August 12th was the last first day of middle school for Carson! Next year, it’ll be high school. I really just can’t believe it. Being the good sport that he is, he let me take his picture once again. Like he said, “I know….Christmas and the First Day of School…..” (He forgot to mention the Santa picture the kids have to take every year - sorry, Carson!)

I remember being nervous about leaving him at Mother’s Day Out at a tiny church in the small town we lived in at the time. He was 2 1/2, and there were only 6 kids in his little class, but I worried about him all day long! I remember his setting up Barney and all of Barney’s friends as well as every Disney character he could get his hands on. He would have them perform the videos of Barney that he absolutely loved to watch. He knew every line and even knew all of the lines and songs from the musical “Cats.” Eventually, his “people” knew their parts as well. He would literally spend hours having them perform.

Now, he’s half grown - truly! Instead of Barney, he’s into all classic rock, and instead of having his “people” perform, he’s on stage performing himself. What an amazing transformation - and so quickly! I’m so happy that he’s still my buddy, that he still cracks me up with the humor of his Uncle Douglas, that he’d rather hang out with his dad than anyone else, that he’s just an all-around awesome kid. May God continue to work in his life and create him to be the man He desires, and may God show his father and his absolutely clueless mother the best ways to parent this precious first child. And may my tears quit flowing down my cheeks!

He’s Taller Than His Momma - How Did That Happen?

Carson with His Best Buddy!

My favorite restaurant in the world (okay, might be a stretch, but I do love it!) is Cozymel’s in Little Rock. We had a Smith family dinner there while we were in town. Enjoy the pictures!

Kitty with Her Uncle Graham

My kids have him wrapped around their little fingers! He’s definitely into spoiling them pretty close to rotten!

Aunt Danea with Jia

This is the only time that Danea’s hair was presentable since the girls played beauty shop with her the entire visit. Aunt Danea had her hair brushed and had clips put into it for hours on end. She even let Jia give her a pedicure with bright red polish! Now, that’s an aunt!

Kitty with Her Aunt Marci

Kitty and Aunt Marci have one huge thing in common besides their green shirts. They both love to shop!! It was wonderful to see her while we were there and visit her just-moved-into apartment. She’s a beautiful, sweet girl - and she’s available!!!

Brittany, Jia, and cousin Taylor

Taylor tried speaking Chinese to Jia but didn’t get much of a response. He was so sweet, coming by to visit several times while we were there. Brittany, his girlfriend, is a precious girl as well. They were both great to our kids.

William, Douglas, and Luke, more cousins, joined us as well with their mom and dad, Douglas and Camille. We had a wonderful time with lots of laughter and great food!! Thanks, ya’ll for enduring Cozymel’s yet again!! Besides, the Smiths have to like it because it was Rowland’s and Graham’s dad’s favorite place, too! If it was good enough for Papa, it is definitely good enough for me!!!

This afternoon William and I went to see “Mummy - something about the Emperor’s Tomb.” It was basically the same story as the other one only different location. We enjoyed our Mommy/Son time regardless.

On the way home, we ran into Target to grab Carson a gray T-shirt for school and William some socks. We weren’t in the store but just a few minutes, but I got irritated when checking out because I had to wait FOREVER. There weren’t any Express lanes open. Little did I know at the time that God was protecting us!

As we walked out of the store, we noticed a few ladies standing outside with their children, looking at the storm clouds that had rolled in. Being from Arkansas and used to storms, I laughed in my head at their trepidation to walk to their cars and head home. As I began walking past them, I noticed a funnel cloud on the ground just to the southwest of us. I’ve heard tornado sirens go off a gazillion times, seen terrible thunderstorms, been near tornadoes that touched down my whole life. Arkansas is right there in Tornado Alley. I have NEVER actually seen a funnel cloud on the ground, though. It was an amazing site.

Rowland and the men in the neighborhood in Arkansas used to stand in the street and discuss the approaching tornado, and I always told him how ridiculous that was. He’d have the kids and me huddled in a tub or in the basement while he was standing out in the middle of the street! So what did I do with my child when I saw the tornado? I stood in the parking lot, watched it, and talked about it! Eventually, the Target employees told us to go back into the building and sent us into the employee area to sit in the hallway and wait out the storm.

