Macy's & New toy

Yesterday we all overslept, all 6 of us...until 8:00 am!! It was so NICE!! Since the kids were to start school in 5 min, so we just decided to keep them home. Yeah, I know, not the best theory for kids, but sometimes they need a day off too!!!

We decided to take the kids to the Macy's display downtown. The kids loved it, as did mom and dad since there were NO crowds, NO crabby kids, NO crying kids and NO kids complaining saying "I'm tired of waiting" or "I'm hot"!! The display this year is A Day in the Lives of an Elf. It was a good display!

Even though they look crabby, they were in a GREAT mood!!

After the display we took the kids picture with Santa. Marissa was all talk the whole time about how she was going to see Santa and tell him what she wanted. As soon as we got past the curtain, she froze! She wouldn't go near him! lol

She sat on the very edge waiting to get away!

The other day we ended up breaking down and buying a kids ATV. A neighbor was selling his, it really came down to 'too good of a deal to pass up'. The kids LOVE it, as do mommy and daddy....yes it can handle our weight.

I do have more posts to make. Our lives are so busy these days, and I'm told it only gets busier the older the kids get!

Ask yourself

Ask yourself this question:
'Would you run?'

Imagine this happening to you...

One Sunday morning during service:
A 2,000 member congregation was surprised to see two men enter...

...both covered from head to toe in black and carrying submachine guns.

One of the men proclaimed, "Anyone willing to take a bullet for Christ remain where you are."

Immediately the choir fled,
the deacons fled,
and most of the congregation fled...

Out of the 2,000 there only remained 20!

The man who had spoken took off his hood...
He then looked at the Preacher and said "Okay Pastor, I got rid of all the hypocrites...
...now you may begin your service!

The two men turned and walked out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARISSA!!!

Today Marissa turned 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Referral picture...3 days old

Oct 30, 2008 (almost 3)

I can't believe she is already 3!

It seems like we were just holding her at 2 months old!

And now she's 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1st birthday 2nd Birthday
3rd Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!

Trick-or-Treating

Dominick wasn't too sure about cleaning out his pumpkins.

Andrew said his pumpkins were cool. Marissa colored on Andrew's pumpkin, so Andrew cut the whole face out! I have no idea what the other pumpkin is, but I do know he said it was throwing up. YUCK! lol

Marissa just sat and gave directions...no different than any other day!

Brittany too, thought it would be funny to have one pumpkin 'throw up'.

Dominick-Power Ranger, Andrew-Ghost, Marissa-Princess, Brittany-Flapper

This year for Halloween, one of our neighbors parents own an Apple Orchard. She was able to get one of the hay wagons for our development to use to take the kids trick-or-treating. It was so great! After trick-or-treating we had a potluck at a neighbors house.

Dylan as a mouse! How cute??!!

Going dancing

Marissa joined dance class about a month ago. She loves it, until she has to go to class. lol

She talks about it all week, gets her leotards, shoes and tights out and puts on her dresser the night before...when she wakes up she cries and screams saying she doesn't want to go. When she gets to dance she does fine and doesn't want to leave.

Today the class go to wear their Halloween costumes. Marissa is a princess this year.

Zoo boo

This past Saturday I took the kids to zoo boo at como. My sister, her daughter and grandson went with as well as my sister-in-law and three nephews. I think the idea was good...but it turned out to be a disaster!!!!

Before the storm...

From left to right: Marissa (almost 3), Dylan (18 months), Nevan (4 this weeks) & Dominick (4)
Back row: Braeden (6), Brittany (9), Andrew (7) & Ethan (11).

This was just in front of us, there were TONS of people inside already and the line behind us wrapped so far we couldn't see an end.

My niece and her son; Dylan

He should of been an 'Ultimate Fighter' he already had the black eye :0

Brittany as 'Belle'

I thought we could of gotten through within an hour TOPS!!!! NOOOOOO!!!! It took 2 and a half hours to get through!!!! There were SOOOOO many people, SO many strollers, SO many crabby kids and SOOOO many crabbier parents!!! We couldn't cut through or push our way through, it was so packed!!

I think the 'thought' of going was my SIL, Jenny's. LOL! We both agreed we will NOT be going next year....at least on a Saturday! We got to the car and I asked 'Did anyone have fun?' Guess who answered...

