Thursday, September 30, 2010

Ratatouille

Ellie gave the boys some Ratatouille costumes that she and Tate had out-grown. The boys loooove them. They put them on as soon as we got home and didn't want to take them off even though they were sweating profusely inside those things.



Most of that belly is the costume...but not all of it.






The only thing scarier than a rat is a rat with power tools:


Rat down.



Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Family Day

Today is Andrew's official Family Day. It's the first year that he has understood Family Day and he loved every minute of it.
This is our 'official' Forever Family Day banner. Andrew loves it. He keeps calling it 'my letters that say Forever'.



Andrew wanted to have his picture taken in front of the banner. He told me to wait a minute while he went into his room to get something. He came out a minute later.


Like this:


That's my son. Forever.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Forever Family Day

Tuesday, the 28th, will be Andrew's Family Day. It has been 3 years since he came home from Guatemala and we became a family. We celebrated today by taking the train to the train restaurant a few towns over. He got to choose today's activity and that was what he wanted to do. We all had a great time and Andrew kept saying, "I love my family day!"
Before bed tonight, he said this prayer, "God is great. I love my family day. I rode the train. I love the train restaurant. Mommy gave me ice cream. I love my family day. Amen"

Waiting...


Practicing his shoe-tying while we wait for the train.


Daniel has a future modeling career for Old Navy and hand-me-downs.


The train!


We sat on the top floor of the train. It was very tight up there and apparently too bright to get any good pictures because mine were all shadowy and out of focus. The good news is that the boys loved the ride and had a great time.




It must have been a special occasion. The boys were allowed to have lemonade. They were in heaven.






Waiting for the food train.






Ride 'em, cowboy!


Hanging out by the fountain...waiting for the train to take us home.




We wrapped up a great day with some fried ice cream. Daniel decided he didn't want any and spent the whole time cleaning the windowsills with a wipe. Andrew, on the other hand, was in whipped-cream, cinnamon-coated tortilla and chocolate syrup heaven.









Friday, September 24, 2010

Big

When I take the boys to a park that we have not been to in a while, I can really see how fast they are growing and changing. They are able to do so many more things than they could the last time we were there. Their climbing skills are amazing...even more so if Daniel puts down his water sippy...and they suddenly seem so tall.







Thursday, September 16, 2010

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Adoption shower

Our friends Steve and Janice are adopting two little boys from Russia. They are leaving in a few weeks to pick them up and we can't WAIT because they are very close in age to Daniel and Andrew. I'm so excited to have friends with two boys the same ages as mine (mostly because now someone else will know exactly what it's like and we all know that misery loves company). I'm totally joking (not really) but I really am happy that our kids will be friends at church and hopefully outside of church.
I co-hosted the shower for them. It was relaxed, fun and full of love and support. It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

Gifts!


If hugs are being given out, Andrew's the first in line.


I love this photo.
Steve's prayer was full of joy and gratitude and trust.



Andrew wanted the boys to have this toy. It is a favorite at our house.


Ben and Emma filled a box with toys that they no longer used but wanted to share with their new friends.


Daniel was having a baaad case of scooter envy.


Michelle and baby Quinn:


Tara and Jack admiring Quinn.



Saturday, September 11, 2010

Happy Birthday, Sam

We got to celebrate Sam's 2nd birthday with him today. A bonus was meeting Jenni, Jim and their three amazing kids. (Daniel and I actually got to meet one of their sons in Ethiopia but we had never met the rest of their family). We had a great time playing with all the kids, eating cake and hanging out at the park.


The birthday boy:










Racing:


Gorgeous girl:


fuzzy...but determined: