A visit from Pop and Grandma Jane

We dropped Pop and Grandma Jane off at the airport this morning after a wonderful week-long visit! They were really troopers as the 2 days of rain earlier this week left some puddles in our basement (also their bedroom for the week)!

The boys enjoyed playing games with them -

and Becca spent the whole week making her Pop smile and laugh!
We are so glad there are able to come and stay with us! We always have so many special memories of our time with them!

The 1/2 matters!

David is officially 6 1/2! We went out to visit Grammy yesterday as she is recovering from foot surgery and we had a little cake and sang "Happy 1/2 Birthday to You"!
David has had a good summer. He has started playing with the neighbors kids much more this year and loves to be around friends. David continues to amaze us in the pool. He is such a good swimmer. He logged 12 hours of reading this summer (in 15 minute increments) for the library summer reading program. Only a few more weeks until 1st grade!

We finally got our patio furniture! This is a "so far" after picture, we still need to get an umbrella (this is the old one) and next summer we will add some big pots of flowers!


If you scroll down a few entries or so you can see the "before" pictures! We are looking forward to having lots of family meals on our patio for the rest of the summer.

Who could resist....

this smile?????

It seems like everyone lately has been commenting on how big Rebecca is getting. She has suddenly become a toddler and is changing so much! We realized about a month ago that she has stopped growling (which was most of her communication). She still isn't talking a lot, but she is getting much more verbal (and loud). She says "Ma" for both Chris and I. She says "num,num,num,num" if she sees something she wants to eat (she put away 2 hot dogs at dinner last night!). She also does a few animal sounds.

She loves to give this HUGE grin to anyone who will greet her and she loves to blow kisses - which could melt the hardest heart!

It has been interesting to see how little girls are different than little boys. Becca likes to imitate what I am doing - getting the towel to clean up a little spill, etc. She is also much more interested in babies than the boys ever were. If she sees a stroller or a baby carrier, she gets excited and points and wants to see the baby. She also likes to carry her baby dolls around the house.

Have I mentioned how wonderful...

my husband is recently???? Well let me tell you! Earlier this month we celebrated our 10-year anniversary. Just last night we got back from our anniversary trip. I have known for about 3-4 months that we were going on a 4 night-5 day trip just the two of us! Chris planned the whole trip. He started giving me hints about the trip last week and by Sunday I had it figured out. On Tuesday, we flew into Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We then drove about 2 hours to Lake Louise where we stayed two night and then we spent two nights in Banff! It was absolutely beautiful and we had a wonderful time! A HUGE thanks to the grandparents that loved on and took care

of our kids while we were away!

We took a TON of pictures, but I will try to just post the best! The pictures can only give you a glimpse of the beauty of God's creation!

In front of Lake Louise - the highest settlement in Canada (@5000ft.) and one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.

Deer Lodge - where we stayed in Lake Louise

One of the highlights for me - Takakkaw Falls

This is Johnston Canyon - between Lake Louise and Banff - we walked 1 1/2 miles each way to see the waterfalls. The walk up along the river canyon was amazing - notice the catwalk along the edge.

This is the Sulphur Mountain Gondola in Banff - and I actually went on it! I was a little freaked out, but I knew the view from the top would be worth it!

This is a picture from the internet - here is where the gondola brings you and then there is a walkway to go even higher on another observation deck!

Here is the view from the top looking down on Banff.


This is the Banff Springs Hotel. We walked around inside on our last day there and then enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the terrace. There was a wedding taking place just a few feet away from us - so that was our lunch entertainment!

This is the view from the hotel!
What a special trip! Thank you Chris and thanks to the grandparents!

This and that

Here are a few pictures from our past week!

The boys went to a 1/2 day Science Camp/Discovery Days at a local charter school. They both really enjoyed it. One of the mornings they were there, Gams and I went out for breakfast with Rebecca at a special restaurant we've been wanting to take her to.

On Saturday the boys, our friend Todd, and some of the neighborhood boys worked hard all morning, taking loads of mulch to the backyard to fill in the play area. We still haven't taken our "after" picture as we haven't quite gotten it all put back together and are shopping for patio furniture!

