Our family Christmas...

Next week we are heading to Oklahoma for Christmas. Since this is the girls' first Christmas with us, I really wanted them to experience it at home. The only day we had free, before we leave, was this past Sunday. It is such a great thing that Santa Claus delivers presents to families that are going to be out of town on Christmas Eve. :)

I wasn't sure how much the girls would grasp since we don't focus on Santa much. I did tell the boys that we were going to "pretend" that Santa was going to come to our house, so the girls could experience what it is like to leave cookies and have presents under the tree in the morning. They were excited to help eat the cookies and to be involved in something so fun knowing full well that Santa already mailed their gifts.

All day Saturday, we told the girls what was going to be happening that night once they were in bed. We had a great day. Monte brought home Ethiopian food for lunch (he is a hunter and hunted in the morning). I have to admit a different side of the girls comes out when they are eating injera. They are so happy and content. I believe it is the familiarity of the food for them. They love American food, but nothing remotely compares with injera. I love watching them eat it.

We then made our annual gingerbread house. It reminds me every year I have no chance of ever decorating cakes, but the kids have a blast.

Then it was time for bed. This is a picture of them in their Christmas jammies...

Once they were all in bed, Monte went out to his truck to unload from his hunt(no dead animals, just gear). He opened the garage door which is right under the girls' room. We never open it when the girls are in bed because it is so loud. Once Chloe heard the loud noise, she sat straight up in bed and yelled, "Santa's coming!". It was the cutest thing ever!

The next morning they were all up and ready to go by 7a. The girls really caught on quick and needed no help tearing open their gifts. I am amazed at how fast they have caught on to everything. They are such smart girls!

Josiah and his big eyes...

Chloe eating a sucker at 7:30a... life is great.

John got what he wanted from Santa...

Isaac was excited, but not surprised. Just FYI, all the boys received hair cuts last night. I didn't think about that when I was running around finishing up shopping last week. That would of been a smart thing to schedule!

Hannah and her baby doll...

The three youngest had their Christmas program at church too. They all did great! Josiah was a wise man and the girls rang bells. The girls saw us when they were leaving the sanctuary, but didn't cry for us. They just went back to their class like big girls. They have adjusted to church very well. I am thankful!

My Beautiful Ethiopian Princesses...

Big hearts and Honesty Part II

Yesterday I felt brave and decided it was time to put up the Christmas tree! The boys were such a big help and all I really did was string the lights. We also have a small tree with the kids' ornaments on it. I think it is time to get a big tree for their treasures because almost every limb is taken.

I can honestly say I feel blessed that we adopted toddlers. I love the fact that they get excited about EVERYTHING around them. They couldn't get enough of the Christmas tree and they had so much fun getting out all the Christmas decorations. They are such a joy. They asked over and over again how to say Christmas tree and ornaments. Christmas is going to be so much fun this year with our family finally complete.

We still do have some hard days, but they are now few and far between. I do know some of their issues will come and go, but overall I think the seven of us are adjusting well. I would say it took 3 solid months for me to finally feel like I had a grip with being a mom to five. I had some wonderful friends that guided me along the way and there are so many of you that have been praying for us and I am so thankful for each one of you. I also had to learn that everything they were/are doing is normal and that I am NOT a bad mom. We moms put a lot of undeserved guilt on ourselves. Why do we do that?

They are beautiful girls with huge personalities and I am so proud to be their mom. The boys have really stepped up and are awesome big brothers. The girls adore them.

I just had to share these. Josiah brought this to me today. He has such a big heart!

Isaac decided TODAY that he wanted to start cursive writing. This was the first thing he wrote. I love my kids!

It is very close to insanity...

Late Friday night, this Dad and Mom...

will be driving these five munchkins...

and the dog...

to Maine, my birthplace.

That is a 20 hour drive... ONE WAY! We will drive straight through (minus a visit with a cousin in PA). We have always drove it in one day. We leave at night and it makes it so much easier. As long as we are loaded up on coffee and soda. I have made it a two day trip only once, when I drove by myself (with three boys and a dog).

It really isn't too bad and it's great quality family time! See that? I am giving myself my annual pep talk!

Here are some things we don't leave home without when we are taking road trips:

1. DVD player with a couple new movies (this year, UP and Monsters v Aliens) and our old faithfuls

2. Nintendo ds x2

3. HEADPHONES...a must for this momma sanity

4. coloring books

5. crayons/colored pencils

6. paper

7. stickers

8. books

9. Tag reading system

10. Tag Junior reading system (for the girls)

11. lots and lots of snacks...

and lots of caffeine for Dad and Mom

Am I missing anything??

