved him and had no problem jumping up in his lap and chatting away.  

 After Santa we headed down the mall to the fountain where Sophie threw in some coins and made a birthday wish.

 Daddy couldn't be here to see Sophie open her presents so I taped it all and sent it to him.  Here she is giving Moomee some kisses for the wonderful toy mixer she recieved.

 I love this face so much!!!

After all the birthday celebrating was over,  I put her new pj's on her and we climed up in the rocking chair.  We thanked God for his goodness, for our family and the blessings of birthdays.  I thanked God that he allowed me to be this little girls mommy.  I am still so humbled that he chose me for this wonderful privilege.  This week as Sophie's birthday approached, I began thinking more and more about her Chinese mother.  Tonight Sophie and I prayed for her.  We asked God to somehow make it known to her that Sophie is safe and loved.  That as another birthday for this beautiful little girl comes and goes that there "would be a peace that passes all understanding."  Happy Birthday my little Fu baby.  You are so loved!

Sophie's birthday party

Today we had a birthday party for Sophie.  It was so much fun.  I decided because it was after Thanksgiving, I would go with a Christmas theme.  It turned out really special.  The house is decorated for Christmas and everything I needed for the party was easy to find right now.

The girls opened little aprons that I had made for them and decorated Christmas cookies.  We had icing, sprinkles, red hots and chocolate chips.

This is a little tree that I set up every year.  I used to use it for Madison's special ornaments and we would put it in his room during the holidays.  Now he and Sophie share it.  JoJo brought her a sweet little Barbie ballerina ornament for her Birthday.  Sophie loved hanging it on the tree.

Lydia enjoyed eating the decorations as much as she liked putting them on the cookies.

Sophie, Sarah Kate and Lila looking extra cute in the little pettiskirts!

Sophie has been telling everyone she meets that she is having a "Happy Party."  I think she had a wonderful time and I loved putting it together for her. 

Decking The Halls

Camden and I have always stayed home the day after Thanksgiving and decorated the house for Christmas.   He brought all the boxes out of the attic and we worked all day getting the house ready.  We have a lot going on this weekend, Madison and Sophie's birthday parties, Camden is having friends over to watch UK vs. Tennessee.  The house is ready and now we can get on with enjoying each event that will be coming our way.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a fun Thanksgiving today. We started out at Granny's and ended at my parents.

 One of the highlights of the day is the girls playing together.  It is so cute to see Sophie enjoy her cousins.  The girls got in Granny's closet and each chose a pair of heels to put on.  They came out of her closet with their choices and of course we grabbed our cameras!

 Sophie chose a lovely bronze 3 inch heel, while Lila went for a stunning red pair.

 We had the girls sit on the stairs and cross their legs like "ladies".  Sophie held Lila's for her because she couldn't keep them crossed.  It was so cute!

An Impromptu and Overdue Family Night

We have not had an official "Family Night" since our two weeks in China.  Every night was Family Night  there and it was wonderful.   We are together as a family each night,  we go out to eat together and attend church on Sunday mornings but when you have a 16 year old and 2 year old there isn't a lot you can do that will make everyone happy.  It's not like we can go out to a movie or play board games with an age difference like that.  But last night it happened.  It had not been planned but it came together wonderfully.  It started with Sophie receiving an early birthday present.  Her sweet little friend Lydia gave her a Cinderella play set.  Sophie has never seen the movie.  We have it on VHS (it was Madison's when he was little) but I don't have a VCR anymore.  I really wanted her to see it especially the song Bippity Boppity Boo because she does her dance routine to this song at ballet.  Madison wanted to get a CD of his favorite band, A Day To Remember, but when he stopped at Walmart after school they didn't have it.

I told him I would take him out to buy the CD and then I had the idea to call the Book & Music Exchange to see if they had a used copy of Cinderella.  Sure enough they had one and held it for me.  We now had a plan forming.  We would go to Bardstown Rd.,  hit the BME, then stop at Ear Extacy and get Madison's CD.  While there ,we would eat at Camden's and Madison's favorite, Sky Line Chili.

