NO MORE DORA THE EXPLORER

Way back in Fall 2015, Stephen bought my brother's Ford Explorer.  Since Stephen didn't have his license yet, Abigail got to drive it for the first few months. 

The kids nicknamed her "Dora the Explorer."  

The above photo is the kids on the first day of school in 2015.  

When Lydia got her driver's license, she bought Dora from Stephen.  The legacy continued....

 

But the photo above is from yesterday when we all said our goodbyes to faithful Dora.  

Her last drive will be to the junk yard.  

Funny how our dog Tucker is still facing backwards for the photo...

This is why Dora's time has come to an end.  She is almost rusting through on the bottom plus her brakes are almost non-existent.  Since the spring, Lydia has only been able to drive her around town, nothing over 25 mph.

Yesterday's family photo with Dora the Explorer

End of that adventure.  

New adventures start this week: 

Abigail headed back Sunday to Minnesota for her job, Stephen returns to school in Minnesota on Wednesday, Ben and Jonah start middle school on Wednesday, and we bring Lydia for her 1st year at UW LaCrosse on Friday.  

Oh where did all the years go...?

A LONG TIME AGO...

Our oldest Abigail started 5K 

in elementary school in 2003.

In a few days our youngest, Ben and Jonah, 

will finish 4th grade in elementary school in 2021.

That's 18 years of being an elementary school mom.

I guess you could say I was in it for the long haul!

Here is the letter we gave to the boys' teachers and ES staff to say goodbye.

We sure appreciate everything our elementary school has done for our guys!

Now it's time to prepare for middle school...

This morning Jonah sounded this out all by himself: Tucker (our dog) was a baby.

I'm impressed!

 

OUR DAUGHTER THE DJ

 

Lydia had her senior prom this past weekend to make up for the junior prom her class missed last year due to Covid.

Lydia was the DJ.  She had so much fun!

Glad she could experience this iconic high school event!

START OF THE SENIOR STUFF

 Lydia’s senior is quickly coming to an end.  It’s hard for me to think of my “baby” graduating and heading for college.  I’m going to miss her soooo much.

The next weeks are a whirlwind of senior events:

1. Senior art show

2. Baccalaureate service

3. Senior scholarship program

4. Graduation

5. Graduation party

Here is a photo of Lydia’s art show. She is an amazing artist!

Plus last week, Lydia turned 18 years old.  She wasn't thrilled about having her photo taken with her birthday donut (cake came later).  We also didn't have any birthday candles that morning so we improvised with a votive candle.  Ben photo-bombed his thumb into the picture, and Tucker photo-bombed himself. 

We celebrated later with take-out Thai food for Lydia and Andrew and Culvers for the boys and I.  

And a DQ ice cream cake by Grandma and Grandpa.

WHAT?

Wednesday, APRIL 21...

SOMEONE’S WISHING

 

Jonah “talks” about Disney World often.  He does this by finding Florida on a map and then continuously putting the map in your face saying "Dney".  

Subtle, right?

Yesterday, he upped the ante.  He presented me with the following note.  He had found the map and proceeded to copy the word "FLORIDA" into his notebook.  

Something to note, getting Jonah to write neatly and properly has been a REAL struggle as of late.  He gets distracted, bored, or hasn't been feeling well enough to concentrate on school.  But will you please notice how perfect his letters are?  Yes, he forgot a few letters, but I am pretty amazed what he came up with!

After he presented me with this note, he got out 3 lunch bags ☺ and started to pack for Disney.  

After his "packing" was done (books, toys, pencils etc), he brought his "suitcases" to me.  I explained to him that we wouldn't be going to Disney anytime soon because so many people are sick.  This is how we explain COVID to the boys.  This is something I have said to Jonah before so I didn't really think much of our interaction.

However, a few minutes later, I found Jonah sitting on the stairs silently sobbing.  

Let me explain.  Both boys have levels of crying.  The first level is for dramatic purposes and often means nothing is really wrong.  Then there is the real cry when one of them is hurt or sick.  Then there is this silent sob level which is what both of them do when they are feeling a deep sadness.  For Jonah especially, real sadness doesn't happen often because he is generally a happy little fellow.  

