We have another teenager in the house!

 It's hard to believe that Keaton is 13 today! It feels like just yesterday, we were praying for a 2nd child after years of infertility, failed adoptions, a miscarriage, and failed fertility treatments. Now that sweet baby is 13 with hair that covers his eyes. Here are 13 things you need to know about Keaton. 

1. He LOVES soccer! He eats, breathes and sleeps soccer. He comes home from school, puts on his cleats and goes outside to play. His whole birthday list was either soccer stuff or agility/training equipment to get him faster, stronger, etc. He even loves to watch soccer. He loves Chelsea and watches every game he can of theirs. We even went to see them play in the US last summer. 
2. He's a great student. He's had straight A's all year and most of the time, they are 95 and above. All this and he's in 3 gifted classes including high school level Algebra 1 as a 7th grader. 
3. Despite always wanting his hair cut every 4-5 weeks his whole life (and hating his hair touching his ears), he has decided to grow it out into the middle school boy hair this year. We give him a bit of a hard time about not being able to see through all the hair but he likes it. 
4. While he's still small (5'2 and about 90lbs), he is in a size 9.5 men's shoe so we anticipate that his growth spurt is coming. 
5. He still loves GA football and the Falcons and Giants in NFL. He's not watching as much basketball as before but he's still a Warriors fan. 
6. He's still playing the violin and plans to do it for one more year. Whether he'll play in high school or not is still undecided. 
7. He's still very shy and introverted. I'm trying to push him out of his comfort zone to talk to people but it generally doesn't work. He won't ask customer service people questions, hates talking on the phone and doesn't even like to order his own food. However, once you get to know him, he's not shy at all. 
8. He still loves cats (and all animals but especially cats). Because of his quiet, calm demeanor, animals love him. 
9. He loves music. He almost always has his air pods in listening to the playlists he has created. It drives me a little crazy b/c whenever I call him, he hardly hears me. His music tastes are very eclectic as well. 
10. He has hit a little bit of the moody teenage boy stage and doesn't always want to hang out with his sisters but overall he's still really easy. He is still the one sibling that everyone gets along with and is often the one his siblings will choose to play with. 
11. He's still very athletic and picks things up so easily. He's very quick and fast so we're trying to get him to run in high school when he's not playing soccer. He chose not to play rec basketball this year but he regretted it. So hopefully he will play next year. 
12. He tried out and made a new soccer team this year that is the elite team for his age group in Williamsburg. It's brought on a new position, greater desire to grow in his game and confidence that he didn't have last year. It has also brought so many friends. The team is 17 of the best boys you'll meet. It's been so fun to watch them play together and have fun together. I believe that at least some of their success on the field is due to their friendships off the field. 
13. He continues to be such a joy in our lives. He is kind, funny, thoughtful, a good friend/teammate, studious, striving to be Christ-like and an all around great kid to be around. 

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY KEATON!

Lorelei is 10!

The day is here...my "baby" is in double digits. I cannot even believe it. Lorelei is so fun and so quirky. She adds so much life to our family. I've added a few pictures of her from this year that hopefully show just a tiny glimpse of her larger than life personality. Below them, I'll give you 10 facts about her for her 10th birthday.

