Just wanted to add a slide show and see if it worked!!!
This has some picture of my friends new baby and christmas.
I'm sure some of these you might have seen!

My Reindeer

Ethan was a reindeer in his school program last night. He was so cute, his little antlers had red lights in them. They would lite up when you pressed the button. He thought it was funny! He sang so good. I was very proud of him. All of the little kids were just precious. They want have a lot of school time left once they come back after the New Year. Then my baby will be a 1st grader. Oh my! Why do they have to grow up so quick? I wish he could stay this sweet and innocent forever.

Don't they look Rotten?

There're so sweet! I am so glad that they have each other!

I wanted a picture with the two most cutest kids I know. Can you blame me?

I am so lucky to have them in my life. These two mean the world to me. I only hope next Christmas I will have a little sweet girl in my lap.

You just can't help yourself

Sleeping beauty!!!

You just can't help yourself! She is so cute, you just want to snuggle.

A Look Back at Christmas Past

Christmas 2006 at my mom's house.

You can see the boys opening gifts with some of our family.

more christmas past

At home by the tree!

Christmas 2005

I know their goodlooking kids!

*Christimas Past*

Three little monkeys sitting in a chair.

This is my boys with their cousin Krista.

Christmas 2004

Introducing Kylee Christian Brown

This is the proud mom!
OK, so this is my friend Kathy! And yes, she just had a baby two weeks ago. Don't she look wonderful. Lord knows, I sure couldn't have even thought about wearing my clothes after I had my boys. This girl looks good, you can't even tell she had a baby. You go girl! You and Jerry are so blessed to have such an angel. She is precious and priceless!
Kylee Christian Brown was born on Monday, November 19 at 11:21 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds and 4 ounces and was 19 inches long.
You can't help but to stare at her when you hold her. She is so beautiful to look at. My Ethan just loves her. He said he wanted to keep her at our house so he could snuggle with her.
I just had to show her off. Can you blame me? I mean really, look how sweet.

I know...it's she adorable!

-Cookie Fun-

Saturday Ethan and I picked up a Gingerbread decorating kit at Walmart. Once you get something like that the next thing you hear is, "When are we going to decorate the cookies"! So that night my (3) boys decided to see who could make the best looking gingerbread man. I just went the easy route. I spread d a little icing on and eat him! The boys went all out! To much work for me. I can't sit still that long!!!

Do you ever get to big to sit with Santa?

My big boy with Santa! Notice he is not in his lap!
I think he thought he was to big to even sit with him, but for Ethan's sake he did. He is still handsome though!

Dear Santa

Ethan with Santa at his workshop in DollyWood!

My Wonderful Boys

The boys enjoyed a camel ride out front of the Miracle show. Don't they just look rotten! They are and I couldn't love them any more than I do!

~ok it worked~

Ok so I scaned the pictures! This is us at the Dixie Stampede! My boys! To cute!

About the "Vacation"

I am just sick about my pictures. I had a ton of them on my memory card from the trip that I wanted to share. Some how my memory card got on a fit and erased all my pictures. I am not happy about it at ALL!

We had a wonderful time on the trip! We went to The Comedy Barn, The Miracle, DollyWood and The Dixie Stampede. If any of you ever go to Pigeon Forge and you haven't seen the Miracle, you should definitely see it. It is a live theatrical production about the life of Jesus. It covers his life from his birth till his crucifixion. It is a awesome show to see! The boys really enjoyed it and so did Donald and I.

The top picture is us at the Dixie Stampede and the other is them in DollyWood. The lights look blurry! I probably had the flash on.

We did a lot of other stuff to, but you don't want me to list every little detail. I am just sick about not having my pictures. I could have at least shared some of them. I had my picture made with Forrest Gump at the Wax Museum and I really wanted to post it. Cry Cry! Oh well next time I will take a extra memory card and a 35 m camera.

I may try to scan some of the pictures we bought and see if they'll post! I have a cute one of the boys ridding on a camel!

~There's No Place Like Home~

We're home! We just got in a little while ago from our "vacation" in the mountains.

Now tell me, why it is called vacation? Do you know the meaning of vacation? Vacation-a period of time devoted to rest or relaxation, as from work or study. So going off with a 9 and 5 year old is anything but rest and/or relaxation! We did a lot of stuff but there was still more to do. The days went by really quick! My camera got on a fit so I don't know if I will have many pictures to post. That will be my project for tomorrow along with laundry duty.

