My gentlemen

Nyah tries to play in the boys' room whenever they're in there. They tolerate her most of the time until she tears a leg off an action figure or they find bite marks in a light saber. Its sweet to watch them interact with her. So tender and kind.

Awww, brotherly love

Will learned about the Full Armor of God in Sunday School. He chose it to be the prize he earned with his sticker chart. He was was supposed to be earning a Star Wars gun but he told me in all seriousness, "That would make me too wild." He is getting pretty hyper with the armor but at least he is fighting for righteousness instead of the force :) Now he wants to wear it to Sunday School...

The Big 11

Marquez turned 11! I can't believe it. He joined our family when he was 6 and five years have flown by. Many relative showed up at Big Als to celebrate with him.

Marquez checks out his score

ordering pizza

Do you want to try it, Nyah?

this particular hairdo made her head look as round as a bowling ball

Makaylee sure likes bowling on the Wii, but in real life she's not so sure.

Auntie Sacra tries bowling for the first time ever.

Cousin Zach bowls and drops the ball behind him. We all had a

good laugh!

Makaylee decides to try the ramp because her balls were barely making it down the lane.
Aaaah, much better. She ended up beating all 6 of the boys!

Um, "hi"

Marquez got a lot of neat things, but his favorite was grandparents and Auntie Jenae pitching in for him to go to Trout Creek Bible Camp this summer.

Then everyone scattered for the arcade. Makaylee earned 95 tickets and bought 3 pieces of candy. You know how that goes. Nyah decided she is a big girl and tried to climb on all the games with motorcycles. Will reminded me of the prodigal son, his money was gone so fast. And Marquez got invited to spend the night at his cousin's house. They stayed up until 6:30 am playing video games that night. Enough said. Then when I had him go to bed early the next night he pouted. He felt too big for that now. Then he sheepishly admitted the next morning, "I fell asleep in like 2 minutes." Yes, son, moms still know best. Even when you are the big 11.

One Year Ago Today

Makaylee's countdown chart for the "big day" that she crossed off every night before bed

the picture we got from Toukoul 3 days before court - I think I stared at it the whole airplane ride to Ethiopia

I remember this morning like it was yesterday. The morning of March 27th. Every minute was excrutiatingly, painfully slow. We were waiting to hear from Dove Adoptions to see if our baby girl's case had passed court in Ethiopia. It was on this day that she would legally become our daughter in the eyes of the Ethiopian and American governments. (She was already our daughter in our hearts.) I had been fasting the day before and was starving that morning. I would stop praying and eat as soon as Dove called to say if she had passed court or not. Nine a.m. (when Dove opens) came and went. Ten o'clock came and went. Still starving, stomach in knots. Finally at 10:40 am the phone rang! Caller ID confirmed it was the long awaited call. She passed the first time! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!

Disappointments and Delights

No letter ever came in the mail as promised about what they decided about Makaylee's sister. But they did call and say they decided to let the gal with her other sister adopt her instead of us. Its too bad they think that would be too many children for our family, because I think the more the merrier! With each child we have added, the joy multiplies!

But God has been good to us and we are counting our blessings! So instead of sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves, our friend Lilian suggested we go to the tulip farm out in Woodburn. I thought the kids wouldn't be very excited because its just flowers, but they were really pumped. And it was only $5 /vehicle- now that's some cheap fun!

Have I mentioned how much we enjoy Lilian? I love that she teaches the kids good old fashioned manners and etiquette. You know, stuff that our generation has basically thrown to the wayside as old fashioned... Its not just for the Amish and my children are treating each other with a lot more respect lately :)

Marquez thought this steam tractor was cool.

glad I picked these ones

Will was very well behaved. He just needs to be kept busy.



Just like in real life. These two are always racing!

he-he

more competitive fun

sweetie pies

I was so proud of Will! He was scared of this slide but finally tried it near the end.

Yee-haw, Marquez! He got to pick out his own pot of tulips because its his birthday tomorrow. He chose the yellow with red highlights. After they die, he'll replant the bulbs in the Fall and they will bloom every year on his birthday week!

Haven's Birthday party

We went to a birthday party at the Y yesterday for Nyah's friend, Haven, who turned 2.

When it was over and we were walking to the car, Nyah kept yelling "Back!" She wanted to go back. The girls had such a fun time. Here's to many more, sweet Haven!

Haven, the birthday girl

Nyah's crazy about stairs since we don't have any



Makaylee

silly girl

Happy 2!

Nyah tries to feed herself

music time

so pretty

Nyah snags a birthday present while Haven isn't looking...

sharing

Haven loves her new rainboots!

bouncy train

So cute

What I Would Have Missed

I'm having a hard time getting any housework done lately. I just keep thinking about what I am missing out on...

like this

and this

precious moments like these

and these

especially this

and this one

So the laundry will just have to wait...

It will be there for the rest of my life.

But she will never be in this sweet phase of life again.

Marquez

I made Marquez some "I love you pancakes"! He was pretty embarrassed. I love this kid. What a special boy. I am going to miss this time with him when he is not homeschooled next year :(

Marquez makes an easter egg tree. Cowgirl our calico thinks its her own personal cat toy.

Tah-Dah!

He gets a good laugh at how anemic looking it is with his Dad.

Boogie on Down

Nyah really enjoys watching the Gaither Homecoming Hour every week. She really gets into it!

End of Season

Still no letter in the mail regarding what the decision was for Makaylee's little sister and its been a week now...

It was the end of basketball on Sunday and the team celebrates a great season. Makaylee scored her first basket at the last game!

She was so proud of her first trophy. She even brought it to bed with her that night.

Nyah loves a good party!

She got right to making friends and running around after we ate.

Its feels good to not have practices and games to go to all the time now but our neighbor already talked us into putting Makaylee in flag football with her daughter. Here we go again! Biruktawit will be on her team, too.