Fun Fall Craft

This past week we had another mom-kid craft day. A few of us get the kids together and it give them a chance to make a cute craft for the upcoming holiday and it gives us a little time to chat.

This week we did fall-hand-finger-tree shirts. I have to say I REALLY liked this one -- it turned out cute. And, all the kids have a Thanksgiving meal this coming Monday at pre-school, so we're going to have them wear it then.

Anne Marie, our friends Ben and Elsie getting their hand/arm painted brown to form the tree and it's trunk. (VERY messy if you try this @ home...have baby wipes handy!!)

Mattie's tree is ready!

One tree down....tons of leaves to go.....

Then, they used their fingers and multiple colors of paint to form the leaves.

All done! Too cute! And we added a little owl (in black on a tree branch..maybe you can click the picture larger to see it) with their thumbs...but the moms had to paint the ears and eyes. They turned out really cute and I can't wait to see them all on Monday with their shirts on!

A Special Thank-you Craft

Since our families made such a special night out of Anne Marie's "late" Halloween trick-or-treating night, we thought we'd send them a little thank-you.

Anne Marie's pre-school class made these cute little "pumpkin patches" with their thumb prints as a craft one day, and it gave me a cute idea. So off we went, downstairs to our craft table to make some very special thank-you cards.

Getting a little paint on our thumb.

The "pumpkin"

Making the "patch"

TaaDaa... she just loved them. And something I didn't take a picture oh (Dohh!) was where she wrote her name on the card...she's doing so good! (All in cap's mind you -- we need to work on lower case, but I thought it really was good!)

Saturday of Giving

This past Saturday we spent the day giving back to others. I didn't mean for it to be an all day thing, but being that I got a little behind we ended up doing both things the same day. Our Church has signed up to be a local location for Angel-food Ministries. Mike and I have been very excited about this new opportunity to volunteer. It's a great project that is helping many people in our community. Our Sunday School class decided to purchase a few boxes for some families in our area, and we were volunteered to hand out boxes this weekend, and delivered them to some other families. Anne Marie is young, but we tried to talk to her about helping people that need help and that it's what God wants us to do - so we took her with us.

After that we went to Targ*t to find items to fill up our Samaritans Purse Christmas Child boxes. (This is what I put off a little too long ... they were do THIS Sunday!). We decided we would pick one boy and one girl Anne Marie's age. We talked to Anne Marie about some of the children that might be getting the boxes and how we wanted her to help pick out the items to give to them. She took this very seriously! She made sure that the boy got a "tiger jump-rope" and the girl got a "butterfly-jump-rope". The boy got "sponge-bob toothpaste" and the girl got "Dora toothpaste" --and so on...they really turned out nice.

I know she's only 3, but we really like to try to involve her where we can. She may not exactly get it, but she does to a point, and it's great to watch her get excited about it.

We included a little letter in each box, and Anne Marie drew a picture for each child.

Anne Marie dividing up our "girl stuff" and our "boy stuff".

Finally -- all packed!

Sunday morning ready to take her boxes to Church.

New "Button" on Sidebar

Just wanted everyone to take a quick look at the new button on my sidebar. As everyone knows, adoption is so very close to my heart -- and I have something that I wanted to share.



It's a GREAT new online store that is run by a sister of a travel-mate of ours when we went to China. Her sister is adopting from Taiwan and raising money to bring her two beautiful children home. It's called "Loved by Choice" -- sweet right?!



I have to say that she has some very sweet things - so as if just helping out a GREAT cause wasn't enough - you'll get something REALLY cute in return!!

Birthday & Bragging...

This past week was my sisters birthday...so we got together at Mom's for a little birthday dinner. My mom usually makes what you want for your birthday..and Ashley wanted shrimp. My other sister was nice enough to come to Mom's early to make it for my little sister.

Ashley asked for strawberry cake (my Nanny used to make it for us all the time, so it's still her favorite even at "20-something" - do you think she's get mad if I stated her age?? haa)

Happy Birthday little sis!!!!!!!!

