This guy..

This guy stole my heart 8 years ago! Jaxson Wheat, I love you so! You are just the coolest, sweetest, loving and admirable dude. In 8 more years instead of a scooter you will be asking for a car! Wha?!?

Baby Carter.

McKenzie

Birthday round -1

Disney dayz!

Wow...happiest place on earth indeed. First trip to Disney and it was been a blast!!

First, I want to see a show of hands for people who are cray-cray and are going to waste 6 plus hours of their life waiting on a princess?? I have heard of WAY too many people doing this. WTH?! Anna and Elsa-I mean yeah I teared up a little at the pure joy of my daughter meeting them and have felt very accomplished when other characters and attendants see we do have the autograph of them..and we only waited a short time. But come on y'all... More than a 30 minutes wait ain't worth it. That's just me maybe.. I'll move on.

Day One at Magic Kingdom we got there 30 minutes before opening and went straight to Anna and Elsa. No fast pass we waited 20 minutes-success!! Then we moved on through our 3 fast passes. We picked Space Mountain-awesome! Pirates of the Caribbean-closed=not awesome and Monsters Inc laugh-very mediocre... Then we fit a few rides here and there and lunchtime we were ready to go home.."hangey" we were and hotter than hates we decided to take a break. This is where everything didn't go so well ...we came home and ate made all the kids take a nap and then it started raining..not the 2 hour fast moving Florida rain.. More like a typhoon..it never let up and actually intensified though the night.. So magic was short lived that day. We went out to eat and then I pretended I was going to "read" and never actually opened my book and it was only 10pm. You should try that trick... Works every time. :-)

Day two-we understood the whole fast pass thing and the lunch/snack/heat thing. We went to Animal kingdom. Many people told me this wasn't a good choice but for us it was one of the best days! Animal kingdom is very shaded, the Lion King show it amazing, we rode all the rides and also saw the Nemo show which was pretty cute too. It was a good day!

Day 3 we headed to Sugarmill where you get to make your own pancakes. Besides the fact it was hot, hot, hot in there with all the skillets on, it was delish and a very fun experience. It's located on a state park that has a really cool natural spring pool that the kids had a blast in. After all you can eat pancakes it was only appropriate to go to the beach and be beached whales for the day. 

This night Corey and I got a date. We went to Downtown Disney. We ate appetizers and had a beer at Ragland Road Irish Pub. This place was great, food was delish, beer was cold and there was constant entertainment-band, dancers and music. Fun time! Thanks Boo, Pops, Chad for keeping the kiddos!

Day 4 was back to Magic Kingdom where we walked and walked and walked and made up for our short day on Monday. We walked 12 miles that day..aye yai yai! Kids held up fairly well and it is truely a magical place! 

                                          Jaxson in his element- The Pirate Life for him..

                        And Annabelle in her element-The Princess Mermaid Life for her.

Day 5 we went to blizzard beach for a few water slides and a more low key day and then afternoon by the pool. 

Day 6 downtown Disney followed by a loooong wait at the airport for a flight that keeps getting delayed-boo! 

It was a fabulous, magical and awesome trip. It was all I dreamed of and more. Thank you Boo and Pops for a fantastic trip!

 

 

We still do!

14 years ago (one of our first dates) before cell phone cameras existed...

heck, we might have still only had beepers here.

July 17th, 2004- I married THE best guy, whom I want to laugh with, 

dance with and smile too hard with all the days of my life. 

You gave me 2 of the most precious people, life sucking and all, we are perfect for us.

You follow me and support me and push me to places I never thought possible.  

We do BIG things and I am so proud to be on your team!

Corey- I love you for all that you are, all you have been and what you are yet to be.  

Happy 10 years, LoveBoat! 

Happy 4th, y'all!

                                   Happy 4th, from Bethany Beach, DE.

               My Hannah Bear- loves the water. 

                                My super heroes.

First time eating crabs...he was quite the fan.  He dug right in.

Water logged with tan lines...

Life's a beach.

Mark has never been to the beach, he has never even seen a big body of water so you can imagine his excitement this week on our trip to Bethany Beach. Lots of firsts and lots of fun. Gasping at the sight of the bay bridge and squalling at the excitement of the first wave -he has not taken the smile off his face.

 

Mark- Day 2, 3, 4 plus...