Thankfully, we weren’t swept away. In fact, for some reason, we weren’t even nervous or afraid (See how good my new meds are?). We made it home safely, and the storm passed rather quickly (unlike in Arkansas when they can linger for entire days and nights). My friend sent me a picture so I thought I’d share. It’s taken from her house.

It’s a great picture, but the sky was actually pitch black, and the tornado looked like dark dust swirling around. Amazing!!

Just thought I’d share what it looks like to drive FOREVER and a day twice in a week. I will admit that it was much easier for our kids than it was for my brother and I growing up. My parents pulled out the back seats of their van, laid a mattress on the ground, and we took toys and games and played for 28 1/2 hours STRAIGHT driving Little Rock to San Diego. (Jennifer, my beloved sister, probably owes me something for the torture!)

My children had two DVD players, two Nintendo DS game systems, IPods, Leapsters, two laptops for movies or games, and two really fun parents who stopped about every two or two and one half hours (sometimes even more often!) because WE had to go to the bathroom. Of course, each stop was greeted with more food, more sodas, and even more stuff to do in the car. The boys laughed at Mr. Bean videos for hours. (Thanks, Amy and Grant!) The girls colored pictures, wrote in their journals, watched DVDs, played their handheld games, and played with their Barbies and stuffed animals. And everyone slept A LOT!!!

First Moments of the Trip - Excitement Still Alive!!

Rowland on a Mission

And the Day Dragged On

A New Day

Carson Freshly Showered and Thrilled About the Ride

William Showered and Ready to Go Again

Rowland on a Different Kind of Mission

Ahhh….the Sweet Smells of Kansas

The Final Leg - Hope Resumes!!

On the way home from Arkansas, we made a long-awaited stop in Oklahoma. Finally, after being apart for almost four years, our Guigang girls were reunited. What a wonderful reunion - short but SO, SO SWEET!!!

Kayden and Jia, our beautiful Guigang girls!!!

We met for dinner at Chili’s. Have you ever asked for a table for fourteen - when 10 of them were kids? It was the first time we’d met each other’s other children since only Carson traveled when we went to China to bring our baby girls home.

Kuyler, William, and Carson (the boys minus Kolton who took off after dinner)

Jia, Kitty, Kayden, and Kenzie

Connie with Her “Twins” Kaeleb and Kambry (only one month apart)

Notice all of the Oklahoma kids have names that start with a K and have six letters! Not only can Connie and Clayton parent (and very well!) six children, they can even be creative while doing so!

All of the Kids (minus Kolton)

Rowland Fell in Love with Kaeleb!

Carson and Jia Hanging in the Hot Tub

Trouble One and Trouble Two

Kaeleb even went into the pool headfirst. Clayton jumped in - cowboy boots and all!!

Clayton and Kaeleb - Strong Men

I guess I really can’t describe the emotions of the visit. The pictures don’t do justice for the appearance of the heart. I remember Kayden as Connie’s little “monkey” riding in her sling all over China. Jia was a scared little girl, almost two years old, who hated me, clung to Rowland, and screamed for her “mama,” her foster mom. I remember being on the airplane on the way home while everyone except Jia and I slept. As I walked her up and down the aisle of that plane, I sang, “Jesus Loves Jia” over and over and over again. Finally, she allowed me to comfort her.

I remember so many of our friends and family greeting us at the airport late at night (if anyone has pictures, I’d LOVE them!!), giving Jia hugs and an American flag. She asked me the other day what her first word was, and while I don’t know her first Chinese word, I do know that she woke up in her home that first morning saying, “hon-gry” again and again. I didn’t have the awesome privilege of carrying that princess in my tummy, but I’ve definitely felt her kick in the middle of the night! I didn’t get to hear her first cries, but I am the one she runs to with her tears now. I didn’t see her first steps, but I watch her dance around the house, jump into my arms, kiss me, and tell me how much she loves me, her Mom-mom.

