FUN FIVE!!!

We are really enjoying the hot summer days. The kids come home from school ready to be OUTSIDE. We have a great field next to our house and we play over there a great deal. They recently installed an automatic sprinkler system so we head over there for a RUN through the spray from time to time.
The kids let me take some snapshots while we waited for the sprinklers to turn on!!

Mitchell and Emma are off to school too...

Well, Emma started second grade today and Mitchell walked into fourth grade. Both of them are pleased with their teachers. Mitchell's teacher was a year behind me in school so went to Cedarville as well. Both of their teachers are gems!
Mitchell claimed that fourth grade was "hard" although they didn't do any real work today and Emma said second grade was good but she is still "a little nervous" to be there.

Bob and I cannot believe how quickly the summer went!!!!

Nate starts SEVENTH grade!

Nate walked out the door today an official seventh grader...hard to believe he is starting his second year in Junior Highschool. He really does like school and was eager to get there and hang with some friends he had not seen all summer.
He gave the first day back a thumbs up!

Deep and Wide

Today, we are all laughing as we watch Madeleine and Sam sing "Deep and Wide" on Emma's Karaoke machine. (Thank you Uncle Bruce!) Madeleine has on the headset and Sammy has the microphone and their stage is MomMom's black steamer trunk!

Deep and Wide
Deep and Wide
There's a fountain flowing
Deep and Wide

It is one of the most endearing sights we have ever seen!
Gram and Gramps stopped by just in time to view the show.

Crazy Kinney Kids!

What a beautiful evening and we had to be outside. The kids took a minute from their lively game of Hide and Seek to let me snap some group shots.

Pool time!

Sam is a water rat just like his brother's and sister's...we spent the day at the pool. He is invincible (he thinks) at two years of age and takes great pleasure in yelling "JUMP" as he steps off the side of the pool. At the end of the day we changed Sam into clothes and he was asleep in his stroller before I could get to the van to drive home!

Our first week home

It is hard to believe that we have been home for over a week. It certainly has gone by quickly! Sam is doing really well. He is a good eater and LOVES his older brothers and sisters and enjoys all the activity in our house. He is funny and very cuddly! We are still working on good night sleep but know it will come with time and good routine. Sammy has lots of hugs and kisses for his siblings and will do Nana Boo proud as he so enjoys sitting at the piano and playing a song or two.

HOME AT LAST!!!

FABULOUS FIVE!!!!

Home to our great kids and family and home and all the blessings that we are so thankful for in our lives!! We are short on sleep and routine but being home makes it so much better! The kids are all enjoying Sam and he is so pleased with his older brothers and sisters...he loves all the space to play and run after being cooped up in airplanes for TOO long!! Thank you for all the good wishes and prayers!

Going HOME!!! YIPPEE!

Okay! The bags are packed and we are waiting for our departure time to go to the airport! We are trying NOT to look at our watches too much! Cedarville here we come!

In about 30 hours we will be flying into Dayton!

Happy Birthday Madeleine Kinney!!!!!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Dear Maddie!!!
Happy Birthday to you!!!

We are so happy you are five today! You are growing to fast! We love you!
Big, HUGE, hugs and kisses to you!
AND, five birthday spanks!! :)
Daddy and Mommy

Monday in Guangzhou

Good day today. We were able to catch up on some much needed sleep. We had Sammy's official medical exam today and it was quick and painless on most levels. He didn't seem to mind too much. He is 19 pounds 8 ounces which is pretty much where we had guessed. He eats VERY well and eats a big variety of foods so we are not worried about him. He loves the huge Coy (sp?) fish in the hotel indoor lagoon and we visit it many times a day. He yells at them and talks sentences and sentences of baby talk with many, "WHOA!" in there! VERY FUNNY! We also hit the hotel pool today which is very nice and it is terribly hot and humid here so it was a welcome activity. He loves the bath too and especially our very big, deep tub. Sam is very busy and interested in everything.

The one photo you must look at closely to know I caught him unrolling the toilet paper in the bathroom and snapped the photo.