Giving thanks with family

Aunt Susie & Goose walking the dogs.

Who doesn't love deviled eggs? Boo was thrilled to contribute to making those.

Spiderman and Goose built some muscles helping to hang Daddy's latest meat harvest.

This was the kids favorite costume on Max

Indoor horseshoes honestly, Spiderman lost his shirt voluntarily.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Not only did my parents drive 21 hours to be here, but my sister, Susie-Q, drove 14 hours with her little dog, Max. Talk about family sacrifice! We were so glad to have them this week and it gave us even more to be thankful for around the feasting table. To spoil me even further, my big sis did most of the cooking before she even arrived at our house so the kitchen load was a breeze (considering she did most of that too). I'm glad someone loves to cook because that's not my favorite thing. :)


The kids had a blast with family here and were spoiled well with fun projects each day and even a fashion show with Max. That poor dog seemed rather nervous around my rowdy bunch of kids but was still a good sport each day come costume time. The clown costume was the kids favorite. Spiderman wasn't particularly a fan of the traditional Thanksgiving fare but he managed while the rest of us gorged. He's also having to get used to Daddy's ability to really heat this house with the wood furnace (those of you who have visited know what I'm saying). You can see he had to strip down to keep cool in the house while the snow was falling outside. :)


Of course, the weekend wouldn't have been complete without decorating the trees, one in the house for Christmas and one outside with another dead deer. Spiderman was in awe of all the ornaments and gets rather excited as we drive around town and see the houses decorated for Christmas already. The other kids keep telling him about the holiday traditions to come and he is beside himself in anticipation. Oh my, there are still 30 days to go til Christmas!

I'm dreaming of a white Thanksgiving....

I just have to share with you what a pleasure it was to watch Spiderman see his first snow this week. The weather had predicted some for Wed. and he woke up asking when it would come. By late morning the rain started to turn to a fine, wet snow and despite it blowing horizontally, Spiderman could not wait - he had to experience this for himself. He ran out in his bare feet and short sleeves which, you can imagine, didn't last long. We gradually added more and more clothing until he decided he was warm enough and he went back out for his first real "taste" of snow (literally). He just could not stop grinning and giggling.

The only disappointment was that we never really got enough snow, maybe a half inch at best. He had visions of snow drifts up to the windows but really, he was not about to waste this first chance. Although Spiderman really wanted to make a snowman, he had to settle for throwing snowballs. He and Jaybird decided they were going sledding and they would just find a way to make it work. They were outside for hours. The joy of this child is just contagious! Here is a picture that captures the moment.

Did someone say "makeover"?

OK, I know we are all busy this holiday week and it seems there is much to tell but I'm going to start with last weekend. Goose made my day when she declared she was ready for a haircut. She has been determined to grow her hair down to her waist and yet at 6 years old, she does nothing to take care of it. As we have gone through the ritual of washing, detangling, brushing, braiding, you name it, I have asked Goose if she is ready to get her hair cut (after all, it has been about a year and a half now). Imagine my surprise when this time she decided a haircut sounded better than recurring pain and discomfort. I was ready to celebrate! Well the next day we made a trip into town and she lost maybe 5 inches or so. She absolutely loves it and makes a point to tell people all about it whenever she can ("this is my first haircut since I've been 6 years old!). It is mighty cute so I wanted to show her before and after photos.

The magic was short lived.

Well, just a brief note about my kids growing up. Today Goose lost another tooth (#9 I think) so she is in dream land right now waiting for the tooth fairy to bring her some dough. Well, Spiderman has had 3 "wiggly teeth" for a couple of weeks now. I set the stage for him regarding the magical tooth fairy that comes to America and he didn't get much of a chance to believe as the others stated, "we know it's really just Mommy". Now that Goose has beaten him to the punch, he was anxiously wiggling all 3 teeth tonight, convinced his would come out tonight too. He doesn't want to miss out on the payday. It just isn't fair that Goose has a "broken tooth" before him.

The only good thing is that this will set the reality stage for Spiderman. Having heard about the wonderful trade in value on old teeth, he has asked, "Mom, when my wiggly teeth come out, the Lego house under my pillow?" (that would be the $80 set he has seen in Jaybird's Lego catalog, yeah right) Well, we still have to learn the concept of money and value as the tooth fairy around here has a set "$1 per tooth" exchange rate.

the big man, Jaybird

Getting to drive Grandpa's 4 wheeler already? Woah!

OK, here is the guy that we've known the longest. Hard to believe that in January he will be 8! Jaybird is such a typical boy in so many ways. This morning he woke me up with his robots having a battle on my bed (complete with plenty of sound effects I might add). This guy is competing all day with everyone and in everything and we often have to push the pause button for him as he only knows fast forward. Recently, Grandma taught him how to play chess and the next week at the library, he was "teaching" a 3 year old how to play and instructing him where to move so Jaybird could snatch his queen. Nice. This from a kid who is very concerned about what is fair. :)

Jaybird has been thrilled this year to get a brother and to do his part, he has been sharing his bed with Spiderman for the past 3 months. What started out as a favor has become something they both look forward to and it's fun to tuck them in at night and leave them with Jaybird reading a book to Spiderman, sweet brotherly love. But don't get too impressed - there is plenty of sibling rivalry there as well. Being the big time 2nd grader, the other kids look up to his abilities as he is an excellent reader. He learned to climb the willow tree out back and takes great pride in being the "bravest" and going the highest. Ultimately, we think he should be a designer when he grows up as his passion is building imaginative projects out of his Legos or K'nex (if I step on one more of those little pieces....).

