Friends are friends forever...

My Friend Erin had her baby(Kiera) one day after I had Abby placed in my arms forever...

She is SUCH a GREAT FRIEND that she held her baby in so i could have my baby first!! HA HA (that's what she tells me!)

I TRY to meet up w/ them at parties through out the year ..

The VERY first photo of the babies born in 2006 in the church.

Erica,kiera,Callie and of course Abby

Sometimes when Abby and Kiera meet up they just hang out..

Or sometimes they jump on the bed...

Kiera had her 3rd bday party last weekend ....Good times w/ friends

The Girl holding Abby is in her Pre-School class and she is the baby far left in the first pic from 2006

And of Course Friends ALWAYS help friends blow out candles and eat Bday cake!

Mama's dont let your babies grow up to be Basketball players!

I know i say this ALL THE TIME on my blog...But enjoy your babies one day they will be 9Th graders on the basketball team and driving you NUTS!

WAHHHHHHH

Fave Foto Friday...NO faces allowed!

ok i know the theme is NO FACES ALLOWED...

but seriously how could i NOT post this cute pic of my two youngest loving on each other on Thanksgiving!

Its beginning to look alot like Thanksgiving

Abby's class had their Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday and i had the privilege of helping out!

She attends a Co-Op pre-School so parents help run it to keep tuition low!

Another Guate mom made a turkey outfit for Abby..HOW CUTE IS THIS?

Alleen you really need to sell these!

As you can see the food was amazing! Erica had a mouth full of Oreos..Smart girl!

WE have known Erica and her family for 4 years we used to attend church together and now the girls are in pre-school together..LOVE IT

Now bring on the real deal!!

Abby shocked Santa!!!

We took Abby to see Santa this weekend and

WOW SHE SHOCKED him ...not sure what she said and NO WE DIDNT TELL HER TO DO THAT FACE!....She is a nut!

She said to me "ohhh Im sooooo nervous but I HAVE TO TELL SANTA I WANT SPIKE JR!"....;o)

I had her shirt made up and it says this

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS:

1. Spike the Dinosaur

2. Candy

3. a Cleveland Sports team to win a Championship!!

Ok not sure he can perform miracles w/ #3..LOL

My OHIO flag girl!

We are some VERY VERY HAPPY Ohio State Buckeye fans..ONCE again we beat U of Michigan!

Once a year i take a pic of Abby on the OSU flag...

*sigh how fast they grow!

Jan 2007 7 months old.. Nov 09 3.5 years old

FFF~Oh Give thanks~

The Friday Theme is "OH GIVE THANKS!".....

Just a perfect theme Hannah

since this weekend (2morrow) is our 3 Year Forever Family Day(Thats the day Abby became ours!)

SO much to be thankful for this weekend...Where do i start?

I Give Thanks for the 3 other families who shared in the joy of bringing our babies home!

AND YES i still keep in touch w/ each one of them!

I Give Thanks to Abbys Foster Mother for taking care of her for 6months..

How hard it must have been to let her go!
I Give Thanks to Abby's Birth Mother...

I have 3 bio children and thinking of what she did BLOWS my mind!

She entrusted US, total strangers to give her baby a better life!!!

And lastly I Give Thanks for Abigail

as i write this post we have known her(counting from referral date)

40 Months,180 weeks, 1266 days, 30361 Hours, 1821714 Minutes, 109302881 Seconds

I can honestly say its has been the best

40 Months, 180 weeks, 1266 Days, 30361 Hours, 1821714 Minutes , 109302881 Seconds

Of my life!

~God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.

Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas!!

In 1992 i moved out on my own and to CELEBRATE i started collecting Christmas houses....

Its been 17 yrs and i really need more room!!

The Auto shop ...Looks like someone needs some service!??
Mr Smith is selling his trees!
"Its a wonderful life" is playing at the theatre
Yep the town drunks are caroling
Now to put up all 4 Christmas trees!!

NO this isnt the TRUE reason of Christmas but i sure have fun!

WHAT IN THE WORLD WEDNESDAY?

AT least she isnt wearing Dinosaurs!!

clipping her wings!

My oldest Ashley is now 16 and a Junior ...She is attending her first college Open House this Friday...

She will be making the 4 hour drive to Ohio University with her Father...

Many thoughts go through my head as i type this...

~ Where did 16 years go?

~ When did i become so old? lol

~ Ashley was my most "SPIRITED,STUBBORN,INDEPENDENT" Child. Will she stay this way?