So for me to find him silently sobbing yesterday about not being able to go to Disney was quite heart-breaking.  

Nothing I could do about it except acknowledge his "pain", hug him tight and tell him I loved him and not to give up hope.  

Someday, little buddy we will get you to Disney...when this world is just a little less crazy.

MIRACLE ANNIVERSARY

 Yesterday we celebrated my parents’ 67th wedding anniversary.  

In today’s world, that is quite an accomplishment in itself.  

However, this anniversary celebration was full of miracles!  

In January 2019, my mom suffered a massive stroke. She lost the use of her left side and her swallowing ability.  

There were times during these past 18 months, we weren’t sure what her future would hold. 

Yet, last night she was able to be at this anniversary dinner and EATING the meal with us!  She moved backed to her house from the nursing home in June, and since then has graduated from puréed foods to regular food.  

Even after spending 2 nites in the hospital this past week because of experiencing a short seizure, she was still able to be at the party!

And all of these accomplishments are due to God’s love and grace and His strength helping my mom AND dad work so hard on her recovery this past year and half.

It was a beautiful celebration last night!  

Congratulations Mom and Dad, and thank you Lord for all your help getting to this point!  

AND JUST LIKE THAT, SHE'S A SENIOR!

After a very unusual end to her junior year- quarantine, school at home, no junior prom (she was going to be the DJ!), no spring break college visits, no softball season, no graduation parties to say good bye to friends, no final last moments before your senior year,- Lydia is now ready to start her senior year of high school.

We were able to visit 3 colleges over the summer although the tours were mostly outdoors.

We were able to have her senior pictures taken - see below.  They are beautiful!

We are hoping she can have somewhat of a normal senior year- hoping for a fall play, homecoming, graduation, and all those special senior moments in between.  

We can't believe how our Lydia Grace got this old already!  She was always the little one of our three older kids.  Now she is almost ready to leave the nest.

Lydia has the coolest and most fun personality!  She is a super talented artist and very smart young woman.  We are so proud of her success working at the bank again this past summer.  It's going to be exciting to see what her future holds after high school.

As we learned with the other two, we are really going to cherish every moment we have with her this next school year.  Before we know it, we will be packing up the van for move-in day at college...

shaunnaclaerboutphotography.com/

HOW MUCH IS THAT "FROGGIE" IN THE WINDOW?

 Last night we discovered a frog on our window.  

This frog was way up on 

the arched window shown below.

  

I did not know frogs could jump that HIGH!

I also do not know why the frog 

would want to be up so high on this window.  

What was his game plan?

I'm guessing he got a little 

mixed up in his jumping directions...

After about 10 minutes he leaped off and went somewhere more practical for a frog I'm hoping.

Possible life lesson from this:

Sometimes we don't always end up where we planned to be in life so just keep holding on- 

things will get better soon.  

QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!

This spring/summer, we have been working hard on teaching the boys to ride the bike with training wheels.  

Last summer we started this process.  Here is the video from last June- Jonah has to work so hard to balance even with the training wheels.  He also has to work so hard to pedal.  Steering the bike is also very hard for him.  

There is no video of Ben from last June because he was too scare to really get on the bike for more than a few seconds.

Click HERE for June 2019 video of Jonah riding bike

What a difference a year makes!

This year Ben is no longer afraid of the bike.  He has even tipped and gotten right back up!  Brave boy!  

When Ben wants to learn something, he is very determined and keeps trying.  He wanted to learn how to ride a bike this spring, and he has been working so hard.  

Now he can pedal up to the corner and back and around our cul de sac with little to no assistance from us!  We are so proud and excited for him!

I am also so happy for Ben.  He looks so happy riding his bike.  Just another experience for Ben that every little boy should have.  

Hard to think about what his life would have been if he had ended up in the adult mental institution back in August 2016.  That would have been his fate since he was aging out of the orphanage system in his country.  So happy and so relieved he is instead safe and happy with his family!  Thank you Lord for watching out for him!

