Just dance.

 Dancing makes us happy.

Nathan and the kids doing the cupid shuffle in the middle of the living room. You know, because it's Wednesday.

And my girls breaking it down in the meat section at the grocery.

Just incase it wasn't obvious ... the kids are LOVING dance.
Cale is doing really well in his class and always comes home to show us his moves.
He is so stinking cute (but don't tell him I was watching!). I'm really glad we found a great class for him.

Class or not, Brynn is dancing through life. She could be amazing some day if she chooses to stick with it. She has made incredible progress in technique already... pretty fun :)

Layla moved into specialty classes and shows up to work. She's really maturing this year. She actually had her first ballet audition last week- still waiting to hear results, but she had a blast.

 

 

What can I say? We're dance people.

 

 

^American Idol ^

 

Grand Ole Opry -->>  

And some pretty cool stuff coming up SOON ;)
LOVE LOVE LOVE my 'Stangs!

As for our tiny dancer:
SOMEONE is getting stronger and stronger
(someone else is getting paler and paler...)



A little support from my legs, but no hands!

 

 

Only one hand holding on :)

 

 

And this a.m., I put her to bed on her back. When I went back in later, she was sitting up! That's the first time she's gotten into a sitting position on her own :)

 

I have a feeling she will be dancing right beside us soon enough!

Hip, Hip...

HOORAY!

Anna Gray stood up (assisted) in PT yesterday!!
We have never been able to get her to put much weight on her legs at all.
This is the most upright I have ever seen her and she stayed that way a long time!!

She even danced a little with the music :)

Of course, all that standing wear's a girl out...

We are SUPER excited about where all this new strength/determination can lead us!!

AAhhh. So big, so fast.

Jasmine and Francesco.

That's what they're calling themselves these days.

As of today, they are officially Kindergarteners!!

 

Today was their first full day after being home with me for 5 1/2 years. I am going to be THAT mom.

 

 

 

Bittersweet tears, not knowing what to do with myself, counting the seconds until they're home... no, not that mom. The other mom- the one who shouts, "Hallelujah, I survived! I deserve a cookie and a nap."

Look y'all... I worked hard those 5 1/2 years to get these two to this day.

I love my kids. They are smart and funny and entertaining for sure, but just think about how much smarter and funnier and entertaining they will be now that they are in school seven hours a day?! I am beyond grateful to have had this time at home with them... I am.

It was time for a change. For all of us!

They are going to grow SO much this year and I'm going to be a better mom having some time to organized my thoughts life and get things done without the circus in tow.

The last few weeks have been killer.

Granted- our days were a mess with the school delay, we are selling our house, (Sweet Oz, someone buy our house. Please.), buying a new house, in school/out of school- it's a lot to handle for little ones (and big ones, to be honest).

But today starts a new chapter!

 

 

 

Brynn did great! She was just slightly bashful and only momentarily clingy, but SO excited.  Brynn's teacher went into early labor Monday and delivered a healthy baby boy. I hope Brynn is still able to get the "help" she needs from an interim. We were/are counting on working with a teacher to get Brynn the tools she needs to succeed and get her ADHD under control. I hope this doesn't effect that :/

Aside from that, I am so so excited for this little girl. She has waited very patiently to get her turn to go to school. She will finally have the opportunity to develop her own interests and her own friendships separate from her brother's and sister's interests and friendships.

Cale struggled a little bit during the testing day. Actually, he did great. But the second he walked out the door, all the anxiety he had been holding in exploded out of him. I left the school black-and-blue, but we got through it! He did much better on the half day, with only a slight tantrum on the two minute drive home. He told me this morning that he is excited to try kindergarten and play outside (HUGE deal, not only for him to feel it, but to recognize it and say it with words!).

 

Let's not forget our third grader!

 

 

She may (still) have her heart set on paleontology, but for now- she's pretty much rocking the big sister gig (and loving third grade).

 

 

 

 

I will say, it is nice to know she is there to keep an eye on Brynn and Cale. We haven't asked her to, but she has willingly volunteered ;)

 

This morning was chaos at our house. I expected the rush of three kids, three backpacks, three lunches, etc. I didn't really plan for Layla announcing she had extra work to finish, lunchboxes leaking all over the kitchen, Brynn trying to drill a whole in the window, Cale painting with toothpaste, Anna Gray dumping a bowl of oatmeal/flax seed on herself...
 We will get our new routine down soon enough, but now it includes Mama having time to clean it all up! (Except, I better do it fast before our next showing.)

