He's Home

I was hoping for more reaction from Hope but I'm happy she didn't cry or turn away.  When Tony came up to us she just stared.  But was perfectly fine with him taking her.  And she sat in his arms like, "okay, now what? "  I think she was just confused.  But content.  John Sullivan came and took pictures for us, and wouldn't you know he has already created a slide show for all of our viewing pleasure.  They came out so good.

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=3113043&alb=0

Go and look.

Gabe was sooo excited.  In his way.  He kept up with the "I Luv You!"s for some time.  And he'd give lots of little shoulder hugs with the little flapping gestures of excitement.  Too cute.

John treated us to lunch after we left the airport.  It was the best scene ever to see Gabe, Tony and Hope sitting across from me each with joy and satisfaction on their faces.  Hope never once cracked a frown even.

When we got home, it was back to normal.  Gabe and Hope playing, Daddy watching, me following the action around.  Hope and Daddy got to tickle and laugh and play around.  Gabe was too busy watching Kung Fu Panda but kept up with the fun.  Then everyone but Gabe took a nap.  Overall, a perfect homecoming.

Coupons

Funny how life works.  I've always hated couponers.  I always thought they were a little wacko.  And here I am joining the ranks.  The lady behind me in line must not have liked me much and the cashier wasn't too annoyed when I had a free item that we had to dig back out of the bags because I didn't know to keep free coupons with the item.  But when I spend 47 and save 71...I don't care.  I'm quite proud of my shopping today.  I won't bore you with the details although secretly I'm understanding the desire of couponers wanting to frame a good receipt.  I never understood why anyone would bother clipping a 50 cent coupon when they could have saved the time, energy, expense of buying a paper, etc and just bought the stupid item and saved themselves, the cashier, and all the people behind them in line the time.  But now I get it.  It isn't the 50 cents.  It is the $1 when it doubles.  It is the stacking with other deals, coupons, or both.  It is buying stuff you would never have bought because it is more expensive than the cheaper variety, but because of the previously mentioned ways, is now way cheaper than the off brand.  When you can buy a box of cereal for .07 cents....come on...  I think I'm hooked.  Now I just gotta learn a good system for me, figure out what I will use now that I'm buying name brand for cheap, and figure out how many papers I need to buy every week....

Mickey D's Looking for a New Star??

This was Hope's first time having free reign with a cup and straw.  She quite enjoyed herself.  Even carried it around.  And only got about 6 drops on the floor if you'll believe that!

Strong Woman

For those that know me, and those that have followed my blog for any length of time will know how upset I was when we found out we were having a girl.  I was so worried about it that I made sure I had my best support people with me for the ultrasound because "I just knew."  Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have Ann and Brandi with me for that regardless of if I'd be upset, as I love sharing God's blessings with those that appreciate it so.  But Tony, in all his lovingness, wouldn't have been a lot of help during that time as I needed someone to voice to me that "all would be okay with the world" and that "this is so awesome."  And we know Tony is NOT a wordy type.  Brandi and Ann came through with flying colors.  By the end of the day, although I was very nervous about it, I knew that this was God's plan for me (as if I didn't already know that but it was nice to hear...) and that she would be trained up by myself and would most likely be a lot like me (that doesn't always comfort me because I don't even like me but you know what I mean).  Several days later, Ms. Becky, Gabe's kindergarten teacher, told me something I'll never forget.  She said that she was glad I was having a girl because we need more strong women in this world.  And that was what broke it for me.  From that moment on, I've been happy to have a girl.  Ms. Becky is soooo right.  I can't say that the prospect of princess shoes, bangles, hair clippies, Barbie, and loads of pink don't make me nervous, but I'm happy to have a girl.  And right now, if I got pregnant again, I'd be praying for another girl.  I've seen enough crazy boys at church to know that a normal little boy would die by my hand. ;)  I never would have thought though that I'd be so proud so early at Hope's strength:

I mean, really, what other little girl could walk around with an elephant on her back?

Barn Day

I had no intention of being at the barn that long when we left this morning.  But ya know....  A little respect issue with the horse before we get started and resulting lesson of who bows down to who (or whom), a little riding in the 210 degree heat with 200% humidity and the resulting heat and sweat build up of previously mentioned horse, a little breaking up of fights between the kiddos forcing me to hoist Gabe in and out of the pack and play, a little hosing down to find four limbs with scabs on the lower legs (none were human) that requires some scrubbing, and a little of this

which required some more hosing, and little chit chat with the barn owner about a poor distressed lady that had to put her horse down today equals almost FIVE hours of pure sweat.  I'm exhausted.  Poor Kai was looking forward to our play time after the kids went to bed but I just don't have it in me.  I also decided to mow the front yard after the kids took a nap when we got home.  I figured, I'm already covered in every known nasty thing at a barn, I can mow real fast.

Hope had a GREAT time.  Not so much the first hour or so stuck in the pack and play, but after riding Lee I took pity on the kids and let them run around.  They were so good playing away from Lee but not too far away.  And then while I was on the other side of Lee from the kids, Hope found the mud puddle we were creating by hosing Lee down.  You can see in the picture just to the right of her left sleeve is a dark spot....that was it.  Just at the bottom of the little concrete hill.  She was covered.  She had a blast.  And after getting used to the temp of the water in the hose...she enjoyed her hosing too.  But I think we've lost another shirt....

Cuteness

Hope is already starting the transformation into the little terror of independence.  I'm waiting for her to learn the word "no" as she already lets you have it if she doesn't like something.  Don't get me wrong she is still the sweetest little girl, but boy is she coming into her own....

Too bad she is so stinkin' cute!

She really liked the swing....

Until she lost her grip...

Last Day

Today was Gabe's last day of second grade.  He doesn't understand.  Tonight when we were getting ready for bed he was talking about getting up and going to school in the morning.  When I told him he didn't have school anymore, he looked at me very confused and said that tomorrow was Wednesday.  I shuffled between happy that he knew what day of the week it was and sad that he didn't understand what "last day of school" meant today.  He loves school.  I think it might take a day or two to sink in.  Poor guy.  I hope he isn't too upset about it.

We went to the playground for a little while after I picked him up.  I can't believe how much he has grown.  This is last time he had glasses early 2004:

      

This is Gabe summer of 2004 (after his cross eye surgery):

This was today (after lazy eye surgery):

 

Goodness, I love him....