Turkey Day 2010

2008. . .when there were only 2 sweetpeas.

 

Last year. . .with three sweetpeas, and all still fitting in the pans.

 

And now, 2010. . .oh my how they've grown!

Addi outweighed the turkey this year! (We also bought a smaller turkey.) She just woke up from a nap. Can you tell?

 

 

Sweet girl.

 

Gracyn just woke up from a nap too. Can't tell in this one, but after the first shot. . .

 

Down hill it went. . .maybe she was sad for the turkey.

 

And yes, I left her in the pan.

 

And kept shooting. Cute even in tears, huh?

 

The oldest has graduated to wearing the pan on his head. . .

 

Can't believe how big he is!

 

 

Hope your Thanksgiving was a great one! Sorry this is so late. . .Ready for Christmas???

 

Halloween 2010

Okay, here the are. . .oops. One down. . .no, make that two. (Gracyn followed Addi just because.)

 

Nope, make that three, because who wouldn't enjoy rolling around on the grass BEFORE they actually wear their costumes to go trick or treating.

 

And finally, here they are. . .My pizza chef, my duck, and my peacock. . .The duck was a little wobbly in her squeaky boots, and well, that tail of hers just kept bringin' her down. Thanks to the big kids, they all made it one piece.

 

I have so many more Halloween photos I wanted to post, but Christmas is around the corner and I still have my turkey pics so, this will have to do. Better late than never, and better some, than none. Maybe after the holidays I'll be able to come back to this and add on for the sake of memories for my kiddos, but for now, this will have to do. As I post this, I'm away from home, and I miss my sweetpeas terribly. Sure, an uninterrupted meal, an "oh-so-grown-up" Smores dessert, and adult conversation can be nice, but I'd trade it for the whining, screaming, food fling fest at home any day. Hands down. (Even with a poopy diaper!)

Fall 2010

Is it still Fall, because it sure feels like Winter? According to this site, whether it be "astronomical" winter or "climatological" winter, technically, my "Fall" post make the cut. No need to change the title here, and if I follow the astronomical calendar, I still have time to post about Halloween and my annual Turkey Day snapshots BEFORE winter actually begins!

Addi got to go to the pumpkin patch this year!!!

 

She's wearing the outfit Gracyn wore on her first trip (at the age of 2) to the pumpkin patch. (Addi's 13 months in this photo.)

 

We ditched the patch that we usually go to and traded in commercial cr*p for a real experience. FREE toys to play with, no orange wristbands required.

 

It was a good move on our part. . .they had a blast.

 

Addi was still learning to master walking at the time. Here she goes. . .

 

Here's her mischievous smile. . .

 

Almost there Addi.

 

And she does it!! Through the hay bales all on her own.

 

Gracyn looks so tall next her baby sister, but oh so tiny up on this tractor!

 

Peek-a-boo!

 

While I was snapping photos of Addi, Gracyn wandered off. . .to go gather pumpkins. That's plural. . .a wagon full of 'em. She was haulin' that wagon all over the place.

 

Jie Jie teaches Moy Moy all about how to pick the perfect pumpkin. (Jie Jie had a good mentor, aka Mommy). Addi's staked her claim on this one. Smart girls I have.

 

And where the heck is Peyton anyhow? He hates taking pictures now. Well, unless it's on his terms and he's singing or playing the guitar. We found him by the horses, of course. My true farm animal lover.

 

Or, maybe I have two kids who love farm animals. . .Gracyn loved the chicks.

 

So precious!

 

Big brother loved the tractor.

 

And, mommy, well she loved the blue pumpkins.

 

This one Mom?? (YES, get that one Addi and we'll swap it for one of those little ones.)

 

This one TOO, Mom?? (YES, YES, that's the blue one. Get that one too!)

 

It was worth a few tears when we ditched the orange wrist bands, and a little bit of research to find this pumpkin farm. A great lesson learned that fun doesn't have to come at a high price, and so worth every oe of these smiles.

 

 

 

 

Redirect: A Family for Everyone

If you're a family touched by adoption, or you're considering adoption, please take the time to spread the word about those waiting for families. I love the way this blog is set up. Great links to information available on these beautiful faces.

Visit A Family of Everyone HERE.

A Day with Friends

This past weekend was full of Taiwan Connections! On Sunday, we enjoyed a day with the B Family, and we Mamas went mamarazzi.

I met Staci, Mama to the B Clan, via blogging, of course! We figured out we were in close proximity to one another when I posted about a local venue. We've become friends ever since! Natalie, the big sister of the B Clan was exposed to Peyton to prepare for her little brother's arrival. That would be Jake. Jake and Peyton are both in kindergarten now! Shortly after Addi was born, the B Clan received their referral for Jayden!!! Addi and Baby J are just weeks apart in age. We're growing our families in tandem!!!

