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.