Winding Things Up!

With the end of the school year come many fun activities! Both Beckett and Helen had parties with their friends to "wind things up" and celebrate a good year! Beckett's enrichment class had their last day this past Wednesday and the parents were invited to come for a picnic lunch and for games! Beckett loved his time in the class this year. Here is a picture of Beck with a few buddies as they are getting ready for the three legged race.
It was obvious that Beckett and Cam had never done this race before. One of them was always dragging the other instead of running in sync with "three legs"! It was too cute!

Another relay race that the kids participated in was a "dress the dads" relay. Sean and Adam were the lucky dads and this was the end result! Aren't they beautiful?

Will had fun playing with this dog while we were at the picnic. He pretty much laid down on top of poor "Sammy" and was petting him like crazy! Beckett and Helen have never been very interested in dogs, but Will LOVES them!

We met this great couple through Beckett's enrichment class! Tracy was the assistant in the class and we found out that we go to the same church! Not only that, but when we met, they were just weeks away from traveling toTaiwan to bring home their 7 month old son! We have loved getting to know them and so happy that they are home with Eli now! They came by the picnic so all of the kids and families could meet Eli. They have been home with him about 2 weeks! Aren't they a sweet family? Love, love, love adoption!!

Here is a picture of Will checking Eli out! We couldn't get him to get much closer than this. No hugs for Eli....Will was basically just staring him down. I'm hoping these two will become buddies! Hard to believe that Will was about Eli's size and age almost one year ago when we came home with him! Wow, time flies!

Will was all about the big kids, though! He was wanting in on the football game! The two blond headed brothers on the left and in the middle are going to be bringing home a baby brother from Ethiopia in the near future! Their sweet family, including their big sister, mom and lovely dad, Adam (dressed so beautifully up above) have just started the paperwork part of their Ethiopian adoption! We are super excited for their family as they obey God's call to go to Ethiopia and bring another one of His children into their sweet family!

Beckett played a baseball game that night and I took this picture of my three guys during the game. Beckett was up to bat and the other team was warming up a new pitcher, so "Coach Sean", Beckett and Will had a little pow-wow at the fence!

This is a picture of most of the Marlins (plus Will) after the game. Sean always gathers them around and talks about the game, how they did, and gives out the game ball. Will loves being right in the middle of it all. The season is officially over, although they do have to play in the league tournament next week. It has been a fun season, even though the Marlins didn't have a winning record. They played well, improved each game and encouraged and cheered each other on! That sounds like a winning season to me! I wasn't sure what it would be like to try to watch the games this year with Will "in tow"....but it has been great! Thanks to Nana, Papa and one of the team member's big sister, Emily, Will has been quite entertained at the ball park! I shudder to think how many goldfish snack crackers he has eaten while at the ball park, but they kept him happy! :)

And I only have two pictures from Helen's end of the school year celebration. Her friend, Carlie had a party at her neighborhood pool on Thursday, and all of Helen's five year old friends who will be starting Kindergarten this fall came to swim and play. It was a great afternoon and we had a good time. I'm sorry that I didn't take more pictures, but here is one of Helen with her good friend, Sophie!

Will had a good time at the pool, too. He actually kept his hat on and didn't venture too close to the pool without me. The water was SO cold, so he and I sat on the side for quite a bit. He was content with that and so was I!

We had quite a busy family day planned for today, but Helen got sick with fever and other yucky virus side effects, so we had to do our day in shifts. Our East TN Ethiopian Adoption family gathering was today, so Beckett, Will and I went to the picnic while Sean stayed home with Helen. I can't believe that I forgot my camera! (Click HERE to see some great pictures from the picnic today.....including our ET cutie himself!) Tracie is a gifted photographer and she took some great pictures! So many beautiful children were there! I enjoyed meeting many of the families in our area that I had only heard of, including one family here in our little town who is close to bringing home an infant girl from ET! Amazing! Loved seeing kiddos and families that have traveled this adoption journey and sharing stories with each other. It was a great event! We rushed home from that picnic so that Beckett and Sean could go to their end of the season baseball party. One player's family hosted the party at their pool and they had a great time. I was sorry that Helen and I had to miss the party. I asked Sean to take the camera, but I knew he wouldn't take any pictures. It was a fun, full day, but no pics to share! That is the latest from the Harper Hullabaloo! We will be finishing up our last week of school this coming week! Never a dull moment!