Guess Where We are Going?

We are officially taking our first full WEEK family vacation!

 We might want a few cute outfits?

(These were sent from my Aunt .. she got all the kids matching outfits including Sunshine)

  We might want goggles? 

We might want some boogie boards?

Wherever we go I know we are going to have a splashing good time!! 

So, any guesses? 

Karate Kid

Click here for details 

Yes, we have our own Karate Kid, Parker is now a yellow belt. They did their belt testing during the week. I was nervous and I wasn't sure he could do all his skills to pass but boy he proved me wrong, he knew everything and did such a great job. Karate has really built his self confidence up and instills really good values. This past month was about showing self control and teaching what that may look like.  They always have to say " yes Sir" and stay focused.  They had a fun belt ceremony Friday night showing the parents what they have learned in their class. Of course pizza after to celebrate the big achievement. 

Introductions 

Watching the other classes perform 

White belt's turn to show off their skills. 

Let me just tell ya .. Parker can do some awesome push ups thanks to daddy practicing with him. 

 Scott had some fun with photo shop that I thought I would share.. too funny. 

Yes we are very proud of our very own Karate Kid! 

Stay tuned for Karate Kid #2 (Parker's orange belt) in the fall 

Someone is Serious about .....

their dancing. Jonas has found his dancing feet as he's got his cute jumping moves when he hears any kind of music. He is very quiet (one of the only times:)) and concentrates so hard on each step.. he just added the clap this week. Enjoy! I'm sure he will be teaching me a thing or two about some rhythm and boy do I need help in the dancing department .. just ask my college friends:)  

Chapman Family

Girls Day Out

Last weekend one of my best friends came down to visit me, really she came to get me motivated for Sunshine's arrival. I have done nothing .. I mean not even hung up one piece of clothing. I just keep putting it off and think I'll get around to it but with 3 other little ones it's easy to get distracted. She was amazing! She dropped everything at home and took time away from her family to just help me.. crazy! I'm blessed to have such an amazing friend, it meant so much! So fun just to have quality girl time, I think we talked from the minute she got here until the minute she left. We dissected every part of our lives as being a mom and wife. Oh it felt so good to share our hearts with one another. I just love me some quality girl time and let me tell ya ... so does Brooke. On Saturday morning, we had our list ready to go out and conquer, Brooke begged to join us for the day. I told her she could but it might not be fun... she didn't care, she just wanted to join our girls day out. She was so giddy and excited to hang with us. It really was just too cute! She acted so grown up and wanted to help any chance she could.  She even offered to carry my purse for me.. isn't she the sweetest.  It was a great day and we got tons done... our mission was accomplished.

These were are a few pictures we took before heading out

 I now have a crib, clothes hanging in my closet, all her bedding picked out, a way to organize the room, a solution for the mural on the wall, and a couple of new cute outfits for Sunshine. I think it's finally hitting me I'm having a baby in 6 weeks:) Kelly girl it means so much for all your hard work and love you poured over me .. I am so very blessed to have you in my life! Your support has been awesome thanks more than my words can express. 

Click here for details 

Super Moms

Yes, I would like to call us all super moms.  Wouldn't you? Knowing how many kids we have?

These are the kids of my Ethiopian women's group...I have the least amount, being 3 and one in the belly!
We have been meeting for a while to talk adoption... it's fun to have such a wonderful supportive group. We have been walking a journey with each other these last few months while they have brought their children home.  We have just one more little girl from Ethiopia that will be here soon, by the end of the month. There are 8 Ethiopian children, and the total between our five families is 30 children... yep you read that right 30 little lives we watch over and care for! Two little ones are in the belly and 3 were in school.  You can understand why it's so nice to have a girls night to talk about kids:) Pretty amazing to have a group with such a love for children and not putting a cap on when their families should stop growing...just trusting on the Lord. 

Who knows how big this group will get but I do think it's not finish growing..( I know huge gasp) 

Mother's Day Breakfast

Last week the twins had a mother's day breakfast at a park near their school. Yes I matched my kids, corney maybe to you but they like it and that's all that matters:) I need to enjoy the years they actually love being like their mama as I know when they are older .. I'm not going to be cool. At the breakfast we had to guess who the mom was after reading a list of questions and it was much easier this year than last but still pretty funny.
                           Brooke said...                                                                       Parker said ...
My mommy has:  brownish- yellow hair                                                       brown hair                                                      
My mommy has:  green eyes                                                                        blue/ green eyes like me
My mommy is:    20 years old                                                                      20 years old
Favorite food:  Shepherd's pie                                                                      Spaghetti
When I'm at school mommy: works in her office                                          stays with Jonas and Mimi comes
My mommy likes: watching TV                                                                   playing with us
My favorite meal:  Shepard's pie                                                                 Mac and cheese
I like it when mommy takes me to: ballet                                                      Monkey Joe's( bounce house)
I love to play:  Wii with mommy                                                                  Wii with mommy

Last year I was only 8 years old so I have really aged:) Watching TV is funny as when do I ever watch TV? I'm sure, work in my office .. means blogging:) It's fun to see yourself  from your kids perspective. I guess I should play more with them on the Wii as they both love it maybe because they always beat me at it:)

WATER! WATER!

