Easter 2013

I managed to get a picture with each one of my kiddos, but that was only because I chased them down and told them to smile! They all had matching outfits, that come off as soon as we hit the church doors! So here are some unedited shots dumped from my phone!
We colored Easter eggs and took Jia to the community Easter Egg hunt where she met up with some friends. Oh, and that tricky little EB even put candy on grandpa and grandmas pole that they hang Martin houses on!! How he got it clear up there we have no clue! Jory was throwing his boot at it and jumping with all his might...even After he let the pole down!!
I hope you all had a blessed Easter... Remember He is not here, He IS risen!!!!

Sew Blessed

I've been back at the sewing machine after a long absence. I just haven't had time with all the adoption stuff going on. Anyway, Jia is out growing all of her clothes...so I really need to get a few dresses made up for her, I'm hoping Jemma will be able to wear her stuff that's too small. We shall see! We ordered a cake to be sent to Jemma and her foster family and will hopefully receive some new pictures soon. Don't think I'm not always checking my email anticipating them!
We are having a baby boom in our circle as well, so I've done a couple of baby blankets recently to! It's been so relaxing to be back at the sewing machine!

Cleaning off the iPhone!!

First day of school 2012. Jia in 1st, Jory in 4th and Jacen in 10th
Goofiness, cuteness, fun, learning to cook, soccer, Jory's 10th birthday, operation Christmas child, live Nativity, Christmas cookies, Jacens 16th birthday, achievement award, and just lots of randomness from the Jcrew!

Plan to Eat

So, here's the thing.  I HATE TO COOK!!!  Actually, I hate to figure out WHAT to cook.  And I hate going to the grocery store, because I never know what to get.  It seems I go to the store, easily spend $100 and come home and there's nothing to eat.
Our family (Jack) is really picky and it's hard to plan meals to please everyone.  Also, I'm addicted to Pinterest, but it's really hard to track down the recipe I pinned and follow the link to get the recipe... for each recipe I want.

That's why I'm so excited about Plan to Eat.  I read about it last Thanksgiving on another blog and I signed right up!  The subscription was very reasonable.  And you install a 'Save Recipe PTE' button, just like the Pin It button.  It make it so easy to import a recipe from a blog or recipe site, then you can drag and drop to a queue to plan your weekly menus's.  From there it will compile a grocery list and Wah-La!

This week, the blog that I found Plan to Eat on is hosting a PTE bootcamp.  Each day she will walk us through a different feature of the site, and there are LOTS of great features!  If you'd like to check it out, follow the link above for PTE, you can sign up for a free trial, a month at a time, or take the plunge like I did and sign up for an entire year!  You won't be sorry!

Click here to check out the PLAN TO EAT website and sign up for your free trial!

Click HERE for the meal planning bootcamp!

Party pics!!

We partied hard here yesterday with a lot of little girls!!
After the party the boys went all 'Duck Dynasty' on the balloons!!
Jory was a good big brother and helped Jia with her new Legos. He actually hung most of the decorations to! Such good help!
Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Happy Birthday Jia!

My sweet little one turns 7 today!
She is so darn excited to be celebrating her birthday! She is just such a joy and makes me so happy. I can't tell you enough how happy and spirited she is. She has the best manners ever and I just love love love being her mom!
Of course with all that comes also the gratitude to her birth parents for giving her a chance in life. To risk being caught leaving her so she could have a family.
I'm also so thankful to God who predestined all this before the foundation of the earth!! He has blessed is indeed. We are truly the 'lucky ones' in the miracle of adoption.
Happy Birthday Jia! We love you more than words could ever express!