Another Day in the Life

This has been my day so far (it's only 11:39 AM):

8:30 AM---husband wakes up and realizes he's already half an hour late for work.
8:32 AM---husband's fire chief knocks on door to make sure Shawn is okay. Shawn greets him at the door shirtless, disheveled and still wearing his anti-snoring breathe-right strip.
8:40 AM--husband kisses me goodbye and heads to work.
8:45-9:00 AM---I obsessively read news stories that really have no relevance to my life in any way, shape or form.

9:00--awaken my two rebel yells (aka, my children)
9:05 AM--I realize that I have no milk and no bread.
9:05-9:15 AM--diaper and clothing changes.
9:25 AM--attempt to feed children organic oatmeal. Quinn eats, Kai snubs.
9:30 AM--give children bananas instead.
9:35 AM--give up any hope of going to the gym today.
9:35-10:35 AM--tidy up house, check blogs and message boards, strip bed linens while children watch Sesame Street and Big, Big World.
10:40 AM--attempt to order some books on Amazon.com.

11:00 AM--Kai informs me that Quinn "pooped."
11:02 AM--Stand horrified in the living room doorway when I see her diaper has leaked and she has poop on her dress, legs, hands and all over our beautiful Persian rug.
11:03 AM--scramble to try to contain the biohazard.
11:04 AM--realize wipes aren't going to do the job and declare defeat.
11:05-11:08 AM--try to shower screaming, slippery, poopie toddler.
11:08-11:10 AM--try to dress screaming, slippery, clean toddler.
11:10-11:20 AM--attempt carpet cleaning.
11:21 AM--call Shawn to help me cool down.
11:25 AM--put children in the playroom and put on headphones, only removing them every few minutes to make sure the children are okay.
11:38 AM--decide to blog.......

Afternoon in the Sun

Today we spent the afternoon planting plants in the garden while the kids were napping. Once they got up, we blew up the pool for them to swim in. Here's Shawn lounging with Quinn and Kai in the back yard. After a few minutes of them being in the pool, Kai lifted out a little present Quinn left for us saying, "Oh, look at this poop!!" Since I'm sure you all want to see it for yourselves, here it is:

How Does Your Garden Grow?

When we got our garden started, this is what it looked like after Shawn tilled it.

Here is the garden after we first planted strawberries, lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli.

Here is the garden today, after we transplanted our tomato and pepper plants. We also direct-seeded corn, peas, beans, carrots and sunflowers. In another bed, Shawn planted cucumbers, pumpkins and watermelons. The bushy plant in the foreground is a potato plant that was left over from the previous tenants that has been doing well, so we left it among our strawberries! It just sort of started growing in the middle of our garden.... You can see at the back end of the garden that the plants we planted about a month ago are really thriving. The strawberries still look puny, though.

These plants are the cauliflower, lettuce and broccoli that we planted about a month ago. They are thriving so far, especially since Shawn murdered (in cold blood!) the bunny bandit that was muching on our plants. Pretty soon, we should be able to have all the salads we want!

It's Been a Long Time

I haven't been keeping up my blog since we came back to the States. Today, I pretty much condensed the last two months into several blog entries, so be sure to look through all of them. I have lots of new pictures of the kids and our other adventures. Enjoy!

A Break in the Clouds

It's been tough. The adjustment from Bahrain to Harrisonville, MO has been considerably harder than I thought it would be. There are many things I miss about Bahrain, mostly just the fact that we had a good routine there and everything was all settled. It's taken me a lot longer to adjust than I thought it would.

Not having Theresa (our faithful nanny) has been difficult. Managing the kids constantly by myself has been completely overwhelming for the most part. In addition, our beautiful new house (old house) is a lot bigger than the place I was used to keeping up in Bahrain (again, with Theresa's help).

I've felt like a failure a lot. Things don't get done. Dishes pile up. The laundry is neverending. I yell at the kids. They get cranky. I get cranky. It's been a frustrating cycle.

But I have peace that God brought us to this place. Yesterday He gave me new hope that He does have a plan for my life and for my family. It doesn't include me living in constant frustration and despair.

Thank you guys again for all the support and help you've offered to our family during this time of transition. It has meant so much to all of us. It has only been through God using you all to work in our lives that I have maintained any sanity at all. I am truly blessed!

Adoption Day

It's finally official! Shawn decided a long time ago that he wanted to adopt Kai, but because we were overseas, we could not actually finally file the paperwork until we were back in the States.

April 23rd, we had the final hearing. Kai is 100% ours and he is now a Cherri. His new name is Kai Isaiah Gabriel Cherri (he has two middle names). He is pretty excited about his new name and keeps telling everyone what his ENTIRE name is. We told Kai that he knows he's REALLY in trouble if we use all four names!

It was a wonderful day and nice to have on paper what we already believed in our hearts. Shawn was meant to be his daddy.....

Thanks to everyone for all the love and support during this process. We couldn't ask for more caring and loving families. Kai will be truly blessed to have you all in his life.

Grame and Grandpa Cherri threw a little Adoption Day party for Kai. Here is Grame distributing gifts for Kai to give to everyone. It was such a thoughtful and kind gesture and I will treasure the memories of that day forever. Thank you all.....

Golfing

Uncle Joe watches while Kai sets up his ball to tee off.

Joe and Kai at the golf course. Kai is running after his ball.

Shawn and Kai prepare to tee off.

More of the Kids in the Yard

Quinn and Kai.

Shawn pushing Quinn in the swing.

Quinn watching Shawn and Kai golfing.

Proper technique is important! Shawn lends a hand.

At a Park in Kansas City 2

Kai and Shawn at Swopes Park.

We used the skateboard ramp as a slide. Despite how scared he looks, Kai actually loved it and went several times.

Belly shot!! Here I am at around 28 weeks.

Big belly!

At a Park in Kansas City

Quinn at Swopes park near the zoo.

Quinn searching for dandelions.

Quinn picking flowers.

Shawn and Kai on a skateboard ramp. Kai was afraid at first to walk on top of it because he has been fearful of heights lately. As the day wore on, he did get over it, but at first he crawled to Daddy each time.

Playing in the Yard

Quinn inspects a golf club.

Quinn getting a ride in the swing while Kai watches on.

Kai playing with the sandbox.

Quinn.

Our Garden

Though I have always said I have a "black thumb" instead of a green one, Shawn somehow convinced me that we should try and grow a garden this year. We've decided to grow some various vegetables and see how it goes. So far, nothing has died except a poor rabbit that had the misfortune of eating in the wrong garden patch. Shawn decided that the rabbit could not be tolerated and threw rocks at it. One got a little too close and pretty much killed it.....Shawn put it out of its misery. Since the rabbit died, our garden has been flourishing. May God rest the bunny's soul.

The garden before any work was done.

After tilling.

The plants awaiting planting.

The garden right after first planting. So far, we only have cool weather crops (lettuces, broccoli and cauliflower). It has still been too cool to plant any of our other plants, but we hope to do so soon.

In the Playroom

Elle shows Grandma a toy.

Uncle Shawn/Daddy reads the children a book.

Listening attentively.

Cousins at the New House

Quinn outside in the new yard.

Shawn TRIED to rake.....but, as you can see, the cousins had other ideas. Here are Kai, Elle, Quinn and Luke doing their best to ruin the leaf pile as soon as it gets put together.

Luke revels in the leaves.

The kids dismantling the pile.

At Grame and Grandpa's House

Quinn, Kai and Ilene go for a ride in Grame's wagon.

Go Buckeyes!

Quinn playing outside at Grame's house.

Quinn and Kai at Grame's.