McRoberts Clan

Isaac's Adoption Finalization

2011-11-30T14:29:00.000-05:00

November 28, 2011 was a great day...we finalized Isaac's adoption at the Shelby County Courthouse!!!

And it was made even more special because Zoe Sloan's adoption was finalized on the same day and the same time!! What an amazing God way to finish this process!!

Here are some pics...

Kids waiting to go into the courtroom

Family Pic with the Judge and Lawyer

Another Family Pic

Michael holding Zoe on her finalization day!

Well Child Checkups

2011-08-31T14:57:00.000-04:00

So yeah, we are a bit delayed in getting the kids well child check ups. You know, Chi turned 6 only 8 short months ago, it's time to get his 6 year check up. And Noah turned 8 in February and the girls 4 in May. It's high time I got on the ball. So since Isaac was due for his 18 month appt, we marched all 5 kids in to the dr. office this morning. The nurse kindly asked, what size passenger van do you own? We laughed. :-)

So I am writing down the kids stats so I have them all in one place.

Noah, age 8 1/2...weighed 69 lbs(77%ile), 54 1/4 inches tall (86%ile).
Malachi, age 6 yr, 8 mo...weighed 59 lbs (87%ile), 51 inches tall (97%ile).
Jordan, age 4 yr, 4 mo...weighed 37 lbs (55%ile), 41.5 inches tall (72%ile).
Eden, age 4 yr, 4 mo...weighed 34.5 lbs (37%ile), 39 inches tall (20%ile).
Isaac, age 18 mo...weighed 20 lb 13 oz (2%ile), 32 3/4 inches tall (63 %ile). So in the last 4 months little boy has grown 3.34 inches, but lost about a half a lb. It is a tad distressing when I recall my bio boys being 20 lbs at 4 months and my bitty boy only weighs 20 lbs at 18 months. Oh well. We are feeding him good stuff and he eats well, so I guess that is all we can do. :-)

All in all, we are supremely blessed to have a whole house full of healthy, happy kids! So, so blessed!

School Time Again

2011-08-09T16:44:00.000-04:00

Wow! Did we have a busy and fun summer! We started off with a camping trip to Texas for the Memorial Day weekend. It was a blast getting together with a bunch of the extended family to celebrate Aunt Vie and Uncle Elmer's 80th birthdays! Gram also made the TX trip and drove home with us to spend a week.

The next weekend Nana and One-pa came to town to hopefully catch one of Noah's baseball games. But he was rained out a bunch!

After that we had a fun filled week with Samuel, Bailey and Michelle! Sam and Noah have been best friends since Noah was 15 months old! They never skip a beat...they just have the best times together!

Then we headed to Indiana for the annual NOID reunion. Had a blast hanging out with the Carroll's and the Quigley's! And seeing all of these amazing 4 year old kids and their big siblings! Fun! And of course we got to hang out with our IN family during that trip as well!

We got home just in time for Tristan, Brayden and Jer to come visit for a week. That week went way too fast, but boy we had a blast watching the Boom, Pretty, Pretties over the 4th of July weekend! And then Uncle Jay came for a weekend visit! He was the first person other than Claude and I who Isaac went to voluntarily! They had a great time playing together!

That was going to give me the last 2 weeks of July to get ready to start school on August 1. But then hubby decides that we need to go to IN to buy a 12 passenger van and visit with the family again. So off we go. And we discovered that Claude would then be going to DC the following week for a conference. So the kids and I took off for Florida from IN while Daddy went to DC. So we spent a week visiting Nana, One-pa, Great Gram, Auntie Jerri, Uncle Aaron, Tristan, Brayden, and Oma!

So the week of August 1 was spent making the final preparations for school to start. And we started yesterday, August 8!

Here are some pics:

Chi working at his mini office

No Dress Code at this school! :-)

Playdough Mats

Eden working on her Letter of the Week

Jordan's cutting concentration!

Chi - First Day of 2nd grade

Noah - First Day of 4th Grade

How did my girls get big enough to start school?

Isaac and Eden

Eden is so excited to be finally starting school!

School Time

Mexican Anyone?

2011-08-09T16:16:00.002-04:00

Noah informed me today that after college and after his pro football career, he is going to be a chef in a Mexican restaurant!

I’m thinkin’ he needs to expand his repertoire…he can make a mean grilled cheese, and by golly he sure can toast some frozen waffles, but that’s about it. But I’m not spoilin’ his dream! :-)

Happy Birthday Jordan and Eden!

2011-05-11T22:33:00.000-04:00

How is it that my sweet baby girls are 4 years old already? Just doesn't seem possible. They are growing up so fast!

These precious girls of mine are eternally different, yet the very best of friends, sisters! I love them beyond comprehension! Thank you God for allowing me to be their Mom!

Happy Birthday Eden!
Happy Birthday Jordan!

Dancing With The Stars

2011-05-10T09:58:00.000-04:00

I love DWTS! This is only the third season that I have watched, but I am a big fan! The DVR is set to record each week and most of the time I don't have an opportunity to watch until after the kids are in bed. It is normally my wind-down time. But last night I was watching it in real-time in the living room while I folded laundry. Anyway, it seemed that all the kids and the hubby (and possibly the cats as well) converged on the room just as Kirstie and Maks hit the dance floor. I love Kirstie, she has been a favorite of mine since the good ole days of Cheers! And it has been so fun to see her fun personality work hard to stay in the competition. She is amazing at almost 60 and overweight (although she gets smaller by the week) to keep up with these younger stars!

Anyway, back to the kids and the dance...Kirstie and Maks take the floor and the kids absolutely marvel over a lift the couple performs. Maks did quite a feat in hauling Kirstie up off the floor and maintaining the lift for so long! It was impressive and the boys oohed and ahhhed! And Chi quickly exclaimed, "Dad you could NEVER pick Mom up that way, she's OLDER than you!"

Well it could have been worse. :-)

Easter Sunday

2011-04-25T18:13:00.001-04:00

My Whole World!

The McRoberts kids on Easter Sunday

I love Eden's smile in this picture!

My kids - Love them!!

And I gotta tell you it is tough to get 5 kids to look at the camera at the same time!

My Jordan Grace, so pretty in her 'dog dress'
that is what she called it when she first saw it, because it has spots like a Dalmatian.

Sweet, Eden

My Pumpkin

Noah D. growing up too fast!
What a handsome kid!

My little daper dude!

Isaac and Mommy

Home for a month

2011-04-25T18:06:00.001-04:00

Our little man Isaac has been home for just over a month and all is going splendidly! I really am amazed at how far he has come so very quickly! I was quite concerned the first night I got him...I thought it was going to be a long, tough road of grieving just like Eden did. But the first night was the only hard grieving he did. He was quite scared for the first week to week and a half and didn't stray far from me or his daddy. He had so much attention from his brothers and sisters that he was completely overwhelmed by then. And he continues to adjust to all of that attention from them, but he is much better about it now than at first.

And the older kids were all a tad disappointed that he wouldn't let them hold him or give him a bottle right away. They had to be patient, but have truly enjoyed loving on him and playing with! They are all absolutely in love with him!

He is supremely easy to love! He is very easy going, super sweet, loves to cuddle, and has the best smile!! Love, love, love him!

After the first week of adjusting the the new time zone, he started sleeping much better. He is used to only co-sleeping with his foster mom, much to my dismay. I am NOT a co-sleeper, just ask my hubby, I can't stand for another person to be touching me while I am sleeping. That is the main reason we have a king bed. I just flat out need my space. Well, I had to get used to a 19 lb. 1 year old taking up 2/3 of the bed. I learned to sleep on the last 8 inches of the bed, deal with feet in my face, knees in my ribs and the trashings of a sleeping baby! Alas, I have survived! I am so excited to announce that he has slept 3 nights in a row in the pack n play in our room! YEEEHAW!!!

Now the boys are anxiously awaiting for him to join them in their room. But I think we need a bit more time before he makes the move to his crib in the boys room.

He has been eating supremely well. Some days I think he would sit all day in the high chair and eat as long as I continue to put food in front of him. So hopefully we are fattening him up a bit. He was barely on the Korean growth chart for his height and weight. I'm afraid he won't make the US chart...we'll see on Thursday when he goes to the doctor for the first time. :-)

We are just so amazed how God chose the PERFECT baby boy for our family! He is amazing and we love him beyond comprehension! Blessed we are!

Isaac at home

2011-04-03T21:26:00.000-04:00

He has his visa!!

2011-03-13T23:02:00.001-04:00

So Friday morning I made my daily call to the Visa office in DC to find out if Isaac's Visa Interview (VI) had been scheduled. All week I had been calling. I had gotten the same answer all week...his picture is in the system from his Embassy Appearance on February 25. But the agency hasn't returned his packet (P3) and no visa interview has been schedule. After four straight days with the same response I wasn't expecting anything different on Friday. But the message was much different from the visa officer...You son had his visa interview today, March 11, 2011 and was awarded his visa!!!! YAY!

That is such music to my ears!! Your son has his visa!! He is ready to come home!! So now to wait for Holt to make the infamous travel call, so I can get my butt on a plane in a hurry! Isaac buddy...you mommy is coming so soon!

PS. I just realized that today is exactly 7 months to the day from when I first saw his precious little face on Holts photolisting. Okay, it is so time for that travel call!!

Class B Waiver or No Class Waiver that is the question...

2011-03-04T21:38:00.000-05:00

We jumped another big hurdle on Wednesday, March 2 with Isaac having his Visa Physical (VP). Then there is the Class B Waiver. A Class B Waiver is a document that is presented to the adoptive family by the doctor that performed the VP. It will indicate any medical issues the the doctor really wants to make sure that the family is aware of. The family must then be notified of the Class B Waiver (it usually arrives within 2-3 days of the VP - TODAYish). The waiver would need to be signed by us, notarized and returned to Holt Korea. The receipt of a Class B Waiver can slow the process by a few business days.

So we made it through the day without an email about a Class B! And I did find out that two other Holt families in our EP/VP group received them this morning. So I'm holding my breath, with my fingers crossed, and prayers sent to Heaven that we won't receive one on Monday.

I did contact the Visa office in DC today. The officer I talked with could see Isaac's picture, meaning he had made an appearance at the Embassy. The P3 (Isaac's and our file) had not been returned to the Embassy by our agency and no Visa Interview (VI) had been scheduled. We'll hope for a VI next week sometime, quickly followed by a Travel Call!

