17 Months

Eliza is 17 months old today. While for most this is not a significant milestone, for me it offers some really precious insight and perspective. My parents met me for the first time ever, fresh off a flight from South Korea, when I was exactly 17 months old (to the day, in fact). It's a strange juxtaposition - she and I at this age. On the one hand, it feels like we've known her forever - we've formed an unbreakable bond, she is unmistakably ours, and we know her in ways that nobody else ever could. And on the other hand, I have no memory of my life before being adopted, and I can't imagine feeling more "bonded" to parents than I do to my own.

So, I'm just left feeling incredibly grateful that I have a glimpse of what I might have been like at 17 months: how big I was (Eliza is about the size I was when my parents got me), how much I might have been talking/communicating, whether I had favorite songs like she does, etc. (I should mention that, unlike Eliza, I was pottytrained at 17 months!)

We always knew she was a gift from God, as all children are, but today is an unexpected gift that I'm so thankful for.

Comfort & Joy

The week before Christmas was busy. We had some friends over for a Polar Express PJ, Pizza, and Popcorn Party; the boys and I went to see Rudolph at the Center for Puppetry Arts; and we made our annual trek to ride the Macy's Pink Pig. You'd never guess that we stood in line for one hour and 45 minutes to ride this #@* pig!!!! (I had to keep reminding myself to keep the Christmas spirit ... because it had left me about 20 minutes in).
The "Pink Princess" on the Pink Pig.
The kids indulged me with an everyone-looking-in-the-same-direction-and-no-crazy-expressions group shot before we left for church on Christmas Eve. (Which, seemingly, also comes but once a year - merry Christmas to me!)
Church steps.
Before heading off to bed.

Of course, Santa came and the boys were thrilled. Some of their favorite gets:

An aquarium! (Nevermind that all three fish were sucked up against the filter in a not alive anymore kind of way the very first morning after getting them. Oy.)

Since Santa knows we're not a gaming household, he brought B an ipod full of his favorite music.

And E, of course, received all sorts of girlie goodies.

The day after Christmas, we headed up to Michigan. Thankfully, we got some snow while we were there and the boys got to sled, throw snowballs, and make snow angels. Most importantly, we got to spend lots of time with family.

At our annual Christmas pool party, Booma read a story about baby Jesus' arrival.

Then she lit the candles and we sang happy birthday to Jesus! Eliza, who had a double ear infection and a 104-degree fever the day before, was happy to suck down Daddy's milkshake (which Papa thought was hilarious).

And on New Year's Eve, the kids had a silly string celebration (which I'm sure my Mom is still cleaning up from).

Happy 2012!

Holiday Fun

We've had a lot of holiday fun the past couple of weeks - picking out our tree, visiting Santa, making a gingerbread train, seeing the Christmas show at the symphony, and on and on. Here are a few highlights:

Children's Christmas Concert at church. Ben was in the "Amazing Grace Race," thus the running clothes.

Noah playing his tone block.

No tears! Eliza wouldn't smile, but no tears! (Perhaps it was because she couldn't see from underneath her hat?)

It's snowing (sort of)!

Eliza didn't know/care that it wasn't real.

Fun with fake snow!

A Day of Thanksgiving

While it's true that we have much to be grateful for in our lives, this Thanksgiving we were mostly thankful for the fact that we were given a brief reprieve from the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad stomach bug that plagued our house for the days surrounding it. So, while we spent the rest of the holiday weekend sprinting various kids, and then ourselves, to the bathroom in what was a veritable puke fest, on Thursday we were healthy and thankful to be spending a gorgeous day at Aunt Julie Ann and Uncle Justin's "farm" - their soon-to-be first home as newlyweds!
Daddy and Uncle Robert give Grandpa, Aunt Julie, and Eliza a push on the swing.

Noah seems right at home on the farm.

Uncle John takes a turn at the wheel.

After a picnic meal, we walked down to the creek.

The boys went "fishing" with sticks,

and Eliza got tossed in.

Uncle Joseph gives E some love.

Uncle Justin and Noah racing back.

Aunt Julie and Uncle Robert

Peeking through the window from the loft of the cabin that Justin is building for Julie and him to live in after their wedding in January. It's really amazing.

We had a fabulous day with family, which is what it's all about!

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Today my Dad turns 70. If you spend any time around him at all, you know that that's hard to believe. Ever the tinkerer, he still loves to play with his "toys" (mostly tractors these days), chase down a "good deal," and of course, spoil his grandkids. Dad and Me, 1975
December 2000

Papa and Ben, July 2007

Papa and Noah, July 2007

Papa and Eliza, October 2011

Happy birthday, Papa! We love you!