First Day of School

I am a little late posting this for Esther, since she started school last week, but Charis and Zoe started today.

(BTW, I detest this new Blogger format)

Esther started school at Springs Ranch Elementary
on Aug. 4. She is in third grade, and her teacher
is Ms. Vincent, who goes to our church.

Esther at her desk in her classroom. The desks are arranged in groups.
Surprisingly, there is another Esther in her class!

Charis and Zoe started school at The Imagine
Classical Academy at Indigo Ranch on Aug. 12.
I didn't get a good picture of them in front of the
school because the sun was in their eyes.

Charis sits at her desk in Mrs. Stephens' first-grade class.
Two or three of her friends from last year are with her.
There are five first-grade classes.

Zoe stands in front of her AM Kindergarten class.
Her teacher is Mrs. Bartges.

Zoe sits at her desk. She seemed eager
to start her day and comfortable.

Family Reunion in Kansas, Day 1

The girls and I left for Kansas on July 20 and met up with my family in Dodge City, Kansas. This was the first meeting between Esther and Zoe and my nieces, Samantha (13), Sarah (11), and Rachel (9). The girls have hit it off famously! And my dad is surrounded by his girls (Mark and Rebecca's husband, Rick, couldn't come because of work commitments).

The girls with Grandma & Grandpa Green, Auntie Becca,
Samantha, Sarah and Rachel in Dodge City.

Zoe with Auntie Becca.

The girls in jail at Boot Hill at the Dodge City museum.

Esther with cousin Samantha.

Charis and cousin Rachel.

My dad's girls in front of the school house at Dodge City.

Shoot out

Mommy and her girls in the hotel pool in Dodge.

People Say the Darnedest Things

My friend Tisha, also an adoptive parent, recently wrote a fabulous post about our "lucky" adopted kids. I love how she's able to voice what I cannot (or will not).

Happy Birthday, America!

We went to New Mexico for the holiday weekend.



On Saturday, the girls baked and decorated cookies with Auntie Kim.



And Grandma taught Esther how to use the overlock machine to make us more fabric napkins.



After going in the pool and hot tub, I started on Esther's hair. I was only going to do twists, but saw Grandma had red, white and blue beads, including star-shaped ones, so I caved and beaded all of Esther's twists (and did a couple on Zoe). It took me three hours on Saturday night, and then four more on Sunday morning, to finish Esther's hair.


The girls wait for 4th of July festivities.











Making s'mores.


Time for sparklers


Grandma Eyberg helps Zoe and a neighbor with their sparklers.


Esther is impressed with her first sparkler.


Even Grandpa got in on the action.


So did Auntie Kim.

Watching neighborhood airborne fireworks.










The girls enjoy the few fireworks we bought (we mostly watched what neighbors were shooting).


More sparklers.



Happy 4th!

Tie-Dye Cake

Half-sheet of white velvet butter cake with vanilla. Vanilla buttercream.

Birthday at the Zoo

Thursday was Charis' birthday. We spent the morning at the house, and while I was on the phone trying to make some doctor's appointments, the girls were busy. While on the phone I heard them say, "Mom, the wood chips write on the ground!" I thought they were talking about the bark we have around the swing set. Nope.

They meant the charred wood from the firepit.






And it draws on more than just the ground ...



So then we got ready to go to the zoo. But first Charis had to model her new earrings.




And her new-to-her dress.




I love our zoo. I especially love the giraffe exhibit. So does Esther.

I don't think Esther is afraid of any animal. Oh wait, I take that back. Moths.

Did I mention that I LOVE the giraffe exhibit at our mountain zoo? And I love that they present the best poses just for me!

And the docents let the kids pet the wallaby joeys.

Charis and Zoe decided they wanted to feed the birds rather than the giraffes this time, so they each bought a stick with seed for the "Budgie Buddies."

Zoe gives her offering in the Budgie Buddies room in the Australia area of the zoo.

What a beaut!

Charis is excited she got a bird to eat the seed off her stick.

Then it was off to the carousel ...

The girls ...

think the carousel ...

is the best part of the day.

I personally love the "Rocky Mountain Wild" area.

And him ...

That doesn't look comfortable. But that's the first time I've seen the porcupine off his tree perch.

And them ...

The grizzlies put on quite a show.

One of the grizzlies smashed her face against the glass.

Just hangin' around.

Then it was off to the great apes area.

This male orangutan was giving kisses to certain girls. He really liked Esther.

Let's take a pretty picture of you three in the garden area.

Okay. Let's try it without the hats.


Uh, okay. Maybe not.

After the zoo we went to Red Robin for dinner (gotta love those birthday coupons!).

The ice cream cometh.

Ahhh. Free dessert. And they're sharing!