Thanksgiving Weekend

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We traveled to Indiana to visit my bro and family. The kids had such a great time seeing their cousins...and Mia is still talking about Buckeye (their lovable black lab)! Thursday we traveled over and had a great Turkey Dinner, along with football and fun!
Mia's weekend was complete with following Buckeye around. He had a friend at his level for food, kisses, and playtime!

Scott and I took the girls downtown to the Chicago American Girl Place on Friday night. The girls were in awe. Mia liked seeing all the babies (and got "2 girl babies..no want a boy"). Katy was happy with glasses and a Christmas outfit for her doll Kit, and Megan lucked out with Elizabeth, a blond curly hair doll. If I had a store like that when I was a kid - my parents would have gone broke! We've hidden all the items since we arrived home and the girls will see them again on Christmas day! Here's Mom with her girl of the year. She turned and looked up at the sign. She says "M-I-A spells Mia...dats my name Mom!" - what a smart girl!

Saturday morning, we celebrated our nephew's 13th birthday - 13? Really, we can't believe he's that old - and a teen to boot! We had steak and egg omlets for breakfast, and then Matthew opened presents and we had cake too! Happy Birthday buddy!

25 Days of December

I read a few scrapbook magazines and came across the idea of doing 25 days of December (Dec. 1-25th). So, I'm going to adapt it, blogger style. Every day, I will post about what we did on that day to celebrate the season of Christmas (or just what we did that day). It can be as simple as taking a picture, finding a scripture, or poem or story. Want to join me?

If you want to join me in this challenge (for me I'm not sure I can keep up!), leave a comment with your blog so I can follow along. It will be fun to see what everyone is doing to celebrate December and more importantly Christmas!

Have fun, and Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. ABC Family has some great movies for the holidays...check out their schedule for 25 days of Christmas here.

A little GOTCHA video

Our dear friends Kirstin and Leigh (and Claire) sent this to us a while back. I finally figured out how to post to blogger and thought it was fitting to post today. It will give you a little glimpse of how chaotic it really is!

and ps honey...I could really use a new digital video camera...since ours is from 1995!

Happy Gotcha Day Mia!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My sweet Mia Anne...

I can't believe it has been 2 years since we first held you in our arms. I don't know where we would be without the memories of what joy you have brought to this family. We all love you SO much, and thanks for giving us the honor of being your famliy. We are truly blessed, and God is so good to have brought you to us. May you have a great GOTCHA day!

Love,
Mom (Dad, Maxy, and Megan too!)

A 6 Year Old's view...

We downloaded some pictures from Megan's camera. I found it interesting she has so much variety in her photography! We're busy today taking pictures of all her animals...she wants to start a scrapbook of them. Just thought it would be fun to share the world from a 6 Year Old's point of view!

Her ceiling fan

HS Musical Bear
Sissy

Really? The top of the car?

I actually like this one!

Remember her butterfly?

From a parade...

Grandpa liking a baseball game

Bear Picnic

Max's Cub Scout Bear Den had a picnic to earn the Whittling Chip award and pocket knife a few weeks ago. Mia and I stayed home (due to her stitches), but Dad took the kids out to the farm for a fun filled warm day!

An example of what you can do...

Nothing like Smores to make a girl happy!

Trying out the pocket knife

National Adoption Month

It's November - and also National Adoption Month. Every year I think to recognize it more, because we got Mia in November. So, it is extra special. This year's theme is "Answering the Call". Funny, because we did - and not a day goes by when I look at Mia and think about what we went through to bring her home. I was reading a friend's blog, and really, it hit me. I would have missed out on so much the last 2 years. Her giggles, her "no", her 1st words, comforting her when she's sick (or needing stitches), cuddles when she's tired, singing Twinkle Twinkle before bed, and yes,even the temper tantrums. Think what I would have missed had we not answered the call. We would have missed out on Mia and those beautiful brown eyes.

So, in honor of celebrating adoption this month, or in our case, honoring our Mia too, I'm linking a calendar. (I'm already behind..since it is Nov. 5th). But, whether you are an adoptive parent, have an adoptive sibling, grandchild, cousin, friend, are in process, waiting, or holding a new baby in your arms. Just do one thing with your kids and family off this calendar. They are just simple things to do to remind us what family is really made of - love.

****Click on this page here if you want to see the calendar!

Trick-Or-Treat

We lucked out with a beautiful 65 degree Halloween day. After the big kids got home from school, they ate a quick dinner and wanted in their costumes ASAP. After a hair and makeup session for the girls, they were all decked out and ready to go. The grandparents stopped over to see them too. The kids lasted the full 2 hours. All of them enjoyed it. My favorite parts were: Mia saying "Trick Or Treat..Happy Hawowweeen" to everyone who had a treat; Max dashing across streets from house to house, and Megan following her big brother everywhere he went, and hanging out with the neighbors. It was a great time and we have TONS and TONS of candy. 3 Pumpkins full and then some. Hope you all had a great Halloween too!

The big spider...

Rex the Clone Trooper

Padme

Belle