New haircuts for spring!

We were busy with new spring-ish haircuts this evening.  We decided layers would be best and to keep the length for Maija and Sophia....

Then I got brave and got several inches off of mine!  I have been so wimpy lately about my hair but I'm glad I did it.  It feels so good.  There's a little sneak peak at the jacket I have been making Xander hanging in the background ;)

Speaking of Xander, it's hard to keep this lil monkey inside.  He LOVES to be outside :)  (Told you we still  have snow.)

Grandma and Grandpa Rice made their way home from Florida so we are going to spend a night with them tomorrow.

Please keep our girls in your prayers, their favorite Kindergarten teacher (Sophia's current teacher) is extremely ill.  We send prayers out to her family and are worried about our children and how they will take the aweful news.  If you can say a prayer for Tammy and her family that would be great.  She is very much a big part of our lives and our girls adore her.  We love you Mrs. H...

Spring break....really?

We still have a giant mound of snow in our front yard and lots in the back as well.   The kids are on break this this week and it's only 30 degrees.  Yuck!  Lots has been going on again, I feel like I say that every post but really it's true!

Sophia lost her first tooth this week, if you want to call Daddy PULLING it out.  I hate when he does that but they have all allowed him.  Strange.  I remember mine dangling by one thread and not allowing my parents to touch it.  It freaks me out enough that I leave the room :)

Another basketball tournament this past weekend for Josie and her fourth grade girls and they WON!!!  They lost their first game so made went into the losers bracket, then had to work there way back up defeating the team they lost to first thing in the morning.  We then beat our biggest rival to win the championship :) 

She made Honors for her first time since it doesn't start until 4th grade  so she was pretty proud of herself, and so were we! 

We are preparing for Ryan's Graduation.  I have been ordering, preparing pictures, decorations, food lists, guest lists and hoping it all goes well.  I had intentions of having the party at home but panicked when I thought about the weather and wondering if the mountain of snow would still be there then :)  We decided to rent the Golf Course...

I can't believe he is a senior!  It makes me really sad to think he is all grown up, but excited to think of all the things he has to look forward to ;)

Alexander is still entertaining us all.  He is the funniest little kid, I could watch him for hours on end.  He is the light of the house and everybody gives his so much attention.  I am pretty sure that Ryan is going to miss him like crazy when he's gone.

Maija has been miss social, and has spent 3 of the last 4 nights away.  She had all A's on her report card and her teacher had nothing but great things to say about her.  We are proud of them!

Madeline made Honors again this year as well!  I need to purchase several dresses between Kindergarten Grad, High School Grad, Honors for 2 girls and several Grad parties we will need to attend.

I will be broke come June :)

Josie and her proud Mom!

Here is a sweet shot captured by another Mom after Josie made the winning shot this past Sunday!  We were so proud of our girl :)  Daddy is in the background...

Shirt entry @ I am momma...

I am entering my first sewing contest, it's over at one of my FAVORITE blogs, http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/.    You can enter 2 items and it has to be a shirt, hoodie, jacket or something for a boys upper body :)  This will be  my first entry and if I can finish the jacket I have 1/2 way done I will enter that as my second item! 

 First off, it is NOT EASY trying to get good photo's of a 2 year old!  This was a up-cycle project.  While in China getting Xander I bought my oldest boy a t shirt, he never wore it so it was fair game.The red was a turtleneck and the striped a maternity shirt :)
                                            
I used the Urban Hoodie pattern, it's easy to make and fun to get creative with :)

 Who says boys aren't fun to sew for???  Why is his face NEVER clean???

Even the buttons are recycled :)

Judging by the look on his face, I'd say he likes it :) 

I'm hoping I can finish his jacket, it's way too cute.  I would wear it myself!

Sports and the other kids :)

I don't post about the other 5 kids so I am going to dedicate this post to them!  I do have others :)  I started this blog to record Xander and his adoption/growth but I do want you to know that I love my other children as much as we love him!

Madeline was SUPER busy this past week.  She skated in 2 ice shows (with 2 rehearsals), 9 volleyball games and 3 basketball games.  All is 8 days!  Not to mention the practices that go along with...

Her basketball team took 2nd place on Sunday.  She is a great athlete, no matter what sport.  She will start running track after spring break too :)

Josie's team took 2nd as well, I think this is their 3rd 2nd place finish this season.  She is doing so great playing ball and made the winning basket in overtime with 4 seconds left, to get them into the championship game.  It was so great!  I think she had 30 points throughout the weekend!    Good job Josie-we are so proud of you :)

Maija's team did well too, she plays on a 3rd grade team but is in second grade.  She is the 3rd from the right.  This was after the 1st game where she scored 10 points!  She is the leading scorer for the team-she knows the game and is constantly telling the 3rd graders what to do.  She is SUPER competitive, which isn't always the best and at times I am embarassed by her but she is good,  if there is nowhere to pass the ball then she isn't left with a choice than to shoot!  Oh Maija, hopefully she will outgrow it :)

We had such a busy weekend, leaving at 7:30 both mornings and not getting home until night.  Chad coaches both Maija and Josie's team and I had to run  back between the High School and grade school so I could see Maddie play too!  Man, I'm tired today and have hardly accomplished anything.  Tonight we have a volleyball game. 

Xander got left at Grandma's because the days were too long for a 2 year old to sit and be good.  It was a good thing we did, because he ended up with a flu bug and spent the afternoon with a fever and vommiting!

One more- here's Maija and her adorable friend!
Another Xander post will be coming shortly :)

The face of "special needs"

When Chad and I decided to go ahead and start the adoption process for a child from China I remember filling out the "checklist" of special needs and what we were willing to accept when it came to a referral of a young boy.  I remember reading the names of the needs and checking them off as we went.  I have to say that our list was pretty small.  Club foot-check. Cleft lip/palate-check. Minor heart problems-check.

After we got Xanders referral we read about cleft palate/lip and wondered what to expect.  We didn't worry that we couldn't handle his needs, we knew that we would be fine, and we are.  We truly think he is the most amazing child in the world :)  We have talked about adopting another but Chad worries next time we wouldn't be so "lucky."

If we decide to adopt again, our checklist would be different.  It would be longer.  Much, much longer.  Missing limb-check. Amniotic Banding syndrome-check. Mild CP-check.  Heart conditions-check. Hypospadia-check.  I could go on and on, but I wont.  You see that these are just "labels", the bottom line is you are adding a beautiful child to your family, one who needs a Mom and Dad.  A child who  wants  and deserves to be loved. 

                                              
    Xander is one of the millions of "special needs" children waiting for a home.  He is joy.  He is perfect.
                                           

                                   
                                                     He is the face of special needs.