It's our anniversary!!

No, silly. Not our wedding anniversary or our Adoption Day anniversary. Not even the anniversary of the first time our cat peed in the litter box. It's our 15 month LIDversary!! WooHoo (insert sarcastic tone). I can not believe we have hit this milestone and we are no closer to going to China for #2. Referrals next week may be up to the middle of December, so it looks like it is going to take at least 4 months to get thru all of December's LIDs. That means there will still be 32 weeks of LIDs before we get to ours. Yeah, happy freakin' anniversary.

The best part of making a Thanksgiving Dessert

Our late night conversation

Setting the scene: Brynn is in her bed (imagine that!!) dead to the world. Of course Kevin is laying beside me equally dead.

Brynn: mumble mumble mumble TT (getting louder) mumble mumble mumble TT (louder yet) mumble mumble mumble TT

Kevin: What is the cat (TT) doing to her?

Me: Nothing, dork. He's laying on your hip. Duh.

Kevin and Brynn: Snore, Snore, Snore

That is my life in a nutshell. Everyone else is sleeping, yet talking to me and I am supposed to understand. No wonder I don't sleep.

Where was my camera?

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Decorating Saturday, and Resting Sunday, but I didn't take many pictures at all. I hate when I do that!

Thanksgiving was spent at my stepmom's house. Of course, there was too much food. There always is at her house. It was so wonderful just to spend the entire day with the family.


Brynn and Great Grandma on Thanksgiving



Brynn woke up about 6:30 Friday morning, so we decided to get ready and go shopping. Our local shopping areas were INSANE! People stood in line at Toys R Us for 2.5 hours, Kohl's for 1.5 hours. The local fire marshall closed the doors at Target and Kohl's. Can you believe that? That is just crazy. We didn't wait that long anywhere and we wouldn't have. No Christmas gift is worth that much of my time. Brynn was a trooper all day. We ended the day at a new book store that we hadn't been to yet. Now that is a perfect ending to the day! By the way, most of our Christmas shopping is done. Now, I just have to wrap everything, which I love!!

Saturday morning was spent moving my grandma from her home to my aunt's. She spends the winter there since it is very expensive to heat her house in the winter. Then, we started decorating our house inside and out. Brynn was so much fun. She did so well listening to what she could and couldn't touch. We gave her her own tree for her room. She got to decorate it with nonbreakable ornanments that can be removed and returned to her heart's content. This means though that we have 3 trees upstairs in our tiny, little house. Oh well, you don't need any lights when everything is turned on. Can you hear my electric meter from there just turning at great speeds?








Sunday was our day of rest. We went to church, Target (not so restful) and then home for Kevin to watch football. Too bad it was back to work on Monday. Oh well, only a few more weeks until I am off again for more than just 2 days.

What a wonderful holiday weekend.

I also want to say Congratulations to friends that are in China right now adopting their 4th child (2 bio, 2 from China). I got an email from them today and they have Abby! I can't wait to hear about their trip. Congratulations to Ralph and Melinda!!

Brynn Pledges Her Allegiance

Can you believe that she can almost say The Pledge? She surprised us Sunday night by saying this. Not too bad for a 3 year old, ha?

If this doesn't make you smile...

Nothing will.



This is what I came home to one day when she was with Daddy. She dressed herself. At least Kevin didn't dress her, then I would have something to worry about!

Working Mom Blues

That's what I have today--The Working Mom Blues. Or is it just Mommy guilt? You know the type of guilt you feel when you can't be there 24/7 with your child no matter how much you would like to? I have to work full time. I don't have an option. We don't have flex hours, no part time, just full time 9-5. Not a bad schedule usually. It turns into a bad schedule when your child asks you to stay or when she doesn't want you to leave when you drop her off at preschool.

As much as I hate to admit this, I know in my heart of hearts that I could not be a stay at home mom. I don't have the patience, creativity or energy. I know that many are judging me right now. But I know me. I wouldn't be happy. But I would love to work less hours and spend less time doing stuff that adults have to do and have more time with Brynn.

One thing I know for sure is this: Both of my parents worked full time jobs. My dad worked 2 or 3 at the same time. I don't remember them not being there. When I needed them, they were there. I turned out ok. I can only hope that Brynn feels the same way in 30 years when she looks back at her life.

Brynn funny for the day

This morning I was looking at a magazine that had a picture of Tiramisu (the wonderful Italian dessert). Of course Brynn asked what it was because it looked tasty. When I told her what it was, she said, "Yummy, tear-in-my-soup." Now, how cute is that?

Brynn's First Report Card

I am finally finding time to catch my blog up. The week we spent with Kevin’s brother’s family was absolutely wonderful. The children are so beautiful. Joe and Vickie are so blessed.

We hosted an open house for them the Saturday that they were home. It was great to see so many people show up to support them and the kids. Brynn was excited that Isabella and Sophia came to play.

Brynn and JJ played so well together—just like brothers and sisters. Makes me really wish that Brynn’s sibling was here. She really loved having another little person to play with.

Here are some pictures of the week:

Playing with Pappy


John Deere Kids


Brynn and JJ playing on the geese


Playing the piano


Jumping in the leaves


JJ on the rocking horse



Kitty on her last day with Brynn



Brynn after a week with her new cousins

Our Halloween

What a great Halloween. Brynn was a fairy or as she called herself a ballerina with wings. We live in the boonies so we drive to particular houses where we know Brynn will get the Trick or Treat feeling, but we won't be buried in crappy candy. Poor child--she gets full sized candy bars. I used to be lucky to get the little snack sized ones. How things have changed.

Halloween night, we drove to the airport with my in-laws to pick up Kevin's brother, sister-in-law and their 2 children recently adopted from Guatemala. Oh my gosh--they are just the cutest. JJ is all boy. Kitty is a princess. Perfect fit for the family.

November Referrals

Referrals are to December 8th. Only 8 days. What a bummer.