Zoe and Nathaniel gets a little sister

I know, I know I have been saying we were in process to adopt a little boy from China and we had about 5 more months.  But our plans changed. So, Sonja and I get a phone call from our adoption agency that a beautiful little girl 2 & 1/2 years old from Korea named Kaylen Jenna.  She had been given up by her birth mother and adopted by a family in Houston.  The new Korean American adoptive mother was unable to bond with Kaylen and also found out she was pregnant.  With a very difficult pregnancy they felt like they needed to again put Kaylen up for what they call a disruptive adoption. We got the phone call and we felt it made sense to add Kaylen to the family. She is a beautiful little girl with big eyes and a beautiful smile.  She is incredibly perceptive and appears to be off the charts smart. She likes to push buttons, open up doors and explore.  When we brought her home we were worried about our two dogs Bear and Abbie but that was a non-issue. So, where was Zoe?   We were encouraged not to bring Zoe so we could begin the adoption process and start the bonding process. Looking back it was good advice. So she stayed at her Grand Parents and got to spend quality time with her cousins Hallie, Madison and Peyton who all dote over Zoe.  When Zoe got home she rushed in to give Kaylen a gift that her grandparents gave both of them. They hit it off immediately laying together, taking a bath together and sleeping together.  Nathaniel also seemed to be excited about meeting Kaylen.  We have learned quickly that the best way to get Kaylen upset is to take anything from her that she is not yet ready to give up.  Oh my...here come the tears. Like Zoe they both like fashion and  like to pose for the camera.  Kaylen is a sweet little girl and will look up to her big sister Zoe. We are all excited she is here!

 

Pictures of  Kaylen...we are encouraged to change Kaylen's name so right now we are thinking Grace Harper or Skyler Grace or Harper Grace.  We just have not found that right blend.  We will know shortly and will share in her own blog.  That's all for now.

 

 

Summer fun having a blast and now it's fall and there is a chill in the air



So Zoe had a fun and busy summer and now she finds herself in second grade.  Zoe really like her new teacher Mrs.  Kowalski.  Reading has clicked so we often find Zoe at a table or chair reading a book about princesses.  This past week she checked out a book of jokes.  She tried a few of them on us and she had all kinds of fun telling us the punch line.  Zoe is still very active. This summer she played Coach pitch baseball and actually hit the ball several times.  She is also in gymnastics and has graduates to a intermediate class.  Also she was selected and is participating on a competition cheerleading team for Elite Cheer and has her first competition next weekend.  Should be interesting and we do not know what to expect. This summer she hung out with her mom a lot and had several of her friends come over to swim and act crazy. I am anxious to see how she reacts to a new sister/brother which we should know something final in the next few weeks.  

 

Zoe is playing soccer now and has actually scored a few goals.  She still likes to watch more than play and like to hop around.  She is getting better at kicking the ball but still is not dribbling it.  Her coach must yell her name at least 20 times a game and you can hear him from 100's of yards away.  So by now everyone in the soccer complex knows the name ZOE. As she would like it.

 

 

 Zoe's brother Nathaniel has already been busy his senior year.  He is playing varsity football and fall baseball.  He is getting a lot of mail form all the universities in the mid west and has narrowed his school choices to Rockhurst, Benedictine, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan and maybe Northwest Missouri State.  He has worked out for the coaches at Benedictine  and Nebraska Wesleyan has expressed interest as well.  So he has taken a few college trips and will take more soon. Homecoming is around the corner and has a date.  Phewww, now his mom can relax as she was getting impatient. 

Late summer we bought a cabin next to Table Rock lake in Branson West and excited about getting down there as much as possible to boat and have fun.  First steps fist we are trying to furnish it to make is more comfortable. Nathaniel is excited and has already invited a friend the last time we went down. We are only 20 minutes from Branson and Sonja is enjoying the chance to decorate. It comes with a boat slip and we will have to decide whether we buy a boat, pontoon or some jet skis.

 So all is good right now, there is a chill in the air and getting ready for Halloween.