Thanksgiving

The holiday season is sneaking up on us ... but then I reflected on the previous years ...

2005 - we found out Thanksgiving weekend that we would be traveling to meet our child in Russia. Boy? Girl? Age? No clue - just time to get ready to travel!

2006 - Still waiting, many delays, but Karin (and her mom) and getting ready to travel and visit Vanya. We asked for several months, and finally were invited to travel at Christmas!

2007 - Dave and Karin celebrated Thanksgiving in Russia, as we waited there for our court date to bring Vanya home. Thor stayed in Minnesota (his adoption was not yet finalized). It was a crazy time of getting ready to travel, facing delays, and leaving our baby home. But God so blessed us with friends in Russia and a beautiful Thanksgiving there.

2008 - Well, not a completely calm time in life (hahaha). Dave stayed in WI to work while the boys and I celebrate with family in MN. We are so very thankful to have our boys home with us, even when we are not all together.

And yet, we miss Russia, and it is a bit sad to think that we won't be traveling there this winter. Not that I recommend winter travel to Russia, but after being there for 3 years in a row it does seem like THAT is the tradition of the season more than anything else we do! It is exciting to share in Vanya's learning about Christmas (Thor, too) and deciding what we want this season to be to our family. We are thankful that we are TOGETHER for the most part, and are surrounded by the love of God.

Vanya's New Shirt

(no words needed - crafty shirt details on Karin's crafty blog)

Animal Identity Crisis!

Vanya ... A.K.A "Sparky the Firefighter Dalmation" who refused to bark or wear his hat (and thus was easily confused for a cow) ... and who decided at the last minute that he wanted to be a goat. For preschool, they all dressed up like animals for a Noah's Ark party.

Thor ... the cow who said "MOOK!" ... who crawled and barked ... and when asked what he was answered "bunny". But ahh, so cute!