Today, after we finished school, I grabbed a little helper and headed out to the doctor for an appointment I had.

One-on-one time won’t happen with these kiddos unless we purpose it.

When we walked out the door into the negative 4 degree world, I questioned my sanity with this decision.

But the sun is shining so beautifully, and when we kept the heat in the van at 90 degrees, we were quite comfortable!

I just had to stop at the lab today and get my blood drawn, again, because somehow the blood tests I just had done had been ruined.

It is so fun being me sometimes.

Eliza was a hoot, and was given two stickers when I was done.

Just for the compassion I know you all have – I will let you know I have never been offered stickers, and it usually takes more than one poke to get blood out of me.

After we were done there, we headed to what Lane calls “The Doctor’s Co-op”, simply because this Co-op is located in the town where our doctor is located.

I bought Eliza a $5 box of cereal that she was very adamantly telling me she wanted.

In my defense, the box had a monkey on the front.

I know, I know.

She happily munched on her cereal as we headed home.

The person who sees the doctor is usually the one who gets a treat, so in my mind this justified something for me too.

I found some macaroons that are safe for me and OH SO YUMMY.

Since there is not usually packaged food in my life (so fun being me, remember?), this was a HUGE treat!

And now I have the packages so Addie Mae can recreate them for me because they only had seven ingredients.

We stopped at Kayla’s on the way home since she only lives five minutes away.

Eliza wanted to stay at Kayla’s so bad, and so she did! Kayla said “Mom, this is just what I need!”

I bet they are having a blast and finishing that $5 box of cereal!

As I just typed that title, it made me think about those words.

Why do we say “catching up” when we are trying to get things done that should have been done sooner than now?

English is so weird.

And it is way too early in the morning.

I need coffee.

Ok. It may be o’dark thirty outside, but the house is quiet, and now I have some coffee.

So, let’s catch up!

I don’t know who sped up time….but it seems to fly by right now.

Everyday I look at the clock and it is already 4 p.m.!

How does that happen?

We are enjoying each and every second though.

And the blessings sustain me.

I purchased and started a new journal this week.

Something about the first page of a crisp new journal.

And something about setting aside the one that is full.

Thought the cover was very appropriate for life right now! Blessings.

I cut the boys’ hair one afternoon and Blake’s that evening.

They were very overdue.

But every time I cut my boys’ hair, it makes me think of the dearest friend who lives in Illinois who taught me to cut boys’ hair.

Love you, dear friend! Blessed.

Lane is learning about fractions this week.

So, our little miss is too.

Cause anything big brother can do, she can do better!

Love that spirit of hers! It will take her far. Blessed.

Grain-free cookies made with nut butter.

I ate way too many of those. Blessed.

Someone snitching my coffee.

Good thing she is so cute!

I take my coffee very seriously, you know. Blessed.

Tate’s bed got set up the day we took down Eliza’s crib.

When you ask Eliza whose it is, she says “It’s Mommy’s!”

Uh Oh. We are working on that.

Can’t wait to see our little man sleeping in that there bed. Blessed.

Kayla stopped by with a pile of clothes for Tate and Eliza!

She got 17 items for $8. Woo hoo!

How I love that sweet daughter of ours! Blessed.

A late night DVD about the water cycle.

Magic School Bus is so cool.

School is SUPER fun. Blessed.

David and Kayla came into our strep world last weekend to deliver Valentine’s to each of us!

Love that son-in-law to pieces too. Blessed.

We got a package in the mail from friends that I wish lived next door.

SO sweet!

Encouraged us all so much as we opened that box and felt the love wash over us. Blessed!

Did you know that your tongue can help you think?

This is something each of our birth children have done when they were young.

It is adorable!

And made the foil boats he was building the best they could be. Blessed.

We had a visit this week from our friends up north!

They brought our stroller blessing to us.

I couldn’t breathe as we opened the box.

Such an immense blessing. Blessed, blessed, blessed.

Blake took the three oldest to get our grocery last night.

After Eliza was snoozin’, Lane and I downloaded and watched an episode of Ruff Ruffman on the lap top while snuggled in bed.

That is the cutest show! I learned so much!

And I had the cutest little man to share it with. Blessed.

I would be getting an e-mail from my Dad about two seconds after I publish this post. He would be scolding me for not having photos of everyone on here – including myself. I miss my Dad.

Time to start working on a huge breakfast for this crew of mine before I start to hear feet pattering through this big old farm house!

Then we are off to a pig farm later this morning to work and learn about pigs! We are getting ready for our farming season, even though it has been below zero all week this week!

Happy Saturday to you all!!

The hearts of these kiddos of ours are a constant blessing.

I hope this will be a blessing to you too.

These were the instructions for Chad’s journal entry:

Here is his enrty:

I don’t think there will be any corrections to this assignment, as I couldn’t see through my tears.

Thank you, Lord, for these precious children.

*I had Chad’s permission to publish this.

Miss Eliza has been with us seven months now.

I spent some time this weekend looking at photos and video from our time in China.

She was so tiny then! But still so mighty!

What a difference these months have made. What an amazing journey this has been.

We have a “maturity” of sorts, and confidence with Tate’s adoption that was not there just a year ago.

Thinking about Tate here with us makes my heart sing.

I know that the Lord placed this little miracle into our arms so we would be ready to add Tate to our family too.

We are just in awe of all the Lord has done for us.

And privileged to call this little sweetheart ours.

Happy {Belated} Valentine’s Day!