Anyway.....on to the bragging.... earlier that day I had worked at my friends bakery while Anne Marie was in pre-school....and we found the cutest things I have EVER seen on the Internet! So, we decided to try to make them..and they are GREAT! She has loving decided to call them "Sweet Pops" (her bakery name is Short and Sweet Bakery, so we thought it was fitting) I brought one for each of the girls (Anne Marie and Naomi) and they LOVED them. They are little balls of cake on a lollipop stick covered in melted chocolate & other edible decorations.

Ashley blowing out her candle & opening presents.

TaaaDaaa... the "Sweet pop" .. I was just so proud that I actually made this! And so was Anne Marie! haaa... then she asked.. "can I eat the eyes mommy?".....

Yup! And so she did...and laughed the whole time

Naomi enjoying her Elmo (eyes 1st too...)

Trick-or-Treating....Finally!

This past Thursday night we were finally able to let Anne Marie get out to trick-or-treat. We talked to our family & neighbor and asked them to keep one piece of candy out of their Halloween treats for Anne Marie to come by after Halloween. Well, everyone must have felt bad for her, because she got more on Thursday than she would have if we actually would have got out on Halloween night! She got everything from gifts (from both our parents), to homemade caramel apples (my sister), to buckets full of candy....and it sure did make up for the ugly sickness that had her "down-and-out" on Halloween night.

Our little Zebra! Check-out the shoes if you can click on the picture to make it bigger. Our friend Avery handed down these shoes to us this year & we LOVED that they went perfect with our Halloween outfit!! TOOOOO cute!

Daddy & Anne Marie ready for trick-or-treating..

1st stop---my moms. She rang the doorbell, but we couldn't bribe her into saying "trick-or-treat" -- not even with gum (which is something she's been begging to have lately!)

Mom invited us to dinner (hence the lack of costume in this picture...but how cute is the shirt that a friend of mine made for her??!!) Anyway - this was just a sampling of a few of things that mom had waiting for her in her special Halloween bag. I love the shirt..I'm sure I've mentioned it but Anne Marie LOVES pink - she's asked for a pink house, even if we could get a pink cat! The shirt mom got her said "everything Pink will do".... cute!

Then it was on to Mike's parents house. I love the reaction on Mike's mothers face.

Again, inside she got her own special bag full of toys, treats, and VERY special cookies that Mike's mom bought from my friends bakery...Kai Lan cookies!! (My friend handmade these & I thought they were GREAT! Anne Marie LOVED them!!)

Well, I will say this was the highlight of this child's week... Thanks to EVERYONE that made "her" Halloween night special!!

Sharing China

This Wednesday @ Church we were asked to share a little about China in Anne Marie's Wednesday night class. The 3 & 4 yr olds are learning about mission work and countries around the world that need to hear about God. China was one of them. They asked if we would bring in a few things for the kids to see that might help them learn a few things about China.

We decided that we would bring in the "snack" for the night. We made cute little bags (made from Chinese New Year Lucky Money Bags) filled with Chinese Candy and chopsticks (bought from our near-by Asian market). We also made rice and brought that in to let the kids eat trying to use chop-sticks.

We also brought in a puzzle map of China showing them what China looks like and where Anne Marie is from. She also wore one of her silk outfits we bought her there.

We talked about how there are people in China that don't know about God and how sometimes there are missionaries that go there to help find ways to talk about God and what he does when you accept him into your heart. Granted these kids are only 3 & 4, but a mom did call me tonight and tell me that she came home saying - "Mommy, China is my favorite place"... so at least we know they were listening a little bit.

I think it's such an awesome thing that our Church family embraces not only the fact that Anne Marie is adopted, but that they allow us to share our story & share Anne Marie's heritage - I think one day it will mean a lot to her.

We've also been asked to share with the older group of kids the same things in a another month or so.... It should be fun! They will ask more questions, and Mike wants to take more "traditional" food for them to try..he's thinking one of those black-duck-eggs (ughh!!! He actually ate one in China) becuase they sell those @ the market we go to!!

Anne Marie ready to go in her silk outfit & her little gift bag.

Passing the rice around for everyone to try.

They did end up using them more as drums than anything else! (haa)

The kids trying the Chinese candy (which I'm not fond of -- and I don't think they were too thrilled with it either -- but there were back up oreos & juice boxes for snack-time!!)

