The Pumpkin Patch

by Steph // Wednesday, October 19, 2016 // Comments off

This past Saturday, while we were in Illinois, we visited a pumpkin patch!

My Mom and Blake’s Mom joined us. The kids loved running around exploring everything they had to offer!

Saturday was breezy but warm. We went to the pumpkin patch late in the afternoon, and there was hardly anyone there!

Eliza and Tate loved the tricycles! They rode around and around! It always makes me smile SO big to see how strong and able they are! Such little miracles!

The boys, and then Addie Mae and Blake’s Mom climbed this hill. They wanted me to join them, but I had slippery sandals on!

Clyde had fun too! He was such a hoot!

He loved the tractor and was smacking it saying “VROOM, VROOM!” SO cute!

He also made an adorable little pumpkin!

I couldn’t choose just one of these photos!

The boys tried the sling shot. Chad got that orange really going – but he missed the target!

Tate and Eliza wanted to ride this little train. They were loving it! Tate looked pretty unsure though when it headed around a little hill and they couldn’t see us anymore. But he came back around smiling big!

We all, except my Mom, went on a hay ride!

Tate and Eliza’s favorite thing was the tube slide. They went down and climbed back up that hill dozens of times! It just takes my breath away to see Tate do things like this!

Right as we had finished everything inside the pumpkin patch, my brother and his girlfriend, and my sister and her boyfriend arrived. I had my big camera, and so did my sister, so we grabbed some photos of the three of us! (We also took some photos with my Mom, but none of mine turned out!)

My brother is 14 months older than I am, and my sister is almost five years younger than I am.

The kiddos were SO good on our trip to Illinois! They sat SO much over the weekend between the 11 hours in the van and all the visiting. I am glad we got to do something that they enjoyed! And gave them a chance to run and play!

They are still talking about their favorite parts of our weekend to Illinois!

It was a blessed little get-away!

Family Reunion

by Steph // Monday, October 17, 2016 // Comments off

This past weekend we had a family reunion at my Mom’s house in Illinois!

My brother, sister, nephews and their significant others all made it too!

We were only missing Grant and David, who had to work. And of course my Dad.

Our trip down on Friday went well. We had good little travelers in our two car caravan!

First we stopped in Peoria, and Blake had some meetings to attend. So the kiddos and I visited our dear friends and hung out with them while we waited for Blake to return! And I took ONE photo. This sweet friend Melody has had a huge influence on my life! It did my heart good to hug her and spend the afternoon catching up! Thanks for the great afternoon, sweet friend!

We arrived at my Mom’s around 4 p.m. We were having a big meal Friday night with everyone. It was a beautiful day Friday!

We were staying at my Mom’s house, while everyone else was at a hotel. Saturday morning we had breakfast and then headed to a local coffee shop to meet Blake’s Mom and visit with her!

That little coffee shop is now my favorite one! So bright, cheery, CLEAN, and yummy too! Blake was telling the kids stories about his high school days working in that building when it used to be a feed store! We laughed so much!

Saturday afternoon my sweet friend dropped by to visit. Sandy and I first met in a Gymboree store many, many years ago. I was buying a coming home from the airport outfit for our soon to be baby from Korea – one boy outfit and one girl outfit. I was also giving the sales clerk an ear full about who those precious outfits were for! Sandy overheard me talking, and introduced herself to me. They were waiting on a baby from Korea too!! We have been the closest friends ever since. Isn’t God so cool?!

Late Saturday afternoon, we all headed to a Pumpkin Patch. That will be another post!!

Sunday already had us packing up to head back to Wisconsin. But first we met Blake’s Dad and his wife at a Starbucks to visit! The kiddos did great at hanging out in coffee shops…until they didn’t do great anymore! Our visit ended when two little ones were done – but we enjoyed a long visit and some yummy treats.

Our weekend was fast. And way too short. But FULL. It was SO hard to drive away from my Mom’s. I know the Lord has us right where we are supposed to be, but I just wish it was a whole lot closer to our family.

It was super good to see everyone, especially having my extended family all together all at once!

Hopefully our family reunions will be a yearly event now!

Fun Facts Friday!!

by Steph // Thursday, October 13, 2016 // Comments off

Another week, just like that!

And it’s FRIDAY!!

Our dreamy week was dreamy!

Except for the flea infestation I discovered on both of our dogs on Wednesday morning – ahem.

I shared about that find on Instagram.

Thank you to each of you that reached out to us! Your tips will be used!

Operation ‘fleas-be-gone’ has been through its first stage.

Thanks to my hard working crew!

I know this pup is happy about that!

I am sure you all are thinking and hopefully praying about the upcoming election.

This was a very good post about that topic! Jill is such a good writer!

I have been really thankful lately for these school trays that I bought for this year.

I am sure you have noticed them in our “doing school” photos.

They are SO handy – and keep the sticky glue and colorful paint off of the school table!

They wash up so easily too.

I bought them here from Oriental Trading.

Speaking of crafty stuff, I haven’t been shopping for craft supplies in a while, but we did need some paints.

I grabbed these at Wal-Mart one day, and have been very happy with them except for how quickly we go through them!

I might need to look into a bigger size.

I just finished up “G” week with the littles this week, and we had a great FIAR book called The Gullywasher that all the kiddos participated in!

Sorry to keep throwing adoption posts at you, but, well, that is our world.

This one resonated with me SO much – cause God has been showing up and showing off here with our littles too.

Wasn’t that so well written??

And those two photos of Grace’s spine?! We have some miraculous films of our own of our Cheerful Young Warrior Mr. Tate – God is SO good!

Last, but not least, let me speak just a sec about blogging. I have to admit, when it comes to social media of any form, I came to it kicking and screaming just a bit. It was months of talking within our family, prayer, talking more, being encouraged to do so by Blake, and more prayer that made the decision to start this blog. I do not regret that decision one bit. You all are SUCH a blessing. A true blessing! The prayer support we have had through our adoptions and medical days, the new friends I have made all over the U.S. and even Australia (Hi, Georgina!)….it has just all been such a blessing. This week we have been blessed with getting to know some more new friends – and it just does. my. heart. so. good.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks for caring about our crew here.

Thanks for reaching out when you do.

Thanks for the encouragement, friendship, and prayers.

You all are the best.

A Dreamy Week At Home

by Steph // Tuesday, October 11, 2016 // Comments off

This past weekend and this week have been DREAMY.

And it’s only Tuesday!!

We are home. No extras!

Blake and I are very careful about what we say yes to – especially now that our little ones are home – because constant running around just seems like chaos to us both.

I also find it hard to do anything here at home well when we are running so much!

We knew that the appointments and extras we have had the last month or so would make things a smidge crazy for ahwhile – but they were all very good choices, so we chose them anyway!

But this week? We are home. No extras!

Which makes this week DREAMY.

I am reading a book!

Planning winter projects!

Planning FIAR units!

Baking and cooking up a storm!

Doing some daily stretching exercises that my trainer encouraged me to do!

Enjoying this beautiful fall weather while sipping hot drinks!

I even looked for new recipes yesterday afternoon – DREAMY!

I was looking for new soup recipes – but came across this.

They look SO amazing, don’t they?

Sugar and I don’t get along, but I bet I would take a bite of one of those if I could!