Magness Tree Farm 2012 & Life

It's a tradition we usually do on the morning of the first Duck football game of the season. This year was a bit different. For three months I had been in complete pain, like living off ibuprofen and if it wore off I would be in tears from the pain kind of stuff. We visited 8 different doctors who all were stumped by what could be causing the pain in my face, ears, head, nerves, neck, shoulders, etc... This was all happening during one of my favorite times of the year...fall. So plans changed, I stayed in bed, a LOT. Jamie took over EVERYTHING, I sucked it up and did some photo shoots, but other than that I stayed home and in bed. We had a ton of help from family and friends, and now I can say I am all better (PRAISE THE LORD!). It was honestly a week and a half before we would be leaving on a plane to Ethiopia that my dentist and I finally figured out what was wrong. It was a abscessed tooth that was swollen from infection and pressing on one of my main facial nerves. All I needed was a root canal and I would be back to normal. It was a moment of absolute pure joy and relief. The assumed diagnosis from all the other Dr.'s were life long and horrible. It was a total answer to prayer. I had my root canal and left on that airplane totally healed and feeling 100% physically. I know that is all boring, but honestly that's where we've been the last few months, and I just want it down for the record forever that I cannot EVER take my (or any one else's) health for adavntage. It is a precious gift. Now onto the Magness Tree Farm trip that almost didn't happen...

Three of my favorite people in the world. 

He carried this log around half the time. Such a man.

He is getting so big!

This man is amazing.

That's Jack :)

A little brotherly love.

I have no remembrance on why he's crying (I was also drugged, that could have something to do with it, ha)

Grandma, our huge helper during the sick days.

And for history's sake here are the other years...2009, 2010 and 2011. I'm already looking forward to next year and the cute new little face that will be home and in the photos :)

First Day of School 2012

To start the school year off right we had a Toby and mommy date (shout out to Hanna for watching J-Wally!) We had a nice lunch, got a few new clothes and got all the school supplies he needed. Mostly we just wanted a date and needed a excuse. I love being able to talk to him alone and seeing what comes out of his mouth. He is hilarious, sweet, good-mannered, compassionate, snuggly, and obviously energetic. 

This guy was SO excited to start preschool this year. He loves routine and homework (seriously, he does).

Not too different from last years first day photo...

2011 He looks so much more like a toddler here! :( 

Honestly, when asked what he wants to be when he grows up he says
"I want to tell people about God" Melt my heart.

His special picture he made for his new teacher Ms. Chris, notice the bird in
 the air up by the rainbow, and Ms. Chris' awesome blonde hair. 

Driving buddies. This is how awesome my husband is. He wakes up, gets himself and Toby ready in the morning and then drops him off at preschool at 8:00 so I don't have to :) True love I tell ya.

Super excited to be outside his classroom!

And poor little Jack, he wanted to stay and be 4. His goal in life is to grow
up and go to preschool just like Toby. He cried almost the whole way home. 

The little things

Loving this sweet boys pouty red lips. 

Trying to stop this almost three year old from thumb sucking is quite the undertaking.

I will miss this. See his pointer finger? He rubs it along his top lip, stinkin' sweet.
 

Gotta love him. Such a good boy :)  

I've been getting this look from him lately, lovely right? (FYI Jack: You're not a 13 year old girl ;)

One of my favorite of all time. It sums up Jacks personality right now. Toby was in process of building this train track, in this moment he is going and getting more tracks for it, so Jack thinks it's the perfect time to 'walk' over it back and forth almost knocking it over multiple times. Pushing the limits and being waaaaay too cute and adorable while doing it.

Relaxing on a hot summer day watching some cartoons and eating a snack. 

We were able to get away for our 6th anniversary! (Thanks Tuma's!!!)

Mirror Lake :)

Lately

So life has been zooming past at a crazy speed lately (of which I'm thankful for). Tons of things to finish, work to do, adoption things to get ready, nesting, organizing, etc... Blogging has certainly not been at the top of my 'to-do list'. But I figured I could at least put a couple of my phone photos up to show what the last month has been like. I can't believe we've had our little guy's picture for over a month now. We have a name picked out, his crib set up, and a minivan purchased. We are ready to bring that sweet boy HOME! Praying for a super quick rainy season.

