christmas 2012

We enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing day yesterday. I hope you did too. Merry Christmas!

 

on their way...

...to her big show tonight! I get to go tomorrow night. Can't wait!

yum!

I do love this time of year!

christmas break

We got our first taste of snow yesterday. It only lasted about 30 minutes - but the kids threw on coats and boots and headed out. They were so excited!

We're thoroughly enjoying Christmas break so far. The kids have played happily for hours together. We've done some baking and spent some time with friends. We've listened to lots of Christmas music and read lots of Christmas books I checked out from the library. It's peaceful and relaxed. And I love it.

neighborhood movie night

Last night we had several friends from our street over for a Christmas movie night. It had its wild and crazy moments - but was very fun. My neighbors made the best popcorn for the event - complete with sprinkles, marshmallows and peppermint candies. The kids were in heaven! And then as we were walking everyone home, we decided to sing a little carol at each house. The evening ended with lots of laughter!

Such a neat group of kids. Love our neighborhood!

presentation day!

Yesterday was a big day. In the morning, all three kids were in the Christmas program at our church. The big kids memorized speaking parts and sang songs. Ethan's class came up and sang a song too. Then in the afternoon, the big kids had their first piano recital. They've been taking lessons since October from a wonderful piano teacher they love. They were both very nervous to perform but did great! It was a wonderful day.

 

kendama fun

My kids each got a fun new toy for Christmas from Nana and Papa called a Kendama.

The kids have had hours of fun with them. And I'm thrilled that they do not require batteries!

dancing girl

Miss Audrey has a dance recital coming up later this month. She's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. So thankful for her!

Merry Thanksmas

In the Dobbs home, we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together. It makes for a crazy, fun-filled weekend!

Papa, Nana, Jonah - 16, Audrey - 9, Liam - 8, Charlie - 7, Abram - 5, Ethan - 4, Alice - 2

perfect remedy

I have found the perfect remedy for being too busy! On Thursday, we cut back our school work to the bare minimum, enjoyed a lovely walk in the sunshine, went shopping to fill up shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, and spent hours building a gingerbread house for our co-op party on Friday.

We're all feeling much better now!

busy

Life is feeling very busy lately. Like, out-of-control, no time to savor the moments, kind of busy. Which leads to one stressed-out mommy. Our kids are in several activities right now. Audrey does dance two times a week. Liam does basketball two times a week. They both have weekly piano lessons and go to Awana on Tuesday nights. Liam has weekly speech therapy. And we all participate in a homeschool co-op on Fridays. Add to this homeschooling, errands, appointments, church, time with friends - and it feels like too much! Our schooling is more rushed. Our 'down-time' is almost non-existent. I don't remember the last time we had 'quiet time' - something my kids love as much as I do!

But I'm torn. I feel like because we homeschool, it's important that they are involved in activities. Time with friends. Instruction from other adults. Time away from me and their siblings. But I don't like what we've become. I'm more snappy. The kids are more snappy. Because let's face it - we're tired.

I'm not quite sure what the answer is. Our activities are all good things. But I feel like we're sacrificing His best for us on the altar of 'good things'. And it might be time to rethink this.

happy birthday Liam!

Liam is 8 years old today! He had several choices about how we could celebrate this event and he chose to have a weekend family birthday party. So he made a list of all the things he wanted to do - and we did them!

1. Dinner at La Fiamma
2. Dessert at Menchie's
3. Bowling
4. Slumber party in the playroom
5. Family Nerf Gun war

We all had a great time. He has already decided that he wants to do it again next year! As an added bonus - Nana and Papa were here for some of the weekend. Papa's birthday is also this week so we celebrated them both.

 

 

Happy birthday Liam! It is a privilege to watch you grow. We are very proud of the young man you are becoming. We love you!!

braces day

happy halloween!

Halloween 2012 was memorable. On the upside, we got to spend the day with our good friends. On the downside, it poured tonight. Buckets. By the time we got home, we were drenched. Their candy is now spread out on the kitchen counter to dry.

I think I earned some extra mommy points for taking them out in the rain. And they can pay me back in chocolate.

fall weekend

It was a -- pumpkin carving,

pumpkin sugar cookie,

roasted pumpkin seeds -- weekend.

 

welcome to the wait list!

We received an e-mail from our adoption case manager this morning and the subject line read, "Welcome to the wait list!". Our dossier has been approved, our program fees have been paid, and we are officially on the waiting list. Our number is a bit discouraging - 137 - but that's just the way it goes with Ethiopian adoptions right now. Their country went through a major crack-down back in 2011 and slowed down their process. A lot.

So we wait. All the while trusting that God is in control and has a perfect plan. Even during this wait. Praying that He would use this time to prepare us and prepare our new daughter for what lies ahead. When she becomes one of our own. Through the miracle of adoption. Thankfully, the Author of adoption knows exactly what we are going through. And He is faithful.

stoney ridge 2012

Today was our annual trip to the Stoney Ridge pumpkin patch. It's become one of our favorite family traditions!

 

 

 

 

big day!

The kids and I mailed off our dossier today!! (Yes, I really asked the UPS guy to take our picture. I'm that kind of dork.) This package contains four long months of paperwork that will be translated and sent off to Ethiopia. A very exciting day for all of us. And now we wait. But today - we're one step closer to our baby girl. And for that I will rejoice!

siblings weekend

My dear husband held down the home fort this weekend so I could spend time alone with my siblings. We gathered in Boise, Idaho. No spouses. No kids. Just the five of us. And I am reminded once again -- I am so thankful for each one of them.

our little activists

When the kids learned that yesterday was Columbus Day, they thought we should have taken the day off of school for such an important holiday. When I disagreed, they came downstairs and declared that they were on strike. Very funny!

"Why school on a holiday?"

"I'm sailing away from school." 

 



**Now get back to work!**

braces

We were told about a month ago that Liam needs some orthodontic work. Not in middle school or high school, like most kids, but right now. So tomorrow we begin his journey. Spacers. Brackets. Palate expander. Braces. It's a lot for a seven-year-old. But he's a tough kid. He'll be ok.

 

In preparation for all this work, the dental assistant did his panoramic x-ray. But she forgot to remove his glasses. Funny mistake. Makes for a cute picture. Liam as we've never seen him before!

 

 

 

staycation 2012

Patrick had this past week off. Normally, we would have gone to Chelan for vacation, but kids are back in their fall activities and quite frankly, staying at home for the week fits better in our "adoption budget." But we have truly had the best week!

Monday - To Seattle to meet Grandma and Grandpa. They took us to the King Tut exhibit, the Pacific Science Center, school clothes shopping, and out to dinner.

Tuesday - To Bellevue for more school clothes shopping and out to lunch. Have I mentioned before how much we are spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa? Because we are. And we are so grateful. (Oh - and when we got home that day - I got our USCIS application in the mail. A big, important, adoption application that moves us another step forward!!)

Wednesday - Catch up on things at home and rest. Audrey to dance class - big kids to Awana.

Thursday - Drive to Whidbey Island and go to Fort Casey and Fort Ebey. The big kids were in heaven! They both love history - and learning about war in particular - so this was like a dream come true. Then back to Bellingham with a quick stop at Menchie's (our local frozen yogurt shop) and a family movie night (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).

Friday - First day of our homeschool co-op!

Such a fun week. I am so thankful for my family. We love spending time together!

...and now - here are tons of pictures...