LOVE my boys!!

One of the most delightful things about newly adopted children is sharing all the "firsts"-- 

especially the American holidays! 

Well, while Valentine's Day has never been one of the more important holidays for our family, this year is different.

Different because there are two more children in the house, different because of their ages, and different most of all...

because they do not come from a culture of demonstrative affection.

Our youngest, Tommy, is a lover!  He has been mama's boy since his first breath and he LOVES to hug and cuddle.

Our older boys are...well...older.

They are also from a culture where love is demonstrated more by service than open affection.  So, a holiday all about love and friendship and affection has got to be a strange concept for them.

But, today--today, my sweet husband rallied the troops to love on Mom!

Last night, while I was at an adoption gathering, my boys snuck off to the store to go Valentine's Day shopping.

(With their OWN money!)

This was the scene downstairs when I arrived to the "Party" this morning:

***WARNING:  NO MAKEUP!***

Posting these pictures for all the world to see is a demonstration of how much I love my boys!

Here they are just before Mom comes walking downstairs...

Even in the morning these boys are handsome!

I warned you....

Here is my sweet card from the boys!

They know how to get to mama's heart...

Tommy made sure that I knew which gift came from which child...

So, the cutest stuffed frog and coffee mug were from my sweet Cameron!

He smiled so big

 when I loved it!

The Heart shaped candy was from my youngest... (and bossiest) Tommy

And the Reese's Peanut Butter hearts...

 (really? Is there a better candy anywhere?)

 were from my adorable, responsible and fiercely protective oldest son, Colin!

Ta-da! 

Not that it could get much better, but I was also treated to a wonderful hot breakfast of Cheesy eggs, Bacon, Biscuits, and Juice

 (my favorites)

and all my guys together!

Do I have a wonderful family or what?

God is so good!  I am overwhelmed at the way He has woven this family together over the last year and how He continues to bless us each day.

Last, but most definitely not least...

I got a big old hug from my tall, handsome, oldest son before he went off to school this morning! Thank you God!

The Rylands' Band

So if you are a bloggy friend and we have not yet met in person, then you may not know that music goes way back in my family.

I starting singing very young, 

began piano at 6, 

Brother Mark (left) Me, Brother Scott (right)
First piano behind us.

started learning trumpet at 10,

My Father's Cornet that he played as a child and was my first wind instrument at the age of 10.

 switched to the French Horn at 11, 

and have been playing/singing ever since. 

Jr. High Years with my friend DeaJo and
my brother Scott

High School Concert Band Concert

I even studied Music Education at 

Liberty University 

That's me in the skirt- Drum Major of the Marching Band.

and taught music/band for several years right out of college.  

Honors Band students at
University of Tennessee Honors Band Camp
1997

Summer Band Rehearsal
Brunswick Co., VA
1997


can you find the teacher below? :-)

V.L. Murray Elementary Band
4th grade class
1998

V.L. Murray Elementary Band
Christmas Concert
1998

V.L. Murray Elementary Band
Spring Concert
1999

All of that seems, some days, like a complete lifetime ago.

I still enjoy teaching private lessons to beginning band students, but now....

Now, I have the privilege to teach my own children how to play.

When Colin first came home, he said that he

 "played the saxophone". Hmm. Well, we did have some pics from the orphanage of him holding a sax, so we thought, 

"ok, let's start with that". 

After a few months of homeschool band and seeing very little self-motivation, we decided not to push.

After Cameron came home, we told him that we would teach him any of the instruments that we had (which was quite a selection).

So, we emptied the closet of all the musical instruments and tried a few.

His choice?  The trumpet!  

While the boys were enjoying the chance to try out different things, I decided to see how Colin would do on the Trombone.

He did great!  

So, I did what any former band director turned mom would do...

I asked him to SWITCH!

After one 20 minute lesson on the basics, and three notes taught, I decided that he was much better suited for a brass instrument.

Then, there is our youngest- Tommy (age 7).

 He has been begging asking me for over three years now if I would teach him to play the cornet.  

My cornet. 

The first horn I ever learned to play. 

My Dad's cornet. 

Our very old, very special, quite valuable cornet.  

At 4.

Well, needless to say, I told him it must wait until he was older and bigger.

But now, with all these boys interested in learning instruments....well, ok --I caved.

So, all that being said...here is the "BEFORE" snapshot of the Rylands Family Players! 

For those who are not accustomed to the dazzling sounds of beginning brass players... Be warned!

Tom even joined us for a little musical equity- our one woodwind player in the family. Thanks honey!

Another First for Cameron

Cameron's first American Haircut

Before....

During....

Mr. Ticklish!

After...

Such cutie pies!

Cameron reading like a PRO!

Soon after returning home from Ch*na with Cameron, we dove right into home school. Unlike our initial plan with Colin, we decided to start teaching him to read right away.

Boy, was that the right call. He is doing a wonderful job. He has such a good "ear" for language. His diction is surprisingly good. So much so, that I can be really picky with him on things that normally would come much later.

We are using Hooked on Phonics and the Leapfrog Phonics Videos, "Talking Letter Factory" and "Talking Words Factory".  The Flash cards are great and we still go through them once before each reading lesson to review the names & sounds of each letter.

Here are the 14 mini books that are in the Kindergarten level of H.O.P.

In less than 3 weeks, Cameron managed to successfully complete the entire level of reading!  He was visibly excited each time I went for that box!  It is so cool teaching someone who is not only agreeable and compliant, but joyful about his learning.

As an incentive (not that we really needed one), we promised Cameron that he would get a reward once he completed the first level of books.

So, last Friday, we called a "Hooky Day" and Tom and I took the two younger boys out to 

We had a fun time!

one of the things that Cameron has learned from his big brother is to "run" everytime he sees Mom with the Camera! (Clearly, Tommy does not suffer from this aversion!)

so, many of these photos will be taken from behind! LOL

I found these two stinkers playing some of the "smaller" games so that they could reach the top more easily and win more tickets. (I told you they weren't dumb!)

Cameron "purchased" tattoos with his tickets and before lunch was over, he had put all 5 of them up his arm!

time to go....

After we left, we enjoyed a light lunch at Sam's Club and then we were off to meet friends at Riverfront Park in North Charleston.

My two youngest- slowing becoming brothers!

Cameron hiding out in the sculpture eating his apple!

Monkey See? Monkey Do!

Isn't that what little brothers do?

We had a wonderful day with the boys! 

Congratulations Cameron! 

Job well done!

Now, you might think that after all this, Cameron would have been disappointed when he saw the new "Box" come out of hiding on Monday- (The first grade level) but let me assure you, he did not! 

In fact, he smiled that million dollar smile and literally did a little happy dance and ran the the dining room table where we "read" together.

Signed, "Proud mama" aka Angie