First day of school photos

Carson's first day of Pre K photos from September 7, 2010

No Cavities

Tonight Carson had his first dentist appointment at the new dentist office in Somers Point with Dr. Mark Raab. We were highly impressed with their customer service along with the way staff walked us through each step. Carson was very cooperative and followed the directions with caution as normal. The dentist office had flat screen t.v.'s above every chair showing disney movies, at least 6 video games in the waiting room, an electric train which traveled round the office, toys and little gifts for the kids to pick out after their cleaning. Carson was able to pick out two gifts for being such a good patient ;)





Carson and Dr. Raab making funny faces.

story telling by Carson

Wordless Wednesday...which brings back a lot of tears

Happy Birthday Best

Today is Tracey's birthday. Carson calls her "Best". He is totally in love with her. They have a great relationship and I pray it continues. Best and Carson usually have a date night once every other week however they see each other weekly. Best and Carson frequent the boardwalk, zoo and their favorite of all favorites once a year Monster Truck show in Wildwood. I asked Carson want he wanted me to type to Best for her birthday so here it goes...
Best,
Happy Birthday. Thank you for my present. Thanks for the Christmas card. I am going to see the monster trucks crash into cars. Thanks for taking me to the monster trucks. That's it.

John 10:9

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Awesome stuff!!

look its ice cream

Tonight Carson was eating lasagna for dinner and he says, "look Mommy there is white ice cream in my pasta". Of course I had to look at what he was talking about. I replied with a laugh, "No Carson that's ricotta cheese".

We are meeting with the adoption case worker on September 29, 2010 at 6:00 for our next adoption journey.

Wordless Wednesday

Not feeling like myself

For the past month or so I have not felt like my peppy self. My energy level has been extremely low, I do not want to do anything, I am very sensitive and I am not sleeping at night. When I do fall asleep, I have had some of the most emotional dreams of my past. My dreams have been so vivid. I either wake up in a panic or crying and the rest of the day I am thinking about my dreams. Why? Is it just the month of September? Knowing the cold weather will be quickly approaching? depression? needing a change? unsettled issues? However, I am very thankful for Jonathan as he is very understanding...

Carson started soccer on Monday. Carson did very well (of course he is Guatemalan). He followed directions and kept his manners. That's big stuff for Carson right now as he wants to give the directions not follow them. UH! He is such a LEADER!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Joey

Today is Carson's Uncle Joey's 29 birthday. We all love Joey very much. We do not get to see him as much as we would like however when he is here we have a blast (sometimes lol). As I have mentioned before Joey is a commerical pilot so needless to say every (I mean every) plane that flies by Carson thinks Joey is flying it.
Dear Joey, We wish you a very Happy Birthday. We love you very much! Carson loves playing with you and furthermore he loves when you push him on the swing. I pray that God gives you a healthy year. We miss you so much and love you even more!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy 4th Birthday!

Today we celebrate Carson's 4Th birthday. We had a wonderful birthday prayer for Carson today along with praying for his birth parents. I can not help but to think about how Carson's birth mother is feeling today. I pray the Lord will give her peace and comfort.
Carson, Happy Birthday sweet baby boy. You are growing up so quickly. You are such a blessing to everyone you meet. Your smile and laughter is contageous. You are a quick learner, you love to read, complete puzzles, you want to play every sport, you swim like a fish, and love playing video games. With that being said, Carson, you have a temper that goes from 0-60 in 3 seconds. It's wild! At times you have difficulty controlling your hands and mouth when you get mad. You are working on it and we truly hope its just your age. You are a very determined young boy. You like to do everything yourself. You will only ask for help when you really, really need it.
I pray you have a wonderful year. That you continue to be healthy and strong. I can not wait to watch what the Lord has in store for you this year. I continue to pray for the Lord's guidance with being your Mommy. I know I am not always the best Mommy to you however I love you with every inch of my being. Carson you will never know how much you have changed my life. You are a true gift! I wish you the happiest birthday I love you sweet baby boy!

I would like you to meet...

my new show horse "Majik Moment" aka Majik. He is a dream! Carson loves to brush him.

