Long Post

Have I told you guys lately that we have the NICEST friends? A couple years ago some of our AZ friends surprised Scott with an XBOX. Now the William's showed up with a surprise for us too. Lance was on business in Minnesota and he walked into a store and won a contest and won $$ to spend in the store. He got their family a bunch of cool stuff and thought of us and GOT. US. KINECT. It's obviously a much longer story, but you get the idea.
         I just took this from Robyn's blog...

 " Last week Lance went to Minnesota for work and stopped by the Mall of America on his way home. He came upon a competition in the Microsoft Store where you could challenge an employee to a phone app "quick draw" so he got in line and HE WON (if you were wondering why he posted "Hi" on Facebook, that was the winning moment)! He ended out with an R2D2 Xbox Kinnect system for the fam. He could hardly wait to surprise the boys the next morning before school."


Our family was sooooo surprised! What can I say, we are blessed but the most thoughtful and generous friends.

I just wish Scott would let the kids play.

We are all addicted. So if you don't see anymore outside pictures, you'll know why.

Thankful!!!

 My little Scotty started off his baseball career. He did great at his first game of his first season.

My little catcher. He didn't actually catch one, but whatever.

It was FREEEEEZING but these faithful fans braved the weather to cheer him on. 

I got this picture text from Robyn who was at home with the little boys. THANK YOU!

He's up to bat. 

Telling Scott all about it!

Next up, Sissy's actual dance recital. 

They said no pictures, but how could I resist. Ooops. 

 Here are the faithful (bored) friends.

We rewarded these sweethearts and ourselves with CHEVY'S. We always loved it in Phoenix.

 The part we loved best..... TWO KIDS EAT FREE. Can you imagine how much they loved us. 6 adults and 6 kids. If Sammer looks loud to you in this picture, you're right.

After all the naughties went to bed, these two old seminary buddies stayed up underlining and highlighting in their Bibles. Robyn and I ran to Walgreens to buy People Magazine so that we could lay on the couch and discuss. (I'm just trying to keep the blog honest)

 

Poor macker woke up with a tummy bug so the William's took off early to escape our germ house. We already miss them. Come back soon!

Busy Day

My parents came over for a quick visit.  Since starting baseball last week, Scotty is addicted. My dad pitched for over an hour.

Sissy joined the fun. 

Sammer wanted love from Nanny. 

Nanny helped Sis get ready for her dress rehearsal. Notice the green nails.

Nanny, Papa and Sissy!

Practicing in the gym.

 Sweet Sis.

Next up, FRANCES CHAN and Rend Collective. The Williams drove over for the show.

 It was amazing. This is Frances Chan and his daughter.

After the show we got a quick picture with the band.

 

The gang.

 

It was the perfect night and we are so thankful.

Awana Awards

The kids had a great night celebrating all the verses they've learned over the past year.

 Sissy and I couldn't find her stinkin' green shirt. (parent fail)

 AIR HUGS!!!

 My sweet Juner.

 So proud of his green ribbon.

 Macker sat like an angel on Mrs. Hogan's lap. (Thank you!!)

The coolest part of the night was meeting this beautiful women. She is the grandmother of Amelia's friend Hannah. She is here visiting from Ethiopia for a couple of months. Last year when I was in Ethiopia I got to meet her daughter and deliver some gifts.  Last night she showed Sammer so much love and she kept kissing him and speaking in Amharic to him. It made me miss Ethiopia and all the wonderful people. Hannah's mom promised to come over to our house and have coffee in the next couple of weeks. I really hope she does.

 

Dear Friends

 

3 Amigos

 

Buddies

Today The Gentlemen and I took a little road trip to Sterling, IL.  It's a small town about an hour and a half west of us. It was the perfect 1/2 way point between our house and the Mowen's in Galesburg. I'm sure you all remember our friends from Ethiopia. Jacob (in red) and Sammer were both adopted last spring. This past winter Tara and her family spent 3+ months back in Ethiopia to bring home their 2 newest sons, Caleb (in navy) and Isaiah age 11. He couldn't skip school:(   

Nothing like some wood chip throwing.

Are they not the cutest little dudes?

  Scotty skipped school and we played at a couple different parks.

This is the best picture I got of the guys all together.

 My kids had never played on one of these....

 Or this crazy spinning swing.

 These 2 look so much alike.

 HI FIVE!

 

It was such a special day, one that Tara and I dreamed of as we held our babies at the transition home in Ethiopia. We will definitely be doing this again.

ANR

My wonderful husband had the best night ever! This is where he was.... Because he was up for 26 hours straight, I told him I would take all the Naughties out of the house so he could sleep. We left the house about 8:15am and drove around for an hour looking for garage sales (we didn't find anything good). We went to the play area at a sick mall in our area. The kids had fun.<br /> <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoM8f78bf-pYFKA0yICcm0V39Z3wLF0yYeQeJLXH64L1aJJuwGkmFwtCbpHLo_diMJlqUlXgZC1XudNt0JMN3U9ll8IwxUwYlzWGhiOLxzAwE8PBGjJdq_sQ6wjHm0wfi55-Z/s3200/001.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoM8f78bf-pYFKA0yICcm0V39Z3wLF0yYeQeJLXH64L1aJJuwGkmFwtCbpHLo_diMJlqUlXgZC1XudNt0JMN3U9ll8IwxUwYlzWGhiOLxzAwE8PBGjJdq_sQ6wjHm0wfi55-Z/s800/001.JPG" /></a><br /> The reason we went to the nasty mall was because I bought a Groupon to a bounce place <em>in</em> that mall. It was gross too. I'm thankful the kids didn't notice. They were just really excited to jump. </div> <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKne0ds8c_61dLkngXznikUfh8eFPuQS0tu43AzNEk7kweG3qdu5hJZuQM_-uNWv__xkrWpfQuHbft6rjmXZYl4JdhSXdu00LGqQvWX9y918aGFDFef6XMEwwimS4FNdMjLdO/s3200/002.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKne0ds8c_61dLkngXznikUfh8eFPuQS0tu43AzNEk7kweG3qdu5hJZuQM_-uNWv__xkrWpfQuHbft6rjmXZYl4JdhSXdu00LGqQvWX9y918aGFDFef6XMEwwimS4FNdMjLdO/s800/002.JPG" /></a> </div> <div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> When I couldn't stand it any longer we left and took Sis to get her haircut. While she was busy, the boys and I went to The Popcorn Shop.</div> <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiLLgUMbitF1lAXyMZ4zfC4fKcYOJx6m0texKNFJ8pFt0FUtRSMy9mWtfOPr1EgsT81KHxYh-LEcnr0MydYMRMwlpFmkwfMNac1DFP6l_ImdKC9ZDFTMzSwkbnCyC47duvKHR/s3200/009.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiLLgUMbitF1lAXyMZ4zfC4fKcYOJx6m0texKNFJ8pFt0FUtRSMy9mWtfOPr1EgsT81KHxYh-LEcnr0MydYMRMwlpFmkwfMNac1DFP6l_ImdKC9ZDFTMzSwkbnCyC47duvKHR/s800/009.JPG" /></a> </div> <div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> The little boys needed a nap so we snuck in the house and laid them down. Now we're just waiting for Scott to wake up. That's it.</div> </body></p>

Thursday

Macker is trying out new looks. This is Mr.SkaterCoolGuy.

He's the real deal. 

 Poor Sammer was so frustrated at the park. I had him rocking his skinny jeans and they definitely interfered with is climbing. My bad.

He's fearless.

Just a slight hint of his mid drift showing.

A bunch of crazy faced friends.