Yes, it was Marissa! She said she had fun and wanted to go again...
I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.

Halloween parties

Halloween isn't my favorite time of year, I love the weather and the 'cute' decorations but I can do without the gross, blood gushing out, scary and so much more!

We are looking for Halloween costumes...still. I have a 7 yr old that can't make up his mind because everything he wants to be either has a gun, knife, blood or is just plain ugly!! I'm about ready to cut two holes in a sheet and send him as Casper.

This year we were invited to 4 Halloween parties! I'm guessing our friends like to 'paartay." LOL
3 out of the 4 parties, costumes are required. Another thing I could do without. I'm not big on costume parties of any sort, never have been so for me I would rather just sit home than get a costume...I know, I know...party pooper! But this year my girlfriends are telling me I must go and I must be in a costume...so....

I'm dressing up as a 'Desperate Housewife'. LOL Not much I should need to do right???? I think instead of dressing up as one of the characters; Susan, Gabbi, Bree, Lynette and now I'm having a brain fart and can't remember...oh Edie..but the other one I can't remember. Anyway, I should create my own character.

Any ideas????

P.S. I don't have the body like one of the TV 'Desperate Housewives' or the money!!

God's Dance

Marissa had wanted to be in dance class with Annika (her friend), but the dance class that Annika would eventually join the girls had to be 3 yrs old and potty trained. Marissa was potty trained (for the most part) but won't be 3 until November 9th. So I started checking dance academy's around our area, after a couple phone calls and no replies I told her she would have to wait. While I wanted her to be in dance, I had wanted to find more play date friends from Guatemala for her. There is a big resource in our area, but we are on the outskirts and most of the time the play dates are more than a 40 min drive. So I figured since she already wanted dance we'd eventually find play dates close by.

A couple weeks later she was still adamant on going to dance, so I did another web search and found a academy really close, I don't know how I missed it before (only 10 miles away) AND an added plus they had a class for 2/3 yr old!! YAY!! So I signed her up, she was to start the next day.

As Marissa and I were waiting for the rest of the class to begin, she turned to me and said she was scared. I told her she would have SO much fun and mommy would be watching right through the window. The very next minute a spunky black haired big browned girl walked in, Marissa looked at her and said "she look like me", I thought yeah she does, but didn't want to ask since I've asked before if there child was born in Guatemala (I could of sworn!!!) all to be wrong! So my confidence is out the window..anyway as class started I moved to the hallway to observe.
The mother of the little girl came over and asked if Marissa was born in Guate. YAY!!!!!!!! A play date friend!!! As it turns out Marissa and Jasmine's birthday's are only 5 days apart. As we talked, another little cutie was carried into class, yes she also was born in Guate!!! YAY!! Two play friends! I couldn't believe it!

Marissa, Jasmine and Maria are all beautiful little Guate dance girls and all live within 15 mile of each other. We've only had dance about 4 times, but it's been a nice time to talk with Jasmine and Maria's mommy's not only about Guate but parenting our 'strong willed' cuties!

As I think of dance class tomorrow and how excited Marissa is to go and see her new friends, I thank God for guiding me in the path we are on. God puts people in our paths that guide us and help us to our ultimate destination. I'm thankful that God put these wonderful new friends in our lives, not only for Marissa, but also for myself.

I'm hoping Jasmine and Maria's mommies will let me get pictures of the three girls tomorrow! They are all so cute in their leotards and ballet slippers.

I have some prayer requests. Please help pray for:

• My brother and sister-n-law. They are expecting their first child; a boy in January. Rachael is on bed rest and has been for a couple weeks. The doctors don't plan on letting her off bed rest.

She has a blood clot in her placenta. She is very scared for Elijah. Please pray for her safety as well as baby Elijah's.

• I'm also asking for prayers for a very special 18 month old. I'm about to go into details, but please pray for him and his very loving mother.

