Pictures, Well . . . Not

I wish so badly that I could post pictures of Brooklynn on here, but due to some new confidentiality rules from DCFS, I can no longer do that. I have so many of her too. I took loads on Christmas Day, mostly for her birthmom to have, and so many since then as well.

I got the cutest shot of her yesterday afternoon sleeping. Now, this is a rare opportunity that I can get a picture of her while sleeping because she is such a light sleeper and will wake up at the teeniest sound. So when I went into her room to get her, so I could get the kids to school, she didn't wake up. I ran to my room to get my camera and to my surprise, she was still asleep when I got back to her room, even though I left the door open and the kids were being their quietest. She was so cute!! She was sleeping on top of the teddy bear that her birthmom had given her for Christmas. I got two pictures before she woke up. I was hoping to get a closeup of her beautiful face, but no such luck. I hope I will get another chance.

Then, silly me, I didn't take a single picture of Sean on his birthday or at his party. How crazy is that?! I just haven't been myself lately due to some health issues and I guess the Lortab has been messing with my mind because it didn't even occur to me to take pictures. What another rare opportunity that I missed there as well. Not only does a kid turn 13 years old once in his life, but we were able to have my sister and her husband come to his party. I can't even remember the last birthday they were able to celebrate with us. All I can say is duh, duh, duh!!

Despite not getting it captured on film, Sean's birthday was great. First of all, I can't believe I have another teenager in the home, where does the time go?! We had a great time being together with my side of the family, as always, and eating pizza and cupcakes. I'm not quite sure how much money he was given in total, as a gift, but he cherished each dollar. He got a couple pairs of much needed school pants. I swear, that kid has grown 3 inches in a couple of months time. He also received a few boxes of ammo to go with his big present this year, a Ruger 10/22. He opened that present a couple days earlier so he could use it while shooting on New Year's Day, a family tradition.

Anyway, I promise that next time I post, I'll have some pictures for you all to enjoy.

Bah, Humbug! Pictures

I finally got the musical pictures in the mail today. I was so excited!!! The photographer that they use is just phenomenal!! Once again, they turned out fabulously! I am just posting a few pictures, because there are so many of them, and I have blurred out the faces of the other children in some of the pictures for privacy reasons.

I am so glad to be able to have these pictures available for our use to remember the wonderful times that the boys have had participating in their school musicals. The only thing I wished we had this year was a video. They filmed this year's performance, but the film that the videographer used was defective. So, no DVD this year. I am so bummed!! All I have now are the memories of it in my head, and we all know how fast those fly away.

Cindy Lou Who

Check this out!!! One of Alayna's friends' mom fixes her daughters hair like Cindy Lou Who every year for the last day of school before winter vacation. This year, she also did Alayna's hair. How sweet is that?! So, here is Alayna as Cindy Lou Who. Isn't she the cutest thing ever?!

Baking Cookies

We decided that cookies sounded really good, so I gave the recipe book to Matthew and told him to pick which cookie we should make. He first chose peanut butter cookies, but then he decided that he wanted to eat cookie dough so we went with chocolate chip cookies. Then, to my amazement, Matthew decided that he wanted to make the cookies all by himself. So, he did, with only a little bit of help from me. He did a fantastic job. The cookies turned out wonderful and they were gone in a matter of hours. Awesome job Matthew!!!

Shaving

Well, believe it or not, Sean had to learn to shave this past week. He will be only 13 in a month, but he knows how to grow a mustache. He is maturing so quickly. He is now taller than Donovan and is shaving. Where did my little boy go?

Family Pictures

So, we figured it was time to get new family pictures taken. The last pictures we had taken were right before Jeff left for Iraq, almost 4 years ago. We were hoping that the next family picture we would take would have a new addition, but it is not the case. We were tired of waiting. So, without further ado, our family.

Yes, we really do love each other. :o)

The kids.

The girls.

The boys.

Donovan

Sean

Alayna

Matthew

Alayna's Birthday

Can you believe it? Alayna is 10 years old!!!

Yummy chocolate chocolate cake!!!

Yea!!! She blew out all the candles with one breath!

She loves Littlest Pet Shop.

What nifty wrapping paper :o)

Hoop earrings!!! Just what I've always wanted!