Children's Haven Mexico 2015

This year's trip to Mexico was a wonderful, amazing trip.  I'll post more pics later but here's a video.

5 years HOME!!!

Our Titus Tariku came home and saw his sisters for the 1st time on March 13th, 2010. I can't believe it has been 5 years since our sweet, talkative, cuddly, TMNT joined our family!  

Below is one of the first pics with Alex.  

He slept all day long during our layover in Chicago and all throughout the flights. 

A natural cowboy!  Can you believe how much he has grown?  I am amazed how blessed we are to have him for our son.  He has such a tender heart!

The girls had fun using some of dad's underwear and turning them into a toga :)

Many many months of waiting (praying and crying) and God finally brought you home!  You bring so much joy to our lives! 

St. Louis

Way back in the summer of 2013 we went on one of the most fun vacations ever with some very brave friends.  Jason and Amanda endured four days, if I remember correctly, with Vince and I and our 4 kids.  We toured the Budweiser Brewery, Busch Farms, City Museum, Imo's Pizza and Six Flags!

                                        

                                      We went to City Museum where Jason got to practice his  

                                                disciplinary skills on other people's children.  

                               He also had to keep T in line after he got in trouble at Six Flags.

                                                              He's gonna be a good daddy! 

 What cuties!

Family Friends!!

Titus wasn't the only sad one to see this vacation come to an end.  

Black Friday

Yep, I'm taking a step back in time and will be for a while Jason...  I got to fill my reader in since I took a couple of years off from blogging.  This is a family tradition we do every year on Black Friday.  We go to Crown Center and eat at Streetcar Named Desire and lolly-gag around and watch the Mayor's Christmas tree lighting.

Alex and Haley enjoying the free elevator rides.

The kids at the lighting ceremony

Love T and Daddy looking at the fireworks!

Grandma B and Nana K with the family on our way out.  This is one of my favorite days of the year for me!

New Windows

Day after Thanksgiving at Crown Center

One big window 

Hiding and not wanting to do school

A couple weeks later we needed another window...

While he looks like he's in pain, he's really just trying to show off his new smile with pride.

The Tooth Fairy is broke.

Basketball Season

Alex is playing basketball for the first time.  She is the only Avila who has ever had the desire to play this sport because it requires a lot of running.  That activity is not something we enjoy.  There are 17 girls on her team. 

We are so proud of her!  It has been fun watching her play and get to know a lot of great girls.

Alex has to be at the game an hour before so we've been making the most of it with some much needed park time.  

Lila (below) is helping Haley down from the rock wall.  That was a funny sight!

Looks like Titus has teeth but his front two are missing.  He has some monster-sized bottom teeth.  I see more orthodontist appointments in our future. Thankful for the nicer weather. 

Good Friends

Thinking tonight of how BLESSED Alex is to have such awesome friends! It is a rare gift indeed to find such amazing, faithful friends. 

Mek and Alex

 Sisters (and bro) are friends for life!  +Sweet Sophi 

Friends who help clean your nasty rental... That's true friendship!

 Gosh, they've grown!

Mandy and Libby too!

Crazy girls I am so thankful for!

Time Flies

I think since the previous post we moved from Emporia back to the Lawrence area, Vince has had two different jobs, we've had Alex's Quinceneara, a nephew has been born and many other fabulous moments.  I have done and will probably continue to do a bad job updating but hopefully this will still be enjoyed by our kids as they look back on this many years from now.  The above picture was taken right before we left Emporia.  Our family had received recognition for our help with Kansas Children's Service League.  I didn't really help, but I watched T man so the girls and daddy could help :)

Way back in April, we finally got our home in the country.  We had been looking for land for a few months, hoping to build. It was a funny story actually. The home next door to this one was for sale months before and we had gone to look at it.  We were driving by and I jokingly said, "I wish THAT house would go on the market!"  Vince got a new job in HR and we were going to buy the house that was next door but it sold 2 weeks before our relocation paperwork went through.  We then thought we were going to build but land opportunities kept falling through.  We went on a mission's trip to Mexico and on our way back, I looked at listings and this one had just came up! And it was a foreclosure!  So we came back and looked at it and negotiated it back and forth and finally got this home, complete with a very sparkly bathroom. It's definitely got some flamboyant character but we love it and are covered in trees!