His Boys

My boys.

I love saying those words.  I love the picture in my head and the warmth in my heart when I say those words.  

I am your mama.

And sometimes I still can't believe it.

It's perfectly clear that we don't share the same DNA, but you are so much a part of me.  I know what you're going to say before you say it.  I know what ticks you off.  I know what makes you happier than a pig in mud.  I know you.  

But listen, sweet boys.  You know how I tell you that I love you more than all of the snowflakes that have ever fallen from the sky?  God loves you even more that!

That's hard for me to comprehend, but it's true.  And actually, I'm glad He loves you more than me because there are so many times that I mess up.  I can't love you perfectly and never will, but he can and always will.

I don't know what your questions will be as you start processing your adoption stories, but whatever they are, I want you to remember God's love for you and cling to His promises.

 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.  Psalm 86:15

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."  Revelation 4:11

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:9 

Even though you are my boys, you are really His.

Don't ever forget that.

Our Trip to the Pond

The boys and I spent the beginning of last week with my I-met-her-online-but-she's-not-creepy-friend, Stephanie at her husband's family lake house.

It was perfect timing since Wes was going to be away on a golf trip.

We had such a great time. 

We have the bond of Michigan, adoption, being mothers of little ones and Jesus, so hanging out was easy.

The kids hit it off almost immediately.  

There were about 5-10 minutes of shyness before the playfulness and craziness started.

Here we are all sweaty, but I had to get one picture of us together.

Sam was feeling left out that he didn't get a ring pop, so he settled for some sunscreen...

These two were a hilarious pair.  You definitely wouldn't want to leave them alone together for an extended period of time.  Who knows what would happen...

Max loved the lake. {He referred to it as the pond}

The spiderwebs...not so much.

And go-with-the-flow-Sam had this facial expression the entire time he was in the water.
I feel like he was saying, "Mom, I really know that you want me to do this, so I will just endure it because I love you."
Thanks, buddy.

So thankful for new friendships and sweet, sweet memories.

Our Fourth

Sam decided he wanted to practice his freedom by learning to crawl on the eve of our country's birth.
So we enjoyed the fourth watching him feebly move around the house and outside.
As much as I have said, "I'm in trouble" about Sammy crawling, it really is so much fun to watch your kids learn new things.
Way to go, Sammy-boy!

We went and saw our friends' new baby girl.  She's adorable...and tiny.

We had a mini photoshoot with the boys wearing matching shirts {That you can barely see}.
It's not easy to get a picture of these two together.

  

And this here picture just cracks me up.

I don't even care that it's blurry.  

I love it.

Max had his first experience taking a picture with my camera.
Don't let my smile fool you...It's a bit forced.
This was after about 5 minutes of him not getting it and me saying, "Not that button, that button" and "You have to make sure that we are in the camera" and "You have to hold the button down".
I will say that the boy has some perseverance in his blood.

Max and Sam swam in the pool.  

Max calls it a cat pool because I call it a kiddie {kitty} pool.  

Pretty cute and funny if you ask me.

We did a little grilling, walking, feeding the fish at the pond and swinging.

Once we put Sammy to bed, we broke out the sparklers.

The been-in-the-garage-for-a-long-time-and-hard-to-light-sparklers.

And we ended our day with homemade ice cream, brownies and fireworks on TV.  

Boom.  Perfect day.

Thankful {spring break}

-----> Any time Max was sleeping on our 20 hour trip to and from Florida.
-----> Walks on the beach and conversations with Wes about how God has blessed us.
-----> Sleeping, satisfied babies.
-----> These donuts.  Anna Maria Island Donuts.
-----> We liked them.
-----> Clean babies.
-----> These burgers.  Duffy's.
-----> Spending time in the sun with my boys.
-----> Watching Max get more and more comfortable with the water as the week went on.
-----> More walks...and those baby toes.
-----> Any time Max was happy on our 20 hour trip to and from Florida.
----> Coming home.

I'm on a roll...3 posts in one week.

Picture Post {Spring Break}

We went to Anna Maria Island for spring break.

It's horrible.

Don't ever go there.  kidding.

We had a blast and can't wait to go back next year!  

We drove which is never enjoyable, but we made it.  

Sam wins the prize for being the best traveler out of all of us.  

It's a tie between Max and I for last place.  

Aunt Andy helped Max and I die some eggs.

I think I cracked at least three of the eggs out of six...

Max cracked zero.

  

Max and Wes enjoyed breakfast on the front porch.

We played at the beach.

We rode the island trolley...

...to an amazing donut shop.
We waited an hour for these babies.
They were so worth it.

  

We swam at our pool.
Max is a little fish.
He loved the water.
Sam loved the water too, but a lot of our swimming was done during his nap times.
Next year, buddy.

  

  

  

We loved spending time with Gramma and Papa Myers.

And Great Papa and G.G. Amstutz.

Sam tried carrots for the first time.
The pureed stuff...

...and the real deal.

  

We played "Max be nimble", Candy Land and Old Maid.
A lot.

Max took a bubble bath.

I might have gone a little overboard on the bubbles.

Max asked me join him.
So I did.

So thankful for the memories we made!