Baby Mataya

We welcomed a new addition to our family on August 12.  My brother Justin and his wife Ang had a beautiful little girl name Mataya. 

We were very excited that they had her in our town so we could see her the morning after she was born.

The kids loved loving on this sweet little bundle.

They couldn't get enough of her.  I LOVE babies especially sweet little newborns but now I have to share with my other 3 who were in love as well!

She is sweet perfection in every way ....

from her sweet little nose ....

all the way down to her toes.

What a bundle of sweetness!

We all agreed .... we could have easily taken her home! 

The Big Black One

For the last couple years there has been a lot of talk about "The Big Black One" at our house.  The big black side at Wild Water West is a little intimidating.  My girls have gone back and forth the last two years about when they were going to take the plunge and try it.  I was just fine with them waiting a while to try it because it even makes me a little shaky in the knees.  

I have no idea what did it but one day the girls decided this was the day and the summer they were going to try the "Big Black One!" I of course quickly grabbed my camera. 

Alexa was going to try it first.  She looked so little but was coming down with perfect form.  Her legs were crossed and arms were across her chest. 

When Emma came down it was obvious that she was flailing a little and all form went out the window.  

Here comes her landing.

They were all giddy with excitement over their accomplishment.  Everyone wanted to talk but no one could get the words out fast enough.  Eric was reenacting Emma's decent and they were all giggling.  

Alexa said her stomach felt shaky because it was a little scary.

Guess who liked the thrill of it all? Yes, Alexa went for round two.

I loved catching their reactions at the bottom!

Emma decided to try it again too.  This time her feet were together but she tried the sideways approach! I love that girl. 

Just can't avoid that major water wedgie :)!! The girls were very proud of themselves and talked friends and cousins into doing it throughout the summer!  We will see if they can talk their brother into it next summer! 

Happy Birthday Little Monkey

When we were in China one of the first things we said was that Max was Mr. Personality and our Curious George! He was into everything hours after having him in our arms.  The kids have totally taken to him being our little monkey so we decided that would be the perfect theme!

We decided to pack all the party stuff up and have the party at my parents house! He have more room for our ever growing family!



  We went for the picnic type food for dinner.  We had chips, BBQ pork sandwiches, chicken salad croissants ....

fresh fruit and veggies.  I had found these cute little tent cards and other printables for his party! I had so much fun pulling his party together.  Party of it is I love doing my kids parties ... it is my creative outlet but for Max I couldn't wait just to celebrate his life and everything he has brought to our family.  

We had a room full of kids.  I think you could call it close to chaotic .... but chaotic fun of course.  When all was said and done I felt like I didn't get a ton of pictures and it was a big of a blur.  It may be due to the fact of all the kids and that I now have 4 to keep tabs on or maybe because it was a party for my little boy that was turning 2.

Max enjoying his birthday dinner!

The girls and I printed these cute little water bottle labels for the water bottles.  We took a variety of those shake up lemonade and crystal light packs.  It worked perfect!  The back of the labels said:

Look at our sweet little birthday boy! 

He thought it was pretty funny to take off his birthday hat when mom was trying to take pictures.

Next it was time for Max to open presents.  As you can see he didn't quite know what to do with it.  He quickly embraced the situation in true Max style and made it into a slide.

With the help form his siblings he quickly realized what you do when opening presents.

After that he had it figured out!

As you can see he had quite the audience and more than enough helpers.

Max loves different textures so these were right up his alley!

He loved his new car ramp too! 

Next it was dessert time.  My friend Kathy shared some of her special recipes and they were a hit! We had banana roasted cupcakes with dark chocolate frosting .....

We also had chocolate chip cupcakes with butter cream frosting.

We couldn't have a monkey party without bananas so we had some chocolate covered bananas on the dessert bar.

And we rounded out the dessert table with some monkey puff aka cream puffs.

Max got his own little cake with Curious George on top! As you can see Max didn't quite know what to do when the cake with candles was in front of him and everyone started singing!  He had help blowing out his candles and then just sat there.  He didn't even try to dig in! 

Eric gave him a lick of frosting and after that is was all over.  He figured out what he was missing.

Now he has it figured out and thinks he is hot stuff!

mmmmmmmmm  ... this is good stuff!

"I am starting to go into a sugar comma, I need a little rest!"

Max decided to let his cousin Bailey in on the fun!