Staci is a wonderful Mom, so sweet, so patient, so thoughtful, so beautiful. While Baby J is at SLC, there is a unique connection our children Jake and Gracyn share. Both arrived home as toddlers, both were cared for Foster Families, both resided in Christian homes and attended church in Taiwan, and both were residing in Southern Taiwan, in the Ping Tung area. When these two first met, they weren't quite sure about each other. Now look! They're quite smitten, and as Staci commented, they look like a little Mr. and Mrs.!!! Notice who's taking the lead and making the decisions on the direction!!! LOL

Staci - praying for that "final decree" call to come soon!!! Can't wait to see all 6 or 7 kiddos on that bridge next year!!! That is, if we can contain our littlest littles, and Morgan comes home too. And thanks for the posh hand-me-downs for the girls! Addi will be wearin' that two-piece any day now! Can't wait to get together again!

Princess Reunion and Our Connection

Once upon a time there three blogging Mamas. They met because all of their girls were perfect little princesses waiting in Taiwan at the same time. We waited, and we waited, and had dreams of our girls playing at Disneyland together. Princess Jaden came home first, then a few long months later, Princess Gracyn and Princess Lucy came home just a few days apart. In fact Gracyn was flying home, as Lucy was about to fly into her Daddy's arms for the very first time. (Lucy had already met her Mommy for a visit months before. For those of you survived "Taiwan Lucy" with us, you'll tear up thinking of the footage Jackie posted when she had to say goodbye.)

All of the Taiwan rascals Princesses are home, and have been home for over two years now. We've been so blessed to keep in touch over the past two years. Looking for a way to stay connected??? Be sure to stay tuned for Taiwan ROCks and the first-ever Reunion in 2011!!

Here are our girls today. . .

Princess Jaden loves the camera, can you tell?

 

What a doll!

 

Lucy loves to play!! Can you tell?

 

Super coordinated and strong!!!

 

Look at this one!

 

And this one. . .

 

And then there's my little. . .My little wanted to do the stunts above, but we're still working on the upper body strength!

 

Really? Were there 11 littles all in one house??? "My Mona's" a brave woman! (This is Lucy's name for Ramona. Cute 'aint it?)

 

Yep. . .10 kiddos and Addi. . .

 

Whatcha think of my new shoes? Do you think they have a slimming effect on my legs?!

 

Mommy says my legs are yumi-licious! What does that mean? This bread is yummy, that I'm sure of.

 

Bread lasts a really long time when you're given the end of the loaf and it's hard. Great for my budding teeth, huh?

 

Uncle Mike was pushing me on the swing AND making me laugh!!

 

Do I hear "Most Attentive Daddy Award"? (Gracyn took to Uncle Mike the first time they met too. He sure has a way with the cutie patooties! Jaden's a lucky girl.)

 

Ramona tried, but Addi would only to go to Uncle Mike. Shhh, don't worry Auntie Mona, it's a "baldie" thang. . .You have much, too much hair and you'd definitely show me up in a photo op!

 

What's this guy smilin' about? He has no more hair than I do, and I have the hair pretty!!! (Thanks to Auntie E)

 

So if you're looking closely at the photos, I'm sure your wondering who the other beautiful kiddos are in the group shot. They would be Auntie E's kiddos!
Miss E, our Kaz Princess. . .

 

 

Master N, our Japan Prince. . .

 

Miss M, our Japan Princess. . .

 

Who is so beautiful, but didn't want her photo taken.

 

And this is is Auntie E! Well, it's actually Miss K waiting in Auntie E's tummy.

 

And, we will proudly claim 8 of the 11 crazy kids pictured above. . .

 

The GIRL POWER picture. . .I love Jackie's terminology!

 

Traveling back in time. . .over two years ago, we were waiting for our girls, ever so patiently. NOT. We were miserable. Or at least Jackie and I were. Jackie's plan was very clear. Since Ramona traveled to bring Jaden home first, Ramona was supposed to "grab and run". . .Seemed like a good idea back then. Link to original post HERE.

 

But looking at 'em now, and picturing Ramona smuggling juggling these three sillies through customs is a scary thing.

 

Seeing these girls grow up together, and keeping them connected as the journey continues at home however, is a BEAUTIFUL THING. A big thanks to the beautiful Mama's of these girlies acting all crazy with my girlfriend. We may have started out as bloggy pals, or strangers sitting next to one another in those meetings "while you wait," but regardless of how we met, or how we stayed connected through the wait, through the tears, through the anger, and the challenges, I don't know what my journey would have been like without them. They were and are my sanity check. They are not only beautiful, and witty, and brutally honest. . .they are my friends.

 

I haven't spent this much time on a blog post in months! This goes to show how much I value these women, our connection. Love you guys! Thanks for a wonderful time.