Here is just a quick update on the happenings of the Hollis household…Oldest to youngest.
Emilee – Number one, she is growing up WAY TOO FAST! Seriously, how does this happen, they grow up right in front of our eyes and we don’t even realize it. Anyway, she is doing awesome. She ran track and did a great job and loved meeting new people and the exercise. And I have to say I was quite impressed with her running. She tried out for 8th grade cheerleading and made the team again. But this year they will build and go to competitions, so it will be an exciting year. She is planning some time to volunteer around the community, which she has to do for National Honor Society. I went with her to Cedar Point for a chorus trip, where her chorus competed and had some fun at the park. It was nice to have some time with just her. She is now thinking ahead for fundraising ideas so she can attend the 8th grade Washington DC trip next May. She’s a thinker, a planner, and an all around darn good kid.
Nate – Soccer is over and baseball is in full swing. He is doing an awesome job. I LOVE to watch him play sports. He always gives 110% and loves every minute of his sports. His papa, my dad, is one of his coaches, which Nate loves and thinks is really really cool. My dad has coached for many years and knows baseball inside and out. Eric is enjoying being a spectator and hanging with the other dads. He is really excited to be out of Elementary School and into the Junior High next year. They have 2 weeks left of school and one of those days he gets to take a limo to a big pizza joint for having straight A all year. Nice treat from the school! Nate is such a big hearted kid and watching him mature is such a pleasure.
Jessica – Oh miss Jess. She is getting prettier and prettier everyday and her hair is so long. She has never been able to let her hair grow so she thinks it’s awesome to have long hair. She was chosen to be Miss Poppy in the parade today for Memorial Day. She got to sit in the back of a convertible and wave like a princess. Then she had to lay poppy flowers on the graves at 2 memorial services with the American Legion. She was in the news paper, picture and all, and she thought she was famous. She talks about Disney every day and loves going to gymnastics. She will start cheerleading practice the end of July. She has done an amazing job in school this year. I could not be happier and more proud of her hard work and accomplishments. She loves to help me around the house and is very thoughtful. She and Nate get along so well, they have the same sense of humor and love to tease each other. She will laugh at Nate from deep in her belly and always makes me smile. Her artistic ability is amazing for her age, I love the items she makes at school and brings home and am anxious to watch this aspect of her life develop. It’s an area that we encourage her to be proud of herself in and show off to the family. She is a very sweet and affectionate kid and is a real daddy’s girl!
Joaquin – My little man is just as funny and energetic as ever. He has made some friends, brothers of Nate’s baseball buddies, which he thinks is cool. He too is doing a super job in school and has come such a long way academically. His karate session is over for now, but I am anxious to get him involved in something soon. I am hoping maybe a soccer program in the fall. I am realizing as I write this that my daily alone time with him will be over in just 2 short weeks. Everyday he comes home and makes me smile. His eyes, his smile, his accent, his mannerisms, his funny oh so witty self keep me laughing and appreciating what he has to offer in life. We have kept an extremely tight leash on him for the last year, and I am feeling like it’s time to start letting it go a bit and let him prove himself. We have worked on so many things this year, about making good choices. He is so young in his maturity and has an awful lot of bad habits to break but has made great strides in the past year. He is coming around, but still has a way to go. He is so darn cute and full of life that I can’t wait to see where his life path takes him!
The local news paper asked to do a story on our adoption and will be printed in two weeks. Hopefully it will inspire other families in our community to pursue adoption. The lady from the paper was very intrigued by our story. Her final question to us was “So are you finished adopting?” There was an awkward pause as Eric and I looked at each other not knowing how to answer. Instinctively, I would have said no, I want one more, and he would have said yes, this is all we can afford. So Emilee broke the silence with “Maybe a little one from Ethiopia,” And I agreed that we would love to have a little one from Africa, but nothing is in the works. And Eric chimed in with “Maybe we will just run a Children’s Home or orphanage, our work here is not yet finished!”
