Arizona Birthday and Flashbacks

My 47th birthday (gasp, did she just say that) was spent with my parents while we were vacationing in the desert. My birthday dinner request was steak and potatoes (I am not in my vegetarian stage at the moment). Off we went to Pinnacle Peak and Trail Dust Town.

FLASHBACK: We have been here before circa 2002.

Can you believe what my mother is doing?
I warned her this was totally blog worthy.

She was wrapping up 4 slices of big thick WHITE bread

to use on a casserole for Easter dinner.

She has guts, that gal.

One of my favorite children: Micah-do.

Yet another favorite: Trey-bey.
Wanna guess how many people asked me if they were twins?
NOT kidding.

There are cut off ties everywhere at the restaurant.
Formal attire is not tolerated at this cowboy outpost.

Here comes the grub.

Hey, at least I know where they all are.

Can't tell if they are happy or sad about their predicament.

2002 FLASHBACK

My handsome cowboy.

O.K. Very cool car.
The boys were rendered speechless with the awesomeness of it.

A train ride around the perimeter is a highlight....

I was tickled pink at the seating arrangements that they chose.

Once in awhile I get lucky.
This is a FANTASTIC picture of two people
who do not like having their pictures taken.

All aboard. Couldn't resist.
Best grandparents ever.

2002 FLASHBACK
Cora, the prospector.

Me thinks she came up empty.

After dinner, we were treated to a Wild West show complete with gunfire and men falling off roofs. It was so exciting that I forgot to take pictures.

2002 FLASHBACK waiting for the show.

Everyone was mesmerized. A certain someone enjoyed the show a lot more this time around. In 2002 she kept her hands over her ears and her eyes screwed tight the whole time.

Nothing is sacred in blogland.
Lipstick is a must in the wild west.

Back at home, it was time to top off the night with delicious
strawberry rhubarb and coconut cream pies.

Celebrating with my peeps!

Thanks everyone for making my special day a good one.

One Giant Leap

One small step in the process and one giant leap towards China.

Today we are officially:

Dossier to Country = CHINA.

All our paperwork was sent to China today to be approved by the Chinese government for the next step in our adoption of our waiting son.

Next prayer request is the expedition of our case by the CCCWA. We are hoping that our case will continue to be moved along quickly.

Because we don't know this side of heaven what life will bring, we are trusting that God's timing will be perfect.

The Name Game

I have no clue

what his name is....

or should be.

Because he already has a name

in Chinese.

胡凡康

Does he want a new name?

An English name?

Does he look like:

a Matthew?
a Marc?
a Luke?
or a John?

This is a lot harder than I thought.

Quite a responsibility giving someone a new name.

It needs to fit in right here:

Lindsey, Jerrod, Erik, Erika, Kloey, Cora, _______, Trey, Micah

Ideas welcome.

Is 10 the Magic Number?

Did I mention that birthday party was a sleep-over?

One of my goals is to try to be better about getting
out the door so I don't have to drive at
break-neck speed to try to get places on time.

I guess "10" kids is the magic number because I achieved my goal.

Okay, I was off by one minute.

By the time I had dropped everyone off
where they belonged, this is all I had left.

Me and my boys off to Kindermusik.

However, there was a cost to all this timeliness.
Waiting at home....

The blueberry pancakes were worth it!!!

At least we got the table cleared off.
Hmmm....10 IS a good number.

Kloey is a Palindrome

Kloey turned "11."
She has the coolest birth day.
I love when people ask for her birthday.
5-5-0-0.

To celebrate this year, she had a few girlfriends over.
Kloey made her own cake.

Red velvet cake with chocolate frosting
and some very fancy decorating with fresh raspberries.

With seven girls to help,
I got to stand around and take pictures.

Her birthday dinner menu was:

FRITO PIES

If you have not experienced this gourmet delight,
you don't know what you are missing.

Time for some delectable red velvet cake.

When Kloey smiles, it is a good day.

Give it a blow!

Keep going.

After dinner, we headed to the pool
to work off that sugar.

These four girlfriends LOVE my boys.
I believe it is mutual.

Ready...

Set...

Jump!

Meanwhile the boys are keeping to themselves
at the other end of the pool.

Time to warm up.

Kloey had a great day.

She felt special.

That is a good thing.

Here a Rabbit, There a Rabbit

The rabbit condos are complete except for some rolled roofing.

Aren't they fancy?

The boys are putting the hutch into position.

Just in time as 2 new rabbits arrived last weekend.
The buck, isn't he handsome?

The doe is a bit shy.
You have to look close to tell them apart.

The latest additions bring our rabbitry total to 5 bunnies,
at least for the next 27 days.....

Where, Oh Where, Did He Go?

I had a general idea where all the kids were.

After all, I regularly utilize those eyes in the back of my head.

And my supersonic mother ears.

All of the sudden, we all wondered where Micah was.

"He was here a minute ago."

"I just heard him crying because he wanted to swing."

"He went inside."

"No, he didn't."

"His boots are inside."

"He didn't have his boots on."

The six of us mobilized for the search lasting about 1 minute,

until we found him.

He must have decided to close his eyes for a little rest.

Apparently the floor felt better than the bed.

Naps are necessary when you are 2.

Precious boy.

Mother's Day Dedication

Happy Mother's Day!

I come from a good line of wonderful, caring, Christian women. I miss my grandmother whose birthday was May 3rd. My grandmother loved her grandchildren and showed it in many tangible ways. I was blessed to spend a week with my Mom in April. She filled me with kind words and wisdom from above. I am grateful to have excellent role models as I wade my way through womanhood.

I cannot help but think of the three other mothers of my children who are surely thinking about the fruit of their wombs. That they chose life for these precious souls is amazing. We are grateful.

Today, we had the privilege of dedicating Micah and Trey to the Lord. When the Pastor asked if we agreed that these children came from the Lord, Bob and I laughed. Oh yes! God brought these children and abundantly blessed us.

We all gathered up front

and took up most of the stage.

Trey was blessed by Pastor Marc.

Then Pastor Marc held him up for a special blessing.

I wonder what he was thinking
as he was looking at 200 people?

Pastor Dan blessed Micah.

Micah was listening intently.

A cuddle with Mom after the blessing.

Not sure why I was looking right at the camera when apparently everyone else was praying. I think this was during the blessing of the boys and then the girls that were dedicated. I was happy for these children to be blessed and pledged to be brought up in the light of the Lord.

I AM BLESSED!