I will leave you with a recent story that makes me realize he is growing up. Of course he has accompanied his Dad in the woods on many occassions for some sort of hunting. A couple weeks ago the guys went bow hunting together and this time Dad let him bring his small bow along(a notch up from a toy bow). After some time in the woods, Dad was about to shoot at a small doe and as he took aim, he heard a "loud" clank, clank behind him which in turn scared away the doe. As he turned to figure out what happened, Jaybird was standing there having just missed his shot at a big doe he figured Dad wasn't able to get. They came home empty handed but Dad was too amused to be upset. Of course, Jaybird did need a reminder that he isn't old enough and doesn't have a license to actually shoot at a deer yet. Just wait...

"es-Spiderman"

This is his first fish caught ever! See the pride in that smile?

Alright, maybe that's in bad taste but we love our new guy's accent and that is how he says Spiderman. Since the second day home when he found the Spiderman costume in the closet, he has loved to wear it. In fact, much like Boo, he wears it often enough to reduce my laundry load. If we have to go out and I ask him to change, he wears his clothes OVER the Spiderman costume (apparently he doesn't know that is a Superman thing to do!) We have been in awe of this little guy since we met him in person on August 11th in Ethiopia. I guess since many of you don't know him well yet, it's OK for me to devote a little more attention to him than the others right now.

I'm amazed to think that last year on this date, he was not even a thought in my mind. We truly thought our family was complete. Right before Thanksgiving God told us that wasn't the case and the journey to figure out God's plan for our family started up again. Also one year ago, Spiderman had been sitting in a government orphanage for almost 2 months. That's a praise on many levels. When God called us to adopt an older child, we worried about the adjustment of a child who had never known a family's love. Not only did he spend the first 6 years of his life in his original family, but he spent less than a year total in an orphanage between that family and his forever family. During that time, God pulled off an incredibly fast adoption for us (at only 5 months) and that is amazing!! He even provided almost all of the funds within 30 days! We have been so blessed to watch him grow these few short months. More on that.

Spiderman has opened our eyes to the wonder of our world. From learning to use a drinking fountain, swimming in a pool, discovering ice cream (his passion) and even learning what it means to "wish" - everything is a new discovery. As I watch him revel in taking a BATH, I am reminded how much we take for granted here in America. I am also astounded to see what an amazing grasp of English he has in such a short time! No doubt the constant questions of "what is this?" in those early days helped expand his vocabulary (that and competing with those 3 loud siblings to "be heard"). We have plugged him into 1st grade with Goose and he does pretty well at that level. I'm finding gaps but also covering a lot of basics to try and fill them. He can even "read" already at a Kindergarten level, which amazes me. He absolutely loves to draw and color and is really quite an artist!

One thing about Spiderman is that he is affectionate. He loves to give hugs and kisses or to be tickled. We used to call him Mr. Giggles but Spiderman is a much cooler name if you ask him. He is shy around outsiders or new people but if he knows you are a family member, you will get squeezed. You can sense he loves to be part of a family and upon meeting grandparents, siblings, aunts & uncles he has no reservations on hugs and kisses. (In fact, he kisses you so hard that you can feel his teeth on your cheek) He truly is a gift to us all.

Big sister Goosey

Showing off the shed antlers that Daddy found this spring.

OK, on to big sister. Goose is the sensitive one in our house (I guess they all are, in different degrees). If someone else gets hurt or in touble, she will cry right along with them. Last night when her Grandparents left our place, she was sobbing for the next 20 minutes about missing them. :( Goose is also the most likely to help out a sibling rather than compete with them - that is truly a breath of fresh air. While she does like to dress up or play pretend with Boo and the boys, she is much more my tomboy who loves to run and wrestle. She is one with her own sense of fashion and at the moment is wearing a nice, dressy sweater with her soccer shorts (I think it's 40 degrees out), definitely a nonconformist!

Goose is in first grade and does very well. She underestimates herself often as she compares herself to an older brother and as a result, will tell you she can't read. Then she will proceed to read the directions on something for you or a sign we drive by. She is actually reading well but she doesn't meet her own expectations. She also loves to write and the house is filled with notes (love notes and "I know you love me" notes especially) in every nook and cranny she can find. I believe we go through a ream of computer paper each week, OK not quite. Goose is my social butterfly who never chooses to do things on her own (are you kidding? Who would she talk to?). Boy, girl, old or young - it doesn't matter so long as she has someone to talk to and laugh with. Of course she thinks she is hysterical and is the first to laugh at her own jokes. Who can resist that?

Goose is very insightful for a 6 year old and we love her "sayings". Upon the arrival of her new brother (whom she prayed for faithfully to arrive), she stated one day, "well, our lives are going to be changed forever". She still loves her precious baby Becky, horses and kitties and yet, she's the first one to beg to go hunting with Daddy. Oh yeah, and she is just convinced that we will let her raise chickens next summer. Hmmm. You really can't put this one in a box! Here is a photo of this original one...