Sibling Slumber Party!

This was the scene a few days ago! Our kids wanted to sleep downstairs in the family room. If you're Ethan, it's the "family loom" and if Seth, it's the "fanny room"! (oh the stories I could tell about him praying using the word "fanny" ) :o)

They really had a wonderful time doing this, and we let them talk for awhile and be silly together. When I came downstairs, I passed by the above scene, went in our room and told Glenn "that just cries out for a picture!" Come to find out, Glenn had beat me to it! You'll notice Keeska joined the fun.

Wow it truly is cold!

Don't even ask where I've been.... no excuses- ha

Here's our current "severe winter warning" straight from weather.com :

WIND CHILL READINGS WILL DROP INTO THE MINUS 25 TO MINUS 35 DEGREE RANGE THIS EVENING AND PERSIST INTO SUNDAY MORNING.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS... MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

So, yes... it truly is cold here. My fibromyalgia is not loving this, but hey! I am just so thankful to have a nice warm house to be inside of! Can you imagine the homeless people on nights like this one?! I surely can't and it makes me ever grateful to the Lord to have a place to call home!

**Secret blog pal** THANK YOU so very much for the "cats" sign for Cala. She absolutely loves it! We also got the book today. So very cute! Cala read it three times in fact, then the boys "read" it.

In Honor of my Friend

In honor of my dear friend, Suz, I just ask you pray for baby V and for Susie's family as they wait for this precious child in Russia. V turned 2 years old today and Suz has waited for her to come home for a long time now!

Please visit Suz' blog at http://russianadoptiondva.blogspot.com and leave a comment or even better, stop and pray! Help us pray V home!

Chocoholic!

No, I'm not talking about myself, this time... although, I will admit I LOVE chocolate, and am definitely addicted!

This time, it concerns my 2 year old son.... He is quite over the top! The scene:

Our family room- Cala and I are enjoying a nice time together when suddenly she breaks out in tears. I wanted to laugh, but held it back and grabbed the little culprit...

Seth had scooted passed us just a chompin' away with "chocolate" in hand. He said simply, "mmmmm, dat good." The chocolate in question? Cala's "Reese's peanut butter cup" LIP GLOSS!

Now, that's addiction!

My Little Brownie

Last post I talked about my boys. I couldn't not talk about my baby girl! She's no baby anymore :o/ She's 8. Sigh.... She came home to us at age 2 years 7 months, the size of a much younger child (could wear 12 months clothes! and was developmentally like an 18 month old). She's no fragile little girl anymore! Oh! She certainly is still skinny. At 8, she wears a 6 in pants, and even those have to be the kind with adjustable waistbands! She's tiny in the waist!

She's really enjoying Brownies and here is her latest picture (to promote cookies sales) :

And, just to show you how the true Cala is- I think her personality shines forth in these next two pictures......

She asked if she could use the clown make-up we had for baby brother's trick or treating! She then proceeded to put on Seth's snowsuit- size 18 months!

Please take note of her forehead. She stood in our mirror, wrote her name on her forehead. Of course, in the mirror, it appeared to her that she wrote it correctly. However, as you can tell, it's actually backwards! Priceless! This is absolutely what I call "CLASSIC Cala!" If you know my daughter, you know you can't help but love her! If you don't know her, well, you're missing out :o)

These Boys!

These boys of mine! These mischievous boys! It was about three days ago that I was sitting on the couch in our family room, and Seth (the one on the left) was sitting next to me. Ethan was at my feet, playing. Suddenly Seth gets up, and says, "I'm going hit Ethan!" Oh my word! It was all I could do to not laugh as I got on to Seth.

Unfortunately for Ethan, I was too late. Seth already had made it there, and Ethan proceeded to wail, "Maaaaamaaaa, Seth hiiiiitttt me" (as if I wasn't there to witness the whole incident! lol).

When we started adopting (back in 2000), we had always wanted a boy first, but told the agency we wanted it to be a surprise as it would be in pregnancy. Being that Russia (as is Guatemala!) has an over abundance of boys for adoption, we always sort of thought we would have a boy first. Of course, we were THRILLED to find we were adopting a girl and she certainly couldn't be more of a match to our family!

Our girl came home in 2001, and in the years that followed, I was so content, but knew one day I needed a son or two! I tell you, I could never ever imagine what a difference my sons would be from my daughter, and all that would go along with raising sons! I am ever thankful to have these boys in my life, and be their Mama. They (along with their older sister whom they love dearly!) are the joys of our lives!

