Time to see Santa!!

So this week, we got to see Santa TWICE!! Once at the store and once at Ronnie's orchestra concert. They were both sweet and Jenna did well both times. But she took a special liking to the one at Ronnies school, and he was crazy about her too. The whole time we were there she would NOT leave his side. He would squat down to talk to her and she would squat too and say "HO HO HO". It was very cute. She even gave him a hug and a kiss! Avery said he was still a little scared of him but he did get in the pictures. Aaron doesnt understand why the other kids at school think there is no Santa, he said the other day to me "I mean who do they think comes down the chimney??" Sweet!! I am in for it with him though, he asked me the other day if he could buy his ex girlfriend a Christmas present, apparently he still has feelings for her, I said "Aaron you are in the SECOND grade, sheesh!!" What am I going to do with him in about 7 years??? yikes.

In our arms ONE YEAR!

It was exactly one year ago that we were in Guatemala and Jenna was given to us and for the first time, we knew we didnt have to give her back! It is hard to believe it has been a whole year on one hand but on the other it seems as if she has always been with us! Her new phrase is "I PRINCESS!!" and that is exactly what she is!! We spoke with Jenna's foster family today and of course, they are remembering giving her to us one year ago and they are missing her. We love them so much, they are the nicest people just so sweet and genuine, and humble. We will always tell Jenna about her first family!!

This is when I first got to hold her. Fortunately since I had been there one month before, she remembered me!! Of course UNfortunately, she did NOT remember Rod, her new daddy and was petrified of him for a month, and he did not like it one bit. You would never know it today, as she squeals in delight when he walks in the door and runs to him singing "dada" dada!!





Rod's Mom loved her first grand-daughter and thank heavens Jenna loved her too, so I could give her to Grandma Bea to get a break! Poor baby, looking back I feel sad for her having to leave the only house and people she had grown to think of as her family. She must have wondered what was going on. I am so thankful that she has adjusted so well!


This is her wonderful foster family. Carmen her sister and Miriam and Freddy her foster parents. The only one missing is her foster brother Walter. He was 14 and thought it would be just too emotional, so he stayed home. Of course we spent the rest of the days there with all of them, and had so much fun!! They are part of our family now, and will always be in each others lives!

Christmas pictures and more cooking!!

Today school was still out so we did some things around here. I took pictures of the kids in front of the fireplace and the Christmas tree so that I can make Christmas cards. They turned out really cute. Then we made a whole lot of sweet stuff in the kitchen! We made chocolate covered pretzles, ritz pnut butter crackers both white and milk chocolate, Christmas cookies, muddy buddies, and for the first time ever, I made pnut butter balls (they are SO good!!) The kids had so much fun, they love helping to cook and then they got all sugared up and were very hyper!! They go back to school tomorrow which is kind of good and bad, it will be much quieter but I will miss them too, and so will Jenna! Well at least we made the most of our time off!

Iced in and Wedding pictures

It is very cold here, there is ice everywhere, I will try and take pictures tomorrow. Today we couldnt go to church or anywhere else and school is canceled for tomorrow. So we had a nice day of watching movies, staying warm by the fireplace, and a lot of eating! Why is it that when you are stuck in doors all you want to do is eat?? Why doesnt anyone say, "hey lets break out some old work out videos and work up a sweat!" hmmm... I guess because its a heck of a lot more fun to eat!! I made bbq in my pressure cooker and Rod made his famous cream cheese jalepenos (mmmmm). We watched the movie "Christmas Shoes" It is based on the song and it is a good movie, very sad but also makes you realize what is really important!! I thought it was good for my kids to see it. Then we had pumpkin pie for dessert. Since we were all in our jammies all day, I didnt take any pictures so here are some from Rod's brother Ray's wedding in October. Avery was a ringbearer, Ronnie and Aaron were ushers. We had a really good time at the wedding and the bride and groom were beautiful together! We took along my neice Tori, because 1. she is a big help with Jenna and 2. we all just love being with Tori, we all love her very much, thank you Tori for being such a great little Mamma to my kids, and I hope you had a good time! (even though Jenna was such a handful!)


This is Rod's family, Notice Jenna does not look happy, that is because she was lacking sleep and was in a very bad mood all weekend, thanks to Tori, I still had a good time, however, she did look pretty cute! All 4 of my boys were very handsome in their tux's! Notice the abundance of boys?Rod's Mom is in the middle, she has 4 sons, 6 grandsons, 1 grandson on the way, and 1 granddaughter, she also has 3 precious great grandchildren from Rod's nephew Ryan and his wife Anna!





This is us at the rehearsal dinner, we have very few pictures of us without one or FOUR kids between us!! It's hard to believe that on New Years we will have known each other for 19 years!! This is one great guy and I am a very lucky girl!!!



My Ronnie and Tori, they are so cute and they have such a good time together, they are also both really good kids!!

