Cub Scout Banquet

Last week we went to Jared's Cub Scout banquet. Here are a couple of pictures:

Jared during his speaking part for the skit. He did a fantastic job!

Jared getting his awards. We are so proud of him!

More Birthday Photos

Just a couple of pictures from Mariah's birthday party:

Mariah, her cousin (who is SO cute), Nona, Great-Grandma, and Aunt Keri:

Yes, she is STANDING on the seat. And enjoying every second of it, too!

The kids and some of their cousins:

Look, they can (sometimes) get along...as long as Spongebob is on!

Biased parent alert...isn't she cute?!?!?!

The Birthday Smash Cake

Well, we were set. Mariah had on her 1st Birthday bib, her highchair was decorated, the bath was ready, and she was stripped down to her onesie. Video camera in hand. Here is the much anticipated video...

If you're thinking to yourself, hey, she didn't touch it, then YEP, that's correct. The little stinker!

Our Indoor Playland

Before I even show you our playland pictures, I have to show you another Caleb "owie" pic. He bumped his lip, and of course, needed a bandaid to heal it immediately. (Also, Keith had fun with his hairgel beforehand, too):



Okay, here are the playland pictures. The kids were jumping on the couch and using the cushions as slides. (Never mind that our couch is really ugly and old. It's great for the kids, because it's not like we have to worry about them wrecking it or anything!):

Caleb and Meghan contemplating another slide:

Jared the Dude!

Mariah wants to get into the action, too.

Yep, she's now jumping on the couch (ugh)!

Yeah, I just taught my sister something new. Mommy is pretending to be a bit unhappy about it, but she'll get over it!



Hey, I'm just cool!

Mariah's birthday party is tomorrow...I'm sure we'll have more pictures for you to enjoy after that. (ESPECIALLY the Smash Cake! )

Mariah is One Today!

What a happy day!

We can't believe it's been a year already since Mariah has been born. A mere 13 days after Caleb came home, and 2 weeks early, we were blessed with Mariah's presence. Happy Happy Happy Birthday to our beautiful little girl!

Brothers

I often marvel at how lucky we really are. Here is just another example of it:

Jared had woken up early, so I had him go back to sleep on the couch (with ESPN News on...of course!). When I got out of the shower, Caleb had joined him. It's just beautiful, isn't it?

So Beautiful! (Bribery Photos)

Over the weekend, Meghan decided to dress up in her princess dresses. This time, she had a new playmate...

Strike a pose, Caleb!

I have to mention...it took awhile to get the 2nd picture, because Caleb was upset that his SHOES had fallen off...


Can't wait until he's a teenager! Should I show these pictures to his Prom date, or at graduation, or his 16th or 18th birthday? Oh...the possibilities! :)

One Year Home! Happy Family Day To Us!

It is so hard to believe, but it has been a full year since Caleb came home. Keith flew back from Guatemala with Caleb on February 6, 2008. We are keeping our celebration today very simple. We are going out to eat and just enjoying the evening together as a family of 6.

Since life got so crazy, so fast a year ago, I thought I would mark today's anniversary by posting some pictures of Keith's pickup trip. A HUGE, HEARTFELT thank you to my mother-in-law, Mary...who took all the pictures and was a huge help for the entire pickup trip. I wasn't able to fly for pickup, but Keith definitely had the best traveling partner ever.

Enjoy these pics. It's amazing to see how small Caleb was. He is such a big boy now!!!

Hanging out at the hotel. Caleb liked to mimic everything Keith did.

That award-winning smile

Caleb was understandably very scared and unhappy at first. But you would never know it from this picture!

Isn't this beautiful?

On the plane home






Warning - pictures of a very large woman!

Homecoming at the airport

Caleb's first carseat experience. As you can tell, he didn't like it!

Looking forward, we are so incredibly blessed to have such a beautiful family. We are looking forward to many, many more Family Day anniversaries!

A Day at Home

It is always so much fun to bring out the camera. Well, fun for me, but sometimes torture for the kids. Here is Caleb, pretty much summing up what he thinks of getting his picture taken by Mommy all the time.

Strategy #1: Pout

Note, this isn't a very good pout this time!

Strategy #2: Ignore

Strategy #3: The Forced CHEESE

Mariah has been very sick with an ear infection. So the poor girl has had to spend the day with her camera-happy mommy. Although she doesn't talk yet, her expressions tell the story!

Why do you have that camera again?

Oh, act cute? Here are some kisses...

Okay, M0mmy, this is getting old!

Don't you get it? Enough!


FINE, I'll go Hollywood on you...

Hi/Lo Thursday

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts.

I thought I'd jump in for this one...

Our HI for this week is February 6th - tomorrow. It is our first FAMILY DAY!!! February 6, 2008 is when Keith brought Caleb home to the US. Some of you readers will remember that I was 9 months pregnant at the time and couldn't travel. I will post more tomorrow...or Saturday, as time allows. (Maybe I'll even post pictures...but I'll warn you, I was HUGE!!!! 9 months pregnant + a very stressful adoption (and weight gain) = NOT PRETTY)

Our LO for this week is sickness. Caleb (thankfully) is recovering nicely from ear infection number 5 (or 6, I lose track). Mariah, however, is still absolutely miserable. The antibiotics aren't helping...I anticipate going back to the doctor tomorrow. Meghan and Caleb also have colds, but so far they are *only* colds and we're hoping they don't get any worse. As any parent knows, it is so hard when your kids are ill, and you can't make it better.

Calvin and Hobbes

Just to let you know, I added a "gadget" near the bottom. It's a daily dose of the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes." It didn't fit well on the sidebar, so it's at the bottom, after the posts. I have always loved this cartoon and this is a good way to get a laugh in. :)

Kris

Bandaids are multi-functional!

We go through a lot of bandaids in our house. The kids truly believe that everytime you get bumped, you immediately need a bandaid. I have tried (in vain!) to convince them that you really should have blood to be bandaid-eligible, but alas, the bandaids win out. Even Caleb has figured out how to get bandaids when I'm not looking. It's a losing battle...

At any rate, Caleb must have bit his lip or something, because he insisted that he had an owie on his mouth and needed a bandaid. Keith took care of the honors, and I must say, he did a great job! It only lasted a few minutes before Caleb was mumbling, "all better, owie all gone!"