Dedicated/Baptized

Miss Molly Kate was dedicated at church this Sunday morning. There were quite a few pictures taken of the event, but none by me. Thus, I have nothing to show of her dedication other than a few pictures I took of MK in the backyard before we left for church that morning. Molly Kate was absolutely adorable during the dedication and pulled her dress over her head once resulting in approximately 1,000 people laughing at her shenanigans. I've got to tell you, the girl has personality!

JD was also baptized Sunday morning. He's 14 and the most amazing young man (and yes, it kills me to use the word "man" to describe my baby.) He made the decision to be baptized a few months ago but wanted to wait until Molly Kate was dedicated to make the day even more special for our family. This was a Sunday we will never forget. We promised to raise Molly Kate to know and love the Lord and JD decided to commit his life to Jesus. I can't imagine a better day.

An Early Halloween

Just thought I'd put up picture of our motley crew dressed for Halloween. JD is a sumo wrestler, Piper is a corpse bride (sans make up), Kai and Ash are Power Rangers and Molly Kate is Jasmine. I'm still irritated that Disney doesn't make a Mulan costume, but I guess I'll just have to get over it.

JD and 11 of his friends are putting on their 2nd annual "Haunted Tour" in our backyard. It was a roaring success last year and JD has been planning this haunted event for over 2 months now. Our house is already full of middle schoolers (not to mention 3 kindergarteners and a preschooler) and it's only 4pm. Can't wait to see how the night turns out!

She looks so Southern!

Little Miss Molly Kate got all dressed up this morning and went to church (it was actually the second time, but I was too lazy and/or exhausted to take pictures the first time!) I'm telling you - she looked absolutely beautiful. To be honest, our angel would look breathtaking in a brown paper bag. I guess I didn't realize how much I've missed dressing up a little girl. Piper unfortunately passed that stage several years ago. A good friend of mine (who happens to be a former Yankee) saw Molly Kate at church and exclaimed, "She looks so Southern!" I don't know about that, but I sure do love her more and more every day.

6 Years Later

Kai and Ash - 1st Day of Kindergarten

Ash and his teacher, 2011

Kai and his teacher, 2011

Piper and her teacher, 2005 (doesn't she look a little familiar?)

Yep, just take a look at last 2 photos. Kai got the same amazing kindergarten teacher that Piper had 6 years ago. Since our elementary school has 10 kindergarten classes this year, we only had a 20% chance that one of the boys would have her. But, we lucked out and are thrilled to be spending another year with Mrs. Cooke. Ash's teacher may be wonderful also, we just don't know much about her quite yet. Regardless, I am looking forward to my big boys having the best year of their lives.

Lookout school, the Olivet boys are taking over kindergarten!

Giving God the Credit

I'm no dummy, I know that everyone reading this thinks that

their husband

and their mom

and their little ones

are the cutest

and kindest

and funniest people around

but I'm pretty sure that my family is

the most amazing family ever

(and yes, I give God all the credit for it!)

3 Weeks

Miss Molly Kate has been home for exactly 3 weeks. It's amazing how much English she understands, how much she's changed, how tightly she's woven herself into our hearts (well, all of us but Ash.) She is full of joy and life and love. Her little heart has shown so much resilience. Before her adoption, I expressed my fears (to almost anyone who would listen) that Molly Kate would have a very tough time bonding with me. She lived with her foster mother for her entire life (all 3 years and 8 months of it) and I was quite honestly terrified that she would hate me and grieve heavily for her real "mama." To my amazement, that didn't happen. Molly Kate didn't exactly love me our first week together but she never completely pushed me away and slowly allowed me to show her more and more love. I don't know if it was our extensive Skype sessions, but Molly Kate took to her daddy almost immediately. She lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw him at the airport and he's been her big teddy bear ever since.

JD, Piper and Kai are all very sweet with Molly Kate. She loves to spend time with them and they're kind and gentle with her (to a point, but that's understandable - she is 3!) We won't go in to the relationship between Ash and Molly Kate (you can read about it here) but let's just say that it stinks. I'm hoping that time will help. Honestly, it can't get much worse. Today, Ash said that he didn't want to be near MK because she didn't smell good. And I'll promise you my little girl bathes in strawberry bubble bath and smells like a rose!

But back to Molly Kate (or MK as I like to call her...)

She loves to dance

and twirl

and dress up like a princess.

She swims like a fish (with floaties, of course)

and climbs like a monkey.

She snatches any toy she wants

no matter who's playing with it

or how big they are.

She wakes up happy

and sleeps alone (hallelujah!)

for 11 hours a night.

She's truly an angel

and is not the reason

that I'm often a basketcase

who rethinks my ability my parent daily.

They Really Hate Each Other

I don't allow my kids to say the word hate. But since I'm not 5, I decided to be a rebel and use it here. Ya know, I like to live on the edge like that.

Molly Kate and Ash don't have a love/hate relationship. It would be more accurate to say they've developed more of a hate/hate relationship. I worked for good 10 minutes just to get a photo of them together. And their expressions say it all (i.e. I'll look at the camera, mom, but there's no way I'm gonna smile while this close to him/her.) If I hear my own speech about patience, kindness and love one more time I think I might puke. So we're taking this whole new sibling thing slowly, and my main goal is not to kill either one of them before it gets better.