Our best summer investment...

When summer started, we were hard pressed to even get this darling into the water.  Now she is jumping off the ladder into the pool.  I am confident that she will be swimming like a fish before school starts.  

On Wednesday night, the junior high interns set up the giant slip and slide for One_Elementary.  It was so much fun for the kiddos.  However, there was a lot of mud involved.  I am confident that fun nights like this one help our students bond for a lifetime.  Andrew and Olivia managed to go down the slide together every time.  I am confident that little sister planned for that to happen.

Our Weekend Trip to Nashville

Scott needed to be in Nashville on Tuesday morning for an awards ceremony.  We decided to make it a 2 day trip and headed down on Sunday.  It just so happened to be flea market weekend!  :)  

Memorable Nashville Moments:

1.) Sharing my favorite flea market with my favorite kiddos.  We were there for several hours, and I didn't hear any complaining.  The number of vendors was a slight disappointment, but I managed to find a few fun home furnishings.

2.) While walking into dinner at the Cock of the Walk, we received a phone call from Dale letting us know that Elisha arrived at our house, and Skipper was missing.  Our hearts stopped for a short period of time.  Elisha went back out to his car, and Skipper came running to him.  I am confident that Skipper realized that we were leaving on a trip and was determined to follow us.

3.) Watching Andrew and Olivia become better swimmers in the hotel pool.

4.)  All four of us snuggling in the full size bed while watching new episodes of American Pickers and Cake Boss.

5.) We visited Financial Peace Plaza, watched Dave Ramsey record his radio show, met Dave, and listened to a couple scream, "We're debt free!"  It was so fun!  We were able to really interact with Dave.  I think that he really enjoyed watching Andrew and Olivia.

6.) We visited Antique Archaeology!  The store was decorated with items that we have watched Mike pick over the years.  The kids insisted on getting "Kid Picker" shirts that they plan to wear on garage sale mornings.

7.) We saw Mike and Frank's van!  Can ya tell that I am a fan?

8.) We have crossed over into true hoosierness.  Scott bought me this bumper sticker, and I love it! (Junk in the Truck)

9.) I spent countless stress-free hours with my favorite 3 people.  We were in desperate need of a mini-vacation.  

10.) Scott was recognized by Security Systems magazine as one of the top 20 under 40 in the security industry.  It goes without saying....I AM REALLY PROUD OF HIM!

Dance Recital 2012

"Personality"

These photos were taken during the dress rehearsal (hence the pink curlers).

This has been an exciting, busy week.  

Olivia had her last dance class for the season.  Recital is Saturday night.

Andrew had Cub Scout Fishing Camp 3 nights this week.  I actually attended with him on Wednesday while Scott was at church.  I was once again reminded how much I love being a girl.  They shot paint balls with a slingshot, had a casting competition, fished (and fished some more), and shot BB guns.

There were several moments when I realized that Andrew was really missing his daddy.  However, overall I think that I passed.

On another note, we completed our home-study today.  Now, we wait!

I have been blessed to have lived with 2 wonderful fathers who love their wives and children more than life.  I adore both of them.

Sundays in the summer are extra busy for us at church.  We give our wonderful team of teachers the summer off which means we lead both services.  It is super exhausting for My Sweet Scotty.  Imagine the sigh that came from him when we realized that we had a blowout on the way to Dale's house.  

 The kiddos didn't mind too much.  They were able to try the sucker/pop rocks combo that Andrew won at church.  Note to self: I must stop buying these awful prizes.  My kids win far too often.

 Here are a few photos that I snapped as we were leaving that afternoon.

 Is it obvious which parent is the "fun" one?

 I love this photo of Sidney.  His facial expression is priceless!

We also celebrated their anniversary.

I am pretty sure that I have mentioned this before...I love being the mother of a boy.  With that said, I sometimes ask, "What was he thinking?!"  We had one of those moments a few minutes ago.  We were sitting on the patio after our afternoon swim.  I hear Andrew whisper, "Olivia, please go and get me a pair of scissors."  I immediately glanced up to discover that he had tied his swim trunks to the BBQ grill.  Really???  He flashed his big blue eyes up at me and said, "I need scissors because I can't take my trunks off.  I would be naked."  I replied, "I am going to get my camera!"

 This is the moment that he asked, "Are you going to put this on facebook?"

Nope!  I am just going to blog about it.  Thank you God for making me a girl, and for giving me such a fun boy.

I made these posters for our adoption profile book.  

Adoption Update

We had the home visit for our home study on Friday!

Let me start by saying that the social worker was great and very personable.  

However, it didn't go as I expected.  I was convinced that Andrew and Olivia would be the quiet, shy, hide behind our legs children that they have always been.  

Well...I was mistaken.  Olivia met her at the door jumping up and down and giggling hysterically.  She then proceeded to jump on the furniture ignoring my direction to stop.  In the middle of our initial interview, the kiddos came parading through the living room on bouncy balls dressed in costumes playing musical instruments and singing very loudly. 

Scott and I just looked at each other in disbelief and whispered, "Who are these children?"  

Of course, I assured the social worker that this wasn't typical behavior.

I am sure that she walked away believing me.  (ha)  

She actually commented, "You will look back at this and laugh."

That evening I asked Olivia what she was doing when Mrs. M was at our house.  

She said, "I was trying to act like an animal!"

Mission accomplished!

(This is one of the photos that we took for the profile book!)

We have also been working diligently on our profile book.  I must admit that it has been incredibly intimidating for me.  It is difficult to sum up your lives in 18 pages (8 1/2 X 11). 

 I am so thankful for friends who have been on this journey before me, and for Deana who has spent hours helping me put it all together. 

I have finally gathered and organized all the photos and information in a way that screams "Holmans".  However, it is a little too personal to share at this very moment.

We have one more social work visit.  Our profile will be reviewed, approved, and color copied.  We also have one more stack of official paperwork (including A and O's most recent report cards) to present to the agency.  Then...we wait!

Olivia has been larger than life lately.  Her sense of humor has really blossomed for lack of a better term.  We are constantly reprimanding her while holding back the belly laughs.

A few days ago, I told her that she is one in a million.  She looked at me offended and proclaimed, "I am not!  I am one is 4 million billion!"  I stand corrected!

Andrew is currently watching Veggie Tales.  Olivia has NEVER enjoyed this line of kid entertainment.  She was complaining that this show gives her a headache and makes her want to puke.  I simply asked her why she has such an issue with a cartoon that talks about the Bible.  She responded, "Dancing and singing fruit gets on my last nerve!"  Well...technically they are vegetables (with the exception of Bob), but who am I to argue.  

 I can't believe that I am posting this photo.  Being a diva is hard work...so is living with one!

Have I mentioned that I love summer?

My sweet friend (maybe I should say my loud, crazy friend), Deana, spent Sunday morning in One_Elementary snapping a few photos of My Sweet Scotty and me for our adoption profile.  Children's Ministry truly defines a large portion of who God created us to be, and I love the moments that Deana captured!

Thanks Deana!  They are perfect!

We (including Skipper) visited Hawn State Park on Saturday for a nice hike and wade in Pickle Creek. 

 Olivia hesitantly decided to climb this mountain of rocks.

 She was so proud when she made it to the tippy top.  However, daddy had to climb up and rescue her.

 She told me that this stick makes her feel "stylish".

 These two were determined to catch a crawdad.

 It took quite a while, but they managed to snag this critter.

It was a super fun day exploring God's creation and the great outdoors.