First Day of School

WAH WAH! My baby started Kindergarten this week. How in the world can he be old enough for K??

Wednesday - we went to the school and visited his classroom, meet his teacher and took Ry on a little tour. That visit really helped Ry with his nerves.

Thursday - I woke Ryan up at 7am. He was pumped about getting on the bus. I was NOT pumped about the bus situation. I was most nervous about the bus to classroom transition. I wanted to drive him to school or follow the bus so bad. I knew he needed to do this on his own plus Ben wouldn't have let me take him. Guess what?? He made it to school! He really liked it too. He said his favorite part of the day was recess. **Oh geez, that is shocking** So he leaves the house at 7:40 and get home at 4:15. That is a long day for a little guy. He was pretty tired.

Jake wanted to go to school with Ryan

My baby is leaving and he didn't even wave goodbye to me

Today - Again, woke him up at 7am. He jumped out of bed and headed downstairs. He was ready to go to school. He asked me probably 5 times, "is it time for the bus to come?" So day #2 was a success also.

I get to go eat lunch with him on Monday. They asked a few parents to join the kids during lunch to help them in the lunch line and dump their trays after lunch. So it is my turn on Monday. I am looking forward to visiting his class. On Tuesday we are going to parents night.

Everyone keeps asking me what I am going to do now that Ryan is in school all day. Well yesterday and today I worked on last minute adoption documents that needed to go to Russia this weekend. That took up most of my time. I will eventually go back to work but not until we get Veronika home, in school and somewhat adjusted. I may do some part time work in the mean time if something comes along. I have lots of little projects to work on until Veronika comes home - painting the pump house and garage, decorating and organizing Veronika's bedroom, finish some scrapbooking, getting all my photos albums up to date, stuff like that. AND I am going to volunteer in Ryan's classroom as much as possible.

It was a big week at our house. Looking forward to the weekend. Our weekends are going to be even more important to us now that Ry is in school. Quality family time! I miss him so much during the day. Yes, I cried a couple times. At least Ryan is enjoying kindergarten as far, that makes it easier on me.

Lake Kabetogama

We went on an awesome vacation last week. We went up to the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada. We stayed at Northern Lights Resort on Lake Kabetogama in Vogageurs National Park. It is the kind of vacation where everybody was happy. Ben did lots of fishing, Ryan and I did lots of swimming, plus a few family activities. There was so much to do at the resort...check out their website. I took a tote of Ryan's toys but never had to take them out of the truck.....that is an A++++ thing in my book.

Guess I should tell you who was with us on our trip. Might be easier to identify the people in the photos. Brad, Donna, Lynn, Michael, Colt and ourselves shared a cabin for the week. My dad and Mardi were also up there but at a different resort.

FISHING

One of Ben's many fish of the week. His biggest fish was a 26 inch walleye. Didn't have the camera but he did take a cell phone picture but don't have it on the computer.

Ry's walleye

Perch

Northern

Almost asleep

While fishing one night we had a visitor.... A BLACK BEAR. It was getting dark so I couldn't get a good photo.

LODGE

OUR CABIN

Lynn, Brad and Ryan roasting marshmellows

WATER FUN - this is where Ryan and I spent most of our time.

Big Slide

Rolling Log - Uncle Michael was trying to toss Ry off so he wouldn't lose a $10 wager

Trying to run across

The LAUNCH - was the coolest thing. Poor Ryan was pretty scared to do this but he did TWICE.

Ryan made a little girlfriend, Kendall. She is just a couple months younger than Ry. They swam together often.

There goes LYNN! Brave women.

ELLSWORTH ROCK GARDEN TOUR

Our resort took the women on a boat over to visit a rock garden. Wasn't what I expected, much more impressive. A man spent 21 years (1944-1965) creating this masterpiece.

Can you tell what this is?

DUCKS

We had 5 ducks at the resort who seemed to love Ry.

I love this photo of Colt and the ducks

KETTLE FALLS BOAT TOUR

On the last day of our trip we took a national park boat ride over to Kettle Falls. It was a 2 hour ride over and an hour and half back. It was a nice relaxing ride. A park ranger narrarated the ride so we were able to learn a lot about the park and the people who lived in the area many many years ago.