Opps, just realized I should probably give an update in case you have not heard or seen us.  Corey does an outstanding job at his blog- so follow him too..I get side tracked easy and leave you hanging if you haven't noticed... www.crayonsandkeyboards.BlogSpot.com

So Friday morning Mark woke up a totally different kid.  He was rested and a ready to take on this adventure.  I hesitated to take him to the last day of Summer Camp at our church for fear of overwhelming him...but did it anyways.  I was so glad I did because he did awesome!  He joined right in with the crafts, clapped to the music and played with all the kids.  It was a great day.  He requested PIZZA after camp so we obliged and afterwards we took him on a shopping spree.  Then that night we had a church picnic.  All of which he had a blast. 

The weekend was full of more fun, food, family and friends.  Jaxson and Annabelle are getting along great with Mark.  They all play together and it makes my heart sing!  They play legos, they draw, they read stories, they watch TV, the play outside ALOT, and they really just enjoy each others company.  Mark is so sweet with AB, he includes her and is so sweet with her.  Him and Jax are total boys together - you can imagine.  Aye yai yai.  Mark is a trouper when it come to food.  He eats anything...such a blessing because who the heck knows what Russian food is like?! 

Kids amaze me...everyone has taken to Mark really well...with the language barrier I thought it would be more of a challenge but it just works for kids.  Mark is already saying more and more English words and he is understanding more and more.  I am working on speaking slower...if you know me- you know that is no small task...I run at a million words a minute. 

The last couple days I have had to worked and Papi has graciously watched the kids.  They have had a blast, riding on the tractor, eating more cookies that I ever really want to know and running up a $40 tab on Papi's phone on apps.  Really Dad?  Very grateful for him and even more grateful that he pulls more than his fair share of the weight on Fun Bus because that working mom business is for the birds!  Shout out to you Dad for splitting the load so I can do what I really enjoy doing- just being a mommy! :) 

We have a few more activities this week...including a dentist appointment for Mark.  Pray his teeth are healthy.  Then we are beach bound for a while....HOLLA!!!  Belarus is land locked so this will be the first time Mark has ever been to the beach- lots of "firsts" and fun to be had. 

K...that's it for now.  Peace out.

Mark- Day one- check!

Wow.  What an exciting, overwhelming and exhausting day!  Shew!  We got to the airport at 1:30...it was hurry up and wait..and wait and wait.  I was so overwhelmed with excitement, fighting back tears as to what was about to come.  Customs is a great place for people watching so we were entertained.  You see the electronic doors open a million times, anxiously waiting to see the face you have long to see for months and months.  For us it was only in a picture...a picture that I found out was actually Mark from 3 years ago.  Yicks!  Most our group walked out and we all cheered and hugged and cried ...but wait.  No Mark.  Soon to find out the poor kid did not "claim" a sandwich and had to go to a higher level of security.  Opps.  We laughed because we got the rebel of the group. 

FINALLY Mark comes out...white as a ghost might I add.  He speak very little English and if you know me you know I talk a million miles a minute and am bubbly and out going and touchy feely (sorry Mark...that's the cards you got dealt).  I am working on toning it down.  But needless to say we were all overwhelmed..but very happy! 

We decided to take the group to McD's for ice cream.  As we drove there, Jaxson had a Russian/English book and him and Mark sat in the back pointing at pictures giving thumbs up or thumbs down.  We found out he like sharks, bananas, swimming, and pizza. 

After ice cream we headed home.  I turned back to check on Mark in the third row of the car on a windy road and he was green.  You ok buddy, I asked?  he said his stomach hurt ...then BLEH- pukes.  Aye yai yai.  We scrounge to pull over strip the kid and get as cleaned up as possible to finish the trip home.  My heart ached for him- how terrible.  All he asked for was his mom. 

We have an app on our phones and ipad...it works good but sometime messes up because I am pretty confident after he puked his guts out he was not asking for "pancakes!, pancakes" or telling me that "ladies feel good".  This should be interesting as there is quite the language barrier.  After he showered he opened the door to the bathroom and just babbled something over and over.  I wish I could have taken a picture of Corey face for y'all.  He looks at me and says "what's he saying?"...I have not a clue, get the translator, dude!  He could not figure out how to turn off the shower...that's all. 

So we got home, showed him around and what to our wondering eyes appeared in his bag?!?  LEGOS!!!  The kids all got their out legos and played and laughed. 