1. She has quite the sweet tooth still. Anything candy, cake, ice cream, cookie, etc. is her food of choice. I love sweets as much as the next person but she takes it to a whole new level. 
2. I love animals more than most people but Lorelei loves animals more than anyone I've ever known. For her birthday party, she asked her guests to donate to WWF to help save the polar bears instead of bring presents. At her young age, she's already checking labels to make sure the products she uses are cruelty free and not tested on any animals. She has never met an animal she didn't love. Our dogs adore her b/c she gives them so much love and lets them kiss her on the face. 
3. She's in 4th grade and she's doing amazing. She loves science the most but she's good at math and is an amazing writer.
4. She LOVES to read. She always has a book in her hands. This year, she fell in love with Wings of Fire and now Last Kids on Earth. She loves to make her own comics and I think part of why she is so good at writing is because of how much she reads. 
5. She loves art as well. She enjoys art class in school but loves to make art at home. As someone who lacks artistic ability, I'm amazed at what she can do at her age. 
6. She has really fallen in love with soccer this year too. She had the chance to move up to travel soccer and we really should have done it. Instead, she's still in the same league as last year and is older/better than many of the girls. It's still been a great learning experience for her and she's excited to try out for travel soccer this spring. She loves to play goalie and to play with Keaton in the front yard (we have a goal). He doesn't take it easy on her and therefore she is pretty tough. 
7. She is still as fun and quirky as ever. It's hard to describe her to people who have never met her. But those who have, know exactly what I'm talking about. I've had so many parents/teachers tell me that they hope she stays the same even as she grows up. She doesn't care what others think of her. She is her own unique self. 
8. She is starting to develop her own style and she makes sure it is the opposite of everything her sister likes. She despises make up and any beauty products (we've had to look hard for chapstick and lotion she will use). She wears athletic type clothes everyday and says that jeans are dress up clothes. She continues to cut her hair shorter and shorter each time bc she doesn't like to do anything with her hair. It's fun to see her personality and style come through. We'll see if it changes in the coming years but for now she is adamant about what she likes. 
9. She is growing away from Barbies and some of those type of toys but she still loves stuffed animals. Her bed is covered in them. She'll still play Legos with her siblings when she can convince them to play. She loves playing Animal Crossing on the Switch and Minecraft on the Xbox or her school computer. She also loves to play outside (some neighborhood boys built a fort and she loves playing in it with her). 
10. She is the perfect end cap to our kids. She's in an interesting age where she fights with Miller and Adelaide quite a bit but I know with age, those relationships will get better. Keaton is her favorite and they get along pretty well. I think part of that is because they have similar interests. I cannot imagine our family without her!

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, LORELEI!

Adelaide is 11!

How can this sweet girl be 11 already? She is only 2 years away from being a teen but we are definitely square in the tween years. Below the pictures are 11 things you should know about her on her 11th birthday...

• I don't think she has officially hit her growth spurt yet and she's just shy of 5 feet tall. I figure I don't have long until she's taller than me. 
• She is amazing with little kids and babies. If she was just a bit older, people would have her babysitting for sure. She's done some mother's helper jobs this year and so many people are just waiting on her to get old enough to babysit on her own. The little kids love her and parents are surprised she's so young. She's a natural.
• She loves Hazel (our new beagle). She has always wanted a smaller dog and she's proving to be really helpful with her. 
• She's still into fashion, hair and make up. We don't let her wear make-up outside the house but she practices at home and she's REALLY good at it. Not that it's saying much, but she's way better than I am at make-up. 
• She has decided that she wants to be a high school cheerleader so she's taking tumbling this year. She'll start cheering next year but we wanted her to increase her tumbling skills beforehand. 
• She had to test into the gifted program again this year so she is taking 6th grade math and gifted language arts/social studies (despite being in 5th grade). It's been more work than she was used to but she's doing well so far. I think it's definitely going to challenge her work ethic. 
• She loves music. Her favorites are Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. 
• She is taking violin this year through the school. She has stopped piano though. She never really wanted to practice piano so we'll see if the same thing happens with violin. So far she is really liking it. 
• I already see flashes of the teen years with friend drama and such. However, I'm really proud of the friend she is. She isn't perfect but she loves her friends and works to be the best friend she can be. Sometimes she gets upset when I give her advice she doesn't want to hear but she always comes around. 
• She is definitely our most emotional child. She's making good progress on learning how to control her emotions and how to not let them control her. But she is still highly emotional at times. 
• She is very mature for her age but she can still be silly. She is very giggly (especially at dinner time). 

We are beyond blessed to have this sweet girl in our family. She is unique in so many ways in our family and I love that. I love getting a front row seat to watching her become the woman God wants her to be. 

Miller is 16!

It seems like just yesterday, I was very pregnant with my first child and walking the halls of the hospital trying to put myself into labor. I cannot believe that sweet baby is now 16, finishing up his sophomore year of high school and driving. The saying "the days are long but the years are short" is SO true!  

Here are 16 things to know about Miller on his 16th birthday...

