Mama Thoughts

 Something has hit me over the past 12 hours that I wasn't ready for.  Something that has brought tears to my eyes several times in that short time!  Last night as we were having Princess and Sunshine say their verse and sing to Cupcake one last time before she is born and then we have bedtime prayers with them I couldn't keep my tears away!  All these thoughts started running through my mind, thoughts that I had not even really considered before then.  You see our children are leaving at noon today with our Pastor and family and will be with them until after Cupcake is born (hopefully sometime tomorrow if the induction goes well!)  So the next time we will all be together we will be a family of fine.  Something we are all very excited about, and I believe Princess and Sunshine are very excited too.  But no one knows how bringing Cupcake into our home will effect our 4 year olds! 

I am sure there will be a transition time where things will be less than lovely with attitudes and behaviors...but I am also sure that big brother and sister will love their baby sister VERY much!  But as a Mama you start thinking about things like 'have I used my time with JUST them well enough' 'have I loved them enough that they know I will still love them even with a baby?' and things of that sort.  They just started creeping into my head!  We have had 'extra' kids around most of their lives through the Patch and also foster care, but all of those children end up going home at some point...they do not stick around!  We are still a very spontaneous family...there are times when at the spur of the moment we decide to run out of the house to get ice cream for fun and with a baby you need to be a little more prepared than that.  So things are going to change.

Anyway, just some thoughts on the day before my induction.  The day my big kids will leave my home with people I fully trust to care for them, but the day that they will take a piece of my heart and a life that will no longer be the same with them only to return to an entirely different situation in a matter of 72ish hours.  So I cry, I cry because I am so happy that we are so blessed.  I cry because I am sad that their lives will change (though in a good way, they may not see it as good at first) and I cry because I am still pregnant and that is what pregnant ladies do! 

But I want Princess and Sunshine to know how very much their Mama and Daddy love them...we love them today, we love them tomorrow, and we love them forever....and bringing Cupcake into our home isn't going to change that! 

Where we live....

I am thankful for where we live. While growing up on the other end of the state it was a big deal to come to the Black Hills on vacation. As a family we tried two different times (I believe) and didn't make it out either. I had to wait until our honeymoon to get out here! Aside from the pure beauty of living in this area, there are all sorts of fun things around. Here is a list of some attractions that we have done and then some we have not but would like to do over the next few years, along with their sites so you can check them out yourself!

Have Done:
*Driving through Spearfish Canyon is always beautiful!
*Bear Country USA (one of my Favs!), Rapid City
*Reptile Gardens, Rapid City
*Several different Caves in the area, we have been to Rushmore & Jewel, I liked Rushmore Cave better of the two.
*Presidential Wax Museum, Hill City (I believe) It is a little 'old' for the kids to enjoy this but if you have an interest in our country's history it is lots of fun (or if you are like me and didn't really pay attention in History ~ I liked to have the visual to go along with the word tour)!
*Mount Rushmore, Keystone
*Crazy Horse, near Custer
*Devil's Tower, near Hulett Wyoming

Have Not Done:
*Roo Ranch, Deadwood
*Storybook Island (free), Rapid City
*The 1880 Train Ride, starts in Hill City goes to Keystone and back

I am sure there is more that I am forgetting and even more stuff I don't even know about...though I do hope this is helpful for you and if you need a place to stay or need anything while you are here please feel free to let us know! Just try not to come the first 2 weeks of August because everything costs so much more and is super busy with the Sturgis Bike Rally!

I am so thankful that the Lord has brought us out here, we live in what I believe is the most beautiful part of our state...and honestly one of the most beautiful places I have visited! In addition to that we have GREAT friends that we enjoy spending time with so often. We have an AWESOME church and church family that we have loved getting to know over the last few months. Both J & myself enjoy our jobs and we believe it is a great blessing to be able to live here and be living the life that God has for us! If you are in the area look us up...the H Hotel is always open!

Princess turns 2!!! AKA ~ Grandma's Visit Pt3

We had a cake that was similar to her first birthday cake, perfect for a princess!
Blowing out her candles
Trying to get a taste of frosting while her guests sang 'Happy Birthday To You...'
Doing well with a spoon, enjoying her cake and ice cream


I LOVE this picture!
Some of the party guests
Opening her gifts
Grandma gave an umbrella, can you tell that Princess & Sunshine really enjoyed it! They laugh and laugh when you pop it open!
 Princess received some things to be a little mother, baby bed, baby stroller, baby swing, ironing board, play food...she is really fitting into the roll of mother well, just ask her brother!


She also received a pretty butterfly necklace and she wanted it on right away

Trying on Grandma's Crocs (the wrong feet!)
Having fun playing with her new toys
Lucas really had Sunshine laughing
 Sunshine was all tired out from our trip up the canyon and APrincess's birthday party
Thank you to everyone to came for sharing this special day with us! Thank you for the wonderful gifts, and thank you for your friendship!

Adoption Day!!! ***Lots of pictures!

We started with a few family pics
E praising the Lord

The kids enjoyed looking out the window at the courthouse with Grandma Hartung, we arrived a little early so that we would be there when they were ready for us.Grandma Pam, Grandpa & Grandma Hartung, and Daddy chatting while waiting for our turn in court.Ada Grace "gichu gichu" GrandpaAda Grace trying to steal center stage back from her brother...it didn't work, it was Ethan's day!

Three generations...Grandpa Hartung, Daddy, and Ethan
Handsome little cowboy
Ada Grace sneaking in some Daddy time
This dress is just too adorable, she kept saying, "pretty pretty!"
Ada Grace copying Grandpa Hartung with his leg up on the ledge! Ma wanted to take a picture of us reading the Tyler Tribute in front of the courthouse so she could put it in the paper!
Less than 20 minutes after court started, it was finished and Ethan was finally OURS! After court the Judge allowed us to take some pictures.


This is the WONDERFUL Eric, our lawyer...he did amazing things to help us adopt our son!Looks to me like someone is VERY happy to be officially ours forever!
Ada Grace is looking pretty happy about having Ethan her brother forever as well!
This is Ethans PERFECT cake that Shelisa made for him! THANKS SO MUCH SHELISA! I loved it, it tasted yummy and it was wonderful

The punch bowl....or bucket!
Ethan enjoying some of the turkey and cheese Opening a JOHN DEERE tractor from Daddy and Mommy
Kate and Paige helping his open his PJ's from the Grenz family
Very excited about his Mega Blocks from Uncle Zachie and Aunt Christy...we were soooo happy that Aunt Christy was able to celebrate Ethan's adoption with us!

I had asked for tool sets and tractors TO PLAY WITH when people asked me what he needed. Ethan received this tool set from Gpa & Gma Norgaard, he also received two others...one from Gpa & Gma Hartung and one from his Speech Therapist Christy. Yeah!Ethan and Ada Grace really enjoyed having 2 week old Baby Ben with us...Here E went over to Ben's car seat and said "where baby go?"
Aunt Christy had him!

"Gichu Gichu"
Ethan hanging out on his waiting for Daddy bench
When we got home from court Mommy took his hat away from him but when Papa and Grandma Lila showed up he managed to get Papa's hat away from him.
OUR handsome little guyFor supper we went to GuadalajarasOur lawyer thought this was a great idea... Ada Grace at Guadalajaras

We are so blessed by the two great children that God has blessed us with! Thank you to all of the friends and family that celebrated this occasion with us!