I am not sure if I'll get time to blog while I am there, so if not...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Africa Ornaments

Ornaments are a big deal in this family. Every year the boys get an ornament in their stocking. It usually has something to do with what we did that year or what their interest has been that year. I spend a long time finding the perfect one and have a great time doing it.

When I saw these ornaments on this blog, I knew I had to have them! They are doing it as their adoption fundraiser. The girls will find these in their stocking this year. What a great ornament to start the same tradition with our girls!

Thank you Amy, we love them!

Being Thankful...

This month in school we have been talking about Thanksgiving and what it means to us as Americans and how much we truly have to be thankful for. I have often wondered, why me? Why was I born in America? One of my favorite verses is Luke 12:48b "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required." I LOVE that verse. I believe a lot is required of me, because I have been given a lot. No, I may not have a lot in America's eyes, but I know compared to others around the world, I have more than I need.

We have also been talking about adoption awareness month. 147 MILLION is a big number to understand. I am not even sure I can wrap my mind around that number, but that is how many orphans there are in the world. Isaac and John do understand what a huge number that is and it breaks their hearts to know that many boys and girls don't have a Dad and Mom or a place to call home. It brings them to tears. I pray often that their hearts stay tender, because the Lord will do amazing things through them. I also tell them that adoption does not stop with Chloe and Hannah. We are called by God to care for orphans. My boys may not be called personally to adopt and I am fine with that, but I am not fine with them doing nothing. There is so much that we can do the help the 147 MILLION orphans in this world. We can pray for them and the ones called to adopt, sponsor a child, donate time/missions trip, and give money to a family that is adopting. That is just the start...

My handsome boys... starting at the left... John, Isaac and Josiah

In honor of Thanksgiving I asked the boys to name things they are thankful for.

Isaac Arlen, age 8

1. Our house

2. That we live in America

3. That we are free to worship God

4. Food

5. That we adopted Hannah and Chloe

John Douglass, age 6 1/2

1.Food

2. The holidays

3. Toys & Clothes

4. The Bible

5. Great Grannie (that we'll see her in heaven one day)

Josiah Richard, age 5

1. Turkey

2. Ethiopia

3. Jesus

4. Our pets

5. Family

I would love to know, what are you thankful for?

Spring Celebration

For the last few years I have had a really hard time doing all the commercialized Easter things. I didn't want anything to take away the importance of the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection. Because I significantly lack in the creative thinking department, we continued to do the "normal" traditions, minus the Easter Bunny.

Last year I was reading this blog and this family does the most wonderful thing. They do all the commercialized Easter things on the first day of spring. What an amazing idea! I embraced it with open arms.

This year marked are second annual Spring Celebration. We decided to invite a few friends to this year's celebration. We had a great time! They hunted Easter eggs, decorated cookies, and played games!

Here are some pictures of the boys and their decorated cookies!

Now we can celebrate the REAL meaning of Easter!

Merry Christmas!!

Isaac's Piano Recital... blog style

Right now Isaac will not get up in front of a bunch of people to play the piano. I was very shy growing up, so I will not push him to do it, because I know how horrible it is. He was ok with me taking video of him playing (not that the had a choice with that) and it was his idea to put it on the blog!

I now present you with Isaac Alexander...


Good King Wenceslas...

Jingle Bells...

All John wants for Christmas!

Operation Christmas Child

Our church participates in Operation Christmas Child. I feel that the boys are getting old enough to really understand the whole concept of "people in need". So, I decided we needed to do one this year. We starting sponsoring two Compassion children even before they were born, so they have always been taught about the need around the world. But I think it takes kids, that have so much, a while to really get it!

After church a few weeks ago I told them about it and asked if they wanted to get gifts for a boy or girl? They all told me that they wanted to get for a GIRL! I was a little taken back at first, but thought it was precious! They have all said that they would like a sister, so maybe that is why.

We went this week to get the gifts and I have no clue how much is normal to spend on a box, but I think I might of gone overboard. I had SO much fun with the boys picking out all pink. We filled ever square inch of that thing with girl stuff. Even the toothpaste was a girl theme... ha!

As we pray over the box tonight I know I will cry. My heart just aches for people in need, especially children. I thank God for the heart that He has given me, but truly what am I doing with it? I think there is so much more I can be doing. I really need to search God's word and listen to Him, because I think maybe I am missing something. So often I let myself get busy with MY LIFE and don't ask God, is there more that you want me to do?