Noahs giggle

I couldnt resist getting Noahs obvious glee at hitting his dad with the ball on video. Love, love, love that belly laugh of his. Didnt love the mess that also made it onto the video. Me working all day + 3 kids in full destruction mode + toys(of the 2 and 4 legged variety) aplenty = house in distress.

Will we (or he) survive

the terrible twos. Noah is in to EVERYTHING! Logan was busy but Noah is busy times 100. Constant. Have to put him in a high chair to shower so that he doesnt wreak havoc upon our abode. Enter his new way of tormenting. I just bought a new houseplant recently and it was doing pretty well (keep in mind I kill plants without even trying). While my back was turned and he was in the highchair he decided to reach WAY over to my new plant and pull one of the stalks out. Swinging it in the air like some sort of a lunatic. Dirt and leaves all over my floor, the highchair and the reason this all ocurred. I texted a picture to Mike. Caption "Look what your son just did". He texted back. "Is that your plant". My response. "Yep". His final words. "I will miss him". Yep, there might be casualties during the terrible twos.

Doing a great thing

Just went to Tomsshoes.com to purchase my pair. What a great thing they are doing to help give children in Ethiopia a pair of shoes!

Its been awhile....

Since I've been able to catch up on blog time. Yes Mary Alice I know you are laughing right now and saying "I told you so".:) We've had an uneventful couple of months. We are REALLY ready for spring around here. Heres what we've been up to.


Easter morning


Love my family


My very own little 3 stooges


Can you say "HAM"?


Brushing the dragons teeth at the Childrens Museum


Our waterpark trip

New Friends

We are so fortunate to have a wonderful family living just down the road from us who just brought home their 6 year old daughter from Ethiopia. We went to visit her last week and her and Helina enjoyed playing dress-up together. Their personalities seem very similar in alot of ways and I think they are going to be wonderful friends! So glad more wonderful Ethiopian children are finding forever homes within this community! Warms my hear for sure.

Happy Birthday Noah!

Today is Noahs 2nd birthday. I cannot even begin to explain how far he has come in the last year. To think that a year ago he could not even sit up on his own. Today he is a running, jumping, chattering comedian. He has so much personality and everywhere we go people seem drawn to him. Today at lunch I was looking away from him and when I turned back to him he was entertaining a table of ladies sitting behind him. He had them all laughing and waving. Such a ham. We are all so thankful to have him in our lives!!!!

Happy birthday little man!

Exciting Times.

I am so excited for one of my BFF's Rebecca. As I am writing this she is probably dragging herself (or her hubby may be dragging her:)) off of a plane in Beijing China. They are there to pick up their adorable son Owen. If anyone is interested in following their journey you can go to her blog www.ourfamilyjournal.com.

I have been so nostalgic this last week. Its hard to believe that one year ago I was in Ethiopia picking up Noah and meeting Helina. It seriously seems like only yesterday. I can still see so vividly all of the sites and smell the Berebere and other spices. On the other hand I cannot remember what life was like before Noah and Helina. I am already planning in my mind (if not my pocket book:))our family trip to Ethiopia. Logan talks about the country (he calls it "opia") like he lived there for a period of time.

Here are a few holiday pics. I actually havent had time to download the pics from our different Christmas gatherings. Will try to do so this weekend.

Journey to "The Dark Side"

I will be the first to admit that I have always harbored this secret "distaste" for mini-vans and those who drive them. I have been known to comment that getting behind the wheel of a mini-van must somehow alter your ability to function/drive. Lets face it, who hasnt gotten a little crazy when they are trying to pass in the left lane on a 2 lane highway (yep, thatd make the left lane the PASSING lane) only to get behind some mini-van driver who thinks the left lane is the "coasting along beside the car in the right lane" lane. All of this previous negativity recently came back to bite me in the behind. I have been driving around in what I lovingly refer to as the Geri-mobile since my grandma passed away 2 years ago. We have been nice and cozy with all 3 kids lined up in a row in the backseat. Getting them all in and out has been interesting to say the least. When Mikes old jallopy drew its final breath a few weeks ago we were presented with a great deal. Yep, you guessed it......a mini van. And I have to say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!! I love the heated leather seats. I love the automatic doors. I love the fantastic stereo system. I especially love that I dont have to fling Noah into his seat in the middle of the vehicle anymore. I love this vehicle so much that I dont even mind that I have gone over to the dark side! I can handle it when my friends and family call to tell me to be very careful on the roads.....now that I'm a mini-van driver.

Waiting for the "Bill"

Last week, while dining at our favorite Mexican restaurant I realized how far Helina has come in her "knowledge" of the English language.

Helina: Mom, is it time to go yet?

Me: No Helina, I have to wait for our bill

Helina (after a 3 or 4 second pause to ponder): Mom, we dont know any Bills. Who is Bill?

Helina (now looking at Logan): I dont know any Bills. Do you know any Bills?

Halloween pics

Its been a busy couple of weeks. My niece Megan celebrated her 13th birthday (holy cow I dont feel old enough to have a teenage niece) and Helina and Noah enjoyed their first Halloween. The weather was absolutely beautiful for trick or treating and Logan and Helina are still basking in the sugary glow of life!:) I am looking forward to the next "family firsts" we'll get to experience with Helina and Noah. We have SO much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!