Visitors!!!

We had some fantastic visitors tonight!!!

There was a whole lotta hugging going on!!! The Turpin family came for a visit while they were passing through on their way back home to Texas :) I have followed Bella's story since she was a wee little baby and now she is one spunky four-year-old!!! We had a great time hanging out with four little ones with Down syndrome!! Major cuteness I tell ya!!! Joy truly lives up to her name! What a face she has! Pure Joy radiates out of her! What a major doll!!!

It was already Addy's bedtime when they arrived so she wasn't completely herself :( She's also rubbed her face raw and looks pitiful! She hasn't had any eye or sinus issues in days but she's definitely rubbing her face still! So sorry she looks a little worn!

How wonderful to meet families that we have followed for so long :) Bella just had her trach removed at the end of September, she is one tough cookie!!! So beautiful!!! What a blessing tonight was!! Who wants to come visit next???

Meaningful Christmas

This Christmas was pretty amazing. Scott has worked so hard this year and we were able to give our kids a really nice Christmas :) We were also able to help others which truly makes my heart happy!

This Christmas was full of so many emotions. Since I work in a school, Sandy Hook really hit close to home. Not to mention the fact that I had this precious six-year-old to celebrate with.

I couldn't help but think of the twenty families that don't have their little ones to celebrate with this year :( I absolutely cannot imagine. I have so many "friends" that have lost little ones this year too and it breaks my heart that so many are not here this year. Others have little ones so sick that they have to be in the hospital on Christmas :( That's where Addy spent her first Christmas as well. I wish I knew her then.

We were also sooo blessed to celebrate Little Man's first Christmas. As I was watching him pull off paper (and put it in his mouth of course lol) pull bows and check out new toys, it really made me think about what his life would be like right now if he wasn't with us this year. I thought about his mom. What are her feelings on this first Christmas for this precious little boy? I know she's made poor choices (he wouldn't be in foster care otherwise) but she still carried this baby and gave birth to him. I pray that she knows that he is loved and cared for and we are so thankful that he is here. He's also extremely spoiled but that's besides the point :)


My "BIG" kids were spoiled as well and I loved how Jake always is so appreciative that Jesus shares his birthday so he can get presents :) Scott spoiled me as well :) We are going to go on a real date with no kids! What an extremely rare occurrence :) The kids got me a beautiful cross pendant that I can't wait to wear! Unfortunately the clasp broke so I've got to get that fixed first lol.

Heading down the stairs :)

They are all getting way to big :( I can't believe Jarika is going to be 21 next month. It's bizarre to think that two weeks before I turned 21 I had her. She would NEVER have a child at this time in her life lol. The fact that she's holding Little Man is pretty phenomenal!  Babies are not her thing but she's pretty impressed with this little guy :)

I hope everyone had a very blessed Christmas and a fantastic New Year celebration. I'm hoping for a snowstorm, I enjoy being home with my little blessings!

Christmas party

We had a great time at our Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks Christmas party yesterday. I didn't get very many pix that don't have Little Man in them too but you can tell Addy had fun :)