One year ago today..... (part 2)

Day 2
We were staying in Antigua at Mansion Del Pensativo. Were we had had an encounter with a tarantula the night before. EEEEK!!!!! It took a stoller to kill the hairy thing!!!


My Beautiful Daughter!

Showing Josiah around beautiful Antigua. (this was my7th time in Antigua , Man I miss that place!)

Josiah and Lilee in front of the fountian in the Central Square.

A self portrait of all of us at bed time. What a fun day! I am so glad I got to bring Josiah on this trip! It was something very special to share with him and I hope he will always remember Guatemala.

One year ago today......

Josiah and I were in Guatemala, where he got to meet his baby sister for the first time.

Lilee was placed in my arms forever and I never had to give her back.

We were all very happy that day!

What are you doing to conserve ?

If you live in the Carolinas you know how bad things are right now with the gas crisis! Yes , it is a crisis,people waiting in lines for 5-6 hrs for gas, fights breaking out, guns being pulled, over gas! In our town we have about 20% of the stations with gas but they have limits. If you drive a gas guzzler like I do then $50 doesn't even get you 1/2 a tank.My Yukan XL has been running to the schools 4 times a day. The Elementary is only a couple of miles from here , but the Middle School is 10 minutes away. So each trip consist of about 30 minutes. 10 there, 10 in line, and 10 back. So here is a way I have started to conserve on my gas. Jordan started riding the bus home from school today. His first time ever riding the bus. (except for field trips) He is not Happy! His reply was. " that was gay"! Yes, I have a spoiled child. But that is 30 minutes X 5 days a week savings in gas. (Plus I don't have to wake the girls up from nap. ) We are suppose to be getting relief soon. I hope that means prices too! Here is a never seen before sight at the Shrum household... Yes .....I did take pictures of my 7th grader riding the bus home for the first time! It was a proud mama moment.

FFF's

Our Family 1 year ago at Charlotte (NC) Douglas Airport.




Josiah and I were heading off to pick up Lilee (Sept. 29th,2007) Sara Ava wanted in the picture too! Look how tiny she was.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

(Lilee) " Man, how many more pictures can mommy take?"

(Sara Ava) " Trust me Lilee, Alot!"

Home Schooling

I started home schooling Sara Ava 3 weeks ago for preschool getting her ready for Kindergarden, starting August 2009. She loves it! Isn't she the cutest 4 yr. old preschooler?

She can write her name and she is really good with her numbers.

Another new post on my ministry blog.

You can check it our here or it is always at the top right corner of this blog.
http://loveforthechildren.blogspot.com/

FFF

THIS PHOTO SHOOT WAS JOSIAH'S IDEA YESTERDAY. HE SAW THAT ALL HIS BOTHERS AND SISTERS SHOWED HIM UP AND PARTICIPATED IN THEIR PICTURES AND DECIDED HE NEEDED TO DO A BETTER JOB. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM! I THINK THEY TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD!

THE SUNGLASSES WAS HIS IDEA.

My mom came home ...

from the hospital yesterday. They sewed her chest back up finally on Tuesday. Please keep praying for her to heal right this time. Thank You for all your prayers!

Sara Ava's Special Day....

As you can tell I am LOVING my new camera. It is a Kodak 12 mega pix with 5X zoom. I really like it alot. I bought mine from Walmart.com and saved $30.

Anyway.... We gave Sara Ava the choice of where to eat last night and of course she said McDonald's. She did not want cake but Ice Cream for her celebration. That was easy, she is not to hard to please! Then we came home and watched a movie with the kids. I think she had a really special day! I made her the cutest Tutu. It was not hard at all and didn't cost much.

(It was a no sew Tutu,so that was right up my alley!) When I was making the tutu I had Joel to be my model. He was the perfect height, Hee Hee! Then when it was done I put it on Sara Ava and cut it to the right length for her. I am going to make one for Lilee for her Gotcha Day.(Coming up really soon)

Here are some pictures I took of Sara Ava today...

These are dresses I bought for them in Guatemala and a traditional Mayan dress. ( Of course I had to included Lilee in one.)

Happy 2nd Gotcha Day Sara Ava!

I can't believe it has been 2 years already! The almost year of waiting to get this child home was torcher!!! And now 2 years later it has flown by! We couldn't imagine life with out you sweet girl!
We Love You Sooooooooooooooo Much!!!!!

Sara Ava 2 years ago today on the plane coming home. She was 2 yrs. 9 mo. old.

Meeting her brothers for the 1st time.

Sara Ava's first Gotcha Day!

She had recently gotten all her hair chopped off.

2 years later. I took this on sunday before church.

I will be posting more pictures of her big day. Its her turn for her photo shoot with my new camera.

More pictures from my new camera.

I took these pictures of Lilee and Jordan today. Sara Ava's turn will be tomorrow on her special day.

2 Beautiful Boys!

I have been playing around with my new camera ( today) ,I just got for my birthday. I took Siah and Joel outside to test it and try to figure it out. I call these the solomn pictures. I love pictures of a child when they are in their natural expressions. It shows off their beautiful faces.
Here are Siah's:

Not that happy to be taking pictures at all!

Now that is a sweet face!

"Come On Mom!!!"

"Ok maybe one sorta smile but that is it!"

Now Joel:

Isn't that a sweet face!!!!!!!This boy always wants his picture made...

And its hard for him not to smile!

What do you all think about my new camera? I have plenty more kids to try it out on so stay tuned......