Happy thanksgiving

Twas the night before Thanksgiving.... and what do we do? We get ready for CHRISTMAS! Perhaps we should have waited until tomorrow, but oh well.

Here's some pics:

Katie's Blog

I have decided to create my own blog. It is somewhat more reflective and deals more with mothering than with adoption. If you would like to follow it you can find it at http://seeinghimknowinghimamothersjourney.blogspot.com/.

Bachelor?

Katie went out of town for a days, so the kids and I thought it would be fun to go to the mall and cause some various mischief. Here's a small piece of evidence that we left behind:

My little author, illustrator

Tonight Hallie came home from school ready to talk and share about her day (I love days like this). She told me that when she grows up she wants to be a person who draws pictures for books. She went on to add that she wants to write books and draw the pictures! An avid reader, with a creative mind and love for drawing, I think the job description fits her perfectly! It was so fun to hear her excitement. She told me I could help her with an idea and then she would write the story. She went on to tell me all about a hot air balloon ride and a swimming pool race, themes for her first book. She wanted to start on it right when we got home!

Later tonight, as we read stories before bed, she told me she wanted to read to me. Guess what? My brillant Kindergartener nearly read the whole book, "Mean Jean the Recess Queen" to me. What a delight to see her smile after working hard to sound out words and read some without hardly any effort at all. I am so thankful for the kind of interests and intellect the Lord has blessed my daughter with.

Go Huskers!

Today, Ryan and I got to go down to Lincoln and spend the day with my brother at the NE game. Nebraska won, the game was good and the company was great so we had a wonderful day. Afterwards, we went out for a dinner and then headed home just in time to play with the kids for a few minutes and then put them to bed.

Maybe it is because we are getting ready for Thanksgiving and maybe it is because my eyes are open to see all the blessings around me but I feel the need to write down all that I am thankful for today:

A husband that I adore and is my best friend. What a great day we had together.
A blessed relationship with my older brother who invited us to the game. What a great day we had together.
A nanny we trust, that loves our kids like crazy and plays and plays and plays with them.
Kids that love it when we come home and shower us with kisses and hugs. Here is some of what I heard today from my kids...

Hallie..."Mom, the best part of my day is when you came home." Followed by a huge hug.
Zac..."Mama I missed you." Followed by a huge hug.
Jacob...A huge hug followed by a zerbert on my head!

I am thankful!

Moments of Thanks

I am always trying to open my eyes to the blessings around me. Here are three from the last two days.

Hallie...I asked once for help cleaning up the living room. She said, "Sure, Mom" and went right to work. Later that night she went grocery shopping with me and was soooo helpful and delightful the whole time.

Jacob...He is not someone that shows a lot of affection with hugs and kisses and sweet words, but when I found him sleeping contentedly in the middle of our bed when I came up to bed last night I knew he loved his mom and dad. What a blessing to see a child resting so peacefully.

Zac...Today we were in the car together and he said, "Mom, I never leave you." My heart just melts!

Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! We had fun trick or treating on a beautiful night in Minnesota with cousins! Ryan's sister, Jenni, moved there with her family three weeks ago and welcomed us into her home for the weekend. It was fun to share the excitement of Zac's first Halloween with family.

We had prepped Zac with trick or treating etiquette. He also knew all too well that he got candy! In fact, when asked what he wants for Christmas his answer is, "three candy, three candy!"

So, he happily gets dressed up and walks outside. While waiting for the other cousins he walks up to the first person he sees (a fellow toddler trick or treater from down the street) and says, "trick or treat," then starts to dig in her bag for candy! oops! Once we showed him to ring doorbells he was a trick or treating machine!

Unfortunately, Hallie had strep throat, again! Fortunately, we got medicine in her and the Ibuprofen made her perk up for trick or treating. Hallie, Jacob and their cousins were off running down the street collecting all the candy they could.

Here are some pictures of my adorable kids...Gabriella, A Storm Trooper and and Silly green and yellow bird!