Guess Who

 

Guess who volunteered to feed Baby R today.

 

I think Baby R has charmed his way into John's heart.

I wasn't sure that was possible.

 

In the past John has held a baby for just a minute to say good-bye and that was the extent of his involvement.  Today he took the baby from me and asked for a bottle.

Wow.

 

 

Baby R is doing great.  He even makes a few five hour stretches between feedings at night.

Gotta love that!

 

No news on adoptive parents yet. 

 

Baby R will go to stay with the social worker next week while I get a chance to recover from a second surgery.  Hopefully, we will be able to bring him back to our house within a couple days of the surgery date.

 

 

 

 

Snow and Goats

 THIS

is as close to snow as I care to see for many months.

The kids loved playing in this mini blizzard

courtesy of their father.

It didn't take long for Dad to shake all of those beautiful blooms out of the tree.

Goats are doing great.

We will probably go to the farm and check on them this weekend.

At least that is the plan now.  Plans never seem to work out very well around here!!

Happy Friday!!

Meet Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley is a character in a book Grant's class read last week.

Grant brought Flat Stanley home over the holiday weekend.  Grant was supposed to include Stanley in our weekend activities and then write journal entries about their weekend together.

Stanley and Grant caught a turtle at the farm.  Stanly even got to go for a ride on the turtle.

The turtle was just grateful Grant did not want a ride as well.

Stanley enjoyed a trip to the pool Monday evening.

Stanley decided since he was only made of paper he should not actually get in the water. 

Stanley and Grant shared some ice cream from the ice cream man.

And Stanley helped Grant welcome Baby R into our home Monday evening.

After their busy weekend, Grant took Stanley back to school and turned in his journal of their many adventures together.

Baby R is doing great.

He never lacks for attention.

He is a very easy going little guy...never complaining about trips to baseball games or the pool or school.

 Grace 

picking flowers 

wearing my her new hat.

The View From Here

Sometimes I get a bit freaked out when the pile of clothes on the bench turns to look at me.

 

Then I remember we have a gray cat.

You would think I would remember that detail longer.

I don't.

 

 

 

Baby goat kisses.....

 

are not my favorite kind of kiss.

A great place for a conversation...

 

 

THIS

is why I love being a parent!!!

I have not found her closet door hanging open since she paid the landlord ten dollars!

Zoo at the Zoo

This past Tuesday was primary Election Day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky (because we are too special to be just a plain old state, we get to declare ourselves a commonwealth)(aren't you jealous?)  

Because of elections, schools were closed. We at the zoo decided it was time for a trip to the real zoo for a little fun. John opted to spend the day at a friend's house, but the other three had an enjoyable day taking in the sights. 

Wednesday and Thursday were spent rolling flags and passing them out in the neighborhood for the Memorial Day weekend. Six hundred flags later we declared it a job well done. I think everyone enjoys the flags. 

Friday was pretty quiet. I spent a good portion of the day in a chair with a cat on my lap. I did make it to high school in the afternoon for the awards program for underclassmen.  Emily received an academic award. As always we are proud of our kids' accomplishments. She has done a great job this year transitioning to high school. 

Saturday we were up and off to the farm to join David. He spent Friday alternately cutting hay and cussing tractors that just will not cooperate with his schedule. Hay is on the ground. David is now awaiting parts to fix the tractor so he can bale. I have concluded that patience is a virtue farmers must practice daily. This is why I will never be a farmer. 

And this picture....

is Grant preparing to be the first person to jump into the pool this season. He and I snuck up to the pool Saturday morning before heading to the farm. He has talked all winter about wanting to be first into the pool. 

He succeeded.

He also managed to be the last person out of the pool when it closed last fall. Yes.  He loves swimming that much. 

At least it's good exercise!

Zoo Expansion Project

I received a call Sunday afternoon. Our adoption caseworker had a Memorial Day surprise for us.....

Meet Baby R.... Our most recent foster baby. 

He is the best medicine a girl could ask for three weeks post surgery and two weeks pre-surgery. 

I'm not certain how this will work out the next couple weeks, but I am certain there is a Master with a master plan for this little guy and for our family. The details will take care of themselves in due time. We are just thrilled to be part of the plan for however long we are needed. 

Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to go rock a baby that needs some loving while he waits for his forever mom to find him. 

Goodnight.

We Remember...

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.

Mark Twain

Crafts - Covering Third - Celebrity Crush

 

The latest craft project completed...

 

 

Grant

 

is playing third base a lot this year.

That is the position John played most of the time.

 

 

Speaking of John....

Look how happy he looks in this picture.

 

I think John was a bit wowed by Miss Sadie Robertson.

The smile says it all!

Good Eyes - New Bikes

I have always heard some people have a gift for finding four leaf clovers.

Now I know someone with that gift.

This is the second one she has found this summer.

This one she saw as we were walking in Target the other evening.

 

 And why exactly were we walking in Target?

Here is a little hint.....

 

Both kids have outgrown their old bicycles.

It was time for some new ones.

 

They took them for a first spin around the parking lot at work.

 

Both kids spend a lot of time now riding their new bikes.

Happy kids!

Put On Your .....

THINKING HELMET?

Grant says he studies better with his helmet on.

Who is going to argue with that?

 Lego Rocketship

Courtesy of resident Lego engineer 

Grant Shupe

with creative design consultation by

Dad

Farm Phlox 

Apple Blossoms

Sprayed the orchard again saturday.

Would you believe it if I said I am spraying with a concoction of

Murphy's Oil Soap, Apple Cider Vinegar, Molasses and Liquid Seaweed?

It is all natural and actually seems to be working better than a few other things we have tried in the past.

With a little care (and a whole lot of luck) we should have a good crop of apples for the first time!

Yeah!!

##################################################

Just have to mention this here....

our water woes are still with us.

David went to work Sunday evening to find the sprinkler system malfunctioning.

Water was running out the drain in the side of the building.

Thankfully he is a workaholic and did not wait until Monday morning to go to work.

He found the problem before it was much more than an over-sized puddle on the office floor.

A call to the landlord and all was soon under control.

Things were dried out and ready to go this morning.

Once again I will ask

WHAT IS IT WITH US AND WATER????

#################################################

UPDATE

David and I met with my new doctor Friday afternoon.

He was a terrific guy to talk to...very informative and very relatable.

In a very short time we were given a fuller explanation of the original diagnosis and what it will mean.

I am scheduled for a second surgery in June.

As long as we have the expected outcome from that surgery, there will be no follow-up chemo or radiation...

just lots of scans in the years to come.

A girl can live with that.

Thank you for caring.

I am humbled.

John

 

 

From John on Mother's Day

 

He really enjoys drawing right now. 

That talent came from his dad, not me!

 

 

I had to ask him to decode the picture for me.

 

 

"And the love I share can not compare

to the love you give me always."

 

 

 

Breakfast of Champions

I was awakened Sunday morning by Grant.

He was delivering breakfast in bed...seeing as how it was Mother's Day.

On the menu....

Cheerios without milk (so he wouldn't spill it coming up the stairs)

and lemonade

Love that guy!

Ready for Game #2 Tuesday evening

 In honor of Throwback Thursday.....



The pictures were taken in 2005 though the memories here go back far beyond that.

 

 
 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROTC Spring 2014

 

Congratulations, John and Emily, on a job well done!