I'm ready for my phone to ring!!!!!

Visa Physical Scheduled

2011-02-24T08:23:00.000-05:00

Since receiving news that Isaac's EP was approved on February 11, we have been anxiously awaiting news of the next step in the process...his Visa Physical. This is a medical exam that is performed by doctor appointed by the US Embassy.

Because of my impatience in hearing news, I have been stalking my email inbox and the adoption boards for any news. Yesterday I was cooking dinner and had given up any hope of getting news since it was so late in the day. But bamm...I check my inbox just before we head out to Wed night church and there it was...Isaac is scheduled for his Visa Physical (VP) for next Wednesday, March 2! Yeeehaawww!!

Once the VP takes place, the last step is the Visa Interview at the US Embassy. After this he will be ready to come home and we will receive the greatly awaited TRAVEL CALL! :-)

Stay tuned...

Your Call on The Travel Call

2011-02-15T13:38:00.002-05:00

So now that we have Isaac's Emmigration Permit (EP) Approval, we wait for a couple of more things to happen before we get the Travel Call (TC)! Here is what happens next:

1) Our agency will obtain a Travel Certificate for Isaac (it is like a one-way passport).
2) Once that is obtained his Visa Physical (VP) will be schedule. This medical exam is performed by a Dr. appointed by the US Embassy.
3) After the VP is completed, Isaac will need to make an appearance at the US Embassy for his Visa Interview (VI). Then he'll receive his visa and is ready to travel home!

Then our phone rings...the infamous Travel Call (TC)!!!

Since we are all in great anticipation of receiving the Travel Call (TC) we thought we would like to have our family and friends guess on the date and time that we will receive our TC. The person whose guess is the closest, without going over will win a gift that Jewel brings back from Korea!

A couple of HINTS: We have seen this process be as short as 2 weeks and as long as 8+ weeks. Your guess is as good as ours as to how long it will take. Last HINT: Normally our agency (which is located in Oregon) only notifies families of TC M-F 8 am - 5 pm PST.

All you have to do is leave a comment to this post stating your name (first and last please) and your guess of both date and time of The TC! Thank you so much for joining in the fun, while we wait to bring Isaac home!

EP APPROVAL!!!!

2011-02-15T13:12:00.000-05:00

We received the most awesome Valentine's Day present...notification that Isaac's Emmigration Permit (EP) was approved by the Korean govt on February 11, 2011! That is the exciting news we have been waiting for! Now we are in the home stretch. What is next?
1) Our agency applies for Isaac's Travel Certificate. It is kind of like a one-way passport which allows him to travel home. This typically take up to one business week. So we are hopeful this will be done by the end of this week.
2) Then the Visa Physical (VP) can be scheduled. This physical exam must be preformed by a Dr. appointed by the US Embassy.
3) Once the VP is done then Isaac will need to make his appearance at the US Embassy for his Visa Interview. He will then be issued his visa and will be ready to come home.
4) That is when we get the travel call.

We have seen this whole process take as little as 2 week and as long as 8+ weeks.

So now I am super excited to be able to get baby boy clothes out and baby toys out and baby beds set up!! YAY!!

Tonsils

2011-02-09T18:28:00.001-05:00

This is one of those funny stories that I want to always remember.

Preface: Eden has an appt with the ENT to discuss whether or not her tonsils need to be removed.

I was standing in the kitchen getting myself a glass of water and up walks Noah. He says, "Mom, has Eden been to the hospital yet to have her testicles taken out?" I stammered for a second (laughing hysterically to myself on the inside), "Huh?! Oh, do you mean tonsils?" Noah replies, "Yeah, tonsils."

Noah Daniel, when my life began...

2011-02-06T15:38:00.000-05:00

Noah Daniel McRoberts

blessed our family with his arrival on February 5, 2003!!

I can't believe he is 8 already!!

Just hours old...what a precious baby boy!

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old - His passport photo so we could move to Singapore

4 years old

5 years old - What did you do on your 5th birthday Noah?
Met a US Senator and helped get my baby sister home!

6 years old

7 years old

Noah is now 8!

I'm finding myself a little reflective these days, so bear with me (or is it bare with me), you get the idea...hang with me...

I'm a planner by nature. I love lists and calendars and itineraries and more lists. I NEED a plan! I make great plans! Ask anybody that knows me...I'm a planner!! I remember going through our pre-marital counseling sessions over 10 years ago and we were told we needed to talk about our life's expectations...you know talk about if you want kids or not, how many you want, where you want to live, which way the toilet paper is supposed to be put on the thingy, etc. You know talk about big issues so you don't have any big surprises after you tie the knot. I devised a GREAT plan and I even let Claude help a bit, at least he complied well. I We had it all figured out! Good thing we also learned in our counseling sessions to keep God at the center of our family. Who knew?! There is an even better planner in the world than me...God!

I just marvel at how great our God's plan is for the Claude McRoberts Clan. You can see His hand all over our story. When Claude and I married our plan was to have three awesome children, love God, love others, and live happily ever after. Wow, am I thankful that God had His plan...it is so much better!

I'll start with God putting a genuine empathy for the plight of orphans in my heart from the time I was a little girl. I remember crying over the lives of orphans in my favorite childhood movies like Annie, Pete's Dragon, The Rescuer's and The Apple Dumpling Gang. I find it remarkable that although I never consciously considered adoption for my future family, I feel that God prepared my heart for adoption from the time I was a little girl.

Unknowingly our adoption story started a few days before our precious oldest son, Noah Daniel was born. After 37 great weeks of pregnancy I started to have medical complications that resulted in an early delivery via c-section (that was NOT in my birth plan). And not far along into my second pregnancy with Malachi "Chi" I started having the same problems which resulted in a very long, painful, and difficult pregnancy. During this time I struggled greatly with why God was having me physically suffer so much. It did not take us long to realize that God was using this tough time for good, as He always does. Due to these pregnancy problems, we quickly realized that God was unfolding His plan for our family...adoption.

Initially our plan for adoption was to adopt one baby girl from China. But when our social worker asked us if we would be open to adopting twins or crib mates, we prayerfully considered it and answered an excited "YES!" From that moment on we were sure that God intended us to have two baby girls, despite the fact that China normally does not match twins with families that already have children. After we submitted our dossier to China in the summer of 2006, we were stationed in Singapore for 6 wonderful months. During that time we were able to travel around SE Asia, including to the country of Vietnam. We absolutely loved it there and discussed the possibility of adopting from Vietnam one day. Little did we know that was God's plan from the beginning.

And then comes the infamous NOID story...After we adopted the girls on September 18, 2007 in Vietnam things went very wrong. Our two week adoption trip, that we made without our young sons turned into four long, anguishing weeks. The US Department of State issued Eden a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), denying her a visa to enter the United States. The rebuttal to the NOID cost us many agonizing months away from our daughter, whom we had to put into foster care in Vietnam, while we returned home to care for our other children and work to get her home. After months of doing everything humanly possible to get Eden home, it took God stepping in to resolve the situation...

One Sunday morning we were listening to a guest pastor preach about not being a "Boat Potato." The scripture reference was Matthew 14:22-33, the story about Jesus Walking on Water. The story was about God giving us an invitation, calling us as he did to Peter...to step out of the boat, to have faith. God will never call us to sink and his assignments will often make us face our fears. The story was also about the reservations we'll have about getting out of the boat. Of course the boat is always safer, even Peter became frightened after he stepped out of the boat. But Jesus met Peter there in the water and helped him. And this should be our motivation to get out of the boat...The water is where Jesus is! Well you would be amazed at what God did that day to me while this sermon was going on. I heard God's voice so LOUD and CLEAR, IN MY FACE! Not just once but several times. That had never happened to me before or since. God told me to "GET OUT OF THE BOAT! Take your 3 children to Washington DC and stand on the steps of the Capitol Building to get Eden home!" What?! Now in all of my human-ness I said there is no way I can do this. This is so not in my plan! I can't travel across the country with my 4 year old, 3 year old and 9 month old, by myself, not knowing what on earth we were going to do on the steps of the Capitol Building in the dead of winter. But everytime I had a thought or fear like that ran through my mind, the pastor would say, "FEAR NOT!" or "DO NOT BE AFRAID!" Everytime!! And when I started to change God's plan in my mind, God shouted at me again to take my 3 kids to the steps of the Capitol Building! So to make a long story short. I got out of the boat and followed God's plan. I took the kids to DC. We met with Senator Barbara Boxer in her office on Noah's 5th birthday, February 5, 2008. Our story and Jordan's picture was on the front page of the National Section of the NY Times. And best of all we received Eden's visa 3 weeks later. Our sweet girl finally was able to come home, God's plan worked!

A couple of blissful years later, Claude and I started talking and praying about expanding our family again. We considered international adoption, but were very leery after having such difficulties with Eden's adoption. As a result of this difficult and costly international adoption, we started researching extensively the possibility of adopting domestically through the foster care system instead of pursuing another international adoption. Our plan was to start the foster care process at the end of August 2010 (this date would meet the 6 month TN residency requirement for becoming foster parents). But again, God had His plan. Despite our fear and financial unpreparedness, on August 13, 2010 God showed us the path to our son.

That day we met a family at a homeschool park day. This family told us all about their daughter they would be adopting soon from Holt's Korea Waiting Child Program. The mom talked me through the process in detail. As I learned about the process, and specifically that children from Korea are paper-ready (i.e. approved for a visa to enter the US) prior to our travel to adopt, I KNEW in my hear that this was God's plan for us. I went home that afternoon and immediately found the picture of our son. It has been a whirlwind ever since. Now we wait with great anticipation of Isaac Luke's homecoming!

So today I thank God for His plan! I feel like my life began the day Noah was born...he is such an awesome kid! I am so blessed to be his mom and the mom to his brothers and sisters!

I can't wait to see what God has in store for us next! I'll keep making my lists, but I'm lovin' His plan!

