Anna Louise

Introducing our precious Anna

Anna and Momma are doing great. She's sleeping and eating well and Momma is recovering well. Thanks for everyone's prayers and can't wait to hear welcome to the family sung at Thanksgiving, I'm sure I'll cry with joy.

Update and random pictures

 

Jeff and I just sent our Dossier off today!!  Please pray for us, as we will probably be looking at different girl files, soon.  Pray that we will be wise, to know what our family can/can't handle, but that we won't be selfish, wanting a girl with little to no medical needs.

Now on to some random picutures:

 

This was "dress for Success day" at School.  It's our principal's last week, as she took on a new position in another state.  Monday, the kids were suppose to dress up like principals!

I don't know what it is with the toilet, but yesterday, sunglasses were (accidentally) dropped into the toilet.  The day before that, it was Abram's thermos!!  NASTY!

Right after Abram's Cardiac Cath.

Right before he went back for his cardiac cath.

Uncle Clark and Aubs on a 4-wheel ride.  Each of the kids got a ride and LOVED IT(over spring break)!!  Thanks, Uncle Clarky!

Welcome to Michigan Winters

So, people told me when we moved to Michigan, just wait for the winters...well last year (like across the nation) was not a very cold or snowy winter. This year on the other hand. Besides the winter storm of 2011, I've seen more snow then the last few years combined! Here's a few fun pics of our adventures in the snow.

Loving the snowy world we live in. Lot's of snow, and more predicted! If anyone wants to come up and bring your kids sledding let me know!
Bekah

Here We Go Again!

Aubrey needs a sister!  As Chase and Abram run to their room and lock the door before Aubrey can get in......Aubs is left on the other side of the door, crying...hurt feelings.  There are other times when all three of them play great together.  Aubrey even gets Abram to play restaurant and dolls with her.

We've talked about it a lot, adopting a little girl.  Aubrey told me once, at bedtime, "you go to Chi-na, next week, and bring me home a sista!"  Chase has told us that he wants another brother.  Abram agrees with whatever Chase says.

But when Chase leaned over my shoulder the other week, as I was typing an email to our agency, telling them that we were ready to start the process to adopt a little girl, Chase gasped as he read it.  His "gasp" was one of excitement...."we're going to adopt again?!"  He was even excited with another little sister.  He EVEN had a NAME suggestion! :)  (no, we didn't go with his suggestion, but it was cute)

So with all that said, Jeff and I have started our paperwork to adopt from China again.  We are hoping for a girl, under 4 years old, and some sort of medical need.  Our agency is saying 1.5 year process...but you never know with adoption, could be longer!

If you ever think of us, you can pray for our little girl, that we don't know yet, don't have a face or name, but God knows. 

Chase's Christmas Gifts

This year Chase decided to purchase a Christmas gift for his siblings and Jeff and I.  Chase had ALL sorts of ideas, but the problem was that $11 and 4 people to buy for = a much tighter budget than what he had planned on!

With some help from me (with ideas) and Dad(with his skills) This is what he came up with for Aubrey:

 

Aubrey's first words, "a fudge sicle?!"

 





 

Here are the popsicles! All for $3!



 

A flashlight and book for Abram.



Both Aubs and Abram will enjoy these sweet treats for their play kitchen/restaurant.

 

 

And for the record, Chase got Jeff mint M&M's(one of his favorites!) and Rainbow Twizzlers for me(one of my fave's!!).

What do you think?  Chase's love language might be gifts?



Family Photo Shoot

Just wanted to post a few pictures from our family photo shoot by Digital Inspirations. Since I can't decide with family photo we're using for our Christmas card I'm no posting any family ones yet...But I thought you could all use an update on Titus:) We missed everyone at Thanksgiving and Love you all!
Booxy

Andy and Marie's Chair...before and after...and More

BEFORE:

 

 



Thanks to Andy and Marie for giving me the opportunity to do another reuphostery project!  I was able to use my industrial machine....A LOT with this project.  My old sewing machine would have NEVER kept up.

