Arts Festival

Shaelyn's first oil on canvas masterpiece. She named her piece "Lilly Acres".

Shaelyn showing off her masterpiece. Although she was a

little annoyed that mommy was taking so many pictures

when it was 100 degrees outside :) lol

Shaelyn working on her painting.

Some of the incredible art work made from fruits and vegetables!

Shaelyn being shown how to make a character made from

mushrooms and raisins.

Shaelyn enjoying a strawberry that had been carved to look

like a rose. Notice the awesome carvings in the background,

both made from watermelons.

Aiden's toothbrush critter.

Today we took Aiden and Shaelyn to the Arts Festival at Waterworks Art Center. They got to make toothbrush critters, paper bag hats, and watch a fruit carver make beautiful creations from fruits and vegetables. After hearing a story about a very talented historical artist, Shaelyn got to make her first oil on canvas painting. She was thrilled when she discovered the lady that was helping her paint was going to be her instructor for the art lessons she will be taking in a couple of weeks! She is really excited about taking lessons. The lessons will be on how to draw people's faces. Here are some pictures from our outing today.

More Pictures from NY

Grammy and Grandpy made a penny jar for Aiden just like they've done for all of their grandkids. Aiden was fasinated!

Shaelyn and Grammy on the merry-go-round. They went around 3 times!!! Urghh,

Mommy was sick just watching:)

Grammy and Shaelyn waiting to catch Aiden as he came down the twisty slide.

Grandpy doesn't like to go shopping but surprised everyone by going with us to Walmart. With what you see in the cart, how could he resist??

Grammy and Grandpy took us out to eat for Breakfast. This pic was taken at the Restaurant with Aiden and Arianna.

I'm a little late in posting more pictures from our vacation to New York to visit Rob's parents. We had such a good time and the kids really enjoyed spending time with Grammy and Grandpy. Unfortunately, they do not get to spend much time with them because of living so far apart. This was the first time they had seen Aiden, their first and only Grandson. He wormed his way into their hearts just like Shaelyn 10 years ago. Here are some more pictures from the trip.

Discovery Place in NY

Aiden sitting in the Giant's chair.

Aiden, Daddy and Grandma headed to the 3 little bears house!
Shaelyn watering the vegetables in Peter Rabbit's Garden.
Shaelyn doing her favorite job at Discovery Place - being the cashier at the grocery store!

Aiden digging for fossils.
Aiden trying out his luck at being a fisherman:)
For the kid who LOVES to eat, it came as no surprise that he needed TWO carts at the grocery store!!
Aiden, shopping for produce. He put lots of apples in his cart!
Shaelyn broadcasting the news at the TV news center. There was actually a TV screen that broad casted her picture live!
While on vacation in NY we took the kids to Discovery Place. It was fantastic!! It had everything imaginable for the kids to do. There was even a mock grocery store with tiny little shopping carts and fake food. The kids could "shop" and then take their purchases to the cashier for payment with fake money. The register was Shae's favorite as it really worked and she actually got to scan every one's groceries. There was a bank, a restaurant, an real ambulance, firetruck and fighter jet (indoors) for the kids to get in and experience. They got to dig for fossils, stand inside of a giant bubble, play in a fake hair salon and art studio. They even got to dress in tux coats and perform on stage at "Broadway". Outside of this Discovery Place they had Peter Rabbits Garden with real vegetables that the kids could water. They got to go inside of a Victorian doll house, and even visit the 3 bears cottage. Needless to say, it was an wonderful experience for the kids! I actually enjoyed it too:)

Golden Apple Award

Shaelyn received a special award today at her school.

The Golden Apple Award! This award is given to

two children per class and is selected by the teacher.

It is given to the student that the teacher feels exemplifies

what a good student should be. We were so proud that

out of a class of 23 kids, Shaelyn was selected as one of the

two recipients for this award. Her Daddy, Aiden and

myself were there to see her get this award! We are so

very proud of you Shaelyn!!

1st Professional Family Photo

Here is our first professional family photo. We had

it taken for the church directory. I am so thankful for

my wonderful little family!!

Readoption Finalized!

We decided to have Aiden readopted in NC so that his
adoption record and birth certificate would be on
file in NC. This step is not a necessity but does result in a
birth certificate and adoption decree in English:) It also makes
things a lot easier for when they are required to produce
paperwork such as a birth certificate for school, etc.
Aiden's adoption hearing was this morning at 10:00 AM.
Unfortunately I do not have any pictures because
they do not allow cameras in the courthouse. So....I will
just tell you what happened. We waited for approximately
20 minutes before the Clerk of Superior Court called us
back to his office. He asked us a few questions, talked with
us for about 10 minutes and then issued us the adoption decree.
It was so simple! While the Clerk was talking with us, Aiden
spotted a stuffed AFLAC duck sitting on the desk. He went
and got it and proceeded to play with it for a little bit. I wasn't
paying any attention to him as I was focused on answering the
questions I was being asked. When it was time to leave, I heard
the Clerk ask Aiden for his duck back! Aiden had proceeded to
stuff that duck into his little backpack and was "taking him home"!
I was so embarrassed! Here is my son "stealing" from the Clerk of
Superior Court! I explained to Aiden that the duck was not his
and that he needed to take it out of his bag and put it back on
the desk. He did exactly as I instructed without a whimper. I
was proud of him for that:) Anyway, the clerk got a good laugh
out of it and we left promising that we would take care of this
precious little boy and teach him not to steal! We are so glad
this chapter is done and now we can keep on enjoying our
wonderful little guy!!

Sunshine and Ice Cream!

