Are you their REAL mom?

From the first day we had our children we have always be asked questions about them. The usual questions people have when they are curious:
Are they adopted?
Where are they from?
How long have you had them?
Was it hard to adopt?
We have always been very willing to answer the questions, hoping that other families will become interested in adopting. I always say that Adoption is one of my favorite subjects to discuss!! But we were out last week shopping for Harrison a mattress for his new big boy bed and the sales lady just made me mad!! (not that people have not done that before!!) Jason was loading the mattress when she turned to me and asked, "Are these your children?" I proudly replied, "yes!". Then she said, "I mean are they really your children?" I replied, "YES!" I guess she thought I did not know what she was implying so she then asked, "What I mean is are you really their mom?". At this point she had made me mad, and I could not believe she would be so rude (after we spent money in her store). But I wanted to make sure that she understood how I felt about her questions so I said, "Yes, I am their REAL mom, the only mom that they have had and the only one that they will ever have! But if you want to know if they are adopted you should just asked that!" She quit asking questions after that! This was not the first time I have encountered rude people! I have been asked before if the kids call me mom since I am not really their mom, or why I had those Hispanic kids with me, or why we did not just have our OWN children!! Just because I did not carry these children in my womb for 9 months (adoption pregnancy is much longer!!) does not make me any less their mom! We spend many months praying that they were healthy, longing to hold them in our arms, months worth of paperwork, thousands of dollars, sleepless nights when they are sick, and made many wonderful memories as a family (just as any other mom). I know that I am not the only adoptive mom that has encountered rude people, but I just needed to vent a little!
Jason and I were talking the other day about how people see beauty in nature God created, but some people don't see that same beauty in the multitude of races of people that God created. Giving birth to a child is a beautiful thing, as well as adopting a child. Either way, when you are a mom you are a REAL MOM!

Big Boy, Finally!!!

Harrison is finally potty trained!!!

No more diapers or Pull-ups.

We have been trying to potty train him for almost a year (tried every method out there!). Mary Elizabeth and Harper were so easy to train. But everyone told us that boys are different and they were right! Last week we were getting ready to go to the store, as I was dressing Harrison he started crying saying he did not want to wear a pull-up. So I put big boy underwear on him and he has been going to the potty ever since, Hooray!!

This is the first time in 2 1/2 years that I am not changing diapers!

Harrison was also moved out of his toddler bed into a full size bed last week too! He is enjoying being a big boy!!

We are so proud of our Big Boy, he is just growing up way to fast!

4th of July

Proud to be an American...

We enjoyed a great weekend with Jason's family at Lake Martin.

The kids got to swim in the lake for the first time, and Harper went on her first boat ride.

Jason let the kids ride on the tube with him behind the boat, they loved it!!

Jay and Mary Elizabeth

Jay and Harrison

Jay and Harper

Kids with their cousins, John and Richard.

Richard helping the kids swim.

Hope everyone had a great weekend too!

A week of Firsts...

This past week the kids enjoyed some new things they had not done before. I bought them a slip-n-slide, they did not know what to do with it!! They would not run and slide, so I had to set it up down hill where they could just sit and slide. They were hilarious!! They would not go down one at a time either, everyone had to go down together in a group!

They also got to go see their first movie at a Theater. We went to see Kung Fu Panda, it was very cute, but the next few days the kids spent kicking each other! PROBLEM!

Our other two girls, Dixie and Shelby are enjoying their freedom now that we live in the country!

You know you need a bigger pool when you can't see the water!!

Hope you enjoyed this little glance of our last week of fun!

Our Beach Vacation

The Glas Family enjoyed a nice vacation from all the moving this past week!

Jason had to work in Orange Beach, AL for a few days, so the kids and I went along with him and had a great time on the beach and in the pool. The kids got a nice tan and I got a nice BURN! But we had a great time and hated to come home to do more unboxing. Hope you are ready for beach picture overload!!

Our first day on the beach, and one of my favorite photos.

Yes, the girls bathing suits are monogrammed!!

You know that everything they own is monogrammed!

Harper was standing in front of me and could not resist taking a picture of this beautiful head of curly hair!

The kids wanted to swim in the pool, so we bought them swimmies for their arms. The girls did wonderful, Harrison just floated around (he does not want to do anything that requires a little work!).

The kids got to go to Build a Bear, and loved it! This picture is of them holding their new bears in new T-shirts.

I enjoyed my time to relax, but I mostly enjoyed watching the kids play. I look forward to many more wonderful vacations with them!!

Our Baby Girl turned 3!!!

It is hard to believe that the beautiful, screaming baby girl we brought home from Guatemala 2 1/2 years ago has turned 3 years old! She is now a very smart, independent, sweet child that we love with all our hearts. We are so blessed that God chose us to be her parents!

We celebrated yesterday at home as a family. We had a Princess cake and Watermelon.

Mary Elizabeth brings much joy and laughter into our home!

Happy Birthday!!

She got to spend one day celebrating with Nana, Pa, Aunt Angie, Aunt Alli, Cousin Ethan, and Cousin RayLee at the farm. Nana made her a beautiful Dora cake and then she got to open many presents before heading out to play on the tire swing (her favorite thing to do at the farm).

Mary Elizabeth and Harper

Ethan and Harrison

Best Friends

The kids were asking why they could not see their friends in Georgia anymore, and I was trying to explain that we moved far away from them but they would make new friends. Mary Elizabeth then said, "I have a best friend!" (Not sure where she heard the term Best Friend.) I asked her who her best friend was and she said, "my sisser and brother, Harper and Haddy (what they call Harrison)!" Then the three of them hugged each other. It was a precious moment and I hope they always feel that way about each other (have a feeling it won't last!).

Here are a few pictures of them playing in the pool at their Mimi and PaPa's house. Hope you enjoy!!