Big day today! Baylee turned four, we had a fun night celebrating with the family and enjoying our new house! Yes, we are finally in. We got renters for our home and gave them the keys tonight. Also, Brenna found her feet! We  got our new computer in, but it is not hooked up yet. Get ready for an onslaught of pictures Wednesday night. :) What a day... off to bed for me!

Our new stroller system

The B's like to ride together in the back, Baylee wants to hold a baby, and Brenna wants to be held.  Perfect!  This is why it is so much easier to have babies when you have "big" kids too.  They are so helpful.  :)

Sisters

I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of fights between these two when they get older.  Brenna is always trying to grab, pull hair or otherwise torment Livie, and Livie is just about as much drama as one little girl can be.  I think that is what motivates Brenna so much.  Just look at that look on her face!  She loves when Livie starts screaming, which she ineveitable does when in any amount of discomfort or annoyance.  They just crack me up, they are so much fun!

I did not even have a chance to announce that Brenna is officially rolling over (tummy to back) when Livie started doing it tonight too.  Brenna probably started about 3 days ago.  Yes, she had done it randomly a few times, but I only count it when it starts to become a regular occurance.  :)  Yay, 2 more almost mobile little people in my house!

Kid Quotes

"Mommy, do you know what? Grandma and Grandpa are our grandmother and grandfather, and Nana and Granddad are our grander-mother and grander-father. They are so grand!" -Jaden

My "big ones"

I am so blessed to have 3 "big kids" who play so well together.  (Most of the time)  I was getting things ready to head over to "kung fu" when I noticed a very disturbing silence.  Usually, a sign of bad things.  But, when I investigated further, I found my sweet kiddos in a make-up game of cards.  They are getting so big.  :) 

My girls

I missed my girls so much while we were away!  Even this face.  :)  It was so fun getting them back again when we came home, I am always amazed at what an unbelievable blessing they are!

Livie has found her thumb, officially.  She was doing this when we got home.  Before we left, she only found it when she was laying on her tummy.  She is getting so big!  She holds her head up a lot better now too.  I just love her eyes.  :)

Brenna is always grabbing her!  It cracks me up, but I think it annoys her a little, especially if it is her hair. 

Those fingers in the mouth are so comforting

My favorite thing.  When I put them together, they always hold hands.  They just love each other.  :)

This one with her crooked smile, it is the cutest thing.  She is a charmer.  She reminds me so much of her birthmother.  Smart, sassy and small!  She is such a blessing. 

kid quotes

Aubrey brings his book in, "Let me read this to you mommy. This guy says 'Eat these green ham and eggs!' Then this guy says, 'No no!'" I say, what do you say Aubrey? He says, "I could eat that." As he points to the green eggs and ham. :)

Tony is talking to Brenna: Ever since I met you, bad things keep happening to me, you gave me the worst day of my life (the day they were taken back) I had to sell my Yukon, I had to leave my house, I am drowning in baby gear... but you are worth it. (As she smiles up at him with that big Brenna grin.) Priceless.

Quote of the Week

My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him." --Derek Loux

I have been a little neglegent with my quotes of the week.  Of course, the kid quotes have kind of taken over, but I want to make sure I continue with the QOTW because they are such a huge encouragement to me, and hopefully to you!  I saw this quote on an adoption blog I follow and thought it was pretty great.  When I think about all that it has cost us to adopt the girls (In the grand scheme it has not been very much) I always kind of shrug it off, all the time and effort and money seem like nothing... completely worthless... when I think about what we have now.  Of course we would give that, to get them.  Of course we would, and we would do it again, a thousand times.  They are worth everything that they cost and so much more.  However, when I think about what God gave, to get me, my mindset changes.  He gave SO much more.   Why would he want me anyway?  I will never know.  I do know though, that the LORD doesn't feel the way I assume he does.  He feels the way I do about my girls, only a thousand times more intense and more pure.  He wanted his children so much that he willingly gave Himself, all of Himself, for us.  What a mystery!  My adoption in Christ is the most miraculous thing I can imagine.  The girls have a family, I have an Eternal family that spans the globe, (and the ages!) the girls have a home, I have an eternal heaven to enjoy, the girls have food to eat, I have the bread of life to sustain and strengthen me.  My prayer is that my girls (and my other 3) are adopted by Christ.   Spiritual adoption makes this earthly adoption seem pretty pathetic in comparisson.  Sure, it is something that I believe in with my whole heart.  Sure, it has given countless orphans a second chance at a "better" life, (or for some, maybe life at all).  However, in the span of eternity, it really isn't going to matter so much, and the best thing I can hope for is that our adoption of the girls points people to a Spiritual adoption.  In the end, who you earthly parents were is not going to matter, but if you are able to call God your Father, that is the only thing that will matter!

Kid Quotes

Aubrey:  "I'm hungry!  I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole chicken!  And no one with me."  (meaning all by himself)  Me: "You could eat one all by yourself?"  Aubrey: "Yes, and Jaden would say *GASP!*" 

Arizona Day 4

Our last day here was pretty low key. We spent all morning at the pool. The kids had a blast, and I got very "tan". :) Jaden got to play with his friend Lila (not Layla!) as we found out, and Baylee made a little friend too. Aubrey mostly hung out with me, as usual.

 Afterwards, it was naptime!  Tony, Aubrey and Baylee crashed, and Jaden and I snuck away to look for souveniers and hunt for Arapaunas in the river.  :)  We had a nice time, just the two of us, talking about all sorts of interesting things.

When everyone woke up it was nearly 5:00.  We ran down to the pool one last time and played and got dinner.