He soon became a little possessive of his cake and the minute Eric would move it between them he would gently nudge back closer to him!  We had a fun day celebrating Max's birthday. His first birthday with his forever family!

Happy Birthday little Monkey! We can't imagine our life with out you! We love you! 

We Celebrate You Today Max

It is hard to believe that today is Max's 2nd birthday and even harder to believe that it is his first birthday home.  His birthday marked a day of celebrating his little life with cake, singing, candles, presents, hats and hugs like most birthdays.  And in the midst of celebrating there are also feelings that I can't shake.  There is a part of me that grieves the first 17 months of my little boys life that I was not a part of.  There is a part of me that wonders what happened 2 years ago in China, the day my little boy was born.  I think of his mom often.  She was the one who carried him for 9 months, heard his first cries and cared for him his first 4 days of life.  Then for reasons we will never know left him at a train station.  I have a deep love and respect for a women across the ocean that chose life for her son and gave me the gift of a precious son.  I pray that somewhere deep in her soul she knows her little boy is happy and healthy but most importantly is loved.  I grieve that there is a piece of Max's story that is a mystery to me and yet I know God has written his story and has been a part of it from the beginning, it is no mystery to the One who created him.

When I look at our little two year old I stand in awe of the way that he is grown and blossomed in the last 6  1/2 months.  His little eyes went from hollow to bright.  He went from not being able to take a step to running everywhere.  He went from not feeding himself to loving to eat and not being able to get food to his mouth fast enough.  He went from not demanding a thing to knowing exactly what he wants.  He went from sitting in one spot for hours to rarely sitting still.  He went from rarely getting hugs and kisses to getting more than enough to make up for lost time and giving them freely in return.  He went from not demanding to be held to standing at my leg and begging to be picked up.  He went from being silent to screaming with excitement at the top of his lungs.   He went from being an orphan to being part of our family.

While I stand in awe of the way our little boy has changed and blossomed I stand even more in awe of what God has done and continues to do in my heart.  I knew that boarding a plane and traveling across the world to bring our son home would be life changing and yet for me it was heart changing.  There is something deep and unexplainable in my heart when my little boy reaches up and wraps his hands around my neck and plants a big wet kiss on my mouth.  There is something that stirs deep within knowing he sees me as his mommy and looks to me to meet his needs and to be loved.  God not only gave me a love for a little boy from China but he gave me a love for his homeland and a deep heartbreaking love for those orphans we left behind.

So while we celebrate you today Max and your precious life.  I also celebrate everything God is doing in  my heart and in our family because of you.  You are a gift, a precious treasure from God and we are so thankful that God chose us to be your family.  We can't imagine our life without you.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy

Love

Mom

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

Psalm 139:13-14

A Special Visitor

We had a special visitor come to town! Since Max and Sam came home from China we have been waiting for our friend Andra to come for a visit.  

We couldn't wait for her to meet our Asian cuties and be able to spend sometime together. 

It was so much fun to spend the weekend together and to just hang out.  Andra of course loved on our kidos and brought them a special gift.  

She brought Max and Sam a Leigh's Blankie.  Andra started the Leigh's Blankie ministry in honor of our friend Leigh Ann that passed away.  Max loves his blankie and always holds it up to me every night to be covered with it.

We spent a lot of time hanging out with the Heinz family when Andra was here.  The girls love Annie and were excited to participate in Just Dance on the Wii when she was here.  Andra loves playing Just Dance so the girls had a blast doing it with her.  Everyone got in on the action ... even I got roped into a dance!

Max and Sam decided to play a little basketball while everyone else was preoccupied with the dance competition.

Believe me Andra has heard a ton about our little boy and seen a ton of pictures but we were so excited for her to meet our little bundle of energy in person.  His personality lights up the room and I couldn't wait for her to meet him.

Annie and the girls! 

Annie and the boys! 

We had a great weekend just doing life.  We didn't have anything crazy planned but instead just enjoyed a lot of time hanging with the kids.  We attempted to take Andra to WWW but got rained out.  We got together in the evenings as families ate yummy food and did a dance off.   The moms got an evening out without the kids and we ended it with a movie.  We got to show Andra the trails on a Saturday morning run.  We had such a great weekend and I am so thankful that we could have time with our dear friend Andra and that she could meet our new sweet additions.  I am so thankful for her friendship!