A Special Day

Today is Mother's Day!

It is a day to spend with your children, making memories with them, and reflecting on the day they came into your life.  I did all of those things.
My very favorite Mother's Day tradition is Tyson and the kids bring me breakfast in bed and Evan climbs up next to me and eats most of it!  It cracks me up!

Today is also Nola's birthday.  She is officially 2 years old!  

I did not get to spend the day with her.  And I spent most of the day thinking about her

and of the things we have missed, but focusing on all the "firsts" yet to come. 

But on this day, I also could not stop thinking about her birth mother.

I cannot even begin to imagine what she is feeling today.  

The loss, the grief, perhaps shame and guilt have to be consuming her.

We do not know (nor will we ever know) the circumstances that forced her to abandon her child, but it could not have been an easy decision to make or to live with.

I hope on this day, and every day, she may know a sense of peace that "our" daughter will be safe, loved, taken care of, provided for, loved, happy, nurtured, loved, and she will have a family, friends, opportunities, freedoms, and SO VERY LOVED....all of the things every mother wants for their child.  

I wish she could know that.

We had family over for a Mother's Day/Birthday celebration.

I cooked Chinese food and we had a Dairy Queen ice cream cake and a few presents.

(I didn't get many pics...it got a little crazy!

Altar flowers we donated at church in honor of Nola's birthday

Birthday care package we sent her, along with a birthday cake.  Not really sure what's in the bag.  Figs maybe?  I hope it's nothing weird :)  We wrote her a letter and it was translated.  I think the item in the bottom left corner is a card, but not sure.

Card Rylee made for Nola...I cannot wait to see the sister bond form between them!

Birthday Cake!

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl.  I cannot wait to hold you in my arms.  This will be your last birthday without a family, and next year will be the motherload of celebrations!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOLA MAOXIN!!  WE LOVE YOU!!!

Growing Up

This weekend was the Winter Formal at Rylee's school.

She was so excited!

She went with some friends (because as she says "boys are just weird").

True dat, sista!

They announced the date of the dance on the last day of school before break, and she wasn't at school.

She told me WEDNESDAY that the dance was FRIDAY!

So THURSDAY night we headed to the mall to try to find a dress. (I work best under pressure! ha!)

We went to every single store in the mall.

The racks were practically empty.

The dresses were too skimpy.

Rylee is 12, but is super tiny.  (65 lbs soaking wet.)  She really needs a 4T for size, but obviously they are too short. 

She wants to shop in the big girl stores like her big chested built friends.

But it just ain't happening for this chick!

Our options: 

Trying to find a dress in the juniors section, praying for a size 0 that I can take in or pin a little, that isn't strapless or barely covering her tiny hiney, that doesn't cost a fortune might be a bit tricky.

OR

We go to the little girls section, where we are more likely to find something that fits, but doesn't look like it's made for a 6 year old and comes with a matching purse, that doesn't cost a fortune.

Plus, she had a definite style in mind that she wanted.  (No added pressure, of course!)

So after about 4 hours, we found 2 dresses in 1 store.

She pretty much hated 1 of them.

The other was OK, but she wasn't loving it.

Tears were shed. 

Finally, she decided it would do.  (Although I didn't want to spend $50 on a dress she didn't love, didn't feel confident in and I knew she wouldn't wear again).  But the mall was closing in 30 minutes.

So as we were in line paying for this dress, we ran into another girl from her school (and her mom).

She said they had just found their dress at another store in the little girls section.

(We had already been to that store, and totally forgot to check the little girls!)

So we paid for the dress, went to the other store, talked to the sales lady, and she gave us a few options.

They had 4 dresses that were possibilities.

Rylee hated 2 of them.

So she tried on the other 2, absolutely fell in love with one of them.

The look on her face when she came out of the fitting room was worth all the agony of the night.

She was smiling! Beaming! Glowing!

So we got the dress (and a headband!) and it was less than the first dress, which we promplty returned.

Whew!

So after a rough night of pressured shopping, here is what we ended up with....



Cross Country 2011

My girl just finished her 3rd Cross Country season. 

This was a very challenging season for her.

She broke her foot 4 months ago, but as soon as the cast came off she was running again.

So she dealt with a little pain and swelling.

She also had several other physical ailments going on this year.

Throw that in with all the growing and changing a 12 year old female body does......

Means she ran almost every race in pain of one kind or another.

But she did great.  She ran in every single meet and made the Sectionals team.

Here are some of my fave shots from this year.

I know most of them look alike, but I love how her facial expressions and body language

show exactly what she is feeling.

*warning:  pic overload!*

 Getting ready to pass!