Remembering Grandpa

2011-02-01T13:21:00.005-05:00

Glen Lewis Giesy

October 11, 1920 - January 23, 2011

Many of my very first memories I have include my Grandpa. He lived just down the road from us when we lived in Lyons, NY on the Giesy family farm. It was my job as a little girl to call him on the phone when supper was ready and tell him to come eat. And when he would eat with us if he needed to blow his nose he would pull his cloth handkerchief out of his back pocket, turn his face from the table and blow. I remember being fascinated by that, I have no idea why. Smile. I also remember during one of my many calls for supper that he thanked me, but said he wasn't coming because he has already eaten a ketchup sandwich for dinner. Mmmm??

I spent alot of time with Grandpa at his house too. I remember thinking it was so cool that his house had a central vacuum cleaner. And I recall getting one of my baby dolls stuck in one of those vacuum holes. One of my favorite memories is sitting snuggled up with Grandpa in the recliner, his arm around me, watching the Incredible Hulk. You know the show where the guy gets mad and turns green...kind of a scary show for a little girl, but I remember feeling safe and secure with Grandpa by my side!

Grandpa had an old tractor that sat out next to his house and I loved climbing up on that tractor and pretending to drive. I also remember taking rides in his old blue pick up truck. We'd take off down the road and his dog Skippy would chase us until he got tired, then he'd go back home.

After a few years, my dad got a new job and we had to move away...a couple of hours away. So we only got to see Grandpa over long weekends or holidays. I LOVED the holidays as a kid. I LOVED spending Christmas eve down in Grandpa's warm and cozy basement hanging out with all of our family playing cards and laughing and laughing! I remember one particular Christmas when Mom and Dad said, it is time to go home. Of course I didn't want to go, I probably even begged for us to stay, but we loaded up in the car anyway to head home. I was just stewing and hoping that somehow we could go back to Grandpa's and spend the night. Well, low and behold we got a bit down the road and our car broke down. Grandpa came and towed us back to his house. I got to spend the night all snuggled up on the couch in Grandpa's basement! Ha!

We spent weeks at a time at Grandpa's in the summer time. His riding lawn mower, pool in the backyard and crochet set kept us kids busy for hours.

Grandpa was a kind, funny man. Very quick to laugh and tell a story about the good ole days. I was always amazed at the details, dates and names he could come up with when telling me the Giesy family history. I have many fond memories of driving around with Grandpa to different cemeteries, finding the family plots and listening to story after story. He loved his family and all he had wished for was for all of us to live close together. Unfortunately, he was very sad over the last years of his life that most of us had moved away.

Grandpa was a very talented man. He was a farmer by trade, and was an amazing carpenter. He could build anything! We will always treasure the model barn and playhouse that he made for my boys and girls! He was also an avid sports fan...the Buffalo Bills and Syracuse Orangemen were his teams! And he was a great bowler in his day!

My Grandpa lived an amazing 90 years! He had 4 children, 6 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren who admired, respected and loved him very much! Grandpa you will be forever missed!

My Grandpa - this is how I will always remember him!

My Grandfather as a young school boy, probably in the late 1920s

Grandpa and Gram's wedding picture, 1946

The Glen Giesy Family
Gram, Aunt Diane, Aunt Jan, Grandpa, and my Dad

My absolute favorite picture of my Grandpa!

Always having fun and joking around. Grandpa racing my Dad & friend!

My Grandpa driving the tractor, me in the wagon!

My brother Jay and Grandpa

My wedding day, March 3, 2001
Aunt Jan, Gram, me, Dad, Grandpa, Aunt Diane

Four Generations
Noah, Grandpa, me and Dad

Great Grandpa with Dillan, Chi and Noah

Grandpa's 85th birthday party
Jer, Jay holding Dillan, Shana, Diane, Grandpa, Jan, Dad holding Noah, me holding Chi

Great Grandpa holding Eden, with Jay, Noah, Dillan holding Jordan, and Chi

Great Grandpa and Jordan

Enjoying Nana and One-paw's

2011-01-07T13:47:00.000-05:00

Field Trip to the Kennedy Space Center

2011-01-07T13:45:00.000-05:00

Christmas in Florida

2011-01-07T13:42:00.001-05:00

Our first Christmas in TN

2011-01-07T13:40:00.002-05:00

Paula's pictures of Isaac

2011-01-07T13:36:00.000-05:00

Paula met Isaac!

2011-01-06T13:24:00.002-05:00

Message from Paula about her meeting with Isaac...
Paula Creech Sloan January 6 at 1:52pm Report
Jewel, he is PRECIOUS! I know he looks serious in the pics, he's totally not. just a little shy. He takes a while to warm up. I got some video too. He was dancing and the ladies were singing. His FM has had 21 or 22 (I can't remember) babies. She LOVES him VERY MUCH and is VERY conservative with his care. For example, Brodie's FM had his whole care package spread out for him to play with and Isaac's FM kept his in the bag, but opened it and looked and put it back in. (I don't think she wanted it on the floor) and Brodie walked over to it and peeped in and she told him not to touch. She also wiped his hands since he had been playing in the room before he could have a cracker. She LOVED the photos of your family and said you were all beautiful! She asked if you would come to Korea and I told her yes and that I thought your mom was coming with you too.

Your FM is beautiful. She is very sweet and has dedicated her life to spoiling, err, caring for these babies. hahahahaha. You can tell she loves him very much and he loves her very much. When I came in he just stared and stared at me. He was so curious, but only from the comfort of his FM. He is definitely happy, I just don't think he's crazy about the camera. He played GREAT with Brodie and was very sweet to him. He's a good boy!

I seriously CRIED when I walked into the room. DJ totally surprised me with this. I thought I was picking some stuff up. Too bad Zoe was sleeping and didn't get to go, but I'm glad she napped...she was in a better mood afterward. See, I told you she was awesome! She loves him VERY much too.

DJ and your foster mom were joking that Zoe would have many Korean boyfriends to choose from and your Foster Mom saw my pics of Zoe and said she is beautiful and then said that I would one day be Isaac's Mother in law. HA! He is SO HANDSOME, Jewel.

I hugged him and told him his mommy and daddy love him very much and were coming for him soon. I am so glad I got to meet him. He's awesome!

Merry Christmas Isaac!

2010-12-24T23:31:00.000-05:00

We love you!

McRoberts Family 2010

2010-12-22T00:06:00.001-05:00

Personalize a free scrapbook

Isaac - 9 Month Picture

2010-12-20T23:03:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken on December 10, 2010.

I was so excited to receive an email with a couple of pictures of Isaac on Dec. 15! What a great gift it is to have a new picture! We just can't wait to get him home!

All of our approvals from USCIS have come through. Now we just have to wait for our application for Isaac's Emmigration Permit to be submitted and approved by the Korean govt. Please pray that this process moves swiftly again after the first of the year!

I have "THAT" kid...

2010-12-20T22:48:00.001-05:00

So you know how at every kids Christmas program there is some silly kid doing things that just crack everyone in the audience up! Yeah, well yesterday that kid was mine. I'll give you one guess which kid it was...

Yep, you guessed it, this is the one!

Yesterday at church the three youngest kids sang in church during the Christmas program. The girls were at the end of the first row of the risers, located just to the left of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. As the group is singing their songs and doing the motions, Jordan is checking out the Christmas tree...she just couldn't resist all of those beautiful ornaments! Fantastic! And then, she decides she needs to climb up to the top of the risers, with hand over fist and bottow in a dress hangin' out for the whole world to see, you get the picture. A confused little girl in the back row helped her onto the top level and then Jordan proceeds to bound down each level, back to the bottom, AND repeat. Glory!

So after the slumping really low in the seats with a red face during this production, I actually did have to go to the front and claim her after the kids were done singing. As we settled with the kids back in our seats, Jordan immediately says in a rather loud, non-church, non-indoor voice, "Mom, when do we get to leave?" Yeah, if the audience of a thousand plus wasn't laughing before, they were rolling on the floor after this. Awesome! Joy! Joy! Gotta love "THAT" kid...of ours!

Marry? Christmas

2010-12-10T17:04:00.001-05:00

Jordan says to me "Mom! I am so excited for Christmas! Except for the 'merry' part! I don't want to be married!"

November Well Baby Check

2010-12-07T18:24:00.000-05:00

About the time that I start to get really impatient for some news on Isaac, the WBC just happens to appear in the inbox! Yay!

Our guy is still itty-bitty, but is growing and maturing. He has his first tooth in on the bottom. And he is pulling himself up and walking along the furniture! Also he is saying Mama and Dada! Gotta love it!

Now is it too much to ask...can I have some pictures??

I just noticed today that we have been waiting for Isaac for exactly 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. Here is to praying we are over the hump and on the downside of the wait!! Can't wait to have our little man home!

Malachi Isaiah McRoberts

2010-12-06T16:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my punkin' Chi!

1st birthday

18 months

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

5 years old

Now he is 6!

I-600 and I-600a

2010-12-06T15:39:00.000-05:00

I've been stalking the mail box hoping for these goodies... Form I-171 and Form I-171H!

That means our I-600 (Petition to Classify Orphan for an Immediate Relative) and I-600a (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) have been APPROVED!

We mailed the applications on October 25, had our fingerprints done on December 1, and our approval date is December 3! That is pretty great turnaround for the good ole Department of Homeland Security!

One step closer to bringing our Isaac home!

YAY!

Christmas is my favorite time of year

2010-12-01T11:50:00.000-05:00

Every once in awhile my kids will do something that just blows me away. That happened this morning as we were riding in the van.

Noah says, "Mom, Christmas is my favorite time of year! Do you want to know why?"
Sure I do, tell me.
He says, "It isn't because I get toys and presents. It is because I get to be with Nana and One-pa and everyone else!"
And as an afterthought he added, "And I love to decorate the Christmas tree too!"

Chi pipes in with, "Yeah, I love it when we are all together!"

That just warms my heart!!

Thanksgiving and a Triple Dog Dare

2010-11-30T14:48:00.000-05:00

We had a really fun trip to Indiana for the Thanksgiving Holiday! We ate too much and had loads of fun with family & friends! We were able to spend time with Matt & Jen and their family. The kids had a blast playing with Rylee, Noah David, Gracyn, Rose and Jonathon! Plus we were able to see Noah's best buddy Samuel and family. Good times!

