Adoption

Andy and I have been thinking and talking about adoption for about 2 years now. This year, we decided to move from talking to making progress towards adoption. At this time, progress towards adoption means raising funds for adoption, researching adoption agencies, and being in prayer to follow God's will for our family on our adoption journey.

We'll see where God leads us in our journey, and are excited to be letting people know this has been on our hearts for quite sometime now.

We will be posting updates on our progress as they become available. In the mean time, please pray for us. Pray for our family, the process, and the journey ahead of us.

Palindromes

Palindrome (noun)
A word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc. reading the same backwards as forwards, as Madam, I’m Adam, or Poor Dan is in a droop

Saturday morning, Rose woke up at 6:00 am, comes into our bedroom and asks if she can sleep with me until it’s time to get up, Andy had to work on Saturday. At 7:00 am Rose wakes me and asks if it’s time to get up.

Mom: “We can get up now, let’s get some breakfast.”
Rose- jumps to her feet, and says very excitedly: “Mommy, did you know a palindrome is the same forwards and backwards, like Mom and Hannah?”
Mom: “Yes, you’re right; those are palindromes, where did you learn this?”
Rose: “Miss Cindy from school taught it to us”

I think she was waiting all morning to tell me that.

For the rest of the day and weekend, we tried to think of other palindromes and here is the short list we came up with.

Mom
Dad
Hannah
Noon
Kayak
Poop

Rosie's 4th Birthday Party

This year Rosie decided she wanted to have a Princess Tea Party. She invited some friends from her new school and old school. We were very excited when two friends and their mom's were able to join us for a Royal Tea Party to celebrate Rosie's 4th Birthday.

What we had planned was, when the girls arrived, they would put on their Princess clothes (crowns and tutus), make their Princess Wands and Princess Jewelry (necklaces and bracelets). Then they would play "Kiss the Frog", have a tea party, eat a hot dog lunch, open presents, eat cake and play. What was planned and what actually happens are not necessarily the same. When the girls arrived, they went straight to Rosie's room to play. We did have them put on their tutus and crowns. After gathering the girls, we decorated wands and made necklaces and bracelets. The girls then had a tea party and filled up on juice, apple slices, and graham crackers. While the parents ate lunch, Rosie showed the girls her play room and played outside on the swing-set. After lunch, Rosie opened presents, had cake and ice cream, played "Kiss the Frog" some more and played with her gifts. She had a great time! Happy 4th Birthday Rose!

Before the party began. Tutu's, crowns, and table set for a Royal Tea Party.

Decorating Princess Wands

Cece, Rose, and Kalli

Rosie playing "Kiss the Frog"

Like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but you put the Lips on the Frog.

The Frog has been Kissed. Where is the Prince?

He will come MANY, MANY, MANY years from now.

The Little Princesses enjoying their tea party

Playing on the swing-set.

What a BEAUTIFUL day!

Kalli, Cece, Renee, Rosie playing on the swing-set.

Rosie opening gifts

Wow! A jump rope. Now I just need to follow 3 special steps just like on Special Agent Oso to learn to jump rope.

Yeah! A new Dora movie. Can we watch it mom, can we?

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Dear Rosie! Happy Birthday to you!

Eating cake.

The Three Little Princesses

Cece, Rosie, Kalli

A year ago today...

...we arrived in Wisconsin. Andy, Rose, and I drove across the country and arrived in our new town a year ago today. What a year it has been.

Fall Colors

While there were still leaves on the trees, the fall colors were AMAZING. Here are some pictures from outside our front window.

A year ago today....

...was my (Renee's) first full day in Wausau, WI. A year ago on Nov 8-11, 2008, Andy and I flew out to Wausau, WI to check out the town and Andy to officially accept the job out here. Kind of crazy.

Change can be exciting and trying

Not only is the weather changing from beautiful summer days to cool fall days and evenings, the leaves on the trees are changing from lush green colors to bright reds, oranges, and yellows, its been a season of change for our household. Even though the change is exciting, it can be trying at times.

Changes for Andy:

The BEST news lately is that Andy is moving to day shift on Oct. 12th. He has been working 2nd shift (swing shift) since he moved here in Jan. We have had our mornings together, as Andy doesn't leave for work until 11:45 am, but he doesn't get home until 11:30 pm at night. (He does have a 45 min. commute to work) It's been lonely at times for me (Renee), because Andy has been gone in the evenings, and the friends I have made are home with their husbands in the evenings. So, it will be nice to have Andy home in the evenings, eat dinner together as a family, and just have a normal family schedule.

Andy also started his MBA program this past week. So, more changes to our schedule, because Andy will be studying and doing homework. He has really long days on Wed., as he works all day and then has class at night. If all works out on schedule, he should finish up in about 2-1/2 to 3 years.

Changes for Renee:

After being off for 7 months, I returned back to work. When we lived in Portland, I worked for Medical Teams International, a Christian non-profit organization. I worked 24 hrs/wk; 3 days per week. Recently, I started a job in Wausau, working for Compass Properties. Its a property management company that owns and manages buildings in the downtown area of Wausau. I'm working 25 hrs/wk; 5 days a week. It's a change to be working 5 days/wk, as I have not worked 5 days/wk since Rose as born. I am very thankful I'm off by 2pm each day.

Changes for Rosie:

Since I'm back at work, Rosie gets to go to "school" (childcare) We call it "school" for her because they do pre-school type activities in the morning, have lunch, quiet/nap time, snacks, then play. Its a change for many reasons. In Portland, Rose was in childcare at a friends house 2 days per week, she became part of their family, and 1 day a week a Grandma Donna's house. Now, Rose goes to "school" at a childcare center. We really like the childcare place she is going to because they do all sorts of activities and they let the kids feel safe and loved while they are at school. The first week Rose went to school, she LOVED it. The past couple of weeks, its been a tough transition for her, but its getting better each day we go.

All these changes are exciting but they can be trying at times. Once we get settled in a routine, I think things won't seem so hectic and we will have time to relax.