I'm sure WFE's newest Wests will come home exhausted today and likely meltdown from overstimulation at some point, but I'm also sure that they will have grand stories to tell and grass-stained knees from playing with friends, and backpacks full of colorful creations! And I can't wait.

Until then, I am forced to spend all my time with this little munchkin!!

I'm digging this new chapter.

18 months and 6 months free.

"For a 'stay at home mom', you sure aren't home very much."

I'm aware.

6:00 am Breakfast. School. TEIS. Physical therapy. School. Bake. Shower. School. Bake. Work. Home. Storm. Bed. 11:30 pm.

That was our yesterday, which is why I haven't had a chance to post. Actually, that's been our every day lately! This time next week, the big kids will be in school full-time, so we should get a breather.

18 months!! She's 18 months!
CRAZY.

A couple of weeks ago, we woke up to a toddler.

Not an actual toddling toddler, but just so... big.  (Actually, she's rather tiny it turns out. Who knew?!)  Her mannerisms, behaviors, her strength- all changed over night it seems. She's rather impressed with herself!

We're pretty impressed too.
She started physical therapy and it's going great. I'm excited about the goals we have set for her and can't wait to see what she wants to do about it. Her extra chromosome came with a stubborn streak! She did knee-stand today for the first time :) She wasn't thrilled about it, but she did it!

There are likely AFO's in her future, but we'll burn that bridge when we get there. She's feeding herself table foods and holding her own bottle. She is fully transitioned to cow's milk. She has really quick hands and a strong grasp ;)

The girl knows what she wants, for sure! She is spoiled rotten and I don't anticipate that changing any time soon. She loves Signing Time, Mama, popping toys,  the "touch!" game, sweet potatoes, and jumping!

We think she's trying to sign "more" and we think she's trying SAY "more"! She makes the funniest face and concentrates really hard while saying, "mmmmmm" :)

Gaaahhhh. We love her so stinking much.

Anna Gray, you are one incredible little lady. You have already accomplished SO much in just six short months. I can't wait to see what you set your mind to for the next six. And for forever. Whatever it is, we will be right there to cheer you on!!

August already...

Man... we have had one heck of a summer.

It was everything summer is supposed to be. Just FUN. So many little moments that could have passed us by, that could have gone unrecognized. I've always tried to make a point not to take these days for granted, but this year (I'm guessing in large part due to our little love muffin and everything it took to get her here), every day... well, almost every day, seemed worthy.

My niece, Cheyenne, is about six weeks younger than Anna Gray. To see her walking around, saying words, communicating, playing toys, drinking from a cup....  She's a pretty fantastic little toddler. And look at our AG coming up right behind her! She got red-shirted for a year, but she's a little fighter and she's going to do all those things too! She works hard, we work hard, and she's doing it.

Last summer, I didn't know it was a big deal when someone learns to put a slice of avocado in their mouth by themselves.

It is.

Last summer I didn't know that, after months of work, grasping "cause and effect" was a skill worth celebrating.

It is.


You know what that means for this summer?
Layla read a whole book in three hours and perfected her cartwheel. That's worth celebrating.
Brynn can climb to the top of the tree and put on a talent show with nothing but a hosepipe and pair of plastic high heels. That's worth celebrating.
Cale made a friend at the beach and hit the ball in coach-pitch. That's worth celebrating.

So, we celebrate.

Big or small child, big or small task- we celebrate.


A couple of weeks ago, some family friends met Anna Gray for the first time. Most people have questions (that's okay!). We are often asked: So, when will she talk? Will she speak Russian? Do you have to do therapy? Will she walk? Can she understand? 

But this friend walked right up and the first words out of his mouth were: "What sport do you think she will compete in for the Special Olympics?"

Our Anna Gray...

(Learning to put weight on her legs AND push up.)

She's doing it. She's growing and changing and learning and thriving.
She gets the chance. She gets a life.


Know who else gets a life?
Maxwell, Charlie, and Rebecca.

They're getting a life too. Their Mama and Daddy (and big sister who came home earlier this year!) are there right now to start it!
They will also be the family benefitting from BabyCakes' July sales :) $100 was sent to them this morning to help them get HOME!!



August is shaping up to be a nice month too! Several orders in place already... those orders will be helping the Wiehl family bring home their daughter, Lulu.

