Happy Forever Day

Today it is the boys FOREVER day. The day the boys came home...they actually entered America one year ago. I remember the WAITING like it were yesterday, the ache in my heart to have them home. They were my sons but so far away...some days I wondered if they would ever really come home. Hey, but praise God, they did! Amazing..the year has gone by so darn fast. I know there are many families still waiting and my heart breaks for them. Daily we are amazed that these sweet little guys are here...we can't imagine our sons living in the orphanage...they are so full of life.
What a year!! We've all grown so much! We've worked so much on being consistent in our love and discipline and I think that has helped. The boys still have their moments...they were both sent to bed for being naughty tonight..that wasn't so much of a happy ending to forever day:( but they are 2 and 5.
I can't help but to think about their birth moms and wondering about their hearts today..it's sometimes hard to celebrate something that is so wonderful for our family and so devistating for another family.
Happy forever day my boys!! I love you sooooo much!

Our Lovely neighbors let us use their pool today...it was sooo HOT!

Thank you Cain Family!

The group!

Our Beautiful Taylor

The Lord has blessed us with a daughter who love the Lord, wants to save all

the orphans in the world, wants to belong..but wants to stand out...daily challenges us.

We love her dearly. She is sensitive and strong.

TJ met Alex in one of the plays at Rainbow Theater. They are great buddies now. Alex is a good friend. The boys have lots of the same interests....illusions, making movies, etc. Here is TJ (on the right) he played Tweedle Dum in Alice in Wonderland.

Tweedle Dum and Alice (TJ and Claire). Claire is my bff's daughter. TJ and Claire have known eachother since birth. It was fun that they got to perform together.

Alice and the Mad Hatter (Claire and Taylor)

They are great friends!!!

Taylor was adorable as the Mad Hatter!

"A very merry un-birthday to you...."

Morgan played Tweedle Dee. TJ and Morgan did AWESOME!!

Cortney was a do do bird and Taylor also played a turtle and a daisy.

Think think think...

My handsome tj...he can go from acting, to baseball, to playing piano, to performing a magic trick..and he's an under cover police ninja!! He is multi-talented.

Denial

My mom called me yesterday and told me that her neurologist has diagnosed her with MS. This is not the first time...but they somehow changed their diagnosis last time. I can't tell you how I am feeling...except denial. I love my Mom, she is a strong lady. She had leukemia and beat it. She is very important to me, i can't imagine my life without her. I am praying they are wrong again.
I also know God will use whatever diagnosis for good...I trust God.

the blessing and the curse..

Todd and I are both so blessed to be able to work at our church that we LOVE!! We have super flexible schedules (most of the time). We work with great people, we get to serve God as our job..there are countless wonderful things about the job...holidays are the downfall..we are so busy before the holidays and usually work on the holiday (Christmas, Easter etc). We have been so busy...Todd with all of the many church services the last weeks, me planning the Easter Outreach (not to mention my first day care kid started, he is amazingly cute). This morning I realized I hadn't even planned what the boys would wear to church, the morning was so rushed. Church was great. Shanay asked if I was cooking Easter Dinner...ugh, am I a horrible Mom, I didn't plan on cooking...i was tired...really really tired. I did end up making chicken fettuccini alfredo, not very Easter Dinner like. The boys were tired so we waited until after nap to have the traditional back yard egg hunt. By the time we had the Egg hunt it was 7:15, cold outside and I was in a 'icky mad at everyone mood'. My expectations of the day did not turn out to be what the reality of the boys first Easter was.
I really need to plan better I guess!
Goodnight.

family pics

Jessica :)
Taylor and Solomon

CHEESE

Cutie pie

Boys First Easter..what a blessing

Shanay:)

My kiddos on Easter..our 7:15 pm egg hunt!!

Biggest baseball fan EVER!

Alice in Wonderland

Taylor is a Daisy and the Mad Hatter

Father and Son

GO Markenley!

Cutie pie Solomon

He has the BEST smile:) We are blessed!

TJ...my Major Braves player:)

Spiderman Solomon

My Boys!

Todd and Markenley's team:)

Baseball season

Today was opening day for baseball! Now we have 2 boys in baseball. TJ is in Majors this year..the kids are big! It's scary for me, but he did amazing. He even scored 2 out of the 9 points!!
Markenley is playing T-ball too!! Daddy is one of his coaches. He is adorable! I missed his first game today since TJ and Markenley's games were at the same time. We are really going crazy with kids and their schedules these days. Tay and TJ are both in Alice in Wonderland at our community theater. Taylor is the Mad Hatter and a flower and TJ is Tweedle Dum.
Shanay had her first track meet last week. It was so darn cute! I saw her out in the field and she was warming up and I just started crying!! I am so proud of her. She ran the 400! She didn't win but she was fast! She is taking her drivers test on the 25th. I am so nervous about her driving.
Jess is doing team volleyball. She is also performing in the Trojan Olympics at school...it's a competition/dance thing at her school.
I feel like i can't keep up with life sometimes:)
I am starting my daycare on April 6th. I am pretty excited...it will make the days pretty routine..the 2 little boys that will be starting are sooo darn cute.
Solomon is the only one without a schedule...besides feeding him and his naps!!
Much love,
Renee

Photos:)

lSoly's Mad face! How can you be unhappy while eating a donut??

Taylor..happy at Chuck E Cheese:)

Soly and Shanay

Daddy and Solomon...i love this picture!

We were visiting Daddy's old High School...Bellermine...baseball players were practicing!

Visiting Mission Santa Clara where Daddy sings at a lot of weddings!

Life without God's Love is like a donut..there's a hole in the middle of your heart!

TJ... looking tough!