Fourth of July Bike ride

We got up early on the fourth of July to go for a bike ride. Matt pulled Nika and Christian in the trailer. It was the first time in years I was able to keep up. It just took 100 pounds of kids and trailer to slow the 33 year old down.

Visiting Washington

I visited My best friend from college. Liz has a sister (adopted) who is the same age as Nika. I had been wanting to meet Ester. All four kids climbed on the slide together. Isn't this a great picture?

Visiting Washington

Father's Day weekend we also visited my Dad in Washington. He really wanted to see Kyle before he went back to his Mom.

Visiting Washington

We went up to Matt's Parents for Father's day. Here is Christian, Kiley (cousin) and Nika.

Hanana Mon-Nika

This is Nika posing like Hanana Montana.

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The camping trip

As I said in one of the eariler post this camping trip was the best ever.

We ate Salmon, pasta, fiaetas, breakfast burritos, pancakes, and steak.

It poured as we broke camp on sunday.

Familes represented Zunigas (Josh and AJ), West (Matt, Meghan, Nika, and Christian), Rowles (Layth, Betsy, Soren, and Keiton), Lundes (Paul, Andrea, Benton, and Nathanial), Bowmans (Vance, Alicia, Karis, and Kellen), and the Hammonds (Craig, Megan, Kyler, Maddy, and Nora). 23 people, Five tents, Six Cars, Two Canopies, Two picnic tables, Five coolers, Three folding tables, 13+ bikes, one scooter, two boys learning to ride bikes, and hundreds of marshmellows.

All the kids had matching shirts one day.

We went on a group bike ride into Cottage Grove.

Made a ton of memories.

Thanks for the fun Guys.

Nika and Kyler

Kyler is Megan Hammond's son. This camping trip was the first for the Hammonds with this group. But Nika and Kyler had a special thing going, I think you can see it in Nika's eyes.

Camping Moms

I liked this picture especially. It is a picture of all the moms at the camping trip. I am so blessed by the wonderful friendship these girls offer me. In the top picture Betsy Rowles, Alicia Bowman, Megan Hammond (yes the confusion is crazy), and Andrea Lunde. I get around these girls and I feel so free like when I was in college.

Reading

We joined the Libraries summer reading program. We did really good at the beginning. Better get back into the grove. We have our eye on one of those cool book bags.

Good Bye Kyle

Well I have recieved many inquires on why I haven't been blogging. I imagine people are wondering my thoughts on Kyle leaving.

Well many of you know my nephew had been living with us. He came to live with us April 23rd (two days after Christian's 2nd Birthday), at the young age of 6 weeks. After about two weeks of increased unsupervised visits Kyle's Mom took him home to live with her in Albany on Thursday July 9th (the day before Matt's 33rd Birthday). To do the math he lived with us for 14 months and 2 weeks. Yes nearly his entire life.

Prior to this his Mother was having weekly 3 hour visits with him supervised, so he knew his mom well. I think he even looked forward to spend that time with her each week. Yesterday I received an update from the casework, say that he was "Happy."

We spent the first four days after Kyle left on a group camping trip, which has helped to keep our mind off that fact that he is gone. We often made remarks about how this years camping trip (we do this same camping trip every years with a several families) was the easiest. 2006 we had Christian 4 months, 2007 we had three kids (my niece Kiley was living with us), 2008 we had three kids (including a 5 month old Kyle), and this year 2009 just two kids, only a 3 year old and a 5 year old. I plan to continue to stay busy and keep my mind off him being gone. I bought paint for Nika and Christian's room, painted Nika's room (purple), plan to paint Christian's room next week (transformer Red), plan to go berry picking (I haven't done this since I was a child), and I plan to learn to can/make jelly.

With all that said, I am trying to keep myself busy. But I can feel it now, we miss him so very much. My heart is broken that my son Kyle is not with me. And I see little hope that we will see Kyle much. His mom, my sister-in-law, has carried a lot of resentment toward Matt and I. Over the last 3 1/2 years we have had one of her kids living with us 2 years one month.

Well please be praying for us (Matt, Meghan, Nika, Christian, Kyle, and Jamie (Kyle's Mom)), pray discernment of the caseworker (Kyle Shumaker (yes same first name), that Jamie can feed him, clothe him and provide shelter for him (she has made financial difficulties), and Health for Kyle and Jamie (Jamie has had several health trials the last year).

Last of all. Just because Kyle has left doesn't mean we won't see him again. If he does come back into care we are first in line for placement. Kyle's caseworker has promised me he will not allow Kyle to slip through the cracks. And if you ask God has proven time and time again that He watches over his children, especially Kyle.

Thank you for all of your love and support.

Meghan

The Kids

Christian will turn 3 April 21st.













Nika turned 5 March 26th

















Kyle turned 1 March 2nd. (The bruise on his head is from Nika opening the door into his head)

Twin Cousins

A couple of weekends ago Nika and I had a trip shopping together and she asked if I would get her and Kiley matching outfits. I did. A year and a half ago Kiley lived with us for four months. I really enjoyed buying the girls matching outfits and dressing them like twins. It was nice to have a little taste of that again. The girls love it too. That four months together, I believe created a special bond between the two girls. Kiley now lives with the Matt's Parents in Washington.

Nika's Cake

Nika had a chocolate with raspberry cake. Decorated with three disney princesses.

5th Birthday Guests!

Here you see some of the friends at Nika's 5th birthday party. Left to Right; Jaeden (from Church), Owen (from School), Eden (from School), the Birthday Girl, Kiley (Cousin), Christian (Brother) and Maya (Nika's Best Friend from School). Those not pictured who showed later; Benton, Soren, Nathanial, Keiton, Sara, and Jarameih. We tried to play games, but it didn't go well. The oldest kid there was Maya, who had her birthday the Friday before Nika's birthday.

Playing with Kyle

Since Kyle turned a year earlier this month he has really been a joy for the kids to play with. He throws the ball, wrestles, and here you see him playing chase.

29th Birthday Flowers

Matt brought home flowers the night before my Birthday. The purple ones are from my Hubbie and the yellow rose is from my Sis-in-law in Portugal (via Mary).

Sweet Mary has been bring us special treats on our birthday on command of Katie who is with her Hubbie is Portugal as he finishes his Masters there.

I think Matt was feeling a bit guilty, 'cause he had been gone up to 11 pm the night before my birthday. For the last three months he has been out of town every other week. I guess that should slow down for bit before it picks up in the Fall.

Serious Gamer

The other day Christian asked to play the PS3. Well I guess he got worn out, 'cause when i came back he had fallen asleep.

I have been tagged.

Well I am not entirely sure of how this works, but not matter what it should be interesting.

Andrea asked me to share the 5th photo in my 5th photo folder.

This brings me to a picture that was taken almost exactly a year ago. February 2008.

Somethings have changed since last year and some have not changed.

Nika still wears princess dresses all the time, we still have our room decorated the same, there is still clothes on the bed waiting to be folded. The only thing what would be different in this picture is that now we have another little tike running around.




















This is the picture I was hoping it would fall on in this folder. Yes, I love the pictures of my little boy in a dress. He not the little boy who wants to wear a dress now. A year can change a lot of things. Now he is all boy. Jumping around yelling, "Super Batman"

OK, since it has been almost two weeks since Andrea tagged Alicia and Betsy I think they have to do mine too. Alicia, Betsy, Michelle, and Kysa. Would you please post your oldest picture.

Kyle's First Birthday

The big Birthday Boy.

















Eating his drum cake.


















Reading a book with his Mom.