"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know, and holds us responsible to ACT"...Proverbs 24:12
Monday, July 27, 2009
Summer Fun! Jack and Jacob on the kiddie drop...Jacob gets scared of alot of rides- I was shocked he went on this!

The Boys picking raspberries
Those socks are not my doing...and that large baby bump behind Sova is no longer there! Introductions to my newest nephew coming soon! aka. once I get to the hospital to see him!
There is something so peaceful when you pick your own fruit! I loved this morning- it was beautiful!
Caleb owes alot to the farm...he would pick and dump out- I think he thought he wasnt allowed to pick alot but he wanted to - so he kept dumping them! At the end- he proudly showed me his 3 bright berries!

3 year olds...oh my- he reminds me so much of 3 year old Jacob here. Jacob Lived in rainboots when he was 3 and 4. Caleb is going through this now too. Kinda of cute but not in 88 degrees! Mike gave him a new quading helmet- he wore this around the house and yard all day.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Happy Birthday Sova-Grace!
The Big Day:

The Princess's (and prince:)
Caleb, Sova, Bella, Adellia, Annalia, Trishna, Emilia, Sophie & Josie :)
Punch Time

Decorating princess hats

games
Sova didnt know that the birthday person usually doesnt sing...she was the loudest one singing happy birthday!
Check it out ;) ok- I pictured it alot nicer in my head!

Sova Grace:
I have never had so much fun planning my child's birthday. This was her first celebrated birthday ever...she was waiting a long time for her day to come!
This little butterfly princess in now 5. The night before her birthday I went in and danced to music and rocked her like I sometimes do. This time I felt as if I never wanted to leave her room because I knew that the next time I saw her she would not be 4 anymore! How fast that was! I spent one year stareing at a picture of a three year old - picked up a 4 year old - and then oh how these last 10 months flew!
Teary I talked to her about how special the day of her birth really is. She didnt even know what a birthday meant besides a party, presents and cake...
I told her once again about how that is the day that she came out of her birth-mothers tummy...it is a very special day because God made her and wanted her born that day...everyone is happy that she was born and is here. She then says, 'yes- my India mommy could not give me food.' I was surprised she rememered our talk...a few months ago I explained her whole story to her and gave possible reasons why she had to wait at the orphanage for us...a question she still asks.
Nearing her Birthday I thought alot about her birth mother...the questions loom over me- and I know I will never know- but I want to know her story so badly...
This woman gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life. Her pain and sorrow has become my joy. It does not make sense- I wonder if she is alive- I wonder if she was a young girl or a woman w/ too many children- I wonder how often she thinks of the baby girl she gave birth to- I wonder if she is as beautiful Sova is- I wonder why she did that- I wonder if she wonders?
This little girl has a mighty purpose on this Earth. She was formed and created by God and has a calling on her life. She has a voice that needs to be heard. She has love that needs to be shared.
Sova-Grace you amaze me every single day. You are so sweet and compassionate. You hate hurt, sickness and pain- in Others- and try your best to help at all times. You are perceptive, thoughtful and smart. You have been through much and are going to give much.
You are a blessing and a joy. I am so excited so share my life with you as your mother. I have enjoyed dressing you in pretty dresses and making pigtails and playing tea party- more than you know, I love having a daughter! God chose you for us and us for you- I see what a perfect fit we all are. I will always stand amazed at what He did. I look forward to watching you grow up into a young lady- yet will guard your childhood years with All my might. You mean so much to us- we love you so much! And yes- from your own words, 'forever and ever!'

