It's FALL!

Where has the time gone??  The fall temps are here in Dallas.  It gets in the 40s at night and no more 100+ days!! 

The school year is rocking along.  It seems IMPOSSIBLE to get all the homework, chores, activities, etc. done each day!  But somehow...it just gets done.  The first report cards came in.  Three of the kids got all A's and one high B's.  Those pesky Bs!!  And the other kid passed everything! :) 

Today is Karrigan's 12th birthday!!  Happy Birthday Rudy!  She started out her day with a fake trip to McDonalds for breakfast.  We ordered and got to the window when I realized I didn't have my wallet.  It was too late to go back home.  :(   She was a good sport about it.  This evening she has a volleyball game.  Tomorrow she is taking a few friends to Six Flags, then spending the night in a hotel.  Fun Fun!  Karrigan is playing the french horn for school and getting better all the time! 

Basketball season is next.  Reagan and Nolan are both going to play (for different leagues), should make Saturdays interesting! ;) 

Kennedy got braces!!  She looks so cute with them on. 

MARKUS!!  You want to hear about the bebe, don't you?  He is so super terrific!!  He is EVERYWHERE...ALL THE TIME!  I am not exaggerating!  He climbs up, in, off, under  or through anything and everything!  He is an extremely curious, highly motivated and determined little dude.  He is talk talk talking now!  He has a name for all of us.  He calls most of our friends by the last syllable of their name.  He has far too many words in his vocabulary to list!  He names tons of animals, most of his body parts, clothes, foods, toys, etc.  Blues Clues is still his favorite show by FAR.  I have had very little success in finding BC books and toys.  He loves to be outside!  He hates to be in a grocery cart.  He loves to hear his voice and screams in office buildings and other quiet areas.  He throws his food when he is finished eating.  He also piles food on top of his head, just for fun.  He loves to draw.... on paper, walls, doors, furniture, himself...whatever.  I loves to look at books.  He LOVES balls!!  Any ball, any size, and he has a really nice throwing arm (with food and with balls).  He is a great sleeper, takes a good nap every day and sleeps through the night.  He is just an awesome fella! 

My Grandpa moved to Oklahoma a couple of months ago.  He was living (very happily) in a very nice assisted living facility.  He had heart surgery a few weeks ago and his health has taken a nose dive.  He is currently in a skilled nursing facility.  He was only suppose to be in the hospital 5 days after the surgery.  :( 

Thanks for reading!  Have a great weekend!  I will get pictures up soon, I promise. 

Well THERE you are!

I have been trying to find time to post but it just always seems to evade me!  

School is in full swing and all the kids are doing extremely well, thank you Lord!  Kennedy is an office aid this year, she loves that job! She seems happy to go to school each morning, that means the world to me!  Karrigan finally got her french horn and we have to listen to the "music" she practices every afternoon.  She also just signed up for her first season of volleyball!  Nolan's birthday just passed, he had a nice party with his school friends.  He signed up for "Explorer Class" at school and is looking forward to basketball season.  Reagan is rocking second grade!  She  is really becoming a confident, independent little girl. I am VERY proud of all the school kids, they have fallen back into the routine beautifully. 

  Markus is back to getting therapy.  He gets cognitive therapy once a week and will now get "movement" therapy every other week.  I can not stress to you just how DETERMINED this kid is!  He does what he wants and that's that!  I think God gave Mac a strong will because He knew Mac would need it.  He can get on and off a kitchen chair.  He can get off my bed.  He can stand and "cruise" furniture.  He can get inside baker's racks, dishwashers and cabinets. lol  Mac has tons of new animal sounds and WORDS!!  Just today I clearly heard him point to and say "cow" in a book, several times.  He is saying bye-bye, hi, Momma, Dada, eye, nose, eat, Blues Clues, no, go, whoo-hoo, just off the top of my head.  He is just BLOSSOMING in front of my eyes! 

We received a very special card and gift from our "secret" friends after the adoption.  It means so much to me that you think about us.  And your gifts always come at the exact perfect time!  How do you do that?  

The weather here in the Dallas area has been just beautiful!  Perfect, some would say. lol  The highs are in the 90s and it gets down to 60s at night.  When the kids leave for school it's around 70 degrees, can't ask for much better than that!  