Princess Abby

I'm asking for readers to jump over to Angels and read her post about beautiful Abby. I'm not about to try to rewrite or reword her post, as I couldn't write it more beautiful. Precious Abby was diagnosed with leukemia. Abby is upset she is loosing her hair and has to take medicine that makes her sick. This is one small way we can come together to help Abby feel like the princess she is!Here is what Angel wrote:
It's hard for me to even start this post. Already I feel a big lump forming in my throat. Someone that many of us care about is walking through a deep valley. That someone is sweet Abby....
I have serious doubts that I will get through writing this without crying..... Ok now it's too late... I am already there...with tears flowing. This is Abby. You will find her precious family at this blog address.
Abby is so many wonderful things. She is part of an amazing family. There are 7 wonderful kiddos in her family. 3 of those sweeties- including Abby came by way of adoption. Abby is a bouncing, happy, funny princess of a 3 year old....

Now she is also a dear little warrior fighting for her life. She was diagnosed with Leukemia and life suddenly took a radical turn for this amazing family. Her concerns of which princess dress she should wear have turned to whether she will get poked or be able to keep her food down today.

These are the battle scars she has right now in her fight against cancer...
Just one of the MANY things she has been forced to give up is her GORGEOUS princess hair and it makes her very sad.... What is it like to be the mommy that has to tell your 3 year old that she has to take medicine that will give her horrible sores, make her throw up constantly, and cause her to lose her hair? What is that like? What is it like to watch tears slide down your sweet baby's cheeks even in her sleep cause that's how much it hurts.

THIS is not OK with me. If I could I would make this go away. If I could I would change this- I wish there was a way. I know there are so many of us who wish that. We CAN'T MAKE IT GO AWAY! We just can't.

What we can do is give Abby back her princess hair. It's expensive and not something this family needs to worry about during this stressful financial time of paying for medicine and gas and hospital bills. We can not make this all go away but we can give Abby back her hair and make her smile.

SOOOOOO TODAY WE BEGIN....
OPERATION PRINCESS HAIR!This is your mission, should you choose to accept it...1. I want us to buy sweet Abby one of these- http://www.hatswithhair.com/
It's called a pony sport. It costs $228. It's made with real human hair. It's very comfortable and can be worn with any baseball type cap that Abby prefers.
After visiting with her mommy we feel this would be very comfortable and fun for everyday use at home and the hospital.

2. We will flood Abby and the other kiddos in the family with care packages that let her and her family know they are loved. If you feel you would like to send Abby or her family a present please e-mail me at angelweir@gmail.com
We can all send Abby fun presents AND ALL SEND an ADORABLE BASEBALL CAP to wear with her new hair. Then everytime she is having a hard day her momma can bust out a new care package to give her something to smile about.

3. We are also going to buy Abby a custom made wig! Check it out here....
http://www.celebritystylewigs.com/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=493
I am so excited about this! It is going to be custom made to look a lot like her hair did before she needed to start chemo. So when Abby wants to dress up nice and look like the Abby she remembers she will have this. This wig will cost about $450. It is made of real hair and created just for her little head.

4. If there are donations exceeding the needed amount for the princess hair we will invite the family to use this money to help with whatever extra expenses they are facing during this difficult time.

It's hard for me to fathom what this family is facing. I want to do whatever I can to support them.

They are full of faith and strong. Cancer FEARS this little fighter! Let's do whatever we can to love and walk with this family during this time. I can't begin to imagine what they are facing but I PRAY that people would be there for me if we ever did walk this path.TO HELP ABBY GET HER PRINCESS HAIR YOU JUST NEED TO CLICK ON THE PAY PAL BUTTON ON THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER THAT SAYS "OPERATION PRINCESS HAIR."
IF YOU WANT TO SEND ABBY A CARE PACKAGE INCLUDING A CUTSIE NEW BASEBALL CAP PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT angelweir@gmail.com

Thank you from the BOTTOM of my little ol' Texas heart for taking care of a little girl named Abby. What we do matters. What we do makes life better or worse for those around us EVERY SINGLE DAY. Let's take time to stop and care.

Family & Prayer Request

The kids and I have been busy traveling the state to visit family. This past weekend we went up north to visit with Terry & Pat and their four children; Chris (10), Ashley (6), Matt (3) and Nic (3 months). Terry is an AWESOME on the side photographer, I had asked her if she would take some pictures of the kids...lo and behold...she took about 200!!! Here are some of my favorites!

Last night my younger brother (who lives in Georgia) called saying he was about 1 hr 30 min away from us and seeing if we could drive down to visit him. We jumped in the vehicle and rode down with my parents to visit Chad (he's a pilot and was on standby until the morning). We had a wonderful visit with him. The kids adore him and I'm sure the same goes for him. This was the second time he's met Dominick and the third time he's seen Marissa. It was so nice for him to be able to see them again.

