More Celebrating

 We decided to do a little Thanksgiving celebration with Eric's sister Molly and his sister Lori and her family the weekend of Thanksgiving.  We decided it would be nice to have a little more time to hang out and for the kids to play.  

The girls and I saw these pictures of a turkey made out of veggies so we tried our own version.  

Alexa also thought these fruit cornucopia's looked fun to make.  

We didn't do anything too fancy but instead made it simple and enjoyed our time hanging out.  The kids all squeezed around the picnic table. 

Max enjoying another family gathering during the holidays. 

The kids disappeared for most of the afternoon and evening.  They had so much fun playing! They would make a random appearance with their band or a style show! 

We grabbed a picture of the gang at the end of the night!

The big girls .....

and the crazy boys! The kids can't wait for more cousin time at Christmas! 

Thanksgiving Day

On Thanksgiving Day we headed to my parents for the day!

 I don't think I have ever gotten a picture of the turkey carver, my dad hard at work.  I love Thanksgiving food! 

I am thankful for the family and the example my parents are and the foundation they laid in our lives.   We had a table full and there were even 5 missing at lunch! 

Max loved his first taste of Thanksgiving food! His potatoes were his favorite.  When Max gets excited about food his little feet twirl in circles.  He did this on of our first nights in China as we gave him prunes .... his still does it today when he loves what is going in his mouth. 

In the afternoon my brother and his family came and we attempted some family pictures.  What a crew to give thanks for!!!!!  This Thanksgiving we are thankful that our family grew by 5 this year.  We obviously brought home Max.  My younger brother and his wife added little Mataya to their family in August.  They also felt like God was leading them to do foster care.  In March they welcomed 2 little boys into their family and just last week a 17 year old boy joined their family.  Yes, they went from 1 to 5 kids in 9 months.  I am thankful for the way they have let God lead their family and the blessing these boys have been to our family.  

Papa and Grammy and their crew.  To think just 9 years ago there were only 2 grandkids.  I know my parents would say they are BLESSED! My mom had once told her friend she didn't know if she was ever going to be a grandma .... I am pretty sure we have that covered and she is now a grammy that has her hands full. 

Our afternoon was spent relaxing ....

drawing with cousins ....

playing little people ....

and getting a little wii in! 

The picture isn't the greatest gut I don't think I have ever gotten a picture of something that is part of almost every family gathering.  My family loves to play games.  We played a lot of game and cards growing up and it continues at our family gatherings.  It has gotten a little harder with our family growing and the business of all the kids but we typically find away to play.  I love all the family memories that were formed around the table playing games and it is something that continues in our own home.  I hope someday my kids will look back and have the same special memories around the table with a deck of cards or a game.  

While we were rolling dice Mya and Bailey found their way into Grammy's closet.  They were all smiles with their new attire! 

We finished the night with the kids making turkeys out of chocolate rice krispie balls and candy! 

Shane is a baby lover! How can you not be thankful for this little sweet addition this year! 

Giving Thanks For A Full Table

This Thanksgiving we have so much to thankful for but there is no denying that at the top of our list is having Max around our table.  Last year at this time there was so much anticipation about a little boy an ocean away that was our son and brother.  

We decided to have our own little Thanksgiving celebration with our family!  The girls loved helping to decide the menu and decorate the table.

We easily settled on Chinese food for dinner! Everyone thought it was perfect for Max's first Thanksgiving around our table.

The girls cut out our Thankful cards for our Tree of Thanks! 

It looks pretty empty but soon it was filled with our cards of thanksgiving.

Some special friends dropped off these yummy cupcakes for our family.  We have been so blessed with amazing friends to walk through this journey of life with us.  They were the perfect center piece for our table.

Max loves Edamame.  I would always squeeze out the beans for him but our little independent 2 year old wanted to do it himself.  Let me tell you he has it all figure out.  

I am so thankful for our beautiful first born.  She is a such a wonderful role model for her sister and brothers.  She is responsible, is my big helper and loves on each of her siblings.  She is one determined little cookie.  She doesn't do anything partial but does everything to the best of her ability and with her whole heart.  I am so proud of the way she loves others with Christ's love.  She is a gift to our family! 

I am so thankful for Emma.  Her smile can light up a room.  She wears her heart on her sleeve.  She often is right by my side helping me make dinner or asking what she can help clean.  She is quick to read books or play cars with Max.  She often runs a classroom in our basement and I am pretty sure Shane and Max aren't the easiest students.  Emma has a love for life that just radiates from her.  I feel so blessed to be her mommy! 

That crazy, toothless grin says it all.  Shane is all about having fun! He makes me laugh daily.  He is our social, active boy.  He can makes friends with anyone is always looking to make a new friend.  He has a gentle, loving spirit in the midst of his business as a boy! He has added a whole new dimension to our quiet, pink girly house! We are so thankful for joy that radiates from our sweet boy!

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful that Max is home and is part of our family.  I am so thankful for God's plan for our little boy's life.  I often stand it awe that God would choose us to be the parents of this little boy.  He is full of life and embraces everything that comes his way!  We are thankful for the way that he has changed our life, our hearts and our family. 

The kids got to work writing down they things they were thankful for. 

Eric pretending to think really hard while the girls were having fun with him! 

Max thought it would be more fun to dig into the cupcakes! 

After everyone was finished writing we went around and shared.  It was fun hearing what each of our blessings were thankful for.  God is good and has blessed us richly this year.  

Thanksgiving Day

This year we had a very relaxing, quiet Thanksgiving. We had Thanksgiving lunch with just the 5 of us at home. As we were preparing the Thanksgiving turkey I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that just a year ago we sat around the table at my parents and shared with our extended family that we were just starting the adoption process to bring a little boy home from China. A year later we are so close to bringing our little boy home. We have seen his face, we have fallen in love, we know his name ... now we just need to know what it feels like to hold him in our arms.

The kids love Thanksgiving food so were very excited to be part of the preparation. We had fun deciding how we were going to decorate the table. The girls first picked out fall flowers at the grocery store but as we were walking through the produce section all the pumpkins and squash grabbed their attention. They really wanted to do both but when I told them to pick the settled on the squash.

Alexa of course went into craft mode when we got home and she came up with some very cute turkeys as place settings. We brought out the good dishes and even had Sparkling Apple Juice. The kids were excited for a fancy lunch that they played a big part preparing for.

Yummy!

As we went around the table and each of us prayed about the things we were thankful for our new son and brother was on the top of every ones list. Shane was so cute he thanked God for his baby brother and made sure to ask God to make sure Max has a good day with his friends and that they take good care of him at his home.

As I looked around the table and saw the spot on the end that Max with soon fill it was so surreal to think this is the last Thanksgiving meal as a family of 5. We are so thankful for God's plan in bringing Max into our life. Soon our little man will be home to fill the 6th spot at our table and fill an even bigger spot in our hearts.

We headed to my parents in the evening for soup, sandwiches and dessert. The kids always look forward to going to papa and grammy's house and spending time with their cousins. I got a cute idea for turkey cupcakes from a friend.

Daddy helping Shane get his turkey put together.

All the kids were busy making their turkeys.

Alexa with her finishing touches ....

and the finished product.

What do you think? Do you think Bailey is enjoying hers?

Alexa and Darby enjoying theirs too!

The two blonde's snacking on their Candy Corn.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 100:4