We saw several eagles

Hiking up to the hotel

Kettle Falls Hotel built around 1910 - still in operation - we ate lunch here

An old style dam

Us with Brad and Donna above the dam
Ryan slept the entire boat ride back

More Summer FUN

I want to start with a follow-up from the last post about Veronika. I had to call in some personal favors in order to get all the information completed and neccesary paperwork filled out to be approved for an adoption. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't ask for help or favors unless I am really in need. I am much more comfortable giving then receiving. But the adoption process forced me to ask for favors. I want to take this opportunity to THANK a few important people....

Reference Letters - I think everyone should ask a family member or friend for a reference letter about parenting. It was a morale booster. Some of your letters brought me to tears. I know each and every one of you had to put time and thought into your letter. We appreciate it.

A huge THANKS
Pat - my aunt - family reference
Lynn - Ben's sister - family reference
Katie - my cousin - she is family but also my friend so she served as a friend reference
Jenn - friend reference
Anna - friend reference
Alisia - friend reference
Kelly - ex-coworker/friend reference

Other THANK YOU'S
Alyssa - preparing housing information without charging us a fee
Marcie - reading my TB test on a weekend so I wouldn't have to make an ER visit
Jenn/Brad & Donna/my grandparents - watching Ryan during our endless appts and meetings
Brad & Donna/Dad & Mardi/my grandparents/Anna -taking care of Ry while we were in Russia

A special thanks to Ben's parents, Brad & Donna. I honestly don't know if we would have started this journey without knowing you guys were in our corner supporting us no matter what decisions we made. Gosh, tons of help with Ryan, helping gather paperwork, being a soundingboard for me, choring, taking care of Jake, not to mention a generous gift. I always tell everyone that I am blessed with the best inlaws!

One last THANKS to our wonderful families and friends for the encouraging and supportive emails, messages and phone calls. Every day in Russia, I looked forward to checking email so I could hear from you guys.

I am sure I forgot to thank someone, I apologize. The journey isn't over so I am sure I will owe many more thank you's in the upcoming months.

Onto the photos

Since we left for Russia on July 4th, we did sparklers with Ryan a little early.

He did sparklers with Grandma and Grandpa while we were gone. He managed to singe his hair while he was at it.

The morning after we got back from Russia, I took Ryan to his last gymnastics class. He really liked gymnastic but I don't think he will be taking it again. Let's just say he doesn't have the acrobatic type of build. Football yes, gymnastics no.



We went to a couple McFarland Park Naturlists Lunchbox programs in July. It is a short nature lesson, a book and a craft on the topic of the week taught by a naturlists for Story County Conservation. This weeks lesson was MUDLUSCIOUS.....

Painting with MUD

Cole, Ryan and Mason digging in MUD

Ryan and Jaden posing on the tree

Berry picking, love raspberries. Unlike strawberries, I love picking and eating raspberries.


Hamilton County Fair - on a spur of the moment decision we went to the Trailer Races. What a hilarious riot. It is like a demolation derby but all the vehicles have some kind trailer hitched to it. Before the races, we watch a stunt car show. Cars jumping other cars, cars jumping ramps, truck going all the way around a track on two wheels, etc. I sure hope Ryan (or Ben for that matter) didn't get any bright ideas. I definitely want to go again next year. It was so much fun.

Awesome fireworks after the races

Ryan begged for one ride at the midway. He had fun until ride got really high then he started yelling STOP. Turned out fine though.

Ice Cream Social for playgroup. Doesn't get much better then beautiful weather, great friends, homemade ice cream and about 15 toppings all while playing at the park!



Last night, Donna and I canned and froze 20 quarts of peaches. It wasn't too bad and went pretty smooth with two of us working on it. Looking forward to eating peaches all winter. I also made a fresh peaches pie for supper last night....YUMMY! It tasted great.

Finally, some random photos.

Ryan had lots of summer fun with his friends

Ryan and Maddy after swimming

Having fun at a new recreation center in Ames, Perfect Games
Ben and Ryan T. having a shoot out