Gooooooaaaaaallllll!!!

Today was the first soccer game for the Lightning Lizards. They did score a few goals. They didn't quite win (not that we were keeping score), but they had fun.

Here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure.

Andrew and Saylor have been friends their whole lives. They make quite a pair.

I used the DSLR instead of my point and shoot. Sometimes it frustrates me, but Patrick set it for me, and all I had to do was zoom and click. I say that like I'm not capable of figuring out the settings on a camera. I am. I just didn't have the time today. I got some great action shots if I do say so myself.

I know next to nothing about soccer, but it was fun. And I have to admit, I hope Andrew likes it more than t-ball and wants to play in the Spring too. ;)

It's a Three Ring Circus (give or take . . . mostly take . . . a ring)

We went to the circus two weeks ago, and I'm finally doing a post on it.

I kept meaning to do this post, but then I would think, "Who cares?". I mean how many pictures of elephants doing handstands do you people want to see?

I figured one would suffice. But you have to admit that's pretty darn awesome (not to mention attractive). I mean that's probably what I'd look like if I did a handstand . . . moving on.

This was while we were waiting to go in. They're standing with the sun in their eyes. Generally, my child doesn't go around making awful faces (at least not quite this awful).

So I had somehow become convinced that Andrew didn't like cotton candy. Then Patrick shelled out $12 (yes, I said 12 . . .  ridiculous) for the nasty stuff, and Andrew ate it all. I was so disappointed. I despise cotton candy. It's sticky and gross and it's pure sugar with synthetic dyes. Just what every child needs. (Wow! It took me less than half a second to go off on a tangent. Sorry about that!)

These guys made me a nervous wreck. Before they started the one on the left kept kneeling down and crossing himself. I bet he did it eight times. I would've done a whole lot more than cross myself if I was about to do what they did. Crazy.

And of course there were the tigers. Really the only reason I go to the circus is I keep thinking that someday some tiger is going to eat a trainer . . . that's a joke . . . sort of ;) But seriously, everytime I see those tigers, I become convinced that the only reason our cat hasn't killed us is because we're too big. He doesn't like us. He uses us, and if we were just a wee bit smaller, I have no doubt he'd eat us for dinner.

And a circus wouldn't be complete without  . . . 

clowns . . .

Andrew really got a kick out of the clowns. He said his favorite parts were the clowns and the strong man who just so happened to come from "the outer reaches of Mongolia".  Why are they always from the "outer reaches of Mongolia"? I mean why can't they be straight from the suburbs of Austin, TX? I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, that was the circus. It was fun. It was entertaining. And we've had our fill for the next 2 to 10 years.

Coming soon to a blog near you (that would be this blog to be exact) . . . Andrew's first soccer game. The excitement is palpable. Try to contain yourselves.

This Merry Go Round

Keeps going round and round, and I'm getting dizzy. I want to get off.

I'm not the type of person that likes being busy, busy, busy. I don't like being over-scheduled and constantly on the go. Being in a constant state of motion wreaks havoc with my peace of mind. But these past two weeks have been both over-scheduled and constantly on the go. I've gotten to work before 7:00 most days so I can actually get some work done. And I've flown out of my classroom each day to get everything else done that needs to be done outside of work.

I know without a doubt that some of this is a monster of my own making, but I refuse to say that all of it is. Some of it just comes with the territory of life. But either way it serves as a reminder that we all need peace and quiet from time-to-time. It serves as a reminder that busy-ness isn't fulfilling as much as it is just filling. And filling the time with "stuff" is a poor substitute for filling the time with the quality things that really matter. 

I'm looking forward to a break. To the upcoming weekend. To a slower pace. It may only last a few days, but at least I'll have those days. Until then I'll try to keep my balance on this merry go round of life.

Happy Labor Day!

Good morning!

Happy Labor Day! Hope your day is as labor free as it can be.

Andrew decided to take this whole Labor Day thing seriously and slept until 9:45. Unheard of. Granted he stayed up until 11:00 last night, but still.

Labor Day sleepyhead

Anthony stayed last night with us, and yesterday evening we decided to break out the board games. After a few rounds of Sorry and Clue, I decided that kids need to play more board games and less video games (I know . . . video games aren't the devil . . . we have an Xbox that's on as we speak). Board games, even the most basic ones, require some level of strategy and problem solving. One of the things that I see become increasingly more problematic in the classroom is the lack of problem solving skills. Kids (and adults) are so accustomed to having the answer at their fingertips that we're not working to develop problem solving skills like we should. We are constantly entertained and given the answers via the Internet, computer technology, Xbox, smart phones, iPads, etc. that we've forgotten how to "play" and be creative . . . said the woman with the addiction to Twitter and Facebook. Okay, I'll step off my soapbox now, but I'm thinking I'll be using more board games in my classroom in the near future.

In a little while we're going to pack up and head to parents' to grub on some unhealthy American food. Nothing says Labor Day like chili dogs and brownies. We'll probably take our last dip in the river for the year. This week is going to HOT, but next Sunday is supposed to have a high of 90. That's practically Arctic air in Central Texas and means an end to our summer swimming fun.

Hope everyone enjoys a relaxing day with friends and family.

The State of Our Adoption (post number "?")

* Last Saturday we went to the circus. I did take pictures, but my camera along with my memory card is at the school. So the circus pics will have to wait. 

Today is September 1st. This month marks one year since our Dossier was registered in Bulgaria. One year down, who knows how many more to go? I wish I had a better timeline, but I don't. The good news is the older I get the more quickly each year passes. Hopefully, it won't be two full more years, but there is always the possibility. Sometimes, the wait seems to be forever, but then we get busy with work and school and soccer (something else I need to post pictures of) and church, and time becomes a blur.

One of the couples from our adoption agency was in Bulgaria this week to meet their son and daughter. I was so encouraged by the good things they had to say about the orphanage. It's reassuring to think that the kids are loved and cared for and makes it easier on a mama's heart to know this. If you're interested, you can read more about their journey here.

So that's it. That's the update. I wish there was more, but there isn't. Bulgaria's summer break is about over, and we're hoping that the ball gets rolling and referrals start coming in here pretty soon. Of course, there's always the first couple of weeks where they play catch up.

And just to add some spice to this post, here's a teaser iPhone pic of Andrew at the circus . . . he has blue cotton candy on his lips. I made him eat every bite. That stuff was ridiculously expensive. Great mom I am, if I'm gonna buy you pure sugar darn-it you're gonna eat it.