Happy Birthday LUKE!! He is 5!

This is Luke's favorite present from Santa.

This is Emy's favorite. A DSi.
Luke gives his truck a thumbs UP.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE!! We love you so much!!

He did a great job blowing out his candle this morning.

My Favorite 2009 Christmas Pictures

Me and my Papa--he will be 85 in January!!

My family

Emy's Moon Sand was a HIT!!

So was Luke's fishing game. I think the adults had more fun than the kids!

Luke, Addison, Emy

Facebook photos!!

I just posted a photo album to facebook. You can see it here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2040710&id=1199525129&l=ff4125b768

ENJOY!!

Fun pics...ENJOY!!

I have a snaggle tooth girl

She lost the 1st front tooth this past Saturday and the 2nd front tooth on Sunday---talk about fast!! The tooth fairy had to visit twice in two days!
Luke LOVES chicken.

Just having fun!! Lots of fun!!

Today, I am thankful for. . .

The women in India who make the hard decision of putting their child in an orphanage rather than just leaving them somewhere on the street. I thank them daily. Without these women who wanted something better for their children and the choice these women have made, I would be so lost.

I love my babies.

And I am so thankful for the orphanage and the adoption agencies that made my family possible!!

Emy is 7!!

Emy and her Becca, still best friends.

We love to have pinatas!!
The girls from her school.

Alex & Emy

Emy and the MONEY TREE--Ma always gives the grands a money tree filled with money.

No big girl swing available? NO problem, they just used the baby swings..

Birthday morning with cupcake and candle and song!!

This year I got to do it all--last year I was in the hospital having surgery-ugh!

I'm so glad I got to be the first one to wish my girl a happy birthday!

Limbo in her classroom at her class party for her birthday!

I made this cake for her party at the park.

This is a cupcake-cake made for her classroom party.

I am so absolutely thankful for the blessing of international adoption.

Fun Fact

Luke has round glasses so sometimes we make him yell "SHARON" like Ozzy Osbourne does. It is so stinking funny!! Whoop!!

LOL!!

Cindy's Birthday Pictures

Today

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY

EVERYONE!!

Please pray

I ask that you pray for a 16-month-old boy who was ran over by a car today around 1:00PM. I will give you his initials. (KS). I work with his mom. Please pray that there are no internal injuries and that he will come through it ok. He was alive so that is a praise already. Pray, pray, pray.

Thank you.
UPDATE: KS is doing fine, walking, talking, and whining a little because he is very sore, but he has no internal injuries and no broken bones. Thank you all for your prayers. God is AWESOME!

November 6th

was the best day I've had in a LONG time. It was my birthday. Birthdays are so special. Especially when you surround yourself with people you love.

I started out with breakfast ALONE with a book. Cherry pancakes at the Cracker Barrell HIT THE SPOT! Yum.

Then I went home to watch some of my taped DVR shows that I NEVER have time for.

Then my wonderful husband took me to lunch at the Olive Garden. It's only my FAVORITE restaurant of ALL time!! Then I picked Emy, Cristian, Josh and Luke up (in that order) and we went to the park (another favorite of mine).

Then home to watch Batman with the boys (Emy was chatting on the phone with a friend). The OLD Batman with Adam West, yes you know the one. Where everything looked fake and their outfits are hideous! But yes, I love it. I mean, CAPES, really! Haven't they seen the Incredibles? LOL!!

Then it was off to my Papa's for cake, ice cream, more time with my fave people, my wishes for another happy year and presents. As Luke says, YAY MOMMY!!

Y'all.......I am so entirely blessed. I have a God that loves me no matter what, Jesus who died for me, a mom and dad who raised me with some morals, a sister and her family who I adore and love to fuss with, my husband who is a total posting just waiting to happen (it will happen). He is the BEST. And finally my children......what can a mom say. My kids are so special to me! I love them soooooooo much and just could hug on them all day long.

Blessed I say! I will post some pictures of my party later, but now I'm tired and have to get some rest.

Love to you all. Have a great weekend.

Josh is 13!!