I do have some pictures but haven't downloaded them yet. Marissa was being a stinker so she wasn't in any of them (i think after this weekend with Terry she's camera'd out).

We got home kind of late...around 10:30 but it was worth it to see him for a couple hours.

Prayer request:

• Chad and his wife Rachael (brother we just saw) are expecting their first baby; a boy (Elijah) the beginning of Jan. Rachael is having some complications and was put on bed rest. They found out there is a blood clot in the placenta.

• Please pray the Lord will keep baby Elijah safe and in the womb until he's full term.

• Please also pray for Rachael and that emotionally and physically that God will guide her through Elijah's pregnancy and delivery safely. I know too well what it's like to be on bed rest (started labor at 24 wks with Brittany), it's gets emotionally draining, physically takes a toll and severely BORING!

• My brother is also a pilot which takes him away for about a week at a time, please pray for Rachael's safety while Chad is away flying (Rachael's mother is going to Georgia to stay with her, but I don't think it's for another week).

Please Pray for Misty

So this blogging thing I don't have down like I'd want! Truth be told, I'm too busy reading everyone else's and seeing how wonderfully they write.

I have been following some wonderful, amazing blogs. I read about these peoples lives, none of which I've never met, some of which we have nothing in common. But then I say, hey we do have something in common otherwise I wouldn't be reading them!

One blog in particular has really given me a sense of admiration. If I remember correctly (these days my memory isn't the best) there was a banner that I clicked from another adoptive mother's blog. I have been following this families blog for a couple months. I can't put into words how this blog has changed me and my attitude towards so many things. I can just say I have cried tears of joy and tears of complete sadness for this family.

I am a christian woman. My family goes to Church, we pray at meals, before bed for ourselves and others. But I'm truly amazed at this gentleman's faith in God, given what he has lost and what his family has lost.

His name is Darren, his wife Misty, has passed away just recently. They have a beautiful daughter together. Misty was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She lost most of her mobility and speech. The family had opted to stop all treatments....Misty was giving two weeks to live. She lived almost 3 months without treatments and seemed to get better.

During everything this family had gone through, they kept their faith. They praised God and they believed in him and his miracles. I prayed for Misty and her family. I can't help but question why God didn't answer the thousands of prayers for Misty. I tell myself and people I've told about this family; God did answer our prayers, not in the form we wanted though. Misty is completely healed and is with our great father! But I still question, why?

I wonder if my faith isn't strong enough. If I don't believe enough in him and his timing. I want to, I really want to. I want to ask why he took away a little girls mommy. A mommy who herself had a tremendous amount of faith in our Lord.

I continue to pray for Darren and his family as I do many other families. If your interested in taking a wonderful journey go to http://www.leblancelife.com/

Naps

I was checking my school work (end of quarter...YAY! TWO WEEKS OFF) and Marissa crawled under the table and fell asleep!

This is what happens when we miss our naps! It's 4:50pm and she just fell asleep. My dilemma...if I wake her she's a BEAR, if I let her sleep she'll be up all night!!!!! LOL I can't complain, she's just precious (sleeping)

So much is happening around here. I feel like my head is falling off. Brittany is turning into an academic/social butterfly! She has joined an:

• after school theatre club; meets 1 day a week from now until December, then they are going to put on a performance.
• Drama-Rama through our school district. She was chosen to participate in this group. They meet 1 day a week during their lunch recess and rehearse a play. In Nov. she will compete against other schools and her peers. Judging is done on individual and group performances. Voice, body language, eye contact, memorization and more skills are judged, but children cannot use props or costumes. She's really excited!
• She's also joined 4H. In order for her to compete in the county horse show at the fair she needs to be in 4H. I'm signing Andrew up since I already need to take her and there's more to choose from than just animals. Meetings once a month...not too bad...yet
• She's also in Girl Scouts. Been in since Daisy Scouts (kindergarten) and doesn't want to give it up. Meets once a month...I might of gotten suckered into being the troop leader! What have I gotten into????
• She also has horse riding lessons once a week.
• Too add to all this, we have choir on Wednesday nights.

