Halloween 2014

I mean there's really not much to say about these pictures other than THIS IS FUN! I love trick or treat night because the kids love trick or treat night. It's just so silly and weird and crazy to dress up in random costumes and walk around the neighborhood. Griff took a step UP this year and kept up with the big kids almost the entire night---totally impressive.

The girls got a gazillion compliments on their old lady gear-ha! And Griff of course was a superhero---he is a superhero almost every moment of every day. And we love it!

A glimpse into Grady

WHAT A GIFT! And a surprise to have our friends be able to stop at Grady's orphanage and visit him. Jenna and Evyn Thompson went out of their way to stop in to see our little guy. Grady was just going down for a nap--so quite sleepy. But today, when receiving these pictures, we felt like we had a glimpse into his world. This meant the WORLD to us. The road outside his orphanage (which he has probably never seen), the courtyard, the bed he sleeps in, that PURPLE shirt...all we've seen him in so far...and the sweet man holding his arms out to our son. God bless this man who holds our son today. We can't wait to meet him, hug him, and thank him!

Emma is 7!!?

Oh sweet Emma...such a joy to our family. Sassy and ridiculously sweet. This year you turned 7 and this year you officially started elementary school. Watching you sit at your desk on your first day of school was insanely hard, but you just flourish. I mean seriously...you love people, you love to listen to people, you love to watch people. You don't miss a beat sweet Ems. Our prayer for you is for God to increase and instill gentleness, purity and leadership in you. It is SO easy for you to make friends. We pray that God will use your influence to bring people to Him someday. You are an incredible big sister to Griffin--and one day soon you will be that for Grady, too. We love you Emma! It was fun celebrating you this October 18---your friends had so much fun at your party! Love you Rosie.

Final Disney moments

Disney Continued :)

DAY ONE DISNEY

Hot Hot Hot days. Super fun and great to be together. But Disney World in August was hot. We had lots of water and so very much enjoyed the AC when we had it. Today created memories 

we will have forever. 

Best Drive to Disney World---ever to be imagined

So this is the day we have been waiting for for 2 1/2 years. Yep---we have officially been on the waiting list for a sweet baby boy since August 2012, and TODAY we got to "meet" him for the first time. Almost exactly two years later. Who would have thought it would be while our entire family was in the car together traveling to DISNEY- "where dreams come true." 

(10 min into the trip)

Grady, someday you will read this and LET ME TELL YOU---we could not have imagined a sweeter moment. We were driving through southern Ohio when I realized I missed a phone call from our adoption agency. I immediately called back, heart pounding. Jennifer Sheridan tried to make small talk with me but finally spilled the beans that we had been matched with a boy! I screamed. Literally. I couldn't tell you what she said next because all I wanted to do was hangup the phone, open my email, and lay eyes on you, little man. AND THAT WE DID. 

Our first picture of our son. This is your face and this is the sweet face we saw for the first time ever. We all had different reactions, but let's just say there were plenty of tears, a TON of screaming, and lots of questions from Emma and Griffin. It took us maybe 3 minutes (after celebrating within our car) to pull out our phones and send THIS sweet face to our families. We couldn't wait for your grandparents, aunts and uncles, to meet you.

Our trip to Disney World flew by---I could barely sleep for the next few nights, and all your Dad and I could think of was what you were doing and when we would meet you. 

Day one of Disney was a celebration of GRADY. He wasn't with us in person, but boy oh boy was he the reason we had such big smiles on our faces!!!