Happy 4th of July -- The Eagle has landed!

The 1st part of my title is self-explanatory, the 2nd part is something that I am pretty excited about. We've decided to move forward and hire a searcher in GC to search for Devon's 1st Mom. We put together some of our favorite pictures (like 40) and wrote her a letter, trying to tell her everything we'd think that she'd want to know. We also included a list of questions that we have or that Devon might have when she is older. As an adoptee with no family history or information, I think we are doing the right thing for Devon. I wanted to take this step now because I imagine that finding her might be harder the longer we wait. I put it all together yesterday and dropped the package off at FedEx. I just got an email that it arrived in Antigua today! My fingers are crossed so tightly that they might break :) I don't know what she will want in terms of contact and I don't want to get my hopes up....but I can't help it!

Today was a gorgeous day! After days of rain, we woke up to blue and sunny skies. We got the wagon decorated and watched the parade down our main street plus got loads of candy. After that we followed the parade down to the marina to meet up with our friends and family. This year they had a bounce house and bounce slide, a cook-out and cotton candy. Logan was thrilled with the bounce slide! He was so cute! Aunt Fanny secretly wanted to go on so she "pretended" that Devon wanted to try it out.....lol. Turns out, Devon loved it and Aunt Fanny had to go again and again. She's a trooper.

After the parade/marina business we headed out onto Uncle Shawn's boat for some holiday fun at "Boater's Beach". We heard a hillarious country song while we were there called "Redneck Yacht Club". I'll tell ya, it kind of fits our crew down there.....lol.

Since today was so full, we are going to watch fireworks tomorrow night.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th!

This is what "Sugar Lips" look like.


I swear this bottle was empty and capped. It was just a funny pic!
Devon enjoying her Forever Family Day Tres Leches cake that momma made.

Our 1st Forever Family Day

A year ago today, we left our hotel to the Guatemala City airport at about 4am to catch our flight home. Finally, our baby was coming home with us! It was a long and amazing day. Of course Devon had a "take-off blow out" that had her becoming a citizen in a white onsie....lol. We made our way home and to Logan (who I missed terribly while we were away!) and landed in Cleveland around 4:30pm. Our family and friends were all there holding signs, balloons and flags. It made me cry. Logan saw us and came running saying "Monny, Daddy....BABY SISTER!" We came home to a decorated front lawn and door. We have the best friends and family in the world. I can't believe that it has been a year already that we've been together. It has been a WONDERFUL year and I am the luckiest Mommy in the world!

Devon at the LaAurora Aeropuerto
Houston: We have an American (and dang is she cute!)
Our AWESOME family and friends in Cleveland
Devon in her crib for the 1st time. Oh how I long for this for months!
Princess Sweetness today at Uncle Shawn's restaurant
Isn't my cowgirl precious?????

My Summer Fun Kiddo

The other day I got the video in the mail of Logan doing his Summer Fun Kid thing for the WKYC Weather Forecast. It came on a VHS tape so I went super hi-tech and videotaped the TV. Pay no mind to the fingerprints on the TV. The kids like to physically TOUCH the TV when Dora asks where something is. Also don't mind that narration by Curly and me as we remark how much our 5 year old big kid still has the same face and smile that he has in his baby pictures above the TV.

Poor little Devon didn't make the final cut as she was too busy running away from the cameras. Princess has YEARS to become a star, right??

Logan hasn't officially aired yet (that we know of) but we are hoping that he will get some play over the 4th of July weekend in his red, white and blue duds :)

A Year Ago ~~ Forever in our Arms

It was a year ago today that Guadalupe, Devon's Foster Mom, place her in our arms forever. It was one of my life's most joyous times and from that moment on my life has only gotten better with Devon in our life.

I remember Curly and I being so excited and nervous as we waited for Guadalupe and her husband to ring our hotel room. She was so small and precious as she slept in Guadalupe's arms. Guadalupe was so sad to have to say goodbye to her that I didn't immediately reach out and take her out of respect. She needed that time to say goodbye to our angel that she loved for 8 months and I had a lifetime of love ahead of me with her. Slowly she handed her to me and I remember just staring at her and crying. She was so little. Only 13 pounds. She woke up and looked a little confused. Then in typical Devon fashion she immediately started blowing raspberries. This made me laugh out loud (and those of you that know me know how loud that really is! LOL). She stopped and looked at me and smiled as if she remembered my laugh from our visit trip and she began to laugh. My daughter looked at me and smiled and laughed and my heart skipped a beat. It was the end of a journey that led us to her but the beginning of our lifetime together. Man, oh man do I love my daughter Devon with every ounce of my soul.

We're going out to dinner tonight (shocker I know....lol) for a mini-celebration but we are holding out until July 3rd for the full blown celebration because that is the day that we landed back home and when Logan got to see his baby sister again. That is our "Forever Family Day" and I cannot wait to celebrate it for years to come :)

She was so tired after meeting us that she immediately napped in her crib.

Daddy's Little Princess Playing

OMG ~~ Playing MAJOR Catch Up!

Holy Moley! I cannot believe what a bad bloggin' mamma I've been! Almost one month. I promise that we are still here, just busy, busy, busy. I also started back doing ebay after I realized that my stimulus check was going to come later and be less than I thought (WTG GWB.....ya tool).

I have to say that we have been loving summer over here at Casa de Santilli. Curly took the 1st week of June off to hang with us and that was awesome. We had so much fun just being a family. Poor Curly had a "honey-do" list a mile long :) Then Logan had a week of Safety Town, which was adorable and well planned out. After that he had a week of camp with his speech therapist Holly. Right now we are on a 2 week camp break before he starts up again.

Here are some pictures from the last month for my faithful (lol) blog readers....all 2 of you out there :)
These pics are from The Memphis Kiddie Park. When Curly was off from work, we went there for the day and had a blast.

Don't let this face fool you.......this was Logan's 1st reaction to the roller coaster. After this, he must have rode it 10 times in a row. In fact he ended up with a huge blister from running off of it and looping back over to us to get another ticket then getting back into line.
Gotta love Devon's reaction to her 1st ride. She was like WTH are you putting me on?? After it started moving, she realized that it was fun and perked right up.

Devon LOVES pushing her stroller. I need to get her a carriage for her babies.

How cute are these two bugs?

Sprinkler FUN :)

We had the fun of celebrating our little buddies birthday, Christian. Here are a few pics from that day. It was HOT but Gina busted out the sprinkler for the kids.

Talking on the phone just like Mommy Swinging
Sweaty and Sweet :)

Christian smiling away at his cake.

Here are some pictures from Logan's Safety Town graduation.

Logan running with excitement

Devon clapping for Big Brother

Logan getting his awards


We've been spending a lot of time out in the water this summer. I am so thankful that I have little fishies :)

Logan finished his soccer season this past Saturday. I think we found his sport. He loved it and did so well.

The team Getting his trophy.
Logan loving on his trophy. He is sooooo proud of it! It has his name and we have it displayed on our entertainment center.

On Tuesday, we went to a little old amusement park in Erie with my mom and dad. It was so cute and just the perfect size for the kids. Grandpa went on all kinds of roller coasters and spinny rides with Logan. I swear, my dad is so awesome!

OK, that's all for now. I promise that I won't be such a stranger from now on :)

Peace!