Recent pictures

At the Rangers game with my friend Kristin

Grandpa's Birthday Dinner

Our Vacation Chain...3 more days until Kazapalooza!!!

Muscle Shot

My Pirate Boys

About to head to the Pirate Party @ Chick-fil-A

Chandler & Cortney

Happy Memorial Day

I read this post by Kidd Kraddick and I wanted to share.

May 27, 2011

If you are new to America and you go by what you see and hear on TV and radio, you might be convinced that Memorial Day is the one weekend a year to "ENJOY HUGE SAVINGS ON ELECTRONICS AND HOME FURNISHINGS!'

You almost never hear the words Memorial Day anymore unless they're followed by the word "Sale".

People always complain that we’ve lost the true meaning of Christmas or Easter but unlike those examples, remembering our fallen soldiers doesn't require you to be Christian or Jew or Muslim. Just American.

Not Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, pro-war, anti-war. We should all come together on this day…not the whole weekend…just Monday, and remember what the holiday means and how we’re supposed to observe it.

When America was trying to recover from the Civil War, nearly every family in this country felt the direct loss. Imagine a country one fourth the size it is now and then imagine nearly 700 THOUSAND casualties. On those first few memorial days, I’m pretty sure they didn't celebrate with hot dogs and three day weekends and a sale on video games.

In the last seven years, Memorial Day has meant something for the first time to hundreds of families. Families who've been through the scope of emotions that started with pride of service, fear of loss, and finally the numbing grief that the person they love is gone forever. Ask the families and they usually won't use the word hero. Instead they'll use words like "friend", "brother", "son", "confidant", "full-of-life", "passionate", and "sincere".

Just my opinion, but Monday is not the day to debate the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It's offensive. It's offensive to say our soldiers died in a meaningless war. It's equally offensive to defend the cause. On this day it is. We've got 364 other days for that.

Memorial Day to me isn't about war or all the feelings that go along with it. It's about individuals who chose to serve in the United States Military, they chose to follow orders and they made the ultimate sacrifice.Chances are there is a veterans' cemetery within a few miles of you. You'll find many soldiers buried there who returned from the war and lived full, productive lives. But you'll no doubt find a bunch of headstones that tell the story of an abbreviated life. Each of those markers represents the crushed dream of a wife, a parent, a brother.

And I hope we will remember that on Monday, in between hanging out with family and firing up the grill and hanging out with friends...I truly hope that Monday, if even for a fleeting moment, you will hit the pause button and realize that this is not just a day off from work or school. Our fallen heroes chose to put their lives on the line for many reasons, but I'm pretty certain that giving us a day-off is not one of them.

I sometimes regret that I did not have the privilege to serve my country. As much as I whine and complain about how imperfect America is (an inalienable right to do so in America, by the way), I wish that I had given a couple years of my life to demonstrate to others and especially myself that what we have here is more than worth defending. And for those who did--and paid the price--they will forever have my unwavering respect and admiration.

If my opinion reflects yours as well, PLEASE share them with your facebook friends. The more who post, the more those who served will feel the universal appreciation they deserve on this day.

-Kidd

Summer Fever

Summer Fever.  I have it.  I've been used to the whole "you're an adult now and don't get summer break" thing for a looong time now.  For some reason  (I bet the whole having a school-age child has something to do with it) I am just craving the summer off.  Some time to soak up some sun, explore, travel, sleep-in, slow down, etc...you know?  You feel me?  I'm kind of jealous that Ryland gets a summer break, but I feel terrible for him at the same time because I know we'll be working.  I keep thinking of ways that we can jam one more thing in, take one more trip, sign him up for one more thing to help make all those summer memories.  We're going to Florida next week, we're going on a cruise in August, he's going to summer school for a month, we're planning weekend trips all over the great state of Texas, weddings, parties, birthdays...you name it.  I want it to be special.  Extra special.  It's his first whole summer with us at home.  I'm so excited I can't wait!  I'm pretty sure that I may start wearing my swimsuit under my clothes at work so the second I get home, pool time can start!  I am just as excited about summer-time with Ry as I was about Christmas-time with Ry!  That's it!!!  I'll start a Summer Advent Calendar!  We had so much fun with our Christmas activities the whole month of December that I should do it for summer as well!  Have umbrellas in our drinks at dinner, popsicles on the back porch, slip'n'slide day, water gun fight night, going out for ice cream, night swims, water balloons...  Oh. My. Gosh.

Bring it on!!

Cortney

Traveling with Kids?

