School!!!

Well, we just finished with Jackson's Headstart orientation at the school tonight and I am happy to say that he is very excited about school and is looking forward to the bus ride next Tuesday. I am excited that he is excited but nervous at the same time. He is growing up so fast and is becoming so independent.

Here are a couple of photos of him by his locker with his name and the picture he picked out at our home visit. Picture is of a jar of jam or jelly (as Jackson calls it) that starts with a "J".

More stories to come of school, I'm sure...I'm so sorry Aunt Joyce, I will apologize in advance and hope that he behaves all school year.

Jackson's sunflower

We planted a couple of sunflower seeds the beginning of summer and they have grown quite tall. We were only able to make 2 out of the 6 grow, but grow they did. The tallest one began blooming a couple of days ago, I think Grandpa Bales had something to do with it. I do not have any luck making anything grow, but this sunflower is absolutely beautiful. Not as large as last year at my Mom and Dad's, but again, Grandpa Bales had a special touch on making anything grow and look beautiful.

It's hard to believe it's actually been one year since he has been gone and is missed so very much and thought about everyday.

Love you Grandpa!

First fishing trip, boat ride, swim from the boat

Jackson is still a little too young to understand the fishing thing...too much like Mommy, I don't like to wait for the fish, I want to catch. I'm told that's why it's called fishing! Jackson loved the water. He jumped from the boat to Mommy, yes...I was in the water with him, but instructed Joe and my Dad that if any photo was taken of me in a bathing suit, they would have to walk home. They both were able to ride home in the truck.

My little fish!

Papa and Jackson

Enjoying the boat ride...

Ready to go fast!

Jackson kept telling Papa to go faster. I'm not sure who enjoyed the boat ride the most, Jackson or Papa or Joe and I. It was very nice to get the boat in the water, it's been almost two years since anyone has had it in the water.

Grandma Juju was not able to make this trip, we hope next time to have everyone.

Brotherly love

I'm so happy to see the brotherly love between Jackson and Brock. This is how the two of them are about 99% of the time.

What great smiles!!

Kiss for Brock!

Too cute

August 11th...A day we will forever remember and celebrate!!!

Well, the day came and went in what seemed like a flash, but I'm happy to say that the final day of foster care is over and that Jackson is officially a POLING!!!

Just a few pictures from the day.

Daddy and Jackson

A picture of the entire Poling family with Judge Noe

Jackson helping Judge Noe sign the paperwork in the court room

Mommy and Jackson

We had a wonderful day and will always remember today and continue to celebrate today as Jackson special adoption day.

Family pictures....

Here are some family photo's that Amy took of the four of us...Enjoy!

I'm very sorry that it's been a while since our last post. Things have been a bit crazy at the Poling household...

• Jackson had his tonsils out
• Joe was laid off for a couple of weeks
• I was laid off for a couple of weeks
• Went on vacation for 10 days (I know...I will get pictures posted)
• Brock had to head back to his mom's in Ohio to start the summer practice for the high school band...yep, he's in high school AND he's taller than me and wears the same size shoe as his Dad
• Joe's Mom was in the hospital for a while with a blood clot
• My Dad had surgery again on his back and will be 6-8 weeks before he can lift over 2 pounds, so we have been helping out at their house
• We had the annual Fair parade cookout at our house this year, numbers were a little lower than usual because it was also the same weekend at the Poling reunion, so Joe's family did not make it (that would have been about 6 or 7 people) and my Mom and Dad did not make it because of my Dad's surgery (that would have been another 4 people including the Grandma's)
• Jackson's been signed up to start head start in September but it will be in the afternoon, which will be a little tricky since he takes a nap in the afternoon...but we will see how it goes when he starts
• We have been picking up Brock every weekend since we do not get to see him during the week, we are allowed to see him every weekend. Except this weekend...he is off to Band Camp!!!
• Had a couple of meeting regarding Jackson's adoption and received the final court date of August 11th for the date that we will have a new birth certificate showing his new name of Jackson Alan Poling
• We also had family photos taken last weekend....by a wonderful professional photographer...thanks Amy! It is the funniest story...Amy used my new camera that Joe bought me for my birthday and we went to a couple of parks in Adrian and she took probably 50 photos. I even had everyone change their clothes. They turned out so well, that when I took my camera card in to develop the pictures, I had to have Amy come over and sign a release form because they thought the pictures were professional. So funny!!! I will post these pictures tonight.

So, it's been a little crazy at the Poling house, but we hope for things to smooth out a little soon.
Thanks for your patience with the minimum posts and I will have some pictures posted this weekend...I promise...I think!!!!!