Merry Christmas, from our House to Yours!


Wow, it's hard to believe that this is Julia's second Christmas with us. It seems like we have had her for her entire life even though I know we missed her first 21 months. It has been such a blessing to have the opportunity to stay at home with my munchkins. Although, some days it feels like more of a challenge. I have no clue how I worked for 15 years and got everything done. My days are so full of driving here and there and playing with my babies. I do not know what God has in store for our immediate future so for now I will spend each day enjoying the craziness.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Julia! We love you!!!!!





















Can you believe Julia picked a "Barbie" cake?
We may not be raising a tomboy after all.



















This is the cutiest outfit that a fellow blogger is making to raise money for her second adoption from China, Gracie. She has many more fabrics and does an outstanding job. http://sewingforgracie.blogspot.com/














Julia was very fond of her new Barbie make-up
and I believe Carson was as well.




















It's not a birthday unless you have Dora at the party.




















What could be in this box? Julia has caught on real
quick as to what happens at birthday parties....presents.
She received a furr-real cat in the box she is holding. Too cute.





















Instead of wearing birthday hats, Julia had all of us
wear sunglasses. Way too cool.















Carson was still trying to get his on. Matthew had strep
so he wasn't allowed to get close enough to anyone to
be in the pic. So sorry.




















Had to show off Tim's new apron for frying
his turkey. It was too funny.















This Thanksgiving our extracurricular activity
was making gingerbread houses for each family.















Chase's field trip to Ft. Toulouse. Now, if you look real
close you will see Tim in the Maroon shirt with black shades.
He was picked to do the Quail dance. Video follows.















Chase's first deer, a doe, a female deer. Sorry
for the graphics. I'm not that good with photo shop.






















This was our group that we chaperoned
at the field trip. It was cold and this poor
Indian had very little to nothing on under that
shirt.




Again, Tim is wearing the burgandy shirt with the black
shades and his partner is wearing a red cape.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Found this on Desiree's website and it was so easy to make. It only took over a year for me to finally put a gotcha video together. It's wonderful to look back and see how far Julia has come.

We're Back!





















Julia adjusting to her Halloween costume before the big reveal.
See how straight my new eyes are!



















I think she might actually like it. Thank goodness.



















Now, Carson is ready to be tickled!



















Julia carried this open umbrella around the house all afternoon and then to the football practice that night. It finally rained before we left practice. Hum, a little inside info from the weather man that we aren't receiving?














A Thomas custom to escort a cheerleader each year. Of course, the one Matthew escorted won Queen. Yeah, J.C.



















Chase doing a little posing for his fundraiser packaging. He was nominated homecoming king for the 4th grade so I had to do a little baking to raise money.



















This is a customary requirement that Chase hugs his brother and sister at least twice a day.



















I think she is ready to put the pig in the ground!














Lily, myself and Julia at the China reunion in August. Lily was our guide and contact during the entire adoption process and trip to get Julia. She is awesome.














One year adoption celebration for Julia. Her daddy bought her the shades and cell phone.



















Olivia dressed for the ocassion.

Carson post tonsilectomy. What a trooper!

Just call Chase "Diaper Man"!

Alot has happened over the past five months of not blogging. I am now a stay-at-home mom and love it. It took about three months to become adjusted and boy was that a rough three months. It's funny how you have less time when you stay home versus working. We have celebrated Julia's one year anniversary, installed another set of ear tubes, removed Carson's tonsils and adnoids, practiced football and football and football and had a surgery to straighten Julia's eyes.

Julia is doing great. We have seen a tremendous difference in Julia since her eyes have been fixed?? She now sleeps all night, takes longer naps and is a lot more calmer in crowds. It's amazing how your eyes can control that much. She is such a joy. Julia and Carson have grown so close that I do not think you could separate them if you tried. They still compete a good bit but they watch out for each other constantly. It is so sweet.

We are still taking speech and just had her tested to qualify for transferring to the county to continue speech once she turns three next month. Although her cleft was confined to the lip only, she has had some delay in the range of motion of her mouth/tongue. She seems to always compensate for any obstacles she mights have. She tested out as a 3 1/2 year old but may still qualify merely on articulation, I hope. This goes to show you that hard work does pay off and these kids can catch up rather quickly.

We have one more surgery for next year to remove her lip scar, excess tissue and reshape her nose and then we should be done until we begin her othordontic care a few years from now. This child has been through so much but you would never be able to tell with her uplifting spirit and motherly nature that she provides. She truly is our gift from God.

I will try to do better about updating our blog at least once every few months instead of five months.

Jr. Beta Club Induction - Matthew & Olivia

Congrats to Matthew and Olivia on entering the Beta Club. Now, let's see if they can remain a member for the rest of their school years.

I don't think Matthew wanted me walking down in front of everyone to get this group shot. Don't you just love embarrasing your kids?




This is Chaz. One of Matthew's best friends since they were little. Chaz is one grade ahead of Matthew so he's always there to give advice on how to handle the next school year coming up.
We solemnly swear to uphold the rules and regulations of the Beta Club, to study every waking hour and never give our parents one minute of problems. Well, it didn't quite go like that but it was close.

This is Alex. She is Matthew's SPECIAL friend this year. Congrats to Alex as well!
I think this is where Matthew and Evan asked me to go back to work and quit taking pictures.

Mother's Day/Jubilee/Trike Ride

Yes, that is a coursage that you see in front of a beautiful flower that my mom gave me. The flower is actually growing inside a lava rock from Hawaii. It might live seeing as it requires very little watering and is in front of where I sit to eat every night. It was a wonderful day and I am proud to be the mother of four wonderful kids.

If you haven't noticed, I have been pretty slack on blogging here lately. Once a month seems to be the norm these days thus resulting in the title of this blog being three-part. In this blurred picture, you will see Chase on the far left and Matthew in the striped shirt, top right corner. This was Children's day at church and the children led the night service. Chase opened up with the welcome announcements and Matthew gave his testimony at the end of the night. Wow, what a kid. I would NEVER have gotten up in front of all those people at his age and spoke. I didn't let him know that until after it was over with. I am very proud of both of them.

This was the trike parade that took place for the preschoolers prior to the evening service. I think the bib I happened to throw on Carson says it all.

Well, some people didn't quite adhere to the age restrictions to enter the trike parade. This is the back of Mr. Gary. Mr. Gary is the one who so graciously ran all the electronics the night of our auction to raise money for Julia. He is a very special guy.

Yes, this picture is out of place and should be at the bottom. We attended the annual Jubilee Festival in Montgomery and decided to take pictures on the river while waiting for the bands to start up. Chase won the squeegy bottle in his hands by doing 10 pullups at the Marine's booth.
Julia was not too sure about the trike parade and decided to stay behind until everyone else was well on their way around the parking lot.

She did want to partake in the popsicle part of the trike parade and had no problems devouring her snack.... Little piggy.
Carson, Judson and Becca Beth had a little race going on to see who could finish first and make the biggest mess.

You always have the book worm in the family and then there's the athelete. Chase wanted to do the pullups every time we passed this booth. I was so glad to see they shut it down around 10:30 p.m. How many pullups can a 9-year-old perform.

Alright, already. No, none of the rest of the family can beat your record. Matthew did get up there and try to do one. Well, like I said, he tried.

This is what you wear when you are 12 and attending a Sugarland concert. Yes, we pay for blue jeans that have holes in them already.