I am deep into a booked titled "Room".  It is really good!  It's about a woman and her son who live in an 11X11 room.  The woman was kidnapped 7 years before and had her son (5) while being held prisoner in this inescapable room.  BUT...her son doesn't realize they are trapped.  His mother has done everything to make the boy have a good life!  They have a daily routine and he is happy!  I can't say much more, because YOU need to read the book!  

Thanks for reading!  Hope you have a terrific day!!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

The new school year has begun! 

Nolan- 4th grade

Reagan- 2nd grade

Kennedy- 8th grade

Karrigan- 6th grade

Markus- cheesy!

The photographer from Buckner International was nice enough to email me the pictures she took the day of court.  Here are just a few.  She is going to come to the house soon to write up an article all about "us". 

Fashion Show

So..... I still can't get the pictures off my stupid phone.  But here are some pictures off my camera.  Kennedy was in the annual JCPenny/Scottish Rite Fashion Show. 

Score! 

Kissing the cookie??

Waiting....

Me with a precious friend Beyonka

Kennedy getting her hair done.

Beautiful!

Kennedy with her friend Katie (Beyonka's daughter)

Katie and Kennedy

HILARIOUS!  This was his "cheese" face that day.

MC's for the show

Ken on the runway.  Go girl!

JCPenny donated $5000 to the hospital.

All of us, after the show.

Random picture of Nolan.  I think he made a "10 stuff" oreo.

So something else happened today.....what was is???  Oh ya....WE FINALIZED THE ADOPTION FOR BIG MAC!!  It was super easy and pretty quick.  We waited in the lobby longer than anything!  Markus was pretty fussy.  He had to get up before he was ready and no one would let him down to crawl around the courthouse!  He is now a DONE DEAL!  Signed, sealed and delivered!  I took ZERO pictures.  I was way too busy wrestling Markus!  There was a professional photographer there, she took lots of pictures and will send them to me.  I have one that the attorney took on her cell phone after the hearing.  It's not great but here ya go!



School starts back on the 22nd.  I can't make up my mind if I am ready or not.  I am definitely NOT ready for all the $$ I have to shell out for shoes, clothes and supplies!  And I'm not ready to get up by alarm every morning.  But I am ready for the peace and certainty that comes with the school schedule.  I am also ready to have lunch with my friends again! :) 

Happy Friday everyone.  Have a great weekend!

It's coming!

It's coming.... rapidly approaching....the court date....the "FINALIZATION". :)  This Friday, Markus becomes ours forever and always!  Even though there has never been a doubt in our HEARTS.  We discussed funny t-shirts we wanted to have made for Mac on the the special day.  Things like "Where's Judge Judy?, GUILTY, Done Deal, but I was advised it's not a good idea. :(  So we will just wear street clothes, Mac included! lol  Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom but cell phones are, go figure.  So I will have pictures to share.  Now....what am I going to wear???

I just finished reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.  It took me forEVER, with the kids being home.  It is an AMAZING book.  I encourage you to read it before the movie comes out.   The book is about black maids, serving white families in the deep south.  It has always been a fascination of mine (and a great sadness) as to why AND HOW one group of people come to believe they are better than another group of people.  Can you imagine.... that just being BORN a certain color or into a certain religion or physically different..... that someone could DOMINATE you, control your life???? 
Randy and I are playing kickball!  You read right, kickball! lol  It's an adult team and it's FUN!  Tonight is our last game for the summer season.  It has been H.O.T. 


I can't get pictures uploaded! :(  I don't know what I'm doing wrong.  I'll get Randy to help me this evening.  Have a great day!!

ADOPTION!

So...I hope you have to come realize that I'm a better blogger when school is in session!  :) 

I have a lot of pictures to share and will get them up soon.  The family is doing great!  Everyone is staying healthy and we are trying to stay busy.  Tomorrow is Reagan's birthday, she turns 8.  We are spending the day at a water park.  My nephew, Levi is spending the night and going with us.  As well as our friends, The Banks.  I will wait until I have those pictures to share as well.   

We go to court on August 12th to finalize the adoption and make an honest baby of Markus! lol  I am told it is a quick and somewhat low key event.  But I am inviting anyone who wants to join us!  If you are interested, just message me and I'll get you the details. 

