Iris arrives in 5 days.

I can't believe we are getting a daughter in just 5 days. It has been a whirlwind from the beginning. We had thought about hosting a student after attending the AFS fund raisers over the years but had just kept putting it off, waiting for that 'perfect' time. Then came Evelyn, our local AFS coordinator, into our daughters dance class with a flyer. "Who would like to host a student next year that likes to dance?", she announced to a roomful of teenage girls. She was surrounded by them all, asking to be the family while the parents' eyes opened wide. (Would you all like a cell phone and puppy too while you're at it?) Guess that perfect time was now!

I am trying to keep my eyes (heart & mind) opened wide as no matter what we expect, it will be different. Going from parenting a single girl at the beginning of becoming a teenager (I still know a few things and am ok to hang around with) to parenting 2 girls, the other already a teenager, on the edge of becoming an adult. Alexa has no experience with sharing on a daily basis but Iris has a younger brother. I haven't been tuned into the high school and now need to catch up with that crowd while worrying if Alexa's middle school will make it through budget cuts another year. Fast forward to the dating scene which was years away and now we have a beautiful, foreign senior...yikes! What will be different and what will be the same?

We (ok, Cliff) is very busy with last minute preparations, the renovations started almost last year on Alexa's new bedroom and bathroom. In the last 2 days we went from one working shower to 3 (the claw foot tub has been retrofitted with a shower head as well). Alexa's tiny bathroom still needs the sink installed but we thought having more showers and mirrors was going to be necessary with an upcoming teenager and now there will be 2. At this point I guess I'm almost glad not to have gotten the second dog I had wanted since I barely have time to brush Cory.

Now with only a few days left, I'm excited and worried, looking around the house and community. I hope Iris can make the adjustments smoothly. I want her to have good friends and experiences. Will the adjustment to a small town be hard? Will the school be challenging and fun? What kind of sisters will Alexa & Iris become? Will Cory get really spoiled? Will we be good parents? Guess worrying is a good sign, that's what parents do.

We are VERY excited and looking forward to all the changes that we all will experience this upcoming year. First, better finish up those projects.

In the middle of remodeling Alexa's room (with help from Uncle Todar!)

Just 3 of us at Newberry Crater.

Here comes Iris!