Officially Official

Our Wednesday morning was spent in court. It wasn't for speeding tickets, domestic abuse, or child trafficking. Instead, it was the long awaited day of adoption finalization! We got there early as instructed and had to sit and wait for quite a while.

After waiting outside the courtroom, we proceeded to wait inside the courtroom. If there is one thing I've learned through this adoption process it's that you better know how to wait. And like it.
Finally our name was called and we were able to enter the informal "chambers" of the judge. I was thankful that my dad thought to bring his flip camera to video the proceedings. It will be a piece of film I'll treasure for sure.
This is a pic of the intense questioning by our attorney and the Judge. (It really wasn't intense. The questions were all no-brainers unless you're that crazy woman that put her kid on an airplane to Russia to send him back.)
The Judge was asking the boys some questions too and Cade ended up answering for everyone. It was so funny because eventually the Judge said, "So, are you the official family spokesperson or something?" and Cade shrugged his shoulders and giggled a little and said, "Well, Idunno."
Thank goodness for the distracting pink folder that kept Lanie entertained. It was well into the hour of her naptime and the last thing I wanted was to have to spank her bottom in front of the Judge for acting out of turn.
Rhett thought she needed to be smiling more for her big day in court so he tried to help her out.
Do you hear the angels singing?? The Big Moment had arrived....The signage of the documents. Lanie is now officially a Morgan and she has all the rights of any child that has been naturally born to us. Sniff, sniff, sniffle...
A shot with the man whose pen holds much power.
And another with our extended family spectators.
Somebody was just tickled pink to be getting a new birth certificate!
Others were just crazy but that's nothing new.
Bobby was one happy daddy knowing official was officially official!
And one pic with a happy mommy, albeit not a good one.
After all was signed and sealed we headed across the street for a little lunch at Puckett's. We had never been there before and I've always heard it's a good place for eatin'.

Grant ordered his usual.....cheeseburger. They didn't have a child sized portion so he ordered the adult meal. To my surprise he nearly finished the head sized burger!
It was my mom and dad's first time at Puckett's too.
The atmosphere was great and the boys were having fun.
Rhett was in good camera form. He gave me lots of photogenic moments.
Then there are the not so photogenic but "SO Rhett" photo moments.
To top off the day we headed down the street for a little celebration sweetness.
And really, what says "Waahooo!!! Our baby girl's officially a Morgan!!" better than a little IveyCake? Nothing.
So with our bellies full and our hearts even fuller, we thanked God for a beautiful end to our adoption journey. I now can pack away my little pink folder and relish in the blessing that is Elaina Marie Morgan! Yea for happy endings!

It's Here!!

The boys were so excited that Santa had dropped off gifts that they hardly even noticed that for the first time in their lifetimes we had a white(ish) Christmas! It was a nice thick dusting that continued to sprinkle snowflakes throughout the day. We had our usual meeting, (this year in Elaina's room), to read the story of Jesus' birth. Then we said our prayers, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and headed down to see what was awaiting on the hearth.

I actually didn't even get a picture coming down the stairs or seeing their Santa presents because I was manning the new little flip video cam we got. Our lives are well documented via still shots but from now on I'm going to try to be better about catching the live film.

The boys all got a big present from us that was the same:
Baseball and football cards! Bobby has gotten them crazy over collecting these and he couldn't be happier about it. Rhett got several packs and some Wii games. He also got a huge lego set from Mr. Claus.
Cade got some signed cards from our friend Daniel and he nearly flipped his lid! I LOVE to see pure excitement on their faces. There's nothing better! He also bebopped to the music on his ipod shuffle that Santa left.
Tee-Tiny did exactly what I thought she'd do: Eat ribbon.
She got some help from her big brother to get her presents opened. She got a toy from Santa and some cutie patootie clothes from her mommy. That's what she's going to get for every gift giving occasion until she's old enough to complain about it.
Cade and Bobby literally spent the entire Christmas day opening up packs of cards and looking them up in the Beckett price guides. Grant was the winner winner chicken dinner when he turned out an $80 card! When I looked into the living room I swear I saw an eight year old and a twelve year old ripping through those packs. It would be an understatement to say that Bobby was in his element.
Grant stayed busy putting together Knex and legos. He had gotten a remote control helicopter from Santa but his elves don't make things like they used to and after one crash into the fireplace the thing was history. It's a good thing Wal-mart takes things back that were made in Santa's shop.
We had a very blessed day of Christmas and thankfully I was on the mend. We spent the entire day in our pajamas and it was a day of rest and relaxation we all needed. Alrighty! Now that that is over and we've had family time, can these kids go back to school?? Merry Christmas!

Morgan Christmas!

Our family generally spends Christmas Eve with Bobby's family. We usually go to Zion for the candlelight service but this year we decided to forgo. The service was at the same time as LanieBug's dinner time and while she doesn't make much noise, dinner time is an exception. Girl likes to eat when she wants to eat. Here she is getting smiles from her Great Nannie. Nannie gives the smile, Elaina gives the stare. She's good at that.

