Still Waiting.

I wanted to post a quick adoption update.  We're still waiting on our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) from China saying we can officially adopt Claire. We're on day 53 ( I believe).  It could come any day now, but it could also be another month or even longer!  SO SO hard to wait but we just keep praying for our precious girl.  I'm hoping for an early Christmas present!

December Activities!

 We were able to see a few friends while up in KS- Maya, Cooper, Nolan, Cole, Jackson, Max, and Piper :)  I forgot to add this to the previous post, oops!

I've been trying to do a FEW crafts from the million I've pinned on Pinterest... so Holly and Jackson did one while I was watching her.  But first Jackson noticed the TV cabinet was dusty and wanted to dust it.  (Seriously.  He notices that it is dusty (it looks dusty after about 2 days since it's black!) and says "mom!!  We need to dust!" Then I go get the swiffer duster and he dusts for me!  It's awesome :).  Holly decided to join in.  There's just something about the fun duster!

 After they slaved away we made Santa hats.

 We put up a mini-tree in the boys' playroom with all of their non-breakable ornaments.  We had a tradition growing up that we put up the ornaments in order while saying where/who we got them from.  We also listened to Christmas music and drank hot cocoa.  The boys enjoy the hot cocoa part for sure!

 We found "Rudy" the reindeer in our Christmas boxes and he's slept with Jackson ever since!

 Elizabeth and Ben came over and we made gingerbread nativity scenes.

 Jackson's favorite part...eating it!

 Here's the manger with baby Jesus :)

 Elizabeth's part-way through.  See Mary and Joseph with their cloaks outside of the manger?

 Jackson is adding hay ( I was too lazy to dye it yellow!) to the nativity.

 See the sheep outside the manger?

 Cooper with his finished nativity.

 Ben with his!

 We read the story of Jesus' birth while they ate their nativity.  This is the first time we did this and I think it's going to become a yearly tradition!

 

Another random pic from our KS trip- I didn't organize that very well!  Justin and Ryan with their kiddos!

Our "Second" Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in KS with Ryan's parents and had a great visit.  We went to the zoo one day while we were there and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

 

 We hadn't been to a zoo for a long time, the boys LOVED it.

 I of course made them pose a few times.  Aren't those shirts cute?? :)

 We tried to get the boys up on the gorilla but Jackson wasn't into it.

 Cooper was though!

 Jackson found a statue more his size.

 We got to see the walrus's up close and personal, it was amazing!

 A favorite activity while in KS is playing with Grandpa on the ipad!

 Isn't this adorable?  The boys each got a puzzle from Amanda and Chris asking them to be their ring bearers!  I thought it was so clever and creative!

 Here they are posing with their uncle and future aunt!

 Great-Grandma and Grandpa came up to visit for Thanksgiving and Great-Grandpa actually got down and wrestled with the kids!  The boys loved it and will always rememer that!

 It was such a beautiful day so we went out and played with sidewalk chalk.

 The boys also had to get out the waterguns.  Even in the winter, it's a favorite!

The Gaylord

We had our annual trip to the Gaylord this year.  We had such a wonderful time as usual!

 

First we stopped to have lunch.  I just had to capture this face...this is the face that Jackson gives whenever he is faking being upset, mad, etc..  It's hilarious.

 

Cooper and Elizabeth.  I didn't have a picture of Ben, oops!

We pretty much took a million pictures of the kids in front of all the gorgeous decorations.  I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves! :)

We always get a picture in this sleigh.

I just had to put a few of the ones that weren't quite so cute...for those of you who think my kids always take good pictures :).

I do love this one :)

They love to check out the beautiful fish.

These huge Santa boots were new this year.  Look how grown-up Elizabeth looks!

I always love the real gingerbread house.

Look at this sequence of pictures...

Jackson was pushing his head into the rock apparently.

Now Cooper is getting him back.  This makes me laugh every time.  Jackson apparently didn't mind at all!

Our first holiday tradition that we completed!  Lots more to come I'm sure.