Onslow May 2012

What a wonderful trip to the beach we had!  Unbeknownst to us, we picked a fabulous long weekend to be there.  The first night we were there, they had a family game night.  On Saturday they had a half-marathon, carnival, and outdoor movie.  It was amazing.  And we love being in the midst of all the marines and seeing what life is like on the base.  It makes us so grateful for the sacrifice these men and women make so that we can have freedom.

Our littlest princess LOVED the beach.  In fact, as soon as she spotted the water, she ran for it and let the waves knock her down.  She then loved sitting in the sand, letting the waves splash over her.  It was precious to watch.  And she also ate her fair share of sand.

As usual, Ry could not get enough of the waves.  He loves the beach, especially the water.  When he was not enjoying the waves, he was searching for sharks teeth.  They found over 600 of them this year!

Our beautiful girl.

Madeline also LOVES the water and taking a boogie board to the waves.

Lilly Grace adores her brother, and her brother is pretty smitten with her.

My babies!!!!!!  Love their big smiles, and Lilly Graces expression.

Our boy looks so grown up here.

Grandma!  What a joy to have Grandma retired.  We called her last minute to join us on our beach trip and she came.  We were so blessed by her company.

Buried. . .

My princess.

Breaking free!

Mother's Day 2012

2012 was a special Mother's Day indeed.  Madeline and Ryan decorated a cookie cake for me and presented it to me on Mother's Day morning.  It says, "Madeline + (plus) Ryan heart Mom.  What a precious gift.  It was the most delicious cookie cake I have ever tasted.

Me and my babies.

Lilly Grace at Family Night

Lilly Grace did not quite make it on stage for SEEK Family Night, but she was a joy to watch as she toddled around and explored.

Here she is clapping for her brother and sister.  She ADORES Madeline and Ryan.  When they walk into a room, she begins to squeal and she loves coming up to them and throwing her arms around them and placing her head on their shoulders.  We are beyond blessed.

SEEK Family Night 2012

As usual, seeing Madeline and Ryan up on stage for SEEK Family Night made us so proud!  They boldly sang and waved their flags.  Ry was so close to the microphone that his voice was heard above all others.  This was their THUMB class, where they learned about all the people groups who have yet to hear the gospel window.  I loved having Madeline explain the 10/40 Window to me.  They are so precious, and it was a JOY for us to watch them.  Their smiles are always so contagious.

Madeline's Clay Creations

My girl is creative.  Check out these clay creations.

Celebrating Lilly Grace's 1st Gotcha Day!

Anyone who knows the Wells', well, knows that Goodberry's is the place we go to celebrate, and we usually go for lunch.  On April 28th, we celebrated Lilly Grace's Gottcha Day--the day we first laid eyes on her and brought her home.  We were flooded by emotion as we thought about April 28th 2011 and the two days that preceeded.  We remembered the call from Donas at Amazing Grace, the meeting with her sweet parents, and laying eyes on her for the very first time, so tiny and perfect.  The MOMENT we saw her, we knew she was ours, handpicked for our family by the Lord.  The bond was instant.  I had the same rush of emotions walking into the room where she was and looking at her laying asleep in the basket as I did when the doctors laid Madeline and Ryan on my belly after birthing them.  Lillian Grace Wells, meant for our family from the beginning of time. 

Daddy loves his baby girl, and his baby girl loves him.

Someone likes ice cream!

Lilly Grace Turns 1!

On April 20th, we joyously celebrated Lilly Grace's 1st birthday.  Unfortunately, we were driving back from Atlanta that day, so around noon we stopped at McDonalds and ordered Lilly Grace her very own ice cream cone, and that girl ate the WHOLE thing.  She loves herself some ice cream.  We got home on Friday night, so we decided to officially celebrate her birthday on Sunday.  As I thought about her first birthday, I was filled with joy and sadness.  A year ago on her birthday, we had not even met her.  Though we claimed her as ours eight days later, it pangs my heart that we were separated for the first 8 days of her life.  However, we will forever be grateful for the nun who cared for her as her own for those 8 days.  What a blessing from God the Father, Lilly Grace is.  The Lord shut my womb after Ryan, Matt did not want any more children, and yet all along, He had this blessing awaiting us.  While we waited, it was excruciating, however, we would have waited years just to get her.  There is no other baby we would have wanted. . .this is our Lillian Grace Wells, born in our hearts before she was ever conceived.  Over the past year, she has filled our home with joy and laughter and delight.  Thank you Jesus for this precious, precious gift.

Though Madeline and Ryan both had this bear cake for their first birthdays, Matt and I had decided to do a big cupcake for Lilly Grace. . .UNTIL, Madeline begged us to do the bear cake.  Since she promised to help decorate it with icing, we agreed.  Lilly Grace's first birthday bear.

We gave the girl the entire head. . .

And she LOVED it. . .

Though after a while it seemed like she enjoyed smushing it more than eating it, but it was her birthday cake and she could do whatever she wanted with it.  You can imagine how much Bobo enjoyed hanging around her highchair!

My babies!