Open Adoption Rocks!

At least WE think it does. I can only speak for our family and some of the other adoptive parents I know personally, but open adoption really does work for our family. I love that these siblings know each other and will have the opportunity to form lifelong relationships. It is our responsibility as the adults to make sure they have the visits so that they can have a foundation to build upon. What they choose to do when they are older will be entirely up to them. For now, they're just kids who want to have fun!





M (R's stepdaughter), S, Silas, T, and Stephen

  

S being sassy and posing for me

Love this one....we told S to give Silas a kiss. I missed the actual kiss, but caught the before.
Silas wasn't too sure about what she was going to do!

R and her first born!

Beach!!




The last week of June the boys and I were treated to a beach trip to Ocean Lakes Campground with Grandma and Granddaddy while Scott went to Youth Camp with the Middle School Youth from our chuch. We had a GRAND time swimming, playing in the pool, going to the arcade, riding bikes, and touring the campground on the golf cart. We ate at all of our favorite places: K & W cafeteria (Stephen lives for the Jello), Texas Roadhouse (Silas lives for the Ribs!) and Prosser's BBQ (we all live for the delicious buffet!). Silas must have rode a hundred miles on his bike. I was a little iffy about Stephen riding his with all of the golf cart traffic, but he did fine--I just had to keep yelling "Right side of the road Stephen, RIGHT SIDE!"

 

Silas helping Granddaddy unload the golf cart. It causes quite a stir, it one of the VERY few 3 wheel carts you'll see
 (circa 1976ish)!

Stephen chilling out on Grandma's bed!

Me riding on the golf cart with the boys riding their bikes down to the beach

Loving the surf and sand!

Teamwork! Gotta have TEAMWORK! (Rare, I must admit)

Our little home away from home!

As a bonus, the boys rode down in the van with G & G, so I was alone in the car for 3 hours....a sacrifice for sure, but I jammed to my WOW CD and K-LOVE radio! It was wonderful! I also read two WHOLE books while I was there: "Heaven is for Real", and "How to have a Heart for Your Kids".  Loved it!

Butterflies!

 Our dear friends Beth and Erick (and their 4 boys) got Silas this Butterfly Garden for his birthday. It came with the caterpillars and a bowl of food. We got to watch them build their cocoons, then they hatched into beautiful butterflies! We were able to release them before we left for vacation. It was amazing that one stayed on Silas' hand long enough for me to take some pictures! I love this picture of Silas, the blue shirt really brings out the blue in his eyes. My mom would have loved this picture, I would bet that it would have been on her Fridge with all of the other ones of her favorite people---her grandkids!

Splash Pad Fun



Stephen LOVES his daddy!



He is such a good sport about smiling for mommy's MANY requests for "CHEESE"



Wait for it, wait for it......

SPLASH!!!

There is a park in Kannapolis (about 30 minutes from us) that has this splash pad with a concession stand, a train to ride, and a huge playground. The boys love it! After we get dry, we go see a movie at the Gem Theatre. It only has one movie at a time, but it is a first run one, and it only costs $3 for kids and $4 for adults. The popcorn and drinks are very reasonable, we get out of there for under $20, which is just about impossible everywhere else. It's worth the drive!

Silas' 9th Birthday

We had Silas' birthday party at the Mint Hill Park two days before his June 13th birthday. He had lots of friends there and a good time was had by all. We had a pinata as he requested, I'm not sure the moms there liked it! Who could blame them, wild boys swinging a metal golf club (best thing we could come up with) at a swinging paper basketball!

 

We also celebrated his birthday at Grandma and Granddaddy's with all of the other May and June birthdays. Silas got to blow out the candles as the youngest birthday celebrated.

The grandkids (Silas and Stephen) and the great-grandkids (Taylor, Kaitlyn and Josh) doing their favorite thing, riding on Granddaddy's golf cart.

Last Day of School for Silas

Stephen cheesin' it while the class awards are handed out!

Miss Daniels, his very young and energetic teacher! Not sure if Homeschool Mom can compete....