Joelle's New Dress

Ok ladies here it is! I told you about it and you all said"Post it on your Blog".

So here is the dress. Ok, so will it be out of style by the time she comes home? Oh well, she will still wear it. It is just so cute! I can see her in it with her hair in "pink tails." That is what Ethan calls them. To funny!

Chief Little Turtle

Today Ethan came home sporting his "handmade" Indian vest and headband. How cute!

Oh!... and the necklace made in art class. I was told it is

a "pattern necklace", purple, green, purple, green....you get the picture. Now take note this is all made by the hands of a 5 year old. You know it just doesn't get in better than this!

Hope you enjoy the pictures of my little Indian boy!

**Play-doh & Pie**

So, did you know that the same hands that made the shed outside can make a pie? I guess for anyone who can build a shed, pies and play-doh comes easy. (Refer to earlier post to see the shed)

I have been wanting a sweet potato pie and my dear husband made me one. Actually two! I am so lucky to have a man who can COOK. Thank goodness he doesn't do it to often because I would end up being as big as the side of the house if he did.

Ethan was in the play doh mood so we had that out while the chef was cooking. While the pies were baking we played with the play doh. I made silly stuff that is not picture worthy! Unlike some talented people. Donald made a pink elephant and a lime alligator. Ethan is holding a krabby patty. Which i had to take a picture of to share with everyone!

I also am leaving you with a picture of the pies. Yummy good! Wonder who ate that piece!

~11 months paper pregnant~

Today is our 11 month of waiting for our baby girl! I guess I could honestly say that the time has went by very fast. Never the less, it seems like it has been forever since we started this adoption. I just think that it should be sooner than what it has been. I think about Joelle everyday and only want her home with her family. It is hard on the boys to understand why we have to wait so long. I wonder what they really think, especially Ethan because he is so young. I wonder if he wonders when and if she will ever come home, or is she just someone who we talk about. He prays for her safety in China every night while he is saying his night prayers. It is just priceless to hear!

This pink flower made me think of my BABY! A girl can never have to much pink! Right?

Her room is going to be pink and lime green. I will share pictures once I get it done!

I know that so many other couples and families are wanting for their babies. I hope and pray that all of our prayers will be answered soon.

Dirty boys

I picked the boys up from school today and couldn't believe how dirty they were. You would have thought they were in a dirt competition instead of at school. Ethan had chocolate milk all over his (white) shirt and Hayden's pants were green with grass stains. Maybe I should have them do the laundry!

I thought I would get a picture of Ethan and Hayden to share with you all today. You can't really see how nasty they are. But believe they ARE!!!!

Underneath Ethan's rotten smile is sweet little boy! Hayden was busy doing tricks in the swing which made his picture blurry.

~Video of the Painter~

Sorry about the background music, Donald had his radio on.

I should have turned it off before I started to film...oh well. You get the picture of what is going on! Oh, and of course he's cute!

Ethan the Painter (Part 2)

You know your good when you go from pumpkins to picnic tables.

Donald is working on a picnic table. He finished it up and was staining it tonight. Ethan and I walked out to check on him and Ethan thought he'd help.

That is so cute of them together!

Ethan had on his tigger suit under his jacket. Check out his hood! He wanted to "bounce" all the way out to the shed.

~The Stork Landed~ But Not For Me

Today some lucky families received their referrals. 22 Babies will soon be headed home. 20 Girls and 2 boys.
These families were logged in December 5th 2005. Yes, 2005! Look how long they have waited.
We have been waiting almost 11 months! December 12th will be 1 year for us. So many people ask about Joelle all the time! I don't know how to explain the wait to them! I tell them, only the Lord knows when she is coming home. There is nothing we can do! Only wait and pray!
Oh well, enough about that. It makes me sad to think about it.

More of the Man Cave

Every tool is in it's place!
Did you notice that he even has is baby out there? (top picture)

The shed / man cave

Well an update on the shed is that it is complete! If you have been following my blog you know that Donald has been working on it. (You can refer back to earlier post.)

The shed as turned into the Man Cave. This is where he spends 90./. of his time.

