Disney Day 1

5 Kids totally keeps me from blogging. We have been home from Disney for a week and a half and I am just now getting to update about our trip. Well Disney was awesome. We told the kids about a week and a half before we were going to get there. We felt that with the older kids they needed a heads up about the trip and we definitely think we made a wise decision. Anyway on day one we got to our resort and celebrated Zach's 10th birthday. I know being one vacation would not allow us the opportunity to throw him a birthday but I am sure being at Disney world would definitely trump a party. So we had a relaxing time at the pool and celebrating Zach.

The next morning we hit Magic Kingdom. We decided to give the kids the ultimate Disney experience and we decided to start them off with breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and friends since Heather, Logan, and Zach had never been to Disney before. The kids loved getting autographs and taking a ton of pictures. Even the big ones through getting autographs was cool. I was really surprised at how kids at any age are willing to run up to the characters with their autograph books waiting to be signed. Honestly, I thought they were more excited than the little ones.

I also had the boys get pirate make overs and all the girls got a bibbiddi boutique make over. I think this might have been the best part of the trip for the kids. The boys totally got into the make overs and we could hardly keep all the pirate get up away from Logan throughout the trip. The girls just loved being pampered and getting all princessed out. I think for Heather this was especially an awesome experience since she loves doing make up at home and here someone took over and did it for her. Heather and Lennah went for the Diva princess look and Delylah got into the classic princess look. It was such a cute experience and as expensive as it was it was totally worth it watching the kids get all that attention.

For dinner on the first night of Disney we had dinner at 1900 park fare. It was with Cinderella, Prince Charming, the wicked step mother and the step sisters. The dinner was totally awesome and this was the first time we had ever gotten to see Prince Charming.

Overall it was a great day one.

School Days

It has been a busy few weeks around here. As of today all of the kids have started school; well Delylah is enrolled in full-time day care but everyone else has started school. Heather, Logan, and Zach have had a relatively smooth transition going from Ohio to Georgia. They are adapting well and hopefully going to keep up the good work. I think the hardest part has just been trying to get into everyday routines. It is homework at night and that alone has kept all the kids busy. Then to boot Logan has started karate while Heather and Zach are still going strong with gymnastics.

As for Lennah today we had her first day of pre-k. We went to open house on Thursday and they already gave Lennah a poster project that was going to be all about her. It was fun to watch her do some homework over the weekend and for me to get in there and help her. As much fun as that was Lennah starting school gives me such mixed emotions because I want to watch my little girl grow up but I am so sad that time has flown by. I feel like I have not gotten enough time with her to enjoy the little years. I am also sad because it means that next year Delylah starts pre-k and all my babies have grown up. Because of Keith's work schedule we have also decided to put Delylah in full time day care. I didn't realize how sad it made him. He said he was lonely today because the kids weren't home to keep him on his toes. As much as a loud house could drive us nuts a silent does as well.

Beyond school it is just a busy life here and we are off to a busy vacation in a few weeks that hopefully we will all enjoy. The kids still have not figured out the big secret and hopefully they will be estatic once they get to Disney. Well let me re-phrase I know Lennah and Delylah will be thrilled but I hope that Heather, Logan, and Zach will be too.

Princess Camp

The kids have kept us pretty busy this summer between camp, gymnastics, and ballet. So the final soiree was princess camp for the little ones before school goes back. The girls had a blast and I was so excited this year that both Lennah and Delylah got to participate since you have to be 3 and Delylah was only 2 last year. It is a great camp they have here inb our county that gives the girls time to play games, be creative, and just have a great time. To end camp there is a princess gala which was held on Saturday night. To honor our Vietnamese and Ethiopian princesses we dressed them in their traditional outfits. I think it was great to see them wear their heritage proudly rather than in the trypical princess girly stuff. Lennah was so cute saying she was a Vietnamese princess.

