Impact

You all know that Ethiopia hit our family, hard.  Each of us left a part of ourselves there and brought a little Habesha home with us.  Missing Ethiopia is a new constant for the Gibsons now.

But the cool thing is that our adventures in Africa, and our incredible daughter have made an impact on a lot of other people too!  Our kids' friends (and our friends' kids!) have this new awareness as well.  Yesterday I listened to Molly and Carter (both 5) play, "Going to Ethiopia to adopt a baby."  And then, when I picked Garrett and Grayson (both 8) up from school they spent the ride home in the car talking about how long they were going to save their money and then when they got to $1000 how could they send it to Ethiopia?  I told them about Glimmer and EOR, and then they discussed if the money would be better spent helping orphans or building a hospital.  They decided to split it.  (Incidentally, I told them it was okay for them to keep money for themselves too.  I'm not big on guilt when things don't pan out.)  It was very, very sweet.  Especially considering that Garrett has spent 80% of his 'screen time' lately researching which Lego sets he wants for Christmas.  Christmas.  (His other 20% he's been doing freerice.com, so that's pretty cute.)

Could be.

Boys started soccer on Saturday. I really love Fall soccer. Especially when it's not raining.

My boys and their friends are so happy, so heartbreakingly serious, so freaking adorable out there I kind of had to hold myself back from marching right out there on the field and scooping them up in my arms and just kissing them. The kindergarteners are just SO cute and thrilled to finally have a turn. The 3rd graders are GOOD. Like 10-0 good. And man are they happy about it. When they are out there giving it their all, it's not hard to catch glimpses of the young men they'll be someday before we're ready. Pretty cool though.

Anyway, I've completely tangented here. Carter had some awesome breakaways at his game tonight. He didn't actually score, but was awfully close 3 or 4 times. One time in particular he broke away and was dribbling down the field. The other team was trying to catch him, but ended up falling down. Carter had a great shot, but it just missed the goal and went out of bounds. He was still pretty happy.

Later, he told Joel, (who missed Carter's game because he was coaching G's), "I almost had a goal! But it went out of balance."

Garrett scoffed and said, "Out of BALANCE, Carter? I think you mean, 'Out of BOUNCE!'"

Joel and I died laughing and didn't correct either of them. Being their mama is pretty fun.

Details.

Molly, to Carter: I think you have the same kind of jeans as Grayson today. Wait, what kind are they?

Carter: These? These are skinny jeans!

Molly: Oh. No, Grayson's are stylish jeans.

Sunshine

This girl.  She is busy and funny.  She is smart and spunky.  She is beautiful, inside and out.  She is full of awesome, for sure.  I like being her mama.  (A lot.)

Big News for Carter Mac

Guess who can tie his own shoes now?  He's definitely the youngest Gibson to learn!  Can you tell how super proud he is of himself?  (And yes, he's in his swim suit!  It has been stinking hot here, officially, and he had been playing in the water before this was taken!)

So Far, So Great

Couldn't pick one.  They are so funny!

Best Buddies!

Me, giving Joel the thumbs up, because Sissy let me walk her to the front door of the school!  Woohoo!

Of the five of you who read this blog still,  three of you are on facebook and have already seen these photos, and one of you just had a baby, but just in case you are wondering?  We're having a great week.

The first day was definitely brutal.  For me, mostly.  Dropping Kindergarten Carter off was sad, sad, sad.  Brave alligator tears for my little guy and fingernails in my palms, trying to avoid the ugly cry for me.  Thank GOODNESS for good friends (you know who you are) who hung around long enough to see that my guy was okay, and made sure to tell me that he was fine as soon as mama disappeared from the scene.  The rest of the week has been fabulous and each day he comes out of the school grinning ear to ear and his first words are consistently, "THAT WAS SO FUN!"  And then he and Molly sing their silly songs they learned all the way home.  Happy, happy, happy!  He was so ready, I know.  My mama heart is just a little slow on the uptake.

Garrett did fine.  He seemed SO OLD and so at ease in his new third grade classroom.  He is beyond excited to finally be in class with all 3 of his closest buddies.  They've been in cahoots since they were born and it's high time they are all in the same class!  He loves third grade and my usually pretty calm and laid back boy has been super positive so far.  Yahoo!

Sissy is on cloud nine at Middle School.  She was very ready, definitely, but I can't believe I'm old enough to be a parent of a middle school kid!  She loves her classes, loves having a locker, loves being big.  (And loves being able to wear a little bit of makeup.  Sigh.)  The best part is that one of my closest friends is her core teacher!  I love knowing she is in great hands.  Awesome, all around.

New Year!

My kids start school in the morning.  They are ready, and so am I, but I'm sure having a hard time wrapping my head around it all!  I'm such an emotional mama at times!


Sweet Sissy is starting MIDDLE SCHOOL!  It seems like such a big step, and it is, but boy is she ready.  She is going to love it.  I just can't believe how fast it's all going!

This is Madeline after 5th grade promotion last June.  She's so funny and smart.  (Not to mention beautiful!)  I'm so lucky that she's mine!

Garrett is starting 3rd grade.  The big change for him is that he had the same teacher for kinder, first, and second grade.  And the same classroom!  She just kept looping up and he was lucky enough to keep her!  He loved her so much, so this will be a huge transition for him.  He's ready though and so excited to be in a class with his 3 best buddies for the first time!  He's nervous and says he will miss me while he's at school, but he's 'used to the pain' and it 'isn't that bad', so he thinks he'll be okay!  Things sure change, don't they??  I still remember a few days into first grade when Garrett told me that he "just wasn't a first grade kind of kid" and that all day was "JUST SO LONG TO BE WITHOUT YOU" (me).  Sigh.

My funny boys.  They are sure good buddies!  (Usually!)

And then Carter.  My funny, mischievous, Carter is starting KINDERGARTEN!  Man, I am a wreck about this for some reason!  He's so ready and I am so NOT!  

Seriously, I am really a very blessed mama!

It's so bittersweet, and honestly I've been a blubbering mess today (and yesterday, and the day before, and .  .  .), but at the same time, I am SO thankful!  Thankful for smart, funny, vibrant, darling kids.  Kids who melt my heart, make me think, and make me LAUGH every single day.

Here's to a great year!