A New Kind of Halloween "Fun"

This Halloween we had to stay indoors - due to Anne Marie still not feeling quite "back to normal". We were sad that we'd have to miss out on all the fun Halloween activities that we normally take part in. I decided that since there would be no trick-or-treating or Church festival I'd make a little fun at home.

We have since decided that since she's now better (yea!) We'd take her trick-or-treating this Thursday at our families houses .. they have kept a few special treats for her so she would feel just like it was Halloween night.

I decided an appropriate Halloween breakfast would be Count Chocula...I know ... I know.. what little girl trying to get well needs sugar? I figured after everything we'd been through this past week that a little sugar couldn't hurt! (She LOVED it!)

Then, later that day we got her pumpkin out (from her school festival) and helped her carve it.

Mommy & Daddy helping her clean it & carve the face. (She asked if her pumpkin "could have eye-brows like the one from the Homestead -- since we forgot him @ the hotel" -- she will never let us live down the fact that we left her pumpkin there!!)

Her final product -- she was very proud.

I had a special little gift to give her for Halloween. Caramel-Apple lipg-loss, a pumpkin sippy-cup, Halloween paper & special socks & a bow that I was going to give it to wear w/ her outfit that we had picked to wear to Pre-School for "wear black & orange day"

...but since we missed preschool...

So she decided that she wanted to put her outfit on that we would have worn on Friday so that her socks would match....so we let her make a "wardrobe change"

Anne Marie enjoying juice out of her new pumpkin-face cup

That night when trick-or-treaters came by we let Anne Marie watch from the door. But since she was still not well, Daddy had to hand out candy & she could only watch. I felt so bad for her, but we kept telling her that her trick-or-treat night would be a different night, and she seemed to be fine with it...so it was ok!

Finally...we ended the night with milk & cookies -- we got special "Halloween" cookies from the store .. I know...I know...more sugar, well, it was a special day you know!

And to see that smile...it was worth a little sugar..she had not smiled much that past week, so it was worth it.. and they were yummy!!

Enjoying her cookies!

Ready for bed after a long Halloween night.

We hope you all had a fun & safe Halloween!!

Fall Harvest Festival

Last Monday @ Pre-school they had a "Fall Harvest Festival". Each child was told they could dress like a cow-boy or cow-girl and come for the day to join in the F-U-N activities they had planned.

Becuase of our great friend Avery's hand-me-downs - we had a PERFECT skirt & jean jacket & brown boots. All I had to do was add the cow-girl hat (purple I might add) from the $-store! Anne Marie was very excited to get dressed up and go to school.

Our sweet little cow-girl.

Once we got to school they had all the classes get together for a visit from "Cowboy Ray"! (Aka: our friend Terry) This is something he does for our Church and pre-school often....and it cracks me up! He sings in our praise band at Church, but his version of "country" is cute!!

Cowboy Ray's son - and our friend - Joshy -- From what I understand this is his dad's outfit he used to dress up in when he was a little boy....too cute!

Anne Marie listening to Cowboy Ray -- but she was VERY unsure of him... she knows Terry quite well, but I think she was a little confused when he came out in this "get-up"...she looks like she just might cry in this picture...but I thought it was funny how confused she was by it!

After our music time, we went out to the playground to find hidden pumpkins. She was very proud of the one she found!!

Then it was of to eat our "fall-snack"...I'm sure the most anticipated part of the day for Anne Marie..haa... it was candy-corn, candy-pumpkins & pretzels...her favorite combo!!

Then our friend Robin was doing face-painting for the kids..anything they wanted. She's an artist (in "real" life) and she did some GREAT characters.

Anne Marie chose a simple flower - she loved it!

Then, it was time for games - I ran the "pin-the-badge-on-the-sheriff" game - it was funny - we think Anne Marie may have been "peaking" - she got the badge strangely right on target!! (ha)

And then there was the pumpkin toss...such a cute idea.. I may steal this type of idea one day for a party of our own!

Again, Anne Marie "may" have been cheating a little....she was having a hard time getting the pumpkin in, so she found a sure-fired way...see the arm reaching all the way through? HAAA!

A group of cute little cow-girls & cow-boys!