School is just around the corner

Well school starts in 13 days in the beautiful state of WV. The boys are getting excited and so am I. I think I am most looking forward to the school routine it keeps everyone with work to do.

We have also decided to put Lila is a pre-school 2 mornings a week. I really feel like that will give her that language base and fun she needs. I am a little nervous but she is so curious to learn pre-school just might be her ticket! I have to make sure there is still room for her tomorrow and if so I will go ahead and sign up our little lady for T/TH mornings! Here is a pic of Cade that decided to express his artistic side last Sat afternoon. He has NEVER drawn on himself in 5 yrs so why now? why ask....this is Cade the free spirt we are talking about. When I saw him I just had to laugh because he is so funny and you never know what he will come up with. He gets that from Scott who also cracks me up all the time!

A boy and his toad!!

My dreams have come true with Cade he is just loves nature and likes to hunt for critters and learn about them. I hope one day he wants to be a biologist, vet , zoologist, entomologist etc... I could live through him!! No pressure Cade!!! It is so fun to watch him get excited about living things. And here is Ms America in one of ther adorable outifts. We are getting ready for school and the kids are so excited and I am excited for them. The doctors visits went well and Cade did a great job and didn't shed a tear. Lila cries this time for her 2 shots and blood draw but not to much and was a trooper being this is her third time at the doc offices since she has been home!! I am having her titers check to make sure we don't over vaccinate our lady so we go back in a month and see what she needs next. The doctor was so impressed on how healthy and well adjusted she is. I for one was happy to hear that.

A girl and her bike

We had a busy weekend here at the Stark house. Lila got to experience her first 2 B-Day parties and we all had a great time at both!! Of course I was too caught up in the fun to take any pics as usuall. She loved the ballons and cake and since she copies everything anyone does she only eats the icing off the cake just like her big bro Jake. Both parties were water theme parties so they were wet and happy. You will see this pics of Cade who wanted to weat his rain boots to the party but thankfully I conviced him other wise. Cade and Lila bothe have appt t his week for shots so I will let you know how it all played out later this week. We also bought Lila her first little Barbie big wheel. She was so excited by the box I didn't even think we needed to put it together! Even though it claims to be for 2 yr old her tiny legs barley reache the pedals so she still likes it!!

First time at "Glory Days"

Well it was a big night for the Stark 5 for we were taking Miss Lila to one of our staple restaurants "Glory Days". We like to go there because you can sit outside and the kids don't bother anyone. So we went but the there was a wait for outside so we ate in an all the kids were great despite the long wait for our food. Since this was the first time I had been out to eat since returning from China I was looking for some good old American poison, that right some fired stuff. Of course we tried to keep Lila on the healthier side but she loves fries and how can you deny that face!! We all stuffed ourselves and when home and crawled to be!! Ah to be back in the good old USA!!! Lila's adorable outfit courtesy of Aunt Nanna people just loved it!

Home at last

Well the Stark 5 are safe at home now and hope to take is easy for the next few weeks before Jake and Cade start school! They are so excited to be riding the bus together and so am I. I will be filming the event with tears of pride in my eyes!! Lila is still doing great since we gotten home but has caught the sniffles. I can't believe it has taken her this long between 2 hotels, 2 plane trips, 20 hrs in the car, Reunion beach and pool. Her poor little body has just given in though you wouldn't know it if you saw her running around the house with sunglasses, walkie- talkie and nerf gun with her brothers. Cade and Lila go next week for check-ups and vaccines( really looking foward to that). Then on the 19th Lila has her Cardiologist appt to make sure her little heart is all good. After that she will get a break from doctors and just be her happy self.Overall this part of the adoption journey has been unbelieveable to say the least. To see this child do so well in such a short time is something I do not take for granted!!! She amazes everyone she comes in contact with and they just fall in love with her. Lila just proves that all children are special and given the chance would be a blessing to any family lucky enough to have them.

Low Country Reunion

We have been in Mt. Pleasant for about four days now and everyone is having a good time. We're still waiting for the Yankee Assault which begins on Thursday with the arrival of some cousins. Cade is still struggling with his new role as a big brother but Jake acts like she's always been here.







Lila modeling her new suit before hitting the sandy beaches of S.C.





Anyway we have been to the beach, swimmming in the pool everyday (3 or 4 times), kayaking from the dock and today we're going to a little waterpark. We still have some final preparations to help with but we're all revved up about the weekend.

First Doctors visit

I have to take a second and brag about my girl. She was such a tropper today at the doctors office everyone was so impressed!! First of all I have to thank my good friend Kelli for watching the boys for me. Jake would have freaked to see Lila getting blood drawn and it wouldn't have gone so smooth with him there I can promise that! So thanks again Kelli for saving the entire office from the drama. So anyway I was so worried she would just lose it for the blood draw but to everyone surprise not one peep just a tiny lip quiver and that was all!! How many 2 yrs old would tolerate that!!! When I went to get the boys Cade was far from ready to go home. Kelli's house is his fantasy land of toys and fun so needless to say Cade is still having a rough adjustment to big brotherhood. So here is a pic of Lila right before the appt all smiles what a brave girl!!!!