This one was up to his usual antics tonight.  The waiter came by and asked him how his vacation was going.  His reply: "Well, my bacation is good, but, do you know what I hate about this place?  I really hate that slide because it spits me out into the fast water and it is 6 meters taller than I am!  (the waiter starts to comment...) And, do you know what else I hate?  I really hate all of the bosquitos here.  (mosquitos)  Yeah, I really hate when they stab you and they put their larvae under your skin."  Their conversation went on about 15 minutes, they covered just about every topic and I was laughing so hard through most of it that I can't even remember what all was discussed.  I know he warned the guy about the arapauna in the river, and asked him "where are all of the Indians anyway?"  When the waiter asked him what the stars on the flag mean he said, "They mean that you are in Bakersfield.  Bakersfield, California."  :)  I love this boy.

Freckles!

I always knew this day would come. I just didn't expect it so soon.  After a week in the sun, my fair skinned little red-head has freckles!  It is so cute, I just want to kiss that little nose everytime I see her.  It is kind of sad too, I think freckles are kind of a big girl thing.  I have never seen a baby with freckles, even though they may have the right skin type.  Not scientific at all, just my observation.  I always thought Baylee would get them around 6 or 7.  Not 3.  But whatever the case may be, I'm so glad they are here.  They are absolutely adorable!  :)

Kid Quotes

Jaden is being a crocodile and scaring Aubrey. I tell him, "Jaden, Aubrey doesn't like that game. Go play it with someone else." He says, "No comprendo." waits a second as I translate the disobedience in my mind, "Haha, I mean yes comprendo. Yes Mommy!" (grins) What in the World?

Arizona Day 3 Continued...

Last night, after the boat ride, we headed down to the pool. 

It starts cooling down in the evenings quite a bit, but it doesn't bother the kids one bit. 

Baylee LOVES this beach entry pool. 

We ordered some chocolate cake from room service.  I think that might have been the hit of the day.  :)

Kid Quotes

Jaden: "Excuse me madaam, MAT-TUM! (she looks) Do you have any floaty tubes?"

Kid Quotes

Jaden to a bigger kid in the pool: "Wow! You are a really swell diver! Did you learn how to swim or somethin?"

Kid Quotes

We are at the pool and Jaden spots Layla. I hear him say, "Hi Layla, you look very cool today." Her dad laughs and says, "Hi Jaden, you look very cool today too." (they all know his name at the pool.) He says, "well, I don't look very cool today because I lost my big goggles, I only have these little ones and they are not very cool." I had no idea he was aware of how "cool" he looked, or other people looked. I guess we are getting to that age!

Arizona Day 3

We decided to do something different this morning than head straight for the pool (although the kids were not sure that was a great idea at first.)  So, we went for a walk around the resort. 

The kids loved exploring, and there were plenty of trails and neat places to go. 

They love the river and think that there are giant fish in it just like the animal planet show we watched about the amazon last night. 

There are giant fish in it, but they look more like catfish to me.  No matter, the kids are fascinated by them!  It is a very beautiful area too, we had fun exploring.

My little explorers.  We found many lizzards, 2 different kinds of ducks, roadrunners, horses, lots of bugs and birds and of course, the infamous fish. 

A view of the river and the pools.

This afternoon, we went for a boat ride along the river.  The kids were very excited as we waited for the boat to arrive!

Jaden took a picture of us, proof that I was there!

Aubrey liked the boat ride, but wasn't that fond of the driver.  He kept pointing at him saying, "I don't like that man."  How did I get one so introverted, and one so...

Well, we all know Jaden.  He talked to the driver the whole time.  "Um, excuse me, sir?  What happens if we see a sea snake?  Um, what about if you run into a boulder, will we sink?  I think I see a sea turtle.  Are there turtles in this river?  Sir, back there I saw a rock with a big square under it that looked like a  book... what was that?"  Surprisingly, the man knew what he was talking about and told him all about the pump and filtration system and how it works.  Jaden of course, was very interested.  He always keeps the conversation flowing. 

This one is just glad Jaden distracted the man so that he didn't bother him. 

And this one... she has had this glazed over, exhausted look since the first night.  I think she is pretty worn out, but she is being super sweet and cooperative so I can't complain.  :)

"Land Ho!"  "I will be on the lookout for boulders!  ALL CLEAR!!!"

Arizona Day 2

Monday here in Chandler was a blast too.  The weather has been perfect.  The kids and I ran into town to pick up some goggles and misc. things this morning, and then came back and swam all day until the dinner party this evening.  Here is Jaden in the big pool that overlooks the replica of the Gila River.  The river is gorgeous and runs along the whole resort, which is massive.  I'm not sure where it goes after that.

Jaden has no problem making friends. Here he is with Layla. They had a blast playing together. :)

Aubrey enjoys a little break.

Baylee and Daddy horsing around inthe pool.  People always tell me she looks like me, but all I see is Tony.  They are twins! 

Having fun with Daddy.

Somewhat unsuccessful attempt at a picture of my three.  Baylee was freezing, and not that happy to be leaving the pool.  It does get a little chilly here in the evenings, especially if you are wet!

Once we got everyone cleaned up, we hopped onto a big tourbus and headed over to the other side of the resort.  (I'm telling you, this place is massive!) It was called the Equestrian center, and we could see why when we got there.  Horses everywhere!  They had a band playing country music very loudly (Baylee LOVED it) and they had all sorts of cowboy games (roping haybales with horns, quickdraw with very loud guns, (Jaden was fascinated by this!) darts and all sorts of things.  Aubrey is waiting for his meal "being a gentleman" with his napkin in his lap.  This is his new trick, so cute.  :)

Here is Baylee at the party, I was trying to get a picture of the sunset, but she thought it wouldn't be complete without her.  :)  It was breathtaking, perfect cool weather, amazing views all around, fun music, great food and the families there were all wonderful.  It was a fun night.