Happy Birthday Dad

On August 27 we celebrated my Dad's__ birthday. My Dad and I have a very special relationship. For as long as I can remember my Dad has been my best friend. I could write forever all the reasons I love my Dad. However I decided to list in no particular order many "things" about my Dad.
Here I go...
1. I can call him whenever I need to vent, cry, laugh or just plain talk.
2. He ALWAYS listens.
3. We both love dogs.
4. He helps me take care of my horses.
5. He has been coaching little league baseball for over 30 plus years.
6. He is very active.
7. We can sit and people watch for hours.
8. He wears the oldest worn out jeans and tee shirt when going to buy a car.
9. He loved his Mom and Dad very deeply.
10.Carson loves his poppop
11. He was there for me in my darkest days.
12. During my darkest days/nights I could call him anytime and cry on the phone and he would just listen.
13. He takes great pride in his yard.
14. During the summer I can usually find him in the garden.
15. He is moodier than me!
16. We have deep conversations about the Lord.
17. He is very hard working.
18. My Dad has never turned on a computer.
19. We have favorite songs.
20. If I hear one of our favorite songs on the radio I will call him and play it really loud.
21. He drove me to most of my horse shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
22. We both love to hear people laugh.
23. He served in Vietnam.
24. My cousins love to ride the go-carts under the boardwalk with him.
25. We talk on the phone 3 to 4 times a day.
26. He normally has the best advice.
27. When I was younger I use to think he was the strongest Dad in the world (wait I still do).
28. He is always there for me.
29. He is my Dad and I love him.

Do you have...

Carson asked me today if I had a wabby (boys private part). I told him No and he replied what happened to your wabby? Did it break? OMG! I tried to explain to him that girls and boys have different private parts. I could see his little mind thinking and quickly he said--So why did God do that? He is 3 going on 30.

Wordless Wednesday

Really missing Guatemala

For the past week I have been really missing Guatemala. I am going to list a few random reasons why I am missing Guatemala so much.
Can you relate?

1. The beautiful people.
2. Being in the country that gave me my life back.
3. The children. Oh do I miss the children in Guatemala.
4. Their smiles
5. Hanging in central park
6. The smell of Guatemala.
7. Really feeling the Lords presence.
8. The one on one time with Jonathan.
9. The streets.
10. No telephone, texting, computers, demands...
11. The cold showers (LoL)
12. The families that really need our help.
13. Walking around and wondering if "they" are related to Carson.
14. The weather. AHHHHHHHHH!
15. The markets.
16. Looking at the families (yes I said families) riding on a motorcycle.
17. Driving up to the villages and having 20 Guatemalans smiling and hugging me.
18. Walking down a street in the middle of the day and hearing women singing loudly to the Lord.
19. Seeing children peeking through the corn fields.

Bags of Food

On our first day in Guatemala with the group of eleven we distributed food to a few families that live in the villages. As soon as we drove down the dirt road to deliver food we were greeted by a gang of beautiful Guatemalans who were eager to hug each and everyone of us as we exited our van. Each bag of food contained flour, milk, eggs, rice, beans, pasta, butter, a gallon of pure apple juice and cookies (as a treat). Besides giving bags of food we all brought goodies with us i.e. tee shirts, candy, soaps, socks, shoes, jewelry, balloons, snacks. etc. Most of the group were off playing games and exchanging greetings while I was busy holding a beautiful baby who was layered in clothing.

Last day of summer camp

Today was Carson's last day of art camp. Carson attended art camp three days a week this summer. He made a lot of crafts with recycled goods from home with egg cartons, stocks, close pins, etc. In September Carson starts pre-k... did I really type "pre-k" what the heck? where is the time going.....

Why did he say that...?

I over heard a conversation today:
R: Hey How are you?
J: Good how are you?
R: what are you doing today?
J: We are going out to lunch with our Adopted Grandson.
and so on....
Why the heck did he have to label his Grandson?
Why didn't he just say going out to lunch with my Grandson?
What are your thoughts?

recap weekend

Jonathan often calls me a cheap date. Sure I like to go out to fancy places at times, however I prefer low maintenance dating. Friday night Shauna watched Carson while Jonathan and I went out for the night. We started off the night with a great meal from one of our favorite restaurants in Atlantic City, called Mexico. Next we were off for a stroll on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Of course we had some yummy chocolate peanut butter ice cream. The night would not be complete without playing some arcade games. I love a good skee ball and air hockey game. Needless to say it was not my night to win however I did rather well on pac man. lol.
Saturday we traveled to Princeton for Jonathan's sister's birthday. Carson had a wonderful time swimming in the pool while Jonathan and I mingled with his family.
Sunday was a quiet day at our house. We did not attend church as we were all very tired from the night before. However Carson had a date with his "Best" (my sister Tracey). They went to the Sea Isle Boardwalk for pizza and arcade games. Carson had a good time with Best. He told me tonight that, "Best is great!"
The above is just a small recap of the weekend. Tonight as I was taking my powerwalk I realized the nights are starting to get shorter. UH!

Wordless Wednesday

Number 2

Jonathan heard 'someone' in the bathroom last night around 12:30am. Guess who? That's right, Carson was sitting on the throne alone. He told Jonathan in a very excited voice, Daddy, look I pooped in the potty. I can not believe we were all celebrating Carson going poopy on the potty at 12:30am on a work night.