• He is very kind and a people pleaser. He wants to make people happy.
• He still LOVES all things football. I've never known anyone who knows more facts/stats about football than him.
• His teams are still Clemson and the Broncos.
• He loves all sports and is often found watching random sports on ESPN just to be watching sports.
• He enjoys basketball almost as much as football. His basketball team is the Lakers. 
• He's doing really well in school (he had a 3.9 GPA going into this year). He'll be taking 2 AP classes next years so that is really going to challenge him. I hope he's ready. 
• He got a job this year. He's working for a family owned kettle corn business in town. His best friends family is friends with the owner. It's been a great first job and they have been so good to him. 
• He still LOVES to eat. You would never know it by his size but he eats more than Jon most days. He must have the worlds fastest metabolism. 
• He loves dogs and especially Kona. They have a sweet bond (mostly b/c he walks her on the weekends). She loves to wake him up at 5:20 each morning by jumping in the middle of his bed.
• On top of playing football this year, he also did track in the spring. He was working out 4 mornings a week at 5:50 for football and then running for track after school 5 days a week for 2 hours. 
• He loves going to youth group at our church and started doing FCA this spring as well. I love seeing him own his faith and take opportunities to grow.
• He still has a majority of friends who are girls (always has). He has a great group of friends though and I love seeing him interact with them.
• He's learning how to drive this year. In VA, he could get his permit at 15.5 and can get his license 9 months later. So he'll get his license on 9/1 hopefully. 
• He still enjoys the Xbox and playing Madden and NBA2K. He doesn't play as much as he used to b/c he is so busy but he loves to play when he has the time. 
• He's begun looking at colleges (I don't even like to talk about it). We are taking a few tours this summer to try to narrow down the type of school that he wants to attend. He's still working through a few things he might want to major in. 
• He is a great kid turning into a great man. We are sometimes hard on him b/c we want the best for him but the truth is that he has a great heart and really is a good kid. 

Keaton is 12!

Our sweet rainbow baby is 12! It seems like just yesterday I had miscarried our 2nd child and we had 2 failed adoptions. We weren't sure we would ever have another child and then God blessed us with Keaton. He has been such a blessing in our lives.  Here are 12 things to know about Keaton...

1. He started playing the violin last year and he really likes it. He played again this year and is continuing next year. 
2. He's a great student. He has straight A's this year in 6th grade and he is in gifted/talented classes for 3 of those classes. All his teachers say he is a joy to teach as well.
3. He still loves sports. He's playing travel soccer and loving it. He comes home and practices by himself in the yard many days. He still loves watching basketball and football and played flag football last summer (and will probably play this summer too). 
4. His teams are Georgia (obviously bc that is most of what he wears), the Warriors, Chelsea and the Falcons. He also likes the Bucks, Giants and sometimes the Panthers. 
5. He is a very sweet kid. He often thinks of others before himself. He couldn't quite figure out why all the girls wanted to be his friend this year but I think it's because he is so kind. 
6. He's still very shy and introverted. He talks a good bit once he knows you but he is quiet at school and in new situations. He hates ordering at restaurants or talking to people he doesn't know. We are working on these things though.
7. He is an animal lover and b/c he is so sweet, the animals love him. Our cat doesn't love the kids (unless she wants pet) but she does love Keaton. She will go upstairs with him and get in bed with him when she wants his attention. 
8. He would kill me for putting this out here but the kid is gassy. I've never known and kid to fart as often as him. 
9. He loves music! He can often be found with his air pods in listening to music. He knows what he likes too and what he doesn't like.
10. He loves to be outside. Often after school, he can be found playing outside with neighborhood kids. There is a crew of kids from 3rd grade to 9th grade who play together most days....jumping on the trampoline, baseball, soccer, 4 square, basketball. 
11. He is funny. He is definitely sarcastic (I have no idea where he gets that from) so not everyone gets his humor. But he often makes us laugh and is our funniest kid. 
12. This year has been tough with his sisters as he starts to go through that tough middle school phase. He isn't always as kind to his sisters as he used to be but they still think he is the best thing ever. They love to play with him and cherish any time he will hang out with them. And even though there are almost 4 years between him and Miller, they had a great relationship. They have many similar interests and therefore get along so well. 

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Lorelei is 9!

