Snow Day (sort of)

So it snowed yesterday. We hardly got any out here (some areas nearby got a lot more), but the kids went outside anyway.

Norah and I made the best snowman we could. I told you there wasn't much snow:


Here's a close-up:
Here's a cute one of Haddon before we went for a walk:

Jingle Bell Dance

Tree Trimming

This last weekend we bought a Christmas tree (Do you like it? You can get one too; just click here) and decorated it. Here are some pictures, not exactly in chronological order, for your viewing pleasure.

Here's the finished product when the kids got done with it (Kelly went back and rearranged it a bit better later that night):
This is my own tree decorating tradition. My OSU Beaver ornaments get top billing, just beneath the star, until the Civil War football game is played. If the Beavers win, they stay there. If they lose (especially if they lose embarrassingly, like last year), they get relegated to a more shameful location, closer to the back and further down:
Here's Norah in a cute picture. It's too bad about the funny light coming from the blinds:
I think this one really shows how pretty Norah is:
This is Norah holding her first Christmas ornament. It actually says "Granddaughter's first Christmas." My parents got it for her when she was a baby:
This is Haddon's first Christmas ornament. Some day we'll actually get his baby picture put into it. He's three now:
This is a good one of Haddon carefully decorating. It is a good contrast to the horrific events of this morning, when he ripped an angel ornament from the tree and decapitated it:
(Oh, and if you click on that and make it larger you can see a clothespin reindeer ornament in the box in the background. I made that in Kindergarten.)

By the way, Haddon chose to forgo pants while taking part in the tree decorating:

That's all for now. Go Beavers to all, and to all a good night.

Abigail's Trees

Most people, if they get to know me, will find out pretty soon that I am passionate and come from a family that is passionate about adoption. Being adopted myself, and experiencing the joy of being adopted into the body of Christ, has given us the desire to adopt one day ourselves.

Well, my sister is in the process right now, and is adopting through Ethiopia. They are on a waiting list and need to raise the last bit of funds necessary.

You can help this holiday season! If you're getting a Christmas tree, get a great tree from them, and support bringing home our future niece and cousin, Abigail!

Visit their blog and get all the details.

My Bah-boo

This past weekend we took my grandmother out to lunch at Red Robin, and the kids got to pick out a balloon after our meal.

Norah was proud of her red one, and Haddon chose a green one. We walked out to the car and just as we were nearing it, away flew Haddon's wonderful green balloon into the grey sky!

"My bah-boo!" he exclaimed. He wasn't upset, just surprised. We started the process of buckling in the children, and suddenly Casey appeared with another green balloon.

He explained that a little girl entering the restaurant saw Haddon lose his balloon, went in and picked out a new green one for him. Her mother looked proud.

I would have been too. It was very sweet, and it was a sweet blessing to our family- especially Haddon.

Too bad there wasn't another philanthropic little girl around later that day when a gust of wind took away Norah's balloon out of the car...

Candyland

Norah surprises me sometimes with revealing her vocabulary. While we were playing Candyland, I drew the ice cream cone. It was at the beginning of the game, and anyone who it familiar with Candyland knows that the ice cream cone is the best "treat" card to draw because it moves you the furthest. Well, when I did, Norah exclaimed, "Wow! That's incredible!"

November 2nd

Today marks a bit of a milestone for our family. We have officially been Oregon residents for one year. It was a year ago that we were all packed up in a mostly empty house, took the kids to Mesa Mall and then to the airport to pick up their grandparents. Yesterday marked a long day of travel, and today was our arrival day- to begin a new chapter.

When we think about where we were a year ago, it's amazing to see God's provision and strength that he has given us. We are blessed by the healing he has provided as well.

We are also keenly aware of the plans that we have had, but how those plans have not been the Lord's. God's plan is always perfect, always better, and always for the best for those who are His.

So, although today is a day just like any other in many ways, in other ways, it is a day that we can praise the Lord for his perfect goodness this last year, through every tear, frustration, heartache, and joy.