ELEVEN.

Jakeb turned 11 a little over a week ago and I am still amazed that it is even possible that he is that old.  A few days later he lost his very last baby tooth and I am still in disbelief...but also when you lose your LAST baby tooth you get a little bit extra coin from the good ole' tooth fairy so that's awesome for Jakeb.
At Eleven Jakeb is just as amazing as he was the day he was born--I dare say 11 years more amazing.   He is our oldest and the one that made us parents.   He is helpful and thoughtful and considerate.   He amazes me every day with his eager and willingness to just be nice.   Sure he has his moments but overall he is a helpful sweet boy.
He loves his brothers with fierceness that melts me daily.  He is smart and creative and just a great kid.  His love for others and their feelings is one I envy.  His compassion to do the right thing and the good thing is beyond most his age...heck most MY age.   He is and always has been wise beyond his years.  He has a raging sweet tooth and can sniff out sugar better than an ant.  He is still a picky eater that eats eensy weensy bits of food but no longer balks at every meal in front of him.  At 11 Jakeb is just a wonderful boy we are enjoying watching him grow and change into the man he will become.  Happy Birthday Jakeb!

MIA

Still here...still doing our thing.  The house was in a bit of an upheaval for a couple weeks...we had a stomach bug make it's rounds about a month ago and then as that was on it's way out the door the boys had winter break.   Robert took the week off and the original plan was to be in TX for a training for our adoption...but as that is now off the books so to speak we had some free time and funds.   So we slapped some new floors down and are still in the process of trying to finish that up...the floors are down but the trim and paint and "little" things are still left to do.
The floors look wonderful...Robert did them himself and did an amazing job!  Took him all week but it got done!  We have had guests and baseball and busy-ness starting up with that.  
I am anxious for spring to get kicked into full gear...we had snow flurries this morning!  But I am ready for sunny days and green grass and trees.  My goal this season is to get grass growing in this blasted yard....we will see...I know it takes several seasons for it to look nice and full but I need grass!  
We are halfway thru with our foster care classes...we still have medicals and home visits to knock out and at this point we aren't in a huge rush, though it's hard not to be.  Nolan is a handful and still quite needy of me so taking our time with it is good.   Our county is in desperate need of foster/adopt parents so we likely won't be waiting long for a call.   We are both hesitant and excited about starting this venture...nervous about the many unknowns but excited as well.   I would prefer to be into summer before we are giving things a go officially.  Nolan will be 18 months and our days will be less busy with practices and school and homework and what not.  Of course the big boys will be home and my quiet times will be nonexistent!  Either way...time is good :)
Birthday's are coming around again too...Jakeb is fast approaching his 11th birthday!  Crazy.  Really just crazy.
Hope you have a great day...stay warm!

Nine.

This is the 2nd nine year old birthday I have written about on here and while I have had double birthday's discussed on here...9 is different.  The last year before double digits forever...officially into the "tweens" and moving right onto a big kid age.
Zachary's birthday was 2 weeks ago and I have promised myself I wouldn't write another post until this was addressed.   I wanted some time to give thought and reflection on my newest 9 year old boy.
Zachary is an amazing boy...this is obvious!  He is such an awesome kiddo...thoughtful, insightful, helpful and so very full of life.
At 9...Zachary is in the 3rd grade and very shy in front of new people, especially school people.  At home he is a bundle of energy and bouncing excitement.  He is a rule tester.  He is eager, so very eager to learn and to try new things.   His personality is just fun.  He is emotional but often quiet about his emotions and feelings.   On the flip side you know when he's angry and certainly know when he's happy.  He loves his brothers fiercely and think Nolan is the best thing ever.  Can't get enough of him or any baby and little one.  He loves to be helpful.  Loves cooking and helping me in the kitchen.
He is a wonderful student, rarely in trouble and almost always a very hard worker.  He loves his video games and in general any game...card games, video games, board games...he's game.   At 9 he is happy go lucky about most things...he is boy thru and thru...is starting his 2nd "official" season of baseball and is doing really well with it.  I can't believe my Zachario is 9 and fast approaching a decade of life.  Happy Birthday Zman!