reminiscing...GOTCHA DAY!!

Today we are celebrating our sweet Sam's "GOTCHA DAY!"...the day he was placed in our arms and officially became ours forever! This happened on March 30, 2011. Some pictures from that glorious day...

*being silly...just before walking out the door to get sam - our "we're going to get a baby" poses*

*GOT HIM*

*getting his final measurements at the orphanage*

*back in our room*

*a jOyFuL mommy & daddy*

Click here to see Sam's "Gotcha Day/Going Home" video. It is by far my favorite one - especially the part when we see our girls again!

Thank you for walking down memory lane with us this week! We are {still} overwhelmed by the grace God showed to us through this journey!

reminiscing...the day we met our son

Any parent will testify...seeing your child for the first time is a surreal experience! The flood of emotions that washes over you is enough to make you feel like you're drowning. I vividly remembering seeing both my girls for the first time...

**addie**

**ellee*

Although we had "seen" Sam before in pictures, I compare it to seeing an ultrasound picture...it's wonderful to have a visual of your child, but there's nothing like seeing that sweet face in person and holding your baby for the first time!

We did just that - one year ago today!



One of my favorite videos of our journey...

reminiscing...travel day

A year ago today, Lee and I were beginning one of the most amazing journeys of our life...the start of welcoming our 3rd child into our family!! Though the delivery a bit different from "traditional," the excitement, nerves and awe of the unknown felt like a familiar road we had traveled twice before.

We did our best to record our journey through videos and pictures so that all our family and friends could be in the "delivery room" with us. It was an experience that we couldn't keep to ourselves!

Take a look at the videos we {ok, Lee} made that captured a bit of the first leg of the journey...





More videos & pictures to come as we celebrate Sam's homecoming week! :)

princess weekend

The girls began the weekend by being escorted to a "Cinderella Ball" by their Knight in Shining Armor - their Daddy! Both of my girls were excited about the evening and as you can see, even the most sophisticated of princesses has a little silliness in them...





My little prince got in on the photo shoot as well...




The next day, we surprised our royal highnesses with tickets to Disney on Ice...


After an absolutely necessary stop for some rainbow snow cones, we settled into our seats and waited for the show...


The show was fantastic!! I was most intrigued by the costumes and the props...




Lee's favorite part of the show was when Cogsworth (the clock) from Beauty and the Beast took a spill out on the ice and his enourmously awkward cosutume prevented him from getting up!! He tried for several minutes while the other characters skated around him. When he was unsuccessful, the others came to his rescue without any luck either. Finally, some official "men in black" emerged from behind the scenes and pulled poor Cogsworth off the ice and away from utter humiliation...


Addie's favorite part was seeing Ariel from the Little Mermaid!

Ellee said seeing Belle from Beauty and the Beast was the best for her!

And Sam's favorite part? Hmm...




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Because I'm always the one behind the camera, my face very rarely shows up on here. Lee said I need to make an appearance every once in a while. Well, here ya go...

Have a wonderful day!