Project 52: April 12-18



Sunday Snapshot:

 



 

 

I just love how they are all in a line by height (and age) and all looking at Colt! Not planned!

 

On Thursday this week the kids were occupying themselves so well......

These two in sensory play (with major bed head!) On days I know I am going to sweep I like to let them play in the sensory bins. These two love to pour and dump and actually kept it all pretty contained...for a while.

Whenever it is quiet upstairs when the kids are up there I have to wonder what is going on.  It was so sweet to look in on the monitor and see Declan and Raelynn reading together in bed! They were up here for about 20 minutes or so while the younger two played in sensory bins.  Lately they have been asking if they can go 'take a nap' in Raelynn's bed.  I guess nap time is thrilling--until it is actually time for nap of course.

Saying "yes" more means making silly faces to the camera on my phone when she wants to...

 

 

 

Thursday night we were excited for the arrival of Auntie Dre.  Unfortunately there was bad weather in Houston and she was delayed so much that they eventually canceled the flight:(  We were disappointed that it cut some of our time together short, but we were SO happy she came to visit that it was still wonderful! Andrea finally arrived Friday afternoon.  She flew solo this trip and had a nice little getaway to see us:)




YAY! Auntie Dre is here!!

 

my sister and one of my best friends.  It's hard to be so far away. 
Such a special weekend to just be in each other's company again!

 

A very special guest for Friday Night Meatballs this week!!

Saturday was our day to spend together.  Brent took the kids to the splash pad and we set off for breakfast and coffee and then relaxed by the pool all afternoon.  We brought books to read, but didn't crack them open and just talked the afternoon away.  So wonderful to just be together-especially alone.  It has been a long time!

Not only did Brent take our kids to the splash pad with a picnic lunch, he also sent me these pictures:) They are special because he doesn't take selfies ever and he doesn't even take many pictures at all.  It was special to have them come through my phone while being away from them all day.  Such a wonderful guy--gives me a day all to myself with my sis and he doesn't think twice about it.



So back in 2008, when I was single and in my second year of teaching out here in AZ, I flew back to Maryland over my fall break to visit Andrea and her husband.  We took a day trip to NYC (yes, a day trip...it was a whirlwind and we walked so many miles but we saw so many sights and made great memories).  One of those memories was getting a black and white cookie.  All I remember was it was amazing.  Andrea loves them and when she is able, she has them brought back from NYC to her whenever someone visits.  So, when I saw AJ's had black and white cookies, I knew that was going to be on our agenda for the weekend! So after the pool we went to AJs for a cookie and a tea.

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2015

2008

Saturday night we went out to dinner to Joe's Farm Grill with some of my girlfriends. 

 

 

Project 52: April 5-11

Sunday Snapshot(s):

 

Happy Easter!!
We attempted a picture at church...but clearly that didn't go the best....

For Easter Sunday we had a breakfast, egg hunt, and worship at church then went to Kyle and Ashley's for brunch and minute to win it games. 

We of course had to get some family phtotos!

we said "say He is Risen"

while shouting "He is risen" they thought they needed to point...

a semi normal one!

maybe Declan has to go potty? (Which, do you notice he has on shorts now and at church he didn't? haha....while walking to the car we realized he had peed his pants.  Not real sure when!)

 

 The egg hunt at church

 

 

 

 

 

Raelynn and Sienna

Brunch after church...


Elliana, Raelynn, and Jackson

 

 

Minute to win it games....trying to stack three golf balls!

 

 

the boys were up early hiding eggs at the church...

 

 

 

 



On Monday we went to the zoo with the Rusevs

 

precious.
Elliana has been asking to rock a lot lately.  We can remember when not that long ago (but what does seem like a long time) we would have to wrap Elliana up and force her to rock with us and talk to her through her tears.  God has brought us so far.  Adoption is beauty on the heals of hurt and sorrow.  It's pretty hard to resist saying yes when she wants to rock.
 

 

 

April 9 is a special day for us.  We celebrate the day Elliana legally was declared ours in a small courtroom on the other side of the world.  This year we celebrated with cupcakes and this family selfie of all of us is one of my favorite pictures:)

 

 

We got a new screen door for the front door.  Best purchase for the house.  It has been so lovely having the fresh air in and the nice breeze as well as letting in some light! The kids like to sit and look out the door.  We haven't put up the little flap yet so they like to stick their feet out.  Thankfully we haven't had any lizards come in yet!

Friday night meatballs this week was another full house.  We had 10 kids between three families and we also had a couple over who have four grown adult children all walking with the Lord so it was fun to just let them talk and bless us with their experiences.

Every Friday night he is right there doing the dishes.  He always insists I go sit on the couch.  He is such a servant a blessing to me. 

 

The kids had some fake flowers we were planting in playdough....then they transferred them to the dirt outside....then that turned into lets plant some grass seed outside....but then Ike (and Colt) ate it...so Daddy took the kids out to get some real flowers to plant! He came home with such a variety and a beautiful new hydrangea for the front walkway.

Saturday night we went to Bed Bath and Beyond because we had found a gift card and we had to pick something up.  It was not too exciting to find out there wasn't much on the gift card...so we only left with tweezers, a grill brush, and a bottle of soap.  But the kids saw this furniture outside and thought it was fun to lay on it.  I made the mistake of asking what color car they each guessed would be next to pass...I forgot that parking lots aren't super busy at night and we ended up sitting there a while waiting for a car! ha.  But they loved it!