Case's 1st Concert

video credit: Lauralee

Less Rubbin'

More Scrubbin'

Gifts

Some of the coolest ever.
An 'R' and a cloud.

And a quilt that I snuggle under with Coco every single day.
Thanks Lauralee, Kelly & Mom!!!

The Merriest Christmas

Public Crying

It almost happened last night.
One therapy appointment was cancelled this week.
Great!
One less thing to worry about.
By the end of today I will have had FIFTEEN "appointments" in three days.
I'm considering anything that I have to -be there on time- an appointment.
Therapy for Camille and Cody. Both have more than two therapists.
Doctors.  Christmas program at school.  That sort of thing.
FIFTEEN. I've never been a hit the snooze button kinda girl.
I get up and shower so that I can cross that task off of my list.
The last two days I have debated even taking a shower at all.
I have taken a shower but only after snooze has been hit 3 or 4 times.
I've been having to feed Cora from a bottle because I haven't been in
a position to nurse her during the day.
Calan's VERY FIRST school performance was last night.
We all attend. Including my camera.
Case wouldn't sit still so Codes takes him into the hallway.
Camille finds it necessary to join in the play.
So somehow someone somewhere dresses her as an angel.
I'm now rocking Cora because she starts crying as soon as Calan comes out
dressed as a sheep.
I'm holding the diaper bag and trying to see
so that I can get a great pic of Sweet.

Ok...got all that pictured?
Well not me.

I get this pic of Camille and then my camera which hasn't been charged
since the beginning of November dies.
As in won't even turn on.
I take out the battery and by some chance I am able to take one more picture.
Here it is.

The only picture of my first born at his first school performance.
He's not looking.
His costume isn't even on.
I held it together and we got out of there.
No public crying for me.
I'm just so tired.

you'll never guess

who we got to see

AGAIN

At Grandma's

Sweet did these things.
Can't really tell you much because I wasn't there.

Big Surprise...

Santa AGAIN!

ADOPTED

 Yesterday we adopted Camille Neviah Rans!

 Tara (our caseworker) & Emily (her CASA worker) joined us (as well as my mom) even though they didn't have to be there.

The judge gave the kids suckers. 

This is our lawyer Christine.

We are done having children if I ever want to ride an airplane again.
This is according to Cody.

So this is it.

All six of us.

Just another Day older

Coco turns TWO months old!!!

What a Deal

Chuck E Cheese.

Great idea for family photos.

One token and 15 seconds later a beautiful portrait.

That's it.

It's Santa

for the 12th time this year.

OK.

Maybe only the 9th time.

Seriously. 

Santa for the 9th time this year and we still have a bit before Christmas.

The Lighting Happened.

 Mishawaka's Christmas tree is in full effect.

Calan and Camille ran the entire way to the unlit tree. 

Coming home was a different story.

No one ever wants to leave a beautiful tree behind.

We can see it from our house so I'm not sure why it was so sad.

Va-ROOOOM

Just Varooming around in Ohio yesterday.

(photo courtesy of my wonderful photographer of a mother, Plant Whisperer, using her epic sized cell phone.)

Place Milk Here, Please

Hocking Hills

Finally got some pics downloaded!

Gift Wrapped

Need to finish the rest of my gift wrapping. 

Forearm Tattoos &

Christmas cards. That's what I've been working on today.

Both complete. All 60 some. Cards. Not tattoos. 

On to the the next task.

Mishawaka tree lighting tonight. 

And we're out of dog food.

Race

 Thinks he's pretty cute sometimes.

We're Back

From this.

THANKSgiving

I found this online and thought that Thanksgiving would be the perfect day to remember some of the things that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for...

the taxes i pay because it means that i am employed

the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means i have enough to eat

my shadow who watches me work because it means i am out in the sunshine

a lawn that has to be mowed, windows that have to be washed and gutters that need fixing because it means i have a home

the spot i find at the far end of the parking lot because it means i am capable of walking

the complaining i hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech

the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that i can hear

the huge piles of laundry because it means my loved ones are nearby

the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that i am alive

I am also so very thankful for this chunky, healthy beautiful baby!

Tomorrow We Leave

But today we pack only the essentials!

Hocking Hills here we come.

Super Cit

 We're getting ready to go on vacation.

All of our clothes are clean and on the table ready to be put in a suitcase.

We blew up our air mattress just to make sure it holds air and will be ready to go.

We moved the coffee table and put the mattress in the middle of our living room.

And of course this is what happened. 

He jumped for over 3 hours then cried when it was packed up after his nap.