He got sad a couple times and when it was time for bed he got very sad.  Broke my heart in two.  How scary it must be for a 9 year old. 
A little something about me...I never spent the night out, ever.  I hated the feeling when it was time for bed and all I wanted was MY bed and MY parents!  To this day, I hate it...but now it MY husband and kids.  So I can relate and I hate that for him.  I did find his brother on facebook and we were able to talk to his sister who is also here in the US.  Once he laid down he was out and is still sleeping this morning.

My prayer is that he is well rested today and we are able to provide the comfort he needs to know it is all going to be ok. 

Giving.

You know how people suck?  Yeah me too.  I am one of those people...I have battered and bruised others and have been battered and bruised by others.  Did you know that church people are just people and they suck too?!  Yeah...I am one of those too.  That's a hard one...you mean people that go to church are not perfect?  Hummm..weird!

It happened a church a few years back...you get hurt by the church or someone at church and you get totally turned off.  Then you re-coup go back or to a different church and what?!  Same thing again.  Well duh...church people need Jesus- we all do.  So mow over the issue and let new flowers bloom.

I get discouraged, I get worn down, I get battered and bruised but every time I do, I pray harder and guess what ..prayer works!

I was wearing thin on the fundraising...people ALWAYS want something for nothing and I give it to them, personally and in business.  People always have a cause and those causes always get me right in gut.  Then it is my turn to need something and I get a door slammed...or so it felt.  But you know what?!  I will keep giving because that is what I am called to do.  Christ wants us to love and give- shew!  At least I am good at those...(most the time).

Maybe just one day I will give someone the feeling I had one recent morning.  When a door was slammed another opened...
We were at a stand still with our host program...we needed $1,000...omg!  That's a lot of money.  We needed it in 20 days.  One night I got an email from a friend saying that someone wanted to donate.  I gave her the info and the next morning- BOOM!  $500 in our fund!  I see the name of the family who donated, I do not know them at all, I don't know how they knew our story or what we were doing, but they wanted to donate to us- to Mark.  Wow- what a feeling.  This family has no idea what a burden they have taken off my shoulders.  I am over the moon grateful.

In the last week, we have had more donations- monetary and stuff.  Graciously, Corey's parents have included Mark in our Disney plans too.  Many years in planning to FINALLY go to Disney and we get to take Mark too! 

7 days until he gets here and I am already feeling so blessed to have him in my life.  Love seeing God at work and can not see what is in store for the weeks to come! 

 

Fundraising- blah

I hate asking for money...every time you turn around someone is ALWAYS asking for it somewhere.  I get at least one fundraiser in the kid's folder EVERY week and if you have a Facebook account you see it constantly.  Being a business owner I get request after request, it is exhausting!  I get it!  

Like I said once before, I truly felt lead to have Mark here this summer, for him, for us and for the whole experience.  The financial obligation is incredible overwhelming.  But God always provides..always!  

We have set up two events in hopes to give people something back for that money...that feels a tad better. We have a Parent's Night Out coming next Saturday, April 12th 4pm-9pm.  I mean you would pay a babysitter more and we are going to have an Eggcellent time!  If you don't have kids or can't make  that one, we have another event on Monday, April 14th...This one is a Family FUN night at The Lodge where we have Corey, Casey and Michael guest bar tending as well as raffles and FUN BUS for the kids!  

If you can't make one of those and want to give here is a link for you.  and might I say THANK YOU! 

http://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/summer-with-mark-/160249

A journey on the horizon.

For 6 weeks this summer the Wheat family is growing.  We have felt lead to host a child from a small village in Belarus.  Belarus is a very poor area where the fallout from Chernobyl still contaminates their food, water and atmosphere.  A family in our neighborhood hosted a child last year and after hearing their journey, we feel it is a great fit for us.  The program is through their church, Frederick Church of the Brethren, in which we have visited several times and who knows maybe after this experience we will be able to bring the program to our own church and spread the opportunity to other children of Belarus.

Spending just 6 weeks in a healthy environment adds years to these children's lives and they return home with healthier immune systems, color in their faces, and hope in their hearts. Not only are excited to help this child and share Christ in his life but we are also excited at the opportunity to expose our children to new experiences and cultures.   

While we have lots of love in our home, the financial obligation is a bit overwhelming but we truly feel that God provides.  

