My baby boy ...

... isn't a baby anymore. Today he's four. Happy Birthday, adorable, sweet, yet mischevious little devil of a child, Preston. We love and adore you more than you'll ever know.

Ten Years

It's been 10 years since we said, "I do." Wow. It seems like yesterday. We were definitely made for each other as we are very different, but also very much alike. I couldn't imagine life without you.

Fall 2009 Soccer

This fall we tried a new soccer league - a competitive soccer club. It was such a great learning experience for Kennedy. Most of the teams they played were much older and and the girls and boys (it is a co-ed league, though there are only girls on her team) were much taller and bigger. It was so fun to watch and we're looking forward to the spring session. Kennedy has also asked to play indoor soccer beginning in January, we're still undecided, but guess we'll need to make a decision soon.

Just wanted to say ...

I know there's much catching up that needs to be done. I'm working on that, but before I do, I can't let today go by without sharing photos of my seven-year-old Kennedy with you. (Seven!!! How in the world did she get that old?!)

Happy birthday to the first of the two most wonderful gifts I've ever received ... sweet, beautiful Kennedy.

Caring. Affectionate. Considerate. Passionate. Responsible. Loving. Mature. Accepting. These are just a few of her wonderful traits. We are so thankful for her and all of the joy she brings to our lives.

It's been a while ...

Yes, I know ... I'll be back soon ... hopefully ... until then, enjoy the new pictures of the kids in the header.

P's Big Day

This past Wednesday, P. went to his first day of preschool at our church. He has been waiting for this day since last year, when K. began kindergarten. He was so excited and could hardly stop playing and talking with friends to tell me goodbye. He LOVES school and that makes me so happy.

My Angel

It is very often that I call K. "angel" or "my angel." I do it so often that she believes she is a true angel sent to us from God. Who's going to argue with that? I can't say enough just how blessed I am to be K.'s mom. It is such a gift.

Recently she has become more aware of her cleft lip and palate, but only because other children (usually older children) have asked her about her scars (which truly are very minimal). In my explanations to her I tell her she was born with a broken lip that was shaped like a heart and that God gave us very special doctors to repair her lip to help her to eat, drink and speak more easily. She is completely satisfied with my response, which is the complete truth, and is so proud of her cleft. We tell her it only makes her more special.

At the end of her kindergarten school year, she met an adult at her school who was also born with cleft. She came home that day to tell me that she had met another special angel from God and she worked at her school. And added, "Can you believe it?" I was pretty close to tears.

This year she'll most likely have to deal with a lot more questions as she'll begin seeing an orthodontist soon and another surgery will be scheduled in the not-so-distant future (possibly within the next couple of years depending on growth, etc.) She has lost several "baby teeth" and her permanent teeth are arriving in all sorts of crazy directions.

I hope her confidence in herself only grows and that she'll be able to answer those tough questions like the angel she is. I couldn't be happier that she is proud of such a minor thing (her scars) that makes her different and that she is accepting of everyone and the things that make us all different. I wish more people could be just like her, including myself.