Christmas!

This is the obligatory Christmas post I must do every year. I am sorry for a million pictures, but I think I'll be glad I posted them in ten years when this is printed in a book for all time.

The Holidays!

This was a busy holiday season for our family.

Mallory and Malaya joined in with the Cibola Choir (Sydney and Kay-Lanie) for their Christmas performance. This was my favorite event of December. Quite a show!

Syd and Kay performed in The Messiah. It was very challenging and time consuming for them, but I am so proud.

Due to our girls having a busy musical month, the boys were not able to perform in their Christmas programs. They were crushed (sarcasm).

Bobby had a few roles in "A Christmas Carol" this year. I think the hard work paid off. He had a wonderful time.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

For my dad's birthday, I had him take my mom and I to dinner. Thanks, Dad!

He didn't want us to take pictures, so I decided to post one of my favorites.

Pendulum!

Bobby and Aaron created this "ride" for our entertainment at Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving 2012!

I have so many great pictures. This is going to be tough to narrow down.

Buddy The Baller!

Maverick loved every second of his basketball season. He never missed a practice or a game, and he hated to see it end.

The Mighty Kings!

Coach Ben is giving him some words of encouragement.

A Father's Birthday.

Today is Halloween. I should post pictures of my kids dressed up and begging for candy. That's what mom blogs are for, right? I will get around to that, but Halloween also happens to my dad's birthday; my birth father.

They say (whoever "they" is) your personality is fully formed by six. I learned this in college. This means, my birth parents played a huge role in my life. They are responsible for much of what I am today (good and bad). While we're giving props let's also recognise their role in the genetics they passed on to me (also good and bad). I look at so many children each day whether it be in my house, in the schools I've taught in, The TreeHouse, or church, and I wonder how much of their behavior is learned and how much is genetic. Really though, much of what we are boils down to our parents, genetics, and those first six years.

I realize there are many variables in my simple theory...this is called life. My life took the first of many major turns at six years old. I left home (not by choice). I never went back. I didn't see my dad again until I was well into adulthood and sought him out myself. I won't use this post to document details of that meeting or feelings from that time. This post's purpose has now become clear to me.

It's difficult to hold on to feelings from so long ago and memories forged by a small child. My birth father passed away several years ago, and I was quite emotional for a daughter who had little to no contact with the man. I now know I cried for what would never be. I am a 30 something woman still grasping to the tiniest shreds of anything from pre-adoption just to keep some kind of a connection. A connection to what, I am not sure. I am loyal. That's for certain. Is that learned or genetic? Either way, there is a strong chance it comes from my birth father or mother.


If Mike "Dad" Wagar were standing here I would ask these things:

Do you think I look more like you or the mother?

Do you eat fast? Are you always the first one done?

Do you love to read? Is it true my name came from a novel you read?

Are you funny? Do you love to laugh? Can you laugh for me?

Did you miss me when I didn't come back? Did you want me back?

Do you love me like you love your sons?

I was a pretty great kid wasn't I?


Here are things I would say:

The forehead...hate it.

I like animals.

I was a pretty great kid.

Thank you.

Baller!

Maverick had his first basketball game today. He has waited years for this moment. In Yuma, the first basketball program begins in second grade. Maverick has wanted to play since birth.

Buddy blew me away today. I am so proud. He was a team player. He knew how to handle the ball. He smiled. He played hard.

He said, "I got the ball a lot of times."

Coach DeCorse with happy with the game and called Maverick his "defensive man."

He is on a 2nd & 3rd grade team (The Mighty Kings). He is by far the shortest on the team, and he is on the younger end, as well. He was irritated that his jersey almost touched his knees. His feet don't touch the ground when he sits on the bench, so it's a good thing he doesn't sit out much. Maverick brags about his Uncle Zac being a basketball player and has always looked up to him...way up. What he lacks in height he makes up for in drive.