Sunday fun

It was so gorgeous last weekend in Birmingham that we decided to take a trip up to Horse Pens 40 in North Alabama on Sunday after church.  The kids had been with Ted a handful of times but I had never been.  It takes about 45 minutes to get there and the ids were a little fidgety, but it was worth the drive.  Lots of fun places to climb on rocks, play in the leaves and just enjoy the beauty of creation around us.

Here is the trip in pictures.  (I know, it is lazy, but at least I am posting, right????)

I so wish Maggie's eyes weren't closed here!!!

Ann Park's hair is as ratty as the scarecrows!

Maggie trying to climb out of the backpack!

Sam fell in that little stream trying to cross on the log . . . always something!

Practice makes Perfect

Sam is a little late to the game in becoming interested in his ABCs.  Of course he can sing the song perfectly, but if you ask him what a letter is, the kid was in la la land.  I didn't push it - although I did bring out our set of Leapster Tad and Lily videos.  I knew that he would get there in his own time.  

And we are here.  He is obsessed with writing - especially his name.  And I came home to THIS (below) written on the garage door.  

Kinda reminds me of the time Ward wrote his name on the side of my car door.  Of course I use the word "wrote" loosely, considering he engraved it with a rock.  And, yes, it is still there.

Moving forward

Today marks a big day.  Today is the day that Maggie's time as a part of our family is GREATER than the time that she spent in an orphanage.

Maggie spent 344 days in some sort of hospital or orphanage.  We know that she spent the first few weeks of her life at a hospital in Moscow after her mother gave her up for adoption.  My guess is that they were looking for a place to put her.  She spent the rest of her time in Orphanage Number 7 in Moscow.  

This orphanage will always be a part of the story of her life.  

(on a warm day in September)

(on that cold day in November)

But it was only the beginning.  And I am so thankful that the story of her life didn't end there, like so many others who remain. Instead, the story of her life has just begun.  And her memories are going to be filled with love and hope.  Her future is so bright and I can't wait to sit back and see what all God has in store for her.  

But for now I will leave you with some shots that pretty much sum up what she has experienced in the last 344 days.

THE LOVE OF A FATHER . . .

THE LOVE OF A MOTHER . . .

THE LOVE OF A BROTHER . . .

AND ANOTHER BROTHER . . .

THE LOVE OF A SISTER . . . 

THE LOVE OF GRANDPARENTS . . .

THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF SUMMER . . .

FUN WITH COUSINS . . .

EXPLORATION OF GOD'S CREATION . . .

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

We love you with all our hearts, all our mind and all our souls Maggie.  I cannot imagine our family without you in it.  You bring me joy each and every day with your laughter and your smile.  You are LOVED!!

Siblings

I love watching Maggie play with her siblings.  Last night was like all other usual nights and they were on the floor rolling around giggling.  I happen to have my phone nearby and grabbed a couple of shots.  

Sam in particular likes to love on Maggie, but I think that sometimes he doesn't realize that he is being a bit rough!  Maggie is one tough cookie!

Maggie then climbed into my lap and wanted to see herself on my phone.  I continued to snap away with Ann Park photo-bombing us!


I especially love this one - she was smiling and laughing at Sam doing a silly dance.  Oh the joy of siblings!

Halloween

We had a blast this Halloween - Maggie's first.  Rain was predicted but the weather held out just long enough for the kids to enjoy the parade and trick-or-treating and still be in bed by 7:45.  Not sure how I managed it.  I think that I am still recovering.  I think my favorite part of the afternoon/night was when I found Maggie sitting in the middle of our Halloween candy bowl eating to her heart's content. I am mad at myself for not getting a picture of it!  We really missed Papa this year and hope that he won't go out of town next year.  He is the best at handing out candy to all the kids who come to our neighborhood.  By the way, I bought 875 pieces of candy and ALL of it as gone before 8:00 p.m.  The trick-or-treating started right after the parade at 4:15 and it never stopped until I turned every light off - and even then people were still ringing our doorbell.

Sam and Ann Park's favorite part of the night was singing with Sara Evans.  Sam still talks about it.  He even got to meet her and she gave him a huge hug.  Definitely a highlight for him!

Halloween 2013 - in pictures!

the best group shot I could get

Sam, the black ninja, posing for me!

Ann Park, our Greek goddess

Maggie, our little ballerina!

Zoro - in honor of Papa!  His costume was my absolute favorite!

Sam is just full of personality and fun!

Ann Park and one of her new school friends

Ward and Jax

Campbell and Sam

Fun with our neighbors

Back burner

So I haven't been blogging.  Not that I have a lot of readers.  It is not that I don't enjoy it.  I do, actually.  I love sitting down and writing.  That is one of the reasons why I love my job so much - because I write the entire time that I am there.  But it seems that by adding one more (very active) child into our family, blogging has taken a back burner.

Of course I still have time to blog - be it in the mornings when I don't work (and am not playing tennis!) or any given night once the kids have gone to bed.  But it seems that in those moments I want to be with Ted, or have coffee with a friend.  And lately I have been trying to catch up on my sleep thanks to an active calendar!

So for whatever the reason I have not been sitting down to share all the craziness that has been going on lately.  I would like to get better and try to be a more regular blogger but I am not sure that will ever happen.  So back to my sporadic writing.  But today I have lots to post so enjoy!