While I work...what does Bear Cub do?

(Read his sign from the bottom up)

"Good Lizard Hunter Westie"  - yup, that's Zoe!

He turns Zoe in to an officially "labeled" lizard hunter.  He did the writing himself...he just asked me for the spelling as he was sounding it out.  He's got some crazy ideas!  Thank goodness Zoe is so tolerant!

Happy weekend to all!

Just a sweet (and very true!) quote that I found!

"By adopting a child and helping them reach their potential, they help us reach ours. An adopted child is not an unwanted child; to the contrary. They are a child who was searched for, prayed for, cried for, begged for; received by arms that ached, making empty hearts full. Love is meant to be shared." - Author unknown

I love, love, love my boy!! 

Fun pics

On Labor Day we headed up to my aunt and uncle's awesome house on the water for a family lunch.  Bear Cub had a blast trying to collect crabs in the big bucket and just poking around by the dock.  We had great food and there was even better COMPANY.  :)  Fun weekend!

 Mimi Bear and cousin H

 Aunt J enjoying the view....and her boys kayaking

So proud of his work...

Bear Cub has homework every night for school...yes...actual homework in preschool!  Yesterday he had to  color the triangles in a picture...as you'll see, he got a little overzealous and colored the WHOLE picture...but who was I to stop a busy, content little boy that was actually sitting, taking his time, AND enjoying the work!?!?  He was SO proud of himself...as I was cooking, he kept having me come over to check out what he had done.  He likes to be "oohed and awwwed" over, for sure.  But who doesn't?

I was so proud of him...for a little boy who just a few months ago could CARE LESS about sitting and working on a sheet like this, I was amazed at his concentration and his good coloring skills!  Yay, BC!

Hi everyone!!

Hey there!  Well...more busy times here!  School is officially back in session and Bear Cub is doing well!  He's with his summer camp teacher, so there really was no big transition for us, which was great.  :)  He's taking an extra phonics class after his usual morning hours because he is on the verge of reading!  He's doing great and his teacher brags on him and how smart he is.  I'm very proud!  I'll update more soon...looking forward to a night away with just Daddy (yay!) on Clearwater Beach for his birthday while BC has a sleepover with his Aunt J and cousins.  Have I mentioned they've moved to Florida!?!?  Well...they have!  And it's wonderful!  Will post again soon!

 Some crazy action shots in our backyard!

 First day of school...and finally a backpack that fits this boy!  :)

Have you ever...

...felt so proud of your child that you could literally cry??

Yah...that happened to me today. This isn't the first time, but just a time that really stood out for me.

Today was Bear Cub's 5-year-old check-up.  You mention going to the doctor and he gets nervous, immediately asking the dreaded question, "Am I going to get a shot?"

Well, yes...and unfortunately, TWO.

What made me so proud?  Wow...watching my big boy follow directions, not cry when the nurse took his blood pressure, undress HIMSELF to put his little doctor gown on, sit next to me, still and serious, while we waited for the doctor and read some books together, answer the doctor's questions, tell her things about himself and his interests...that little baby that we brought home from Russia is turning into a big boy right before my eyes.  THAT makes me proud.

Oh, and as for the shots...yes, he cried, but he sat up, didn't fight it and I didn't have to pin his arms down like in years past.  YAY!  I want to cry too when I get a shot, so who could blame him?!!?

So, anyway, I'm always proud of my son, each and every day, but today was just one of those days that  he was shining extra bright in my eyes.  Wow...I love my boy...that's all I can say!  :)

Friday...family fishing fun! :)

After dinner on Friday, Bear Cub was ready to go fishing (he and I had already been once earlier in the week!) so we loaded up our gear and headed to another neighborhood in our community.  I swear...this boy drops his line in the water (we only use bread for bait) and EVERY TIME immediately catches a fish!!  It is amazing!  He loves it!  I had pretty good luck...Daddy a bit of luck...but BC was the big time fisherman of Friday night.  You'll see how proud he looks of some of his catches in the pics below!  Have a great rest of the weekend!