9th and Final Week Of Summer Vacation (Soccer Camp)

Every evening the last week of summer, Bri was supposed to attend soccer summer camp. Unfortunately, camp was announced after we already had a few things scheduled for the week, so we missed a couple of days. 

We did go on Monday evening. Doesn't Bri look very official (above pic)? She was wearing her new soccer practice jersey.

The girls did conditioning...

And lots of drills...

The same went for Tuesday evening...

Wednesday evening we missed camp because we were doing this...

Thursday evening, we missed camp because we were doing this (I will write a separate post about our family day)...

And Friday, Doug took Bri to camp. He said she had an amazing practice. Her reward ~ soup and pasta for dinner...

Doug and Bri even got up Saturday morning to head to the Y to workout. They had breakfast together afterward...

 Bri was really getting into the swing of things, and then the first week of school happened and she had to miss the two first practices of the season. 

But, we finally made it to the third practice on Monday...

 We are actually not currently practicing on the field we are supposed to be practicing on for the rest of the season. That field is not available yet, so we are playing on a substitute field. We will be at our normal field next week.

And hopefully our practices will be smooth sailing from this point on. Fingers crossed.

My Time Away

There's not really too much to say about my time away because I didn't do very much. Which was the point of me going away. I was only about an hour away from home. I spent a lot of time resting in my room...

I only went to the pool one time...

I ordered room service a couple of times...

 I ventured out to do a little shopping on Saturday but realized I preferred to be alone. So, I went back to the hotel and hibernated rested.

It was so nice to be quiet. And alone. With no schedule. It was so desperately needed. Just wish it lasted a teeny bit longer.

While I was on my own, Doug had a full day on Saturday set up for Bri. First soccer practice. And then Bri's friend H came over for the day to play...

After taking H back home, Doug took B out to dinner...

And that Sunday, Gramma and Papa picked Bri up around 11AM and took her and cousins N1 and N2 to a fun local western museum...

Bri actually got home on Sunday a little while after I got home. She seemed glad to see me, but I know that she was a bit too busy to miss me all that much while I was gone. ;) 

And that is totally fine - I want her to be ok when I'm not around.

I went to bed that Sunday night feeling a bit more rested. But I was still bracing myself for the next couple of weeks ahead. I knew it was going to be a busy time.

8th Week Of Summer Vacation (Jacob's Ladder Camp)

This is the camp Bri looks the most forward to every summer. Bri went to preschool at Jacob's Ladder, and every summer, they offer a summer camp. Each day of the week, they do a different theme/activity. I think Bri likes it so much because it is close to home, it is comfortable and very laid back, and she is with her friends. Sadly this year her friend Mary was not able to join in the fun, but she was still able to be with her friend Imerie.

Bri was all smiles that Monday morning...

Cooking was the theme of the day - and you all know Bri loves to cook.

The next day (Tuesday), the kids got to sew (which is right up B's alley). Bri came home with this super cute pillow she made...

 That evening, Bri and I went to dinner with her friend Mary (and family) to celebrate M's gotcha day anniversary (Doug was out of town)...

Wednesday, Bri told me the theme of the day was Spanish. It was probably her least favorite day because she said it felt too much like school - heh. That's my gal.

That afternoon, we invited friend Meredith to come over and play...

Minecraft was one of the things the girls did that afternoon...

And that evening, Miss B lost tooth #15...

Thursday, we picked Imerie up and took her to camp with us...

Music was the theme of the day and the kids made flutes and noisemakers...

Finally, Friday came - and that is always the BEST day. It is water and bubble day, and the kids wear their bathing suits to camp so they can get wet in the sprinkler and blow huge bubbles...

A big thank you to my friend Val for taking the bubble pictures for me...

And here is a cute little dance they did to keep busy until the parents came to pick them up...

Bri had a blast that week. I always feel comfortable and happy when I drop B off because I know she will have a great time.

I picked Bri up on that Friday afternoon and took her home. Once Bri was dropped off, I took off for my own weekend time alone. Bri hugged me goodbye and asked me not to go. Ugh. It's so hard because we are hardly ever away from each other. 

Taking time for me that weekend was desperately needed (I wish I had a little more time, but I'm not complaining). I took the trip at that time knowing the two week emotional roller coaster was straight ahead (as well as the busyness of school starting back up). I already was feeling very edgy, so adding all that "roller coastering" without a break would have been not so good. The time away did help.