Another awesome highlight of the trip involved Nerf gun wars and dares. Uncle Nick has quite a collection of Nerf guns and he bought a gun each for the boys, so they could all have Nerf gun wars. Of course, Daddy and Uncle Timmy got into the mix as well. There were Nerf darts flying everywhere. Anyway, one morning it was really cold out...mid 20s and a dusting of snow on the ground. Somehow my hubby dared his little brother Nick to walk around the outside of the house barefoot for a dollar. Nick couldn't turn down the dare or the buck and proceeded to take his lap around the house. We all cheered from the windows inside. Well soon after Nick offered Noah his Nerf machine gun IF Noah dared to run around the house naked twice! Ooohhh, Aaahhh! The crowd was silent as the consideration was made. Noah quickly tried to renegotiate the terms, but Uncle Nick stood firm...2 naked laps = 1 machine gun. Noah asked me for advice. I just asked him how badly he wanted the gun. He then commenced shedding his clothes and ran out the door. I was sooooooo proud of him! He did it - he passed his first test of manhood! :-)

October Well Baby Check

2010-11-18T16:47:00.001-05:00

We finally have an update on our precious boy! The last well baby check we received was dated Aug 30, so we have been anxious to receive another. After inquiring with the agency, I received Isaac's well baby check from Oct 22, his 8 month appointment. I'm so excited to report that he is on the chart finally...he is in the 10th percentile for his height and between the 3rd and 10th percentile for his weight! YAY Isaac! Way to grow buddy boy!

We also learned that he is sitting well & balancing without support, crawling, transferring objects from hand to hand, rakes in raisins, responds to the sound of his name, and is imitating speech sounds. Wow - all the wonderful, fun things an 8 month old should be doing!

And here is the kicker...

So if he 'prefers mother' why are they not sending him home to me?? Right NOW??!! :-)

The little things in life

2010-11-18T13:37:00.000-05:00

A Daddy Pile

Pretty Eden

My silly girl with her silly project

Life has slowed back down a bit, since soccer & football season have ended and all of the adoption paperwork is done. Ahhhh! More dinners at home with everyone around the table and less running around. I like it! I'm enjoying a nice toasty fire in the fireplace, baking goodies, sewing projects, crafts with the kids and loving my family! Nothing better than that! So many blessings!

Isaac - 8 Month pictures

2010-11-08T20:46:00.001-05:00

Picture take on October 29, just over 8 months

Look at my baby boy looking like a weetle man in his outfit! Oh he is growing up so quickly. I can't wait to get his most recent Well Baby Checkup report. I want to know if he is crawling and pulling himself up, etc...just like his cousin Brayden who is only a week younger than Isaac.

An update on the adoption front...our offical acceptance paperwork went to Korea on October 22. Our travel was quoted as 4-6 months from that date. However, the adoption agency has run out of EPs (Emigration Permits). The Korean government only gives a certain amount of Emigration Permits to each agency in a year. This limits the number of orphans that are allowed to emigrate to another country. So at the beginning of November (2 whole months before the end of 2010) we found out that the agency has run out of EPs. So this will delay our travel by at least a couple of months. UGH! I was really praying that Isaac would be home by his first birthday at the end of February, but that doesn't appear to be even a remote possibility at this point. So we wait and wait some more.

So we live for the pictures and the medical updates and pray for him everyday.

Happy Halloween

2010-11-08T20:33:00.000-05:00

We had such a fun Halloween weekend. Nana, One-paw and Great Gram came up from Florida. And Aunt Vie, Brenda and Eddie came up from Texas. We watched Noah and Chi play flag football, played cornhole, took the kids to Trunk R Treat and had a bonfire. It was all kinds of fun! Here are some pics...

Coffee Buddies - Chi and One-paw

The Mouse (Eden), The Gamorean Guard (Chi), Koopa Troopa (Noah) and Luigi (Jordan)

The crew on the way to Trunk R Treat

With their loot!

7 month old pics of Isaac

2010-10-25T12:24:00.000-04:00

I love this little face. Eden calls it his 'sad face.'

Ah, cracking a smile. This is the first picture we have with a smile.

There is a sweet guy!

Isaac, we are praying for you everyday. And can't wait for you to come home!

Smoochies

2010-10-08T10:29:00.000-04:00

Jordan and I play a game everyday...the smoochie game. This is how it works...
1) I give her a smooch (or many smoochies),
2) She devilishly smiles and dramatically takes her hand, wipes, and then proclaims, "Mommy, I wipe da smoochies off!"
3) I fake being upset and playfully scold, "Don't you dare wipe all my smoochies off!"
4) Then her pleading eyes and giggles say, smooch me again mommy. While her mouth is saying, "No more smoochies mommy!"
5) So I indulge the pleading eyes and smooch her all over, again. And the process continues. You get the picture.

Last night, I was putting the kids to bed. As the girls were getting covered up I asked them if they had any prayer requests. Instead of offering a request, Jordan just started praying. You know the normal 3 year old prayer stuff...thank you for Mommy, thank you for Daddy, thank you for Izzy the cat, etc. Then she starts saying "God cares for us all the time. God loves us all the time. God loves us looking at the stars all the time. God loves us giving smoochies all the time!" Then she gave me a big smoochie and said, "Amen."

Love, love, love da smoochies!

God's Hand

2010-09-23T17:23:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I should never be astonished to see the works of God, but I absolutely marvel at how He had His hand on this adoption before we even knew we were going to start it.

* Of all the moms at the park on August 13, I sat with Paula. Paula almost didn't come to the park that day. But she did. And we met. And she told me all about S. Korean adoptions! After months of wondering how to expand our family, God finally showed us the way. It was so exciting!

* One of my very best childhood friends, Megan, found me on Facebook about 1 week before this adoption stuff hit. I hadn't talked with her since 8th grade! I was OVERJOYED that she found me and we have had fun getting reacquainted. Anyway, her hubby is a pediatrician. And of course we had lots of medical records for Isaac that needed to be reviewed. Megan's hubby was so kind to offer to look over the records! How is that for cool?!

* Once we had Isaac's medical files reviewed, we informed Holt that we wanted to adopt him. At that point one other family was considering adopting him as well. That family had 2 weeks to decide if they would pursue the adoption. If they chose to pursue, both of our families would be presented to the selection committee at the agency and they would choose which family would adopt him. I was really bothered by this. I did not want to have to compete over this baby boy. I figured there would be no way this other family would say no, but I prayed that somehow this family would bow out. And God answered that prayer. Six days before the selection committee meeting, I received news from the agency that the other family decided NOT to move forward with the process. Super excited, but wondered why? And figured I would never know why...

* That very night (we were on our beach vacation in Pensacola with my sister's family), and I checked my Facebook page. I had a message from a lady named MaryLeigh. I did not know any MaryLeigh. But her subject line said, "Paula's Friend." Her message essentially said, I'm friends with your friend Paula. I have an amazing story about your new son, can you please call me? Okay. I dialed her number and she told me such a wonderful story...She and her husband brought their son home from S. Korea this past spring. He is their first child, but they intend to adopt again. Holt has a policy that a family has to be home for 6 months with their newly adopted child before they can start another adoption. She said for this reason she had been trying to stay off the photolisting of waiting children. But she looked and found Isaac and immediately LOVED him. So she called Holt and asked if they could start an adoption for him, eventhough they had not been home for 6 months yet. Holt's answer was NO! She was bummed but understood and continued to pray for Isaac that his family would find him soon. At that same time, she had 'met' another family on Holt's internet adoption forum. This family is a pastor and wife, who have 3 bio children. This family was the family that had Isaac's file and was trying to decide about adopting him. They had been praying hard for 2 weeks about whether or not this was the right time for them to adopt. When it came down to it, they decided that they learned that they want to adopt, but not at this time. That is how they made their decision. And MaryLeigh was so excited that both she and this other family now know where Isaac is going. She wanted me to know this story, so that one day we can tell Isaac that he was loved and prayed for and wanted by many! Wow - God is good!

And so we are a little more than a month into the adoption process and God has shown Himself so amazingly! We are awed and can't wait to see what more He has in store!

Our Journey to Isaac Luke McRoberts

2010-09-16T14:10:00.005-04:00

Hubby and I just haven't felt like we are done. You know, with having kids. And most people look at us and say 4 kids, that's alot, you want more? Well, yeah! Why? Well, we have that unexplainable gut feeling that says, let's have more kids. And we have a great conviction to care for orphans. (James 1:27)

So we have been talking and praying for over a year now on how to expand our family. Rwanda was on my heart for a LONG time. It started with a random pick-up of a book off the library shelf entitled, "A Thousand Hills: Rwandas Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It." I was amazed what I learned about Rwanda and its people. It seemed from that point I saw everything Rwanda...magazine article, TV special, etc. etc. I was bombarded with Rwanda. So I researched adoption through Rwanda extensively. All of our requirements, processes, etc seemed to fit us perfectly EXCEPT the major issue...Rwanda follows a similar visa approval process as Vietnam. Which is, the adoptive parents travel to adopt the child, then the visa application for the child to enter the US is submitted while in-country and then approved. We will never adopt following that process again. We must have the child's visa approval before we travel. We learned that lesson the hard way with Eden. So Rwanda was out.

Then our dear friends became foster parents and this really intrigued us. So we learned as much about it as possible and were very much considering becoming foster parents after we got settled in Tennessee. When I called Shelby Co to learn how to apply to be foster parents we were told very rudely that we aren't eligible to become foster parents until we have lived in TN for 6 months and to call back at the end of August. Ok. So we waited, settled in, and then started talking about foster care and how quickly the end of August was coming. And everything in my spirit was wanting to slam on the brakes and turn around a run. I don't know why, because I was quite excited about the prospect for a long time. But as August arrived I just felt like this wasn't the way for us, but I had no idea what path we were supposed to be on.

Then we went to the sprinkle park on Friday, August 13 to meet some families in our new homeschool group. While there we met a mom, Paula, and her two boys Robert and Andrew, who just happen to be the same ages as Noah and Chi. And they are waiting for their baby sister to come home from S. Korea. I ask Paula a million and one questions about adopting from S. Korea. To say the least I was beyond excited about what she told me! Holt International has a waiting child program for S. Korea with a photolisting on their website. The process only requires a homestudy, no dossier. The process is quick, travel in 4-6 months after the homestudy is submitted. And the child's visa for entry into the US is approved prior to our travel to adopt. THIS was the path! I was certain!

I went home that afternoon. Looked through all of the photos of the waiting children and this face appeared :

and it was love at first sight!