Donde esta el cuarto de bano?

When I asked for the bathroom at our building site in Guatemala this is what I was shown...
When I walked into the "bathroom" I saw a stack of newpapers. I laughed to myself and thought wow they leave the newspapers for others to read. When I told one of my team members about the newpapers left in the bathroom they said "that's their toliet paper." She was right! Needless to say, I passed on the facilities.

I am back and changed!

Wow! What an amazing trip to Guatemala. Over the next few weeks I will blog and post photos of our mission trip. There were four different phases of our trip: 1. food distribution 2. building two homes 3. wheelchair distribution 4. visit to the orphanage. Each of the phases have impacted my life. God was so visible and faithful throughout the trip.

He keeps me on my toes...

In church on Sunday Carson said, "Daddy I think that man has a baby in his belly."
Today Carson told me "Mommy I am sorry for breaking (hurting) your feelings."
"Mommy look an old girl from your work."
We had a bag filled with gifts for the kids in Guatemala so needless to say, Carson found the bag here is the conversation:
Mommy what is this?
Toys for the kids in Guatemala.
Hmm, Mommy can I have one of the toys?
No Carson they are for the kids in Guatemala.
Mommy I am from Guatemala so I can have one.

It was a good weekend

Friday night we went to see a Phillies baseball game. We stayed the night in Phila as Noah was flying back to New Mexico early in the morning. Carson stayed behind and spent the night with my sister Tracey. They had lots of fun. Tracey took him to the Sea Isle boardwalk to play in the arcade plus he got another hermit crab. Thank you Tracey for watching my sweet baby boy. He loved hanging out with his "Best". Saturday it was a busy day lots of errands and busy work around the house. Sunday was church and then a potluck dinner and prayer send off for the eleven of us leaving for Guatemala Wednesday morning.
My sweet baby boy is going through the "But Stage". If we ask him to do something its 99 percent of the time "But Mommy or But Daddy" Sometimes the "buts" make me laugh however I find myself getting frustrated with his strong will and temper. Thank God Jonathan has a very calm and patient demeanor. I was sharing the story tonight about my thoughts pre parenting, I always thought my child would not act that way. My child will always listen, my child will follow all the rules. Yea Right! What the heck was I smoking?! Once again, I am praying this is "just" a stage...

One week from today

I will be traveling to Guatemala with eleven church family members.

Its been a while.

Its been so long since I last blogged or commented on my fellow blog pages. Life has been a little unnerving for me over the past two weeks. I would truly love to blog about it however its not the correct place nor time. I know the Lord has a plan for my life and he will lead my path. I need to trust him more as he knows what is best for me.
The weather this summer so far has been great. Yes, its hot however I love the HOT weather. With fair skin and light eyes its difficult for me to be in the sun without burning. So needless to say, sun block becomes my best friend in the summer months. Jonathan and Carson both tan just thinking about the sun... We spend a good deal of our evenings outside soaking in the sun light.

last weekend

It was a family weekend. Saturday we spent the day at my parents house enjoying the beautiful weather, pool and BBQ. The evening was rather quiet as Jonathan had a golf lesson and Shauna had to work so the rest of us (Noah, Carson and I) hung at the house. I finished mowing the back yard. There is something about mowing grass that I love. I am not sure what it is but I always volunteer to mow even if its 90 degrees outside. Yes, its a push mower!
Sunday was church and then a wonderful BBQ at my cousin Kim's home. It was great hanging out with my cousins. There is always plenty of laughs when we are all together. Sure there are quiet moments but nothing that would make one feel uncomfortable. I went into my cousin Kim's home which used to be my Grandparents for the first time or maybe the second time since my Grandmother (Greta) passed away many years ago I wanted to see her remodeled kitchen. It looks great! As I was walking around the downstairs of her home everything seemed OK within my spirit. However, as I turned the corner near the steps leading to the upstairs-"the smell, that smell, how I remember that smell" of my Grandparents home was stronger then ever. So needless to say, I had goosebumps and a flood of memories that clouded my mind. Memories that took me back to when I was a child. Memories of ALL the family being together. Memories that I would love to have back. Memories which hurt and memories which make me laugh. It amazes me how a smell can drum up a high tide of memories. A smell that makes me think I would see my Grandmother sitting on the couch doing a crossword puzzle or reading a book. A smell that makes me think I could walk into the kitchen and see my Grandfather drinking his coffee in his McDonald's coffee cup which was white with a faided arch while looking out the window. A smell that can make me see all the family sitting around on a Sunday afternoon for dinner. Life goes by so fast.... But like they say, memories last a life time!