The Princess's (and prince:)
Caleb, Sova, Bella, Adellia, Annalia, Trishna, Emilia, Sophie & Josie :)
Punch Time
Decorating princess hats
games
Sova didnt know that the birthday person usually doesnt sing...she was the loudest one singing happy birthday!
Check it out ;) ok- I pictured it alot nicer in my head!
Sova Grace:I have never had so much fun planning my child's birthday. This was her first celebrated birthday ever...she was waiting a long time for her day to come!
This little butterfly princess in now 5. The night before her birthday I went in and danced to music and rocked her like I sometimes do. This time I felt as if I never wanted to leave her room because I knew that the next time I saw her she would not be 4 anymore! How fast that was! I spent one year stareing at a picture of a three year old - picked up a 4 year old - and then oh how these last 10 months flew!
Teary I talked to her about how special the day of her birth really is. She didnt even know what a birthday meant besides a party, presents and cake...
I told her once again about how that is the day that she came out of her birth-mothers tummy...it is a very special day because God made her and wanted her born that day...everyone is happy that she was born and is here. She then says, 'yes- my India mommy could not give me food.' I was surprised she rememered our talk...a few months ago I explained her whole story to her and gave possible reasons why she had to wait at the orphanage for us...a question she still asks.
Nearing her Birthday I thought alot about her birth mother...the questions loom over me- and I know I will never know- but I want to know her story so badly...
This woman gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life. Her pain and sorrow has become my joy. It does not make sense- I wonder if she is alive- I wonder if she was a young girl or a woman w/ too many children- I wonder how often she thinks of the baby girl she gave birth to- I wonder if she is as beautiful Sova is- I wonder why she did that- I wonder if she wonders?
This little girl has a mighty purpose on this Earth. She was formed and created by God and has a calling on her life. She has a voice that needs to be heard. She has love that needs to be shared.
Sova-Grace you amaze me every single day. You are so sweet and compassionate. You hate hurt, sickness and pain- in Others- and try your best to help at all times. You are perceptive, thoughtful and smart. You have been through much and are going to give much.
You are a blessing and a joy. I am so excited so share my life with you as your mother. I have enjoyed dressing you in pretty dresses and making pigtails and playing tea party- more than you know, I love having a daughter! God chose you for us and us for you- I see what a perfect fit we all are. I will always stand amazed at what He did. I look forward to watching you grow up into a young lady- yet will guard your childhood years with All my might. You mean so much to us- we love you so much! And yes- from your own words, 'forever and ever!'
Friday, July 10, 2009
At Aunty Jocelyn's request: new pics :)
Camping w/ the Plasketts! Who camps at 8 months pregnant!?
Eli...ready or not your gonna be a Big Brother soon!
Just hanging out w/ daddy
The surfer dudes (sorry- they arent edited yet...color is bad!)
little Beach bum
4th of July
My 1st Garden!
cucumbers!
See the small green tomates :)
Lettuce
we also have watermelons growing
waiting on dasies, hydrangea, and rasberries
Micheal put on a back deck!...


My flower child...yes I have great Princess Party pics of the Birthday girl...my friend took them on her nice camera so I will have to post them later!
Camping w/ the Plasketts! Who camps at 8 months pregnant!?
Eli...ready or not your gonna be a Big Brother soon!
See the small green tomates :)
Monday, June 22, 2009
"(giggles) your funny Sova"
Repeat 20X and ended w/ the 2 of them singing 'Jesus Loves Me' to eachother :) That night I heard Sova talking in her sleep to Shas!
'the great campout' ...was a success even if it was raining!
It was awesome...(THANKS Mary! :)
AND...
I had to throw this one in here!
When I was 3, my family had one of these photos taken and I always loved it...
I was so excited to do this on vaction...it was our last day and Caleb just wanted to get out of the place, Jacob was beyond thrilled to be holding a Real gun that was heavy, and Sova- I think was just plain confused as to what we were doing! I took a picture of the actual picture we bought so this doesnt do justice...I love it :) The boys (including Mike) really wanted to do the coyboy theme but Sova and I were not impressed w/ the cowgirl get-up...thus we are the Southern Belles who found some wandering cowboys...
Sunday, June 14, 2009
New Hampshire!
We are back from our vacation in the beautiful White Mts! We were there 2 years ago w/ the boys- came home in August and saw Sova's face in an email from an adoption agency the following week. It was a joy to have her w/ us this time around and experience everything again... Out of over 300 pics- here's what sums it up:
Storyland: I LOVE this place...it is a preschoolers Disneyworld! Probrably my favorite day...here's Little Miss Muffet :) Sova also got to meet Cinderalla after being brought to her castle in a pumkin carriage...she walked away from the Princess walking bakwards staring at her...she truly believed that she just met THE Cinderella (if u aske her what her faverite part of vaca- she will say 'princess!')
Here is our newest photogrpaher! For his 6th B-day we bought him a kids digital camera...he LOVED it and looked like such a big boy snapping away all day at litteraly EVERYTHING!
Echo Lake: a small serene lake in the middle of the mountains...we came here twice to swim, fish and best of all for the kids- catch the millions of tadpoles. This was one beautiful relaxing day.


