construction

Over the past week we have had daily changes at Killeny Glen. We run out their daily to investigate and take photos. The contractors have been very nice and tolerant of the Kinney Kids appearing on scene and asking LOTS of questions. Yesterday as we drove up the kids were SO VERY excited to see that we now have a Port-o-Potty! Mommy says, "GRRRROOOOOSSSSSS!"

That NATE!

Does anyone recognize this teenage boy? Bob downloaded a bunch of photos and these grown up photos of Nate appeared! When did he start looking like a teenager??? I truly believe it was overnight! These were taken the last day of school. One of Nate's favorite things at school is his daily Karate class. This is Sensai Richardson with Nate. He has taught Nate so much and Nate has a true talent for karate. He is so graceful and precise...we love to watch him. He had a good year. He is officially now an EIGHTH grader! He reminds me that next year he will be in HIGH school! YIKES!

AAaaaaaaah SUMMER SOLSTICE!

A photo taken by a newer photographer in our midst...EMMA!!


Well, I am bidding farewell to the first day of summer which is historically a fun day for me as it is my birthday today and I turned FORTY!! I know...you are amazed to hear that I am forty but it is TRUE. What an amazing birthday it has been! I really wanted to say thank you to everyone that made my day so very special!! OH, the singing...LOTS of wonderful singing (well it was not all completely wonderful. :)) I just love to hear my kids sing Happy Birthday. Thank you too, for all the very special and thoughtful gifts, cards and calls. Madeleine wanted to know if there were any toys that I wanted for my present...I told her that getting a new pair of cool flip flops is like getting the toy I wanted....she thought that was a bit lame. Emma was so pleased to know that I was planning to eat cake for breakfast today. Gram made my favorite...homemade strawberry cake...with strawberry icing...wonderful! (Mom, if I am forty... I venture to say that you most definately have baked me forty cakes! Thanks for that labor of love!)

I am so thankful for such wonderful friends and family. What a blessing you are to me! The surprise pool side lunch was completely OVER the top and I just love you for taking the time to pull that one off! I will smile many times thinking of all the fun!

FIRST OFFICIAL DAY of summer.... let the games begin!

Ground breaking

Pap Kinney suggested we do an official ground breaking ceremony for the new house and we all thought that was a stellar idea! Today marks the official beginning of our new home which we have lovingly and thoughtfully dubbed:

"KILLENY GLEN "

We are excited and thankful for the opportunity to build Killeny Glen and trust that it will be a place of peace and rest to our family and a place where friends and extended family feel welcome and loved. Bob and I have talked of having a place that as the kids grow they can bring home their friends, and then as they become adults bring home their families.

OH! And I will NOT forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANT!!! We love you!

ANTICIPATION~~Getting started...

Let's get this party started!!! Nate (13) Mitchell (10) Emma (8) Madeleine (almost 6) and Sam (almost 3!)
I love to watch the kids play in the Enchanted Forest...there is no end to the stories and adventures and wars that are acted out in these hallowed woods!!
Gramps and Gram went to North Carolina to Aunt Evelen and Uncle Blan's house and came home with sling shots for the boys. THEY LOVE THEM! They try to shoot the tree nuts right out of the trees and they actually do!!!

Ah, to build, to build!

That is the noblest of all the arts.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "Michael Angelo"

We headed out to "The Glen" after supper tonight to take some BEFORE photographs! The plan is to start digging tomorrow! We are all in a state of excitement. The funny thing is that Bob and I are looking at how FAST the house will go up and the kids think that it will take FOREVER!

Happy Father's Day!

Bob holding his sweet girl at two yearsof age, an early Kinney kid photo (2003) and then Madeleine now.

Happy Father's Day to all the Daddy's out there but especially to Bob, my Dad and Bill Kinney!! You are well loved!

We had a delicious summer meal at Gram and Gramps to celebrate Father's day and then ended the day with a cook out with our church family. It was the ultimate summer day. The kids had a blast playing whiffle ball, basketball, and bad mitton. NO ONE complained about going to bed tonight!

At our house we also celebrate MADELEINE on each Father's Day. Although the date changes slightly, Bob received the ultimate Father's Day gift on Father's Day in 2002...a lovely nanny placed Madeleine Marie DieYi in his arms in Changsha, China! To think that it has been FIVE years ago just blows our minds! We love to watch the video and enjoy what a miracle that Madeleine is to our family! In the adoption community it is called GOTCHA DAY! We love you Madeleine!

A good visit with friends...

Bob holding baby Joshua and one of my FAVORITE infant Sammy photographs! (above)
Jill , Emma, Sam, Kimberly, Shaun, Moses and Mac
Hey! Guys! Look this way! Mitchell did not want to be in the photo and was acting silly on the side...of course, the kids were loving that!
Boy, it is hard to get the kids to look at the camera! They were acting SO silly!

Sam was in foster care in China for almost two years before finding his forever family. He was in the care of an American couple who chose to minister through foster care. Shaun and Kim recently came back to the states for a couple of years to do some additional schooling. They were able to come for a visit and bring their two sons, Mac (4)and Moses (2).Kim's nephew, Joshua, was also along for the visit. Kim had given me dozens of photos of Sam as he grew (truly a priceless gift) and we sat and went through them and labeled them for his scrapbook.