Why?

I am not sure why God decided to make one of the childhood milestones the question "why?" but he did. Maybe it is so kids can learn about the world around them or maybe they are learning where their boundaries lie.  Or maybe, just maybe, it's so they can learn that all important phrase, " because I said so, that's why?"  Whatever the reason, my daughter has hit this milestone with a vengence.   Trying to be a good mother, I usually answer her question "why" one or two times but always seems to end up with, "because I said so, now get in the car....stop eating that.....pick up your toys....stop aggrivating your brother......etc...etc....!!!"  It's been thirteen years since Madison was 3.  For the life of me I can't remember how long this phase lasts.  I really hope not too long.

A tearful morning

This morning, Jacob, left for the Air Force.  Jacob is my second cousin but there were times when Camden and I would beg his mother to let us have him.  We even offered to give her money.  Unfortunately she knew what a good kid she had and refused our offers each time.  As I uploaded photos to Facebook this morning, all the wonderful memories of he and Madison's childhood came flooding back and the tears flowed.  All the fun sleepovers, Batman, GI Joe's, & Pokemon tournaments.   When Madison was little he would cry every time Jacob had to go home.  He just loved Jacob and so did we.    Madison teared up over Jacob again yesterday.  "I'm going to miss him mom but I know he's doing the right thing.  He's going to make something of himself and I'm really proud of him."  What I wouldn't give to go back to those days of Jacob coming over, me giving him all the Go-gurt he wanted.  Hours later he would call his mom and go home sick.  It wasn't until about a month later his mom and I figured out what was wrong.  She said," your giving Jacob yogurt? He is lactose intolerant.  Didn't he tell you he can't have dairy."   Jake and I have a good laugh about that now.  He didn't know yogurt was a dairy product.  He just knew his mom never bought it for him and it was good.  Addie, Jacob's sister is the only one left at home now.  She posted on Facebook this morning how much she already missed her brother.  It killed me because she was part of those "Three Muskateers."  The oldest and always bossing the two boys around.    I didn't know it would be so hard to watch these kids grow up and become adults, but it is.  Harder than I thought it would be.

The Best Compliment

Sophie has been in First Steps Early Intervention since she was two years old.  I have been so pleased with this program.  We have used Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Play Therapy.  Each one has helped Sophie so much and I have been so grateful for each therapist and our coordinator.  Because Sophie will be turning three in two weeks she is aging out of the program.   The only issue we still have is a "mild" speech delay.   I chose to have Sophie reevaluted and if Jefferson County feels she still has a need for speech therapy I can take her to a public school once a week and receive this service.  This morning we got up early and headed downtown at 8 a.m for the testing.  We went into a very small room that had lots of fun toys lined against the walls.  Unfortunatley, these toys were not for us.  Sophie was expected to sit at the table and go through this boring book of picutres with some lady who had the personality of a rock.  After 20 minutes of Sophie cooperating I saw" the look".   This is a look that each of our therapist have seen at one time or another.  The look of , "we are going to do it my way now".  My daughter had had enough.  She crossed her arms, looked that woman in the eye and didn't do another thing she was asked to do.   In fact when the woman would ask her to do something, Sophie would do the exact opposite just to show the nice lady who was boss.  After an hour of this I told the lady we were done and left  frustrated.  Frustrated because it was an unfair evaluation.  Who expects an almost 3 year old to sit in a room full of toys and only look at a 1980's book of pictures and say what the words are or color of the boys shirt is.  Frustrated because I know Sophie  would not cooperate and as her mother I felt I was supposed to make her even though I knew the test was stupid.
When we got in the car I called Sally, our wonderful speech therapist, and told her about my frustration.  She was so sweet.  Sally really loves Sophie and told me not to worry.  Then she gave Sophie a wonderful compliment, "Sophie is not a people pleaser, she has a mind of her own and that is a good thing."   Sally was so right.  Sophie is sweet and fun.  She is a good girl.  She is happy and silly and beautiful.  However what she is not, is a "people pleaser."