Lots of fun since Christmas

I can't believe how bad I am at keeping up with a blog... Should be so easy, but for some reasons (my 2 beautiful girls mostly), I can always find something better to do.

So, since the last post, L has turned 2. We had a great party for her and she just loved it. She is all about Elmo right now so we had an Elmo theme. She gave me sort of a funny look when I said she could eat her Elmo cake. It actually turned out cute too. We got her a "bike" for her bday. It is actually a tricycle, but to I it's a bike and to L it's a car. Everything on wheels is a car. I took the kids to the park yesterday to try out the new bike and give I some time on her wheels. L liked it, but not as much as when she is in her warm cozy basement with a concrete floor. Granted it is Feb, but it was just so sunny outside we had to break out. L is quite independant too, doesn't want anyone holding the push bar on the back of the bike.

So, President's weekend, we went up to Sun Peaks with Jeni, Sam and the kids. It was a fun trip. The drive was super long.... 11 hours. The kids did remarkably well too. We took books, games, toys and a dvd player, and of course lots of snacks. Skiing was pretty good. It is suprizing how much snow there wasn't, but overall it was great. I (not me) tried skiing for a couple of hours. By the last time we put her skis on, she actually was able to snowplow and turn a little and she went down a little hill like 5-6 times without falling. She felt very successful and Josh and I were really proud - mostly because she kept trying despite wanting to just be done. It paid off though, she did it and was really proud of herself. We had rented skis for L too, but after about 15 minutes, it was pretty clear she was not into it and really didn't get what the point of the stick on her feet was, so we returned them and just let her play in the snow. Josh still just rocks on his skis. It totally blows me away. He hasn't skied in a couple of years and he still just bombs down anything in good form. Me on the other hand, I slid sideways down my one black diamond and skied a total of just over 1 day and my back still hurts. Seems pretty pathetic I know. After each day of skiing we all piled into the hot tub though and that was great!!

On our way home from skiing, we stopped and stayed with my sister Leah and her family to break up the drive. We didn't get there until 10:30 pm so the kids were out. Even though we didn't get much time to visit, it is always good to get to to see them. We had cookies and tried a taste of Leah and Shane's homemade wine. I'm no wine conoseur (sp), but I guess it was ok. Leah says it tasted sort of bad, like most homemade wine.... I have no clue, but it was still fun to sample her handiwork.

This last wednesday, on our way home, we stopped in Spokane to finalize L's citizenship and Praise God.... L is now truly an American Citizen!!!

Ok, so I think that is the most of the stuff we have been up to. I know there are other fun things I could have shared like L applying whiteout eyeshadow and I doing her Musketeer show, but for now... I thinks that is all.

Christmas and the week or so following

So, Christmas was awhile ago, but WOW it has been busy and a struggle to get to my computer. I had to post on Christmas

though.... too wonderful to pass over. Christmas Eve we did our traditional caroling to Christ around a campfire. It was great to have our whole family together. We ALL sang (including Josh and L). It was so fun. We sang, had cocoa, roasted hot dogs and the girls had a ball chasing Katie around in the snow. We came inside and then read a few versions of the Christmas Story before putting the girls to bed. First thing Christmas morning, I woke up and had to potty and then realized she didn't get to jump on us in bed. L woke up too so she had Josh and I go back to bed and she and L came in and threw pillows on us...... so cute. The girls went down stairs and got their stockings.... actually I got them both and helped L carry hers upstairs. They sat on the floor at the end of our bed and opened their stocking stuff. It was a priceless moment for me... to have both our girls there, together, doing the same thing me and my sisters did when we were kids. They compared their treats and gifts and of course started in on the candy. We then went downstairs and called grandmas and grandpas to come over to open presents. We had our Christmas coffee cake and juice and then opened presents. I and L both had so much fun....it certainly didn't take long for L to get the hang of opening gifts. She actually had figured it our the night before when they opened their Christmas jammies. After the gift opening, the girls played with their gifts a little as we got ready to go to Amma and Pappa Quaades for brunch. I had to run to the clinic to do quick treatments, but when I got home we went for brunch. We had a great time at Quaades and played a fun game of Chip's creation, Life Out West. After brunch, we went to Amma Furmans and had a nice Christmas dinner with Amma and Grandpa Furman. The girls were such a joy and the day was such a wonderful day with family.

