Incredible Pizza

Sorry so many posts in one night, if only I could stay up with the blog better!

We took the kids to Incredible Pizza tonight. This was Maverys first time at a place like this and she LOVED it. A perfect place for my sensory seeker! However I am at a loss. So I get that she needs to be stimulated, but then how do you bring her down? Because if you make her stop for a second, she threw a fit. We started the night with Mark taking her on the go karts. Sage wanted nothing to do with those. Mavery LOVED them! I think after that the kiddie rides were to tame for her! We have no doubt she is going to LOVE Disney rides, but those lines are going to be fun.

Princess Hair, kind of

I love this blog and if you have a little princess or 2, or 3, or like me FOUR, then you need to check out this site. I am trying to come up with some creative ideas for princess make overs for the girls in Disney. Would love to do Bippity Boppity Boutique, but I just can't spend the money. I thought I could, I want to, but I just can't. Not when I think of all the cute outfits I could buy with that money! ;-) So, I will have to make my own boutique. In our room. And while I may not be the fairy godmother sprinkling the magic fairy dust, I certainly am a mother and can bring along my own pixie dust. Or simply glitter. And a few fancy new hair dos. We had our first session today and I thought they turned out pretty well. The girls were excited. I had Sage & Malaine done before Mavery was up from her nap and when she saw the girls she said "when my hair gets longer" while patting her head. Poor Mavery, she wants long hair so bad! Though she really does have some beautiful wave to her hair. She was very proud of her pigtails especially because I added a 3rd in back. (my girls are always wanting 3, why is that?) Hopefully their hair will grow out a little bit more in the next 2 1/2 months so we can have some fun!

Makenna is off to camp #1!

Makenna, Kyra & Brooke

Quite the rustic cabins! I told Makenna before she left that she was going to have to pee by a tree. She did not find that amusing. They did have a bathhouse, just not in the cabin.

No air conditioning so stringing fans! Makennas bunk is the bottom.

Mavery had fun on the playground!

Sawyer

Anna

Malaine in Annas hat!

Dancing fun! (I did not take my camera for elephant rocks and I could not convince Mark to run back to the car and get it!) Sawyer, there are no words. ;-)

On Sunday we dropped Makenna off for camp. Last year she attended her first week long AWAY camp. But I knew she was with our children's director who even dropped me a few emails during the week. So no worries. This camp I do not know ANYONE besides her friends. Which are kids her age. Been harder and I miss her! I know she will have a great time, but I still worry about her. After dropping her off we took the kids to Elephant Rock State Park. Our friends were also dropping off their daughter so we let Brian lead us through the mountains, I mean rocks. Sage was in heaven climbing to her hearts desire. Those situations are when I can tell that Maverys heart is still not right as she gets so winded and tired quickly. ;-( Mark & I went to this park on our weekend get away, but we did not climb because of the heat and crowds.) This weekend was perfect weather and the park was empty. Very fun and worth the drive from St Louis area. Really a beautiful place. We ended the evening with dinner at a great BBQ place that was perfect for our crew as they danced the evening away on the stage!

We get to make the drive down again on Saturday for pick up and while we considered camping (I know, if you know me you are shocked I even CONSIDERED camping) with our friends, we decided it would be to much w/ our little girls and we do not feel right to leave them since we will leave them for Chicago next month. So, we will just spend the day at Johnson Shut Ins and head home late that night.

Mavery can still be tough in the car and the entire almost 2 hour drive down we were looking at each other cringing at the thought of our 18 hour drive to Disney! So, any tips on these SPD kids for the car would be appreciated!

Happy 4th of July, Maverys 1st!

After a change of plans we ended up at my aunts for the 4th of July. Thanks Debbie for letting us come last minute! ;-) We had a great time, even though they cancelled the fireworks in our town. Aunt Debbie had bought a blow up pool and the kids had a blast. Mavery is doing GREAT in the water now. Just amazing how she gets over her fears of these new things so quickly and I am proud of her. Which is mostly due to the fact that she is not about to let Sage do something she can't/won't do. ;-) TJ did put on a little fireworks display for us which everyone enjoyed besides Sage. She does not like loud anything & sat on my lap with my hands over her ears. As we came home for the evening we were excited to see our neighbors having a friendly fireworks competition that was really great. So we camped out in the backyard and had our own show! Kids were all excited. (Besides Sage but as long as my hands were over the ears, all was well) So Maverys first 4th was a fun night and that girl did not even flinch at the noise. The louder the better! The most exciting thing for the little girls is all the American Flags flying everywhere. Nothing cuter than 2 chinese 3 year olds saying the Pledge of Allegiance and being proud to be Americans!

Sweet Leighton

Just had to show off some cute pictures of Leighton I swapped off of Amys blog. Not only because she is wearing the outfit I got her, but isn't she just adorable? I swear at 2 weeks old she seems to smile half the time and holds her head up. I guess when you come out half grown you act older than your age! ;-)

Sage Referral Photo Shoot

3 years ago...