A momentous occasion, the boys now weight the EXACT same. 35. 3 pounds, and they're 22 months apart.

The stinkin' dear destroyed our entire garden. Now Jamie is planning a whole
 new garden for next year including a super tall fence :)

Handing over a crazy amount of $$ for our travel shots. We've never been more
willing to fork over that cash and get poked with needles. SO WORTH IT!

Our 40ft apple tree was falling apart so we ended up having to cut it down :(

Our sweet swagger wagon which I LOVE!!!!

Our precious boy had his first birthday on Aug. 4th. We celebrated him all day :)
(We can't publicly share his photo until we bring him home, hence the big black mark)

Jack celebrating our sweet boy's birthday with a dilly bar.

Family play time at the park celebrating our boy's birthday.

Lot's of blackberry picking and eating around our property.

Chicken in a tree...totally normal, right? 

Nesting x's 10,000. We pulled out everything of little boy clothing
 in preparation to bring the dude home.

Cute little half naked boys sitting with Grandma and me,
watching all the trees being cut down.

Sweetness

While tucking Toby in to bed after a looooong hard day with him, he knew just how to melt my heart and remind me of his cuteness....


Toby - "Mama, you know whats even better than birthday gifts on my birthday?"

Me - "What?"

Toby -  "Our baby."

And if you don't know what baby I'm talking about, then check this out :)

A Ode To Jamie

We (the boys and I) have been INSANELY blessed to have Jamie in our lives. First off the boys wouldn't exist without him, but that's where most Dad's leave the picture this day and age. Seemingly the majority of kids are growing up in a home with a single mom and if the Dad is in the picture it's not a pretty one. Usually lazy, checked out, and burnt out. Jamie doesn't fall into any of those categories. I feel like I found a gold mine when I met him and I still believe it. With him not only do I have the greatest husband I could ask for but the BEST Daddy to our kids. He is present, he is a provider, fun, involved, and everything good that you can ask for in a earthly father. He is such a amazing example of a husband, Christ follower, hard worker and father to them. We are beyond thankful.

I thought it would be fun to interview the boys about Jamie and record their answers on here, so here goes;

Toby:


What do you love most about Daddy?  That he sings 'Rock and Roll Bandaid'.


What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Eat ice cream sundaes.


What do you do that makes Daddy happy? Sit in the hammock together and listen to the funniest birds.


What does Daddy do that makes you know he loves you? Getting me candy from work.


What is Daddy's job? To work at work. To work on the computer, maybe?


What do you want other people to know about your Daddy? That he does everything nice.

            (Toby's commentary on the pictures are below them)

That's Dada and me. I don't know how old I was, maybe one?

There's me and Dada and the Duck.

I think I was tickling his head. Why am I not wearing shoes?

We're wining the race! 

Here I'm throwing a snow ball at him. (laughing and giggling)

We're going skiing. We kinda look like we're wearing sunglasses. huh?

I was gonna knock my tower down, but I didn't.

We're washing the dishes together.

We  planted pumpkins.

I always do that. (giggles)

Jack:


What do you love most about Daddy? Umm...um...riding on the scooter!


What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? To play with him. Me like to color with him.


What do you do that makes Daddy happy? When I say I love him.


What does Daddy do that makes you know he loves you? Playing with me.


What is Daddy's job? He works at his work.


What do you want other people to know about your Daddy? That he wrestles.

(Jack's commentary on the pictures are below them)

That me! 

Me have fun. Those fireworks!

That me? Why that me?

Why me in the water? Why me in the ocean? 

Me fall down and getting dirty. And daddy help me. 

That Tommy! Why that not Tommy? Why that Dada? It looks like Tommy.

That my BEST FRIEND mama!!!

Who is that guy? Me?! 

We at park!

My birthday today? Lightning McQueen? 

Happy Fathers Day to our favorite 'dada', we love you!