A few days after Christmas, Grandma Eve , Grandpa Jim and Eve and Jacob came to visit. It is always so wonderful to have them around.... we certainly don't get to see them enought. While Eve and Jake were here we took the kids ice skating for the first time. I liked it ok, but didn't understand why she just couldn't skate like a princess, and L loved being on the ice, but didn't really want to skate. She was so upset when she had to take her skates off.... it was very sad. I think both girls may end up really liking it.

I know there were other things from the holiday that were worth commenting on, but that was a few weeks ago and it's late.

Thanksgiving and the couple of weeks following

Gingerbread house making.

L really wanted to put that ceramic shoe on

Girls dancing in living room

Baking party

Girls decorating and baking.

So Thanksgiving was great this year. Both Josh and I had all our siblings here. We had a full house and were blessed with great company. We started the day at home and then went to my mom's for the first of our dinners. We ate a fantastic meal after playing family fued and then went to Josh's parents for the second of the dinners.... also terrific!! I must say I ate WAY too much. We played rockband with everyone there and then had pie - some truly wonderful pecan pie :). Even by the time we got home, my older sister kept poking me in the belly because I had obviously eaten too much. The girls has a ton of fun playing with their cousins.... it was totally cute to see them all together (unfortunately minus my youngest nephew). So the Friday after Thanksgiving I had to take L to the Dr for each and upper airway yuck, but then we all had a bake fest at my house. We made sugar cookies and decorated gingerbread houses. We did have one other fantastic delay to the baking fun (which was supposed to start at 10:30 but didn't start till ~ 3). My younger sister had thought she could possibly be expecting and decided to find out while at my house. And what a blessings, Erin is HAVING a BABY!!!! So of course, we were completely distracted and celebrating that before we could get back to the previous plan of making cookies and such. The guys had all gone bowling, so we came up with a fun way for Erin to tell Tim the great news. All of were supposed to go to a movie that night, but Josh and I missed out. Josh ended up with GI yuck and I got called to the clinic to help with an emergency. It really was so great to have our family here.

This week the girls and I put up our Christmas decorations. I is more excited that I have seen her yet. L totally loved going through the boxes of decorations. I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before on the blog, but L has a thing for shoes. She found a cute little ceramic santa boot and even tried to put that on her big toe. It was adorable. The day after we put up decorations, I woke up so excited and said "mommy, this is the first time I have woke up and it is a day closer to Christmas." It just makes my heart giddy to see her soooo giddy!! Hopefully this week we will go and get a Christmas tree. It ends up being a pretty big deal... time consuming as we get like a 20foot tree and setting it up is a production. I can't wait to see L's expression when she sees a tree inside and I CAN'T wait to lay under the tree with my girls and look up and the lights!!!

Today we went to a gingerbread making party. That was also so fun. This year is the first year I actually did her own house...... so cute. L did really good too. She decorated most of the roof and "gutters". It was great to get together with my friends for our traditional mess making day and the kids really seemed to enjoy it too.

I was going to comment a quick funny story or two about potty training, but I think I will just leave it at that. I was SOOO easy. L is doing well, but well..... we do have funny stories. It is definitely taking longer than I had expected. I guess when you are comparing to a day, anything seems longer!

So once again I will try and post pictures. We'll see how it goes.

Halloween

Kari (the dude), me (the hippie), C, I and L

I, C and L

My precious kiddos, I the little mermaid, L and clown!!

