Soaking

Today I'm trying to soak up the last remaining hours of 2011. I'm not going to hit the highlights of the year quite yet, but rather, enjoy the current candy making, kid sleeping, candle burning, gift wrapping, bag packing, stocking stuffing, laundry folding, Cheerio sweeping, gift opening, coffee drinking, cinnamon roll baking, movie watching, Tylenol giving, craft making, pajama wearing days that remain in these last few precious weeks of the year.

I have a love-hate relationship with the fact that my BABIES are getting so big! I love that they are gradually getting into the spirit of holidays and the excitement that each holiday involves. We are evaluating and planning traditions for our family and starting to gradually add them to the mix that we brought with us from our families of origin. I'll share some of those here very soon. Nothing earth-shattering, but hopefully meaningful, fun and simple ways for our family to share together at Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Behind part 1

What a fun past month it has been! The hubs' 30 bday, Thanksgiving, Ri's Gotcha Day, Mylesie's 17 month bday, and coming soon....Jay's 2 year old birthday!! A few more weeks and we'll be celebrating Christmas!

In between fun family time, a great weekend birthday trip to Dallas, and chasing toddlers, we got Mylesie's foot splints to help aid his hypermobility in his feet and hopefully get him walking sooner than later. He will also start physical therapy this month. We are also about to start Jay in some weekly speech therapy. Fun times!

Boys' GoTchA DaY!!!

September 2nd, 2011 AdOptIon dAy!!

All WONDERFUL photos by Chiara Davidson Photography!! Thank you, Chiara, for capturing all of our adoptions!!!

Surgery

A few weeks ago Ri had hernia surgery. She dealt great with the pre-op and recovery at home. But, watching her wakeup from surgery was so hard. She was hard to comfort. But, once we got through those few hours, she was back to her spunky, life-loving self!

Beauty and the Beast

Ri got to have Tea with Belle courtesy of YaYa and Poppy. I tagged along for the photo op! I couldn't miss seeing my sweet girl's awe over the whole thing! She looked so beautiful!! I asked her if she wanted her hair down and curly and she definitely did! It looked so pretty. She loves it down (not so much the process) and she loves to jump and feel her hair bounce. It's the small things! She wore her Belle costume, yellow rose earrings and I let her wear some makeup. You could tell she felt special! It was a fun night for her, especially getting to go to see the production of Beauty and the Beast afterward and watch her Uncle Reece perform! Such a special night!! She came home and wanted to sleep in her dress! Precious!!!






Okay, she looks way too old! Seriously, three years old?!? She will be banned from makeup until she's 30!

Playing Dress Up

Jay and Ri trick-or-treating with Daddy
Blurry "Charlie Brown"
Kids and Friends Pre-Trick-or Treat Poses


The Thursday before Halloween, the kids got to dress up at school and trick-or-treat through the church office and have a little carnival, along with classroom parties! They enjoyed some of their loot after school! Mylesie particularly liked the Oreos!



I paid a total of $12 for the kids' costumes this year...not too bad! Ri's apron was a gift from YaYa and Poppy for her birthday. I just added a little fabric and iron on letters. I bought shorts and a shirt for Mylesie's costume. Just painted on the stripe. Jayden's was just a big boy shirt cut, painted and I already had the blue material for the tie. Love cheap!!

Love my little Fred Flintstone...his hair is perfect!