So what's been going on here? Everything & nothing all at the same time. It seems like the days have blurred together & I can't even remember which day had what in it anymore. Here's a really quick update on everyone.

Alexa- She's as busy as every. Still working at Subway, being drill team captain & also has started soccer conditioning. I know she's really excited for soccer season but this momma is not quite so sure. It's brutal with us at games 5-6 times a week. Let's just pray for a very, very nice spring!! We've just started looking at the whole college thing & to say that freaks me out is an understatement. Is it wrong of me to secretly hope she totally bombs her ACT's so that no college will take her?? Just kidding! I know she'll do fine & any college will be lucky to have her. Let's just hope it not too far from home!

Emma- Tomorrow is a day that Emma's been waiting for, for a long time! AAU volleyball starts!! This is her first year & she just can't wait for it. It will be 8 weeks every Saturday so that does make things nuts but we do enjoy watching volleyball. Time will tell how Jackson & Charlie will do with it! Wish us luck!

Wyatt- He's all about ice fishing right now. Think he's like his father much?? Add in a little Sports Center & he's as happy as ever! I really don't know another 8 year old boy that likes basketball & football as much as he does. Unfortunately, college football is done & his Packers are done so the Super Bowl won't be as much fun for him. At least he thinks he's so good at fishing that he thinks he can give pointers to his dad & uncle to become better fishermen. He is for sure a Gulker!!

Jackson- Don't even know where to start with this one! Jackson is just Jackson. Funny & aggravating all at the same time. I do love this little boy so much & life would be so much more dull without him but he is 1 busy four year old!! Preschool next year will be great for this kid. He is really starting to teach Charlie to do some things & it is so precious. I would like to know if anyone has any tips on getting this boy to stop taking the wheels off of any toy vehicle we have! It drives me nuts!

Charlie- We are off to the ENT with Charlie in about 10 days. 4-5 ear infections in 4 months is enough for me! He is such a happy little boy & loves his sleep so when he doesn't sleep well, we know something isn't right. I hope that if we need to do tubes that it works! He is just growing & learning so fast! He is crawling all over & is standing up by everything. He is also walking along all the furniture & we've caught him standing next to things & letting go. He really is so laid back that I really didn't expect him to be doing this already. I was fully expecting him to be a late walker but he does have 4 older siblings to keep up with. This has also caused us to baby proof in a hurry. What kid doesn't love to play in the toilet?? Yuck!!

Ok, that's all the time I got right now! This is all ya get for an update!!!

Never Thought It Would Affect Me This Way

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr Day. While I've studied in history class about him & what he stood for, I don't know if I ever took the time to realize what his movement back in in 1963 would mean to my life and my family. I truly believe that without the civil rights movement that he started, transracial adoption would not be as accepted as it is today. It would not be okay for a white family to adopt a black child. I can't even think about not having Charlie in our lives. He is our son, grandson, brother, nephew & cousin. He is not defined by the color of skin. He is a child of God just like every person on this earth.


"I have a dream . . . that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sister and brothers." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The dream is alive, Dr. King

No Words Just Pictures

Sorry! No Tasty Tuesday!

I hope to post a "Whatcha Eating Wednesday" but no Tasty Tuesday since I'm just getting over the stomach flu & most food is still making my stomach turn. Great diet plan but I'd rather lose weight the old fashioned way. Just praying that no one else gets it now! That is 1 drawback of a large family. Germs have a hay day in our house just picking us off one by one. Thankful that I have a mother in law who graciously took the boys yesterday so I could rest. Nothing like chasing a very mobile 9 month old and a 4 year old like Jackson when you hurt everywhere and are praying to the porcelain king.

I have several posts in the works but I've been taking my little free time to catch up on my Bible study that I started but missed the first 2 sessions already. I need to get back to making that a priority in my daily life and somethings will just have to be put on the back burner.

It Was a Very Good Year

2011 as a whole, was a very good year. It had a very rough start to it with dealing with our failed adoption and figuring out where God wanted us to go with our adoption process. Then we were blessed with Charlie in March. He is by far the biggest new blessing in our lives this year. We just can't imagine life without him in it. We also feel a huge blessing with the stability of our jobs and we know just how blessed we are to have a wonderful home to raise our kids in.

2012 has a lot to live up to!! Wishing you all the best in the coming year!