IMG_9456


Bret has had several surgeries this winter, but feeling very blessed to have a great doctor and great insurance!

IMG_9455


IMG_9466


IMG_9469

After Bret was taken back to surgery Boone was hungry.  Since, Bret couldn't eat we made him wait. 

IMG_9475




IMG_9485


When kids get bored at the hospital things get a little weird. 
















IMG_8611


IMG_8613



Remi shared her birthday with her biological sister.  

http://sammynmick.blogspot.com/2014/05/extraordinary.htmlhttp://sammynmick.blogspot.com/2014/05/extraordinary.html

Watch how God brought them together and then listen to these lyrics!  : - )


I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind
I try to keep you safely in between the lines
I try to put you in the box that I've designed
I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye
When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?
I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world
How could I make you so small
When you're the one who holds it all
When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world
Just a whisper of your voice can tame the seas
So who am I to try to take the lead
Still I run ahead and think I'm strong enough
When you're the one who made me from the dust
When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?




IMG_8614

IMG_8615


IMG_8620


IMG_8616

IMG_8622

IMG_8628


IMG_8633

IMG_8632

IMG_8635




IMG_8630



IMG_8634



IMG_8637


IMG_8609
















IMG_9388


The night before the big inauguration the kids were finishing homework, getting baths and watching all the buzz leading up of the great day.  Yes, I voted for him.  

Well, I think Stafan must think Melania is BEAUTIFUL.  Not that he ever said it.  Stafan isn't the type.   


IMG_9386

This wasn't the first time though that I noticed a serious, puzzled look on Stafan's face when he saw Donald and Melania together.  This time, he looked at them and then looked at me with that same puzzled look and asked,  "Does she really love him?"

IMG_9389

After Stafan's question:  the conversation went like this:

Me:  "She is older than she looks.  She is like 36." (turns out she is 47)

Lyric:  "Seriously!  He is like 67!  He is an old man!" (he is 70) 

Me (finally coming clean):  "Well...she married him for his money."

IMG_9390


Lyric completely shocked:  "Does Trump know that?!!!!"

IMG_9382


IMG_9401


IMG_9409


IMG_9400


Melania

Stunning!  She was full of class inside and out. 

IMG_9435


Karen_Penceline_-a-


Twitter


OMGosh!  That is just what I was thinking (except for getting Melania's name wrong). 


GettyImages-632182820


And this from Harper's Bazaar:  Some say she “stunned” in the belted red dress, but have we ever seen Michelle look so matronly? Especially when it comes to live television events as huge as this? Perhaps your elementary school librarian comes to mind? Wonder what the game plan was with this dress choice?

Maybe it was kind of like the bride who chooses ugly bridesmaid dresses so as not to be shown up on her special day? Yeah, let’s go with that. Sure, sure, it’s winter in Washington. It’s cold. But can’t a belted red dress be a little less... flat? The silver lining? A gift. 

That's what I was thinking too.










IMG_9225


Gosh, this kid is easy to love.  That's what my Aunt Marion used to say.  Some kids are easy to love.  Guess that means some aren't. 



IMG_9222




IMG_9214


StafanGSWIsad


I found this picture of Stafan the other day on the web.  He was in the orphanage.  I don't even know who put it on the web, but I was thrilled to find it!


StafanGSWIGRNshorts


stafanjpg

And, after we got him.  Be still my heart. 

Stafan Allen


















IMG_9296

So Darby wanted me to cook with her today.  She pulled her birthday card thing.  Today was a good day for it.  There was no  school because of Martin Luther King Day.  Her big sister dropped her off at 9:00 am.  She had her Christmas cookbook in  hand and off to the grocery we went. 

IMG_9245

So, if I make them do all the work it isn't going to be that bad at all. 

IMG_9246

IMG_9250

IMG_9247


IMG_9263

Darby says, "This is so exciting!  For everyone."

Me:  "Oh yeah!" 

IMG_9269

When Stafan talks he kind of talks like Rocky--low, slow and dry.

Stafan:  "What is that? Is that real cheese?"

Me:  "Yes, it's real cheese, Shut up." 

It was Velveeta.  Ha... That is probably not real cheese.

IMG_9260




IMG_9265

IMG_9270

IMG_9272

IMG_9275

IMG_9281

IMG_9285

IMG_9290

Darby:  "I can cook!!"


IMG_9292

IMG_9299

Me:  "Are they good Boone?"

Boone:  "Yeah, I guess-th." 


IMG_9308


IMG_9305



IMG_9307

Shepard ate two.

IMG_9311

Then came dinner.  Don't mind the old pizza pan.  It is the one thing Mike brought to our marriage 33 years ago (and he is as fond of it today, as the day we got married).  However, he did go from a sack boy to an attorney.  : - ))))  Anyway, I about killed the pizza pan last Thanksgiving.  I put  an over 30 pound turkey on it to defrost.  It bent it pretty good.  Then I about died laughing when I got out the turkey.  Shepard said he told his teacher we had a 60 pound turkey for Thanksgiving.   His teacher responded, "A 60 pound turkey?!!!"   Shepard told me, "well I thought it was."   LOL




IMG_9315




IMG_9313


IMG_9326


IMG_9328