Blogging...Oh, how I've missed you!

It has been 5 months since I last wrote. Sophia is 2! She's big! She's been with us for a year already!

I have no good excuses. I'm back. I'm going to do this again! I am going to do this somewhere else, though. We've moved to a new format... a little more of a family blog, a little less of an adoption blog, with still a heavy dose of Sophia... Please join me HERE at Rouxminate!

Vacation Done, School Begun

Yep, my last post was 4 weeks ago. What have we been doing? The lake has been tops on the list, but we've had a little head lice, bat murder, school starting action as well. Yes, you read that right. Just to clarify and avoid America's Most Wanted, that would be the brutal killing of a bat (hairy, flying mammal) not a murder in which the weapon was a baseball bat.

So, the lake. First it was Lake Maxinkuckee in northern Indiana. We (girlfriends and I and kids) have escaped the suburbs for Sarah's family cottage for the past 6 years for a week of every summer. This year we let the hubbies come for the first couple of days. Then we sent them home - just in time for an 11:30pm appearance of Mr. Bat.

There were 5 women with 5 unlikely weapons (a laundry basket, a swimming noodle, a broom, a towel, and a cover-up), 10 sleeping children, and 1 very ugly bat. I had no idea bats were so disgusting until I had to tangle with one. Oh, and there was a video camera too! Sarah caught the final act of violence on tape for the world to see. Needless to say, I was given the title of Bat Slayer and I don't even feel bad about it. That's just how ugly they are. I don't even care that they eat mosquitoes. Seriously.


The next lake was my parent's place in northern MN. Lovely weather and warm water were highlights here. Cousin time was plentiful and my kids caught fish and swam like fish. Sophia, the trooper, loved the water wherever we went! No fear at all, and that's probably not awesome when you don't know how to swim. Hopefully by next summer we'll be able to let her actually walk off the dock!

Back in mid-July, most of the family had head lice, which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Thank you, summer camp, for sharing such an enlightening experience. I can't believe how much I learned. Seriously, lice are a pain, but on the up-side, I got to spend hours and hours with my kids as I peered through their very thick hair. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Roux for helping us with that mess.

Finally, yesterday my kids went back to school. "WHAT! how can it be? Is it that time already?" you're thinking. No, actually it isn't. School starts in the middle of summer in Indiana - August 11. Just because school started, doesn't mean it should have. We are surviving, but just barely. The 95 degree days has me convinced that there is something wrong with this system.

Sophia is adjusting back to routine. She's crabby a lot right now, which is probably our own fault for messing with said routine so very much lately. She continues to be particularly fond of me and would prefer to always have my undivided attention. As we are not supposed to isolate her (like put her in her room/crib) due to possible abandonment issues, we are looking for creative ways to eliminate whining and promote independent play. Any ideas? Share, please!

In this photo of her and Marcus, it's pretty clear how she feels about the start of school. I get it, Sophia. I get it.

Grandma and Grandpa Roux In Town

This past weekend was full of fun. One of my students from Summer Project a couple of years back got married here in Indy. The whole family traveled that summer with SWERVE and loved Lindsey. It was very fun to celebrate with her and Cody as they started their lives together! Here's the family all gussied up...

We also had our street over for a cookout. We have fantastic neighbors.

I have been meaning to include some video of some current Sophia action for a while. Here we have two different episodes in one video. First we have Sophia imitating our Summer Project vocalists. She watched enough rehearsals to know what a microphone is and how she would use it. She also is working on her stage presence and gestures. She even makes very cute use of a prop on this living room stage. You'll see a special appearance by "Blanket" and "Plastic Bacon".

The second part of this clip is one crazy morning of randomness. We weren't sure what was going on, but Sophia had a need to move and groove and laugh and talk. You'll see a little of what we see all the time in our sweet Sophia personality. What a fun kid!

Also, David's folks are in town. It's great having them. Today, Fran, the kids, and I took in Sahm's Park Pool for some relief from the 90 degrees. Fran even went down the crazy tube waterslide (after much coaxing by Lauren). Tomorrow, after Marcus' football camp (he's in heaven), we might take in the Children's Museum or shoot B.B. guns. We'll see who wins!

Happy Half Birthday Sophia and Happy 234th Birthday USA

Yep, Sophia's half birthday is on July 4th! As we didn't get to celebrate with her on her 1st birthday (we got her 2 weeks after she turned 1), we are thinking we might have to do it up a bit. And this is her first Independence Day as an American citizen also, so we've got a lot to celebrate! We'll see what I can come up with.

