Monday, January 25, 2010

Season Opener

Well, Adia's team had their first tournament this weekend and won the whole thing! Adia played great and had 3 straight serving points in the championship game as well as 2 awesome digs for sideouts! Her and the dad had a blast! I was only able to see parts of it due to Kenyon having a basketball game and the fact that I have 4 very not calm kiddos. I guess it's good I missed the final game because the adreniline that would pump through my body when my she was up to serve and we need the points was honestly painful and I just sit there stressing for her. I couldn't have handled the championship for sure! But she did great and we are so proud!



Ready to go and thinking my mom is really annoying...

Lucky dad gets to see the whole tournament.


And of course you have to ref as well as play...


Warming up... getting pumped up...


We won! Notice Adia in the air (click it to enlarge). Gold Cal 12's team in all their glory!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

A Busy Weekend...

Last Friday I helped out taking Adia's class on a field trip. From there I drove to San Jose to drop Adia off, hit a dinner with family and a friend and then came home early the next day with Tammy's girls in tow. Here are some pictures of the fun!

Adia's class visiting an assisted living home. They visit this home once a month and are enjoying getting to know the residents. The served snacks and recited some poetry. They also got to ask the residents what it was like to have lived during the time of segregation and what it was like for them when MLK Jr. was around. Very interesting!

For Adia's birthday she had asked for a trip to San Jose and here she is enjoying the first day of it. How do I have such a hick???


Those of you who have known me since the days I lived in SJ will know the joy I felt at being inside of this restaurant after almost 5 years without it. So was it as good as I remembered? YES! And the company was wonderful as well. And if you are wondering if I have grown out of beans and cheese the answer is no.

Here are Tammy's girls, a friend and my kiddos enjoying some creative time!
It was a fun weekend for sure!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Big Boys

For Kenyon's birthday he got a new bed. Last night he and Kaden both slept on it for the first time. I cannot believe Kaden is already in a big boy bed. It's starting to really feel like I don't have a baby anymore. BTW - the small door on the side of the bed opens and leads to a hideout that Kenyon is so excited about! Fun stuff!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Hip Hop Highlights

Today Avery and Kenyon started a new Hip Hop class. I had such a great time watching them and seriously was still giggling about it 2 hours later.


Yes, they were feeling pretty cool!



Yes, I think she is super cute!
Yes, it is true that I can not get a normal picture of this boy.

Yes, I stood in the window taking pictures half the class.


Yes, the teacher is hilarious and wore that funky hat the whole time.

And YES, they loved it and are so excited to go back!
Gotta love the hours of entertainment these kids give me!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Kenyon is 5 - Kyle is alive!

Well, Kenyon turned 5 today and Kyle is alive after taking him and 4 of his best buddies to a movie with no moms in tow. How many dads do you know that would take 5 crazy boys (ages 4-6) to a movie with no help. Kyle is officially my hero!

The Big 5 year old ready to meet up with his friends.



I think this is where Kyle started to realize he was in over his head!


Notice how nicely the boys held hands and walked safely into the theatre. It seems to me that Kyle is in complete control.

Alec, Kenyon, Stevie, Nate and Josh at Alvin and the Chipmunks.


Excited to be outside after sitting through a whole movie.
Safely back at home and ready for pizza. Leave it to a PK (Stevie) to want to say the prayer.

Little boys don't say things like BFF but if they did I think Kenyon and Alec would love the term!
I misplaced the matches so while I went on a hunt to find them I had the boys turn the cake into a fort with kabob sticks. The only problem was Kenyon being able to get close enough to blow out his candle.


The crazy party boys!
Thank you all for the good times... it was a blast!

