Sunday, January 12, 2014

Shower Time For The Little Girls!


So blessed to have these five little treasure - more commonly known as the "little girls"!
They LOVE their shower time!
And everyone is smelling soooooo good lately!


In fact they smell so good that I went out and bought some for myself!
I needed something special for me so I got japanese cherry blossom!
I love it!

If you need a gift idea for next Christmas or a birthday idea - B*th and B*dy Works is wonderful!


And now all of our little girls have lotion for this dry winter weather. 
It was always a problem getting lotion on so many kids but not anymore!


I love it when I find something that works and solves a bit of a problem!

They are all so joyful and loving life!!
Praising God for these sweet "little girls"!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Venturing Out With The Big Girls!


We have been home a lot lately due to a variety of circumstances-
 no vehicle that fit all of us, two new boys, holiday crowds and frigid temps.

As the temps have become more moderate, we now have a vehicle and the boys have been home for one month we are beginning to venture out more often!


Big brother Mark had a pizza and movie party with the children at home! While hubby and I took the 3 big girls to their first Timberwolves game.

Mia became very quiet as we were driving. Her experiences while in the orphanage were very limited and she was always surrounded by the other children from the orphanage. She had no idea what "going to a Timberwolves game" would entail. Did we expect her to play basketball? Although there were plenty of open seats the crowd overwhelmed her. She retreated into her shell but thankfully not for long.


Once our chicken fingers, chips and bottle of pop arrived she began to feel better. And once she could see that she that we were just relaxing and enjoying the game as a family she started smiling and talking again.


Our team won…by a lot! Which always makes it even more fun!


I really hate cotton candy… I look at it and see cavities and sticky fingers - I wanna run for my toothbrush 
BUT
I got to have it when I was a child 
and
gulp…
I need to loosen up and let the children have it, too (occasionally).


It was so much fun spending time with our three "big girls"! They really enjoyed the game and the experience!
Emma was very happy to stay home with Mark and be at the pizza party! Loud noises and big crowds are not her favorite. In fact she actually seemed relieved to not have to go!

It is kind of nice to divide up and enjoy the children in slightly smaller groups now and then!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Neglectful

Of my blog lately.
So sorry I have been spacing out my posts.

Life with 13 children at home, three big boys that come and go, a pregnant daughter(and son in love) in Germany- excitedly planning for the baby and a son(and daughter in love to be) happily planning a wedding in Denver has made it a bit busy around here!


Hi guys!
Ahhhhh, you're a bit late!
New Years Eve was 10 days ago!
But… there's always a reason to party around here!


I love that we have so many kitchen helpers!


We have enough salad making volunteers to last us the rest of 2014!


With everyone pitching in at mealtime it makes it so much easier!


Billy has started his new job!
He just finished with his masters in taxation and after their trip to Germany, it was back to reality!
We have loved seeing him more often and having him be available to help us out now and then 
BUT
that's over now that he is working.


First time using the grill outside!
No matter what the temp hubby loves his grill!


FYI- it was way below zero so the steaks took a little longer but they were wonderful!
And the cooks weren't even frostbit!


We love these puzzle trays to help us sort our puzzle pieces!
I recommend them IF you like puzzles!


This is our first 1000 pc puzzle!
It was soooo much fun!
Ellie consistently worked on it with me while other children came and left.
I am proud of her for sticking to it and continually trying!
She was very patient!


Sarah and Mia joined us half way through and finished it up!
Emma joyfully watches us and joins in the fun!


We let them stay up late to work on it!


This was such a cool puzzle because it is different than the picture on the box!
It's called "Something's AMISS" and they are so right- scenes were mixed around, colors changed, people in different clothing, weather scenes switched around and more!


This was our second puzzle of the vacation.
600 pc world with countries in their correct shape.
It taught me a thing or two(or 100) about geography.
The kids loved it!
Mia, Ava, Ellie, Sam, Anna and Melissa worked on this one!
They are my second graders and we are doing some geography and studying America!


Someone came up to our door selling birds eye view photos of the homes in the area!
So we bought one of our home!
It was taken in the fall- a pretty time of year!


Sylvia is fantastic but she is a beast!
(Sorry honey!)
She is easy to drive and handles beautifully!


BUT parking her is another story!
I don't even know what's legal when it comes to a vehicle like this?

We finally have our handicap sticker and now we have a vehicle too big for any handicap spot…

any thoughts on how to legally park one of these things?

Sunday, January 5, 2014

URGENT - IN NEED OF A FAMILY!


This is Hunter.
He ages out in April.

He is a "for real" orphan.
Meaning his age was not modified in any way.
You will not get to China and find out you are adopting a man or a child with parents.

We met him when we adopted Madeline.
We liked him right away!
There is something very special about him.
He just seems like a boy that would be easy to love and he would make a wonderful son.

Please consider this dear boy...
Please don't let him age out...


He played basketball with our son Mark.
And he was quite good!
He has a natural coordination and can also dance!

He has hypospadous- it's correctable.
He is so much more than this special need…

He needs a family who can move quickly to bring home before he ages out.


He lives in Guangdong Province.


He is a wonderful little boy and he desperately needs a family!

You can see his video at the link below!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Time With Matt and Caitlin!


Matt and Caitlin stopped over on their way home from their Christmas celebration in Milwaukee.
Next year we have all of the Big kids at our house!
 Can't wait for everyone to be together!


It was so much fun catching up and talking about wedding plans!
The wedding will be in June at a beautiful Colorado mountain setting!
Katie and Andrew and baby will be moving from Germany to Colorado three weeks before the wedding!
(YAY)


Hubby is so thrilled to have a wood burning fireplace in our new home!
This was the first time we have used it and the first time in over 8 years we have had a real wood burning fireplace!
(Yes, I cleaned the glass door the next day)


Sam kept checking it out and then finally asked
"How do you turn it off?"
 "What happens to the log?"
He was shocked there wasn't a switch or a remote!

So many experiences the children haven't had- it is so much fun to watch them see things for the very first time!
It never gets old!

Joey loves his Babba!
A lot of bonding happened when they were in China.


Caitlin is a special needs preschool teacher at one of Denver's school districts.
She adores all of the children and really understands them!


It was nice to have Ben and Joey meet their oldest gege (big brother) for the first time!


Caitlin had many hairdos that day!
Each one lovelier than the next!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Welcoming 2014!


We had our own little celebration yesterday!

Spaghetti dinner- which is one of their favorite dinners!


Madeline had her tonsils and adenoids out on the 30th so she spent the day resting.
She joined us when she could.
She is  slowly recovering and doing very well!


We are watching her closely- encouraging fluids, regular pain meds, minimal activity, soft foods as tolerated and lots of love!
Our friend Sally's daughter ended up back in the hospital with a bleed after her tonsils were out and our Anna had the same thing after a palate repair.
We are not taking any chances!


We put puzzles together and played games!


I LOVE doing puzzles with the children!
It has always been one of my favorite activities!

Then we watched a family movie!
Three kiddos didn't make it to the later celebration- they fell asleep!
Sweet dreams Madeline, Luke and Joey!


The rest of us partied!


With party hates!


And noise makers!


We counted down the seconds!


And then we made lots of noise!


We may have celebrated an hour early!
Because we did it on New York time!


Everyone had sparking cataba juice!
I don't think Ben liked it that much ;-)


BUT Ava and...


Anna and...


Abby did!


Then we went outside in 10 below zero weather and shouted to the world-


HAPPY NEW YEAR!


And no one heard us, which was just fine with us!
Because it was still really really fun!

Wishing you a wonderful 2014!