More Vacation pics...

We're home. Boo. We had so much fun!

We were in the Outer Banks, NC. "Duck, NC" to be specific. It's only a 3 and 1/2 hour drive and rather "affordable" on today's gas prices.

This is the house we rented:

It's the biggest and best we've rented so far. This is the pre-season cheap week, but we were blessed with beautiful weather the whole week.

This is the "crew" that went, my family of 6, plus one (Mason's girlfriend, Lori), my older brother and his family, my mom (of course) and my younger brother.

"Wild" horses on the beach. Isn't that cool? This year they looked really healthy, in years past they've always seemed a bit "thin" to me.
Okay, dark picture, but I wanted to show the "sound" (as opposed to the ocean) which was on the other side of our street.
Evan chillin'. The beach (Atlantic Ocean) is at the end of the street. Super close!`

Mason and Lory's self portrait!

All four of my boys. May I say they look dashing in their hibiscus!
Going out for dinner.

Going our "choppin" (shopping).
They had just woken up from their nap and were ready to go swimmin'. Don't they look like they're still asleep!

Each morning the twins woke up and went "visiting." They loved to hang out in Nonnie's room.

They loved givin' smooches to their "Pan-chee." (Their name for Patsy.)

More mornin' lovin' for Nonnie.

On our last day of vacation, our dear friends and fellow adoptive parents Jeff and Robin joined us at the pool for some fun!

Princess Mira and one of her 4 brothers, Emerson, peaking out from behind her. I could eat this girl up, she's so cute!! With all of the activity, I did not get near enough snuggle time with her!

I have much more to blog about, but it's taking me this long to "recover" from vacation fatigue! Austin and Logan had SO much fun, they never stopped, they never slept - with so many people around and so much water (pool, beach), 4 doggies to love on, etc, etc, etc, - who can blame them!

On our second night home, Logan had his first emergency room visit. He was jumping on the bed and fell off and with his head broke the metal knob off of he side table. Broke the metal knob!! He is now the proud, temporary owner of an emergency room staple in his head. No stitches, just one big staple.

Vacation!!

Yay! We're on vacation!!

Here's a few pictures from our 6am start.



"So confused. One minute, sleepin' - next minute we're in the car."

"We'll just go back to sleep. Hey - was this the plan all along!?! Those smart parents of ours!"

"Dang, we're up and we're STILL in a car. Oh, we get to watch a video, though. Cool."

First time on the beach. "That is the LOUDEST bathtub we have ever seen, Momma. Hold ME!"

"Okay, if all our peeps/heroes are gonna do it, we will too."

My brother, Mitch and Austin strollin'.

Logan wearing Evan's hat over his hood. Austin and Logan in the raft!!

Quick video of Mason and Evan "jammin' in the car on the way down" and then Austin and Logan SWIMMING!" This is with only 6 -30minute sessions. I think we'll be signing them up again when we get home.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Day 2 on the beach....

I may try to post one more time while we're here. If not, yall have a great week and I'll be back to "commenting" into a week!

Hi-5!!

Go get yourself a bucket of popcorn, turn up the volume on your computer and get ready to watching to dancing fools!!

Austin and Logan LOVE Hi-5. As I've mentioned before, A and L first discovered Hi-5 in Guatemala. We've found it here on Discovery Channel and can watch episodes anytime On Demand.

For some reason, we have gotten stuck on this one episode called, "TEAMS." The five Hi-5 performers are dressed like cheerleaders and sing a song. Austin and Logan ask for "Teams" or "Go, go, go" ALL DAY LONG.

In the following Montage, you can see their dancing skills, expert use of Pom Pom's (bought for Evan's basketball games), their growing vocabulary and even a Spanish word or two!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Off to China!

Hey everybody - I would like to introduce you to my friend, Tracey. Tracey and I met two years ago through our mutual friend, Gena. Together, we have shared the road to adoption.

And FINALLY, Tracey and her husband Scott are leaving this Thursday for CHINA to pick up their son, Van!! Van is exactly one month older than Austin and Logan and we are SO EXCITED !!!

Tracey just created her blog this weekend for their pick-up trip. Remember that round-the-clock excitement of packing and getting ready to leave on a voyage that will change your life forever!?!

How about visiting her brand new blog and showing her some love and well wishes as she prepares for her journey, be sure and tell her I sent you!!
http://handsomevan.blogspot.com

Tracey - if you've had time to stop by and read this, "You're crazy! Get to packin' girl!"

Nonnie!

Happy Mother's Day, Nonnie!

My mom. My hero.

All the time, I hear "I'm not sure how you do it with two." "Boy those two are busy, how do you keep up with them? They must wear you out?" "How do you do it."

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life and I LOVE that I am exhausted because of my twins.

But every time someone asks me that, the one word that comes to my mind, is MOM. My Mom saves my butt. All the time.

This is nothing new. In highschool, late at night, after I finished writing my 17 page term papersthe night before they were due (I'm a charter member of the Procrastinators of the World Club), Mom was there as the World's Fastest typer to type my papers at 2 am! I also like to take on projects, sewing projects. I would create a pattern and try to make it. Mom's a much better sewer and she always took my rags and turned them into beautiful finished projects for me.

Growing up, I had to loan my mom out on several occasions. Because despite being raised a strict Catholic and a "good girl," Mom was the least judgemental person I knew. When my friends couldn't talk to or were scared of their mom's, they talked to my mom. When you've made your biggest mistake, there is nobody in this world like my mom to make you feel like you are still loved and still a worthy person, mistake and all.

During all of my infertility issues and through our long adoption process, Mom stood by me and cried just as much as I did. And nobody was as happy as she was when we all finally got of that plane and arrived safely home.

Mom flew on all by herself on her first international flight to meet her grandbabbies and to be with me because I wanted to stay longer than Gary's work allowed him on our 2nd visit trip.

With Dad's passing in December, Mom is living by herself for the first time in her life. And she's really brave. And smart. And she cut the grass for the first time in her life, all by herself. ;-) Go Mom!

Each day she calls me and sees if I need help. If I need a break. If we want company. She encourages me when I feel overwhelmed. She tells me all the time what a good Mommy I am.

She treats me to special things like outfits and pedicures because she knows what a treat that is for me!

She'll call in the evening just to make sure that something she said earlier in the day didn't come off the wrong way. She wants to make sure that I know she's not being judgemental or hurtful.

She puts up with a lot from me, too. A saint I am not! I pick. I fuss. I yell. I have a very weird, warped sense of humor. I can be downright annoying. ;-)

Mom - I love you. You are my hero. I admire you. You are strong, you are kind, you make the best funny faces and funny noises for your grandbabies. You raised us well.

There's so much I haven't written. I could probably write for hours and still not thank you for everything you've done for me.

Know that you are loved. Admired. Cherished. Thank you for bringing me into this world, for teaching me so much, for letting me arrive here, to this place in my life. My destiny.

And to you all you Mom's out there! Happy Mother's Day!!

Mason, Evan, Austin and Logan - Thanks for making me a Mom!! I love you all very, very much!