Happy Halloween! A Review of the Fun!

AA dressed in her costume twice; once for trick or treating at the local Publix grocery store on Saturday evening and then again on Sunday evening, we attended our church's fall festival, had fun with the chili cook off contest, outside games and fun for the children THEN we walked AA around a friend's neighborhood for more fun! This is the first year that AA really enjoyed the holiday...... and the candy she rarely gets to eat!!

Nurse Morgan:


Arriving at Publix:
Decorating a Halloween cookie:
Popcorn Ghosts.....
Buried Treasure......
Ring the Witch's Hat......
Pumpkin Painting.....
At the Church Festival:
The adults did a great job with costumes..... good job!




Exchange student from China...... with Host Family "Dad".
Cutest sister and brother.......
Cutest Dad and daughter!!! (I am biased!)

Checking Elmo's Health

Yesterday, we tried on AA's Halloween costume before heading off to the evenings activities. Elmo seemed healthy but Nurse Morgan gave him a check up and then reassured him that he was healthy.

Biscuits and Baking

Yesterday morning I made homemade biscuits and as I did with my Mother growing up, AA and I rolled out the scraps and made little treats. AA selected strawberry jelly and cinnamon. They actually tasted fine, she did make sure we each ate one.


They definitely tasted better than the picture shows!

Have a Fun and Safe Halloween!!

(thanks Mom!!)

Adoption and those curious "Questions"

This is a familiar question. This really touched me as we sometimes do and say things that may not be best said in front of our daughter.

• She/he’s so lucky.

  If there are adoptive parents who haven’t heard this one, I don’t know them. Yes, my adopted child is lucky, just like her brother who was born to me — just like any kid blessed with a good family. Moreover, my husband and I are lucky to have her as a daughter. My daughter is not lucky, however, by virtue of having been adopted or because she’s been adopted by an American family. Her life story will always be one that begins with wrenching loss of family, country, language, culture and all things related to the place and people from whence she came. She will have to figure out how to incorporate all of this into her identity at some point, no matter how much we love her.

To read this and more questions that are answered by Tracy Hahn-Burkett here.

The Maze - Farm Fun

Our #1 daughter found a local farm that opened a corn maze and other fun activities for kids to enjoy. It really was fun even though a bit contrived. Many families flocked to it for the hay ride and a chance to get lost in a field of corn (not sure if it was really corn!). Lots of photo opportunities and several play areas. It was a little on the warm side so the farm made their money selling Gatorade and water!
Arriving, Grand #2 was jumping/bounced on the "corn popper"!

Carl, Marsha were there to see the fun and share duties with Grand #3, Dylan.
Alivia, all motion..... She just slid down the largest tunnel slide... it was too fast for the younger children.


Entering the corn maze:


AA and Alivia:



Dylan chillin......


Waiting in line for the hay ride:





On the hay ride:


Time for some family photos:




It was fun!