Celebrating Family and Holidays~

We always start each July celebrating our First beautiful daughter~

Josh went big getting it off and running with decorations, food, and we supplied the venue!

July 4, 1989 was one of the best days of our lives~

They were here for a few day, and we made the best of every moment~

Took tons and tons of photos~

Ate strawberry birthday cake, had a water balloon fight, played cornhole~

Enjoyed shooting sparklers~

And watching fireworks burst right over our head in the boat~

 The best day celebrating one of our favorite girls!!!

Sunday we found ourselves out on the lake again for Lake Church (something we made up all on our own)~

Savannah and BC took a trip to Boise to see Jessie, Peter, and Brooklyn and BC got to sit in the cockpit before takeoff~

Our friend Lisa was out of school so we met her for the day in Gwinnett~

More GRAND days~

Loved having our new friends come swim for the day~

Scott runs most every Sunday morning before church and this particular one, he took the little girls with him~

BC came for a few days while mom had school stuff to do. He didn't miss a beat jumping into school with us and helping with chores~

Just plain sweetness~

One of the grandest things of a lifetime is to witness your child giving their heart and life to Jesus and that's just what Evie did July 28! What a beautiful smile on a child of The King~

BC was back while mom started preplanning~

We also enjoyed having Max, Addie, and Slate to come swim with us~

Days of summer for them and BC are winding down.
Celebrating with popsicles!!!
See you next year July!

Savannah's School~

We all went out to help Savannah in her classroom on Monday.
It turned out perfect, and we loved being with the boys~

 The kids were thrilled that BC got to come home with us for the night~

Being with my people is always the BEST!!!

Happy 28th Birthday Savannah~

It is so hard to believe Savannah is 28!

She and her family were at the beach on her birthday~

but we we had a little party for her and lit some sparklers~

 Have to throw in a few Birth day photos on the 4th of July, 1989~

Happy birthday to our first love!!!

One of the greatest days of lives!

A Happy 4th~ 🇺🇸

The Fourth of July has always been our favorite summer holiday because Savannah was born on this day 27 years ago~ 

She is one of the sweetest gifts we've ever been given and look at those smiles! 

We couldn't love these two more and wished her a happy birthday while she partied at the beach!!!

Meanwhile back at camp Ankerich, we spent a lot of our holiday weekend in the pool because of the high temps. 

Calla is beginning to get the hang of the puddle jumper and one of her new words is Pool!~

Calla feels most secure in our arms especially in the mornings so SJ takes over with egg cooking for me. 

Calla watches everything we do and takes it all in. 

She loves to eat and says eggs and water ~

In the photo above see the bitty shenanigans. 

Evie scaling walls and pulling Calla around on her new trike with a jump rope. 

Never a dull moment around here!

July 4th morning we took our celebration photo, tools naps in the afternoon, more photos for school blog~

More swimming and grilling in the afternoon~

 We ate a picnic dinner at the big table~

And looked over to see Wp and SJ helping Calla. 

I'm telling you~ watching the sibling bond bloom is a beautiful blessing. 

Calla has brought out the best in her brothers and sisters since she's been home!

You would have thought Santa was coming when we told the kids we were going to watch fireworks and they would miss their bedtime. 

We loaded down the golfcart (think we need a three seated!) and rode down the path to our boat~

we waited a little while for the first boom and watching our kids faces when the sky lit up was priceless. 

Calla nestled into me under a towel and enjoyed the show there. 

It was the best ending to a wonderful weekend!

Payne summed it up perfectly, "I will never forget this night!"

Happy 4th🇺🇸 Everyone!!!

Simple Sundays~

We have chosen to attend our church in the afternoons for the past couple of months at a 4pm service
because the crowd is smaller and a little less stressful for our kids.
This also makes for a much slower Sunday morning with pancake breakfasts and quiet time playing~

Today as I stood in the kitchen making lunch, a car came down the drive
and because I wasn't expecting visitors was completely surprised to see
two loves of my life coming for the day~

 They made all of us SO happy~

 BC had so much fun he couldn't even take a nap~

That was perfectly okay because we can never get enough of him!!!
The best Sunday ever and they headed home as we were leaving for church.
Thanks Savannah for a great Surprise! Like SJ said, do again soon!! :)

Adoption Update~

We received our I800A approval (USCIS saying we are approved to adopt CA)

which was the last document needed for our dossier.

Today we walked all our documents into the GA Secretary of State in Atlanta

and had them authenticated then sent on to Houston for more authenticating.

When they return to us, I will overnight to our agency, Bay Area Adoption Services, 

and they will send to China making us DCT... Dossier to China~

Once it is China, we wait to be Logged In and wait once again for LOA~ Letter of Acceptance from China
saying YES, you can adopt CallaAnne!
We were happy to drop by to see Savannah and family. LOOK how tall EK is getting~

 It has rained SO much over the holidays and we have spent much time inside.
The easybake is seeing a lot of action~

Counting down to a new year and ready to ring it in!!!

Ben Curtis Long Weekend~ {Shaycation}

After our dr appt on Wednesday, we met Josh to pick up BC

so they could be off for all the fun shown in these photos~

 They met Josh's brother Zack and family in London~

 It was our great JOY to have Ben Curtis with us~

 He loves to laugh and enjoys being with all the littles~

 Every single thing he does is cute~

Today was the best with a full kitchen and Savannah/Josh on a flight home.

We are going to miss this angel but I can't wait to see him welcome his mama and dada home.

The sweetest baby in the world and a wonderful Long Weekend loving him!!!

The Bigs~

This is a BIG week for the big girls coming up...

RG back to college, AF home in 5 days, and SL back teaching.

I spent a lot of yesterday sewing RG's tshirt quilt to take with her~

We moved RG back today and couldn't be happier for her~

Her room is gorgeous and can't wait to share as soon as I have permission. :)

Love you big girls!!!

Happy 26th Sweet Nan~ {Happy 4th Too!}

Happy 26th birthday to Savannah and America~

 We LOVED celebrating with Peachtree Road Races (in Hartwell:) and sweet Macy~

 Yummy cupcakes and homemade ice cream~

 Photo ops and cool beautiful weather~

 and of course having Sissy here~

Savannah~ we couldn't love you more and SO thankful for that 4th of July

26 years ago when dad made it just in time from the Peachtree to welcome you into the world!

ONE of the BEST days of our lives!!!