So Halloween was fun - just like it usually is! I just love dressing the kids up and seeing how much fun they have trick or treating. Really, I'm not sure who likes it more, me or the kids. This year we had to run to Walmart before trick or treating, so the kids got to wear their costumes there..... of course, I thought that was great. I was the little mermaid, and L was a clown that I(me) was when I was 2 and that I also was when she was 2. Let me tell ya.... so cute! Both kids posed well for pictures and danced around the house so proud of their cute costumes. Now getting them to smile at the same time was a challenge, but we did it. We went to my mom and dad's first and then went to Stonehockers to head around their neighborhood. I think we only went to 10 houses or so, but all the kids thought that was alot and they all did great trick or treating. The two older kids said trick or treat and thank you and L did her best to hold up her pumpkin bucket. She only tried going into 2 houses......she is so very friendly. It was surely fun.

Pumpkin carving

Tonight was fun. Russ and Kari came over to carve pumpkins. The kids started off all gung ho but they started to fizzle after 30 minutes or so. I and C kept trying to "help" carve, but I think 4 yo's are better off without knives. L loved scooping with the spoon, so much that she started scooping pumpkin guts back into the pumpkins. So it ended with L in bed, I and C playing in the play room, Russ and Josh on the couch sleeping and Kari and me carving away in the kitchen. At about 10pm, we decided we'd better wrap in up.

Camping in the snow.

So this Monday we decided to take the girls and go up to hunting camp with Josh, his dad and mom and a couple of friends. We figured it would be cold, but we have a wall tent with a wood stove and also figured it would be fine and warm enough. We left in the middle of a rain storm and when we got to hunting camp it was cold, snowing/hailing, and very windy. I just had to laugh and so did everyone else. The girls thought it was hilarious. We stayed in the tent most of the evening. I entertained everyone with sliding down her cott which was propped up to make room for us all to hang out. L entertained us all by trying to copy I by sliding down a pile of blankets. The kids did great to say the least. Bed time even went well. Everyone just piles into their sleeping bags and pack and play and went to sleep. Well.... almost. I was laying next to our airmattres and had some water dripping on her from the condensation on the latern. She told me and when I reached over to feel if she really getting dripped on, a drop hit my hand and splashed her. She just very casually said.."ah crap." Needless to say the entire tent busted up laughing and then I (me) calmly told her that is not nice to say. I (me) appologized to her because she got that from me and then told her neither of us should say that. We all continued to laugh for another 10 mintues or so.. It was just so innocent and cute. So the next morning, the guys went camping good and early and the girls woke up too. They played on the cotts and airmattresses for awhile and then wanted to go play in the snow. They went sledding on their bottoms in the snow (not on cotts and blankets) and make snow angels and ate lots of snow. They had such a ball. Then we all came back in the tent for hot cocoa and cards. The guys came back without having seen much but all in all, it was a great camping/hunting trip.

Tomorrow is halloween... I will be little mirmade and L will be the clown I (me) was when I was 2. Should be fun!! Supposed to have snow though, so we'll see.

a fun day.