I told him that he should add him a bed to it! He has been working very hard to get it done. Once it is just right and he gets everything moved out there, he has a new project to work on.

The pool house is also getting an upgrade. That is where the weight set and tanning bed is going.

Man, it is a lot of work to get ready for our baby girl. So many things to do!

I am very proud of the work Donald has done. The shop/ shed looks great, and he done all the work himself. Now tell me, that is a real "man". I would have not been able to hang the 1st nail.

Ethan the Painter

Ethan decided that he would work on his pumpkin today. I set him up in the kitchen so that I could keep a eye on him. I tried to help him but I heard these words" I can do it MY WAY".

Oh Lord, who does that sound like? Any one who knows me well enough, knows exactly WHO it sounds like.

*My Pumpkin*

Wednesday we went to the Pumpkin Patch in Collins with Ethan's class. Oh my! In the cold damp weather! It was fun, yet cold! It would rain a little and then stop. Then rain a little and stop. Oh please! I was up and down with the umbrella.
We went through the corn maze and got to a dead end! Try going through that with a ton of 5 year olds.
My little pumpkin picked out his very own little pumpkin. Today we are going to try and paint it. The joy of being a kid!

~Lioness, Tigers, and Bears~ Oh my!

A few days back we had a extra little one at our house. Any one recognize the Lioness?
I bet her mother does!

Laura is a joy! She and the boys had such a good time. She told me to tell Ethan and Hayden that one of them had to be "Daniel".

She was the Lion in the den! I got so tickled at her! At least she knows the story, right?

How many 3 years old would have thought of that?

*Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way they should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

It is our responsibility to teach our children. We should never wait on someone else to do it for us!

~It's Monday again~ Where did the last one go?

I have been so busy! Working at the school, going to church, football practice and football games. Just keeping up with the boys. Plus, trying to keep up with house work and a marriage. Would someone please fill me in on how I am going to handle 3 children. I think I am going to have to learn to say"no" once the baby gets home. I plan to retire from a lot of the things that I do!
I love working at the school and making me some extra money. It is so nice to be able to go buy your self a treat! I guess you can call me spoiled if you want to! But I like having nice clothes and looking my best, and dressing my boys in their best! So if you want to say that is being spoiled then so be it! I think people should take pride in how they dress and look! OK...so that is a different subject. How did we get on that?
I also enjoy my working at the church! I love being apart of those children lives and trying to help them grow in the Lord! These days we live in children need all the morals and teaching they can get!
Lord knows that I need all the help I can get. I can't make it without his help. I don't see how people that do know him make it. **For you Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Psalms 86:5
Thank goodness he forgives us when we screw up!
If I can be a example to those children, it will be worth it all. I don't like the thought of giving them up, but I want to spend time with my new baby.
I don't know if I will retire completely or just take a break!
So Monday again leads to more to do and keep up with.
The time is going by so quickly. It is almost 11 months into the referral wait!
Oh Lord, please let the time frame shorten!
I don't mean to sound selfish, I just so want my baby home!

*Monday* Blah..

It's Monday! All over again we start! One Monday always leads to another one~!
Friday night we had company. It was fun! Yet it leads to a mess that has to be cleaned up. Saturday was cleaning up and football game day. Which we lost! Again... Those poor boys, makes me want to run out on the field and trip the other team. I told the coach that I was going to "coach" next year. Knowing that I don't know a thing about football. At least he knows someone is suggesting taking his job. I guess I could find me one of those yellow books that is a guide for teaching football to "dummies".
Sunday was church, funeral home and back to church. Today I worked at the school and then to football practice. Oh lord help..I am running on empty!
I am give out! totally! drained! good for nothing!
There is a ton of things to do around here. I could go snap a picture of the laundry so that you could have some idea of what I was saying! It never ends! I guess I will wash it and it can lay around until I find the energy to fold it and put it away. Right honey?
Some days were made to be lazy and I think today sound like a good one to me.

Puppy love plus the new addition

My other "puppy"!

We still love you Shaggy!

Ethan and his puppy Shaggy!

****Our New Addition****

So we kept feeding "it"! Our new addition has turned out to be a boy! Now named Tommy, thanks to Ethan. Ethan couldn't be happier! The only problem is Shaggy doesn't like him!

Oh well, Shaggy...looks like you have competition.