I'm so glad I did - finally.

Emotional Rollercoaster

It happens every year. Everything hits at once. The last week of July and the first week of August is always a crazy and emotional time of year for our family.

The last week of July, we try to squeeze in the last carefree days of summer, prepare for and stress over school starting, celebrate my dad's birthday and commemorate Bri's gotcha day anniversary. This year ~ we also had soccer camp for Bri's new soccer team.

The first week of August, we experience the first day/week of school, adjust to waking up early again, prepare lunches, celebrate Bri's birthday and throw Bri's birthday party. Bri was supposed to have two soccer practices with her new team the first week of August and we had miss them. It was just too much to add to Bri's already super full week. And I had a bloggy friend come into town that I had never met. I met up with her for an hour because I wasn't going to miss the chance to meet her, so I squeezed that in on the first day of school too (and I'm very glad I did).

Because Bri's gotcha anniversary and her birthday land just one week apart, there are lots of mixed emotions. Lots of highs and lows. We are all elated that we became a family and overjoyed that Bri is in this world and in our lives. But as with any adopted child, there are many unanswered questions that loom. We don't have the luxury of knowing what time Bri was born, where exactly she was born and we aren't even 100% sure on what day she was born. All we have is what we were told ~ and we hope it is the truth. Bri asked questions this year. Not in an upset way but more in a curious way. I don't have lots of answers. I do the best I can to be honest with her.

When you throw in the new routine of school to all of that ~ new teachers, new classroom, new grade, new classmates and two projects/assignments due the second week of school (which are completed now) ~ it's all really overwhelming. Bri came home with a very easy and short assignment the first day of school. She didn't read the directions carefully and didn't write her answers in complete sentences. I told her she had to fix her work and you would have thought it was the end of the world. She acted badly and then I reacted badly. Meltdowns ensued. We were both on edge - emotions at the surface. Just too much of everything all at one time.

I haven't finished blogging about the last weeks of summer vacation because these past two weeks have been a whirlwind and I haven't had a chance to blog all that much. Bri's birthday party was held on Saturday, and once it was over, I was able to catch my breath again. Of course, in my usual worrisome fashion, I always ponder over whether everyone had a good time or not. I think to myself "oh maybe this particular part could have possibly gone smoother" ~ blah blah blah. And it is really silly because the party went very smoothly and it seemed like the girls all had a blast ~ especially Briana. I am ridiculously hard on myself.

So that's it. Here we are. We made it to the second week of school. And we are still smiling...

As emotional and crazy those two weeks always are, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's what I signed up for when I became a parent. It's that whole "my heart walking outside of my body" thing. I'd do anything for her even when she drives me crazy. She gives my life meaning and purpose. So it's all ok.

My next few blog posts will be all catch up. So stay tuned...

Happy 9th Birthday To My Best Girl

My lovely, sweet, funny, beautiful girl is 9 years old today. It is truly amazing how grown up she is now. It makes me what to sigh a little. :)

I made my annual photo montage video of Briana ~ this one is looking back at age 8. Bri really had an amazing year. (My other montages are listed in my sidebar).

It is sometimes hard to express how much I adore her. She is my world (and Doug's too). It really is just unexplainable.

Enjoy the video...

1st Day Of 4th Grade

Briana went off to her first day of school ~ 4th Grade!!! How is that possible?

She was looking so cute this morning...

Book bag and lunchbox...

Daddy got her some back to school flowers...

We arrived early at school to help B get situated...

Walking to class...

 Running into B's running club coach...

In the classroom ~ ready to go!!!!

I hope Miss B has a wonderful day!

*I still have a bunch of summer vacation blogging to do. That will be coming up soon!*

 ***UPDATE***

Briana had a great first day at school. She really likes her teachers and even got a new friend's phone number! We had some issues with an easy homework assignment this afternoon though (just answering some questions about the first day of school) and Bri didn't read the directions close enough. She made an error causing her to have to redo some things. It wasn't a big deal but Bri made it much more complicated by huffing and pouting - which made the process much longer. Homework will be super fun this year - NOT! My gal does not enjoy writing! Hoping for a big change in that this year!

Hoping for another great day tomorrow and a better afternoon!!!