Apparently there were some smiles from the babe but I wouldn't know being that my Christmas Eve gift was a meeting staring into the porcelain throne. I hadn't had that meeting in eight years and I'm convinced that it was the breaking of my own rules (never let unclean hands come above the shoulders, and never eat without washing hands) that caused my ultimate viral inoculation.
I missed out on the cuteness of "twin" cousins. I'm sure Elaina was thrilled to be Amelia's look-a-like, she just doesn't freely hand out her excitement.
I'm glad Wendy was there with her camera so that I could have a least a little documentation. I'm pretty sure Bobby made it there with my other kids but I think it would suffice to say that they were buried knee deep in wrapping paper shooting one another with the enormous nerf guns their cousins gave them.
Well, here's proof that they were definitely there. All the cousins make for a motley crew!
I'm sure next year I'll be back to hit the Morgan Family Christmas Celebration....at least Bobby's praying for such. Merry Christmas number two! The real one is only one day away!

A Baker Christmas

One of my favorite things about the holidays, or any special event for that matter, is my mother's baking. She can bake a mean apple pie that is unmatched. The crust is delish and when you top it with a scoop of vanilla BlueBell it's to die for. My sister is a pumpkin pie gal so it's always a near fist fight on whose pie is going to be made for the occasion. Of course, my mom, who's as sweet as pie anyway, always makes them both so that both of our hearts (and bellies!) are happy on the holiday!

After a big lupper (that's lunch and supper), we headed in to do the gift exchanging. Rhett was opening his and had no clue what it might be. I cracked up that I caught his crazy expression. He's full of them. (By the way, it's a vintage looking batman puzzle...right up his alley).
Laniebugs got a protector for the icky grocery cart. That's an awesome invention. Now I can stop making her ride in that bubble.

This was one of the silliest presents of the whole day:
I knew Elaina would spend much of her time eating wrapping paper. I'm pretty sure I fished most of it out of her mouth but the tissue paper dissolves so quickly when faced with a stream of slobber. I'm pretty sure her diapers will be quite colorful tomorrow. Ewww.
Tracie found her the cutest (and SO true) little onesie and hat set. Can you read it?
It says " I was worth the wait." Sho nuf she was!
We got Jared a Nike+ for his ipod and boy was he thrilled!!
Tracie mentioned she'd like a towel thingy to wear when she got out of the shower so I had one specially made just for her! I thought it turned out super cute!

One of my gifts was a gift card to Academy Sports. I should be sporting some new workout gear when the new year rolls in!
Tracie and I went in together to get my mom a Pandora bracelet. It has beautiful charms that you can add to it which will be great gifts for birthdays, Mother's Day, and whatever other day that she usually asks for garden gloves for.
My lovely mom and dad:
The boys ripped into all their gifts so quickly that it made me thankful for the rule we used to have at my grandparents: one gift opened at a time. That way you can see what everyone received.
Tracie was muy excited about giving Lanie the other gift she got her.
It was seriously a real, working telephone with little pink polka dots just like her room!
"Hello? George W.? Yes. I just wanted to let you know that two family members received your book Decision Points and we totally think you look like our Papaw. Bubye." Next step, teaching Lanie to actually be able to talk so that she can one day use this phone.
Tracie was in the phone giving mood because not only did Elaina get one, she and Jared got my dad one as well! "Hello? George W.? Yes. Yes. That's correct. Two people got your book Decision Points. Crazy, huh?" I'm just kidding. No one really called George. My dad did, however, call my mom from the garage and totally confused her momentarily. Ah, the joys of the first cell phone.
My sis and me:
The newly engaged Jdubs and T.
Bobby doing a stretching pose after being sedentary for quite some time.
The gals of the family:
The crazies in our extreme "sayiwont" gear. Jared's friend from highschool started a business selling this slogan clothing and it has really taken off. We all got a piece of the "sayiwont" clothing and thought it appropriate that we sport it for a picture.
And besides, one of my best friends Joe wears it and he's hanging with Ashley who knows Rob Pattinson. It doesn't get much cooler than that.

One Christmas celebration down, two to go. This time of year rocks!

First Christmas

I'm not even exaggerating when I say that buying sippy cups and teething toys to put in Elaina's stocking got me choked up. I can't believe that she's finally here.....prayers answered. I'm not sure when it's going to wear off. I hope it never does because it sure is great to have a constant reminder of God's goodness.

I came across this little outfit just last week and knew right away that Lanie needed

this number. I mean, she didn't have any outfits with a santa head. Well, that's a lie. She has one....but it wasn't a pant set. It was a dress and that's completely different. Needless to say, since Christmas is next week, she's going to be wearing this pretty much every day so don't be surprised. I need to get my money's worth!

I sat her down in front of the tree and told her about the reason for Christmas celebration which is Jesus' birthday. She agreed. She knew about it from baby Sunday School. The big shocker came when I told her about Santa and that she'd be getting a present:
She could hardly believe her ears. I hope she gets all she's wishing for!!

Snow! Again?

In a rare turn of events we had some December snow! It's kind of odd for us to have so much snow in one calender year. If you remember, we had the Blizzard of 2010 in January of this year so I thought we had met our white stuff quota. Guess not. Little Tee-Tiny was just THRILLED to sit outside for 5 seconds in her baby bunting.

After a stiff breeze got her cheeks she did let one grin slip out.
Then she tried to make a snow angel. Silly girl.
Given that the temperature was negative one or something absurd she didn't get to sled with her brothers. Maybe next time. As for now this was a good introduction to the precipitation that makes Snowbird famous and the boys squeal with delight. Lanie was the only one captured on film for this snow day. If you want to see what the rest of us look like playing in the snow you can check out the last snow day blog and then picture us in only slightly different redneck getups and with a bit less snow. The mental picture alone should suffice!