ANOTHER "ORPHAN TO OURS" ANNIVERSARY

7-15-2010: Ben arrived at the orphanage in Vilnius

7-15-2016: Judge rules that Ben is officially our son and no longer an orphan.  

From orphan to ours on the same date, July 15th, six years part. 

Last week we celebrated our 9th anniversary with Ben as our son!  We love you Ben and are so happy to watch you grow up and become your own little person.  You have so many talents and abilities.  Your future looks exciting!

Ben's orphanage ID photo at 3 weeks old, 7-15-10

Picking up Ben after our court hearing, 7-15-16

Ben rocking it at school this year during 8th grade.  High school in the fall!

FINALLY SOME FAMILY CAMPING!

 For the month of June, our camping plans changed, and Andrew ended up camping with the boys, and I stayed home to help with my dad.  

But for July, we finally got to camp with all four of us.  Although honestly, I think the boys were a bit disappointed to not have it be "boys only" ...

Governor Thompson State Park near Crivitz, WI- we love this park.  Very deep in the northern woods and very clean and well kept.

We enjoyed one bear cub sighting, many deer sightings, hiking, swimming, mini golf, campfires, and ice cream treats!

Isn't Ben a handsome young man?  He's growing up!

Jonah saluting for the American Flag boxes

IT WAS A BEATLE-FUL AFTERNOON

 One of Jonah’s dreams is to own a Beatles museum.  So our best answer was this:  our public library was doing a kids show and tell hour this summer so we signed him up for a table. The event was yesterday, and Jonah did great!  He greeted people, answered their questions, and said thank you as they left.  We were so proud of him!  

BEN BIRTHDAY WITH BAPTISM AND BATMAN

 

Ben wanted a Batman belt for his birthday.  He looks more like the villain than the good guy...

Ben’s 15th birthday fell on the weekend we went to Minneapolis for our grandson’s baptism.  So we celebrated with going out to eat for pizza and then DQ ice cream.  That evening he got to swim in the hotel pool and then enjoy the baptism celebration the next day. 

We also had his two friends from school and their parents over for a birthday meal a week after his birthday because of our camping schedule.

This means Ben had a birthday that actually lasted over a couple of weeks.  

So much to celebrate with our Ben!  He’s a smart, hard-working, and resilient fellow.  At times, he presents as tough, but underneath there is a very sweet side to him.  We are especially seeing this sweetness as he interacts with his nephew.  Ben loves being an uncle!  

We love you Ben!!!!

OH MY!

So navigating having growing boys with Down syndrome is interesting to say the least.

Here is an example of the uniqueness of that situation.

At the campground, there is free library.  Jonah very excitedly came to Andrew with a book about paintings he found in that library.  In the book there was a painting of a windmill which reminded him of our town Cedar Grove- lots of Dutch history.  Jonah loves talking about Cedar Grove history.  

What Jonah never noticed was the painting on the other page...

That's a 14 years old boy with Down syndrome I guess.

WE HAVE A BABY!

Baby Boy J arrived on 5-24-25!  Trust me when I say he's adorable :)

The boys are now official uncles.  

However, their teacher at school give them Tshirts that say: 

FUNCLE: like a regular uncle only cooler!  

 

SPRING 2025 UPDATE

 Here are some highlights from our spring:

This is actually from February, but great photo of the boys with Grandpa on his 93rd birthday!

Boys get the Respect/Responsibility/Kindness Award for April for their participation in the play!

At a Special Olympics event, boys get to try on gold medals from a local guy who was on the  

US Para-Olympics basketball team

Jonah continues to love gardening and yardwork.  Here he helped me pick rhubarb.