Gingerbread for the holidays

End of the school year for this year was fun. We made gingerbread houses on day and we also decorated gingerbread cookies on the very last day. On Sunday we made gingerbread cookies a family affair. I didn't realize that they would take so much time so was glad for all the help. Brayden enjoyed cutting them out and scraping away all the extra dough. We finally figured out it would go better if we didn't have to move them from the counter top to the cookie sheet so we just cut them out on the cookie sheet and saved a bunch of headache. It really worked out very well and was cold enough out that we could take the hot sheet out and wave it in the cold air for 4 min and it was cool enough to roll out on all over again. All in all it was fun but we were glad to be done too. Yesterday then I took the cookies to school and had the kids decorate them for their party. They had a good time with it. I was exhausted tho from being around kids all day. I know for certain now that I could never be a teacher!! Its fun every once in a while or even once a week, but sure not every day. We are officially on Christmas vacation now. It will be a nice relaxing two weeks. Sure have enjoyed the first day for certain and the boys have done well. It was warm outside so they played outside for awhile too which was very good for them. I do hope we get some snow sometime, but for now it was nice for it to be warmer.

Gotcha Day plus 1 year!!

Here we are...a year ago today we went to the orphanage and picked up this little boy that weighed in at 20 pounds and 32" tall, last week at the doctor he weighed in at 31 1/2 lbs and 36 1/2 " tall. Soooo 11 1/2 pounds and 4 1/2 inches in a year, thats quite a feat! He is happy and healthy and will soon be talking up a storm! Amazing how much change can take place when a child is home, comfy, happy and healthy with plenty of food to eat! We saw it in Brayden too, but with Braxton the height has amazed us all. No longer a baby, now a little boy and not really very little at that.

Braxton's first stitches

Braxton had an accident in the shop a few weeks ago. He fell off a carpeted stand about a foot off the ground and hit his head on a freshly made cabinet that Daddy had just set down. It had very sharp edges of course so he got 1 1/2 inch gash that required stitches. It was a saturday, before noon, so we were set with one dr's office in town that has weekend hours. This was also the saturday that the radio had gone out of our internet dish so we had no internet and no telephone. I stood in the kitchen turning around with my cell phone till I got 1 1/2 bars of service and called the dr, fortunately it worked and they could hear me. They stayed open till I got there then locked the door after us. They had to cut some of his hair after the cleaned it up and then got it ready for the stitches. Braxton did really good and didn't cry at all until the dr walked in. When he came in, the crying began and really didn't stop till the dr left again. They did have to deaden the area and so that was the most painful part. After that, it didn't hurt, but it did feel funny so the crying continued. After it was stitched the dr was trying to figure out how to cover it and keep his hands out. I asked why they didn't just wrap it and the dr said "well he would just pull it off". I said ummmm No he won't. I just have to tell him "No Thank you" and he will leave it alone. The dr was amazed but agreed to try it. Braxton did reach up to touch and I told him No Thank You and he put his hand down and left it alone. We left and he never touched it again. They gave me the last of the roll and we kept him covered with this band for 48 hrs, no shower at all, just sponge baths. After 48 hrs he could have a shower and get the last of it cleaned up. He still has a pretty good lump under there, but it is healing. He now wears a cap in the shop at all times now. Daddy did feel pretty bad, altho not much could be done about it. We did learn tho that he had a slight ear infection, so that was why he fell three times that day with this one being the last fall. We got him on antibiotics after the stitches and his nose and throat cleared right up as did the ears. All in all, boys will be boys and this one is no different.

Some random shots, Braxton's first Thanksgiving, he sure ate good. We are so thankful for him!!

A Year Ago Already...

It is simply amazing to me that a year ago today we landed in St Pete for our court trip. Here we are at home, no snow, its not terribly cold, and we are looking forward to the holidays here at home. I am seeing other families progressing through the adoption system, they are asking questions and getting ready to go themselves. I am so happy to see that things are still moving there, children are still coming home. We can hardly express our thankfulness and the extent of our blessings. We are consistently amazed at our children's resilience and their love for us and ours for them. The other morning Brayden came up and crawled in with us and said "Good morning Mama and Daddy, I love you!" That's the way to wake up, with little ones that are so happy and comfy in their life and world. I never cease to be amazed at how much these boys love their lives and love just being with us. A year ago, I was exhausted but excited about what was coming our way. This year...I am rested, happy, and very thankful for all that has come our way and is still growing with us. A little snow would make it more complete, but it is Wyoming, and we live in the area that gets the cold but not necessarily the snow. Tomorrow I go to school to help the Kindergartners make their gingerbread houses. That should prove to be interesting and challenging all at the same time. School today was relatively uneventful. They are much calmer this week than they were last week. Here are a few pics that are fairly recent.