AWAA Reunion at Lake Warren

We have been so blessed with wonderful friends we met in Ethiopia. We are so thankful that 3 families came to visit us and spend a weekend camping!! We had the best time!!!! We can't wait to do it again!!!!

We did a scavenger hunt on golf carts. We had to play leap frog in front of the Frogger

 Jacob accidentally let go of the basketball and it rolled into the lake.

 Sammer was "driving" the golf cart

 our team was trying to catch a fish

 The mamas got a few minutes to sit and chat. I love these ladies!

 more fishing fun

 Jacob and Kaleb liked playing in the text where the big boys got to sleep

 The Buckingham kids making a bracelet

 yummy root beer floats

 the dads got to hang out too (Dustin had to take Dominic to a soccer game)

 Amelia loved Molly, her mom wasn't so sure when she found out that Molly is a pit bull. She is the nicest dog, Katie!

 our little Ethiopians!

 playing in the sand box

 yummy s'mores

 the whole group of Buckinghams, Snyders, Murrays and Mowens

the six reasons we were all together!! Love these little Ethiopians!!!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to our favorite Daddy!!! We love you so much!!!

Indy Zoo with Simons

We met Margaret and Solomon Simon at the Indy Zoo for a fun filled day. We went to court for Isaiah and Kaleb the same day as the Simons went to court in Ethiopia for Solomon. The boys had a lot of fun playing together and seeing all they favorite animals!

Isaiah is an Honor Student

Isaiah just finished 5th grade. We have one year of junior high done around here. Isaiah had to work so hard all year, but he did it!!! He finished the year with all A's and B's!!!! He spent MANY nights doing 3+ hours of homework, but it paid off. Not only did he get A's and B's all year but he graduated out of title one reading mid-year and is working at the same level as his peers!!!! He came to America reading at an early 2nd grade level and 15 months later he is reading at the 5th grade level!! We are so proud of you Isaiah!! 

First Day of Summer

Schools out for the summer!!!!!! All of us are excited about summer!! It's been raining everyday for a week but thankfully it stopped for a little bit so we could get outside and play today!! I started to make lunch and fill the kiddie pool and I turned around to see Jacob and Kaleb ready to jump in without any clothes. They were so excited they didn't want to wait for their swim suits, lol. (Isaiah did put a suit on :) )

I am looking forward to many family filled days and making memories with my boys!! 

Zoo Fun

We went to the zoo for the first time this season. The boys love the animals! So thankful to Meekie and Poppa for the membership so we can enjoy it many more times!
Jacob loved having his picture taken and wanted to sit on the all statue animals that we saw. The other two ran from my camera! ") Isaiah has caught on that his friends can see FB pictures from their moms accounts, so he doesn't want anything that could be embarrassing on FB. Ha! Here's the few I was able to get from our day.

Mother's Day

A child born to another woman calls me mommy. The magnitude of that tragedy & the depth of that privilege are not lost on me. -Jody Landers

As we spent Mother's Day as a family with our 3 sons, there are two special women in Ethiopia that weren't far from my mind. It's a bittersweet joy as I celebrate with my boys but I also think of all the loss for two women on the other side of the world. I got to wake up to 3 precious boys giving hugs and kisses and calling me mama, a joy that I am ever grateful for. I often pray that their birth families know how loved the boys are and that they feel peace in their hearts that the boys bring so much JOY to so many people. 
We spent the day out at the camper (FREEZING and windy) and I didn't even got my camera out. The boys got to play outside and we spent time together, that's all a mom can ask for :)