School starts in 1 month!!!!!

While many stay at home Moms might hate that school starts on 1 month- I am thrilled!!!  The doesn't mean I don't love my kids or love spending time with them.  However, it means for our family that we get back on a real schedule.  Our kids thrive on a schedule.  We have tried this summer to keep it as real as we can.  We are all up by 6ish and head to curves by 7 at the latest.  Three days a week, I take the kids to Mills park to ride scooters right after Curves.  It helps get their energy out! 

I am proud of myself this summer.  Yes, I'm bragging on myself, patting myself on the back, and thanking myself for making it with 1 month left of summer.  You might think I'm self centered for that but so be it.  Being a RAD Mom is no easy feat.  I can't say that I've always had it together this summer.  Some nights when Luke gets home I end up in tears, yell, or simply don't want to talk to anyone.  Being a RAD parent means there is always a vie for control somewhere.  You ask the kids to get in the shower.  One might get in the shower, but you can bet assured that the other one will ask if they can wear these pj's, use this soap, or ask for something else, or simply wear no underwear at all! All in the time span of 1 minute.  It's every.single.time.  About EVERYTHING!  It can seriously wear a person down.  The sad thing is that they can turn it on and turn it off.  Sometimes I do feel crazy at the end of the day. 

Despite their circumstances, Robert and Asia have done great this summer.  We've had a chance to bond more, spend more time together, and simply try to strive for normal.  There's not a day that goes by that we haven't talked about adoption or them being in our family.  Some days, I simply just want to be normal.  I don't want to talk about their adoption or the issues surrounding it.  I just want to be a normal Mom eating at Burger King with her kids.  A normal Mom taking her kids to the pool- not discussing the reasons to trust me while teaching them to swim. Yes, that turned heads...from a lady wearing a turtleneck in the pool no less! 

In some ways, I realize I am a normal Mom.  I'm tired all the time, my house is less than what it used to be, and my meals aren't always Betty Crocker or Julia Child style anymore!  I love my kids and want the best for them.  I read everything I can on RAD and try any idea I can come up with to help the lying, stealing, and other issues we have.  It's hard.  It's really hard.  Would I do this again had I known how hard it would be?  Probably not, but it's what the Lord called us to do.  Until He calls me home it's what I'll try my best at!

For now, I'll look on the ever present bright side- SCHOOL STARTS IN 1 MONTH!!!!!!!  Bring on the school supplies, backpacks, and lunchboxes!!

Fried Peach Pies

                                                    Asia and the peach fried pie recipe

                                       Robert dumping the peeled peaches into a saucepot.

                                   Asia measuring the brown sugar.

                              Robert concentrating on measuring the cinnamon.

                                      Cooking the peaches down.  She's a little scared of the stove.

                                                Rolling out the dough.

                                    Cutting the dough- I need a good cookie cutter for this!

                                          Spreading egg wash around the edges.

                                                     Our Pies!

                                                   waiting patiently.....

                                                    A little Food Network presentation.....

                                              Caught in mid-bite!

I'm still trying to use up all the peaches we picked last weekend.  The kids have eaten fried pies before, but never had a clue on how to make them.  I decided to give them a lesson yesterday.  I remember eating Grandma's fried pies...they were so good!  We peeled the peaches (meaning I did), cooked them down, made a crust and fried them.  Luke even liked them!  When that first fried pie hit the grease, the smell immediately brought me back to Grandma's kitchen.  Oh how I wish I could visit with her and PaPa again.

Picking Peaches and Jam

 The kids were fascinated by the peaches with bugs all over them...me not so much! Yuck!

 Smashing the peaches for jam...and yes, she's wearing a swimsuit....

 This does look a little dangerous, we opted for a vegetable peeler instead.

On Saturday, Luke and I took the kids to the Guy Peach Festival.  Well, it turned out to really be a bust.  We ate their pancake breakfast which was WAY expensive for the 2 pancakes we got.  The festival wasn't even in full swing at 11 am!   We ended up going to Cadron Orchard and picked peaches.  The kids had never done this before.  It was neat taking my kids someplace we've taken Lily before.  They loved it.  We got 30 bucks worth of peaches and were set.  We ate lunch in Greenbrier at Joe's Pizza.  The buffet was cold- but the fresh, hot pizza was really good!  Today, we made freezer jam.  This was so much more messier than strawberries!  I think it turned out tasty.  Can't wait to try some! I told the kids that their Great Grandma (Lillie Mae Hill) used to say the peach pit tasted like Dr. Pepper.  I don't think it does, however, Robert is convinced she is right!  In fact, he thinks the entire batch of jam tastes like Dr. Pepper.  Whatever floats your boat!

Happy Independence Day!

                                                               Sweet little Stella

                                       Our crazy crew- Chantel, Jeff, Ellen- where's Blake?

                                                                 Frankie B.

                                                                       Jett & Asia

                                                   My sweet kiddos waiting on fireworks.

                                                            Bowden and Luke

                                                            Jeff, Bowden, and Wade

                                                    Bowden, Robert, Wade

                                                             The Morris Family

                                                                Asia and her pigtails

                                                            Us outside Flying Fish

We celebrated the 4th of July with our best friends.  Blake and Chantel and the gang came over as well as the Morris clan.  We fixed burgers, dogs, chicken legs, and all the fixings.  It was so nice and fun!  The kids played in the garage and bonus room while the adults were able to visit until almost midnight in the living room!  We just love this group of friends. 

On the actual 4th of July, Luke and I took the kids downtown to see the festival going on.  Well- it wasn't much of a festival.  We ate at the Flying Fish- which is always so good.  Then we walked around and got a snow cone.  We came back home to have leftover dinner fixings with the Morris' and then onto the Saline County Fairgrounds to watch some fireworks.  The weather was perfect and cool.  It was a fun way to celebrate America's birthday.  It was even the 2nd time we've done something with the kids- making family traditions is so important!