Today is absolutely gorgeous! Sunny and very warm! I got

these really cute pictures while we were enjoying the sunshine

out in our backyard. I am so thankful for our wonderful

backyard. It is very big and very private! We enjoy lots of

time out here. Aiden is slowly getting use to the big pool. He

is still not very comfortable in it and would rather just play

in his little kiddie pool. We are hoping to teach him to swim

this summer:)

Shae's Project / Report

Shaelyn had to do a project for school and she chose to

report on Poison Dart Frogs. She (uhumm, "we") searched

online for some informational facts and found out some

pretty interesting things about these little critters. She

wrote a very nice report and made a panoramic of their

natural habitat (tropical rain forest). She was very proud

of her project and received some nice comments from

her teacher and fellow students. Her project is now on

display at school.

Proof!

For those of you who think I may exaggerate that Aiden

is into everything....here is proof! This "mess" occurred

in approximately 5 minutes. I had the living room nice

and neat and went into the kitchen to start supper. I

chopped the onion and but the ground beef in the skillet

and returned to the living room. Again, maybe 5 mins

had passed. This is the scene I returned to. Imagine

what he could do in 30 minutes!! lol

Aiden's Big Boy Room REVISED

Until further notice, Aiden's big boy room will be

sportin' his little boy crib:) Oh well, I guess we

will know when he is ready to go to his toddler bed.

One thing for sure...he's not ready yet! Here is a

cute picture of him "vacuuming" his rug.

He was so happy to see his crib back up! So sweet!

Big Boy Bed Update

The big boy bed idea DID NOT work tonight!! Apparently
Aiden is very attached to his crib. He screamed and screamed
when we put him in his new bed. So, I finally brought his pack
and play out and put it beside the bed. He quit crying as soon
as I put him in it and was asleep within minutes. So, I guess the
crib goes back in his room tomorrow:)

Aiden's Big Boy Room

We have been talking about taking Aiden's crib down for a

few weeks now. Well today we were fortunate to find a

toddler bed at a yard sale for $5. After a good cleaning and

a spray paint job, it is good as new! We found the cutest

little comforter set and wall art for a really cheap price too.
So, tonight will be Aiden's first night in his toddler bed/

big boy room. He LOVES balls and keeps going around

the room pointing at all of them and saying "baaalll". It is

so sweet. I asked him if he was going to sleep in his new

bed and he shook his head no! We're not sure how he will do

but are praying that he does well. He is growing so fast.

It's hard to believe that he is now 28 months old! Here

are some pictures of Aiden's "new" room!

Painter Boy

Maybe, just maybe Aiden, will be as artistic as his sister! He loves

to scribble with crayons and his latest love is ....paint with water!

Here are a few pictures of him up at the table having a fun time

with his little brush and glass of water! He had so much fun and

cried when it was time to put it up. :)

Happy Mother's Day

Today was a special day for me as I celebrated being a Mom

to two beautiful children this year. Rob got me a porch swing

for Mother's Day and put it up for me yesterday! I was so

excited as I've always loved a porch swing. The kids

and the dog love it just as much as I do. I know we will get

lots of enjoyment from it. I also had flowers and several

cards spread out on the table this morning! I even had a card

from the dog! Rob had taken paint and put Sophie's paw print

in the card. It was too cute:) To make the day even more

special, I also got to spend some time with my precious Mother.

I took the kids and went to church with my Mom this morning

and then ate lunch out with her and my Dad. I am so very

fortunate to have had a Godly mother who taught me so many

wonderful life lessons. Knowing how much I wanted to be a

Mommy, she longed for the day that I would be blessed with

a baby. She has embraced by two little China babies as if they

were biologically mine and has loved them dearly. I thank God

for my Mom and hope that I have many more years with her!

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

My Journey to Motherhood

As my 10th Mother's Day as a Mommy approaches, I am finding
myself reflecting back over a long and arduous journey. A journey
that started out with heartbreak and shattered dreams only to be
replaced with immeasurable joy and not an ounce of regret! This
journey has not always been easy and there were many times
along the way that I questioned God and cried out in anger.
My desire for a biological child once consumed me and I struggled
to understand the reason that my dream of motherhood was so
elusive and unattainable. I couldn't see beyond my grief and I
certainly could not see the beautiful plan that God had in store
for me. Fast forward 10 years and now I SEE! I now can see
that the plan God had for me from the beginning was far better
than my own ideals. God handpicked two beautiful children from
half way around the world and placed them in my heart for me to
love and Cherish for as long as I have life. Through the miracle of
adoption not only did I became a Mom but I saw the beautiful
story of Christ's redemption revealed so vividly. I am so
undeserving of God love but because I have accepted Him, I am
adopted into the family of God and am a joint heir with Jesus.
At the very moment I was handed my beautiful children, they
went from being orphans to being cherished members of our
family and an heir to everything we own. Throughout this
journey to motherhood, I have learned a valuable lesson.
God's ways are far better than our own!! How could I have
wanted it any other way! I can honestly say that I would
not change the outcome of my journey even if I could. I feel
like the most blessed Mother in the world!! The love I have for
these two children that God blessed me with is indescribable. I
thank Him for choosing this path of motherhood for me!

Bubble Boy

This is the scene one can expect when you leave the

bottle of baby wash on the side the tub and leave the

bathroom for 1.5 minutes with a 2 year old in the tub!

I could hear Aiden jabbering, kicking and splashing

the whole time and knew he was okay so I made a

quick trip to the kitchen. When I returned, I noticed

that 3/4 of the brand new bottle of body wash was GONE!

Soon the bubbles began to multiply! He had a blast!