A milestone in speech progress?? NOT!

Sam is a real "TURKEY BUZZARD," as my Dad would say, meaning he is FULL of life, ornery and busy as a bee! He has had developmental delays that he is slowly catching up on, one specifically in the speech department. He is talking more and more and the best part is that we can understand him a lot of the time these days. Nate, Emma and Madeleine are gone for sleepovers and Bob is at work so it is just Mitchell, Sam and myself here at home. We are enjoying our time together very much. Sam comes up to me and says VERY CLEARLY, "Hey Mom, guess what da guy said?" I, being his proud Mama am tickled at his good AND intelligible sentence...then he says, "I'm gonna KICK YOUR BUTT!" Of course, followed by a howling of laughter completely supported by his older brother Mitchell. Mitchell cackled on for a full SIXTY seconds. This support from big bro Mitchell led Sam to say, "I'm gonna kick your butt" about four more times. Mitchell then says, "Hey at least he was easy to understand and he used full sentences!!" Did I mention that Mitchell is a Turkey Buzzard too??



Here is the dynamic duo...I love this photo...Sam adores his brothers and sisters. They have taught him all sorts of colorful language...hmmmm...what to do, what to do!

Meet the Kinney KITTENS!

We have pretty much "lost our minds" over these kittens! We were a bit distraught over a stray, pregnant cat but what a learning experience. They have been so much fun and what a blessing these little creatures are to us...


This is Cody...he is being adopted by a friend of Emma's...we thought he was a "she" for a long time and his new owner named him Emma...but we were corrected and Kitten Emma is a BOY so he will be known as Cody!!

Meet our sweet Asher...born first but the littlest of our babies...he needs a home...know anyone?

This is Butterscotch...better known as Scotchie...she has a loving personality and doesn't mind all the kisses she gets every day. She also needs a forever home in a couple of weeks. If you look at this photo closely you can see that Scotchie is napping on top of Asher!

Mitchell is bold in saying that Asher is his favorite kitten...he goes out on the porch many times in a day to hold Asher and will sit with him while he naps.

Madeleine gets up early each day. She comes into our bedroom to let us know she is awake and heads out to the porch to sit and love on the kittens. Cody loves to sleep in the folds of her cozy robe.

So we drive to the same places over and over in our lives seeing the familiar things on the journey. Sometimes we even arrive and suddenly realize we've NO IDEA how we arrived. With spring and now summer here I have loved, enjoyed, reveled in watching flowers, shrubs and gardens grow and blossom on my many trips to and fro. One vegetable garden in particular catches my eye each and every time. In fact, I look forward to seeing it each time I go that particular road. It is a large garden. It is a garden with straight, tidy rows. It is full of color and it has been meticulously laid out and labeled. This garden is well loved and cared for by an older gentleman. I know this because this man has two lawn chairs sitting by his garden and 7 out of 10 times past his home he is sitting in one of those chairs. I imagine him sitting vigil over that garden daring a weed to rear its ugly head, a crow to swoop down and steal a strawberry, a rabbit to hop in and nibble his cabbages. I also worry that the other chair is always empty...is his wife too busy to sit with him? Has she died and he puts the chair there to comfort him? Does he hope that company will come around and sit to chat a few minutes? Whatever it may be I watch the love and care he lavishes on that garden and know that the bounty of his harvest will be great. I think of him as I think of God watching over his garden...you, me, his beloved children and as he pours such love and attention into us and faithfully warns us from evil...I wonder,will my bounty be great in the name of the Lord my Savior??

Happy Father's Day/GOTCHA Day!

This gorgeous "almost" seven year old is a delight!!!!!


Daddy and his motorcycle mama!!


SIX years ago today Bob and I had the most amazing day as we were handed our precious Madeleine in a large city in China called Changsha! Receiving Madeleine into our family on Father's Day was a gift that Bob and I will hold dear forever! We fell in love with a picture and then to actually hold her in our arms for the first time was truly a miracle...she is such a blessing.

Happy Father's Day to our Daddy...we love you so much! AND, Happy Father's Day to our Grampy Mitch and Pap Kinney!!!

MUD MONKEYS!!!!!!!!!

We received a RECORD amount of rain last week. Well, we had QUITE a river running through our front yard draining into our creek...AND...suddenly that water AND mud were calling out to the Kinney Kids...in a way they could NOT resist...and suddenly I found myself taking pictures of...

THE MUD MONKEYS!!!!!!

Ya know...there is something about a muddy body of water or any puddle that just calls out to short people isn't there??? Oh, it is FUN to be a kid! (Please notice the absence of Nate...he has declared himself too old for these kinds of antics...but when I got in too he had to join!!!)

Hats off to teachers!

Each year has its ups and downs but overall we count the 2007-2008 school year as a success! Many thanks to the teachers that really make the difference! It went by so fast but we are SOOOOOOO pleased to be on SUMMER VACATION!


Mitchell finished Fifth grade with lots of baseball and a cook out. His homeroom teacher was Miss Hill and they got on famously. Mitchell is looking forward to Middle school next year!


Mrs. Thibault is Nate's homeroom teacher and a real gem! She had the most wonderful graduation ceremony to celebrate the end of Junior High for Nate and his friends. He is eager to be a high school freshman this fall!




We are sorry to say goodbye to Mrs. Amon this year as she retired after putting in many years as a Kindergarten teacher. She had our four oldest kids and each enjoyed having Mrs. Amon. I love it that she had Grace and Madeleine her last year as they are so full of life and love! I know that Mrs. Amon really enjoyed them!



Emma had a friend of mine, Mrs. Huck, as her third grade teacher and Mrs. Huck is a truly gifted teacher. We are thankful for her creativity! Third grade is a tough year in school and Emma did famously!

Kitty Cat

Meet our SWEET, SWEET Clarice! Doesn't she have a kind face?

Clarice plays like a dog. She will chase a tennis ball, she comes out to meet us when we get home and she loves this rope game that Madeleine invented. This photo is of Madeleine airborne as Clarice chases her. It is such fun to watch.

Meet our adorable kittens. They are so much fun...they are only one week old in this photo but now are just past their three week birthday. They are getting so plump and starting to walk and play now. We are so pleased that they will all have good homes when they leave Mama Clarice in a few weeks. It will be a bittersweet day for all of us!

Sleepy Sam

We had a FULL day of playing in the sun...Sam did not take a nap. We came in exhausted and ate dinner and I went outside to put away some tools. Mitchell came running to have me come see Sam...Mitchell took these photos! THAT BOY IS TRULY ASLEEP! He can sleep ANYWHERE!!

Thinking of Maria...

Today, I realized it has been two weeks since Maria Chapman died...my heart is so heavy as I think of her family walking through the house seeing her bed, or stuffed animal or even having her favorite cereal in the pantry that she will not eat. My friend, Angela, shared this with me and I thought I would pass this on to you.


Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you came to be my daughter and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.
And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.............