Isaac at Nine

This handsome young man turned nine last month.

Favorites, etc...

Favorite color: bronze

Favorite food: cheese and sausage pizza

Favorite candy: M&Ms

Favorite season: summer

Favorite author: Rick Riordan

Favorite books: Percy Jackson books

Favorite TV show: Tom and Jerry

Favorite thing to do at school:  P.E.

Favorite thing to do at home: play football with Pop and Miles

Favorite video game: Madden Mobile

Favorite sport: football

Favorite team: Broncos!!

Favorite player: Shannon Sharpe

When I grow up I want to be: a player for the NFL

If I could go anywhere in the world I'd go to: Legoland

I'm good at: building complicated things with Lego's

 

At nine years old Isaac is a very kind and loyal friend.  He is quick to befriend new kids and loves to spend time with his friends (not girls.  Girls are still eww.)  His interest in football has turned into a passion/obsession, and he would play Madden Mobile all day long if he could.  He also loves riding his bike whenever and wherever he can.  He's working on being a helpful (instead of bossy) older brother and is quick to try to teach his younger siblings anything from how to build a better Lego vehicle to how to spell words correctly.  He amazes us with his intellect and insight when he can sit still long enough to talk about deep things. We love watching him grow up in front of our eyes, we are so proud to be his parents!

Avika at 3 Months

Here is Avika home three months!

 

She is still doing very well.  We have some nights were she sleeps through the night- we are working toward everyone in the house sleeping all night.  Wouldn't that be great?  I'm excited that she is eating almost anything we try with her.  Miles is back to being our pickiest eater! 

 

Reading books in her room she shares with Delia

 Avika spends a lot of time in the car with me- dropping off/ picking up the kids and running errands.  She has started making a lot of noise while we drive around.  It's all babbling, but it sounds like she is singing songs or telling me a story.  We are anxious for her to add to her one word vocabulary, but she will come around when she's ready!  I am constantly amazed by how much she understands considering she has only been hearing English for three months now.  She seems very bright and I don't doubt she'll be talking before we know it

It's hard to remember life without Avika as part of our family.  It feels like she had been with us for much longer than three months.  Even the older kids have commented on this.  We are getting some routines down to help life run more smoothly.  I am challenged to be more patient and gracious with this little girl.  Amazing how a two year old can push my buttons!  I am grateful for all of her personality, though,  and that she feels safe enough with us to share it with us!

Halloween '14

This year we got to trick-or-treat with a cop, an ice princess, a fairy, and a G.I. Joe.

Isaac was Snake Eyes (I think?  I let him pick this out at Walmart)  He was excited to have a costume with muscles!  I can't believe how much candy he got- his bucket was almost overflowing!

Oma made Delia's beautiful Elsa costume.   She loves the cape!

 

Officer Bong reporting for duty.  Don't know if it gets cuter than this!

Thankfully Avika was happy with old dress up clothes of Delia's  She loves dressing up!  She cried when I took her wings off to put her in her car seat.  This was a her first Halloween- she got through the carnival and six blocks of trick-or-treating without crying.  What a trooper!

We got to spend the evening with our friends C and J.  Turns our great minds think alike- they dressed as a cop and Elsa, too!

Delia at Seven

Delia just turned seven!

Delia's favorites at seven years old:

Food: bacon

Color: Indigo

Subject in School: art and P.E.

Thing to do at home: color

Movie: Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Books:  Rainbow Magic Fairy books

Sport: soccer

Animal: peacock and leopard and swan

Number: seven

Toy: Lego Friends Legos

When I grow up I want to be a vet.

If I could go anywhere I would go to India.

My favorite thing that happened when I was six was my sister coming home!

 

At seven years old Delia is so kind and thoughtful.  She is always thinking of others and loves to do things for her siblings.  She is unbelievably creative and loves to draw, write and illustrate stories, and constantly makes up original songs.  She is a loyal friend and a great student.  She is so grown up (and not just because she is super tall) and carries herself like a lady!  D we love you so much and love that you came into our lives seven years ago.  We hope this is year is amazing!

 

Fall Soccer x3

Tonight we closed out another soccer season.  Matt coached Isaac's, Delia's, and Miles' teams.  He deserves a gold star or two!

Miles' first season- he was a little more sensitive than I expected (crying when kids stole the ball or scored a goal) but he played well when he was not pouting.  He is fast and a great dribbler!

 

 

 

Delia continues to be a great aggressive player.  I love watching her team play- the girls are very encouraging to each other and are passing to each other and trying to play as a team.

 

Isaac has graduated to playing with goalies.  I think his highlight of the season was getting to wear goalie gloves.  Despite being a little timid on the field he is a smart player.  When he's not screwing around he's looking for a good pass, but mostly he really enjoys playing with his friends!

 The third grade boys got to turn Matt's goatee pink for winning their last game of the season.

 

Miles at SF

Miles' field trip to Sutherland Farms a couple of weeks ago...

 

On the hay ride...

Riding with his best friend A...

Playing in the corn kernel pit...

In the corn maze...

He picked the perfect pumpkin to take home!

Avika at Two Months

 Here's some shots of Avika home two months!

 

 We are still doing well, not a whole lot has changed in a month.  Still working on developing trust and bonding.  We are hoping to have a night out soon and leave all the kids with my parents.  Hopefully Avika is ready for it!  Avika is still very busy and loves to get into trouble anywhere she can find it.  She is definitely ;earning how everything works in our family, testing boundaries a lot.  We are working on patience! 

She loves to play with her siblings and her toys and follows the cat everywhere.  She is my big helper- always going to shop for groceries with me or pick up the kids from school.  We are still waiting for her to pick up some more words, but she is pretty good about communicating with signs and pointing. 

 

 

Taking "selfies" with Mommy.  We do this a lot to diffuse tantrums...

Having fun playing dress up...