Just last night, Glenn and I were talking about "when we adopt again." Yes, we plan to adopt another girl, and plan that in a year from now we will "re-assess" everything, and decide for sure as to where (although we are seriously thinking of China!) and when to start the process.

I laid there thinking of "down the road" when all my kids are home (meaning our youngest daughter is home), and what a wonderful feeling that will be. After all, adoptions are not for the faint of heart, and are not by no means easy. However, it's definitely worth it to look at your children and know that you can't imagine your life without them!

These boys are so mischievous, they take up my time asking questions, "when is Cala coming home from school?!", "what's dat?", etc. etc. They take up my time with playing with them, feeding them, changing Seth's diapers!, etc. etc. However, they take up my time hugging me, kissing me, and just being the sweetest things in this world!

Just today, I was putting on make up and Ethan said, "Mama, you pretty". :o) A tear came to "me" eye, when Seth said, "Mama, I love you." Wow! These boys are mine! Thank you Lord!

Cookie Time

Cala is really enjoying being a Brownie (Girl Scout). Tonight not only did she attend her regular meeting (there's two a month), I attended a parent meeting- the topic: cookies! Yes, it's that time of year again, at least here in this area. Our troop's personal goal for each scout is 20 boxes sold.

Since we are relatively new here, it won't be quite as easy to sell these cookies. Our neighborhood is full of Girl Scouts and so we know we'll have some visits to our door, unless they stop to think as we did about the fact that all the girls around here are in the GS.

Never fear! We have it under control! It's called, "Call the grandparents!" ha ha "Yes, for just a small shipping fee we will ship the cookies your way!" :o) Ah! Grandparents! Got to love them! My Daddy can't even eat cookies, as he's allergic to wheat, but uh, he'll be good for a few boxes. He can pass them out, and Mom can eat them. Glenn's parents just happened to call tonight, so we've already told them about the upcoming sale, and hey! The shipping fee won't be so bad, since we'll mail both sets of grandparents' cookies together. :o)

Want to buy some cookies?! lol

I'm alive, I think....

I think I'm still alive. Wow! I've been super sick, sick as a dog (never personally seen a dog be sick, but I digress....). Thanks to those wondering about me, and for those praying for me! I truly appreciate that and don't stop! I've been blind sided with one thing after another lately, thanks to my weakened immune system! I think I'll start wearing a sign that if you're sick, just stay away! ha ha

We had a wonderful Christmas! It was very nice

having my inlaws here for two weeks. The kids are still talking about how much they miss their grandparents, as well as missing my parents who are unable to travel. (I really miss them too!)

Strangely enough, we had a brown Christmas! Yes, here in the Twin Cities area, no snow for Christmas! OK, so there was a bit of white out there still on our ground, but we mostly saw brown- how yucky! I think St. Petersburg, Russia Christmases spoiled me and I expected that here, which is normal I am told. By the way, I'm told that St. Petersburg is experiencing much of the same sort of Winter that we are here right now. Just really strange this year. Watch! Next year will be blizzard season or something.

Soon after my inlaws left, we had Ethan's 4th birthday! I was about as happy for him as he was! ha It's just that Ethan is my child that really needed that day all for him, all about him! He's had so many losses in his young life, it's affected him, and it was great to see him enjoy life. It was great seeing him realize that the gifts were just for him. After all, he had to wait ever so patiently through his sister and his brother's birthdays and then Christmas! This was well earned! lol

I am thankful for Ethan. It is him who keeps me ever learning! He came home to us in August of 2005 and just now are he and I really beginning to deeply love one another. Oh we've always loved each other, but with my taking care of the baby so much and already having the strong bond with Cala, it's just been different with Ethan. His personality is not as easy going as our other two and it's been important to me to start nurturing our relationship. I now truly feel that one day when I'm old and gray, it will be this dear precious boy who takes care of ol' Mama! After all, a few weeks ago he said "Mama! I'm going to buy you a house!" When asking "WHAT son?!" He responded, "a house Mama! Jer house (his pronunciation for your) Just for joo" "I going buy it at Mal-Mart" (Wal-mart) ha haaaaaaa I told Glenn he never mentioned Papa. Hmmm.... I guess we'll let him come visit!