I first "met" Kathy when we were both in process for Ukraine. During all the drama last fall, the Wiehl family made the choice to change programs... now they are quite close to bringing home the daughter God had picked for them all along!
Can you help? Can you force yourself to eat a cupcake or two or twelve to help this beautiful girl get HOME?!

Update:
Together, we were able to raise $1,000 to give to the Hogelands to get V home!!
I'll be taking pictures until my hands rot off, but she gets to come home!!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
I know for a fact that Kate and her family are forever grateful.

As long as your in the helping mood... please consider Deacon.

He's turning three this month!
I mean really,  what's a little hearing loss?
We happen to think he would make an ADORABLE West, but that's a Nathan-Amber plan from our own heads... not something God whispered in our ear. So, for now, we pray. We pray his Momma and Daddy find him. We pray his grant fills to the top! We pray this is the last birthday he spends in an orphanage.


Happy August, ya'll. It's gonna be a good one!

The Smokies and the Great Smokies

"Mama, are we going to the Smoky Mountains or the Great Smoky Mountains?"

We spent our last getaway of the summer (and our 9th wedding anniversary!) in an amazing chalet, all cozied up... with 11 other people ;)

Every other year, all four of my parents give ALL of us a trip as our Christmas gift. So this year, 17 of us headed to East Tennessee.

Cale and Uncle Casey in the game room.

Little girls watching Signing Time in the theater.

Hot tub time.

AG and Chy sharing some breakfast.

We spent the first day and a half at Dollywood :)

^^ THAT would be a funnel cake with hot fudge. Mmhmm.

Just FYI... when it's hot outside... hydrate your ass.
I went upside down and sideways on all the "big" rides with no problems... puked after the carousel in the kid area. And for about two hours thereafter, all because I was dehydrated. Brilliant.

For Day 3, we hit the strip for shopping and fun touristy stuff, INCLUDING caramel apples :) Woot.

That afternoon, just the six Wests drove into Pigeon Forge to meet some RR friends :)
Remember, this picture of Anna Gray (12 mos) and Cooper (age 5) on our last night in Ukraine?

Check them out now!

Note that they are sitting in the exact same position as one another :)

They're in love.
We'll tell them later.

We had some fun at The Track for a little while.

My little guy was in his happy place! He was racing! All by himself! (And pretty darn well.)

Oh! The frog! Ooohhh the frog.

Layla, Brynn, Sweet Frog, Danielle, and Cole. And Caden ;)

The Sweet Frog came to hand out coupons for their froyo (ugh, that word) store next door. Brynn LOVED the frog. As we were saying goodbye to our friends, the frog turned around to leave... and there was a ponytail hanging out between her head and her neck. Oops. Brynn clearly saw and started to say something, but we whisked her away to the parking lot. The parking lot where the frog was parked :/

Just as we walked up, she removed her head to get in the car.

"THAT FROG'S NOT REAL!!"

It's ALL we heard for the next hour. "Does that mean nobody is real or are just frogs not real?! What about Jasmine, is Jasmine real?! Does everybody wear costumes?!"  Oh, the trauma. SO hard to snicker without her noticing. 

Day 4 was relaxing and thrilling all at the same time. Most of the guys wanted to hang out in the chalet to catch the race. The rest of us headed out on a hike, three strollers in tow. We made it up to Laurel's Falls and even spotted a bear on the way! Pretty thrilling for us wildlife lovers.

It was stunning all the way up and down and the kiddos did great.
Pretty low-key afternoon/evening. It involved watermelon, Olympics, and 'Mama Mia' in the theater.

Day 5 (last day), we headed out into the West... of the East.
"Mining" for gems, fishing, picnics, petting zoo, and horseback riding! We all loved it for all kinds of reasons.

Oh... did I mention I was the only one to catch anything?
I would show you the picture for proof, but fish don't flatter me, apparently. Ick.
Still angry that big 'ole blue cat got away from me.

Layla and Cale rode by themselves and did an awesome job! I think Cale smiled the entire three miles.

While we were headed up the mountain, a tree fell and startled the horses. "Alaska" was so shaken, she turned around to head back down the mountain. Layla just turned her right back around like she'd been doing it her whole life.

We loaded up and headed home that night.  Of course, Nathan didn't let us get out without stopping at Apple Barn first!

I don't know about everyone else, but this vaca exhausted us!

Back to the real world for now. Wonder where our next adventure will take us?