Update and Pictures

The rest of the week wasn't much better, but progress has been made.  I had a great chat with my mom, who nailed me on not having a quiet time before the kids got up every morning.  So the next day I started.  I missed Wednesday because we were out the door by 6:30am to be at a specialists office by 8:30am.  But other than that I've been faithful.  Even if I can't do an entire study I'm committed to reading 2 chapters of Acts.  And then I pray.  I pray for patience, love for and enjoyment of my children, and my attitude to be a good example to the kids.

Yesterday was really, really rough (I woke up really fatigued and had a hard time trying to stay awake all day) but today has been fantastic!  I'm so much calmer and have really enjoyed the kids today.

We've been trying a new campus to our church the past few weeks (our church has 6 locations in the Metro Detroit area...one in Detroit will open soon, and an internet campus is in the works...it's HUGE!).  This campus is much smaller and more intimate.  I asked Eli which church he prefers, the really big one or the new one.  He said the new one.  I asked him why.  "Because it's SUPER fun!"  Needless to say we're planning on going back :)

I don't want you to think the past few weeks have been nothing but drama.  Here are a few pics to show how we've been spending the summer:

She did her own hair...We had a great laugh about this!

Aw...how cute!

Being creative.  She laid down under the blue mesh sandbox cover.  Then she made a dress out of it.  

At the zoo!  The dinosaur exhibit is back :)

The tiger...GRRRROOOWWWLLLL!

Grapes!  Mmmmm.  Before this, Eli would only eat red seedless grapes.

It was a cooler day so the animals were out in full force.  When we first got home with Eli, I brought him to the zoo all the time.  He was terrified of the indoor polar bear exhibit (all indoor exhibits!).  We walked through with Amelia and Eli said "Momma, do you remember when I was little and I was afraid of this?  I'm not afraid anymore."  Very matter of factly.  I was blown away!  And I was really proud of him for conquering his fear and not being afraid at all :)

McD's play area!

They are so goofy when they get along :)

CHEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!

The Woodward Dream Cruise was this weekend.  If you like cars, this is the weekend to visit Detroit.  People from all over the world bring their vintage (and creative) cars and cruise Woodward.  Traffic goes about 5mph during the cruise...two lanes are dedicated to the cruisers and two lanes are dedicated for "through" traffic, although all traffic is slow.  

Dave drove his first year VW rabbit.  And Amelia and I followed.  Amelia, well...

She practiced her beauty queen wave!  It was so cute.

Sweet...

We've been spending a lot of time outside.

Just a guess, but I don't think a knee hockey net was intended for this purpose!

Amelia out...

Then Eli...

A new kind of "tubing"!

Ain't It Great to be CRAZY?!?!

The kids.  Are driving. Me CRAZY!  The past two weeks have been nothing but bickering and fighting.  "Share" "Find a way to get along"  "Use kind words" and "Go to your rooms" have been the sayings of the last few weeks.  Right now the kids are in their rooms just chillin' because I was tired of being mediator.  I try to let them work things out as much as I can, but they just can't seem to figure it out without grabbing toys or destroying things the other has made (think lincoln logs flying across the room) or throwing sand at each other, or screaming at each other.  Sigh.  School starts in less than 3 weeks.

The silver lining is that they're going to really love one another one day...

We started the doctors appointments today, complete with bloodwork and a request for poop samples...Joy!  But Amelia looks like she's pretty healthy.  We're investigating the red food allergy.  The doctor thought it was a little strange...we'll see what the bloodwork comes up with and go from there!  Another appointment tomorrow, and one more next week so far.  I'll keep you posted :)

We come together 'cause opposites attract

I'm sure you're all DYING to know what we've been doing for the past week, right?

Here are a few pictures of our fun:

I run a tight ship around here!  This was actually from the first week home.  They both love to help, but there are times they're more in the way than help.  And then they fight over who gets to help (a great problem to have, I know!) 

We've gotten flowers multiple times from both kids (mostly Amelia, though).

I have a feeling we're going to come home one day to find a dolled up cat!  She LOVES the cat and is constantly picking him up.  That's not a good thing since the cat doesn't like it and he's pretty old.  But he doesn't run away so I figure he deserves it!

The first of many tea parties!

School starts Sept 6th...all day kindergarten for Amelia and half day kindergarten for Eli.  I'm enrolling her on Friday.  She started her tutoring yesterday and did really great!  And she's really starting to mimic our talking.  I think if I worked with her more she would be further along in her talking.  She seems to really want to speak English and she works really hard to understand what we say.

The kids are really starting to play well together.  Just this morning they were playing together nicely calling each other on their phones (instead of standing right at my side).  They were also giving each other lots of hugs :)

They're opposites in pretty much every way.  From looks (pale skin, thin frame, blond hair....olive skin, solid frame, black hair), to issues (his were more physical, hers are internal like food allergies), to accomplishments (he has almost always put his shoes/clothes on the right way...she hardly ever puts her shoes on the right way, but she can do a lot of physical things he still has a hard time with!).  She's more physically active and go. go. go.  He's "I need alone time to play quietly in my room".  She loves pasta and mac and cheese...he hates it.  He likes carrots and broccoli, she hates it.  She's shy, he's outgoing.  I could go on and on!

We've had a lot of fun, though.  Just last week someone told me I looked REALLY tan...did we go on vacation   Nope.  We're outside almost all the time...both my kids are outdoorsy.  That's at least ONE thing they have in common!