Here is a sweet picture of Claire! She and her family are doing quite well!

I'll call this one "Three Garveys on a Tricycle"!

Interesting conversation - deep thoughts

For those of you who don't know us in "real life" - my David is quite the conversationalist! Not only does he talk A LOT - but you he can hold his own with adults when it comes to his reasoning skills and thought processes.

The other day he was saying that God could have made us any way he wanted, but he made us people (as opposed to robots, dogs, etc). I said, "Yes, and God chose to give you dark hair and dark eyes, why do you suppose he made you that way?". He didn't have an answer and so I suggested maybe it was so that he would look like Rebecca. So of course he replied "but what about Steven?". And then I explained that he and Steven were both born from my belly, but because Rebecca wasn't, it may be harder for her later in life, and that looking like her brother may make that all a bit easier. Which turned into quite a discussion about me not being her "real" mom and what is a "real" mom and what role does Rebecca's birthmother play in our lives! This is something that I think about from time to time. In a way right now, I feel that we are sort of living in a bubble. Rebecca's transition to our family was so seamless and right now she has no questions or thoughts about who she is and where she can from. That's what I mean about the "bubble". In the meantime, I try to educate myself about adoption issues. I have connected to other adoptive families and for those with kids that are old enough to hold conversations and ask questions about these issues - I hang on their every word to hear how they answer the questions, etc. The bottom line is that every child is different and responds differently to the realities of adoption. I pray for Rebecca that she will have not struggle with any of this, but am also aware that struggle is a part of life.

On a lighter note - this is what happens when the boys are getting restless in the summertime and haven't been able to swim all week because of the backyard project - ("after" pictures soon!) They were afraid to show me because they thought they would be in trouble! I thought it was hysterical!

Sarah Joy and our backyard project (unrelated!)

I have some updated pictures of Sarah Joy! On Saturday night we had a small shower for Carol - of course when it was originally planned we didn't know that Sarah would be joining us! She is still so tiny - everyone at the shower said she looks like a baby doll!

You can really tell how tiny is in the picture with the kids - this was last week - the first time they saw her.

We are having our backyard redone. They came on Monday and took out all the old concrete and mulch! Hopefully they are pooring the new concrete tomorrow! The major work is in the back, but they are also widening our driveway and replacing our front steps!

Here is a before picture.

And this is what is looks like right now - with all the concrete out!

Notice the climber set up in next to the diving board? The kids have been having fun sliding into the pool!

My water baby!

Just had to show off our newest little swimmer! Each of the kids has gotten more comfortable with the water at an earlier age! Having a pool in our backyard means they get a lot of exposure to swimming. Becca seems to be the most fearless of the bunch and wants to do everything her big brothers are doing! She gets all around the pool just like this with her arm floaties and swim vest. She can climb up the ladder and down the ladder. She likes to jump in, but she can't really jump yet, so she kind of just steps in.

Here she is on the diving board!

More water fun! We spent a hot Monday at the Sprayscape! And of course she loved that too! She was moving so much I could only get a picture of her from behind!

And one more - I had to throw in a picture of her with her PIG TAILS! They make her look like a big girl!

Pictures from our past week!

I have some new pictures of Claire to post! She and her family came over for lunch today and the boys (+ Rebecca) all enjoyed the pool. Susan seems to be doing better!

We had a fun 4th of July - some friends from church came over - we had 12 kids and 11 adults - we swam, ate (and then ate some more!) - played Wii and then watched the fireworks from our front yard!

Chris and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on the 5th. We went to the Tigers game and they beat Cleveland 12-3! We also had a very nice dinner out! Thanks to Grammy and Gup and Gams, we had the whole day and night to ourselves!

And last but not least here is a picture of Sarah Joy! Carol is hopefully coming home today and Sarah hopefully Sunday or Monday! I think she looks just like her big sister Katie!

Baby Update

This is for those of you who are keeping up with Baby Claire. I have no new pictures - I will try to work on that today. Susan was admitted into the hospital on Tuesday afternoon with postpartum hypertension - the same thing happened after Aidan's birth. She returned home yesterday and is doing better. Hopefully her blood pressure will stay down and she will have relief from headaches. Claire is doing great and from what I hear she is a hearty eater.

