2 days after NH I took Jacob and Sova to Rhode Island to meet up w/ Sova's friend and her family who adopted w/ us last August. This is the 2nd time the girls have met up since India but the 1st time they spoke English to eachother. A month ago they talked on the phone...it was a pretty hilarous conversations: "what's ya doin Shas?"
"(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!


It was the day before Shas's 5th B-day...that was special. They had so much fun running around the sand together. Last time we saw them Sova did not want to leave Shas and cried getting in the car- Shas remembers this and was nervous that Sova was going to cry again but after lots of hugs Sova said, "Ummm I come and sleep over your house tomorrow! Bye!"
Jacob's B-day Party...
'the great campout' ...was a success even if it was raining!
My mother-in law's AMAZING homemade cake!
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...

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 :)

2 Daddys

Caleb:
"Mommy, when I grow up...I be a big daddy...I sleep in your bed (stops and thinks) daddy sleeps in my bed...(more thinking) HEY Then There Be TWO Daddy's! (laughter)"

Jacob:
"Im going to build my house in the back forest...Im going to live in a tree house and you can come visit me!"

Sova Grace:
(dramatic) "I dont know HOW to build a house! I will stay here and drink coffee and talk to you mommy...OK?"

I Love it!

This is a random post declaring that I am an official tag sale lover!
Going from point A to point B on any given Saterday morning I drive by so many tag sales...this time I actually stopped and I drove away w/ my trunk tied down w/ string! I'm not kinding either- but the reason for that was because of a great $4 table that was an actuall school/daycare table that Im going to use in our new 'school' room :)
For 2 years now I've been trying to convince Mike into converting out sunroom into more of a playroom...I think once he saw that table sitting in the driveway he got scared and of where I was going to try to put it so he gave me the go ahead to rearrange...and I love it!
(He admits it's better now too ;)


By keeping the art supplies and paper layed out all day the kids are constantly sitting there writing and drawing...tonight Jacob and Sova taped a sign up on the wall that read, 'No 0,1, 2' (no one under 3 is allowed I guess?) and a picture of chickens (chickens ARE allowed in)