We took the boys to Illinois for my niece Jodi’s wedding. We drove 9 hours the first day and stopped in Lexington, KY to spend the night. After checking into a hotel with an indoor pool, the boys couldn’t get their swim suits on fast enough! They swam until the pool closed. All three were a big hit at the wedding reception with all their “John Travolta” moves” until Nicky broke his thumb break-dancing and Ty threw his neck out with some wild moves! It was Nicky & Elliott’s first time meeting sister Leslie and brother-in-law Kraig (Elliott’s first time meeting the rest of the Illinois family). Leslie commented they fit in the family so perfectly it was like the boys were interviewed before we adopted them! Picture, left to right: Elliott, Tom Veri, Tobi Veri, Kathie, Nicky, Myself, Tyler, Leslie Hunnemuller and Kraig Hunnemuller.
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The school year ended in June and all 3 boys did very well. Tyler made the honor roll and found a new best friend this year. Nicky had an awesome group of teachers who were very patient and attentive with him. He had a “stepping up” ceremony (for 5th graders going to Middle School next year) the last day of school. He was so excited about it and after much bantering back and forth I let him wear Tyler’s tuxedo to this NOT so formal event! (He even tried to get me to wear a formal). He was the only one wearing a tux but it didn’t bother him at all. He was so proud of his accomplishment and so was I! Elliott ended his year at WCA with the “Presidential Award for Physical Fitness”. The unfortunate part was we were not notified ahead of time so we could have attended, but he did not understand the significance of it either.
Dave and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on May 30th! We had a great meal (alone) at a fabulous new restaurant and reminisced about our 20 year journey. We both feel very blessed and can’t believe we are new parents together at this time in our marriage. I never dreamed that we would have children together, which always saddened me. God still amazes me in His goodness towards us!
This summer we purchased Busch Garden/Water Country Passes for the family and can I just say the boys cannot stop talking about “The Griffon”, the biggest baddest Roller Coaster ever! Just ask Nicky, he will give you ALL the stats you ever wanted to know! This was DEFINETELY a new experience for them! We have all had a ton of fun at Water Country too. So it shouldn’t take much imagination to figure out where and how we are spending a lot of our free time this summer!
June started off with the annual Royal Rangers “Pow Wow” weekend camping outing. After several weeks of Nicky and Ty constructing a cardboard boat with their team, Nicky and Ty were the two chosen to row the boat together. To lead their team into victory...Uhmmm. We were both somewhat apprehensive as this event had capability of great bonding or great division. Thankfully, there were no injuries, they were still speaking to each other by at the end AND they came in 3rd place with a trophy! Way to go guys!
The most exciting thing that happened in June was the boys getting baptized in the James River! It was a decision both of them made by themselves and understood the significance of what they were doing. Family & friends rejoiced as they came out of the water and at their desire to identify with Christ in this way!
Elliott went to his first high school retreat at church in May. Can I just say that communicating clearly is still a bit of a problem! I thought he understood when I told him (in detail) about the upcoming high school retreat and ask him if he was interested in going. He said “YES”! However, when it came time to go, I found out that he thought it was just a night out (like when he went with the group one night to play Laser Tag)…not a 3 day event! He was apprehensive (and wanted me to get my money back) but agreed to go. He was on my heart all weekend, and I was praying that God would break down the language barriers and Elliott would get to know HIM better, and have a great overall experience. The last day he called me to say “Thanks Mom”. He told me it was “very very very good”, God spoke to his heart, great praise and worship, lots of new friends and a ton of fun. Thank you Jesus!
Right after school was out in June, we headed to Baldwinsville, NY (10 hour drive) to see our good friends Bill & Nancy Stalter. They adopted two girls (now 14 & 15) from the Ukraine in 2003 and we were anxious to get our families together. We had a great trip with LOTS of Russian speaking. We adults held our ground though, refusing to speak anything but English! About the Russian…it has now been 6 months for both children in the country and their language is really coming along good. We have asked them not to speak Russian if there are people around who do not understand them. It is working well unless they get in a fight and then the Russian starts flying. On the flip side, it helps them remember their native language! Nicky says he no longer thinks in Russian but Elliott still does.
Elliott and Nicky are attending summer school and both are excited about what they are learning! Mr. Elliott Schweickert is now gainfully employed! He is working part-time at one of the local markets in town called “Farm Fresh”. He really likes it and is a very hard worker. Nicky is officially on the pre-teen gymnastics team at William & Mary and practices every Monday night for 3 hours. He LOVES it and can’t get enough! He is pretty good and has already advanced to Level 4 in a short amount of time.