This was her best meet of the season.  She came in 28th out of 200+ girls!

 Coming in for the finish!

I love this shot because on the right is Rylee coming in for the last 250 meters

and on the left is her coach running to meet up with her to run her in cheering her on!

Running through severe lung pain (my poor baby)

I love this picture.  She didn't have a great race, and the look of disappointment combined with the sunlight hitting her hair just melts my heart. 



Love the determination on her face!

2011 Sectionals Team!

Way to go Rylee!  Sweetie, you faced a lot of physical challenges this year, but you persevered.

You ran in 103 degree heat, pouring rain, and 35 degree temps.  You ran through lots of pain.  You ran early in the morning and late in the afternoons.  You ran when you didn't feel well and you ran when you were having great days.  But the point is, through it all.....you RAN.  You have the spirit of a great runner and are learning to handle the mental aspect of this sport with grace.  We couldn't be more proud of you!  We love you! 

First Day of School

It is so hard to believe that summer is over and it's time for school to start.

None of us are ready for it!

 Miss Rylee started 7th grade.....

WHEN did she start looking so grown up???

And this little munchkin bird started Kindergarten! 

He was so excited to go this morning!  He kept saying "Let's get this show on the road!"

I would have been fine to keep him home and snuggle with him.

It's so hard to let go.

He was totally fine with me leaving him.  Does he NOT know he's killing me???  Geesh. 

Have a great first day! 

(I will spare you the pic Tyson took of me sportin' the ugly cry after dropping Evan off!)

Party Time!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled WILW post to bring you a special edition of

"Birthday Bash 2011"

This year's party theme was "Minute to Win It"!  It was perfect for the crowd we had!

We had about 30 guests who each received a score card when we started. 

Each player chose a game (some games could accomodate 3-4 people).

Once everyone was stationed, we started the clock.  If they completed the task in 60 seconds, it got

circled on the score card.  Then everyone moved to another game. 

Junk in the Trunk--tie a tissue box full of ping pong balls around your waist.  Get all the balls out by shaking, wiggling, etc.

Egg Roll---Get an egg into the target by fanning it with a pizza box!

Candy Elevator--Tied 2 pencils together.  Contestants have to pull the strings and get 3 m&m's in their mouth!

Suck It Up--Use a straw to suck up M&M's and get them into a bowl!

Tilt-A-Cup--Stack 8 cups.  Bounce a ping pong ball and catch it in the cup.  Move bottom cup to top and continue process until all balls and cups are used!  (This was REALLY hard!)

Floatacious--Stack 5 empty soda cans in a plate floating in water!

A Bit Dicey--Stack 6 dice on a popsicle stick in your mouth!

Face the Cookie--get a cookie from forehead into mouth only using facial muscles!  (Hilarious to watch!)

Sticky Balls (we called it Sticky Marbles--Jr. High kids.  Ya know.)--Roll marbles from one end of the table and get it to stick to the double sided tape at the opposite end of the table.

Everyone worked up an appetite playing games so we had a yummy taco bar!

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Evan....

....and then to Rylee



All the kiddos got a plain cupcake and we set out different candy toppings.  They had one minute to decorated their cupcake however they wanted!

And of course.....presents!

Guests all went home with water bottle party favors with a goody bag attached. 

It was such an easy party to put together, and SOOO much fun!!!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYLEE!!!

  Dear Rylee,

I cannot believe it has been 12 years already!  It seems like yesterday you were born, making me a Momma for the very first time.

Seriously kid, you had me at "hello"! 

We have been through so much together; some bad, but mostly good.  You have this special way of lighting up a room. Small children are drawn to your fun-loving, tender nature.  Old people are dazzled by your grace and nice manners.  I know you are going to do wonderful things with your life. 

You sure have done wonderful things for MY life.

You are smart, funny, gentle, athletic, beautiful and so much fun to be around. You enjoy doing nice things for others and helping when needed.   As you enter your pre-teen years, you are becoming a lovely young lady.  You amaze me with your quick wit and knowledge of mythology.  You think you are awesome because now you can sit in the front seat in the car.  I love to watch you run Cross Country and play volleyball, fine tuning your skills and striving to be your best.

I feel so very blessed to be your Momma.  I love watching you learn new things about yourself as you embark on this journey of self-discovery. 

You are a great big sister.  Evan loves you to the ends of the Earth, and I know your new little sister will too!



Please know that I will always be here for you and I promise to continue to love you unconditionally.  I will continue to learn from you and cherish every day together. 

I love you to the moon and back baby girl!

Have a wonderful, incredible, delightful 12th birthday! 

I love YOU! 

Love, Mommy