I sent an email to my hubby at work with the subject line "isn't he cute?" and put his picture in the email. That was it. When he got home from work, I told him all about how the process works to adopt him and he said, let's do it!

So we immediately asked for his medical files and history. We had everything reviewed by 3 different pediatricians and they all provided very favorable opinions. So we applied with Holt to adopt him and we started the home study. We will have everything submitted to the social worker by tomorrow. She hopes to have the homestudy written and submitted by October 1.

There is much more on how God has worked everything together for this. That will have to come in another post. Until then just know we are having a blast riding on the Seoul Train! :-)

Family Pictures

2010-09-14T20:02:00.004-04:00

We had Giesy Family pictures taken to celebrate my parent's 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-14T19:43:00.003-04:00

Yes, I can be spontaneous...it is a stretch for me, but we pulled off a very fun impromptu weekend at the beach. My sister and her family proved sponaneous as well and we met up in Pensacola for the long weekend. We got a great condo in Tristan Towers. Perfectly named after Cousin Tristan! Here are some fun pics...

Jordan, the beach babe!

Eden loved the ocean,

Daddy even got her a boogie board to ride the waves!

Playing at the beach

Chi riding a wave

Brayden having fun in the sun too!

We were able to spend some time with our friends the Nguyens also...here is Jenna and Eden being mermaids

And Jordan, the mermaid

School Time

2010-09-14T19:30:00.007-04:00

First Day of School...the girls just begged to do school with the boys. So they are official Pre-K kids! :-)

Jordan

Eden

Eden concentrating so hard!

Ditto for Jordan. BTW, a friend told me this cool tip. Put their workbook pages inside a sheet protector and let them use Dry Erase Markers. That way they can use the pages over and over again!

Eden practicing writing her letters

Jordan doing starfall.com

Chi excited about starting 1st grade

First Day of School

Chi

Noah being a stinker on his first day of 3rd grade

Noah making a clay model of Stonehenge

Our Archaeology Dig

Oops don't know how this one is sideways.

Diggin' Jordan

The Arcaeology Dig in the sandbox

Chi checking out all of the items they found in each section of the dig

The boys being nomads. They built their own hut. Hope it doesn't rain!

The boys in their hut

The hut

Noah writing his name using cuneiform

Although you can't see it, Chi is pointing to his name writen in cuneiform on his 'clay tablet.'

More Summer PIctures

2010-09-14T19:21:00.006-04:00

Jordan looking cute in her shades

Still cute in her shades!

My beauty, Eden

Dillan hanging out with Uncle Claude

Noah and Tristan swimming

Eden

My pumpkin

Oma and Chi

Princess Eden

Eden at the Sprinkle Park

Jordan being super brave standing near the water!

Chi loving life!

Tristan and Eden on the trampoline

Eden, Jordan and Tristan on the tire swing - I think they like it!

Tristan jumping into the pool. Love that face!

Noah

Chi

4th of July Pictures

2010-09-14T19:10:00.005-04:00

We spent the Fourth of July weekend in Indiana.

Jordan and Eden with Great Grandma Wegner (AKA G.G.)

Maw-maw giving the girls a ride on the 4 wheeler

The girls playing on the 4 wheeler

Jordan and Eden

Chi getting a ride on Mary Rose

Uncle Nick giving Jordan a ride

Eden, Uncle Nick and Mary Rose

The girls just love the horses!

Pictures of Gram's Birthday Party

2010-09-14T18:56:00.005-04:00

My Gram turned 85 on July 22, 2010. Many of her friends and family gathered together for a big party to celebrate with her. Here are some pictures:

My Gram! I LOVE HER!

My Dad and his Uncle Cal. Is there a family resemblance or what?

Gram and her siblings, Vie and Cal

Chi

Gram with her kids, Diane, Jan and my dad, Russ

My mom

The "85" cake. Many thanks to my kitchen crew, Sarah, Jer, Aaron and Mom. Would never have gotten it done without ya!

My Aunt Diane, Aunt Jan, Gram and my Dad

My Gram with two of her siblings, Uncle Cal and Aunt Vie

Aunt Vie, Gram, Brenda and Uncle Cal

Barbara, Brenda, Gram

Some of the Everhart Family: Aunt Vie, Diane, Rich, Dad, Sandy, Uncle Cal, Jan, Barbara, Brenda, Gram

Yes, we have many nuts in our family tree

Cool Noah

Me and my sis

Gram and Dillan with the "85" Cake

The Great-Grands singing Happy Birthday to their GREAT Gram!

Jan, Brenda, Diane and Me

Uncle Cal

Indy and Domino

2010-07-13T15:07:00.002-04:00

We have expanded our family, yet again. Indy and Domino have made the long trek from Maw-maw's home to ours. Daddy just couldn't resist them and had to bring them home. Indy is a girl and is named after Indiana Jones because of her adventurous spirit. And Domino is has his name because of his black and white colors.

The kids absolutely LOVE them and are always trying to get the kittens to play with them.

Here is Noah with Indy

Poor Domino was so scared the first night home. Here is his curled up in a corner.

And now for pictures of Eden getting Indy ready for a stroller ride...

Grass

2010-07-13T15:04:00.002-04:00

I was sitting with the girls on the couch when they started to play the 'name-the-parts-of-the-face game.' Then Jordan decided she needed to investigate the contents of my nose. Eden says, "What's up there Jordan? Boogies?" Jordan says, "No boogies, but I think there is grass up there."

Day Care

2010-07-01T10:06:00.002-04:00

Noah had a very bad cold last week with the usual symptoms...fever, runny nose, cough. It finally started clearing up last weekend and he was feeling much better. Then his ears both started to hurt. Since he didn't have a fever I just treated him with Tylenol and antiobiotic ear drops. But this continued for about 4 days, so I decided yesterday to take him to the dr for some oral antibiotics.

I loaded my troops up and headed to our new pediatrician on base. The kids and I get called back and when we get in the room with the nurse she asks me if I run a daycare. I just laughed and said, nope they are all mine. :-)

White Baby

2010-07-01T09:57:00.002-04:00

Eden had a favorite baby doll that was dressed in all white...She LOVED White Baby, so much that she actually talked me into letting her take it to our homeschool co-op (our last day of co-op in No. VA). I warned her several times to make sure she holds on to her and not lose her. Of course, she forgot it there and with all of the packing/moving we didn't have time to go get it. White Baby was lost forever.

This occured back in March and Eden mentioned White Baby to me a couple of weeks ago. Asking if we can go back to co-op to pick up White Baby. Told her that isn't possible since co-op is way back in VA.

Well this morning she came to me emphatically saying, Mommy I just know that White Baby is crying for me. We have to go get her. She misses me and is crying for me. We have to go to co-op and bring my White Baby home.

I feel so badly for her. I empathize completely. I can really see the parallel there. Once upon a time I left my Beauty Baby in Vietnam. And I am sure she was crying for me, just as sure as I was crying for her. So thankful that we were able to return for her and bring my Beauty Baby home!

Chilly-willies

2010-06-15T10:26:00.002-04:00

I made the kids tortellini for dinner one night. It is one of their favorites. It came time for Jordan to ask for more and she says, "Can I have some more chilly-willies?" At first I was like, HUH? But the other kids started correcting her saying they are tortellinis not chilly-willies. But she was EMPHATIC that they are called chilly-willies. It was so funny to hear them arguing back and forth about it.

Walkie-Talkie

2010-06-15T10:03:00.002-04:00

I was trying to get Eden to tell me which cereal she wanted to eat for breakfast, but her mouth was running non-stop about her sleeping baby and bunny...about how I needed to keep quiet so I don't wake them up, etc. After repeatedly asking her and getting no response, Noah pipes in from the breakfast table, "Mom, Eden is just a regular walkie-talkie!' You got that right! :-)

Paw-paw, we miss you!

2010-06-08T10:02:00.001-04:00

Michael D. McRoberts

Monday, May 31, 2010
Brazil Times
Michael D. McRoberts, 57, Brazil, passed away unexpectedly May 29, 2010, at St. Vincent Clay Hospital.
He was born Jan. 30, 1953, in New Castle, Ind., the son of Claude and Donna (Neeriemer) McRoberts.
He attended Brazil High School. Mike worked for Great Dane Trailers for 31 years. For the last 18 years of that time, as a corrugator operator. Most recently, he had worked for Schneider Trucking and Thatcher Trucking as a driver.
Mike enjoyed riding horses, farming, camping, motorcycle riding and spending time with his family and grandchildren.
With his wife, he coordinated the Bible and Saddle Camp at Camp Moneto, Ind., through the Southern Methodist Conference for the last 10 years.
He was preceded in death by his father Claude McRoberts, brother William McRobrets, stepfather Don Irwin, granddaughter Shyan McRoberts and uncle Ernie Lantz.
He is survived by his wife Debra (Wegner) McRoberts, mother Donna Irwin, New Castle, Ind., brother Jerry McRoberts, New Castle, sons Claude "Mike" McRoberts and wife Jewel, Tennessee, Tim McRoberts and wife Brandy, Brazil, and Nick McRoberts, Brazil, grandchildren Noah, Malachi, Jordan and Eden McRoberts, as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Services will be Saturday, June 5, 2010, at 1 p.m., at Union United Methodist Church. Visitation will follow at Union Cemetery.
Visitation will be at the church Saturday, from 10 a.m. until time of services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Union Methodist Church, 780 E. CR 600 N., Brazil, Ind., 47834.
Visit http://www.frenchfuneralhome.com/ to light a candle in his memory.

Milk Weed

2010-06-08T10:01:00.002-04:00

Daddy got Noah some baseball cards. As he is looking through them Noah exclaims, "Look! The Milk Weed Stadium!" He meant Milwaukee. ;-)

Tickle Bandaids

2010-05-26T13:30:00.001-04:00

I was putting a bandaid on Chi a couple of days ago and he said the bandaid tickled a little. Jokingly, I said they are the new 'tickle bandaids.' Well he just got another scrape and asked for the tickle bandaids.

Paper Mache Planets

2010-05-23T16:26:00.002-04:00

Noah is DIGGING the solar system, again! We have been reading from "A TRUE Book" series about all of the planets, the sun, the moon, etc. Noah can't get enough of it. Chi likes it too, but he's not as enthusiastic as Noah. Anyway, we decided to make some paper mache planets for our school room. All of the kids absolutely LOVED this project. It took us 3 days to complete, but fun was had by all! They all especially loved the painting.

