Shannonogans: December 2012

So let's try and get to current times, or current family size at least. Here's 5 months in a nutshell.

We had Jaylen for the weekend over New Year's. He practiced riding a big bike, went to the golf course with Derek (and LOVED to drive the golf cart...off the path...) , smoked marshmallows on the firepit, and slept in late.

My dad retired in January. Justin and I drove down on a Thursday night to help celebrate. My dad would have the RGIII heads printed up so his staff decided to do the same for him. The heads were everywhere, as were the Starburst candy, in honor of the golf tournament.

All the family that came

Helped host a shower for Jackie, who is now living in Angola. Thankful for the short time I got to spend with her!

Justin helps daddy with his sit ups and pushups in the morning.

Our new church, Christ Community Church, that we were a part of when it started back in January. It was a quick transfer of churches, but everything this year has become that way. We had our first baptism at the Brown's pool, and Michael is here looking at the rain falling. Love the Spirit-led, Word-based church that we are a part of. Thankful the Lord led us here!

We had praise and worship afterwards

The way we roll some days

Daniel turned one! Camp themed for Camp Daniel.

Rodeo at school. Derek has NEVER let me buy boots, and this year I couldn't find a loaner. So Justin wore tennis shoes and a hat. My parents promised to get that boy some boots next year (although did I ever own a pair growing up??).

Found a turtle with the neighborhood kids

Made a book with the help of friends and family for Birdie's 60th. We gave it to her before she went to Israel with Pinecove (and got dunked in the Jordan River!).

Lost our first tooth. I eventually had to be the one to push it out because the blood scared JT. Loved. every. minute. of. it.

This photo was on the front of our Life Book that we made for the adoption.

Tracy's sip n see, that she hosted herself, for baby Chandler. A sweets theme and the guests made their own onesie for the baby. She had out fabrics, buttons, photos, etc. SO stinking cute!

We literally last minute booked a trip for the three of us to Deer Valley to ski...again. So glad Derek insisted as it was such a sweet time.

We met up with the Voorhees and Justin got to ski with Chance.

Visited with Great Papaw

The whole Morby crew camped out over Easter. I brought along eggs for all the cousins to hunt on Easter morning. We first had our own service and everyone has a role. It was a sweet time together.

Maddie, our phenomenal babysitter, made Justin a MarioKart Wii gluten/dairy free chocolate cake for when Justin broke his arm after playing on the Brown's monkey bars. It was our first broken body part, but I am thankful the Lord had me go through it first before we got another child with a broken leg.

MS-150. Derek's first bike race ever! He rode with Chris Pine, with Leslie's brother riding and he himself fighting MS.

Team "No MAS", or no more MS.

Waiting at the halfway point. This is such a big deal as I never had any idea. SO many people that ride. Plus buses to hail those that can;t finish. Hey, I can do that, right?

Derek was pooped after the first day. Each leg is 10 miles and then a break. He never even rode 10 straight miles in a ride when training. But the athlete persevered.

At the capital in Austin as the team rode in together.

Justin's baseball. We moved him up a league to play with 6-7 year olds. We only knew one friend, but by the end loved the entire team.

Justin was such a fan, both on and off the field. At first he wouldn't even watch the ball coming to him at first base because the other team had a runner going home. Big jump from t-ball to a real game of baseball. He ended up playing third base all season. It was fun to watch, and so many natural characteristics of his father.

Awana. Justin went when he stayed with Audrey when I went to Tracy's sip 'n see. And that's all she wrote as he was hooked. He finished the entire book that the class had worked on all year in 5 weeks, memorizing 19 verses at a time. He loved it, and now the whole family goes this year. We have the Sparks CD memorized.

Justin and bestie Audrey

Mother's Day weekend. Due to the broken arm for 3.5 weeks (we still tote the cast around the house), the grandparents had to come in for the last baseball game of the season. There was a double header, and we only got in a few innings before the rest of the weekend was rained out.

What made the weekend extra sweet was that we had just put in our homestudy for a sibling group and found out that we were in the top three families. Our Arrow representative, Gregory, came by the house and got to talk with all the grandparents and us to prepare us for what was to come. It was such a sweet night that only the Lord could arrange!

A bit small

What only grandchildren do - read a book while all the grandparents look on.

We found out on Tuesday, May 15th, that we won the kids. Elise & Daniel had already planned a month before to stay with us Wednesday-Friday. Such a sweet time that, once again, only the Lord could have planned, as we got good family time right before our world changed that Friday.