Overdue blog post is finally here

2.21.2014

*chirp chirp chirp* 
Is that crickets I hear?

Well, I wasn't meaning to go missing here on the blog.  Sure we've been busy with the usual suspects- school, dance, tennis, life.  But I guess my real reason for not posting is that I hadn't picked up my camera in a few weeks. So I had no photos to share.  So... the other day, I rectified the problem.

No, I didn't get all crazy and do some fancy photo shoot.  You know me better than that.  I simply snapped a few photos of the girls during one of Caleb's tennis practices.
 I was trying to take a photo of Madeline in the shot above...but I got a shot of a photo bomber instead.
As you can see the girls kept busy by eating and coloring.  Usually, they also have racquets in hand or are on their bike (Havi) or scooter (Madeline).  Havi has taken to using a chair in Madeline's bedroom to access Madeline's dance clothes in her closet.  I finally relented and let her wear an old leotard that doesn't fit Madeline anymore.  Yes, she wore it for two days straight, took it off to bathe and slept in it too.  I think she needs her own dance clothes. She is an absolute riot hitting tennis balls in a leotard.

Well, this past weekend Caleb played in a very competitive tennis tournament and did well.  He won one match and lost another, both going to third set tiebreakers.  Patrick and I are so, so proud of him.  He had lost the first match, and boy, was it tough.  But he handled himself like a champ and kept his composure.  Then he came back and won in a third set tiebreaker in his second match.  He played so tough and so well.  It's exciting to watch him develop as a player, but it's also equally exciting to see him grow as a person.  Tennis requires so much mental toughness, and he definitely showed that this past weekend.  As his parents, we are really trying our best to focus on these two things more so than outcomes, which is far easier said than done.  But having the right perspective really does have its benefits.

Caleb's tennis coach has asked him to play in the middle school league that takes place in the spring.  So he will be playing on a team from the courts where he trains against middle school teams from other courts and the private schools in the area.  When he plays in his tournaments, he plays using a green dot ball, which has less compression than a regular ball and, therefore, moves a little slower.  For the middle school league, however, they will be using a regular yellow ball because the kids are older.  It's what he trains with and uses in one of his clinics.  However, this will be his first time playing with a yellow ball in a competitive environment.  To say that he's excited to have Friday night matches back would be an understatement.  He also has another green dot ball tournament this Saturday that he's looking forward to as well.  Let's just hope this weekend's weather cooperate.  I'm not so sure.

Anyway, I promise to snap more photos these next few weeks and not be such a stranger.  
Hope you all have a great weekend, and thanks for continuing to pop over and say hello.

7 sweet words:

Megan Friday, February 21, 2014  

Thanks for the update! I found your blog a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed catching up with your family. We're switching to a special needs China adoption (we were on the waiting list in Ethiopia), and are reading lots of blogs and praying about our special needs request right now.

Hope the new tennis program goes great! Your family is just beautiful!

Deb Friday, February 21, 2014  

Hey girl, so excited to see your littles! I can just imagine Havi on the courts in her leotard!!! Love you all!!!!

Anonymous Saturday, February 22, 2014  

Always glad when you post. You are obviously very proud of your children, and with good reason.

Would I be wrong in thinking that Havi is an absolute character? ;-)

June K Saturday, February 22, 2014  

Your blog posts always warms my heart. I can just feel the love you and your husband have for your children. Your kids are adorable. Havi is pretty smart to get the chair to get to Madeline's dance clothes. I have a mental picture of her climbing. TFS.

lisacng Wednesday, February 26, 2014  

Cute photos of the girls at the matches. Nice that they can be occupied while Caleb plays. I'd be proud of him too because, like you said, tennis is a lot of mental endurance.

Cheri Thursday, February 27, 2014  

Caleb has done amazingly well in such a short amount of time playing tennis. He found his niche? No more baseball?

The girls are as cute as ever. Eva wears her camo clothes for days. It used to stress me out. Now I kind of have to roll with it.

Unknown Monday, March 17, 2014  

Havi in her dance clothes is adorable. I just started taking pictures of Jael in her pink cowboy boots that she wears with EVERYTHING! I love it and I decided I need to take pictures to record every moment and before she grows out of those boots. Your family is just so precious and beautiful.

I love your blogs!

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About This Blog

This blog is a place where we have shared our lives with family and friends while we waited to bring our daughter, Madeline, home from China and while we actually traveled to China for her. It is also a place where we will continue to share our life experiences, as we try to glorify God and raise our two precious dumplings from China.

And now we wait to bring Havi home from China.

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