Noah took an art class during our last homeschool co-op session and he was telling me that all real artists are covered in paint and paint for at least one hour. He started the painting session off in the bathroom applying paint to his face...getting his game face on so to speak! LOL!

The kids painting

Chi painting Mercury

Jordan and Eden were painting Uranus and Neptune

The finished products hanging to dry.

Eden, Chi, Jordan and Noah

The planets hanging in our classroom

Springtime Fun

2010-05-23T13:33:00.002-04:00

Eden swingin'

Jordan and all of her prettiness!

Chi being my Chi!

Noah and Jordan, what a pair!

Eden and Chi lovin' some flavor ice!

Eden and Chi

Eden on the slide

Jordan having a blast!

Sweet Eden

Eden in her favorite dress that Nana brought back from Austria. She wears it at least twice a week.

Birthday Girls

2010-05-23T12:55:00.003-04:00

Can't believe the girls are 3 years old already! We had a fun party while Maw-maw, Paw-paw and Uncle Nick were here. The Huth's and the Pond's joined us for a BBQ, cake and bonfire! It was a fun party!

Eden and Jordan made their own birthday crowns.

Eden

Jordan

The birthday crew

Jordan requested a Diego cake

"Happy Birthday to you!"

Jordan's Diego cake

Eden requested a Princess Cake

Happy Birthday Sweet Girls!

Ghosts

2010-05-21T15:19:00.002-04:00

The kids are driving me crazy! The 1:4 ratio, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is wearing on my very last nerve!

Here is Exhibit A:

Chi wrecked my bed this morning while playing. My quilt was downstairs on the living room floor and all of my pillow cases were being used as ghost costumes…GRRRRR!!

So I asked (okay, so maybe I demanded in a loud voice) Chi to go make my bed. This is how far he got…

asleep, wrapped up in the quilt, at the bottom of the stairs, wearing the super power green glasses!

Cuteness

2010-05-19T10:48:00.001-04:00

As Eden was getting dressed she said to me, "Mom, I'm gonna look stinkin' cute!"

Missin' Daddy

2010-05-18T21:23:00.003-04:00

Out of the blue at the lunch table Jordan said, "when Daddy gets here, I'm gonna love him!"

Only 9 more days until he is here for the Memorial Day weekend. Jordan is missing him, just like everyone else!

Homeschooling

2010-05-17T14:19:00.002-04:00

We started a reading about our solar system again. Noah loves this stuff. We are going to make paper mache models of the planets. Anyway, last week we read about the sun. And one of the pages talked about one of the theories about how the sun was formed. This particular theory stated that it happened 5 billion years ago and formed from a cloud of dust swirling faster and faster. After reading this portion, I reminded the boys that God made everything...the sun, the earth, the moon and stars, etc. Noah quickly and astutely said, maybe this is the way God formed the sun. Maybe He used a big cloud of dust and made it into the sun. Maybe He did, good thinking Noah!

My Chi is a WIGGLY kid! He can't sit still for 2 seconds to do anything. I often think he isn't paying attention because he is in constant motion. But I am listening to him retell the story of Jacob & Esau to the girls that I read this morning. A good reminder for me to let him be who he is & teach him even when he is... upside down in his chair or doing somersaults through the school room.

Eden has been trying very hard to learn to spell her name. She has a hard time because she can count a few numbers in Chinese...1, 2, 3 sounds like E, R, San. So when she spells Eden, she wants to begin with E-R. But today she has said it correctly many times! Way to go E-D-E-N!

And Jordan continues to entertain me with her made up lyrics to songs. She has such a great talent for singing songs, entertaining people and generally being a fun-loving girl! When she was a baby I adapted a song for her based on the theme of B-I-N-G-O...There is a sweet pea, named Jordan, J-O-R-D-A-N. Jordan, Jordan, Jordan, Jordan, Jordan, Jordan, J-O-R-D-A-N. Today she sang to me. There is a sweet pea, named Mommy. Mommy, mommy, mommy....

Love these kids of mine!

Shoes

2010-05-09T11:56:00.000-04:00

Eden got 4 new pair of princess shoes for her birthday. I asked her what she is going to do with all of those pretty shoes. She replies, "Wear them and buy new ones!"

Fear of Abandonment

2010-04-12T22:17:00.002-04:00

I marvel at the strong-hold that abandonment has on my poor sweet Eden! The first week in the house, when Claude was in DC, Eden had a rough time sleeping. She woke up most every night scared and frantic and/or crawling into bed with me. It was amazing though how well she slept while Claude was here this past week. She slept peacefully through each night and only climbed in bed for snuggles first thing in the morning.

Yesterday afternoon, just hours after Daddy left to return to DC, Eden was frantic at naptime. She would not lay down. She was desperate for me to hold her and stay with her. I have a tendancy to loose patience with this because Eden can be a bit manipulative at times. So my first thought is always that she is trying to get out of taking the nap. But I quickly realized that she was too worried and fretful to sleep. So I took her for a ride on the lawnmower and she quickly fell asleep on my lap as I finished mowing the lawn.

Tonight at bedtime, she was desperate for me to be with her in her bed. She kept saying, "I want you!" And then the most heartbreaking thing, "Mommy, don't go without me!" I reassured her for the millionth time that I am not going anywhere without her and would take her wherever I go!

Ah, but in these moments I feel the MAJOR guilt! I did leave her. I did go without her. I left her in Vietnam with strangers. And although she was only 5 months old at the time, I feel like she KNOWS that. I dread the day that I have to share with her that part of her story. And no matter how I justified it then, I will never forgive myself for doing that to her.

Tape

2010-03-30T23:13:00.000-04:00

I just remembered this tonight…
Last Friday when the movers were putting things on the truck and I was cleaning, I heard Noah tell the other 3 kids that they were going to play school and he was the teacher. The area rug was rolled up and he made the kids take their seats in a line on the rug. Then he picks up a roll of packing tape and proclaims to his class, “today, we are going to learn about tape!”

I just remember chuckling to myself and continuing on my cleaning tirade. Wish I had heard the rest of the lecture. ;-)

Busy-ness

2010-03-22T16:37:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, Noah informed me that he was having a VERY busy day. First he had to play Wii with Dad, then he had to get dressed, then he was putting a game piece away that he just found, and then he was going to read books to the girls!

A little while later I was taking the trash out and he hollared from the trampoline, "Mom, I'm adding to my Busy List...I'm taking the girls on the trampoline now."

That is one BUSY kid!

Marriage

2010-03-17T21:55:00.004-04:00

I was fixing lunch today and the boys were talking as they waited at the table. And I heard a bit of their conversation and they were talking about how Eden and Jordan would be Aunts one day. They understand that their Auntie Jerri is my sister, but I don't think that it was clicking that Eden and Jordan would be the Aunts of their children. So I started explaining that when they grow up that they will get married and have chidren of their own and when that happens Eden and Jordan will be Aunts. And that they would be Uncle to each other's children, etc. It was like a light bulb went on for both of them.

Then I asked the boys if they thought they would get married one day. Noah immediately said, "Yes!" Chi balked at the idea and said, "I'm never getting married, Mom." I told Chi that was okay, that he doesn't have to get married if he doesn't want to. I returned to the kitchen to grab their lunch and when I came back to the table Chi says to me, "Mom, I'm going to stay with you forever!" I thought that was so sweet.

Then I decide to ask Noah if he had any ideas on who he might marry one day. He thought hard for a minute and announced that he would marry Cousin Tristan. I didn't laugh, although I wanted to. But I was really enjoying this conversation, so I soberly told him that in the US it is against the law to marry your family members and since Tristan is his cousin he can't marry her. And I told him he would have to choose a friend to marry instead. He says, "Oh, okay." So I names some of the girls his age that he knows and likes and he decided that he would like to marry Lauren, the sister of his best buddy Jacob! She is the sweetest little girl and oh so pretty!

And with this wonderful conversation that I had with my boys, it reminded me that it is not too early to be praying for the girls that my boys will marry! I'm gonna get on that right now!

Serving the Sick

2010-03-11T16:29:00.003-05:00

The last few days Jordan has had a fever. No other real symptoms, just a fever and whininess. Feverish Jordan was laying in bed with me yesterday morning as we were both trying to wake up. Then she started pathetically saying, "Mommy, I thirsty" and "Drink!" I, still not wanting to get up, enlist my Noah boy to bring Jordan a small cup of water. He complies and she greedily drinks it down and says, "Ahh!"

At breakfast that morning our devotion was about how God wants us to serve others, especially the sick. And I commended Noah for being such a great servant that morning by getting Jordan a drink. He responds sincerely, "Mom, I would do anything for Jordan!"

What an awesome big brother! Love that kid!

These type of moments seem oh so rare, and I just cherish them when they happen. Makes me feel like a little of what we are trying to teach our children is getting through.

Big Ribs

2010-03-11T15:31:00.001-05:00

Last night Noah was watching House Hunters on HGTV with me. There was a rather busty woman on the show and Noah says, "Wow, Mom she has really big ribs, right here" as he is pointing to his chest.

The Sweetest Thing

2010-03-08T19:35:00.003-05:00

I was sitting in the big blue chair talking to my mom and snuggling with Jordan Grace, who had just woken up from a nap. She didn't have pants on because they were dirty from playing outside, so I removed them before her nap. I half noticed that she was scratching some dry skin on her legs while I was chatting away with mom. The boys and Eden come in the house from playing outside and Eden says hi to Jordan. Then she disappears and then reappears, all the while I am talking and Jordan is still scratching. Eden comes over and shows me her index finger, which is covered in something. I immediate think it is a bugger, since that is the typical thing on the end of a 2 year old 'digging' finger. But before I could grab the finger with a tissue, Eden says 'no, Mommy it is wotion (lotion) for Jordan's boo-boos.' I asked her where she got the lotion and she said she stuck her finger in the lotion bottle in her room and brought it down to rub on Jordan's itchy boo-boos! How sweet is this kid?! What a great mommy she is going to be someday! And maybe even a doctor or a nurse...she diagnosed the problem, developed a treatment plan and implemented it. And with an outstandingly sweet bed side manners as well! What a girl!

