One month home...



We have had Aaron in our lives for six weeks now and we have been home for one month and it seems like that it was a year ago that we were in China!  Aaron is still doing great and he is learning so much everyday, he has got three great little teachers that show him new funny things to do all the time:)  Averi, Nathan, and Connor are doing super as well, it is wonderful to see how much they love and have just taken Aaron in as one of them. We are busy as usual, but I wanted to post a few pictures of the last month.

This was 6 weeks ago in China.

This is now! :)

Nathan, Aaron, Averi, and Connor posing at the new office in Bosque Farms.  Yep, we don't have enough going on in our lives, so now we are moving!! Looking for renters for our home in Rio Rancho, so if you know of anyone looking for a place....:)

Nathan and Aaron skateboarding

Connor and Aaron skateboarding

At Gallopping Grace Pumpkin Patch

Two of our bunnies:)

Aaron and Connor tractor racing!

This was at a "surprise shower" for Aaron :)

The wonderful group of people who put on the party for Aaron! You all are awesome - it was a blast!

Scary pumpkin carvers...

Aaron, Connor, and Nathan showing thier muscles:)

Then Aaron thought Averi needed to show her muscles too

Finished!

Settling In...

Time is flying by! I can't believe we were actually in China a few weeks ago!  Aaron has settled in with our family so nicely, almost like he has been with us for months.  We got back into the swing of our routine last week with homeschool and I was wondering how Aaron was going to do while we were schooling.  He has been great, he plays and comes and sits in my lap and listens as I teach the kids, or he draws and colors.  Then when Connor is done with school, he and Connor are ready to play while the two big kids finish. So, no worries for mom, things are still moving smoothly with school :) 
Aaron loves to cuddle with Mom, this may be our only area that he gets bugged by, he doesn't really like to share mom with Connor!  But we are working on sharing mom :) 
We have slowed our schedule down a bit and are staying home more to give Aaron time to continue to adjust.  No complaints here! It has been nice to be able to be home with our family. We did go to church last Saturday, but his little class was a bit much yet, so he just stayed with Ryan and I.  This week Averi went with him to his class, and he did great! We are going to work on slowly transitioning him into his class at church, he is so social, I am sure he is going to love his time in there with the other kiddos :)
Averi, Nathan, and Connor are really doing good, too.  They all love to play with him and make him laugh (which isn't hard -  he is a funny kiddo). I was most concerned about Connor with him being the youngest, but he tells me often how he loves Aaron.  When Aaron acts like he doesn't want Connor to sit with mom, Connor thinks it's funny.  But I do spend extra time cuddling with just Connor and reminding him what a great big brother he is to Aaron - and he really is great with him :)
We will continue to adjust and blend together as a family.  We have been totally blessed with our transition so far, but even so, change is never easy.  Adoption is a beautiful thing, but also work. Working to make sure Aaron feels loved and part of our family, working to make sure our other 3 feel loved and not left out, working to still have time for Ryan and I, working to keep the house running and in some sort of order with meals ready that we all will like to eat - but all of it is so worth it.  God placed this special little one in our family for a purpose, and we are so thankful.  Aaron has had a tough little life in his 3 years, but God was with him the whole time and placed him in just the right hands to bring him to our family.  God is absolutely  amazing, that he cares for us and about us as individuals blows my mind!

"May what God grants us be used amplify the lives of others."  Cindy Martinusen

Aaron and his Averi

I think our eyes make it look like we could be related....

At the International Balloon Fiesta in Abluq, if you have never been - you need to come!

Averi, Nathan, Connor, friends Joey and Kayla with the balloons!

cheese!

At the zoo in Albuq~

We weren't sure what Aaron was going to be for Halloween, but Connor and I found this at Target and we HAD to get it for our little Elmo lover!

And yes, Papa and Marcus, Connor will be a Dallas Cowboy this year :)

BE BLESSED~

Home~

Well, we arrived home safe and sound Friday evening around 9:30 - and we were so glad to see those three smiling faces!!  We were met at the airport by many friends and famliy with signs and cheering - it was incredible for Ryan and I and a little frightening for Aaron!  After he got over the shock, he was happy to meet his new family.

This is our family of 6 before we left the airport.

When we got home Aaron seemed to feel right at home. He loved the dogs right away and was thrilled to play with the kids and all of the toys!

Aaron's first morning waking up at home :)

Connor and Aaron hanging out watching some Elmo.

                                           Connor, Aaron, and Nathan ready for the hot tub!

This is Aaron getting his first adjustment! He saw Connor get adjusted and then he was ready for his turn.

All of the kids playing in the tent, Aaron is loving all of the toys!

Aaron helping me pick tomatos - he kept calling them apples :)

All of the signs that were being held by the wonderful people waiting to meet us at the airport!

Everyone seems to be doing great for the time being.  God is so faithful and has totally provided in every way for us.  There were times when we were flying and in China when I hung on by repeating scripture over and over, which brought that peace and comfort that can only come from the Prince of Peace.  We are so thankful, and we know that there will be bumps in the road on this journey but we are going to cling to our Heavenly Father - He will not fail. 
I plan on continuing to blog occassionally  to keep you up to date on how things are going with all of us, but I am sure I won't be as good as I was when I was blogging in China daily!
Thank you again for your contiuned prayers!