Jonah has improved greatly on his balance on the bike and his strength with pedaling!  Steering continues to be hard for him mainly because he has a hard time staying focused.  If he gets distracted, he just lets the bike veer off and ends up falling off the bike, as evidenced by the following video.  But he is farther along than last June so I am quite confident he will eventually get there.

Between the boys, Ben is definitely more motivated to learn new things.  

Jonah's primary goal in life is to have fun- haha!

BIG DAY TOMORROW!

Tomorrow we celebrate several amazing people:

1. My Dad!  

Happy Father's Day to the best dad in the world.  He has always been there for us kids, and his love for my mom and our family has been a foundation for all us as we grew up and started our own families!  I love you Dad!

from 2018

2. Andrew!  

Happy Father's Day to my husband and another best dad in the world!  How blessed am I to have two men to claim that title?  Andrew loves us and provides for us in incredible ways.  He is wise and lives a life of integrity.  Thank you for all you do for us!  I love you!

from 2017

3. Ben!  

Happy 10th Birthday to Benjamin Kostas!  We can't imagine our family without you in it after almost 4 years of being home with us.  You are a delight.  You have a zest for life, you are incredibly talented and smart.  You amaze us each day with what you can accomplish.  You have learned how to be part of a family.  We are so proud of you!  We love you Benny!

BEN OVER THE YEARS

3 weeks old, arriving at the orphanage

1 year old, orphanage ID photo

 3 years old, orphanage ID photo

5 years old, orphanage ID photo

6 years old, meeting Ben and playing with him at the orphanage

almost 10 years old, wearing Dad's hat

BETTER TOGETHER

Many years ago, when Abigail and Stephen were little, we took this photo of them hiking.  I always loved Abigail's hand on Stephen's back, guiding him down the path.  I found this cute poem, and this has been hanging on our wall ever since.

Today, life recreated itself.  Ben and Jonah heading down the sidewalk, Ben on a bike, and Jonah walking along side giving his brother a helping push.

I guess today's version of the poem would be "If I had to be quarantined with one person, I'm glad it was you!"

So grateful for the boys having each other as forever friends.

O SAY CAN YOU SEE?

Last week, the boys and I studied patriotic music for school at home.  Last week, we also brought up from the the basement the eagle lawn ornament Jonah got for his birthday last year.  

So Jonah's love of all things EAGLES has been rekindled!

Down by Lake Michigan, there is an eagle nest.  We took the boys to see it today.  Jonah was beyond thrilled.  He requested we play the national anthem as we watched the eagle- so sweet and so funny! 

This is an old photo from his birthday but cute enough to repost!

GUESTS OF HONOR!

A great way to start your day: watch this!

Here is the explanation:

Here is the video:

OH THE PLACES YOU GO: HAPPY GRADUATION ABIGAIL!

From this, August 2016, starting college...

To today, graduating from college- so proud!

You worked so hard and got yourself a job in the midst of COVID-19- not the easiest environment for hiring, but you did it! 

We are so excited for you and 

this next season of your life!

Click HERE for Scriptures for Oh The Places You Go

A SHOUT OUT TO PASTOR JONAH!

For the past 6 weeks, our Jonah has worked hard each Sunday during our home church.  
1. He gives us communion by breaking up his own buttered bread treat and enthusiastically says "Eat All" and "Drink All " (we have to provide our own drinks).  

2. He leads us in worship by following along with the online praise band.  

3. He "preaches" from his Bible although we often don't know what the topic is :)

Jonah also has to work hard not to get in trouble each Sunday morning by becoming too much of a distraction for us to listen to the online pastor.  Self-control is not one of Jonah's strong points so often he finds himself in trouble at one or two or three points during the service :)

Here are some photos from this morning's church service.  Jonah decided to up the ante today and dress the part by adding his own Batman "suit coat" and Andrew's tie.  I also think the light-up "microphone" is quite interesting!

Even though I am excited to get back to in person church, I will really miss our Pastor Jonah.  He is one special little preacher!

In regards to Jonah's lack of self-control, about five minutes after these photos, Jonah was in timeout because he kept putting a piece of paper in front of Stephen's face, causing Stephen to not be able to view church online.  Maybe there's a seminary class or two Jonah needs to take yet...