AHH Picnic

Our families...We traveled with this couple to China!

Taryn is fearless!

Taryn and Emmali eating lunch...

How sweet are they! Holding hands! :

Fun in the sand!

Playing on the swing and getting used to each other!

Every year our adoption agency hosts a picnic for all of the families that have adopted through them. This year it was held at a local orchard that also has an area set up for the kids to play. We met with one of the six families we traveled with. It was really great to catch up with them and to see the progress their daughter was making. Steve and the boys were unable to come r/t a long planned camping trip...so, it was just Taryn and I having all of the fun! Taryn and Emmali were very cute together. It was such a joy to see hundreds of children playing and laughing...all given a family through adoption. Enjoy the pictures!

To train or not to train...this is the question!

Peek-a-boo!

Taryn and her friend Sylvia!

Don't worry...all parents were right there...just not in the picture!

We have a picture similar to this of them in the orphanage together! Too cute!

Taryn and her new cousin Lola!

Regressing...

So far our summer is off to a good start. We have had picnics and play dates...with still more to come! But, that isn't what I am going to write about today! No, let's talk potty training.
Now, I know the pictures are all "fun and games"...play dates etc...but, let me tell you-Taryn is going to potty train herself if I keep putting it off! My intention (and it is still this!) is to wait until after vaca the first of July. I am off from work alot in July and just think it will be the best time. In the mean time, my poor daughter is SCREAMING to be potty trained! She is bringing me a diaper and saying "poo poo" (doesn't usually say but like 5 words and she is saying "poo poo"!). She is even trying to put on her own diaper! I know, I know, I should get it over with! But our vaca is only in 2 weeks and to be potty training during this time would be so hard. I am sure millions of stronger Mommy's than me would totally disagree and call me selfish. But, hey, I never claimed to be the best Mommy in the world...good, but not perfect! So, hopefully after I update on our vaca I will have a positive potty training post for everyone. In the mean time, Taryn might just get 'er done herself!
On a different note, we have some work friends who are traveling to China to get their beautiful baby girl this month. We are so excited for them and always happy to see another baby find a forever family! I pray that you too will get to experience this joy very soon...hang in there please...she is waiting out there for you!
Until next time...

The Wedding!

It was a huge production just getting all three of them ready...but in the end it was well worth it! Just to see my little ones dressed up together for once was so great! Here are a few pics from our nieces wedding this weekend!

Princess Taryn turns 2!

Out on the town in her new Cozy Coup!

Princess Shoes!

"Mom, seriously, stop with the pictures!"

Yummy Cake!

Saying "hi" to her people!

Blowing out her candles like a professional!

Her Dora Cake! Yes, I made it...don't judge! :)

Yummy!

Princess Taryn!

Taryn turned two yesterday! It doesn't seem like she should be two yet. Especially with the delay in speech, which makes her seem younger. But, indeed, she is two! We didn't have a huge party...I have been "burned out" on those for years (since the boys were at least 4!). Typically, with the boys, I let them pick a place and then pay that particular place to have the party for me! :) Don't judge! But, since Taryn is so little I am forced to still have them at the house! So, we just invited family over for cake and ice cream. She had a Dora cake and her Papaw got her a Dora dress to wear. Even with just the cousins here it seemed chaotic! She got so many great presents. She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to dress up, and she received lots of dress up clothes. Her favorite gift was her new Princess Cozy Coup. Steve and I got it for her...she loves it! We couldn't hardly get her out of it once we brought it out for her! She definitely seemed like a birthday professional...she even blew out her candles right off without being shown what to do! It was so fun to see her having such a great time! We love her SO much...words can't even begin to describe how happy we are to have her as a daughter. Happy Birthday Taryn Joy!

Bad Hair Day...

Steve and the boys were going to get their hair cut at a local "cheaper" hair cutting place (won't name the chain...even though I REALLY want too!). I was too lazy to go so I sent a note with Steve to get Taryn's hair cut. I know, I know, but I really thought a note would be the same thing as me standing there saying do this and that. Apparently there are different ideas of "bobs". Taryn's hair was down to her shoulders before the hair cut and is now up to her ears! I was REALLY disappointed at first but am now getting used to it. I am even starting to think it is cute...short, but cute! Moral of the story: Don't send a note, go in person AND spend a little bit more and go to a hair salon or something! :)

Shortcomings...

How cute is she! Even with food on her face!

Nobody loves their "sissy" more than this big brother!


Let's discuss my shoddy blogging! I mean, seriously, sometimes I wonder about this blog...I enjoy writing about myself...lol! But, does anyone really enjoy reading it? So many times I talk myself out of updating the blog because I don't know if I really have anything important to say! On that note, how is everyone in blogger land doing? We are plugging away at life here. Taryn is doing so well. She is starting to act just like a 2 year old should act...minus saying any words! She is throwing some serious fits and does manage to say "no" quiet often...which is very "2 year oldish" if you ask me.

And since we are on the subject of her talking...I don't know whether to be worried or not! She is still getting speech therapy but says only like 7 words! She babbles a lot but that is it. She understands EVERYTHING we say to her and we understand EVERYTHING she wants. This is accomplished by her pointing and grunting or making a yes or no head movement....not by using words! Mostly I think she will talk eventually, lots of kids don't talk until later. Then there is the other part of me that is thinking...should I be worried? Other than the language issues we don't have very many other issues...well the attitude thing! :)


The boys are the same...sweet 1/2 of the time and sassy the rest of the time. They only get along like 50% of the time...I am the referee when it comes to them. Holler if you hear me on this one!


So, on a different note entirely, I just saw on Rumor Queen (yes, I am still interested in what people are up to in the waiting world!) that they are just now processing April 2006 LID's...that is CRAZY! Ours was March 3 2006...we have had Taryn a year now and they are only into April! AGHHHH...I really feel for those of you waiting to bring your little ones home. That is SO HARD- I know! If you can trust me at all, I can tell you with much assurance that IT WILL HAPPEN! Patience is so hard but so worth it in the end...and there WILL be an end-I promise!
Until next time...

Easter Eggs with our little bunnies!

The finished product...

I let them have a piece of the Easter candy I had bought for the baskets...

She is so proud of her eggs!

Working very hard...

I don't know what possessed me to think that coloring Easter eggs with a 1 1/2 year old would be a good idea...but, that is exactly what I did! I only let her have 3 eggs...but that was enough to make me realize the error of my ways! :)

I honestly thought that the boys would have outgrown coloring eggs by now, but they REALLY wanted to do it...thus, the Easter egg conundrum!

We are on Spring Break right now and I don't know if any of us will survive! Luckily the weather is perfect so we can have a lot of outside time. But the boys are fighting constantly and the little one is whining because her allergies are kicking in. I might just have to go on my "own" spring break before it is all over with!

Enjoy the pics and have a blessed Easter!