Summer 2010

Oh, the summer time has come and gone, way too quickly for my taste. Wehad so much fun! Maya had art classes while Sammy and I went to the zoo 3 days ina row! She made some wonderful creations :-) Maya's 5th birthday, Cinca de Maya, was a lovely fun time. We went to Toy Story 3 and Chuck-e-cheese on her actual birthday and had a float party at Pop's river with fun, friends and good food.

We spent some good times at the lake, especially for the 4th of July. A huge fireworks display and all the family was together. We were able to go to Long Beach Ca for Christie's wedding at the end of July. While in Cali, we went to the beach, explored

the Aquarium of the Pacific, and got to spend 2 day at Disneyland. Disney was all we expected and more. The kids and mommy and daddy, Ema and Pop, Auntie Kristen and Uncle Matt had so much fun! riding rides and being smooshed against perfect strangers a very crowded park. The kids were so happy to see their favorite characters up close, although neither of them wanted to meet any, they loved seeing all the color and grandeur that Disney is! We were separated for a week since I went on the man trip to Montana, while Daddy held down the fort for a whole week! They had a great time bopping around with Daddy while Mommy was fishing in the Sun River. And after a weekend at the lake, this summer is complete. We have been so very busy, and in the midst of all that business, our adoption paperwork has been in Rwanda, waiting for a judge to look at our file. That waiting has been intense, but we know that God has it all under control. Which is a good thing, cause I don't want that control. :-)

all and all, it was a great summer, full of vacation times and good home times. It sure has been hot, but soon enough we will get some relief. As always we are crazy and love it!

Big changes!

What a crazy month February has been for us! We have successfully completed all our adoption agency paperwork and passed our home study interview. And been approved for up to 2 children when we adopt! We have started the required adoption training and barely begun the foreign paperwork. We have done a lot for the adoption but really this process has just begun. Lots of waiting and praying for now :-)

Sammy had his surgery and did so well. I really think that in just one swoop we have corrected or at least alleviated his issues in his ears. It has been one full week since his surgery and he has been fine the whole time. still snoring but it is getting softer. He is such a trooper! I am so proud of him and how well he has done with this. I was afraid it was going to be harder since we could not really explain to him what was going on, but he really has been fine.

Maya had an interview for her kindergarden class today and was super shy but got into this really cool school non-the-less. I think it is a good fit for her and for me to be more involved with her education and be able to help her. She has some growing up to do and some more learning to do before the next school year starts but I think she will rise to the occasion. She so loves to learn and experience new things so I am excited to see what this new school will do for her.

Chris' business has picked up finally and he is thriving on that! He loves to get down and dirty and since now he is certified to do retaining walls and pavers he has even more to go on. Thank goodness!! Hopefully it will be steady work for a while and he can get some good experience in and build a good portfolio and get more business.

So onward we move into the known and some of the unknown. But, through it all He guides us and shows us the way, and I am thankful for that. This journey of our family's life is crazy, up and down, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank You Jesus for the small things!

the newness of the year

The year is 2010. How can that be? Chris and I, over the first few days of this year keep suddenly realizing that it is again a new decade. What happened to the last decade?! I guess it is true what they say, the older you get, the faster it flies. Especially with two crazy kiddos keeping us so busy. Our holidays were delightful and pack with highs and lows, being sick before Christmas just isn't right, but we were over it by the time the special day came around. It was a different kind of Christmas around here since we are really able to communicate to Maya what it is all about. How amazing is that?! She seems to understand from our talks and from her wonderful school teachers, what the season and celebration is really about. She, true to form, surprised us with something on Christmas morning. She wanted baby Jesus to open the first present. Such a sweet child. Sammy goes with the flow as he always does. He loved just being with his whole family in one day. He is a cuddle bug and hugged on us all. He has been consistently sick with an ear infection since before Thanksgiving. Hopefully we will be able to fix that sooner than later. I feel that Dr.s appointments will be many for him over the next few months.

We have been filling out application after application in our pursuit of adopting this year. I have spent so much time doing these specific questions on all areas of our lives. It has been interesting to say the least. Compelling our lives on paper is a weird thing, I just don't feel like you can get to know us over paper, but I realize there is no other way for this to be done. I take comfort in knowing that Jesus is watching over us and our applications to put them in the hands of those who will take special care. We have talked endlessly about this and know that the whole procedure will bring us closer as a family, a couple and as individuals to our Lord and Savior.

We have been talking to the kids about having another brother or sister or maybe, one of each. Maya is excited at the idea of having a sister! ahh, I can not lie, I am excited too!! So excited.

And there begins the newness of the year. So much going on, but we try to go for one day at a time. Hugs to you all my friends.

Jenn

Maya

Maya is the dancing queen. young a sweet and silly as could be! she is always singing ummm anything. sometimes they are real songs (Grey Holiday mostly, but also Raffi and other kid songs, James Taylor and some country that daddy sings to her) but typically they are orginal Maya creations. She will sing with happiness or with her displeasure with you :-) either or! She is not afraid to show her true feelings about just about anything. She will tell you how it is and not beat around the bush. sounds like her mother! ahhhhhhhhhh! She is the princess in our house and won't let anyone forget it. She goes to bed telling me what she will dream about, typically that is whatever she wants for breakfest. Toast with butter and jelly and orange juice please! she wants to do her exersizes allll the time. running back and forth all over the house, the yard, everywhere! she loves her backyard playground, the green playground in our neighborhood park and Ema and Pop's playground. She wants to go for walks almost everynight. In our neighborhood or at the barn, and simulenously pick other people's flowers!! that's my girl! she loves to hug and kiss, tackle and play monkey in the middle with sammy. she will share with him 30 % of the time and the other 70% mommy must put her in timeout before she will say she is sorry and share with him. sometimes she won't even share with him his own toys!! she knows how to work it! she goes to school at UUMC day school and loves it! she loves all the interaction, singing, playing and creating things to bring home. the social butterfly of the Schoenfelds is she!

Sam

typical Sammy. silly, happy go lucky and the smiliest boy around! he has been loving the shell lais that Kristen gave Maya for Christmas. He puts them on and takes them off, puts them on and takes them off. giggling along the way. he is all boy but definately learning that Mommy means business when I say NO! which is often. :-) He adores his sister and loves to be "allowed" to play with her. with her permission of course! ha! His only words at 14 months are: dadadada, mamama, meeeee (for maya), the pthhh point that he does at everything is his usual form of communication as to what he wants. He understands soo much more than what he is saying, but all in good time he will be a chatter box like his sister. he is walking and running all around. getting into everything possible and absolutely loves to be dirty. he is for sure his father's son! he will eat anything we put before him and if he doesn't like it, he will simply drop if off his tray on to the floor for the awaiting dogs to devour! I love this boy!

As a part of our attempt at a healthy lifestyle, we have been walking, a LOT! the weather has been so mild so Sammy and I went on a long walk today, while Maya was at school. It was glorious! I got good and sweaty, and Sammy fell asleep in the stroller. good times!