Best birthday gift EVER/Christmas Part 1!

Since we have been blessed by adoption, it has been a dream of mine to have our birth families spend a holiday with us. Turner's b-mom and siblings spent last Easter with us and this year Lydia's birth family got to be with us for an ENTIRE WEEKEND!! Talk about a HUGE blessing....I get teary eyed just reflecting back on it!

As you can imagine I took tons & tons of pictures- in fact, after work today I'm going to Target to make each family a scrap book of our 1st Christmas together!

We plan to make this a tradition every year! The entire gang!

Getting 7 kids to look at the camera is nearly impossible and for all to smile is not an option!!!

Having K and her kids with us was more than I ever imagined it would be. I would catch myself tearing up over the weekend watching the kids love on Lydia. K is the most amazing women I have ever met- she's had a very tough life but doesn't let it get her down. She has raised 5 incredible kids and is going to college to get her accounting degree. We couldn't be more proud of her and can't wait for the day we get to stand up and cheer as she walks across the stage at graduation.

Is this adorable or what!!

On Saturday, John fixed a huge breakfast then us girls were off to get pedicures! After naps, we got ready and headed to our Church's Christmas Service-which was INCREDIBLE

I heard all the kids giggling in Lydia's room...and this is what I find~ they adore their sister and she adores them! They would follow her around the house then she would turn around and follow them! It was so cute!

Bath time was of course a high light of the weekend too! Not sure my bathroom will ever dry out, but it was totally worth it!

And Turner LOVED having the "big kids" over! Ka'lina was his favorite-they are 1 week apart and he loves her hair! He kept telling her it was beautiful! I have to brag on my little Turner bears-he was a perfect angel this weekend- never once fussed over sharing his toys or sharing his sissy or our attention! I was so proud of him!

This was a dream come true! A living room full of kids, lots of giggles, excitement to open presents, and many sweet memories made!

I encourage all my adoptive friends- if you have toyed with this idea- DO IT!!!

Yes I was dog tired after the weekend and ended up getting strep throat- but it was totally worth it! The blessings are amazing! I can't wait to have a "summer camp" with every one this summer!

If I don't blog about the funny answers Turner gives to our monthly "interviews" I'm afraid I'll forget them! He is so stinkin funny these days

Favorite Food: "peanut jelly sandwiches, frozen strawberries, nilla ice cream, and pickles!"

Who is your friend: "well you momma" He has started calling me momma vs mommy lately and I LOVE IT!

What is your favorite song: "Jesus Loves Me" and then adds- "he loves you too mommy"

Whose birthday is on Christmas: "Jesus"

Favorite Book: "Bear in Underwear"

What are you thankful for : "Jesus"

Who is your Best friend: "Mommy & Jordan" then pauses...and continues"daddy & idia"

Favorite toy: "Football"

What do you like to do with Daddy? "Bake cookies with him, it makes me feel better."

Favorite color: "Green"

What makes you excited : "My new belly button mommy-it's AWESOME!"
Favorite movie: "Cars & Star Wars"

What do you love about sissy? "She plays with my toys and we have fun"

The floors creek and he stops the questioning and says...."ssshhhh mommy, listen it's ghost." I give him a funny look and he replies, "I know mommy, ghosts not real, big foot not real, and big bad wolf not real."

What's your favorite thing to wear: "My hats"

What makes you laugh: "When Lydia toots"

Turner is growing up to be such a sweet little boy- he's wild one minute then comes and gives me the biggest bear hug. He loves saying "I wuv you so very much mommy," "God bless you" when some one sneezes, and loves to play with Lydia's hair. We are beyond thankful for this little guy!

Our Furry Family members

Lexus & Mercy are a special part of our family! Turner & Lydia adore playing with them and giving them lots and lots of slobbery kisses and monster hugs!

My 1st baby- sweet little Lexus- is 12 and has been pretty sick lately. Not only is she diabetic and gets insulin shots twice a day, she also has Cushings Disease, is 90% blind, and recently popped her hip out of place! We've been debating letting her go to "Doggie Heaven" but then she always bounces back. She's not in any pain & I have made a promise to her when the time comes I won't let her suffer! She's sporting some really cool pink boots on her 2 back legs that make walking a little easier on hard wood floors!
Lexus doesn't play much with the kids any more but she's always up for snugglin with them on her bed!