A Thousand Years

2010-03-08T08:43:00.001-05:00

We were eating lunch with friends yesterday after church & it came up that I am older than my hubby. My Chi leans over and whispers worriedly to me, 'Mommy that means you are going to die first.' Then he sweetly adds, 'I want you to live for a thousand years.'

Clothing Dictation

2010-03-02T15:32:00.002-05:00

Oh NO! It has begun...Eden has started dictating to me what she wants to wear in the morning! This morning instead of the pink camo sweat pants I picked out for her, she required the 'pretty pink dress with hearts' and 'pretty pink tights too Mommy!' Good grief!

So I sent this email out to the family, because this sounds like Eden is a Cousin Dillan Wannabe. Well Auntie Sarah emailed back with this funny stuff..

It just started????? You are lucky. We've been having clothes drama for a long time. One of Dillan's favorite outfits is a black pleather mini skirt which she wears UNDERNEATH another dress. And yes, I let her wear it to school. Oh, recently I bought her some knee socks. Before washing, they were more like thigh-highs, and she was VERY excited to show everyone her new socks. It's all dresses and tights with that girl . . .

Best of luck!

Toooo cute, these girls of ours!

Can I have you now?

2010-02-26T19:25:00.002-05:00

Claude went to Millington this week to close on our new house! We are once again homeowners! Yay! So we have been home for 3 whole days without Daddy and we were all missing him! Tonight when he came home, he had 4 very excited children climbing all over him! He loved it! After a bit, he decided to head down to check his email. After a few minutes, Eden comes to the office door and says in the sweetest little Eden voice, "Daddy, can I have you now?" Daddy couldn't resist that! He jumped up and swept that little girl right off her feet! Bliss!

Prophecy?

2010-02-24T18:57:00.000-05:00

Claude left at O'dark thirty this morning to fly to TN to close on our new house. As I lounged with Chi in his bed this morning, he informed me that Daddy is going to TN to bring us home a new baby! That sounds even better than a new house!

A New Era

2010-02-19T22:13:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to you, TOUCHDOWN! Happy Birthday to you, TOUCHDOWN! Happy Birthday, dear Noah, TOUCHDOWN! Happy Birthday to you, TOUCHDOWN!

Tonight we have a house full of boys here to celebrate Noah's 7th birthday. It is a sleepover party. Noah's first ever. And I realized about half way through the evening, as the boys were having a blast playing football and trading football cards with each other, that a new chapter has begun in our lives. This will be the first of countless sleepovers from here on out. It is so exciting to see our kids growing, making friends and making memories. But I also feel sad...sad that my kids are growing up so quickly. Is it really possible that Noah is 7 already?! That is over 1/3 of the time we have with him before he heads off to college. It can't be possible! All the more reason to make the time to really enjoy them while they are here! Happy Birthday Noah! Your mom loves you bud!

Kyle, Tommy, Chi, Jordan, Eden in the front. Luke, Jacob, Andre, and Noah in the back

Silly face pictures

Tommy and Noah

The Football Cake

Record Setting Snow Storm

2010-02-07T14:23:00.002-05:00

This is our second HUGE snow fall of the winter. We got 22 inches this time, compared to our 18 inches in December. Just wanted to post a couple of pictures of my absolutely CRAZY husband going out to get his first measurement of snow fall...

Noah's 7th Birthday

2010-02-07T14:17:00.003-05:00

It blows my mind that my boy is 7 years old today. He is growing up entirely too fast!
We unfortunately had to postpone his birthday slumber party because of a record breaking winter storm. So his buddies will come over to celebrate with him in a couple of weeks.
Instead we had a Colts birthday cake, opened presents and went out to play in the snow as it was falling.

Happy Birthday to Noah!

His favorite present a $2 penalty flag.

Looking at his Peyton Manning Fathead (a life-size wall decal) that will go on his bedroom in our new house. He was a bit in awe of how big Peyton is!

Birthday Cake Number 1.

Eden Shopping

2010-02-02T12:38:00.002-05:00

Sunday, after church we made a stop at Walmart to pick up our monthly supply of household goods...you know the toilet paper, laundry detergent, cat food, etc. Anyway, we were walking down the aisle in the kids section getting some more wipes, when Eden starts taking her shirt off, proclaiming that she needs a new shirt!

I am so, so very scared of this girl and her desire to try on clothes and shop! I am feeling the pain of the teenage shopping sprees now! Ugh!

Math with Chi

2010-02-02T11:32:00.000-05:00

I was doing math with Chi this morning and his problem was 20-3= . He quickly crosses out the three airplanes out of the 20 and answers 17. Then he proclaims, "You can't out smart me when it comes to 7s mom!"

My Precious Girls

2010-01-29T16:55:00.000-05:00

I am constantly amazed at how the girls love each other. They are truly sisters at heart.

This morning I was doing some cleaning and came out to see the girls on the couch together. Jordan was on Eden's lap and Eden was hugging her around the middle and Jordan was patting Eden's hands lovingly. Just precious!

I ran down to grab the camera... just hoping they wouldn't move before I returned.

I came back up the stairs and asked them to look at me. These are the pictures I got. No quirky, cheesy smiles, not crazy bad-hair days, just beautiful sisters loving each other! I love it! I LOVE them both!

Kids favorite foods

2010-01-28T09:02:00.000-05:00

Noah started listing off his favorite foods in order. So I asked all of the kids for a list of their favorites
NOAH:
1) Spaghetti
2) Ice Cream
3) Grilled Cheese
4) Mac n Cheese
5) Grapes
6) Cake
7) Fugi Apples
8) Chips

CHI:
1) Cheese
2) Bacon
3) Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
4) Tuna sandwich
5) Chips

JORDAN:
1) Bananas
2) Chips
3) Chocolate Milk
4) Lemonade
5) Chicken
6) Cheese
I don't trust her list though, I always have to remind her to finish he banana at lunch and she definitely has an aversion to the texture of meats. She always eats meat last at dinner.

EDEN:
1) Apples
2) Pineapples
3) Chips
4) Peanut Butter and Jelly

I find it funny how they all love chips... I guess it is because I rarely buy them, so they don't get them often. ;-)

Mean Teacher

2010-01-19T09:08:00.000-05:00

Noah informed me last night that he would never want another mom, but he would like a different teacher...ONLY on spelling test days. Because if he misspells a word on his spelling test I make him rewrite it 3 times correctly.

Random Pictures of the Girls

2009-11-26T16:06:00.001-05:00

I asked Eden to go upstairs one morning to get dressed. This is what she came down wearing...a pink sweatshirt with a bathsuit over it and red sweatpant. I asked her if I could take her picture and she ran to get a stool, set it up on her princess mat, jumped up there and said cheese! Way beyond cute!

My girls walking around the soccer field

This is her birthday party hat...actually it is a trash can.

Chi and Eden wrestling around in the grass

Eden

Jordan

I love this pensive look on Jordan's face

Jordan is such a cheese ball

Soccer Season

2009-11-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

We joined a great homeschooling soccer league (FISHE) this fall. All the age groups met at the same park on Wed. from 1-3pm to have practice or play games. The boys had an awesome time playing. Noah really loves playing goalie and was awarded the defensive star of his team. Chi learned alot and became the goal scorer for his team. He scored 5 or 6 goals this season. He was so proud of himself!

Chi playing in his first game

Noah making his way towards the goal

Practice drills

Noah practicing

Chi in a scrimmage

Chi

Chi at practice

Halloween Pictures

2009-11-26T15:49:00.001-05:00

Okay, so it is Thanksgiving time and I am now posting Halloween pictures.

We spent Halloween at our church having a chili cookoff and a trunk r treat. We decorated our van with Colts stuff and the kids dressed up as players and cheerleaders. Here are some pics:

Jordan Grace, the cutest little cheerleader

My pumpkin carrying his pumpkin

Reggie Wayne

Peyton Manning

The Cheerleaders

Hydrating for the big game

Colts vs. Cowboys

The Colts Mobile

Flag Football Season

2009-11-26T15:22:00.001-05:00

Noah played his second season of flag football for the Raiders and Coach Ron Tompson on Fort Belvoir. This season he was the teams quarterback which he absolutely loved. Most of the offense is handing the ball off to the running back, but he was able to pass the ball a few times. He was extremely proud to have completed two touchdown passes this season! He was also much better at pulling flags on defense this year.

To say the least the boy has a love affair with the game of football! I have never seen a kid at the age of 6 be so into a sport. He not only loves playing it, but begs to watch the reruns of the NFL games during the week. He is also absolutely obsessed with his fantasy football team and sits on the couch watching the games with the laptop next to him watching how his team is progressing. His fantasy team is on 7 game losing streak. He also reinacts plays in the living room including going in slow motion to determine if the challenge will be overruled. He also could have a career in announcing football games. He has all the lingo down and often does play by play with his football figurines. Anyway, here are some pictures of the boy and his Raiders team...

Getting ready to play defense

Chasing down his opponent

Got the flag

The Raiders

Noah

Noah and his buddy Jacob

The Raiders

The Raiders with Coach Tompson and the team moms

My Mommy!

2009-11-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke to a typical sound, Eden calling "Mommy" from her crib. Then I heard Jordan's voice saying emphatically, "No, it MY Mommy!" A fight then ensued with Eden shouting back, "NO! It MY MOMMY!" Back and forth they went. It was pretty cute!

That made me again so thankful for my girls. And I began to think of their birth mothers who are somewhere in Vietnam. I am so thankful that those 2 brave women decided to chose life for their babies instead of aborting them. Vietnam has one of the highest abortion rates in the world, the government hands them out like candy. So today I am thanking God and those 2 wonderful women for the gift of life for my daughters. And I pray today for those 2 women to have peace in their heart that their babies, my daughters, are happy and healthy!

Baltimore Marathon

2009-10-12T11:37:00.001-04:00

On the way to the starting line

Early in the race, around mile 4 or 5

Early on

This was up by the lake around Mile 19-21

Mile Marker 26 is just behind me in the picture

Almost to the finish line

High fiving Noah D.

High fiving the kids just before crossing the finish line.

On October 10, 2009 I completed my first marathon in 6 hours, 17 minutes and 55 seconds.