Meanwhile, Ty is in high demand this summer. He is off again flying by himself around the
country! It doesn’t even faze him as he’s been doing it since he was 6 years old. He left last week for a visit to Florida with my sister, Andie and her husband, Rosario. Tomorrow he leaves for a surprise trip to the Bahamas with Aunt Tobi & Uncle Tommy. Ty visits them every summer in Atlanta and they take him on what they call “a trip within a trip” (camping, white water rafting, Disney World). Ty is going to be so excited about the surprise! (He is anticipating another camping trip). Later in the summer he will go visit his Illinois family for two weeks and return in time to go to the Outer Banks for a week with us! Now this is what I call living!
.JPG)
The school year ended in June and all 3 boys did very well. Tyler made the honor roll and found a new best friend this year. Nicky had an awesome group of teachers who were very patient and attentive with him. He had a “stepping up” ceremony (for 5th graders going to Middle School next year) the last day of school. He was so excited about it and after much bantering back and forth I let him wear Tyler’s tuxedo to this NOT so formal event! (He even tried to get me to wear a formal). He was the only one wearing a tux but it didn’t bother him at all. He was so proud of his accomplishment and so was I! Elliott ended his year at WCA with the “Presidential Award for Physical Fitness”. The unfortunate part was we were not notified ahead of time so we could have attended, but he did not understand the significance of it either.
Dave and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on May 30th! We had a great meal (alone) at a fabulous new restaurant and reminisced about our 20 year journey. We both feel very blessed and can’t believe we are new parents together at this time in our marriage. I never dreamed that we would have children together, which always saddened me. God still amazes me in His goodness towards us!This summer we purchased Busch Garden/Water Country Passes for the family and can I just say the boys cannot stop talking about “The Griffon”, the biggest baddest Roller Coaster ever! Just ask Nicky, he will give you ALL the stats you ever wanted to know! This was DEFINETELY a new experience for them! We have all had a ton of fun at Water Country too. So it shouldn’t take much imagination to figure out where and how we are spending a lot of our free time this summer!
June started off with the annual Royal Rangers “Pow Wow” weekend camping outing. After several weeks of Nicky and Ty constructing a cardboard boat with their team, Nicky and Ty were the two chosen to row the boat together. To lead their team into victory...Uhmmm. We were both somewhat apprehensive as this event had capability of great bonding or great division. Thankfully, there were no injuries, they were still speaking to each other by at the end AND they came in 3rd place with a trophy! Way to go guys!
The most exciting thing that happened in June was the boys getting baptized in the James River! It was a decision both of them made by themselves and understood the significance of what they were doing. Family & friends rejoiced as they came out of the water and at their desire to identify with Christ in this way!Elliott went to his first high school retreat at church in May. Can I just say that communicating clearly is still a bit of a problem! I thought he understood when I told him (in detail) about the upcoming high school retreat and ask him if he was interested in going. He said “YES”! However, when it came time to go, I found out that he thought it was just a night out (like when he went with the group one night to play Laser Tag)…not a 3 day event! He was apprehensive (and wanted me to get my money back) but agreed to go. He was on my heart all weekend, and I was praying that God would break down the language barriers and Elliott would get to know HIM better, and have a great overall experience. The last day he called me to say “Thanks Mom”. He told me it was “very very very good”, God spoke to his heart, great praise and worship, lots of new friends and a ton of fun. Thank you Jesus!
Right after school was out in June, we headed to Baldwinsville, NY (10 hour drive) to see our good friends Bill & Nancy Stalter. They adopted two girls (now 14 & 15) from the Ukraine in 2003 and we were anxious to get our families together. We had a great trip with LOTS of Russian speaking. We adults held our ground though, refusing to speak anything but English! About the Russian…it has now been 6 months for both children in the country and their language is really coming along good. We have asked them not to speak Russian if there are people around who do not understand them. It is working well unless they get in a fight and then the Russian starts flying. On the flip side, it helps them remember their native language! Nicky says he no longer thinks in Russian but Elliott still does.
Elliott and Nicky are attending summer school and both are excited about what they are learning! Mr. Elliott Schweickert is now gainfully employed! He is working part-time at one of the local markets in town called “Farm Fresh”. He really likes it and is a very hard worker. Nicky is officially on the pre-teen gymnastics team at William & Mary and practices every Monday night for 3 hours. He LOVES it and can’t get enough! He is pretty good and has already advanced to Level 4 in a short amount of time.
Meanwhile, Ty is in high demand this summer. He is off again flying by himself around the
country! It doesn’t even faze him as he’s been doing it since he was 6 years old. He left last week for a visit to Florida with my sister, Andie and her husband, Rosario. Tomorrow he leaves for a surprise trip to the Bahamas with Aunt Tobi & Uncle Tommy. Ty visits them every summer in Atlanta and they take him on what they call “a trip within a trip” (camping, white water rafting, Disney World). Ty is going to be so excited about the surprise! (He is anticipating another camping trip). Later in the summer he will go visit his Illinois family for two weeks and return in time to go to the Outer Banks for a week with us! Now this is what I call living!
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