Thankfully boys don't start out quite so crazy and God gave me a couple months cuddling with the bundle of joy below so I could bond with him and fall completely in love before he started destroying my home and everything in it!
Kenyon Kyle - 1 month
Here is the announcement we sent to tell everyone that God had blessed us with a boy... we had no idea what we were getting into or it might have started with a verse more like Phillipians 4:13

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Me and My Girl

Me and my girl meant for each other, sent for each other and liking it so!
Me and my girl meant for each other, sent for each other and liking it so!
And we'll have LOVE, laughter, we'll be happy ever afterCheck Spelling - ME and MY GIRL!!!!!
(sung every day by Amy and Adia from when she could talk till she was too cool)

This little slice of heaven turned 11 on Wednesday.
Here is a glimpse into her life...
Adia Paige Howell was born January 6th at 8:06 in San Jose
She was 7lbs 9 oz and 19 1/2 inches long
She was perfect and the most beautiful baby I had ever seen!


Thankfully my sister went against my will and called Kyle to come see his new daughter.
This picture brings back some tough stuff for us but over all it is a reminder that God is so good!


Here I am, at 18 taking my daughter home from the hospital. This was such an overwhelming day. Full of joy, full of fear. I was too imature at the time that realize that although I didn't know what I was doing, God did and Adia was his daughter whom He loved and would take care of. He has been beyond gracious to us in redeeming our story and using Adia and her dad and my love for her to draw us closer to Him!

Here is my dad with Adia on Shasta Lake. I will never be able to thank him enough for the amazing role he has had in her life. I know all the love and energy he has given her has been a hugely sacrificial thing for him and I am so grateful the he loved her enough to always put her first. Adia has such a hugely special place in her heart for Papa and I am so happy she has him.


Here she is on her 1st birthday. This party was a very significant day for her because it was the first time we had both Kyle and my family together in honor of her. When I first had Adia it was very hard for me to share her with Kyle's family. By her first birthday they had proven they deserved (although they shouldn't have had to) they belonged there just as much as anyone in my family.

It is also the day I gave Kyle a letter telling him I could finally accept that Adia was "our" daughter and that I was actually glad he was her dad and thankful for how much he had loved her and been patient with me. Adia doesn't know all the details of the story now (she knows most) but someday she will and she will be in awe of her dad and how much he has always loved her and was there for her even when her mom made it hard.


Here is my little baby girl at Play 'N' Learn Preschool (my families school) looking as cute as ever. I think she is about 18 months in this picture. She always looked so spunky and fun. My parents school used to only have potty trained kids and up but when Adia was little they decided to open a toddler center so I could work and she could still be with me. It was such a fun time starting that program with her.And yes, I am aware and extemely grateful for how lucky I am to have had such a supportive family.

Here is our little messy girl celebrating her 2nd birthday. The past year had been full of so many miracles. God had somehow drawn Kyle's heart to Himself, then to me and we were now planning our wedding and living what seemed like a dream. Adia was really going to have her parents together forever.


And here she is stealing the show at our wedding. She walked down the aisle and gave her dad a kiss leaving not a dry eye in the room. Seriously God worked out so many details for us and our wedding was such a beautiful celebration of His love for us as well as our love for each other.

Skipping a couple years now here is Adia preparing to meet her 1st little sister. She had no idea that her world of EVERYTHING revolving around her for so long was about to have a huge jolt put in it.
But of course Adia being the amazingly adaptable child she is only spent a few weeks in rebellion and became the worlds best big sister fast! I look back at how little she has always been and carried so much responsibility as each of her siblings were born and I am so amazed. Here she is turning 5. It was in this past year that she became a big sister, we decided to homeschool her and we moved away from all our family and friends. Adia did not want to move and we had a hard first year in Roseville while Kyle worked A TON of hours starting his business. I remember praying daily for God to bring us friends and help us make this area a home to us. Of course, as always, God was and good and we are now surrounded by loved ones who we couldn't imagine doing life without. And Adia is super blessed to have some amazing girlfriends that are great godly girls and huge gifts to her and our family.
So I could keep going with the details of this little girl growing up and how faithful God has been to her through it all but I think I will stop here. My baby isn't looking so baby anymore but she she still brings many a tears to my eyes when I think about the huge gift she is to me.




Here is my beautiful, 11 year old, Adia Paige Middleton!

Oh and if you are wondering what she got for her birthday it is no suprise that all she wanted was a trip to San Jose to be with her Papa, her best buddy and constant provider of entertainment and love. Here she is with him way back in the begining of him introducing her to one of her greatest loves - horses!