Vacation and Happy Adoption Day

Hope the Dolphin

Zach showing off his moves

Heather, Logan, and Zach on the Dolphin tour

A picture of just mommy and daddy (yes it's rare since I always take the pictures)

Grandma showing off her talents

Last week we packed up the troops and headed to the beach. We had been planning on heading down to the Clearwater, FL area for a while to go and visit Keith's grandmother and dad. We decided to stay a little further south in a condo on Indian Shores beach and absolutely loved it. This was our first vacation as a family of 7 and it went way better than someone would have expected. When we first got to the beach and unpacked a bit the kids wanted to hit the beach. It was Heather, Zach, and Logan's first trip to the ocean so they had to check it out right away. Well as soon as they hit the water they did not want to leave. We had to practically drag them out of the water in order to get everyone ready for dinner.

On day 2 we went to visit Keith's dad and grandmother so they could meet Heather, Logan and Zach for the first time. Grandma and dad did great meeting the kids and getting to know them. I was amazed because all the kids were well behaved and took the time to spend with grandma watching her play the piano and organ (she has a talent of playing both at the same time).

On day 3 we took the kids to try out another first. The kids had never been on a boat before so we took them on a dolphin tour boat. They thought it was the coolest thing ever. After that we headed over to Pier 60in clearwater. At night they have a bunch of vendors and just local music and stuff for the kids. Delylah got picked to do a little dance contest. She looked so cute waiting to get up there and do her little dance and then the last minute she got scared and they picked Zach to step in. He went up there and did an awesome job dancing his little tail off.

On day 4 we headed over to clearwater aquarium which is actually a marine rescue. It is an awesome place to visit so I definitely highly recommend it to anyone visiting that area. Anyway while we were there the kids got the opportunity to feed stingrays; another first.

Day 5 was a pretty low key day since we just decided to stay at the condo and lounge at the pool and beach all day. I think by this day the kids were over sand and just wanted to spend more time by the pool diving in.

Day 6 we decided to take the kids on another adventure and took a pirate cruise. They had some fun water games, face painting and all sorts of activities for the kids.

By the last day we were all ready to unwind and pack up and head home that we just stayed by the condo to have fun. The kids would have been more than happy to stay in Florida if we would have let them but unfortunately we had to go back home.

The trip home fell on Lennah and Delylah's adoption day. It is so hard to believe that only 4 years ago we were in Vietnam and became parents for the first time. So much has changed in that time since they placed a beautiful little girl in our arms who would forever be ours. She changed our lives in so many ways for the better. Then to be blessed again exactly one year later with another beautiful little girl whom we never met is also such an incredible thing. Delylah has grown into such a such an awesome little girl whom I could never imagine being without. She has been such a blessing to us. Now we are hear only a few short years later and we are now a family with 5 blessings. Yes in this time it has been hard adjusting to having such a large family but it has been an amazing journey 4 years in the making.

Busy Busy

Last Night of the Boys Surge Camp

Welcome Party

Gavin and Zach making friends

Heather at gymnastics

It has been a busy past few weeks getting the kids settled in. You always figure that balancing 5 kids is going to be work but I have to say I have become a taxi driver in addition to the role of mom. The boys had camp for a week at church, Heather decided she wanted to do gymnastics, Lennah is in gymnastics, and Delylah has ballet and all of that = one tired chauffeur.It has all been worth it though. I have to say for the most part things have gone extremely well adjustment wise and we are so thankful for that. We really expected that the kids would have a lot of behavior issues when they moved here being that they are older. We thought there would be a lot of acting out it has been minimal and mostly pre-teen normal kid stuff.

Heather has really gotten into gymnastics which I think is great for her. It is giving her an opportunity to hang out with kids her age while school is out and it has been a great resource to just get some energy out since she is a high energy kid. And of course Lennah and Delylah couldn't been doing any better in ballet and gymnastics so we are so pleased that all of the girls have found something to do that they love.

This weekend we also finally had a small celebration to welcome the kids and give our friends a chance to meet them. We are so thankful for all our friends and family that came. It was a wonderful celebration.