It's finally happened!

Shaelyn has been waiting for this important event in her life - she lost her first tooth! It's been loose for a while. Today I went to wiggle it and then told her I wanted to feel it. It "just happened" to about fall out in my hands. She was quite excited and said it didn't really hurt at all. So after a trip to Grandpa, she's a bit richer. Who knows how much tooth fairies leave now days. I guess we'll find out later!

College Bound

Chelsea received her acceptance letter to the college of her choice. She was a bit worried but extremely happy that she got accepted. She will be studying the vet tech program. It is a 2 year program. Every time we go to the vet, we ask the girls working there where they went to college. They always seem to answer the same - Chelsea's choice! Her first year consists of probably 2 days a week. The 2nd year will be full of trips to the zoo and a lot of lab work. The other amazing feature is that if she keeps her GPA at a 3.5 or higher - tuition is cut in half!! Congrats Chelsea - I know you will love it there!

Katelyn's College Apartment

We moved Katelyn's things into her apartment on Saturday. She's excited to be in an apartment with 4 other girls. She is in a room with 2 others and down their hall is the other bedroom. She came back home Saturday to celebrate my birthday and go to a family picnic today but headed back out tonight- with classes starting tomorrow. Take a look at some of the pictures I got.




Working on her desk area














The Kitchen














Her bed - ready to finish getting put together















Katelyn and Amanda - one of her roommates
















Here is her apartment building. They share with 3 other rooms

1st day of School Conversation

Shaelyn was talking to me last night about her first day of school. Here's how some of it went;
Shaelyn - Mom, I have a boy in my class who said a naughty word
Me - What was the word?
Shaelyn - It started with an "S"
Me - Really, what was it?
Shaelyn - It begins with "SH"
(I'm starting to wonder how this word fit into the conversation at this point)
Me - can you tell me?
Shaelyn - I don't want to say it but it also means "be quiet"
Me - Oh, he said "shut up"?
Shaelyn - Yes, I don't think I should really be around him anymore

Oh, if my child can only stay so innocent as she grows!

Ready or Not - School has started

Well, how frustrating is this.... Chelsea started school yesterday and Shaelyn started today. I took some nice pictures but for some reason, am having major problems uploading them to the computer. We are kind of bummed that we have to start before Labor Day again, but by next week, should be happy about it. Shaelyn had visit day yesterday where she met her teacher and found her classroom. Chelsea is happy that she is a senior this year. She's expecting to have a good year! Hopefully, my pictures will turn up someday and I'll have them to show to you.

Shaelyn - the composer

Chelsea has told Shaelyn to sing a song if she can't sleep. So she decided to write a song to sing. It's about
her cat. I'm thinking she has a real future in song writing. :)

Preeshish (precious) you are the most cat. I always wanted a cat. It was perfect. I love it. Quet (quiet) nice, but not
cuddly. I still liked it. I called it Lillie Mika Mulder! Mikki does. You'll never know how much it cost to see
your sins, you'll never. You don't need to pay. Yip, yip, yippaddie. Like a gift if lillie's friend.

I guess that she realizes that her cat has a few flaws but she loves her in spite of them. It will be fun to look
back in a few years and show her some of her thoughts!

"Gotcha" Day

It seems unbelievable but 6 years ago we adopted Shaelyn! Today is her "Gotcha Day" We've never really celebrated it but I decided that we really need to acknowledge this special day. I took the day off work and she spent the day with friends doing special "China" things and we went to a special Chinese restaurant with the family for supper.
Shaelyn, we are so happy that you are the little girl that God chose to join our family. Hope you had a fun and special Gotcha Day!


Holding the paper lanterns that they all made














Going down the slide at Playworld with her friends

















New chopsticks and a jade bracelet!

An abundance of Zucchini

Do you have an extra abundance of zucchini that you don't know what to do with? I've made the zucchini cupcakes,
bread and frozen it. I came across a recipe for zucchini crisp that tastes like apple crisp. I made some up today
and surprisingly, it does have an apple crisp taste. Here's the recipe if you want to give it a try.

8 cups cubed peeled zucchini
3/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
TOPPING:
1-1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup flour
2/3 cup cold butter or margarine

In a bowl, combine the zucchini, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg: mix well. Pour into a greased 13x9" pan.
For topping, combine brown sugar, oatmeal and flour in a bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the zucchini mixture. Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly and the zucchini is tender.
I did cut this recipe in 1/2 and put in a 9x9 pan just to make sure the family would like it!

Do You have an Extra Hand for a Stroller Ride?

Here is the newest trick from Shaelyn's cat Lili Meka. She has decided that she likes to go for stroller rides in the doll stroller. So she has figured out out to let us know. I know....she is a spoiled kitty but she sure knows how to make us laugh.

Back from Camping Pictures

Oh, how we love the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds for camping! It's right on the shore of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven. There are so many activities for the kids to do throughout the week. This year we went for 2 weeks straight and it really went well. I think we'll try for 2 weeks again next year. Even though the first week was somewhat cold, it didn't rain during the day so we did other things than swim. We got a lot of game playing in! Hope you get an idea of our vacation through these pictures.

Halle came for a night and enjoyed swimming with the girls.













Camp fires are great for cooking....

















except when fights occur for the best cooking spot!














Have you ever tried cooking pepperoni over the fire? Yummy!

















That pesky sand was trying to eat up Shaelyn!

















Camping doughnuts with frosting and sprinkles! So good!













There is always a parade for the holiday. Shaelyn got to decorated her bike and ride in the parade.

















The sand dunes are beautiful.















Gotta love a sunset by the lake.

Nothing new

Nothing much is new but I am leaving to go camping for 2 weeks. I'll be back with some pictures to post......

Heritage Camp - China

Shaelyn got to go to Heritage Camp this week. It is a camp for internationally adopted kids and they put them into their birth country by age. The four sections are China, Eastern Europe, South American and Korean. It was so much fun again and it's nice that they get to meet other adopted kids from their country. Here are some of the cool crafts she got to make - a paper lantern, a map on China and fabric painted Chinese words on a shirt. What a great experience for her again.













Shaelyn and Ellie - Ellie was in our adoptive group and her Mom
got to teach this year













Shaelyn and Rachel - a new friend she made this year













Shaelyn's class














Singing "Many Cultures, One World" during the program today















This is part of the Lion Dance the 6th graders learned

Ahh, sweet summertime!

Schools Out for the Summer!

Here they are - ready for another summer. Chelsea was done with school yesterday and
Shaelyn finished today. Am I ready for another senior in my house or a 2nd grader?
I don't know but don't really have a choice, do I! Look out summer - here they come!

1st grade program

Shaelyn had a special 1st grade program yesterday. Parents got to come and have lunch with them. Here is Shaelyn showing me some of the stories she wrote throughout the year.













Here is Shaelyn and her teacher. She was chosen to read her paper on God is.. They write one faith paper every year then it is given to them at 8th grade graduation.
Here is what she wrote.
God is everlasting. God is one out of three. God is the Holy Spirit. God is watching over me. God sended Jesus to die for our sins to be forgiven. God made our world! God made patterns. God is whom all things belong. God is great. God is mighty. God is powerful. God is taking care of me.




We were seated at a table with all of her best friends.
Shaelyn is right next to Meghan, across from her in orange is Kennedy
and Jacquelin is across from Meghan. Mrs. Folkema arranged for friends to
be by each other.







Playing outside after lunch with her friends.
She had a great 1st grade year and made some wonderful new friends.