Annalina's New Haircut

 Annalina Before

 Annalina After.

She got 10 inches cut off. She had met a family who got their haircut for Locks of Love and she REALLY wanted to give to them too and help kids who lose their hair due to illness.  Daddy needed to be asked first and he was fine with it. I think she still looks feminine and cute and it is A LOT easier now for her to keep her hair untangled which is so nice.

End of Summer Fun . . . Daddy got the Trebuchet Done!

 Babe has been wanting to build a trebuchet for a long time 

and this last weekend he FINISHED it just in time before the school year starts!

Gabriel was THRILLED it was completed!! This trebuchet launches golf balls!

Babe is going to have to spend some time tweeking it to get it to launch it

it's maximum distance.

 Carson and Ross helping load more rocks in the counter weight box.

 The kids counted down from 10 for the release!

 Annalina was so excited to launch this. She was closing her eyes 

as the boys counted down for her.

I think Carson thought he was a big kid getting

to launch the trebuchet! Ross took a turn too. Ross

did it a bit to energetically!:-)

Blessing

This past Sunday was such a blessing for Babe and I. The church service and music really touched us and challenged us for stronger living by refocusing us to look to Jesus. I love how God knows just what we need and when. I walked out so ready for the school year!

As I was sitting in the service feeling so blessed I thought of my friend Heather. Thanks for being a blessing Heather! I haven't seen you in probably 14 years (thankful for email!) but I count you as a blessing. Thanks for being so real and so caring and so prayerful. You're a blessing to me.

May I Introduce My Sweet Niece . . .

 This is Alyzza Joy Johnson

officially as of yesterday!!

Yesterday was her official adoption day

but long ago she was adopted by our hearts.

She has the most infectious laugh and will just 

brighten a room in seconds when you hear her!

I had never witnessed an adoption before and I am so thankful

I have now. It was an incredibly special day and one I will never forget.

Awhile after the ceremony Alyzza gave me a hug and said "I'm in your family now!"

We are soooooo thankful for that! She is precious and I can't imagine Quentin and Theo without her.
They are super parents. It was really neat to see and meet their friends that came out to help celebrate.

 The two sweeties
I heard Annalina at the end of the day as we were
getting ready to leave say to Alyzza "Now you'll be with us forever."

 Cousins

 Alyzza with her Daddy (my brother Quentin)

 Alyzza shaking the judges hand.

 It's official now!!!!! Happy Day!!

 We were told to sit in the jury section. Our verdict: 

to live happily ever after!!

 My sister-in-law Theo with Jedidiah

 Alyzza playing with Carson.

Alyzza's GOTCHA cake!!

We are so thankful she is permanently in our family!

I haven't been able to post pictures of her before because it was not official and I had to edit my pictures because there is another sweet little girl in their family that we are praying her adoption will come through. When it does I can introduce her!!!!

Our Summer # 5

 Aunti Flo and Auntie Grace came to visit us from California.

Flo was my roomate in college and I got to know her sister Grace. Flo is soon headed to Bob Jones

to get her Dr.'s degree! I know she is going to do great

and have a super time there! It was so nice to be able to catch up with them again and hang out.

 Annalina went with them to the Olympics training center for another tour

and she had fun with her Aunties.

 Whew!!! What a strong girl!!

 Auntie Flo is a LOVER of LEGOS. She and the kids built 

this castle while she was here!

Auntie Grace with Jedidiah.

Pretty Pictures My Brother Took

 Our view with a glorious sunlight on it!

So beautiful.

 Our house

A foggy Pike's Peak.

Our Summer Part #4

 Our next visitors this summer were Uncle B and Cousin C. We had such a great time with them.

Swimming, water fights, shaving cream fight, watching olympics, going to the playground, going to the woods, the kids loved playing around the house and building forts. B let Babe and I go out on a date and we had a wonderful time doing that!

 Ahh, fun in the woods!!!

 I received the HARD end of the water fights we had and

ended up drenched and having had a lot of fun! The first water fight I went out myself and built up an arsenal of water balloons and then called the boys outside and starting bombarding them. They quickly started repaying me!!

One day the boys had a day out and went to the Golden knife store

and they each got a new knife. Gabriel is THRILLED with his new knife 

which is way better than his old one. The took time to carve with there new knives.

They had a good boy day in Golden with Babe, Uncle Q, and Uncle B!

 Fort time!!! Box for playing card and board games inside!

 Uncle Ben hanging out with Annalina and Jedidiah!

 Annalina and Cousin C were the best at this game. Catching cheeseballs on shower cap doused in shaving cream. C had the hang of it!

 The shaving cream game turned into a BIG and FUN shaving cream fight!!