Andrew has joined an after school magic workshop. He didn't want to do much else, except flag football but giving some past injuries, I'd rather not put in him at all, but I do realize it is inevitable. I'll hold out as long as possible though! Andrew just wants to "hang out" with his friends and ride his bike. He's doing excellant in reading and math.

Dominick LOVES school (as do the older two)!! He doesn't have school on Friday's and so far has been a terrible pain in the a**! I have to find some activities to keep him occupied or he gets bored and causes problems. He is joining gymnastics through our community ed program. He's really excited as am I hoping this will help relieve some excess energy he has. He's also incredibly flexible and can flip a somersault (w/o hands) like nothing (in the trampoline). Dominick will also be in our Church's choir with Brittany and Andrew. Sunday school started this past Sunday, all the kids were extremely excited to meet their teachers and get back into routine of going (we've been really lazy this summer :(

Marissa is POTTY TRAINED!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! She does have occasional accidents, to be expected. It was a breeze training her! Sometimes she is lazy and doesn't feel like getting up to go potty, but is getting better. Instead of candy rewards (she was getting too hyper) I've opted for stickers! I told her when she's potty trained she can start dance class...starting Tuesday she will be in a 2/3yr old dance class. She's really excited!

These kids have grown so much, I feel so old sometimes and yet I'm so blessed and happy to be able to see their journeys.

3 in school

School started this past week for us.

It was an exciting day as Dominick started the districts 4-K program (it's new this year). He goes 4 days a week for 2 1/2 hours. He gets on the bus in the morning with Brittany and Andrew and a separate bus filled with 4 yr olds brings him home.

The downside...he's on the bus 1 1/2 on the way home!!!! He falls asleep which is expected being on the bus that long. We only live 5 miles outside of town, but because of fuel cost they are sending all the 4 yr olds on one bus to go home. I'm thinking of seeing if another mother would like to carpool 1 day a week to pick our children up, then they would only ride the bus home 2 days. We'll see...

Andrew is in 2nd grade this year. He was excited but nervous. His teacher is the principals wife, so he's a little intimidated by that. We reassured him that she was very nice and so was her husband. He came home after the first day and said "she's so nice". Andrew has 17 children in his classroom; 10 boys and 7 girls.

Brittany's in 4th grade!!! I can't believe how big she's gotten (all 4 of my kids). I find it hard to believe I have a 4th grader. She too was excited and nervous for school to start. She got the teacher she had hoped for, so she was even more excited. She has 27 children in her class this year far cry from last years 15!

Now it's just mommy and Marissa at home...at least half the day 4 days a week.

I have to go Potty Training!

When the kids started back in school, I had told Marissa we were going to start potty training her. Today is day 4 and she is doing great!!! Yesterday she had 1 accident. Marissa kind of tells me when she needs to go. I'll tell her it's time to go potty and she says "no I'll try later". Then not even a minute later she says "I have to go potty training"! YAY!!

We celebrated yesterday by buying new big girl panties. She picked out Ariel and carries the package around with her.

I have to get better at this blogging stuff. The kids started school, 3 are in school now. So it's just Marissa and mommy home for half the days. Dominick is in 4-K program. He gets on the bus with Brittany and Andrew in the morning and comes home about 12:30. He goes 4 days a week.

I'll post pictures more later.

2 YEARS ALREADY????!!!!

Today is Marissa's 2 yr GOTCHA day! We arrived in Guate about noon. We were picked up by Freddy and driven to a grocery store to buy food and onto Eagles Nest. Paul, myself, Brittany and Andrew and Paul's mom, spent 3 days at EN with Dominick before we headed to Guatemala City for Marissa's Embassy Appt.

I cannot believe it's already been 2 years!! Time and just flown by. We brought home a 9 month old baby that was barely crawling. Now she's a running, talking, screaming, tantrum throwing 2 1/2 yr old!!! I am blissfully happy!!

This is my all time favorite picture of Dominick! He bonded SO well with us, and then we had to leave him. He didn't come home for another 5 months!

2 yrs ago. She's so little!

Now she's a big girl that tells me she pees and wants to be changed. I guess it's time to potty train! She wants to be a Rock Star when she grows up and buy a BIG boat and swim. She also wants to take dance classes but knows she has to be potty trained.