Happily Ever After...

I have a new nickname. The boys have taken to calling me "Couper",  "Mrs. Couper" or just plain ol' "Coup" for short. For ALL the ribbing I get for every little thing, I have to say, I really love this new name because it reflects the new me. ( No boys, this is not reverse psychology- I know that doesn't work on you any more! Seriously, keep calling me Coup- I looovvvee it! Really.) You see, thanks to some prompting from my dear friends Audrey and Aimee , I have begun a new career of sorts. It's called "Clip or Rip and Spend to Save" You see, I thought that clipping coupons meant that you'd save, oh, about $1.75 on your bill and the paper costs almost that much, so it wasn't worth it. How wrong I was! I started at the beginning of September with 4 papers worth of coupons and 3 stores that I was willing to shop at. I have saved consistantly 50% but my favorite receipt (which I am considering framing) I spent $46 and I SAVED ON...

When the FIRST leaf falls from the tree out front (and believe me I am watching) it is time to break out the fall decorations and the fall clothes. I LOVE THE FALL! Apple cider, yummy homemade soups, chili, apple picking, applesauce making, crisp evening walks, and the beautiful foliage are just a few of my fall loves! Enjoy the photos of my lil pumpkins!

I am PROUD that my two youngest children were adopted. They aren't my adopted children. We adopted them in 2005 and 2007 and now, they are just our girls. Please, please don't refer to them as my adopted children, my china dolls, my chinese children. They are just 2 of the 4 of our children, and we love all 4 of them so much! I try to be gracious, even when someone's questions are not phrased in adoption correct terms. But my primary goal is to make sure that my girls are comfortable with the conversation, not that a total stranger has all their questions answered. As Aria is now 4 yrs old, she totally understands all that is said. My job as their mommy is first and foremost to protect them. My hope is that God will be glorified through our adoption and that our story can be a tool to share our faith. I look for opportunities every day to share my faith, or adoption is only one way. I try to have patience when I am rushing through the store for one ingredient I need to mak...

Saturday was a beautiful fall day here in Georgia, and we had a wonderful treat of meeting Papa at the park. Papa has a special treat for the girls- M&M's!!!! Aria is full of chocolate and ready to play! Gianna needs a little help from Papa to get down the hill. "What?? No more M&Ms???" They insist on riding the slides together. Sweet sisters. "Wait for me Sissy!" Look at Gianna with her eyes shut tight! She cracks me up! I think we need a dryer sheet for her hair and all that static cling! Thanks for coming to see us Papa-It was so much fun hanging out with you!

I am completely humbled that Karin over at HennHouse  has nominated little ol' me for a blogging award! Karin writes beautifully, she loves her family fiercely, and she is very real with the struggles and joys of raising her children. Although I may never have the privilege of meeting her in person, she has been such a wonderful support to me through her comments on my blog. Please visit her blog- I know you will be as blessed as I have been! I have the pleasure of nominating 5 bloggers for this award as well: But first here are the rules: 1. Choose five blogs that you consider deserving of this award. 2. Name the author and include a link to his/her blog. 3. Show the award and put the name and link of the blog that presented you the award. 4. Show the link blog of the origin of this award. 5. Show these rules 1) Audrey at the Brown Brigade is a wonderful friend who shares the understanding of raising children with issues.  I don't have to explain- she gets it. She is  also so...

At the doctor this week:      Doctor: " Aria look up at that red box on the wall while I look in your eye"      Aria: " That's not a box! It's an octagon, it has eight sides." And speaking of shapes....       Aria: "Mommy guess what shape this is."     Mommy: " Ummm, I don't think that is a shape."     Aria: "Silly Mommy! It's  a trapezoid!" I'm embarrassed to say this, but I had to google it and  she was right!

 In my experience, sisters tend to bicker MUCH, MUCH more than brothers. I never remember having to mediate the boys as much as I have the girls. That being said, I try to count it all joy, when, for the 25th time each day, I have to remind the girls to be kind, to think of others, to not provoke. The funny thing is, that they are the BEST of friends, and the BEST at getting each others goat- ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Greg's grandmother calls it "Bein' an itch" You know, so irritating that you just HAVE TO SCRATCH! The girls have it down to a science! Well one of the more humorous ways that the girls are an itch to each other is through one specific word.. A word that will send the other screaming, "STOP IT,STOP IT, STOP IT!!!!" Therefore, a word, when used in the "itch" context is grounds for discipline. What is that uber-itchy word you ask? Shoe. Or in their screeching voices: "SHHHHEEEEEWWWWWW!" Yup, that's right-Shoe. We have NO EARTH...

At times the girls can be... well, ummm a tad needy. Older brothers tend not to understand all the whining, fussing and perceived "needs" that usually pop up each evening. Yesterday, Yo and Lucia were playing with the girls in the playroom, and I hear loud yelling: "I'M COLD!" "I NEED A DRINK!" "MY NIGHT NIGHT MUSIC STOPPED!" "I AM HUNGRY!" "WHERE IS MY SNACK???" Since it wasn't the girls making all those demands, I grabbed the camera and ran down the hall, to find THIS: Aria and Gianna were putting them to bed, and like pros, Yo and Cia thought of every single stall tactic known to children  to keep their sisters hopping! They needed to be read to, wanted more cold water, and needed a bedtime snack.. The "mommies" even put hats on them so they wouldn't bump their heads on the castle- Unfortunately, they ran out of hats, and Cia got a pair of doll pants, but hey, it's the thought that counts! Well, ...

Today was "bring a friend day" at ballet class and Aria and Gianna invited  Savannah and Juliet... They were all very, very excited! Gianna and Juliet are   pretty serious about their dance moves. Funny thing is, that BOTH my girls picked Cinderella costumes, and BOTH Aimee's girls picked Snow White even though they were in different classrooms- Sisters!! "Umm, Mom.... what are we supposed to be doing now?" The BEST part of the day was when Savannah got the last spot in Aria's class so now they are taking ballet together!  Yippee Skippee!

"I make you food."

We found THE MOST ADORABLE dance program!  Each week the girls dress up like a different princess, and learn ballet and tap by reinacting the story- For example, on  Cinderella week, they give them all small brooms and they have to dance around and clean before the ball. It's really, really fun! Gianna is taking a Mommy and Me class and although the girls have no idea who most of the characters are, it has been a sweet way to introduce ballet and tap. Gianna is ready to go to ballet~ We had the special treat of Papa coming to watch this week! He is their biggest fan :) Aria was Mul@n this week, and although we don't know the story, she was excited that she got to dress in a chinese outfit! Gianna was a fairy princess this week. She totally LOVES this class although I must admit, I thought the storyline was a little "out there".  Gianna's teacher, who is VERY pregnant, has Gianna be her "special buddy" so that when the mommies step out of the room for tap...

Last night, we went to our local Adoptive Families Group. We met early for dinner, and sweet, handsome Sheridan was the girls special buddy for the evening. Aren't they the cutest??? Mimi , Gianna, Sheridan, and Aria are all havin fun! Our sweet friend Kim , (aka as Sheridan's Mommy) getting some Gianna snuggles. Sheridan and Aria took turns MC'in the event. We had to leave a little early to get our sleepy princesses to bed, but we had another wonderful time with our friends!