I'm in the middle of reading to the kids their 1st real Little House on the Prairie Chapter books...she reminds me of a prairie girl here :)
Yes...I still try to match them...hey, I can only get away w/ it for a little longer ;)

My NH mission was to see and hike as many waterfalls as possible...it was a success! My back litteraly ached by mid week because we obviously had to take turns toteing 2 of the kids...I can still hear Sova complain, "MORE waterfalls!?" It was worth it!

This was the best one...it was a series of cascades that left little 'pools' for the kids to splash in...very Cold pools though ;)
We gave Jacob some practice shots ;)
The place we stayed at was LOVELY...we actually had an upstairs! The kids favorite thing about the vacation was hands down- swimming. Sova contined to prove that she is 1/2 fish...this is what we saw from her in the few times we saw her swim last September. She has absolutely NO fear of water- obviously very scarey! She CANT stop smileing in the water so she drinks 1/4 of the pool. She loves swimming under water but the girl has absolutley No coordination at all so she always looks likes she's drowning cuz she wiggles constantly instead of paddeling. Jacob is So close to swimming on his own but still enjoys the comfort of his armies :) And it took Caleb a while to feel safe alone in the water but once he realized that he could swim by himslef w/ the floaties he was a doggy paddeling pro and refused to leave the water. One day they litteraly swam in the pool for 4 hours straight- only getting out for a lunch break...and Caleb swam right through his nap- at one point he was so exhasted that her was having a small crying tantrum and closing his eyes trying not to fall asleep- all while swimming (the tantrum was because he didnt want to get out!)
I love this picture...it looks like Mike is giving swimming lessons :)
Most of the time this jump ended in a bellly flop!
We only had 1 rainy day where we went shopping- and then had a Wall-E family movie on the big bed w/ popcorn...then Planet Earth...which I was surprised about how much they loved that sereies...Caleb fell asleep at 4pm - at 1st we thought that was good- one down- 2 to go and we could play a better game of UNO w/out him...but those thoughts changed to bad once he was up at 5 am demanding breakfast from lack of dinner the night before!
The Big boy turned six! Oh my- I cant believe it!
Here he is on his B-day morning overcome w/ joy from his surprise 'Sugar Cereal'...it really has become a tradition...on special days like valentines day- mikes b-day or the kids b-days...I surprise them w/ the coveted cereal that is passed by in the cereal isle everyweek...they even say now when grochery shopping, 'wow look at that cool cereal! Can I get it for my next Birthday!" Random shoppers look at me strangley ;)
He never saw the minnie boxes and nearly exhasted himself in choosing which one to try 1st!
The Gondella: here is Jacob...very high up and nervous! We took a gondella ride up a tall MT and did realy cool hikeing trails at the top. It was so foggy whe were litterly walking through clouds at the top- we couldnt even see down the Mt.
Durring one hike Sova turned on her 'mommy' switch (which is usually on anyways) and decided to be infatuated w/ taking care of Caleb- holding his hand and helping him up steps...it was so cute this time because Caleb was actaully enjoying the attention- rather than runing away screaming :)


THE END :)
Storyland: I LOVE this place...it is a preschoolers Disneyworld! Probrably my favorite day...here's Little Miss Muffet :) Sova also got to meet Cinderalla after being brought to her castle in a pumkin carriage...she walked away from the Princess walking bakwards staring at her...she truly believed that she just met THE Cinderella (if u aske her what her faverite part of vaca- she will say 'princess!')
My NH mission was to see and hike as many waterfalls as possible...it was a success! My back litteraly ached by mid week because we obviously had to take turns toteing 2 of the kids...I can still hear Sova complain, "MORE waterfalls!?" It was worth it!
This was the best one...it was a series of cascades that left little 'pools' for the kids to splash in...very Cold pools though ;)
I love this picture...it looks like Mike is giving swimming lessons :)
Here he is on his B-day morning overcome w/ joy from his surprise 'Sugar Cereal'...it really has become a tradition...on special days like valentines day- mikes b-day or the kids b-days...I surprise them w/ the coveted cereal that is passed by in the cereal isle everyweek...they even say now when grochery shopping, 'wow look at that cool cereal! Can I get it for my next Birthday!" Random shoppers look at me strangley ;)
He never saw the minnie boxes and nearly exhasted himself in choosing which one to try 1st!
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