Wo ai ni, Xiao Shen!!! I love you, my Jia!!

Stupid title, I know! All I could think of was that my momma used to always sing, “Home again, home again, jiggity jig. Home again, home again, jiggity jog.” I don’t know where it came from, but it stuck in my mind!

We’re home from our trip back to Arkansas for my Grandmother’s 90th birthday. We had a gynormous party at her church, then a fancy sit-down meal at her house for the family. Picture fine china, 13 children in a room at a table by themselves, and 19 adults who were nervous wrecks! Fortunately, the only thing broken was a chair that was probably 120 years old, and it just collapsed underneath one of the older cousins. If it hadn’t been so tragic, I would’ve laughed my tail end off!

My Handsome Man

Poor Carson in a Collared Shirt - (I actually had to buy him one!)
I’m only taller than him because I have on four inch heels!

My Grandmother Trying to Have a Conversation with William

Four Generations of Kittys (I’m the one standing like I’m ready to kick some boodie!)

Just a Few of the Kids’ Cousins

Princess Jia with a Pink Rosebud from One of the Cakes

Grandmother at the Family Party with ANOTHER CAKE!

My sweet princess learned to ride her bike yesterday! Actually, she’s had the bike for a year now, but her daddy and I have been too lazy to really get her going on it. He’s pushed her around a few times, and yesterday, he held on for just a minute before she was off on her own. Good job, Sissy!!

(Laura, if you read this, notice the helmet!)

Shopping today was successful!!! Fishing today was successful!!! The margaritas tonight are successful!!! The men cooking dinner for us is successful!!!!!

Oh, yeah!! And the toilet is flushing successfully!!!!

Does life get any better than this?????

No time to post this morning! Sorry! Headed to the outlet mall in Silverthorne with my precious friend Kyla!!! Priorities! Priorities!!!

(In case you were curious, Rowland has caught one fish, and Shawn is a failure! Now, they’re working on plumbing issues with the toilet! Glad I’m not a man!)

Our kids talk about “the girl Daddy would’ve married if he hadn’t married you” every once in a while. This beautiful, talented woman doesn’t even know that she’s the one who barely got away! Until this past weekend, I’d never actually met her in person. Well, I guess I didn’t officially meet her, but I did get to witness her up close and personal and at her finest. She and I are the same age, and her oldest daughter is the same age as my oldest son. She has three children while I have four, and we have similar hair colors, are both short, and can both be pretty full of life. I’d like to say that we are both INCREDIBLY talented, but unfortunately, that would be quite a stretch!!

The beautiful woman I’m talking about is Martina McBride, and she sang “our song” when we were dating and still sings “our song” each time Rowland calls my cell phone. “My Baby Loves Me” is the name of the song, and it describes how he loves me “just the way that I am.” “He thinks I’m pretty. He thinks I’m smart. He likes my nerve, and he loves my heart. He’s always saying he’s my biggest fan. My baby loves me just the way that I am! My baby loves me just the way that I am.”

Martina on the Big Screen (stage pics didn’t turn out very well)

In March, I bought tickets to Martina’s concert and was able to keep the secret from Rowland until we were walking into the outdoor amphitheater. Honestly, I think he was as excited as I was to be there. I don’t care how old (oops - young) that girl is, she can sing it even in Denver, something tough for every artist we’ve seen here. She’s been called the Celine Dion of country music, and while I’m not a Celine Dion fan, I’d have to agree. The crowd was nuts for her, standing ovation after standing ovation. The songs I especially paid to hear were “My Baby Loves Me,” “Independence Day,” and Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” and I couldn’t have been more impressed!!!

The coolest part of the whole concert was standing next to my sexy man, singing out just like Martina (in my own mind anyway! HA!!), and knowing that in spite of myself, after all these years and four kids later, “My baby love me JUST THE WAY THAT I AM,” and his baby loves him just the way that he is (which is probably a LOT easier)! Glad he didn’t marry the girl he would’ve married if he hadn’t married me!

Our Own IPhone Photo