My nephew Josh turned 13 on Oct 27th--yep, I'm way behind on blogging!! I just wanted to share that he is a terrific nephew, I love him so much!

Josh came home when he was 5 months old and ever since then, we have spoiled him rotten. To the core rotten!

Josh is creative and funny and he has the best sense of humor (of our entire family, I think). He is slow to anger and quick witted. He is helpful to have around, he will work so hard when I need him to and he loves Emy & Luke so much. He and Luke really bonded when Luke came home.

Happy Birthday Joshie!! We love you to the moon and back!!

This made my day on Thursday!!

My friend Angie is dressing up as a "submissive wife" for her church Holyween party!!

Don't you love this picture of her??

LOVE IT!!!

We've been busy!!

I really do wish I knew how to post pictures in some kind of order. This is the last picture I wanted to show--LOL

This is Luke AFTER the fair and his candy apple.

Emy got a beautiful face painting that lasted 2 days!!
Luke chauffered me around at the fair...this is the view I had from the backseat of the OLD cars.
This is what we saw when we came around - EVERY time....Ma and Pa waving like lunatics...LOL

All smiles for a while

Believe me, he didn't stay this happy for long. He started throwing fits so we had to leave really early. Poor Emy didn't even complain. She's such a good girl.

Man, I filled this swing UP!!

Did I mention, I do NOT like the swings.

Geez, what we do for our kids.

This sundae was bigger than Emy but she attacked it!

Emy and I rode this ferris wheel.

Hubba Bubba and Emy

Emy likes to try to juggle so we took in a juggling and acrobatic act while we were there.

Riding the ponies

Picture day at school

Luke's first day of full-time preschool with his teacher.

He loves her food.

Playing UNO on a Sunday afternoon.....Four of my favorite people EVER!!

Luke was napping during this time.

The pics above were from the NC State Fair!!

We may go again tomorrow, without Luke.

He was way too over stimulated by all the activity and it put him in a very bad mood.

Will post again soon.

Love y'all.

Later.

Cristian turned 9

My nephew is 9 years old! how did that happen? He is such a sweet, kind boy. He loves to hunt and fish and camp. He had an overnight campout (w/ army guns, bows-n-arrows, etc). He had a blast!

My gift to him you might ask---well, of course, being his favorite aunt---I bought him a quiver for his arrows, an arrow, and a hunting hat!!

I love you Cristian!!

You are the coolest 9 year old I know!

This and That

Well, Luke started preschool and he goes every Tuesday and Thursday. He LOVES it!! He would rather go there than stay with my mom and that is saying something folks. He is doing well. Teachers are Mrs. H, Mrs. C, and Mrs. R. Luke says Mrs. R is his best friend!!

He even buys his lunch every day at the cafeteria and carries his own tray and everything. They make him drink milk instead of water and that is the only negative I've seen. Luke LOVES water....but not enough to complain about the milk at preschool. LOL!!

Emy is doing well in 1st grade. So far, so good. She has missed three days of school though because of a fever, sore throat, cough. Then Luke caught it from her and then I was lucky enough to catch it from him. Why are the daddies immune to this stuff? Doesn't seem fair, does it?

My asthma has kicked in but I do feel a little better today. Luke is with my mom today because his babysitters are sick as well. This stuff is spreading like wild fire here in NC. The swine flu is in all of our schools here and it looks like its gonna be tough to beat and keep at bay. Emy was SOOOOO HAPPY to go back to school today!!

God is an awesome God and he is the ultimate healer and I will continue to believe that we will be healed from all of our ailments.....love to all of you and I hope you are having a great Fall.

Luke

Luke started preschool today
:o)

This and That

Luke when he first came home (this is a BEFORE surgery picture and WITHOUT glasses)

Luke AFTER surgery WITH glasses
Luke's new car bed :o)
Emy pulled her 1st tooth today!

My artist!

Bowling w/ the whole gang

Emy and Luke (one day AFTER his eye surgery)

Poor little red eyes!

Alot has been going on, as you can see--Emy started 1st grade, lost her 1st tooth, Luke has had eye surgery.

Later guys!!