Can't seem to do it!

I'm not quite sure why but.. I can't seem to blog!! There are moms with more kids than me. There are moms who work outside the home more than I do. They blog. Well..........here's a catch up post.........of some sort.

Here is my beautiful girl headed out on a date with her Daddy. The outfit was SO her and I had to splurge at Gymboree and get it for her. She definately ((hearts)) her Daddy!! I love to watch the relationship that they have blooming! She is one very blessed little girl to have him!!!

She helped him make chili for his annual staff chili cook-off. They took first place!! So, they had a celebration date!

These two photos are from Baby J's dedication at church. He was dedicated on his birthday!! It was very special for us to offer him back to the Lord and make a public profession to raise him in a godly home!

On January 24, he celebrated his 1rst birthday! We just had a small family celebration. It was just the 5 of us and Coach's mom came as well.

This was definately an "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to" moment! I actually got tickled because all this was about was wanting Mama who was behind the camera!!

We had a car theme and I baked the large cake and made a smaller smash cake just for him.

He had NO problem figuring out what to do with it!! :) Happy Birthday Baby J!!

A few weeks ago, it was Spring here in our part of Texas..........well..........it was like Spring! It was so nice outside and the kids hadn't been out in forever!!! This was just a fun afternoon in the front yard.

Climbing the corner stop sign post is a must!

Agirl bought this motorized scooter herself with her birthday money.

I think this picture of baby is so cute! He was sneezing but, it also looks as though he could be praying......really, really hard! "Please Lord, please let the nice weather be here to stay!"

It wasn't!!!

Isn't he precious!

Things are moving along with the adoption. From what I've been told by one CPS worker, it sounds like things are moving about as quickly as we can expect them to.

Our homestudy visit was last Friday and the report was due in this week. Oh no people, it's not enough that we've adopted twice before from one of the oldest and most reputable adoption agencies around. We gotta go through it all again. Although, from what I understand, this adoption through the state is easier than those that are not family placements.

I secured our attorney today. I am grateful that this is only a tiny fraction of the cost of the other two however, it's still money that is hard to come by in our home. God will provide! He has since the moment we were obedient to Him in bringing this baby into our home!

Speaking of said baby, he is under my feet and he does NOT smell pleasant! ;) Better go!

I'm sure I have no readers left and I'm just talkin' to myself!! :)

The next Food Network Star??!!

We may have a chef in the family! Baby J loves to play with his big sister's kitchen!

He has so much fun with it.

So cute and so sweet!! He is such a joy!!

Agirl got a camera for Christmas!

Yes, she got the Kid Tough digital camera by Fisher Price!
She is having lots of fun with it........I suspected she would!

Here are some of her pictures so far.............
the subjects and perspective are just amazing!! ;)

Picture of the television......as she watched the Sun Bowl with her Daddy.

This is Uncle Gary(Coach's brother), at Nana's house for Christmas.

This is Nana's dog.........the only kind allowed in her house! :)

Here's my beautiful girl.....as captured by Mom.......I had to try it out myself!

Here's brother, playing his new Star Wars game on Nanna's TV, and Mom leaning in for a stolen cuddle! (I think her camera adds about 10 lbs., at least!!)

Well.....really not sure what to call this random picture........... :)

Here she captured a great picture of Poppy(Coach's dad) and Baby J!! So sweet!!

Nana's beautiful Christmas tree.

Here's cousin Josh helping Baby J toddle around.

Aww......her favorite guy......her Daddy!

Another sweet shot of Agirl with her camera......not sure who was testing it for her here?!

Here is sweet Baby J being held by DeeDee(Becky's mom).

OH, there's me again! As seen over the bar at my parent's house!

And finally, PawPaw (Becky' dad). I don't think she had mastered how to keep the camera still yet!!

Good job Agirl! Have fun!

New year....new perspective needed.....

This past year has been full of changes and adjustments. For our home. Family. Me.

Mostly unexpected. Definately challenging.

I'm questioning and seeking lots of things. And honestly, I have not been earnestly seeking after the One who holds all the answers.

I don't make resolutions, per say, with new years however, I do have some goals. Well, really just one right now that I want to focus on.

Increase my prayer time and time in God's word......tremendously!
Know that if I seek Him to answer these questions and fill these holes I find myself having, all the rest that is needed, He will provide. It will all fall into place. Make sense.

I am praying that God will teach me to grow where He has now planted me during this season in my life.
It is not where I thought I would be planted! But, it seldom is! Ha! I can't see the whole garden.......only my tiny spot in it at the moment. My master gardener sees it all!