In other news, our good friends Keith and Carol had their baby girl on Tuesday the 3rd. She was born by C-section 4 weeks early as Carol went into the hospital on Sunday night with high blood pressure - it was preeclampsia and they had to deliver the baby to protect Carol's health. Sarah Joy is 4 lbs and is doing quite well. They are both still needing time at the hospital - Carol for recovering and Sarah to learn to eat. I guess she is breathing on her own and will eat, but can't seem to do both at the same time yet!

Move over Tiger!

A week ago Saturday - Chris took Steven golfing at a "real" golf course! They went to a little par-3 course at the MetroPark near us. They did 14 of the 18 holes and Steven did great for his first time out. When they were done Chris asked him if he enjoyed it and he said "yes". Then Chris asked him if he would like to do it again and Steven replied "How about tomorrow?" He came home and had to call Grandpa Mike and Pop and tell them all about it!

Here is the big golfer and the little golfer.

She's FINALLY here!

Our new niece and cousin that is! Susan (Chris' sister) was due on June 24th - but because Aidan was born 2 weeks early, we have been expecting this baby anyday since June 10th! Poor Susan went to the hospital on both Saturday and Monday and was sent home! The third times the charm and she made it with little time to spare - they arrived at the hospital at 11:25 this morning and Claire Elizabeth was born at 11:49. She weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. (which is 2 more lbs. than Aidan!) I was able to take Gup and Gams and Aidan to the hospital this afternoon and Chris and David visited this evening. Everyone seems to be doing well and we are so thankful that she is here! Today Rebecca is 18 months old - so the two girl cousins are exactly a year and a half apart!


Here she is less than 2 hours old.

And here are the youngest and oldest of the Garvey grandchidren!

Family Day celebration!

To celebrate Family Day (the day Rebecca arrived home) we took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky! Upon walking into the hotel and looking through the window into the waterpark David said "This is the best place I have ever seen!". All 3 kids (and Dad) had a great time - the boys (and Dad) especially liked the big slides where you go down on intertubes! Becca liked the toddler area with the fountains and the little slide.

Here are some pictures -

And here is the after shot! We could barely wake him up to go have dinner!

One year ago today...

I held my beautiful daughter for the first time! I can remember it like it was moments ago. I am just in awe of how amazing she is and how it seems she has always been here! We will celebrate Family Day on Sunday as that is the day we were all together. Here is picture of her within the first hour of her being brought to us.

And here she is this past weekend at 17 1/2 months. (Yes, she can climb the ladder of the playset and go down the slide all on her own!)

David was the "star of the day" at school today. For show-and-tell he decided to bring in Rebecca (and Steven too). So we briefly explained the concept of adoption and showed the kids Guatemala on the map. Rebecca was distracting the kids like crazy and was having so much fun exploring the room and even sat down for circle time for awhile - I got some great video!

Field Trip!

Today David's class had a field trip to a local farm. Thanks to Gams, I was able to go with David. It meant a lot to me, as I have not been able to be very involved with his class this year, with two others at home!

It was a great day - but let me just say - 90 degrees, 100 kindergarteners, a bus ride and 4 hours at the farm! I've been home for 5 hours and I'm still exhausted!

I got to witness several firsts for David! He rode a horse, fed a goat and pig from a bottle and milked a cow! We even went on a short hayride!

Here are some pictures!

A couple other fun things this week!

Here are Rebecca and David enjoying the pool!

This is Rebecca at the Moms 4 Community picnic! It rained the whole time, but we decided to just make an adventure of it! I think my little princess may have some tom-boy in her!

Steven had his last day of pre-school this week! Here he is with his teachers at their celebration picnic yesterday! He had so much fun with school this year and I am amazed at how far he has come!

All Aboard the Garvey Express!

With a little string help from Mom the boys made their very own train! Even Rebecca got to join in on the action!






In other news, the pool is OPEN and warm (thanks to the heater!). We've been in almost every day so far. Rebecca loves the pool too, and throws an all-out temper tantrum when it's time to get out. It looks like we have 3 fish in this family!





I'll try to get some pictures of them in the water soon!