It was going to be a quiet month, getting lots of things organized & done, enjoying the kids...Here's the 2 "not-so-little ones" having fun in Ellyana's baby doll pack-n-play
hoping it still fits this summer on our growing girl
Zach decided he wanted to try out a tie & sports coat to wear to church...about made your heart melt
Wanted to capture our little "joy-bell" in the morning..
love her in her sleeper & bedhead with her juice sippy
Zach with his Playmobile people
All 3 kids helping the neighbors with shoveling
Zach finally got his turn as "Star of the Week", he's really been waiting
And we celebrated MLK Day with our Community, Ellyana loved it!
Never had been before, I took the 2 little ones, we had to walk in from the front of the room, the whole first section was almost filled & all the other front seats were marked for "Honored Guests"...we headed for the back (was planning on sitting there anyway). Wondered who would be sitting in the back with us? Looked around... State Representative, State Senator, Mayor...made you wonder who all the "honored guests" in the front were? We enjoyed the Old Spirituals by the choir & some nice speeches. We did have to leave early, so we were glad to be able to exit toward the back. It was a humbling day to remember where things have come from, not too long ago & so thankful for the progress that has been made.
Our month has surprisingly been filled with appointments & lots of stuff going on...the most recent...BJ broke his arm Monday evening playing football in the basement with Dad & Zach, he fell back & caught himself with his right arm. Great mom, sent him to school Tuesday with Tylenol, he was not doing great by Tuesday afternoon..so we headed to the ER. They splinted him & Wed. he was able to get his real cast on. Its an adjustment, since he uses his Right arm for everything.
This is Eddie, he's been putting on casts for 40 years, he was really nice to BJ. We have much to be thankful for...this is our 1st broken bone (surprising for all the sports & horsing around that go on around here), its not his leg (crutches would be a nightmare in the winter), we just had happened to rearrange the boys' room on Saturday (BJ now has a bed he can crawl in & out of with his good arm), and the 2nd hand store happened to have long sleeve shirts on sale for $1 so I can cut the sleeves to fit without ruining his nicer shirts.And all the kids have been troopers through this unexpectedly crazy month.
We celebrated how great they have done through it all last night. We had to laugh as Brian noticed our table, a familiar theme...chocolate! God's grace & maybe more than a little bit of chocolate has gotten us through! Here's to a quiet-organizing- getting- things- done month of February!
Opening gifts at home, Ellyana wrapping her baby up in leftover wrapping paper
Precious time visiting Uncle Stevie with all my siblings & Mom...He LOVED Mom's homemade fudge!
Ellyana enjoying her new Baby Alive
Love this picture of Ellyana with Daddy, can you see her precious dimple!?!
We had a coupon for cupcakes at the mall...how else do you get 3 kiddos in their Christmas clothes to smile big..."Our Little Cupcake" was very happy to see the store of cupcakes
Zach lost his first tooth, in his words..."Dad broke it off"...not sure it was quite ready but the other one is coming in big behind
Marathon day of Christmas parties at school
Finally, got to connect with some other local Adoptive Families at the huge playland...no chance to get the kids all together for a photo...but all of our 3 kiddos had a blast...it was nice to be with families that are the same as us in so many ways
Our school district hosted "Kids Against Hunger" night...we enjoyed a soup dinner & soup packaging for local & international families that are without food. We got to taste the total nutrition packed soup also...not too bad...but it does make you thankful for what we have!
BJ & Brian won BJ's age bracket at our towns "Turkey Shoot" (not much competition)...but fun...these guys LOVE basketball...and BJ won a frozen turkey for his prize
Zach's been working all month to get ready for his Kindergarten Pow-Wow...he did great in the program...and the whole thing was very cute & fun
Enjoying some time with cousins over Thanksgiving
And Grandma got the "Ellyana" cake (it looks just like her style ;), super delicious too!
And here she is again...the Birthday Girl...she loves it! Though when asked how old she is...she says "18"...a comment made in passing by Grandma months ago when she was acting grown up..."how old do you think you are...18?"...well, it stuck in her head & that is what she always answers!
Getting to celebrate today with friends from church...Happy Birthday, JESUS!!!!
Decorating cookies
With the 1st snow, 1st day of December ...and today kicks off the "Advent Season"...may our hearts be open each day to the Savior & His love!