We've celebrated Marcus's 8th birthday this past week with the "Water Battle Birthday Bash." We're also getting ready to send our four project bands out on the road. Their dress rehearsals are Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings in Westfield, IN. It is already July - how did that happen? The kids start school in about 5 weeks. Not cool, at all. And my sister is going to have her baby! - probably on Monday. Woohoo! You can do it Nikole.

Overall we've been terribly busy, although we've been home much more over the past week. I've actually contemplated reading a book. I haven't actually done it, but I got as far as checking a couple out at the library. Maybe I'll get there. Lauren finished her first old-school Nancy Drew mystery (that's a tribute to you, mom/Grandma Zellmann). And I have been forcing Marcus to read too. He thinks I'm a tyrant.

Another fun thing going on is actually happening in my friend Amy's life. She and her husband Trent are beginning the adoption of some babies from Africa. I totally get how daunting that all is! If you could pray for Trent and Amy, that would be fabulous. To raise funds for the blessings, Amy, a creative jewelry maker, is launching a new line of her cool silver solder necklaces. Look her up here! If you're in the Indy area and would like to host a show in your home or office, she'd love to accommodate!

Have a fabulous 4th of July!

Poop on the living room floor

Yep, she did that. I had to run to the backroom for wipes. I was gone for almost no time. Upon arrival back in the living room, I found Sophia in the squat position next to the love seat. Jokingly, I said, "You better not be pooping over there, Sophia!" Well, when I picked her up, there was a golf ball sized carpet deposit! Thanks, honey. Seriously, why do people own dogs?

This week at the Roux house, we are spending a lot of time at Keynote hanging out with students. I really like college students. They make me laugh, I learn things from them, and I think God just made me to like them. I love to see how their lives change. It seems like college students are in the perfect place to grow and change and revolutionize their worlds. Over the weekend, the whole family went on the "Story Retreat" which was a 24 hour time to get away with the students who would be sharing their stories this summer. Tess was one of the students that came with us to hang out with Sophia while David and I worked. Sophia loved playing by the little lake, swinging on the baby swing, and eventually really warmed up to Tess.

Anyone in the Indianapolis area July 4, 5, or 6, join us for the students' dress rehearsals. They will head out on the road for the following 2 1/2 weeks, but these shows get them ready to go. I will post more on that later.

Father's Day was busy. Poor David didn't have a moment to put his feet up all day! He is a really great dad though. We'll have to properly celebrate him some other day! Here's the 2010 Father's Day card:

Summer Fun

Our life is so full now, but full of such fun things that I must tell you about them! Yesterday I met some friends and their kids for some time in the park at a spray ground. The water was nice as it has been toasty in Indiana. Sophia would stand near the holes in the cement that periodically spout water just minding her own business. Then the water would spurt into the air all old faithful like and she'd cover her head and look offended. It was very cute actually. Poor kid, at least 5 other mommies were getting a laugh out of how adorable this routine was. She eventually became accustomed to the ordeal and enjoyed it almost as much as the spectators.

After an hour of playing in the park, the adjoining creek was discovered. We've had a plethora of rain lately so all the creeks and rivers are running fast and full. How fun was this! I tried hard not to think of the snakes that could be slithering in and out of the stream. The kids loved exploring the banks and islands and "rapids." Sophia desperately wanted to be in with the big kids, but this picture shows how close she got.

Over the past week I've been collecting some video to share. Here's a sampling of a very giggly girl! Her laugh is catchy!

Sophia's first trip to the pool

When we got to the YMCA this afternoon, the sun was shining and it was 92 degrees! Perfect pool weather. We lugged our big bag of "necessities" to an open lounger and put the swim diaper on. Lauren and her friends Cana and Regan were very excited to introduce Sophia to the 0 depth kiddie extravaganza. You can see by these photos that she was not scared or timid about the whole encounter! I really think she could have spent all day exploring the sprinklers, the fountains and just how deep she could go and still lay down on her tummy. Thankfully she didn't freak out when she misjudged this a bit and got a mouthful of pool water!

Within 15 minutes of our arrival, the clouds rolled in and the sky got dark and the wind picked up. Everyone began to leave the pool, but not us! We stayed until the thunder was heard and we were chased to the indoor pool. We had to get a couple more photos!

Sophia was completely happy inside, as well. This girl likes water a lot! Every time we had to get out for some reason she would reach longingly for the edge.! I have another Marcus on my hands. She doesn't have a clue how dangerous the water is, but instead, thinks the pool is her new best friend. Already twice, I caught her going under the water for a second , as happy as can be. No sitting around on the edge of the pool reading magazines for mommy this summer.