Christmas Fun!!

This Christmas brought us so much joy. The kids had so much fun and learned what family is all about. Sally and James are two of the most thank-ful kids I have ever meet and it just shows me how "tough" they had it before they come and it makes me sad to think that they already know what "having it bad" means. Ryan and I spent 3 days taking toys out of packages but it was all worth it---even though we now know how small our house really is.
We hope that all you of you had as wonderful of a Christmas as we did. May 2009 be even brighter. Nana with the kids!!

Matthew wasnt ready to get out of bed yet.

At Grandma Sue's house!!

Sally was sick from the 23rd to the 27th so she was not herself but she did a good job pretending. Poor little Princess Sally!!!

Daddy we are ready to go snowmobiling!!!!

The kids got there snowmobile helmet the other day and now they are ready to go snowmobiling. They havent yet because our house hold has been sick for a week now. Between runnung noses and throwing up I have been busy. I only worked for a day and a half last week and it was no vacation. I do have a week and a half (23rd to the 5th of Jan) and I hope that will be a true vacation---NO MORE SICK KIDS!!! Please pray my house hold stays on the track of getting healthy again. I used a whole can of Lysol (I hate the smell of Lysol) and I will use more if I need to. HAHA Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!

December Fun!!

Sally and James were in the local parade friday night witht there pre-school. The pre-school is called Gardian Angels so as you can see they were all Angels. It was so cold out. They had alot of fun but they were cold.

Group pictures---so hard to get everyone to look.

A busy month!!

Well November was a very busy month for us. It seemed to fly by...I cant believe it is only 25 days till Christmas. Well November started with Matthew's 1st birthday. He has grown so much since we have had these kids...it is so neat to see the challenges he has over come. I know alot of them are normal for kids his age but with what he has been through I think it make them even more special. We have been teaching him some sign language and his communication with us is getting alot better plus he is saying more words so life is not as frustrating for him. We also took the kids to build a bear. A tradition we started with Karmah. This is the one thing that is special to each child and can go home with them (if they go) and can be there keep sake and memory of us. We got a new puppy this month also. Tory is a standard red poodle. We took a Sunday drive to Clair to get her. The kids love her...now if I could only get her potty trained. Last but not least "Thanksgiving". Ryan and I have lots to be thankful for this year. Not only are we parenting 3 wonderful children but we have one of the most supportive families anyone could ask for. We cant thank god enough for our parents and our siblings and all of our wonderful friends who have helped us out this year. Life has been a little rough this year but we have made it and we know it was because god helped us and gave us the support we need. We love all of you and wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. James rubbing the heart to put in his penguin. Of course the outfit he chose for the penguin was a batman outfit. Batman is James' hero.

Sally putting the heart in her bear "which she named kitty". Kitty wears a princess outfit.

Tory--still not sure what is going on in this new residence of hers. She is adjusting well.

Matthew partying it up. He loved the cupcakes and all the gifts.

The only time I got him to keep the hat on.

Halloween Photos

Just wanted to share a few pictures from Halloween. The kids had a ton of fun and looked so cute. Sally and James got right into carving there pumpkins. We didn't have time to carve them until Thursday (yes the day before--we bought a minivan that week so we had lots going on--yes I'm officially a soccer van mom) so Matthew didn't get his pumpkin carved but he didn't know the difference. Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend even though it is wet and dreary. Batman, Care Bear and the Devil!!!!!

Karmah went with us to get pumpkins. They liked them better as chairs than they did pumpkins.