Lydia LOVES LOVES LOVES her Mercy girl & Mercy is so gentle and kind with her!

Just one more hug please!

and just one more kiss sissy....

Turner treats Mercy girl like one of his toys- he climbs on her, attemptsto ride her, and snuggle with her as well

He was saying "Mommy- Lexus has reindeer ears too"

So blessed to have our furry family members in our lives!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy birthday to the best daddy in the whole wide world!!

We started John's birthday morning off with cake, singing, and party hats all during breakfast!

Daddy even let his love bug blow out the candle!

Sissy is all grins and giggles when it comes to her daddy!

she adores him!

We love you John Allen ~ xoxoxo

Bedlam Football!

This Saturday is the famous OU/OSU Bedlam football game! We are having some friends over and will be enjoying the game in the comfort (and warmth) of our own home!

Go POKES
Turner "thinks" he gets to go to the football game with Aunt CC & E

I'm hoping the Cowboys play better than the kids did when taking this picture!

So much to be THANKFUL for!

I think this was the most relaxed and calm Thanksgiving we've had! It was just the 4 of us and my mom. My dad was on call, CC and E came last weekend and Judy was at the cabin!

Sissy celebrating because we have so much to be THANKFUL for!
Mommy's extra thankful that daddy LOVES to cook! He also spoiled me with an awesome 8 year anniversary weekend getaway! He treated me to Red Prime in OKC then a night at the historic Skirvin Hotel, followed by a delish breakfast and a massage the next morning!

Turned loved having Lolly all to himself! They spent hours playing with his cars and neon race track!

I have to brag on my honey- he's not just a good cook- he's AMAZING in the kitchen! He loves to try new recipes ~ for Thanksgiving dinner he made goose, parsnips, turnips, potatoes, and carrots, and dressing with raisins, apples & cider. Then Lolly made my Grams special cranberry salad as well as a new cranberry relish!

Thanks Lolly for helping with the kiddos so we could have a much needed date night!

Proudly showing off his Turkey shirt on Thanksgiving morning

this mommy is also thankful for "cool" healthy snacks!

Turner's "happy helpers"

We are especially thankful for life-long friends! My BFF and her family stopped by on their way to her parents to let the kids "run off some steam" before another 3 hours in the car! The boys had so much fun playing together...oh how I wished we lived in the same town!

and these 2 were absolutely adorable!

Once again, I am reminded how truly blessed we are and am humbled by the greatness of our creator!

A Broken Belly Button

On Tuesday we headed for OU Children's bright and early for Turner to get a new belly button! He was born with a umbilical hernia that needed to be fixed! We had talked it up all week long so Turner wouldn't be scared! This afternoon once he gets to feeling better, we're going to have a party to welcome his new belly button into the family! Cupcakes, party hats and even some friends!

Turner wasn't a fan of the pre-op room so the nurse let us "wait" in the play room!
waiting....waiting.....Doesn't he look adorable in his scrubs.
They gave him a "kiddy type' of valium to calm his nerves before he got his "strawberry" gas...but in true Turner fashion, he spit it right out! So mommy got to go back to the OR and help keep him calm until he fell asleep. It was no fun for this mommy....his little eyes were wide open, tears streaming down his sweet cheeks while the nurses tried to get a seal on the mask.... a few little breaths and he drifted asleep while I was holding his hand and singing Jesus Loves Me....I was doing my best to hold back the tears!

After surgery.....not a fan of the arm guard to protect his IV

He was so thirsty. He hadn't had anything to eat or drink since the night before! When he woke up he wanted a red popscicle and some juice!

Today has been a pj kind of day! He's taken several short little naps, he's still pretty sore and hasn't eatten anything yet. He'll say he wants something but then when it's in front of him, he says "no thanks mommy."

He did perk up a little when I said we needed to make Ms. Kathy something for Thanksgiving. Those turkey feathers are his sweet hands

We've had lots and lots and lots of snuggle time

Lydia is sure missing her Turner!

She didn't know what to do with herself during bath time

Get well soon bubba@