Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving Day 2008

Being Thankful

We stayed home Sunday from church...due to ugly coughing and just general yuckiness. (Still fighting the battle yet today. Ayden coughs very loudly and with much drama...we are kind of used to it now - it used to startle us. Ava still has an ear infection and wheezing - but is taking her breathing treatments like a champ).

So we all sat in our library on the floor and listened to our church service on the radio. Sometimes I think these days when we have had to stay home are more meaningful (maybe cause I am not trying to keep little people quiet - Ayden randomly shouts out "AMEN" during church!!) and I can actually concentrate on the music and the message again.

Anyway - the message this week was about thankfulness. And peace. The peace that comes from being thankful for what we have. For what is important in our lives. For what we have been given.

Got me thinking back to one year ago when we were given our gift of Miss Ava. November 19, 2007 was the first time we saw her little face peeking from that bonnet. January 2007 was the first time we ever saw our little Ayden's dimples in his cute Nike onsie. I remember Erin saying...."oh my goodness - look at that child named Louie....he is darling". Little did we know that he would be jumping off our couch 19 months later. Thankful? Every day we say a prayer of thanks for these two beautiful little munchkins...(Ayden loudly reminds us to pray at every meal - he LOVES to pray)

I wonder even through my weariness how anyone could be more thankful than I am.

Our extended family and friends are absolutely WONDERFUL...so accepting and loving no matter the day...always asking how they can help....what they can do to make trying to balance it all easier. And..we have the BEST daytime daycare provider ever. Thankful....yes we are.

And I am so very proud of our two eldest. They are such amazing people. They are kind, smart, generous, loving, talented and absolutely wonderful. And the love they have for their siblings....makes me love them even more. How were we blessed with the perfect children for us?

Thankful?.....I say yes.
At peace?.....yes...........thank goodness.

whew...

Well - we had a rough week around here. Poor Ava was sick...still is sick...with a yucky old cold. Ayden has a runny nose...Momma has been sick for a few weeks and Daddy is coming down with it. And it was a busy work week....so very hard when you are functioning on 4-6 hours of sleep! But we made it...kept them both home today...and did one fun project in between naps, blowing noses and emails! Cool news...Adoptive Families emailed me yesterday to ask if they could use a photo of the kids in their January issue! They are doing an article on siblings. Fun, huh?

"Papa"..."Daddy"...."Shandon"

Tomorrow is a special day....the birthday of a special guy....husband, stepdad, friend, and now "papa" "daddy" "shandon"....depending on who you happen to be in this unique family. Every single one of us is blessed to have this man in our lives. We know that. We know that this man is our rock....and he will love us through the good and the bad. We have all been the recipients of his generous spirit over and over (and the recipient of his strong will....) but he loves us no matter the challenge (we also have strong wills).

This special man helped us become a family with Faith....and continues to keep us grounded.

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He takes on my crazy ideas and projects with gusto...hardly ever squelching my creative yearnings....sometimes taking them farther than I ever myself imagined....and rarely even making fun of me...

(House Ideas I Love).

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He has traveled the world to bring this family together....with absolute patience and trust.

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Thank you Shannon...for opening your hearts to us.....for letting us be ourselves...and loving us.

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We love you.

A good day....

No crying when daddy delivered them to daycare....happy children when momma picked them up....and a fun evening with the grandparents. Erin got a 96 on her chemistry test.....Daddy & Momma worked all day and accomplished some stuff....and because of Daddy (and Sam's)hard work yesterday two cars fit in our garage...which makes momma really happy!

All in all a good day.

November 2008

Sam's new ride! Cool, huh?
Squished by a loving sister!

Happy boy. Adjusting so well....beginning to show us his very funny sense of humor more each day. Christmas is going to be amazing.

This personality is also shining brightly....talking in her cute little voice....laughing and smiling most of the day.

So.....
how can this very pleasant child be so difficult in the middle of the night? I don't get it??? Some nights she is awake crying...very upset....for 3 hours at a time. But is the most cheerful, sweet child during the day? Oh well...this too shall pass.

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Big news!!!! Adoption day is December 5! Be prepared for a celebration! Our sweet kids will share an adoption day....how cool is that!

Happy weekend everyone! Kim & the BLTs

Whew....

We made it! Ayden & Ava did well at daycare and mommy survived being back at work. Actually it was a really good week. I love this part of my job....talking to people and hopefully helping them make sense of confusing information. Tomorrow the three of us are staying home - I am going to try to get caught up on emails and laundry and then next week we are back full force.

Is this a cute couple or what?

October 31, 2008

Pumpkin carving extravaganza compliments of Sam & Ali!

Our trick or treaters had a very fun time....

Our own version of Bat Girl and Harry Potter!

Some really cute kids ( Ava would not smile no matter what we did)

But....she would show you her belly.