In the months to come we will be hosting fundraisers. The first one we are doing is a Parents Night Out on April 12th so save the date and plan a hot date with your spouse and leave the kids with us! Details coming soon. 

I'll leave you with a picture of Mark our very sweet looking Belarusian boy whom we are very excited to meet! 

She is the FAB Five!

Five..5! I can't believe it my baby girl is 5. What a perfect joy you are to me, Annabelly. Even at 4am when you woke up in the middle of the night, perhaps you were on to me because you rarely wake in the night. On to me because I "birthday boobie trapped" you for a morning surprise and I had to crawl and maneuver like no one should have to that early in the day to get through the surprise with out messing it up. Your welcome.  and yet again just like Santa, the tooth fairy, etc the "Birthday Fairy" got credit for it.

Let me tell you 5 reasons you are FABULOUS to me!
*You are sweet and sassy with a pinch of fiesty.
*You have the cutest accent I could listen to forever...some say it sounds like someone from Boston.. I'm not sure but it is THE cutest thing.
*You and your brother are bestest friends and that melts my heart. You play well with others and you play well independently.
*You love dolls, princesses, Legos...you have quite an imagination. 

*You change your clothes often and you rearrange the house like no ones business..if you can't find something...ask AB because she put it somewhere.

...one to grow on
*Your funny and precious and I just love you to pieces.

Happy 5th Birthday, Annabelle-y!  

The Birthday Boobie Trap.

 Party #1 at Mimi & Papi's

 Party #2- Special ordered happen to be family night a face painter at Chick Fil A, the place of choice for her birthday dinner.

Awww Geez..

Geezz..has it really been that long since I blogged.  Boo!  Truth is I just am not that interesting and when I do get interesting ain't no one got time to blog about it!  Sheesh!  I had this funny thought that after the new year I would have more time but yeah, no that never happen.  

We are having a brutal winter and while I have hardly worked on the bus I have been busy entertaining children because they go to school only like every other day.  Let me say I LOVE SNOW!  I love a snow day and I love to play in the snow and look at it...BUT I think I just might be done with it for this year!  This epiphany came last week when it snowed just short of 2 feet!  Yes, 2 feet.  Until last week I loved to shovel snow.  It is a nice little work out and I genuinely liked doing it.  Last week that changed.  When Corey and I went to shovel I did not know where to even begin...it was A LOT!  You had to shovel the same spot 3 times to even see the ground and that happen for the WHOLE driveway.  While we got entertained by a couple trucks getting stuck on our street, one being a snow truck, a high school aged kid that was trying to ride his bike to our snow hill and the little a**hole driving the bulldozer to clear the street that right as we were completing this task dumped the street snow back on to our driveway.  Really dude?!  So yeah, I am nearing my breaking point for Winter..today it is a glorious 40 degrees and it is AWESOME.

Snow more SNOW!

Some other happenings...This little lady turned one.  Michael and KeeKee share well and let me keep her here and there.  I adore her...she over flows my heart with joy even when she pours cereal all over my floor.  She is like the 3rd child I never had (and never want- no offense), I know exactly what people mean when they say they can give them back...I am just out of that stage and while I can handle it every once in a while I don't care to go back.  So no, no more babies for me...but yes I am happy to love on yours!

In sad news, my Papaw passed away.  I am really at peace with it because the poor man suffered for a while with COPD and now he is with Jesus breathing fresh air!  Plus he was 90 and lived a long, good life and he was a man of God so I know where he is hanging these days! 

and in other news..Corey and I and some dear friends went for our annual ski trip and I actually skied for the first time ever..(usually I tube and hold down the lodge)!  First 5 minutes were a nightmare especially since they parked at the top of the hill and insisted the only way down was to ski it.  Liars!  I did not know the first thing about skiing ...nothing...zilch!  When I was getting fitted for boots the guy told me "lean forward like you are skiing"...uh okay.  even that was news to me.  I only fell 14 times and I have huge bruises on either side of my bootie to prove it!  It really was so much fun and I can not wait to go again. 

 On the trip the boys took us on a Valentines dinner date...we dressed up and had a great time. Women in heels and lots of snow is a perfect combo..eh?!  

and that's all I have for now.  I have some stuff I am working on so stay tuned to my adventure.  I promise to post more.