Days Filled With Fun

Some fun with friends...

This sign is great!!!

Looking for a target!

Warming up a little to being around new people

This tool has been played with and fought over everyday. We have THREE of them. Adaline has a battle scar and so does Wen. One guess to who doesn't have any battle wounds??

Just love this picture, totally him. The "observer" most of the time.

Determination

Success

CHEZZZZE

A little fun in the sprinkler. So glad she will still play with the little ones. Looks like Corbin is happy too!!

Let the Games Begin

Let me just say, my baby should not be big enough to play t-ball. So...it's Wee Tee to make me feel better. Today was our first big event. He was pumped to say the least. He did come out of the dugout to tell us he was sweating. Had a little powerade and went back on the field. Congrats on your first game baby boy.

Waving to his adoring fans!!!

Equiped with Easter candy for the game.

I needed this for you to appreciate his ears folded down under his visor. oh my word....

An unending supply of candy kept this one quite content!

Ready on the pitcher's mound!

Got Papa wrapped in a big way!!!

Running after he hit his first baseball ever in a game. He got a homerun. In case you haven't seen Wee Tee, you can hit a homerun and it never leave the infield. Not that that's what he did. But, he has his first gameball!!!

Not in order I know...I don't have time to fight blogger. Preparing for his first at bat! Very serious here!

The Beach

I can't believe the difference three months has made in her precious life.

This little man is finally getting use to us and his new surroundings. He was unsure of the water till big brothers showed him how.

1, 2, 3 GOOOOOOOOOO

Deciding it's ok

Kinda cold Mama

Water got dirty, round 2

Don't hate me because I have awesome abs

Watch me go...

Our dear friends are at the beach this week. Since I'm ate up with jealousy, envy, covetousness(not sure that's a word)....just wanna be there. We broke out the swimsuits and the dog pool. The kids are happy. I'm still dreaming of the waves and sun(:

May you have a wonderful weekend full of water, sun, ballgames, bubbles, babies....and Jesus!!!

We are still alive

Since it's been forever since I have blogged I figured a few extra pics would be ok. Everyone seems to be adjusting well. We are getting used to saying "table for SEVEN" or staying home hehe....All are sleeping through the night in their own beds except the precious almost five year old that insists he likes our bed. We have had four doctor's appointments, one set of ear tubes, labs three times, guitar lessons started, and three more doctor appointments this month. Just so you know our deductible has been met. Thank God for Grandma carpooling, Kelsey babysitting and Mimi and Pop babysitting too. Also, Dad is able to change his day off to attend most of the appointments.

Easter had a whole new meaning this year. To celebrate what our Saviour did for Me. Not for the world, but for me. I don't know why I've never really thought about the true pain and agony he went through for me. Like beaten, spit on, mocked, laughed at, hung on a tree for me. His mother really had to watch her son that she gave birth to die in front of her. He was completely her son and completely my Saviour all in one. We always say "oh Jesus died for me" or "he died to save us from our sins" REALLY. Do we really think about it? Have we watched the movies made trying to re-enact his death? On Easter do we really think about what he did for us or is it just eggs, pretty dresses, and candy? This year I finally grew up a little. I woke up very early on Easter thinking about him. Thinking about what he really went through. Realizing I have no comprehension of the gruesome death, but thank you Jesus for saving me. Thank you for all the pain you went through. Please forgive me for all the times I take you for granted.  May I never get caught up in the Christmas tree, eggs, and presents that I forget about You Lord!!!

This baby LOVED our Easter weekend. He hunted eggs inside the house and outside the house.

This picture meant so much to me. The little man holding her hand is Lane. He held her special hand and her basket so that she was able to pick up each egg. He never rushed or ran. Just melts my heart for some to be so kind. He was determined for Adaline to like him. He was successful(:

He didn't care much for hunting eggs. He was all about the candy and food involved. Such a big boy!!!

My two girls right before we left for church.

So handsome for church!

Not so happy I was taking pics early in the morning. She did smile though!

Big sister helping him hunt eggs. So Sweet!

All the dressy clothes and this is what they really want to do. Play on daddy's trailer. lol...barefooted, William barebottomed, Wen has his basket and William a Dr. Pepper. This is what biggerdirt is all about. All babies went to bed by 830 very easy!

He is telling me "no take my picture Mama". Too bad!

This is what she looked like walking into Sunday School.

My little girl is growing up so fast!

Hunting eggs at Lake Claiborne on Saturday. Thank you Aunt Jenny!

B.A.D.

The New Wen

Someone made the comment to me while checking out at Wal-Mart "I never see pictures of the boy you brought home". I responded with "he doesn't slow down or cheese for us". That was a true statement, but not entirely. The truth is our boy that we brought home was unhappy most days. As soon as we got home with him we found out that his ears were infected. As the days progressed things seemed to get worse instead of better. From the moment his little eyes opened he whined. The only time he was happy was when Daddy was holding him while walking around OUTSIDE. I'm really not being dramatic either. He was also happy eating as long as no one bothered him or moved around too much (getting a drink or new food). Anything we did at dinner time would bring instant tears. He wanted everyone else's drink or plate or napkin....Riding in the van anywhere has been really hard. He would whine at least half of the trip no matter how long the ride was. Sometimes it would progress to sobbing for long periods of time with the other kids yelling "Wen please hush". He has had a few good days or moments that we cherished, but were so tired from the rest of the time that we were not bonding well. Let me be very honest here, Wen and Mama were NOT bonding well. Wen adopted Brian from day one and Adaline adopted me. This was just for survival's sake in China. Now that we are home it has taken effort to bond with a baby that really doesn't prefer you or want you for that matter. During the whole adoption process you look at their pictures and pray for them and fall in love with them. WRONG, you fall in love with their picture and have thoughts of what they may be like or what their laugh sounds like. You dream of holding them and living happily ever after. You really don't think about the fact that they may be unhappy or that they may truly grieve their life before you.  Some days I really really tried hard to hold him and love him and be patient. Some days we just made it through. Please don't send me hate comments or be harsh in your judgement here. I was really beginning to question my parenting skills and wonder why the other four kids in our home seemed happy. Lots of prayers and pleading with God. I wanted to love Wen with all of me.

After almost two months home, and three rounds of antibiotic for his hurting ears, Wen got tubes and a second hearing test done. The ride home from the hospital was amazing. No crying or whining at all. That afternoon we even played outside some. He slept through the night and woke up with a smile on his face. Every morning for two months he has started his day with tears. Some of the mornings I have too. We had NO IDEA how bad his ears were affecting him. He plays without having to sit in someone's lap. He follows ME around the house to show me what he has made or just to make sure where I'm going. He is more than happy to eat, ride in the van, play Mr. Potatohead, trains, outside, inside, the bathtub....oh my he is just HAPPY(: and so is his Mama. I have loved him since I saw the very first picture of him. Now I am completely IN LOVE with this little fellow. I look forward to him waking up from his nap and finding me in the house. I love watching the four of them run laps in the house LOUDLY giggling. I just love him and I thank God for allowing me to be his Mama even on the bad days.

Random Chaos

My five babies all in the Thomas tent!!! I love them

This little guy gets tubes in  his ears tomorrow. Praying they help him feel better and hear better.