OK - Hit me with your best shot!  What's the best advice you've ever received about traveling with kids?  What books/toys work best?  What does your family do?

ADVICE

Friends, Family, Followers, Stalkers,

Thank you so much for all of the advice you've given!  It's overwhelming (in a good way).  I really appreciate you all sharing what you've learned, heard and lived along the way.  I have a small problem in this area.  I'm sure you all know, but I thought it would be best for me to publicly admit this...I'm a poller.  I love to poll.  I poll everyone, or a least someone, EVERY TIME that I make a big decision.  And yes, Dustin, what to wear is a big decision...there is nothing wrong with asking you and Ryland daily..."which shoe - this one...or this one?"

Hearing one person's opinion doesn't make me always sway that way, it's just nice to hear other's points of view.  You know, just take things into consideration that I hadn't originally thought of.

It's out and I oddly feel better.

Again, thank you for your words of wisdom and for allowing yourselves to be polled,
Cort

Again???

Perfect. Ry got orange today...for kissing. Can't wait to get home and find out who the lucky lady was this time... #shootmenow

Kazapalooza

I am so excited!!! The countdown has begun. 2 weeks from tomorrow, the Stone's are flying to Florida to spend a weekend, at the beach, with a BUNCH of other families who have adopted from Kazakhstan! I really can't put into words how excited I am and how much this means to me and hopefully to Ryland! There is this AMAZING group of Kaz Mamas who have cheered us on, consoled us, prayed for us and followed along on our journey. I have had the privilege of meeting a few, but I am really looking forward to meeting these beautiful families in real life! I have communicated with some for 3 years online through blogs, Facebook and email.

Hmmm, that last sentence kinda makes me feel like an Internet stalker... At least I've represented myself honestly. I promise, I'm not a creepy 60 year old guy with a comb-over and sweatpants that hangs out in adoption chat rooms!

Back to my excitement...I'm over the moon! In 2 weeks Ry will get to hang out with Kaz kids from 125 families! We're getting family portraits on the beach *swoon*, going to a Pirate show, playing, relaxing and doing what Ry and I do best...socializing!!

Giddy in Dallas,
Cortney

Too young?

Sorry for the time between posts lately.  I've had a lot on my mind about this whole school situation and I just haven't been up to writing about it yet.

Update on Ryland.  He's doing great in school.  His reading is now up to par with his class.  The school has no reason to hold him back, academically speaking.  He has a pretty good grasp on things at school.  His overall classroom behavior has improved, but still leaves much to be desired.  There is now only 1 reason that I am hearing from his school.  1 reason we should consider holding him back. His youngness.  Their stance is that he is not immature for his age, he is just young.

I don't get this part.  Help me make some sense out of this.  We didn't decide on the age cut-off for Kindergarten...we have no control over that.  Is that a legit reason?  If its so legit, then why don't they change the cut-off age?

So, basically I am constantly back and forth between these 2 scenarios.

1. I have not gotten a good enough reason to hold him back.  I ask for it...all the time...but I haven't received anything that was concrete enough for me and made sense in my head.  So, I should send him on to 1st grade.

2. There is this completely selfish side of me that sees how if we hold him back, we get to have him in our home for a whole extra year before he moves out.  That's big.  We already missed his first four years and this would soften that blow a little bit.  But, it's selfish. 

What's best for Ryland?  What's best for him next year and for the rest of his life?  How will I explain that we held him back for no reason?  Is having a son who is 18 his ENTIRE senior year going to be a problem?  What to do...what to do?

Any advice?  Besides buying stock in Zantac to deal with my ulcers?

Update from the teacher

So proud of our little monkey!

Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 10:06 AM
To: Cortney Stone
Subject:

Hi Cortney!

Just a little info- I did Ryland’s DRA today. He read on a level 4. We only go to a 6 in Kinder. That is right there with everyone else. So - I really think that he is very close to being on level as far as academics are concerned. It’s just his youngness that is really a concern I feel like.  I just wanted you to know that.  It’s awesome!

 

Dallas Arboretum

Prepare yourselves...these pics are adorable...

My brother, Tyler, and Leah & Talon

The Stone's...what a cute fam...

Ry & Oma

Oma, Opa and their grand-boys.

My parents, bro & sis

Ry Guy

The whole crew

Being silly...

Peace out!

First Roller Coaster Ride

It's Official! My little guy is reading!

We've been working on this for a while. He's been doing great sounding things out, looking for sight words and looking at the pictures for help. This morning he read 4 new books all on his own without stumbling. He's reading!!!