3rd Adoption Anniversary

It has been three years already.  We always celebrate the kids Adoption Anniversary every year with presents and a cake.  We sing to each one of them separately with the Happy Birthday theme.  This is something that they look forward to days leading up.  We love y'all more and more everyday and we are so blessed that y'all are our forever family.  Here are some pictures to share...

Just a moment

Having the boys home gets boring after a while so when I have the opportunity, I like to throw a wrench in the everyday routine.  This day, they had fun putting their hot wheels through their own manual car wash.  Such a sweet moment and memory to treasure.

This next picture is Anderson sleeping under his tent that he made in his room.  Another sweet moment.

Alice and Rose for the 100th day of school dressed up as 100 year old ladies

Anderson sleeping with his car that he got with his birthday money

Just a day of playing

Spring Picture Day

Great Wolf Lodge

We went to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine Texas during the week of the kids Spring Break in March 2012.  The kids had a blast at this indoor water park.  When we first arrived, they got to color in the lobby while we waited to check into our room

Alice coloring

Once we got our room, we checked it out and the kids were really excited about their own little cabin.

 That night after playing in the water all day, we did some shopping at Grapevine Mills.  We also got to meet family whom I had never met and Mike had not seen for 15 plus years.  We met the Bowman family at Love and War in Texas Restaurant

Jason & Mike


It was so nice to meet all of them and it felt like I had known them for years. I can't say enough about how nice of a dinner it was. After dinner we went back to the lodge so that the kids could enjoy storytime in the lobby.

The next morning we had breakfast within the lodge and the kids got to take a picture with Violet, except for Roman who was unwilling.

 We then went to the lobby for story time again and the Wolf Walk.

Making paper wolves

Alice with her paper wolf

Anderson & Roman with their paper wolves

Rose and her paper wolf

 After that, we went to the water park again.  The kids went with Mike and I down the River Cannon waterslide, it was so fun.  Most of the time they stayed in the kiddie area where there was two small waterslides.  The girls loved the wave pool and they went down a big slide with Daddy.  After a few hours at the waterpark, we left and went to Rainforest Cafe for lunch and met Wally on the way out.  This time it was Anderson who didn't want to take a picture.

When we came back, we went to the water park again for a few more hours then we took a bath, got in our pjs and went and got ice cream within the hotel.  The next morning we woke up and drove 20 minutes to Renee and Brian Boudreaux's house for a fun filled day of grilling and visiting.

Lauren & Rose

Lauren & Alice

 Of course we picked up right where we left off with the Boudreaux's.  We are so blessed to have such great friends.  We met Lauren for the first time, can't believe she will be two years old already.  The whole trip was a blast and a much needed change from the everyday norm.

Terry's Visit to OKC

My best friend Terry came to OKC to visit with her daughter, Allie, Thursday 3/15-Monday 3/19.
When they arrived on Thursday, Terry and I picked up right where we left off and Allie fit right in with all of the kids.  We all went to Anderson's soccer practice and then when we got back the kids danced around the living room and the girls enjoyed treating Allie like their live baby doll.

Alice, Allie, & Rose

On Friday, we went to the gym and worked out together while the boys and Allie went to the childcare.  The girls were in school and Mike was at work.  We then went to the outlets in OKC.  We had fun shopping at Gymboree and Nine West for some new shoes for Mama.  We had lunch at Applebee's and by this time after working out and shopping, we were ready to eat off someone's arm.  The kids had fun that evening playing dressup.

Allie and Roman

Allie X 2

The next day was St Patrick's Day.  The kids enjoyed eating Lucky Charms with green milk and it was the perfect opportunity to take some nice pictures since everyone had their green on.

Rose, Alice, Allie, Roman, & Anderson

Rachel & Terry

The Thibodeaux Family

Allie and Terry

Once it was time for lunch, we took a ride downtown and ate at Kaiser's American Bistro.  It is an old diner from the 50's that is still in business and the food was great.

After that, the plan was to go to the Science Museum but when we arrived, it was so packed, we opted out and went to the park instead.

We went home and took naps (best part of the day), then Mike surprised us later with smores.  Perfect ending to a perfect day.

The next day we went to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.  It was our second time going and we didn't go inside the museum this time but it was still just as moving.  It is so surreal to be there where it all happened.  It was Terry's first time and she seemed like it moved her as well.

The Front of the building remains

We then went to Toby Keith's Restaurant for lunch and afterwards we rode on the water taxi throughout Bricktown in Downtown Oklahoma.  This was so fun, but the Captain totally made the trip what it was with his comedic relief.

Toby Keith's

The kids aboard the water taxi with Captain Rick

On that Monday, Terry and I just kind of sat around waiting for the time when she would leave to catch her flight.  We all had a great time, although witnessing all the kids bickering, this helped make up her mind whether she would have another child or not, lol.  The answer is no.  It was rainy and gloomy when she left and that didn't help the sadness I felt when they departed but I am so thankful that I have a friend that loves us enough to want to come and visit and we look forward to spending more time with Terry, Allie, and Dana and the future.