Our Baby!

Here are Alli's Freshman Captain cheer pictures! She is so excited about cheering in the high school and is also enjoying coaching the Youth Jacket Cheerleaders as well!

We have another beautiful addition to our family... I had mentioned before that Jeff's sister was pregnant - well, she had a PERFECT 7 lb. 4 oz. baby girl named Makena Elizabeth! We could not be happier for them and just can't wait to meet her!

Don't Forget...

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~Christopher Robin to Pooh, A. A. Milne

As Mario grows right before my eyes... as I feed him everyday... as he gets stronger... as I hold him and kiss his neck... as I comfort him when he is sick and kiss his boo boos... as I love him everyday since he is home...

I NEVER forget how I loved him from so many miles away... I NEVER forget those who now cannot come HOME and have to live in orphanages because no one can afford to take care of them and the adoptions have stopped. The children are still there....it could be MY son...that NEVER escapes my daily thoughts.

If you are reading this and looking for a way to help, please visit JULIA'S Blog for a great raffle. The Global Orphan Team is a fantastic non-profit that I personally KNOW that the money is going DIRECTLY to help the orphans of Guatemala. If you can give $5, I would really appreciate it.

Please don't forget about them...CLICK HERE

Zoo & more

Jeff had this past week off, so we decided to just hang out with the kids as much as possible (well, for as long as we can get our 14 year old to slow down). It was a fantastic week of shopping, the zoo, eating out and relaxing. We all had a great time. Jeff even took the kids up to visit his parents and took the kids to the Lake. Since I am so slow at uploading pictures (I know, I know!) , I thought that I would start with the zoo pics!

We picked a great overcast day. It was warm, but not hot - and a weekday! There were not many people at all which made it SO much more enjoyable than last year (which I affectionately call it the "day of hot")! All of the animals were out and playful, and Mario walked the ENTIRE zoo... which, to be honest, sometimes I personally would like a adult sized stroller for. I was impressed by his energy and stamina! These are not in any real order, but I am just happy that they are up in less than a month from the event. There should be an award for summer posting! :-) looking at the lion (which Mo can say now!)
Isn't this a great shot... it was really a good zoo day!

Mo says "Girrrrraffe" now, too!
None of them are as tall as Big Ben (of course, the sign made Jeff roll his non-Steeler-loving eyes!)
This was Mario and Alli's favorite part... all of the elephants were in the elephant house eating! Mario says "Et-ta-tant!" and "Baby Et-Ta-Tant!" when he sees them... he went from equal parts of joy and panic in here... I went from equal parts of "aww how cute" to "that smells SO bad!'

Mo says BUM! lol!

scary!
I guess this sums it up....I usually want to hug her and choke her! lol!

Go Pens (yet another eye roll from the hubbs)

I just love my family!

We did a lot of THIS throughout the day - LOOK.. OVER THERE... do you SEE IT????

Mario sees this pic and says "Daddy - Hats!"

Me and my girlie!

Allison is still as busy as ever but is managing her schedule well. I am not keeping up as well as I would like! lol. Her cheer squad had a bake sale Thursday, Friday and Saturday which they made a great profit. Sunday, she volunteered at the assisted living complex that she has been helping with all summer. They had a festival from 11:30 to 6pm. She really gets a kick out of the residents. Her freshman orientation is the 12th of August... odd... odd that she will be a freshman... odd that in 4 short years, she will be leaving for college... that the next 4 years will I am sure, fly by in a blur of fun....odd that her dad will be her principal... and I will be sitting in the audience at orientation the mother of TWO ready for one to start high school and one not even in kindergarten... what a great life :-) I just need to breathe and take it all in before it goes by so fast...

Mario has now taken to saying LOTS of words in the past week that make me laugh. He says that dad is "mowing"... he now refers to our dog by his full name instead of just Murrs... he now calls him Murry which sounds more like "Moo-wee"...he says "What?" when Alli calls him - with the emphasis on the T at the end...he says "oh MAN!" ...he sings Old Mc Donald "e-i-e-i-oooooooo" with his lips pursed out with the ooooooo....and Itsy Bitsy Spider with adorable arm movements....of course, car, truck, hand... and all kinds of cute words that make me pick him up and kiss his "wittle neck"... this child is the most kissable thing ever.

The Kiddos

Oh, I just never am on here, but I thought that I would post the few pics I have taken! Here is Mario is all of his glory just singing Old MacDonald...

I just love BOTH of my kids eyes... they are both so unique... Mario's are the deepest brown...
and Alli's are sometime light brown, sometimes light green..she is loving cheerleading and all that summertime has to offer... keeping up with her is a full time job!

Since I have been helping coach the Junior Varisty Squad, Mario has been enjoying A lot of cheering, too! The Varsity Boys' B-Ball coach even sent him a cool shirt...
We hope you are enjoying your summer months as we all know they go by too quickly!

300th Post & 4th Pics!

It is the 300th Post! When we first started this blog at the beginning of 2007, I thought that it would document bringing Mario home to us. It has become a little family scrapbook for me to put pictures. I am happy there are still a few of you out there reading. It is nice to know that our story and our family is interesting enough to keep you coming back! :-) Even though I don't blog often, I do like to come back and look at how much my own kids have grown!

Our 4th of July was spent with my brother, Jack and his wife Vicki at their house! They had a combined birthday party for their 3 kids, Zach, Josh and Riley who all have summer birthdays! It was a beautiful day, and we had so much fun! Here are a lot of photos of the day (since I ran out and got a new camera card right before the party! :-)

My parents with their grandkiddos! (I took 8 pictures, and this is the best one I got with everyone looking in my general direction.)

Mario did NOT want to go on the swings alone... he loves his Sissy!

Zach and Mo look so serious!

This is my favorite pic... if you see the little Guat legs running, and ALL 4 kids chasing him!
awwwwwww, some Sissy and Riley love

Never a nice pic of Alli... why the face? Teenagers!
I loved this one, too...so sweet!
Riley is so strong! :-)
I love Pap Pap who gives me chippies!
mmmmmm Chippies
Cousin Love

The Rohland Kiddos - Happy Birthday!
JOSH

ZACH

Riley Roo with her personalized back pack... soooo excited to go to school!
Riley with her Holly G Bows! We LOVE Holly's Bows!

ALL of the Bows in her hair... you can have custom bows, too... visit Hollys' site over there

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Daddy and his girl

I love the expression on Riley's face! She loves that homemade ice cream cake... mmm, it was wonderful Vicki!
MAKE A WISH!!!!!!!!

Pap and Mario!----------->






me and my boy!

We even got a concert by Zachary... we said his Sax was ZachXY!

My SMILEY Boy!

My sister-in-law is having her shower tomorrow and we hope she enjoys every second of it! We wish we could have been there! :-)))))))