All the pictures. In SUMMERRRRR.

May is December-crazy, so here are some things that I would have written about if I had the time:

Mother's Day.

Anna Gray's first makeover.

The girls' talent show.

Saved a baby bunny from our dog's mouth, Cale named it Jordan and we stared at it for a day.

Roman had a fantastic first birthday party.

Anna Gray found food coloring.

Layla was Rosa Parks.

Cale had a blast in his first season of flag football.

End of school year - lots here.


But now SUMMERRRRRRR.

Our goal for summer: BOND AND (re)ATTACH. All seven of us. You know that super dramatic part of the movie where somebody is about to fall really far from something and it will be really painful (Cliff? Burning building? Any impending doom will do...) but then there's this chain of people holding on by their fingertips refusing to let go? That was our last nine months. But we hung on and we tightened our grip and pulled and pulled until we all collapsed at the top- sweaty and out of breath but piled right on top of each other gratefully.

Now we finally have time to slow down and relish. In every connection, every positive interaction, every grin, every thing.

I put together a "Happy Summer" basket with dollar store items that we managed to make last for more than a day {Love when Roman asks, "Can we get out the Happy Summer basket? Can I use the Happy Summer bubbles? This is official fun, not just regular fun.}  We are also using the same "schedule" at last year to keep us entertained.  We've outlawed screens for summer except for long drives and long appointments, which don't take seasonal breaks. Picnic for six in the therapist's office, anyone? We did, and it was fun.

It's been "summer" for approximately one week, but I don't think we've missed a beat yet!

We had a water balloon fight/sprinkler day,

{Sprinklers are scary. Thank goodness for big brothers.}

{I love this picture of Layla Paige in all her eleven-ness with her half adult teeth, half missing teeth real deal smile.}

A (supermodel?) pool day,

A movie-marathon-rainy day {For real. We rented four redbox movies and did nothing else},

A bookstore and last-day-of-Cale's-Chemistry-class-day,

A picnic and two different parks day,

A catch-lightening-bugs-in-your-pajamas turned dance party (because it always does) day,

and a silly string fight/backyard day.

The funniest part was Anna Gray just standing in the middle of it all with her Why The Face face.

{You can barely see them, but here's a fun fact for any Enjoying the Small Things fans: AG is wearing Nella's shoes.}

{Not an action shot. She just stays like that. Which is why I don't have her abs. But she gave me mad props for trying.}

{Swinging is her favorite. And she refuses the toddler swing- waah.}

Gotta jet. It's Field Trip Friday and we have a scavenger hunt to tackle and a drive-in movie to see.
Bring on the next seven weeks of goodness!

Bitter and sweet, but mostly sweet! {Without actual sweets...}

Today we celebrate Roman Jude Zheng turning 8!

I have mentioned before that the 'J' in Jude, is for "my" Jason. Today marks four years since his death. Usually, this is a tough tough day for me. I won't say it's getting easier, but it's getting... less hard? It meant an awful lot to me when we found out that the day given as Roman's birth date (estimated) was also May 12. I have shed my tears and now I can focus on my boy.

The funny thing is- they are a lot alike. You know those Sour Patch Kid commercials? ROMAN.

He has a tendency to drive you mad, and then turn around and say the absolute sweetest thing you've ever heard. And he means it. He's just a little bit naughty and wild at all the 'wrong' times, but he loves to make other's laugh. He is thoughtful and beyond precious when you least expect it, but right when you need it. He's throws himself into things without even thinking and comes away with either a puffed up chest or a battle scar he lived to tell about. No regrets and the life of the party. He is the most stubborn, hard-headed child I have ever met, but he never gives up. He's not the biggest or the strongest or the fastest, but you could never convince him of that.

I adore this boy. For the longest time, reminders of Jason broke my heart. Now, I am reminded of him daily and I can only laugh...
Very funny, J.



Roman has waited through everyone else's birthdays for his day to arrive.  He has squealed with delight at the very mention of it. And since it is his first birthday home- we are gonna milk it for all it's worth!

He has grown so much in every way but up. Although, he is in a solid 5/6 now instead of 4T/5T! He has matured emotionally and developmentally.  His language is incredible. He is still a momma's boy and I don't think that will ever change. His best friend is Brynn and he's a great big brother to AG. He loves superheroes and power rangers, playing outside, and helping. His laugh is infectious and his dance moves are hilarious.

We took him to dinner last night, his choice (Chinese) because the girls' talent show is tonight. He was thrilled and our Chinese server was completely enamored with him. He offered to take a picture of all of us and right as he snapped, Roman snuggled in said, "It's my birthday... with my family.. I love it."

What he doesn't love is sweets. Birthdays are made for sweets!

In China, even the sweets aren't sweet. Not compared to our's. When he first came home, we couldn't get him to try anything that even looked sweet. He likes brown sugar in his oatmeal, powdered sugar on his pancakes, and plain vanilla ice cream every now and then, but that's about it.

They surprised him with a plate of "Chinese" donuts after dinner last night (which he says no one in China eats...). He wouldn't eat one. We went 'round and 'round about what kind of treat to bring to his class today. I made several suggestions, but he said just bring enough for his friends. FINALLY, he liked my watermelon idea.

So we took watermelon. And the class was thrilled.

His class... the first grade... the entire school adores him. One day I took him in at lunch time after a doctor's appointment, the entire cafeteria screamed his name when we came through the door!  He wanted to invite everyone to his very first birthday party this weekend. And so we did.

He chose a roller skate party after a fun day on spring break. Half the time, this kid can't stand on his own two feet... I thought for sure roller skating would be a disaster. Well, I'll be darned if he didn't take off like he'd been doing it his whole life. And it turns out, he had. Of ALL things, I never dreamed roller skating would have been something he did often in China!

So a skate party he gets. With plain vanilla ice cream and a family. And we ALL love it.

Happy birthday, RJZ. We love you so stinking much and are so happy to celebrate you!