Happy Referral Day, Hudson!!

Five years ago, TODAY, we saw our Hudson's sweet face for the first time. We waited two years for that moment. Seems like yesterday that we were calling and emailing all our friends to tell them the news.

Oh how I love him sooooo much!! 

If you want to read our adoption and travel stories, you can go to our very out dated website. (Ms. Alexis is too busy creating websites for others to work on mine..sigh :) ) www.ouradoptionblessings.com
 

We love you, Hudson!! 

Hudson's Referral Anniversary

Four years ago, yesterday, we got "the call" and saw our Hudson's handsome face for the first time.

The next day {four years ago,today}, Mr. Fedex Man brought us even more adorable pictures of our little guy.

About 6 weeks later, we were holding Hudson in our arms forever...

And four years later, he's still cute as ever!


We love you, Hudson and thank Jesus everyday for picking you for our family.

Our Christmas Morning 2010

Happy New Year 2011!!

May I have some more grace, please?

With three birthdays, three family gatherings, and the Vintage Ball, I needed a week to recuperate.

And our little people were so cute on our Christmas morning, I just have to share. On December 23, the stockings were all hung by the chimney with care...and finally all the kids {even the teens} were all in bed asleep.
So...while the kids were all sleeping, Santa gathered all the stockings and filled them with fun treats and hung them back on the fireplace. He came a night early since my family came to visit on the 25th. :) The next morning, as tradition holds, they gathered up their stockings, trying not to peek in the fancy, overflowing sock.

All six gathered at the foot of our bed.

They took turns pulling out one thing at a time.

{ Awww...I love this picture. I want to always remember this as someday, they won't fit on the end of my bed...or won't be at home to wake us..sigh.}

Before Ms. Alaina went to bed, she realized that we didn't have any cookies to share with Santa. Instead, Santa enjoyed a slice of pepperoni pizza and a sip of KoolAid, grape to be exact. {We know he enjoyed it because, he had eaten all of it but the crust.} He didn't put any gifts under the tree because he remembered that a little guy named Benjamin lived here and he didn't want him to open all of them at once. He decided to place them all in my bathroom. So the next morning, Joel and I carried them all down and placed them so perfectly under the tree.

If it appears like a lot, well, it was. Alexis and I were Santa's assistants and we had a wrapping party that lasted several hours.

For many years now, the kids have picked names and most years have kept it a secret.

Alexis picked Benjamin's name and bought him a Thomas the Train puzzle.

Zachary picked Alaina's name and contributed towards an adorable Bitty Baby outfit.

Alaina was so excited that she got Joel B's name. I helped her pick out an ear hook/plugs for his Ipod Touch.

Joel B got Alexis's name. He had to be the funny guy and wrap a Ken doll and place it so strategically on top of the gift. To her surprise, he bought her an adorable phone cover for her cell phone with lots of sparkling bling.

She LOVED it...the phone case, that is. Not Ken.

Hudson got Zachary's name and 'bought' him a shirt.

Hudson was so excited that Benjamin 'bought' him Cars vehicles...just like the ones that were on Benjamin's cupcakes. Very fun.

And there they are, all together. They were so happy. I think we could have ended the gift opening right then. But we didn't. We courageously continued on, opening and opening...for at least a couple of hours.

Yes, we recycle. The little guys LOVE their "new" sleeping bags {once owned by Zachary and Joel B}. Notice Hudson's Billy Blazes. F*sher Pr*ce doesn't make Resc*e Heroes anymore. They love them. Every night for a week now, they fall asleep, all cozy and warm in their sleeping bags and I then, move them to their beds.

Zachary opened his new cell phone. Look at that expression. So excited.

{We now have a "drop box" for all electronic devices that is open for collection at 9AM every morning. They are not allowed to collect them back until school and chores are finished. Funny how they thought they could text during school hours. Hmmm.}

Alaina squealed with delight when she opened her new camera from Mammaw and Pappaw. I'm sure she will start her own blog soon and display her new photos. She's actually pretty good.

Ms. Alexis {who cheated and got up early to put makeup on}, got a new coat. So cute...and practically, so warm.

Ms. Alaina will now be homeschooling her dolls. Love this book from AG.

And they received practical things like school day planners.

The most requested items this year were clothes.

Little guys are enjoying their Le*psters that were bought on Black Friday. $25, oh yeah. They also got their very own Legos and more trains to add to their collection.

The grand finale...the T*y Story gang. So how long does it take for the batteries to die..haha. Really though, these are the cutest dolls and they have played and played with them. Not so fun in the dark when you step on Buzz Lightyear. He keeps talking and talking.

After picking up a mound of wrapping paper, we headed for the mall to ride the train one more time. We watched Santa leave his big chair. He waved and briskly walked as I'm sure he had many more houses to visit that night. I'm glad he came to our house a day early.

