Avery Day {four years HOME}

Four.
Years.
Home.

FOREVER!

This little one has captured my heart.....completely!

I mean ~ COMPLETELY!!!!

Four years ago, she was so frightened.
Oh so very frightened.
This was one of the hardest days of her life.
She has had more difficult days then any little girl should ever have.....

But.....
God.
He can heal the broken hearted.
He can bring beauty from ashes!

(And, yes.  I was trying to win her over with M&Ms.)

Now.
Four.
Years.
Later.....

Oh how she makes my life so much better!

Her joy!
Her love for life!
Her smile!

I am one blessed momma!!!

Avery's adoption journal.

*you will have to scroll all the way down to day one.

It was wonderful, truly wonderful......

Christmas Eve 2013

Yes,  I am late in posting about our WONDERFUL Christmas.....
But ya know......Better Late Than Never!

First time in a long time that ALL the kiddos were home!

What a blessing!

Always fun trying to get ready for the Christmas Eve family picture....

Then of course we have the "big kid" pictures:

Drew and Katie

Scott and Stephanie

Faith and Jon and Archie.....yep, I know Archie isn't a 'big kid', but he hangs with his 'big kid' parents.

Pictures with Grandma

Group Pictures

Then a pic of the "Boss"!

Shea and Avery had fun on Christmas morning styling their dolls' hair.

Add caption

Hope y'all had a very blessed and joy-filled Christmas!!


Next year.....this little guy!
Can NOT wait!!!

Nine? Really???

I think I say this every year.....

But.

HOW does {this} happen??

HOW do my kids keep getting older?



Shea just turned 9 YEARS OLD!!!

What??

It seems just like yesterday that we celebrated her birthday for the first time as our daughter.
She was only three.
Sigh.

Now she is nine!

Getting all grown up on us!

Having fun with the sibs!

This little guy, my grandson, is wondering what all the fuss is about....

Happy Birthday, Shea-Belle!
Oh how we love you!!!

Thanksgiving 2013 {feeling blessed}

Look we what we received right in time for Thanksgiving.....

A picture of Jude, and a small little update....

He is 19 months old.
And is precious.
He weighs about 24 lbs.
And is adorable.
He is about 31 inches tall.
And is amazing!

I was inspired me to purchase some really cute tops.

And look what arrived!!!

And WOW!

Do we really have a crib?

Again?

(Ahem....I gotta get working on his room.....soon!)


As we anticipate and prepare for Jude to join our family......

We remember all of our blessings!


Our Thanksgiving Day started off with the girls making Monkey Bread.

Then on to puzzle making.

*I forgot to take pictures of our fabulous meal.....I guess I was a little distracted.....food will do that to me!

But I did take a picture of the calm after the storm.  lol

Hard to believe that there were five very happy, hungry, and well-satisfied people sitting around this table!!!

We sure did miss our three older children, their spouses, and of course our grandson.  They were blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving together down in Indy.

We were blessed to spend the day with my mom.

Hubby.....turkey stupor!  lol
And also....."Why are you taking a picture of me, Chris?" expression.

Finally, we watched this movie:

Perfect way to end a wonderful day.....

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Cupcakes for Grandma!

The girls wanted to do something special for Grandma's birthday.

I decided to steal borrow an idea from my dear friend Tonya.  (Who by the way always has amazing, creative ideas.....just sayin'.)

No only is this cupcake idea super cute, it is super EASY!!  And that EASY thing is how I roll.

All you need is this:

Plus....
Some frosting.
Some help from Betty Crocker.
And two really cute and enthusiastic helpers!

We started out with an interesting frosting approach.  It's called "let's take a sample as we frost the cupcakes".

Moved on to unwrapping the Chocolate Kisses.

Added some sprinkles......

Constructed the "acorns".

Had to sampled some cupcakes along the way , of course.
The best part of baking.

And voila!
The perfect acorn cupcake!

Lots of Acorn/Birthday cupcakes for Grandma.

Happy Birthday Grandma!
We love you!

*Hubby took this picture.....kinda hard to get everyone smiling and looking at the camera when all they (ARCHER) wanted to do was eat the cupcakes!

I just had to post this picture.
It's too cute.
Love the upside down acorn!