So I haven't updated in a long time... I just get so into doing other stuff and playing and catching up and the list goes on and on. This will have to be short update too because I told I that I will do the curtains for her and L's room while they are napping. Anyhow, today was a great day (atleast so far). We did preschool this am and I actually wanted to do her letters. She is now writing her whole name by herself and she is proud. I think that accomplishment is prodding her on because now she knows she can do it. L had a great time coloring with markers this am. I think I'm glad she doesn't know they are washable because I think that would take some of the fun out of it for her :). The three of us girls had races around the couch and then play simons says. L actually tried to follow along too. Of course she ignored the simon part but it was fun seeing her "jump" up and down and swing her arms over her head anyhow. After preschool time we went to swim lessons. L and I didn't get to swim today as she is still getting over her bug, but I did GREAT. The teacher said she just keeps telling him to back up further and let her do more. I (me) was so proud. I (me) think L will be a great swimmer as she LOVES the water, but I(me) was worried about I as she is much more reserved. Well, atleast for today, so much for that. She was doing her best to swim and swim. So after swimming we went to Mc'D for our traditional after swimming treat and I said she really just wanted to get her flu vaccine over with. I(me) was shocked as I hates shots, so we went quickly to the pharmacy and just got it done. L was running around the pharmacy pulling toys off the shelves and thankfully everyone there is nice and knows us and just laughed and helped corral her b/c I was holding I for her shot. She was very brave and actually only cried a little. On the way home the girls shared I's post vaccine crackers and it was just so sweet to see them smiling at each other in the back seat. I (me) still get weepy thinking about how so very thankful to have both my girls at home, finally together. I was reading a friends blog today and realized it was a year ago on the 20th we finally got our true referral for L. I usually try to not think about that whole process as it was so very hard for me, but thanks be to God for that referral and finally getting her home to us. We have friends who's kids case was held up this week because a paper was incorrect and when I found out it just took me back a little. In one breath I would love to start another process next year to bring home another beautiful child, but in another, I just don't know if my heart would be ready. L was worth every tear shed and I do know that if God has another child in mind for us, that child will be worth the struggle too.... I guess we will just wait on the Lord to guide us. Anyhow, I got a little off track..... today was a great day and I am so thankful for our beautiful girls. Now I just can't wait for Josh to get home so I can tell him about our day and hear about his. Hopefully he had a great day at work too...... atleast as great a day could be at work I guess.

Here are a couple of pictures too.... I haven't figured out how to label them on here. I and grandma at the pumkin patch and then some of I and L. I can't believe it, but I have't posted pictures from L's dedication.... the one in the ethiopian dress is L on her dedication day. Then there are a couple of the girls doing projects and sit and spinning together. I took the picture of L and me together this am. We were out using the camera b/c camera starts with "C" and that is the letter of the week. She took our picture because we were "cuddling" and I(me) was "carrying" L. It was really cute. Ok, now to see if I can load the pictures.......

tired

So today I got back to the real grind. Well, not really because I was only scheduled to work half day, but even half days turn into whole day when you are on call. It totally bumbs me out... it's not the work I don't like. It is being away from my family. I really enjoy helping the animals and their owners. I really do. To ease suffering in little critters just makes me happy. I helped "free" a kitten from a milk crate tonight. The family was just so relieved to have the kitten freed - that is nice and it feels good. But, it just really hurts so much being away from my family. I know God has a plan for even this in my life, but wow, it hurts so much to think I can miss whole days from my family. I feel like a whiner... I am so blessed by both having a wonderful family and only needing to work part time in a job I enjoy. So much better to focus on the blessings than always wanting more...... I guess I need to remember that.

I and friends at the fair.

L getting ready for a 4-wheeler ride.

I in ballet (the one facing the camera)

I doing preschool work

Josh with his elk this year. Took him with his bow opening day,

So the block party wasn't nearly as fruitful for One Changed Life as we had hoped, but a good friend reminded me kindly that God IS in control and he will provide for those kids, we just need to keep diligent in doing our part to serve Him. So, we shall press on and look for other avenues that may bring more sponsorships. It was still a fun time at the block party. The kids were with Josh and me the whole day and they did SO well. I did take a couple of hour break to take I to a movie G-Force. It was great to have some time just the two of us. L stayed with Josh and put on her megga cuteness and brought people to the table. She really is such a cutie. The rest of the week was pretty busy. I (me) started back to work and I (daughter) started swimming and AWANA. I'll only be helping with AWANA every other week this year so as to have more time with L as AWANA is on a work day of mine, but while I'm gone on those weeks helping out, Josh will have some good daddy - daughter time with L. It was sure nice too to have Russ and Kari over for dinner. It has been a LONG time it seems since they have been over to just visit. Well, I suppose I had better get on with the day. Josh is off 4-wheeling with my dad and the kids and I are heading to a wedding. I'm still having a hard time figuring out how to format my blog and load pictures with captions, but I will try again.

