Festive Hair

Outside Fun

Still catching up from this summer :). Here are some summer pics: Fun times outside with friends (the Hoberts), in the rain, and at the zoo (the lion was literally a inches away on the other side of the glass licking his lips).

Catch up summer pics/Zach's pump n'run

Zach's favorite race to train for is the Pump N'Run in Hudson, IA so this year we got to see family and he got to do his race.

Labor of Love

Birthday parties (well kids ones) are not my favorite so we normally opt for a family party in most instances (partly for expense, partly for simplicity, and partly for our own selfishness). This year Taylor asked if he could go rock climbing. So Zach decided to invite a couple of Taylor's friends and their dads along. He and a friend went to the rock climbing gym and then two of his other friends joined us for dinner after the climbing. It was spastic fun had by all, including a silly string fight. You can see Emery was not a fan of this...too messy :). I also labored to make a dragon cake with the directions I found online, not because I am a talented artist, but simply because I love my son! It actually wasn't as hard as I thought and definitely much easier than trying to write or draw something on a cake. Taylor loved it and it was fitting with his other present that he bought himself after saving up for a year (see previous post on the newest addition to our family).

Our New Family Member

Happy Birthday To Our Eight-Year-Old!

Crazy to think that Taylor is 8 already.  I can't believe it!  We are so thankful for his bright smile, intelligent whit, and loving care for his siblings.   He got some Lego sets from Mom and Dad, a whoopie cushion from Autumn, and a paddle/bouncy ball set from Emery and Mya.

Taylor, we love you and are very proud of you!

Where has my baby gone?

Mya (22 mo) has been interested in sitting on the potty for a couple of months now probably part of being a 4th child. She can now say pretty much whatever she wants to, and often repeats phrases, songs, etc complete with intonation. Yesterday, she kept saying "potty, potty" so Zach sat her on and sure enough she went (and with a dry diaper). We thought, oh, that's a nice fluke. Today she did it again!! Sounds really nice doesn't it. She also asked about 3 more times to sit on the potty with nothing happening so we'll see, she might just like the time by herself :). As great as it would be to not have to do diapers anymore, I'm really not ready to start potty training. But, who knows, maybe Mya will train herself! :) She all of the sudden seems completely a toddler. Where has my baby gone?

A real snap shot of adoption

Here is a must read post about adoption by my friend Shadley.

One thing I resonated with, "parenting is not for the faint of heart." It is hard regardless of if the child is biological, adopted, foster, or a step child. But oh, what a gift they are, not only in the times of joy, but also in the times of trial and struggle. May we support and encourage one another in this all important endeavor of parenting and adoption.

Goodwill, Craigslist, and Garage Sales

One of my favorite things to do is to transform something used and old into something beautiful (or at least useful). This paired perfectly with having a fund to use for decorating and furnishing our house (from downsizing in Albuquerque) and having a summer with relatively few outside responsibilities. The kids and I had fun going to garage sales, goodwill, and getting on craigslist to find great deals and then completing projects like refinishing dressers, mirrors, coat racks, tables, and pictures (Oil brushed bronze spray paint is my friend!) or finding the perfect storage for our school room and toys. We'll give a tour or our house in a later post, but here is a taste of our summer...

4th of July

Ok not going to make it through the summer by the time school starts (already 1 week down :)). 4th of July weekend we had Zach's sister and family up. It was a fun time of crazy unpacking and getting settled in our house but we still at least managed to get in some sparkler time with the kids.

Steven Curtis Chapman Music Video

My dear friend, Shadley sent me this link. It is Steven Curtis Chapman's music video called "Meant to Be" which is in the upcoming Veggie Tales movie. I have to admit that I got a little teary the first time I watched it (ok and maybe the 2nd). Two reasons, one it is about adoption and two, our friends are in it! How fun is that! They sent in a video and pictures to Show Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's organization that gives grants for adoption) when they adopted Esias. Dan, Shadley, and Esias are the first family shown in the video when they were in Ethiopia and then it also shows their kids (Eden, Elly, and Esias) in the teal shirts later on in that same chorus. Check it out! I really have no idea what the Veggie movie is about but it is called "It's a meaningful life" and comes out October 2.

Relaxin' With Emers in the Sled on a Hot Day

Life at the Clootens

In Madison at last! We lived with our friends Matt and Allison Clooten, along with their adorable girls Madison and Ruby (age 6 mo at that point) the whole month of June. Are you already getting the picture of what amazing people they are, taking in our chaotic family for an entire month!

It was a huge blessing to be able to live together for so long. Allison and I got to tackle lots of projects (she's speaks my love language :)) in the midst of caring for 6 children age 7 and under, stay up late talking, watch movies, geek out on Apple products, do art projects, fly chalk dragons in their driveway, Craigslist shop, fill up their garage with our home purchases, build huge lego ships, see their girls sit up on their own (my kids loved being the helper "big kids"), and further solidify our friendship as "family".

We love you Clootens! Thanks so much for your hospitality and friendship!

Our Journey to Madison

We left Madison on Friday, May 28th (the day after school was out and going away open house at Greg and Caitelen Schneeberger, of course no pics) and then spent the weekend with Eric and Rosie Hansen in Denver. It was a wonderful time of catching up with old friends (yes, of course no pictures:)). We then made the looooong trek to Sioux Falls, SD (Mya was not a big fan and screamed at various times and pretty much the last hour of our 12 hours drive) to spend a couple of days with my sister and fam. The kids had a blast with their cousins, but we on the other hand may have worn them out :). We spent the next few days in Minnesota with my parents and then finally arrived in Madison on Friday, June 4th. It was a very fun way to make the trip across country, visiting people we love on each leg of the trip.

Loving our time with the Wordens (for some reason I only have pictures of my kids and Emily :()






Fun at the Dam by my parents house in Hastings, MN. We got to see a huge barge come in and dock. The kids were enthralled!

Beachtime! Our kids were loving the water back in the midwest!