{The next day, Christmas afternoon, my family arrived. We met Caden, our new nephew from China, for the first time. The details to follow...tomorrow.}

Hip-Hop with Flip-Flops

One day, I could hear the boys talking in their room upstairs. They had been up there for awhile. Finally, they made their grand entrance...with clothes on. As we all know, they would prefer to wear as few clothes as possible.

Hudson so proudly announces that he found "hip-hop" clothes for both of them.

Hudson takes his job very seriously, ya know. Look at that expression. And notice the flip-flops. Do hip-hop dancers wear flip-flops?

Hudson's heart...

Ever have those moments where your heart overflows with thanksgiving? You know, when one of your children shows a Christ-like character? The kind that brings tears to your eyes and you can't share about it without crying?


Yeah. One of those moments.

We were at our first party of the Christmas season. All of us were very excited about going and spending time with our new friends that we have met this fall. Every Friday, we attended a homeschool co-op and have met such wonderful new friends (more about the co-op later...)

The big kids were in a different room celebrating...doing what big kids do...being loud...eating...acting like teenagers.

{Jake is in the middle. Notice Hudson's green teeth from the cookie?}

The littles and I were in a different room with all the younger ones. Hudson has had such a wonderful time this year at co-op. He has met such great friends. There is one little guy that he dearly loves and they instantly navigated to each other. When he realized that his buddy Jake was at the party, he was beyond thrilled.

We had some tasty desserts and then it was time to open gifts. Each child brought a $5 gift to exchange. One of the moms gave each child a gift and then they opened them in unison. For the most part, all were happy but we did hear a few, "Do you want to trade?" {normal American kids :)}
I left Hudson for a second to organize our things. I noticed Hudson's best buddy was holding Hudson's new gift and Hudson didn't appear to be too happy. Imagine two almost 5 year olds discussing their new gifts....and both wanted Hudson's prized gift. You see, it was a rocket mold and then you paint it. Pretty exciting for a 5 year old.


Apparently, they had 'traded.' Oh boy. Normally, the kids are not allowed to trade unless they ask me first. Hudson didn't understand what his friend meant when he said, "Do you want to trade?" I think Hudson thought he meant, "Can we trade and look at each others gifts and then give them back?" My guess. :)

I love this little boy and his mother dearly. It really wasn't a big deal to me so I explained to Hudson that it would be ok and he would enjoy the other toy.

I continued to help clean up and left the room for a second. When I came back, Jake's sweet mom handed the gift to Hudson and poor little Jake was crying. I felt so bad. She found out that it only cost $5 at a nearby craft store and that she could get him another one.

About 10 minutes went by and I noticed Hudson by himself on the other side of the room, looking at his new rocket craft....holding it with both hands...really giving it a good study.

Shortly thereafter, I witnessed the sweetest reunion. Hudson hands Jake his beloved rocket craft. Jake wipes his tears and has the biggest smile.
It took everything within me to hold back the tears. It was so sweet. I asked Hudson later why he did it. He said, "Jake wanted it." I praised him over and over, telling him that it was very kind and something that Jesus would have done when he was a little boy.

And he simply said, "You're welcome, Mommy."

Jolly Ol' St. Nick

It was 30 degrees outside...and nice and toasty inside. Cookies. Hot chocolate. And big Sis Alexis's ballet ensemble felt honored to perform.

We were not expecting Santa to be at the post parade event. Hudson and Alaina jumped right on Santa's lap and each shared what they wanted for Christmas. It's funny that they told him silly things...small things that cost a dollar. Cool. I can return all their Christmas gifts right? haha.

It was very sweet. And then there was Benjamin. He would NOT get near Santa. Santa's elf gave him a candy cane and he seemed to enjoy it while he watched Sissy dance. We had to wait until after Alexis danced and then give it another try with Santa. Since he did enjoy the first candy cane, he thought that maybe he could get close enough to get another. And then somehow, we convinced him to be in the picture...on the other side of Santa. Eventually, he decided that Santa was a pretty nice guy. Very, very sweet.Our two little guys are adorably affectionate. They freely give everyone hugs.Including Santa. As we were walking to the van in the cold temperatures, Benjamin was holding my hand. He said, "What a wonderful surprise." It was so cute.

It's the simple things in life...our time...our love...our hugs...that mean the most to a child. And these are free.

It's fall, y'all...

And the Toy Story gang is all here.

"Woody"

"Buzz Lightyear"

and their best friend, "Jessie."They all met at the Fall Festival at our church...

and invited friends...

for some good times.

Buzz Lightyear enjoyed the Moonwalk...

a very large Moonwalk. Even the teens jumped around.

"Woody" had so much fun, that in the middle of all the festivities, he just had to take a nap. The Moonwalk, cider, smores, hilarious games, and songs...just tuckered him out. He made it through a great devotion...and then closed his eyes.

BUT..as soon as we said "CANDY!!"....the nap was all over.

{Pastor loving on my kiddos}

Trunks and trunks and even more trunks....and lots of treats!

And more Smores.

Too many Smores.

And too much candy.

They gave me all the chocolate so we are all good. :)