(Oh, and Lord willing, I really do want to have the rest of my 2008 blog printed, print 2009, and get back to my journaling with it for 2010!)

A blur.....

This Christmas season has been a 'blur' for me thus far...........not sure what else to call it. It's already the 14th and I don't know how that happened!

Don't want to say 'blah' because I love this time of year and don't feel blah about it at all!

However, with a baby in the house this year, along with 2 other children, it just seems really different.

I'm tired. I haven't done nearly as much decorating as I usually do every year. Not nearly! My house it not near as neat and tidy. And, aside for the occasional batch of sugar Christmas cookies with Agirl, I don't see myself getting any Christmas cooking or baking done this year!
Above was our tree last year. Beautiful, I know! Love that tree!

This was my table in my entry way last year. One of my favorite 'spots' during the season. Well, the little tree gracing that table is our Christmas tree this year! Now, it's on an end table in the living room, crammed full of as many ornaments as Agirl could force on it! And, with a coloring changing star on the top that is bigger than the tree!

With a nearly 11 month old crawling around and pulling up, I just couldn't win the battle of the tree this year! Also................I'm just tired! Too tired to put up that big tree!

Adjusting to three children has been quite the challenge for me! And, with all he extras that come with this time of year..........I am just tired. However, I am focused on what it's truly all about!

School finishes up this week. After that, can I just REST..........

Our precious little girl is............

5 years old now!!!!

Seems that she could hardly wait for December 1st to get here. She couldn't wait to be 5! (She is already asking when she will be 6!!)

We celebrated with some sweet friends and a very large mouse........at Chuck E. Cheese pizza.

She wanted a unicorn cake. Look at this beautiful cake our friend Jennifer made for her!!

Being treated as the royal special birthday guest!

All the friends enjoying their pizza!

Then it was time for Chuck E. himself to help party!!

This is what BabyJ did through most of the party. He was happy to sit and watch.....and have a snack on his tray!

Very proud of her cake............and finally gift time.

We sure do love you Agirl!! You are so very sweet and loving. You always have hugs and kisses for everyone. You are very adventurous and playful and there is nothing in life that you don't seem ready to enjoy!

God has greatly blessed us with you!! Happy Birthday!!

My space....

This blog is my little bit of space in the internet world.

For me and my family........to record what I want.

People need to respect that.

Please do not link back to this page or copy or quote from it.

You feel you are entitled to your opinions and feelings.......I am as well. Please express yours in a respectful and appropriate manner. If you are reading this and you do not know me or my family, or our stituations, then you definately can not have an opinion concerning us. That is called judgement.

I have enambled comment moderation for those who can not respect this.

My kids.......

My friend Erin took these great shots of my children downtown the other afternoon.

They were not real cooperative.........well, the baby did great.........the older two......not so much!

I haven't seen all the pictures yet and I'm anxiously waiting to get a CD of them all! Creating a Christmas card is going to be a lot of fun!

Here are some awesome ones of each child by themselves.
We have been blessed with beautiful kids!

Agirl, soon to be 5 on December 1rst!

BabyJ will be 10 months old next week!

And my Jman........first baby who just turned 10 yrs. Soooooo stinkin' cute and can be so stinkin' rotten! I think he feels that he has 'outgrown' photo shoots and would have rather been anywhere else this day! This is one of the few in which he genuinely smiled! I figured out later that had I bribed him with a couple of dollars, I'd have gotten a slew of great photos!! Next time......

Halloween 2009

We don't put a lot of emphasis on 'Halloween' or the celebration of it. It's always been fun to dress up the kids and go to our church's Fall Festivals.
This year, the festival was held the week before and Halloween was on a Saturday night. We were invited to some dear friends' house for a cook-out and then trick-or-treating.
We had a great time!

Agirl wanted to be a tiger. I painted her face and made this simple shirt. The stripes are made out of sticky-back felt. A friend loaned her the ears and a tail. She was so cute!!

We borrowed the pirate outfit for BabyJ. He was really cute in it. He didn't even bother the hat! And of course, he was the toughest tiger around with that pacifier in his mouth!! ARRGG!!!

BabyJ had a good time at the party......hanging around playing and watching the big kids run around. Here he is with Dada........look how big our 9 month old is!!

And, this is what the big boys did..........Nerf gun wars!! Jman did not want to dress up this year.......I guess at 10 yr. old now, he's getting 'too big'!! Well, that is if Mom and Dad won't let him do something scary or gory.....which we won't!