In less then 2 years she will be in College and I'm pretty sure i will be drinking more VINO!

1st Day of first Grade

Muy Linda ?

When we were in Guatemala all the staff at the hotel would come up to us and say

"Muy LINDA!"....to Abby

...I had no clue what that meant had to wait to look that up when i got home!

Means "Pretty" in Spanish...

Must be hell to be told your pretty all the time ;o)

FFF~ Beautiful gift(s)~

Friday theme is BEAUTIFUL gifts...These are mine!

Many people have said to me

'What a pity you had such a big family to raise.

Think of the novels and the short stories and the poems you never had time to write because of that.'

And I looked at my children and I said,

'These are my poems. These are my short stories.'

-Olga Masters

What i love.....and a cute print too...

My Dear friend Aimee @She's Going Bananas asked us adoptive parents what we like about Children...I have 4 children who are all unique in their own way...Since i have teens as well I'd break it down some by tot and teen..oh and preteen too!

~ Abby age 3-I love that tots don't care what they say THE JUST SAY it.I only wish i could be that bold!

-They see the simplest things and are in awe and wonder...A box can create hours of fun!

-They really could careless about making friends they think their mommy and daddy are the cat's meow

-Everything is new in their eyes and i sit and learn so much from that!

Grants Age 11 (pre-teen years) - These years are VERY VERY hard on a young one..

- You aren't scared to try new things at this age, but friends do start to influence you more.

- You still think your parents are the best! I still get hugs and kisses

- You still care about what your parents think ...;o)

- You still have innocent thoughts..ha!

Bradley and Ashley -(The teen years) hmmmm what do i say about these years? OMG HELP ME! lol

- You still need your parents BUT WONT ADMIT IT!

- The world is your oyster

- You still kiss your Mom and dad but only in private!

- Sometimes you ask your parents for advice ha!

-Because I'm a young mother i can relate to sooo much that they go through!

So you see each stage in my children's life i have loved and SOME NOT SOO MUCH!

This print reminds me of Abby and her Dinosaurs!

3 years ago today ...WE GOT PINK

I really cant believe it but 3 years has flown by...

On Nov 10Th we received word that we got pink and could forever hold our baby Nov 19Th 2006....

I was eating lunch at the Mexican restaurant here in town (how fitting)

Ken called with the news I was in total shock i couldn't even finish my lunch ( you know I'm in shock if i don't finish my food)

Such a bittersweet moment!

Cindy AKA Abigails Passport photo

BE STILL MY HEART.....

Bring on the snow!

This weekend i was sick with a sinus infection so i didnt really get to enjoy the beautiful Ohio weather...it was 70's all weekend..

Im sure next week will be a blizzard when im well!!!

Abby is ready for it she put all her gear on today and said

"BRING ON THE SNOOWWWW!"...

FFF~ Black and White beauty...

She just turned two ..Enjoying a Happy Meal! And a Daddy ,Daughter moment!

Happy Birthday to my dear hubby Ken

Many,Many(42) years ago a baby named Kenneth Daniel was born in Tuscaloosa,Alabama!!

He's the yang to my yin, the peanut butter to my jelly,the mashed potatoes to my gravy!

He doesn't have alot to say (maybe cuz i talk too much!)

He took a abused single Mother w/ 3 little ones and made her feel like a queen!

AMEN FOR YOU, AMEN FOR YOU AMMMMENN!

Happy Birthday Kenny......

So blog readers lets all wish him a good one (yes he reads my blog daily!)

Just a Dino girl and her Daddy!

Day of the dead party..

We went to our first Day of the dead party and WHAT FUN!!

Abby is nuts and these pics prove it!

She wanted her pic with the skeletons

I love the whole Day of the Dead holiday ...i think next year i will have a big party!

National Adoption month...Face of adoption..

November is National Adoption Month and the website called Grown in my heart (www.growninmyheart.com)

is asking to us to post our most cherished Adoption photo !

Here is mine:

This was our first Christmas picture 2 weeks after Abby came home..2006

Ashley 13

Bradley 12

Grant 8

Abby 6 months old

Trick or treat fun...

Halloween is soo much fun but it sure ends too soon..Here is pics of Abby and Grant in their costumes..

Grant was a Ladies man...Hot huh?

ROAR

Isn't she the cutest,oops i mean scariest dinosaur ever?

Abby asked me to carve a T-Rex pumpkin..

I'M soooo proud of me...

I deserve a medal!! LOL