September Happenings

 We have been busy during September, but I haven't taken many pictures, for some reason!  The kids are all in school and in a routine.  Jim is busy with football.  Keelan is working a few nights a week at Dairy Queen.  I've been watching Tessa a couple of days a week, helping in Caylie's Chinese kindergarten class, and going to Bible Study.  On Saturdays we've been going out to the reservoir.  It's finally FALL!  I'm excited for shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Most days these three have to wear uniform shirts to school, but occasionally there are fun days when they can wear something else.  This picture is from spirit week, where there were different dress-up days.  This day happened to be Super Hero Day, and I found three Batman shirts at thrift stores.  Samuel is also showing his Batman backpack that we brought to him in China.  (And Caylie is grumpy because she fell asleep in the car on the way home from school.  She doesn't like waking up from naps!)  

Justin started playing the trombone in beginning band.  He's enjoying it and doing well.  This picture was taken on the day he got his instrument and hadn't yet been instructed on how to hold it.  He holds it correctly now!

We got to meet up with a friend I'd met online who had adopted a sweet little girl from House of Grace where Samuel lived.  Lindsey and her family were traveling through our area, so we met them for ice cream one evening.  Which is why these pictures look so strange . . . it was dark and they were taken under storefront lights!
Samuel, Caylie, me, Lindsey, and Lucy 

Here are Samuel and Lucy at House of Grace in the summer of 2014.   I'm so thankful to have pictures of our boy with many of the other children who lived there and ones who are soon to be adopted.  They are family.

And here they are (with Caylie) about 15 months later!

Caylie always likes to meet new playmates!

And, of course, climbing was involved.

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with us, except for being outside the Chinese restaurant we were eating at. But look!  Shaggy and Scooby are in Aurora!  :)

Last Friday the kids had a half day of school, so in the afternoon we took a trip to the Denver Dumb Friends League to look at the doggies and kitties.  At the end of our visit we had this guy with us in the car.  His name is Jack, and he's a two-year-old Lab/Weimaraner.   (I know.  He's hard to see with that adorable girl in the same picture!)

He and Sammie/Buddy have become good friends. 

 And partners in crime.  Sigh . . . 

Then on Sunday we went back to the Dumb Friends League to look at kitties for Taylor.  I KNEW Brittany would want to come along, and I KNEW she would be easily swayed into getting another kitty of her own!  (He is very sweet.)

Tessa and I hung out with new kitty on Monday. 

And just because she's so cute, here is a picture of just Tessa! 

 She's 13 months now and walking all over the place.

Taylor got a new kitty, too.  This was on the day he brought her home.  She was not quite ready to be held, and yes, they are sitting in a closet!

Kitty is doing much better now. 

 She sleeps with him and is a very sweet cat.

Samuel likes her, too.

Speaking of Samuel, he will be 12 in about three weeks.  He is very, very excited about his "happy birthday"!