5

sweet as pie, cute as can be .... happy happy birthday to ME!!!!

how can my little girl possibly be 5 already?!? 

december happenings

we had a BIG box of gifts waiting for us from our friends from MN ... it was soo much fun to dig in!

there has been  LOTS OF WRAPPING to do

there has been gifts to be opened :)

gifts specially made by our wee ones

and more early unwrapping of course

there was a christmas program to attend :)

with one little candy cane that was trying to keep her hat on ;)

 and one handsome little dude ready to sing his little heart out!

there were plenty of sweet little kids to watch

and this sweet little one had the giggles and was trying not to look at us ... haha!  :)

the candy canes were up and ready to sing

then we had someones 31st birthday to celebrate ;)

and that someone's hubby made an awesome chocolate raspberry cake ... YUMMO!!!!

of course in between all of this hustle and bustle lots of candy treats were given out

speaking of treats .... the sherman kiddos had a visit from good 'ole ST. NICK

and he left a special little note to make sure those sherman kiddos were being extra good for SANTA

the trees have been put up

and WE ARE READY for CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

princess for a day

julie was the princess for a day! her birthday is actually the day after Christmas so we decided to have her birthday party before all of the hustle and bustle! here is our (soon to be) 5yr old princess in all her glory ...

princess shoe and crown cookies were the treats to take home!
this little princess could not wait for her party to start!
5?!?!?!? ahhh ... where does the time go?
she has been obsessed with princesses ever since our disney trip this past summer!
her PINK kitchen set from us that she COULD NOT WAIT to get ;)
happy birthday, sweet girl!

wordless wednesday

Chalkboard Of Love Holiday Card

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december 6th

seven years ago on december 6th, we sat in a hotel room in Guatemala City with our very best friends waiting for our lives to change.

soon the phone rang and the voice on the other end said to me "rachael, you guys are first!". i could hardly breath i was so nervous and excited!!!

minutes later the door opened and a sweet woman along with her son and husband carried this teeny tiny, black haired, big eyed baby boy into the room and placed him in arms while tears streamed down her face as well as mine. as she placed him in my arms and she said "happy birthday, mama!" to me and my BIRTHDAY was the best birthday it has ever been!!! i became a MOM!!!!!

happy 7th gotcha day noah!!!! i couldn't imagine our lives without you, our little buddy!

moments later our best friend's daughter, ava, was carried through the door! we were able to share our most special and intimate moments of becoming first time parents together! it's a moment that was so incredible, words cannot even describe!

from the moment they met as babies in guatemala, these two have been the best of friends!!! what a journey you have brought our families on noah & ava ... you have changed our lives and the love we have for you is indescribable :) it's so hard to believe 7 years have gone by so fast!

national adoption month

how fitting that november, the month of thanks, is also national adoption month! this month i am thankful for and celebrating the three little lives that are mine through the blessing of adoption! each one is an answered prayer!

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands.
--- Kristi Larson

another angel in heaven

rest in peace now my sweet, sweet grandma ...

our God called my grandma to be with HIM, in the comfort of his arms where there is no more pain and sickness. i am sure my grandpa was standing with arms wide open ready to greet her.

i can't even begin to describe the absolute angel my grandma truly was. sweet in every possible way. always greeted us with a smile. prayed everyday for everyone of us. raised nine 9 children in the strong catholic faith. loved all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren immensely. loved to laugh and never ever said a "bad" word and made sure anyone who did was aware of it with her little scolding. ;)

grandma, we all will miss you soo much! i am so happy i was able to spend your last days at your side. go now with grandpa and enjoy the beauty and amazement of GOD in heaven.

"be not afraid, i go before you always. come follow me and i will give you rest."