AND AFTER:

I threw the pillow on for more color...not covering any mistakes!

 



This Chair(below) is a project from a few years ago, that I thought I'd post.  I did this for a friend and I was very pleased with the results.  She didn't even recongize the Chair when she picked it up(she walked right past it)

 

 

BEFORE

 



And AFTER:

 



Just showing a bit more detail.

 



Thanks to all of you, for letting me share a bit of my hobbies with you!  I don't get things like this accomplished very often, so it's fun to share them when I do complete a project! :)

Born on the Mountain Top of Tennessee...

INTRODUCING....DAVY CROCKETT!

and his Right Hand Man....George Russell(aka: Abram)



Yes, in case you are wondering, I made Chase's costume(Abram's was found at a garage sale years ago).  Chase has been into Davy Crockett for awhile now.  I realize that in the near future, Chase very possibly won't want me to make anything for him.  Right now, he thinks it's great!  It does wonders for our mother/son relationship when I make something for him.  I LOVE seeing pieces of fabric come together and create something!  More fun than that, is a child who is THRILLED about it.

 



Sunday evening, Chase and Jeff worked out in the garage and made a rifle for him.  Chase LOVES it!! And is SO proud of  "his" work!



Just another picture, showing the detail in the back of the shirt.  The fringe in the back isn't apart of the original pattern that I used, but Davy's outfit had fringe in the back, so I had to add that, along with the belt and the lacing tie up near the neck in the front of the shirt.  I had to watch the movie, freeze parts, just to take note to his outfit, before I started on this.



And this is another aspect that I love....I caught him playing in the backyard, so I had to snap a picture.  I love the imagination that goes with it!!

 

Now, that project is done, I'll be moving onto some reuphostery for Andy and Marie!!!  I'll be sure to post that when it's completed!

Thrown Back into Normal Life

Jeff and I had a blissful extended weekend in French Lick, IN this past weekend....sleeping in(while our parents got a dose of Abram's early mornings), quiet meal times, relaxing afternoons.  It was fabulous(thanks Mom and Dad K and Mom and Dad S for watching the kids).  With that, we were ready to be back! 

 

And there was no skipping a beat when we came back!  First thing the next morning:

Taking Aubs in for surgery(leaving at 6am) on her arm that she broke over the weekend.

She was such a trooper and the cutest thing!  Her dollies were good too! :)

After surgery, the nurses wrapped up her dollies, put a name tag on them and a "monitor" on them, just like Aubs had in the recovery room!

And here is my Trooper.  Hangin out on the sofa, sippin gatorade(which is a big deal at our house), and watching Toy Story 2(having just watched Cinderella!). 

Project in the waiting

About 3 years ago, a friend asked me to reuphoster a Child-size rocking chair for her.

I told her that if she wanted to wait for awhile, until I had time, I could do that.

She waited for at least 3 years!  Well, now I've got a bit of time.  So less than a month ago, she gave me this:

 

After some doing, the chair was taken apart.

And this is what it turned into:

I'm pleased with the results!  That's it for now.  I'll probably take a couple weeks off of doing projects!  But it's been fun to pursue some of my old hobbies and share it with you all!

Finally!

I say "finally", because I've been wanting to do this project for a LONG time.....but never had enough time to do it.  But now that school is in session, 2 of my 3 are out of the house, leaving Aubs and me with some girl time.  

 

Took Aubs to Hobby Lobby  and this is the fabric that she picked out.  Three or Four days later this was completed:

Oh, how fun it was to sit and be able to sew and create something....more than a quick project of pajama pants!

And Aubrey's love....a dress-up dress that twirls and sparkles!

And what's a dress-up dress without a purse to match?

 Now that's I've neglected my house and meals have been pretty simple.....but I've got the sewing bug out of me(at least for now!)