Building a Ginger Bread House

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Last night we made a Ginger bread house! Now before anyone says I have too much time on my hands, let me tell you that it was a boxed kit from Sam's so I did not bake the ginger bread like my crazy husband suggested I do! Like I have time for that. It turned out really cute, although it looked nothing like the picture on the box. I am left handed and kind of clumsy when it comes to decorating and the kids did all the candy! But the kids had fun and ate a lot of sugar during the process. Jenna went around the table looking for dropped pieces. And yes, I know there is an UNCARVED pumpkin in the picture! That goes to show how much time we don't have!! In a perfect world I would have had a nice little post about how much fun we had carving it!! ha

The first picture is of our kids stockings. I bought them a few years ago and I LOVE them, they have a place for their pictures instead of their names so every year I can update with a recent picture.

Avery is really getting into Christmas this year and he has been so cute. They have a store set up at school so the kids can buy for their family inexpensive things and giftwrap them. So Avery brought home a present for me and one for his dad. He asked each one of us if we could keep a secret and then told us what he bought for the other one. He told me, "now dont tell daddy what I got for him, can you keep a secret?" and he told his dad, "try really hard not to tell mamma, OK?" We got a kick out of that. Aaron on the other had cannot keep a gift that long and I think he will make us open his gifts for us within the next week!! haha

FFF Favorite Foto Friday..this is my first time to do this!

So I chose some random favorites from each child of mine!!

This is Aaron at the Super Hero Museum in 2005!


This is Ronnie at Disney in 2005!

He doesnt look very comfortable does he?? haha This is Avery a few weeks ago!

Look at those thighs! This is Jenna when she was still in Guatemala!

Aaron and Avery's first Basketball Game

Aaron and Avery had the first basketball game of the season on Saturday morning. They play in a league called Upwards and it is a super program that is held at churches and it is all about teaching them sportsmanship and how to play the game in a Christ like way. Each week during practice they learn a memory Bible verse and they get stars for their shirts during the game. Ronnie played Upward for 5 years and this is Aarons 3rd year and Avery's FIRST year!! He was so excited and he was so cute. Of course he played horribly and didnt know what to do. Its very funny to watch the first season! Aaron on the other hand is getting pretty good and it gets more and more fun to watch each year (seeing how non-competitive I am , haha) They were very handsome in their uniforms and of course I took plenty of pictures! Aaron's team is the Commadores and Avery's is the Little Giants.

Aaron is a SUPER HAWK!!

Which is another name for Student of the Month. I am so proud of Aaron, he is such a good and sweet boy!! He got it for "responsibility". Aaron's teacher Ms Poteet tells me that Aaron is very caring and such a hard worker. She told me that there is a boy in his class with learning problems (a form of Autism) and that Aaron works with him so patiently and that he encourages him and is just so sweet with him! God has blessed me indeed! I pray for my children that they are caring and loving and think of others, that they strive to be more like Christ. Aaron is my generous, polite and gentle guy and I love him very very much!!! Here is a picture of him with his Super Hawk award and then with his teacher whom he loves so so much!!!

Our Journey to Bethleham...

On Friday evening our small (big) group went to a special event. A church in our town put together a cool thing at their church called Journey to Bethlehem. They took us on a guided tour (led by Gideon himself) out in the woods where they had set up scenes on a road to Bethlehem. We saw live donkeys, camel, and sheep and lots of kids and grown ups dressed like all kinds of people from the Bible. There was a beautiful angel and a choir and even a market place. It was funny how much that market reminded me of Guatemala except they were all yelling at us in English. I kept expecting to hear "good price for you maam". Then the best part was seeing the "baby Jesus" in Mary and Joseph's arms at the end. The kids loved it so much and then they gave us hot chocolate and homemade cookies, can't beat that!! This will for sure be a family tradition each year! It sure reminded us of what Christmas is all supposed to be about!!!
I have to add for memory sake that Jenna was not a happy camper during the waiting part. She was being a real toot and Rod and I were having to give her whatever she wanted in order for her not to screech at the TOP of her lungs during the quiet times!!! Ahhhh memories!

Avery and Bailey's Thanksgiving Date

Avery had a blast playing with his new friend Bailey and the pictures his cousin Kaylee took of them are adorable!!

Avery: "You want to get together for
Thanksgiving, Bailey?"

Bailey: "Yes, but let me tell my other boyfriend I have other plans"

Avery: "WHAT do you mean other boyfriend? Two can play that game!! Hold on, my sister wants to talk to you.."

Bailey: "Yes Jenna, I know your brother is something special and I am NOT going to let a good thing like him go!! I just need some time to explain things to him, could you set that up for me?"

"We need to talk Bailey, dont give me that pretty smile either!"

"sheesh, women"

"sheesh MEN!!, Avery you are giving me a major migrain!"

"Kaylee! We are TRYING to have an argument in here, we don't need any pictures right now!! Could you give us some privacy??"

OK She promised never to talk to the other guy again!! The
Thanksgiving Date turns out fine! Cute couple!!