Week of big 1sts

So this week has been a week of big 1st's for I. We started home preschool on Tuesday.... very cute. I insists that we do school in the basement in the "classroom" that I see I will have to make it into more an official classroom. L just plays down there because the toys are a novelty.... toys we don't have upstairs, so she had been quite content to play while I and I do school. I also started ballet this week.... now that is really cute. We messed up and got the wrong size leotard and slippers, but she didn't care in the slightest. She was in BALLET. Her latest desire for adult life is to be a ballet teacher and that was even before class started. Another first, I had her first friend stay over for a sleep over. It was her friends first sleep over too and the girls had a great time playing and "camping" in the spare bedroom. L didn't enjoy though because big sis didn't sleep in her room with her, so I(me) layed on her floor and held her hand until she drifted off. L has definitely become attached to I. She is even giving her hugs and kisses in the morning. Well, this weekend we are having our first big push to get sponsors for the kids of One Changed Life. We will have a table at the block party and hopefully and prayerfully, God will provide many sponsors. I'll post pictures of the event next week.

Another great week.

So on Monday, we went to Ross Lake which is in the North Cascades in WA. The drive was long, but totally worth it. L had a bit of a rough time in the car.... bored out her mind I'm sure, but we made it there and like I said, it was worth it. We had to take a ferry to a pickup to another boat to get to our cabin.... it was cool. We stayed in a bunk house with Josh's sisters family. The one issue of the whole trip happened within the first 5 seconds of getting there. I was so excited to get into the cabin that she jumped from the boat onto a dock which was attached to the dock of the cabin and fell in between. I of course freaked out and so did I(me) but she was fine. She caught herself on her armpits and I pulled her up and out. Total adrenaline rush and freak out for me. It took me a day to relax about the water after that, but I did and it was so fun. We went on a hike to the dam which was completely amazing and took a few boat trips to see some gorgeous scenery. The water was cold but the days were warm so it was still great for swimming. One of the boat rides back we got caught in some serious wind and white caps. We were just in a little 14 foot aluminum boat and we all got soaked. It was hilarious and very fun. L actually slept through the entire thing on my lap. I had put a towel over her to shade the sun and it also worked as a water shield. She got soaked like the rest of us but not by direct splashing so she slept all through it - amazing. I'll try to post some pictures - we'll see if it works. The ride home was much better than the ride there, maybe because my cold had mostly passed and I wasn't so irritable from feeling so sick, maybe it was b/c the kids were beat and slept a bit of the ride home. Yesterday we went to a wonderful wedding of our friends - such a blessing... Yes it has been a nice week. Josh actually went hunting this am - left super early at 3am and thankfully also already got his bull. This week is back to real life. I starts Ballet and restarts swimming and now I'm trying to figure out how to make all of this work with my work schedule... I have to go back in 2.5 weeks. Hopefully something will pan out.

Wow, this has been a busy week. Last weekend I took the girls and went to visit my sister Leah and her family. It was a great visit. We were able to just sit and relax and took the kids to the beach and swam in the river - it was just fantastic. Josh was off rafting with the guys for a friends of our bacheolar party, so all in all , I think we all had a fun weekend. L did well of the trip but really didn't enjoy sleeping away from home.... hopefully this week's trip will go better for that. This week, Grandma Eve, Grandpa Jim and Josh's sister Jeni and the kids were here to visit. Once again, it has been a ton of fun and great to get to visit. We have been busy though, off and about having lots of fun. I'll see if I can post some pictures, but my computer is going really slow today for some reason. Well, we will be off to Ross Lake this week with Jeni's family and it should be fun. We should get to do some kayaking, fishing, hiking, and relaxing. So looking forward to having my whole family together as we have been missing Josh a bit as he has been pretty busy with work and such. I know the girls will love having daddy around every day too... so I am really excited!!

Picture of the day....

Trying it again.

So, i'm gonna give this a whirl - keeping a blog that is. We'll see how it goes.

