Playing catch up...

I have really been behind in my blogging lately. I'm sure it couldn't be because I'm busy being a mom of five! Plus my hubby has been traveling a lot and I am not a good single mom. Most days I am just trying to survive the laundry, cooking, bath times and cleaning. On top of all of this, I got a nasty stomach bug while hubby was gone. All I can say is I am thankful for my good friend, Jodi, who came and put the little ones to bed and then came back at 7:00 the next morning to get Claire ready and off to school. She then took Caleb to her house for the day! God has been so faithful with providing us with great friends every place we have lived! It was fun this move to go back to a place we had lived before and already have friends waiting for us when we got here.

Ok, part of playing catch up is to post some pictures that I have failed to blog about! 

These are from our visit to the pumpkin patch in October

The kids on the giant pumpkins!

 The gang!

 Claire

 Crazy Caleb

 Claire, Caleb and Hunter with their potato head pumpkins!

 Claire and her princess pumpkin

 Caleb and his monster pumpkin

 Hunter and his pirate pumpkin

 Look closely...Claire just got her ears pierced!

 She got her birthstone on her earrings

 She was so happpy!  She did it at a birthday party so her friends got to watch her!  She was so brave she didn't cry at all!  This is her friend, Layla.

 We went to Georgia for Thanksgiving.  Part of the gang went hiking the day before Thanksgiving.  The weather was wonderful!

Here is Turner, Michaela, Claire, Hunter, Nicholas, Max (the dog) and Mallory

 Hunter and Nicholas looking thoughtful!

 Claire had no problem keeping up...she is an outdoor girl!

 The trail..

 Caleb enjoying his first American Thanksgiving!

 This was Noah's first Thanksgiving too!

 Isn't he just the cutest?  He only weighs 2 pounds less than Caleb and he is 8 months old! 

 Sweet little family..Turner, Alisha and Noah

 Michaela and the boys celebrating their first Thanksgiving!

 Our blessed gang on Thanksgiving day!

Ok, I feel a little better that I at least posted some pictures!  I have a gazillion but I won't make you see them all!  Until later my friends!

2010 Christmas card

With Love Blue Christmas 5x7 folded card

Personalize your Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

I did it!  I finished my Christmas cards!  Here is a sneak peak.  This will have to tide you over until you get yours in the mail!

Hey, do you have your Christmas cards done yet?

C is for Christmas cards…

H is for How easy it is…

R is for Really, really easy…

I is for Include everyone on your list…

S is for Shutterfly…

T is for Try it today…

M is for Many choices to choose from…

A is for All the joy the cards create…

S is for Start creating now!

I love personalized Christmas cards! I love creating them. I love receiving them. I love seeing how my friends and family have changed throughout the past year. I love including pictures of all of my kids in my card. I also love free! Shutterfly is offering bloggers 50 free cards just for blogging about it! How awesome is that? I love blogging and I love free! However, since I am new to Shutterfly I wanted to check out their website before I decided this was something I wanted to participate in. I was blown away by all the designs they have to choose from. The cards are printed on high quality paper. Plus, they will even address and send your cards for you if you choose! Could it be any easier? So this year, I will be creating my own cards with Shutterfly. The hardest part is going to be deciding which card to choose!

Check out Shutterfly for yourself.  While there check out some of my favorite products:

Christmas photo cards
Wall Calendars
Photo gifts

Fellow bloggers if you want to participate in this too, click here.

8 months with Caleb!

8 months ago, this was our first glimpse of Caleb...he looks so unsure

We found out that day how brave our boy is...he joined our family and didn't look back!

 Now on November 23, 2010 Caleb is our newest US citizen!

 He was so proud...he showed his certificate to everyone that walked by!

 Outside the Federal building.. 

 Oh how I love this boy!  What sweet 8 months it has been!

Interracial adoption...Brianna's project

You know when I was in high school, I don't think I thought a lot about the issues that impact our world.  Issues like orphans, adoption, or mission trips.  Honestly, those things weren't even on my radar screen.  I am so thankful now that they are but I am most proud that they are issues that concern Brianna.  Brianna was recently assigned a research paper that makes up the majority of her grade in her compostion class.  She chose to write about interracial adoption and the positive impact that it makes in the lives of the children and their families.  As part of that assignment she has to present a 5 minute speech on her topic.  Out of that 5 minutes, 1 minute of it can be a visual presentation.  Brianna decided to create a video to show to the class at the end of her speech.  I hope lives are touched by her talk and video and who knows...maybe a few seeds will be planted?  Here is the 1 minute video that she created.

The really cool thing about the video is that Brianna knows each family that is included!

Salute to my military men..updated

I posted this tribute a couple of years ago.  I felt it was time to post it again.

Tomorrow we celebrate Veteran's Day. I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the 2 military men that have had the greatest impact on my life. First is my grandpa, Doc Wichers. He was in the Navy and served during WWII. Even though he is no longer with us his legacy carries on. He taught me what true love looks like and how to be a helpmate to my spouse. I spent a lot of time at my grandparents house growing up and I witnessed how my grandpa treated my grandma. I witnessed how they truly enjoyed being together and were always playing games and laughing together. I knew one day I wanted a marriage like that. I also saw how my grandpa cared for my grandma when she became frail and her mind and memory were fading. My grandpa was in his 90s and he fought through his health problems so he could care for grandma. Though I miss his gentle manner and his infectious smile; I take great joy in knowing that he and grandma are together in heaven (probably playing cards with the angels!).


My Grandpa and Grandma..




Me and grandpa..this is one of the last pictures I have with him




My next military man is my husband, Gary.  Gary has been serving in the military for 20 years and we have been married for 19 of them. At times it has been a wild ride but all in all the journey has been great. Gary has earned the nickname Mr. Smiley at work. I think that says a lot about his true character. My hubby has been involved in very stressful situations and has had to make many tough decisions but he wouldn't let it rob him of his smile. When the going gets tough and everyone can see that the "boss-man" is still smiling then that influences the rest of them. How can you not smile when you see his dimples (I know your thinking that isn't very tough and macho for a military man but I happen to love his dimples!). I also think you can be a man of valor and strength and yet still be gentle. Military life can be hard especially when it keeps you away from family but I would never ask him to walk away from doing what he loves. Gary definitely loves serving his country in the military! So, to my military man, thank you for serving, thank you for being a great husband and daddy, thank you for taking me along for the ride!



UPDATE:
I have to include my nephew, Joe, this Veteran's Day.  He is currently deployed and fighting for our country.

Be safe, Joe, we love you!

November -Adoption Awareness Month