Kids Pictures

I had the kids pictures taken today and they turned out so good. Matthew will be one on monday so we did birthday pictures for him and Sally and Christmas pictures. The kids did really well. Thank-you Nana for going and helping me. We love you lots---

Happy Fall

Hello everyone--
Sorry no pictures this time. We have been very busy and with Halloween only a week away life is even crazier. I have been on field trips with both older kids, we are going to the Boo Zoo (weather permitting) this weekend and we have a birthday party this weekend also. Life is way busier with children but I wouldnt trade them for anything. Oh yeah--we had to find a new daycare too---that starts monday. That is a long story in it self and I will not bore you with the details. All I will say is that it is in the best interest of the children. Well i will post some new pictures soon. Matthews birthday is soon and I'm getting the kids pictures taken next week. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Alicia---I'm with you, I'm in the 59% of happy people. I have learned not to dwell on the bad---look at the brighter future and trust god to take care of me and my family.

Love to you all---April

Sally's 3rd Birthday

Sally turned 3 on the 5th and we had a big party for her. She had a ton of fun and loved being the center of attention for a day. Ok she is always the center of attention but she had more people to pay attention to her. Here are a few pictures of that fun day.
Nana and Sally. Sally loves her "Nana".

Sally and her friend Olivia.

Hope you all are having a great weekend. Ryan and I got away for 24 hours with NO children. I'm so excited. I know I will have a GREAT weekend. Dont get me wrong I love my children but I need a break.

Just some fun pictures!!!!

These are just some fun pictures. Sorry I have not been updating lately. I have been very busy with the kids. Sally turned 3 sunday so we had a big party for her. I will upload those pictures in a day or two. Well I have lots to do before bed. Hope you all have a great night. Little T hoping I will feed him thinking he is Matthew. Crazy dog!!!
Hanging out at the camper.
Matthew loves dill pickles.

Sick Sally!!!

This is Sally a couple weeks ago with a temp of 102. She was so sick. I felt so bad for her. 24 hours later she was up and back to herself.

Where has summer gone??

Where has summer gone?? I cant believe that we are too the last weekend of summer. We are camping on this beautiful weekend. Thought I would blog while everyone is napping. This has got to the most relaxed camping trip of the summer and I love it. The kids have been playing outside all day, we took a walk around the whole park (and it is large)and are going to a cook out the park is having at 6pm tonight. Afterwards we are going swimming and for ice cream at the dairy queen only walking distance from our campsite. What a wonderful weekend---I will miss summer---fall is my favorite season but it goes so quick. Well I better go outside and sit and enjoy the rest of my piece and quiet--I'm sure everyone will be up soon. I will be sure to add pictures of this trip next week. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend like we are. Matthew is walking--not very stable but he can go all the way across a room and not fall once. Soon he will be running. We had to put the walker away for good---he climbs out of it.
Sally -- 4th of July weekend in Frankenmuth.
James finally getting the hang of ridding his bike.

Sally's first day of school!!

Sally started pre-school last thursday. Yes I was the crazy mom following her in with the camera. She was so excited to go and if she could go everyday she would. She was the talk of all the mom's with her styling backpack!! Thanks to Grandma Sue for putting her name on it and Nana for buying it for her for her birthday!!! She is so cute. The teachers called her there "cuddle bug"!!!!

Our trip to Mackinaw

The kids loved our trip to Mackinaw. They experienced so many new things and if James would of had his way we would of rode the boat to the island 10 times. Besides going to the island we went the the deer farm and the kids got to feed the deer, we went over the bridge which both kids were amazed with, we rented a drive your own carriage and rode around the island (we got the slowest horse they had), and we just did some plain old sight seeing and shopping. It took us all the whole week after to catch up on our sleep. Below are some pictures from there experience. I thank god everyday that these kids are having a second chance in life and we can let them experience so much.

Matthew's 1st Oreo

Yes he is a mess but he loved the Oreo cookie. We got a good laugh out of him. This weekend he had a dill pickle--he liked it but I was afraid of him choking so he only got to have the juice from the pickle. He doesn't like baby food anymore--he eats big people food all the time. French Fries are his favorite.

Summer Fun

Well it is hard to believe that Summer is almost over and it is time for the kids to go to school. The kids have had a very busy but fun summer. Here are just a few pictures and there will be more to come.