Referral Anniversary! June 26th, 2009

June 26th, 2008

June 26th, 2007

June 26th, 2006

Ahhh referral day! Kind of like the day your child is born, but you only get a glimpse of them and are told you can't hold them still. No matter that you have waited and waited and WAITED! You will wait some more. I thought once I had a picture, it would be ok. But I was wrong. It was worse because then I knew her face. Yet all that waiting and here we are. Sage has moved from that picture to our wild little spicy girl! The one who makes us laugh so hard we cry. The one I am certain would be a hippie child she has such a free spirit. The one who teaches us how to have fun no matter what. The one who taught us the heart of our Father and opened our eyes to what adoption really is. 3 years ago today, we got just a glimpse of those things to come. In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined how much that little girl in the picture would forever change me. My prayer come true.

Maverys Dedication & Fathers Day

The girls were helping daddy put in a new faucet!

Happy Fathers Day 2009!

Maverys new smile, CHEESY!


Happy Dedication Day!

Notice Mavery is trying to get down during the service, we were sweating by the time it was over worried what she might do!
Our pastor Jonathan, or as Sage calls him "Jonny"!

Today not only did we celebrate Fathers Day, we had Mavery dedicated at church. We started the day with serving Daddy breakfast in bed and giving gifts. The kids each painted a letter spelling out daddy to hang in his office. I am so thankful for my husband and the amazing father he is. I am also very blessed to have an amazing christian father and father in law. They both love the Lord and their families and I have never doubted that.

Having our children dedicated means that we are making a promise to raise our children to honor the Lord. Typically we have only taken "the" child up. But this time our kids asked if they could be a part and while I think Mark was not so sure about taking all 5 up, I am glad we did. Of course the only reason Sage really wanted up there was because she was certain she was going to be given the chance to sing on stage, and we had to take her out crying because she did not get to. But the others, they get it. It is not just OUR job to influence the kids, the olders have a job to. And I think Makenna took that very seriously after listening this morning. In the car today she was telling the little girls bible stories in such fun ways, and they were begging for more!

We are so thankful for our children, all 5 of them. And today, as we celebrate Mavery, and the gift she is from God, we are especially grateful. We know that God has big plans for her little life, and our prayer is that we will raise her to love Him, and love the plan He had for her. 2 verses we chose as part of her dedication were

Hebrews 11:1

Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.

And the prayer they read:

Our prayer is that Mavery will find her identity in Chirst. That she will be able to look at what God has already done and praise Him. We pray that Mavery will love the Lord above anything.

Leighton Aubrey is here!

Having a baby in our family is really a family affair! Here is a shot of one side of the waiting room today. Girls side.

Here is the boys side. Adley was not taking sides, she was on both. ;-)

We had to find ways to stay entertained. So, Malaine shows off her bridge.

And Jaylyn shows off her bridge. And Adley just showed off her cuteness!

But even Poppy can't stay awake.

Till TJ walks in w/ the news, Leighton has FINALLY arrived!

Another sweet girl in the family!

A BIG girl! Beautiful

We have a new cousin! Leighton Aubrey arrived today! Leighton is said like LAYton in case you wonder) She is my cousin TJ & Amys 3rd daughter. She beat her sister by an ounce weighing in at 9lbs 8ozs and was 22 inches long. Amy has some big babies! When I showed Mark the pictures he said "She looks like Sawyer" and that is because Sawyer was that size. She arrived via C-Section because she would not turn the right way. Which is a bummer for Amy who had to go 2 days over her due date and go through a full labor. But in the end all is well and Leighton is here. I love new blessings from God!

Disney Tips?

We still have awhile. 101 days to be exact but who is counting?! However, did I mention we get FREE dining? Have you heard all about that deal? We get a sit down meal (meaning character meals) a counter service meal AND a snack each day. Not to mention that our sit downs include drinks and dessert. (which is why someone needs to kick my rear in gear to get in shape!) I have a friend who is in the know on Disney and has been WONDERFUL and patient with me in helping me plan out my meals and days. Because as I am finding out there is a science to this schedule of dinners and being in what parks on what days, etc. And you can say, do not worry so much. But when you are dealing with 5 children, there is no option. Especially 5 children with personality. Add in that reservations have to be booked if you want certain things, you get the picture. So, just curious if you have been there, what was your very favorite place to eat, any secret tips about lines or rides, any tips on dealing w/ toddlers to tweens. I am a huge fan of the disney boards but I like details and I know many of you have been. Would love to hear from you. We can book our dining in just 11 days!

** Disney is offering this free dining August through October if you book a package through disney. Have to stay at a disney hotel. We are staying at the All Star Music. (has a family suite)