When my neurosurgeon suggested in February that I start walking to help recover from my spinal fusion I never even thought it would lead to a marathon. But after a few months of walking I decided to look into what it takes to train for walking a marathon. After some research I decided I would give it a shot and see how my body would hold up. At the start of training I had the goal of walking at a 15 minute mile pace for a 6:30 race time. But I had a couple of minor set backs during the training and was only at a 15:23 minute mile pace by the end of training which would translate into a 6:40 race time. The Baltimore Marathon had a 7 hour limit, so I was a bit nervous that I may have trouble making the cut off. But still had the hopes of a bit of breathing room and finishing in the 6:40 range.

I must say that the entire race experience was far better than I anticipated. I was kind of dreading it to be honest. But I had a great time competing again...against the clock and against other participants. I enjoyed the spectators along the route, I enjoyed thanking the police managing traffic along the way, I enjoyed talking with some of my fellow walkers (including Dr. Roy, a 77 year old Indian man participating in his 98th marathon), I enjoyed challenging myself to walk faster up the hills and passing 49 people in the last 5 miles. I had fun!

And it was so great as I was coming down the home stretch past Camden Yards in the last .2 of the race and seeing my hubby and kids cheering me on just before the finish line. I got to give the kids high fives just before I went across the finish! That was so great!

Anyway, I was very pleased to finish much faster than I had anticipated. Now I may be inspired to do another. We'll see.

Old McMommy

2009-10-12T11:36:00.000-04:00

I just heard Jordan singing "Old McMommy had a farm..."

A Tricky

2009-09-22T09:48:00.000-04:00

The kids and I were doing our morning devotion at the breakfast table this morning. It was about loving God above all else. Noah says to me, "Wow Mom! That is a tricky! Because I sure do love Izzy!"

Noah and Izzy,his favorite person in the whole world! He often makes a list of all of his favorite people, and Izzy is always #1 on the list!

Family Day Pictures

2009-09-21T11:41:00.000-04:00

I love this picture...Noah and Eden

Jordan in her pretty dress

Jordan and Daddy sharing a donut

Jordan's little wild tongue going crazy over sprinkles!

Noah, Daddy and Jordan

Jordan was sucking on some unidentified, pickled vegetable at the restaurant. She always knows how to get the crowd to laugh!

My cool dude

My pumpkin

Eden

September 18, 2007

2009-09-18T11:45:00.000-04:00

Two years ago today, I got to hold my girls for the very first time!

I'll never forget all of the excited laughter and chit-chat we shared with the other families as we took the bumpy, hot bus ride to the orphanage (social welfare center).

When we pulled into the orphanage and got off the bus, we immediately heard the sound of babies crying and a few curious youth and elderly meandered by to check us out.

All of the families crammed into the little 'lobby' area. There was a fan running, but it was still so darn hot. And we waited and waited, and set up cameras and video cameras, and waited some more. Finally the nannies started bringing the babies down from the 2nd floor.

Eden came down first and then Jordan. It is all a whirlwind in my memory...taking pictures, changing them out of their orphanage clothes, checking out their rashes, feeding a bottle before we jumped back on the bus, marveling at Jordan's instant smiles and loving my sweet Eden's sober little face. I always wondered before that moment if I would love them like I love my boys, but now I think what a ridiculuos wonderment that was. They are impossible not to love with the biggest of hearts!

Today we are joyfully celebrating our family and our adoption day!

Blog Slacker

2009-09-18T11:24:00.000-04:00

I'm such a blog slacker! I find that it is so much easier to update on Facebook, but then I neglect the blog. And I really love the blog! It is the history of the Claude McRoberts Family. Need to keep up better!

Well we've been having school now for 6 weeks and all is going well! Noah continues to amaze me with his ability to learn things so quickly and easily. I think he has definitely inherited his Daddy's mathematical abilities. He learns new concepts so quickly and is breezing right through his workbook. I would say the same for Chi. His kindergarten math workbook is already 3/4 complete. Am ordering the first grade workbooks now. He'll be in them soon. Chi has a great ability to sit still and do page after page of math. But that is where his patience ends. He can't stand to sit still to do his reading lessons. It isn't coming as easily to him, so we are taking it slowly. He is doing a great job of master writing his numbers and he writes his name well now. So we are making progress.

We started our homeschool co-op classes last week. Noah is in a class of about 16 2nd-3rd graders. His classes are World Cultures (which I am teaching) and Recorder. Chi is taking Tumbling and Story-time. The girls have playtime with other little ones.

Also last week, we joined a homeschool soccer league. We meet every Wed afternoon for practices and games. All the age groups meet at the same time and same place, that is so nice. All the parents volunteer, so we have babysitters for the little kids and team moms, coaches etc. It has been great to see Chi flourishing in this setting. He doesn't have to compete against Noah, so he is so much happier and confident playing with kids his own age. He LOVES it! Noah is enjoying his time at soccer as well, but he is really waiting for his flag football season to start next week! Now, he is over-the-top excited for that! All he talks about is being a football player when he grows up...I am amazed at the passion that he has for it!

Well I wanted to post a few pictures of our camping trip to Quantico Marine Corp Base over the Labor Day weekend. It was a beautiful spot and we got to listen to all of the FBI training going on next door.

Noah and Chi love to fish!

Daddy and the girls in the canoe. Aren't the girls so cute, trying to use their oars!?

The cutest fisherman!

Noah lounging and eating his campfire donuts.

Daddy making us campfire donuts and sausage for breakfast. YUMMY!

My pumpkin

Chi and Eden canoeing with Daddy

Chi playing on the playground

Jordan say 'Cheese'

Noah D.

Sarah and Abraham

2009-08-22T21:01:00.000-04:00

Tonight we had some of Claude's co-workers and their families over for dinner. The kids were excited about having some kids to play with. The first person to arrive was an older lady, and Noah says to me "Mom, she is too old to have kids right?" And I answered that she doesn't have any children. Noah then quickly says, "Only during the Old Testament did old women have kids, right mom?!"

Mini Cooper

2009-08-20T20:48:00.000-04:00

Chi and I went out on a date tonight. On our way home we saw a Mini Cooper dealership while we were sitting at a red light. Chi was asking why we don't have one and I suggested that they were probably a bit too small for the 6 of us to fit into. He said, "well I'm gonna ask Dad to buy us one just for our date nights. And it would be okay for Dad to use it if he takes me on a date or you on a date. It'll be just for our dates."

Unfortunately, Daddy said no.

Hey Mister Postman

2009-08-17T15:17:00.000-04:00

Chi loves to take my mail to the mailbox and put up the flag! I just sent him out with a letter, he gets to the mailbox at the street, pulls his pants down, and starts peeing in the yard; then he puts the letter in and flag up. Is that what you call a special delivery?!

New things

2009-08-10T22:19:00.001-04:00

Well we have all 4 kids starting something new recently.

Eden and Jordan have started potty training! My suspicions were correct...Eden is more than ready. Jordan not so much. Eden is proving to be extremely easy to train, far easier than the boys ever were. I believe that if I am consistent with things Eden will be trained in a day or two. It is going that well! She takes the initiative to go sit on the potty when she needs to. She is doing #1 and #2 in the potty. The only issue will be how we handle things when we leave the house. Not so sure if she'll let me know if she needs to go. So we'll just have to test that out, when I get brave enough.

Now Jordan is playing along...wearing the panties, sitting on the potty when I ask, wipes her bottom, flushes the toilet, etc. The only problem is the actual voiding! She has had far more accidents than successes. And she is always getting up from the potty and a minute later peeing on the floor. Ugh! She is not resisting me at all, not like the boys often would. But she isn't 'into' it at all. So I think I'll keep trying for the rest of the week and if I am still cleaning up alot of puddles, I'll stop and try again in a month or so. With an Eden success, at least we'll be cutting down on the diaper buying by half. Right?

Oh and a funny potty accident that happened today. Eden and I were in the basement doing laundry and she said she had to go potty. I tell her to run upstairs and go. She quickly proceeds up the stairs and disappears. A few seconds later I hear Eden crying for help. Now we have a pesky brother (Chi) and I thought he was pestering her while she was trying to go, but he quickly said he wasn't bothering her. So I run up stairs and find poor Eden on/in the toilet, hands clutching the sides, trying to pull herself up out of the toilet. Yep, the boys had left the seats up on the toilet and she fell right in. Dress and all were soaked. Poor thing. Didn't traumatize her though. After we got her cleaned up, she jumped right back up there and finished her business. ;-)

Well, today we started school again. I wasn't planning to start this early, but Noah started asking about a week and a half ago when we would start school again. And all last week the boys had every stuffed animal in the house set up as their students and they were the teachers. So I decided to go ahead and get started. My big, round, orange, punkin love, Chi started Kindergarten today. This morning at the breakfast table I was telling the boys that we would start school at 9:30 after we had our chores all done. Chi shouts out, "I LOVE school, I like homeschool!" He was so excited to start! Noah, our wise ole 2nd grader, on the other hand, went kicking and screaming. Well I guess it wasn't kicking and screaming, but his grumbling pretty well told the story that he was not happy about the situation. This is his typical behavior after we have had a break of any sort. After a couple of days of harassing me a bit, he settles in and accepts the quest for higher learning. ;-)

The boys were especially excited today when they received an email from One-paw (my dad) wishing them a happy first day of school. My dad called them scurvy pirates and rascals...they love that stuff! So the boys just had to email back some silliness and this went back and forth a bit. This made their day... waiting for One-paws email responses! So here are a couple of pics to commemorate the start of school...

Chi so excited to start kindergarten!

And you can definitely tell who was not excited about starting school today!

Pine Wood Derby

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Noah and Chi are part of the Royal Rangers at church. It is a very similar program to the Cub Scouts. Noah built his first pine wood derby race car this summer and raced it in the Harvest Heat last week. It was alot of fun. His orange car won many heats, but finished third in the final championship round. Here are some pics and a couple of videos...

Noah with his winning car

Chi at the Harvest Heat being wild and wacky with his blue tongue and the girls' Dora shades.

The Race

The Thrill of Victory, Noah (white shirt and blue vest) is on the opposite side celebrating with his buddies

Another Thrill of Victory, he was a tad excited

And the Agony of Defeat

A few more July pics

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The girls being wild and having fun!

Chi sitting on Uncle Timmy's cool bike.

Playing dress up at Uncle Timmy and Aunt Brandy's house...

Daddy joined in

and so did Mommy. ;-)