We were blessed to bring our little L home (previously know as E but we decided to change her real name). I'm not sure about using names, so I don't think I will. Anyone who might read this will know who I'm talking about anyhow, right. We got home July 24th and are so truly blessed. The trip was remarkable to say the least. Adoption is undescribable. I though giving birth was the most miraculous of things, but I must say, bringing a child into your heart through adoption is just as miraculous, just in a different way. I am a very blessed woman. God has been better to me than I could ever even fathom why. I am so very very blessed. The girls are adjusting well to each other... L follows I everwhere and copies everything she does. It is SO cute. I loves it. I think she wishes she could still just hug and hold her sister more, but L is a little bit into personal space still and feels "pestered" by some of I's wonderful love. Anyhow, here is an update I wrote on a chat group I am in with blessed Christian sisters who have made this adoption journey with me.
Quaade update......We are doing really good. L has had a little trouble sleeping throuh thenight the last couple of night and I'm not sure if its indigestion (because shehas gorged herself on food the last 2 night for dinner) or b/c it is so hothere. Other than that though, all is going well. Her skin has mostly clearedup now too. The doctors office and pharmacy have been a slight annoyance(almost to the point of my thinking I'm going to switch dr.s/pharmacies.) Wehad a allergy panel run, and they ran the wrong one, so we didn't actually getthe info on peanuts that I was looking for. So they should be running that inthe next few days and we will see if that is the cause. Yeah, we had the dr'soffice make a total of 5 errors in L's health check. Actually 6 errros - Ijust stopped to count. We were in now 3 weeks ago and they still have notcontacted me with all of her results. After I called to see why they hadn'tcalled, they called one night at 7pm as they were walking out the door of theafter hours place, but I quite running to my phone after 5:30 and of course,they were gone when I got the message. They are now out until next Thursday, soit will be almost 1 month to get her results - seems silly to me. I know theiris nothing hugely wrong as I picked up the results, but there are about 10questions I have for them. I try to be loyal to our dr as in the past he wasbeen wonderful, but I'm pretty sure he is overworked and it getting sort of laxin things. Oh, well I guess.We took the kids camping this last weekend. L loves boats and water and shecamps like a little pro. We went to the water park on Wednesday and she seemsto think she can swim.... She can't really but she sure wants to just GO. It isadorable. I swam and played with her in the pool the whole time. Lastnight was the first night we left L with anyone else. It was our anniversaryand we went out the dinner. We went out for chinese. It was super nice for us to get away and have a few hours together, but I was concerned as I didn't know if I would careb/c I left and I'm not so sure how bonded she is yet, or if she would care alotand feel like she was left again. It was all good!!!! She walked around thehouse after we left (she was with I at my friends house) and wentlooking around saying "mama, mama". She didn't cry, but she noticed I wasn'tthere. She played and had fun while we were gone and when we got back and shesaw me she got a great big smile and reached to be picked up. She just wanted mama and dada, but was still just as happyas a little clam. It was GREAT. I think she is actually bonding and seems tobe pretty secure!!!!WE are off to my sisters for an overnighter tonight. Hopefully that goes well. It's a 3hour drive. I does great in the car and L seems to befollowing right along in that.
I will actually try to update this as some people might follow, but if not, it's atleast a good journal.

Also, I keep meaning to right it down.... a profound bible verse for me this week. " I have no greater joy that to hear that my children walk in truth." 3John 1:4

update

Update,

Silly me, I never thought to update :).

Currently discouraged at the thought of not seeing our little E for a whole YEAR> Had a heart to heart with God last night, thankfully, but still feeling a might bit discouraged this am. I know my Lord is in control, but I miss this child I haven't yet met SO much. I will still keep praying though because God can do anything and hopefully he will allow her to come home before Josh is back to work after Spring layoff.

We'll see how this works

I'm not sure how this works, but I thought I would give it a try. It has to be short b/c princess is on my lap and wants her chocolate milk.