 My baby is 9! In a year, all my kids will be in the double digits. It's true what they say...the days are long but the years are short. It seems like only yesterday I was in a blur with 3 kids under 3 and a 6 year old. Now they're all in school and maturing. They need me less and less each day. It's a good thing but some days it's hard to wrap my head around. I still think of myself as a mom of little kids. Lorelei may be the baby of the family but she is a baby no more. Here are 9 things about her in honor of her 9th birthday. 

1. She LOVES animals more than anyone I have ever met (and we are an animal loving family). She loves to say she loves every animal including ticks. For her birthday we are having baby farm animals come to our house for her to pet and love on. She takes any opportunity to love on animals or to learn about them. She knows so many facts about all kinds of animals and loves to research animals of all kinds. 
2. She loves science and says she wants to be a scientist when she grows up. She loves to do science experiments at our house.
3. She still has the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I have ever met. There is no sweet she won't at least try. Luckily she no longer hides and sneaks candy (she did when she was little) but she still asks for dessert or candy pretty much daily. Chocolate and sour patch kids are her current obsessions. 
4. She began playing soccer last year and has fallen in love with it. We moved her up a league this past fall and she really began to flourish. She tried to play basketball this winter but the league got cancelled after only a few practices and 1 game. The boys are trying to convince her to play flag football in their co-ed league this summer (she wouldn't play on their teams but in the same league). She is tough and enjoys the competition of sports.
5. There is really no way to describe her to those who haven't met her but I'll try. She's very blunt/honest and often wonders why adults find that funny. We're still working on when that is appropriate and when it is not. She is unique in so many ways and she really seems to relish the idea of being different (especially than her sister). She's also an old soul. Some of the things she says don't seem like a 9 year old. She makes really cool connections at school that most her age wouldn't make. I wish I could see inside that brain of hers for just one day. 
6. She has always had the best imagination of all the kids and she still does. Because of this, she's the only one who still believes in Santa, the tooth fairy, etc. It also means she's still playing with toys like Calico Critters, Barbies, AG dolls, etc. I know some girls will start moving away from those in the coming years but I think she'll hold on a little longer. 
7. She also loves to draw and create art. I've seen her skills really start to take shape this past year and I'm excited to see what she creates each time. I really hope she continues to draw and make art as she grows up. 
8. Lorelei knows no strangers. She talks to anyone and everyone. She often takes people by surprise b/c she'll just start talking to strangers. We've had to work on what is appropriate to ask strangers and what is appropriate to share with strangers. If it was up to her, everyone would know everything about her and she would know everything about them. 
9. She is the perfect addition to this family. She is very different that the other kids and me. She stretches me out of my comfort zone often and that's a good thing. She is unique...there is no one like her. 
   
   
   
   
   
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Adelaide is 10!

Another Ewing kid has hit double digits. Adelaide turns 10 today. She made quite the entrance 10 years ago and has not stopped making her presence known. She is such an amazing addition to our family and I cannot imagine our life without her. In honor of her 10th birthday, here are 10 things you should know about her (followed by pictures of her throughout the years.

• She loves all things beauty...jewelry, nail polish/nails, make up, hair, clothes, shoes. She has her own sense of fashion and knows what she likes. 
• She is very nurturing. She loves taking care of little kids/babies. If she was old enough, she would totally be babysitting already. 
• She still loves hip hop dancing. This year she moved up and is with girls 10 and up. It was tough the first week b/c most of the girls are much older but she's picking it up and loving it. 
• She loves music...especially One Direction, Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. 
• Even though she can be mature (sometimes too much), she still has a silly side. She is our giggliest child for sure. Keaton can always make her laugh and once she starts, it's hard for her to stop. 
• She is still on the tall side for her age. We recently realized that her natural hip is very close to mine. She is all legs. 
• She is still creative. She loves to write songs, make art and come up with dances. 
• She still loves to read and mostly loves school. Fourth grade has proved harder than the past grades (she's still doing great but actually having to work) so she says she's not loving it as much. 
• Sometimes I see flashes of the teen years to come and a desire to impress her friends but then I'll see flashes of the little girl still in there. She's definitely in the tween years...wanting to be older but still enjoying the things of a child. 
• She is still playing the piano and enjoying it. After taking the summer off, she had a renewed interest and wanted to go back to it.