Davis Day and Much More

I haven't written a post in a while. Time just seems to have a way of flying by these days. We finished out the summer with lots of swimming time and we were sad to take our last dip of the season on Sunday. We started soccer practice in August and kicked off games a couple weeks ago. The boys love it and I'm trying to focus on not being one of those parents that is hoarse after the game from screaming so much. We will follow soccer with upward basketball which they have "evaluations" for on Thursday.

Nate has started first grade at the Davis Academy and is excelling in math. He loves to see how things work and I love seeing how his mind is developing. Mulatu officially started Kindergarten and when I ask him what his favorite thing to do is - he always answers coloring. He has also picked up reading very quickly. I love watching both of my boys figure out new words or recognize words as we are out and about.

Early in August we had our last home study session with the social worker. We sent that off right before we celebrated Davis Day 2012 with some family and friends at our house. We had a little cake and some presents. The boys had been asking for roller skates for a quite some time so I got them both some pretty sweet roller derby skates. I decided that each anniversary I would buy them some Ethiopian stamps and make a digital picture book to chronicle the past year together. I was also able to find some good Ethiopian kids books online that I hadn't bought yet. To continue the celebration we went on a family vacation to Sieverville and Pigeon Forge. We stayed at a hotel that had a small water park with some pretty fun slides and such. The boys had a blast. We also went to Dollywood for a day to ride some fun rides and we checked out all the fish at the aquarium. The boys were able to touch a manta ray for the first time. It was a wonderful celebration of our first year together.

We also have spent some time celebrating Nate's seventh birthday. Mom's family came over on Sunday for some presents and ice cream cake. Yesterday we went to Mammoth Cave for the first time and went on the Frozen Niagara tour and had a lovely picnic in the rain. Today we finished the festivities with some bowling with Grandma Grandma and a trip to Orange Leaf for some frozen yogurt. The memories we are creating are priceless and I am soaking up all the joy and love that has become my life. I have said it many times before and will probably say it until the day I die but God has truly blessed me with some incredible children and I am so grateful.