Tuesday, November 30, 2010

festive photos

The night before Thanksgiving, I was getting some cooking completed. The boys entertained themselves by roasting mini marshmellows over the candle with toothpicks.
Thanksgiving morning - all was peaceful while I prepared food

Friends arrived!

Tiny loves sweet baby Katelyn. They are so cute together!

Craft time begins...




Turkey is done - time to eat!

The quest to find the "perfect" tree begins...

Though it was the first year we had no snow for our tree hunting tradition, it was bitter cold and windy - the tree had to be found quickly!

Fortunately, everyone agreed!




Another family tradition - turkey soup and hot cocoa while we decorate for Christmas!

Baby's first... so fun to watch her enjoy it all!


"And here is Mary and baby Jesus..."

No words...


Saturday, November 27, 2010

before I forget...

I have a precious little book that I have used to write down all the sweet and silly things my kids have said over the years. I don't want to forget. However, since I began this blog, I have found it much easier to record such sayings here. Someday, I plan to transfer all their sweet and silly words from the blog into my little book, but until then, at least I know they won't be forgotten.

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"Dear God, thank you for the opportunity to do foster care because a lot of kids don't have moms and dads to care for them and I love that you gave us that job to do." -Colson

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Daddy was on a business trip and Ky was missing him like crazy. While eating breakfast, a large buck came galloping through the back yard and Ky declared, "Oh, I wish daddy was coming home riding on that buck to join us for breakfast!" What a sight that would be!!

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On a very wet fall morning, Kaden looked out the sliding glass door and sighed heavily. "Mom, I really wanted to play outside today. Do you think we could dry off our grass with a towel?" Hmmmm, that might be a little hard to do with a 0.6 acre lot!!

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Colson was asking me questions about my wedding day and the limo that we drove off in. He wanted details on the limo, but I couldn't seem to remember much and told him I was probably too distracted because I was so excited to be with my new husband. He cocked his head and asked, "Was daddy like your new toy?"

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At bedtime, Ky so sweetly wrapped her baby doll in "swaddling cloths" and cuddled her up next to her in bed. At that moment, she decided that baby Emmy, whom she has had since she was 2, needed a middle name. She decided it would be "Kirsten" based on the American Girl books she was reading. I said all 3 names together and told her it was pretty. "But," Ky didn't hesitate, "soon, when I get married, she will have a new last name." Oh, baby girl, I know it will be here before we know it, but I hope it will take a long time to get here!

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"Thank you, God, for this delicious food. And thank you for my mom, because if I didn't have my mom, I couldn't say 'thank you' for this delicious food!" -Colson

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A friend of mine who had a baby came over to visit. Kaden was interacting with the sweet baby girl, then asked her mommy, "So, is she your forever baby?"

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After watching The Blind Side with the kids, Colson asked, "Can we please adopt a boy who plays football?"

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Kylee and I were running errands and drove past a cemetery. "Mom, when I die, will you bury me there, or in the back yard?"

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I have been so excited to help out with the kids Christmas program at church again this year. During an evening rehearsal, I had told the boys there would be childcare for them at church while mommy helped. When we pulled up to the church, Colson exclaimed, "I'm so excited to go into foster care!" I reminded him it was child care, not foster care and he replied, "Oh, that's right, we're foster carrying Tiny!"

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After our Thanksgiving dinner, I was pulling the remainder of the meat off the turkey to make a soup. Kaden looks at the carcass and states, "Yep, he is dead!" A little later, he came back and stated, "Hey, mom, can we just wrap up our turkey and save him for next year?"

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Newest Nephew

Owen Joshua
November 11, 2010
7 pounds, 11 ounces
19 1/2 inches long


Born to my sis, Sheila, her husband, Paul, and big brother, Nathan



Miraculous, celebratory moments like the birth of our newest nephew, Owen, makes the distance from our family seem even further. Oh how badly we wish we could have been there! We kept up to date on every detail as often as we were able... in fact, I was so distracted all day long by his arrival that I even forgot to pick up my own kids from school!! I hope not to repeat that again!! :O) But, little Owen is here. He is beautiful, safe and healthy and an incredible blessing. We can't wait to meet him in December!!

*photos by Kristi Smith and Betty Berglund :O)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

thank you...

... men, women and families of those who serve. You all pay a great price.