He's Still Waiting!!!

Hey everyone, don't forget about Lin Lin! This gorgeous, independent 3 year old is still waiting for his family. Please let me know if you would like any more information about him - he is a sweetie!

Enjoying the moment after her first ballet class!



Out of focus, but so cute.




She spent most of the class like this, but talked about nothing else when we got home.




Lounging while her big sister pays attention!


Updates...

June is headed off to the ENT, along w/ Quinn today, to check her ears regarding her visit to the audiologist a few weeks ago. We'll see what her ears look like and if we need to pursue tubes or anything else on that front.

Preschool is going well, with June enjoying reading time, and especially, snack time! That girl still loves to eat!!! She is always on the lookout for another snack...or a better snack. Look out if you are holding something that looks better than what she already has. She is still napping on the days that she doesn't go to school, so we are sticking w/ 3 days a week until she decides to give up the naps on her own : )

She has had lots of fun going to Delaney's softball games, and then goes into great detail about how she would like to play, how she will hit the ball, and that she will need a little ball. I see tee ball in our future. For somoeone who must have had to share things in the past, she continues to have no interest in sharing, and has very little patience in general...sigh...

Yesterday, she met some of our LPA friends, Aly and Mackenzie and their families. She was particularly delighted w/ the light-up princess shoes that Mackenzie gave her. Of course, they were the perfect accessory to her pink skull t-shirt and black leggings that she wore to Target today. Fashion ranks high on her list of important things in life. I am thinking that costume shopping should be a blast.

Overdue updates : )

Enjoying the spoils of her Toys r Us shopping spree - got the last Lalaloopsy in the place!

Working on her computer skills with Quinn.

It was crazy hat day at school! Someone knows how to pose : )

Updates

As the photos show, June is really doing well...her favorite things are swinging outside, reading books, doing puzzles, and driving her sisters crazy ; ) She loves to be around her jie jie's all the time - even at night. D and R have still been taking turns sleeping in her room, which helps her get to sleep w/ no tears. She tends to wake up around 4:30, conincidentally the same time as her father, but then gets back to sleep til about 6 or 6:30. School continues to be a big hit, and she loves to talk all about her day, and sing her preschool songs. She is getting attached to other family members now, too - enjoying her aunts, grandparents, etc.

One thing Miss June does NOT enjoy is being told "no". When it is not her turn to choose a tv show, or to sit in a certain place, she gets extremely annoyed. The world's saddest face is produced, complete with pouting face and the big, fat tears I have come to know. Today, she decided to pour a cup of water out onto the table and play with it...When I took her down from the table and quietly told her that it was not okay to do that and that someone could slip in the water, it was about the saddest momet ever. The tears, the sobs...she was really upset. If you haven't met Junie yet, you haven't heard her super-cute, raspy voice - LOVE IT! It adds a little extra drama to the cry, too. Some cuddling and reassurance that everything was okay fixed the problem, we wiped up the spill, and off to school we went.

I continue to feed our collective Starbucks habit...everyone needs treats, and Junie enjoys hanging out there. Next on the list - finding a fabulous Halloween costume for her first trick-or-treating here at home. She has some ideas, but we haven't settled on anything yet. Other than that, we are enjoying the beautiful weather, hanging out with friends, and continuing to get to know each other.

Photos!

Junie and her sisters : )

First Day of School for June

In reverse here...looking a little nervous once inside the school...



In front of the sign at school - she absolutely recognized this sign from the book we sent. She immediately started saying "my school, my school"!




The portrait of confidence just before leaving for school.


The first day was a success! June is very proud of the papers she brought home today - a little certificate for a successful first day, and a note about what they did today. She chose to play with blocks and the snack today was goldfish crackers ; ) Her walk slowed a bit as we entered the building and she was surrounded by a whole bunch of kids, some of whom were crying. But, she took the principal's hand and walked into school after kissing me goodbye. When I picked her up, she was not one of the kids running out to the parents for a big hug. She was a bit cautious and took teeny, tiny steps out of the building. She opened right back up in the car, telling me all about her day! And of course she is asking when she can go back.

Family Camp!

Her first horse ride! Nice man in the photo helped me - led the horse so I could walk next to June.



Playing in our cabin!



Picking out a bunk!

We survived our trip to Camp Tecumseh - a YMCA camp in Brookston, IN. We enjoyed a weekend of beautiful weather, fun with the kids, and absolutely no sleep at all (for me, anyway)! We went to camp with the Waldroms - my parents, sister, brother and his family. The kids all enjoyed horseback riding, rock wall climbing, obstacle courses, ice cream making, and more. The adults, and Delaney when we sneaked her on, tried out the zipline over the lake - super fun!

June and Quinn had their first horseback riding experiences. It was about a 20 minute trail ride, where I had to keep my arm raised up above my head to make sure June didn't jump off the horse - she really liked it, but didn't necessarily believe me when I said that she needed to hold on to the horse with BOTH hands! I recruited a dad from another family to help walk the horse along, because I couldn't stand close enough to the front of the horse, and hold onto Junie. Quinn thinks she is a real pro now; she loved the ride.

We consumed significant amounts of junk food and salty camp food...I am wishing to have some of that candy corn back. It would give me a nice sugar rush. I truly believe that the children are conspiring to ensure that I live in a constant state of sleep deprivation...for example, last night: Junie is back to her nightime wake-ups and crying...and she definitely wants someone to sit with her while she falls asleep. So, after hanging out there for 45 minutes, she fell asleep. Riley went to bed fine. Quinn coughed for an hour and half before falling asleep. Delaney was up until midnight, as she has gotten too involved in the imaginary world of Harry Potter and thinks that Voldemort could appear at any moment. Had to hang out with her til she fell asleep. Crept back to my own bed. Quinn woke up twice for drinks and a pee break. At 2 am , Riley insisted her room was too hot (b/c Tom Lyons insisted we didn't need the air on). June woke up twice crying and needing a drink and then a pee break. Tom Lyons gets up for work at 4:45 and my bed was full of kids by 6 am. So if you see me today, and notice a new wrinkle, be kind enough to shut up and keep it to yourself.

Other than not wanting to be alone at night - can't blame her as she used to sleep with a row of kids in tiny cribs - Miss Junie continues to be awesome. She is very much looking forward to her first afternoon of preschool today (sniff, sniff). She has been begging to go each day. She has her backpack ready to go, and is looking forward to seeing her lao shi - her teacher. I am not sure how we will do with giving up naps on school days, b/c she does seem to need them, but maybe it will lead to an earlier bedtime ; ) A mom can dream.