Randy and I were discussing tonight the "Markus timeline".  I will have to do a little research but I am excited to share the dates and details of us coming to know and love Markus.  My brain still can't wrap around God's plan for our family!!  I'm not sure I'll ever have the words to describe it. 

Thank you for reading and for putting up with me.  Have a blessed Sunday! 

BLEEP Reagan says

"Mom, Markus told me a secret.  He said you're fat!"

Reagan talking on a toy phone- "Mom, Holley wants to talk to you". 
Me- "I can't talk right now".
Reagan- "Holley said, You. Her. Lobby. PM. Fight!".

Peering over the top of sunglasses- "Stay cool.  Stay cool.".

pIcTuReS

Cute, Smootie Pie!

Sorry, it's upside down.  But it's Markus, sleeping with his monkey.

Karrigan with her friends at Six Flags.

Nolan at Six Flags.

Mac, just out of the bath.

Naughty Mac!! 

Karrigan leaves for church camp!

New ride!  He hasn't figured out how to make it move yet.

Ummm....  look away.... quick!

Bella and Nolan, resting in the shade at the nursing home.

Reagan, Randy and Mac at cousin Jackson's bday party.

Coloring in a CONTROLLED environment isn't as much fun.

I guess it was "sleep with your pig" day.  Don't tell Monkey, he gets jealous.

Karrigan comes home from camp tomorrow!!  I can't wait to hear about her week!  We haven't done a whole lot, just trying to stay cool (which is a joke). 

Randy and I actually got to go to dinner and a movie this weekend (not on the same day lol).  That was a treat! 

Randy has a CWF show this weekend.  He is excited about the show, with lots of guest wrestlers coming into town.  I need a sitter for Markus, he hates wrestling.

We were blessed with an amazing gift this week!  An unnamed person gave us a VERY generous contribution towards our attorney fee.  What a surprise and honor!  More details to come! 

Thanks for keeping up with us!  God is working!  We keep Him very busy! :)

kids kids kids

Once again, I have let you down and not posted in FOREVER!  I'm sorry! :)  Everything is good at the Carpenter house.  The kids are staying healthy and we try to keep busy.  This past week we have swam at the public pool, swam at a friend's pool, saw a movie at the theatre, Reagan went to a tea party, swam at Grandpa's apartment pool, went to a small 4th of July festival and watched fireworks with lots of friends,  had 4 overnight guests, attended a weekly concert, rented movies, gone out for ice cream and that is just off the top of my head.  As I type this entry, there are 8 kids, 3 dogs and 2 adults in my house.  Three of my kids have friends over and we are babysitting a dog for the weekend.  Honestly, it's not so bad.  Everyone is doing their own thing.  I think Reagan and her friend are the loudest, with all the loud squealing and giggling. 

I'm sure you want to hear about Markus.  He just had his 18 month check up and got one shot.  He cried, which means he can feel his thigh, that's a great thing!  He has 14 teeth (and an adorable smile!).  He now has 6 signs that he uses regularly ("thank you" isn't coming as easily).  His favorite show, by far, is Blue's Clues and he has a little made up sign for that.  He wears his leg braces and shoes every day now and tolerates them ok, although he would rather be without them.  He has the SWEATIEST feet I've ever seen on a kid! lol  For now, they don't stink. 

Our a/c broke in the house.  We were without for 4 nights!!  It was awful!  We have a new one now, it only cost us one kidney each. 

Karrigan leaves for a church camp next week!  It's her first week long camp.  She is super excited and I'm happy for her.  I loved church camp when I was her age.  I went every year with my cousin, Susan, who is my age.  We had the BEST times there! 


We STILL have not formally adopted Mac.  Our only hold up is the $1300 for the attorney's fee.  So, if anyone would like to make a donation or a loan until next tax season, I can send you my mailing address! :)  I know our case worker is tired of coming here. 

Goobers, waiting for the pool to open.

Taking a break from swimming.

Me and my oldest niece, Megan at the concert.

Look at this FACE!!  It's so sweet, I can't take it!

Listening to Karrigan's ipod while Nolan gets a haircut.

Score!  A lollipop.

Our weekend guest, Bruno.