Jonas has started swim lessons. We live at the neighborhood pool in the summer... with the heat this week almost reaching 90 degrees we take full advantage of the pool any chance we get. A few weeks ago, Jonas just jumped and fell into the pool many times. He has NO fear and just LOVES being in the water, so I knew it was time to start swim lessons. The 1st day he was all smiles and couldn't get enough, the next day he struggled leaving me but by the end of the week he was so happy again. These videos are only his second week and he's still so happy.. I wish you could see the smiles better on his face in the video.  This is rare as all the toddlers that do it before and after him scream cry the whole time. What a blessing that he loves it so much.. it really makes it so much easier for me. He usually chants Water! Water! all the way down the road right before the pool... I had to instigate him this day to do it. 

His first activity of many and he sure is mastering it quickly. We are just so proud of him but not as proud as he is of himself doing it! 

Great Idea!

Our friend Heather's heart has been stirred to make a difference and to focus on what really matters to God. She has read a few inspiring books, ones that open your eyes to surrendering your life for Jesus by helping those in need. Here's a short version of her story...

One day she entered into a cute boutique where she saw a purse she so desperately wanted. The purse's price tag was very high, so she controlled her strong desire to buy it and walked away. She still occasionally thought about returning to the store to buy it but instead God used that desire to help her come up with this GREAT fundraiser to raise money for the children of Ethiopia. She has named it One Purse- it's a purse swap party, where you bring your gently used purses and a donation of $10. For every 10 dollars donated you are given a clothes pin to put on the purse you desire. If multiple people like the same purse then there will be a drawing of the names and the one picked will receive the purse. I don't know about you but I know I always have an extra purse that I can do without. All the money raised is going to serve the children at the care point in Ethiopia called Trees of Glory. This last Saturday was a great turn out and Praise God she raised $500. Isn't that Awesome!? What a success, Heather is going to continue by having others host a One Purse Party, the money raised will continue to be given to the freshwater well project at Trees of Glory. For more information on the project please click here. I know she would love our support... if you are local and would like to donate your gently used purses or host a party please let me know and I can get them to her or contact her yourself by email  heathercase@cfl.rr.com 
She is working on launching a blog for One Purse, once it's up and going I will let you know. It's just so exciting to see what God can do with someone's once desire to buy a purse and turn it into his Glory of helping his children in need.  It's such a blessing to be around friends that inspire me. I think I was on a God high all day knowing he's opening the eyes of friends all around me. 

This is the verse she put on each purse 

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail.. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12: 33-34 

Girls VS Boys

It's funny at our house it's sometimes a split household where it's boys vs girls. 

The boys think they have us out numbered but in less than two months our precious little girl will be here to even out the playing field.  

The Girls 

 Vs 

The Boys 

Cuteness and Update

We were at another festival this weekend...one at the twins school,

 Scott captured these pictures full of cuteness. 

I just can't tell you enough, how fun this little guy is!

 Don't you see the joy that he overflows with.. it sure is contagious! 

As for an UPDATE for Trees of Glory 

So far, the "wrap them in love" (Read about it here)

campaign has raised

$418!

That means every child at TOG will be receiving a new blanket of their very own to cuddle up with! 

Thanks to all of you who've donated to this project!

 There are  still have a few other things that Jessica would like to do while she's in Ethiopia visiting Trees of Glory in just a few weeks. One of these is to buy a bookshelf to start the TOG children's library. The cost for a new wooden bookshelf in Ethiopia is about $120, so if we end up raising anymore funds,  they will apply it to that first.

If anyone would still like to donate to Trees of Glory, please use the donate button on the top right hand side of Jessica's blog. You can specify where you'd like your donation to be applied. Either type in WATER --for the well project, read about that more here or LIBRARY (for the bookshelf) in the message section.

I can't wait to see some updated pictures of our sponsored child Tigist while Jessica is over there, these are a few from Jessica's last trip. I do hope someday I will meet this precious child of Gods, she just so beautiful inside and out:) 

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrew 6:10