There's No Place Like Home

This is the sweet sign we came home to after four months away! What a great welcome, especially after the sign we saw in the elevator on the way up:

Yes, it may be inappropriate, but I figure if it's posted in a public elevator...

The kids thought it was pretty funny anyway :)

I love the feeling of walking in a home after a while away and feeling odd. Kind of like a giant in a mouse house or an ant in a castle. The feeling is a little disoriented. Picture caption: Josh on the computer, luggage all over the place, and Hadassah carrying a baby doll bed down the steps (???)

What a joy to let the kids bust out every single toy they own and forgot about as we unpacked and unpacked and unpacked. 7 people = 12 suitcases, about 8 carry-ons, and 14 hands to carry it all (well, in this case, 8 hands to carry it all not including generous friends and a handy luggage cart).

Here is our friend Xiao Li meeting Olivet for the first time...

And us meeting Si en (Caleb), her recently adopted son! What a sweetie!!

So, the month before we left the U.S. was pretty crazy. I'm glad I got a few shots at least. Here we had a great visit with Auntie Sarah, Uncle Trevor, and cousins Gavin & Olivia.

We also got a visit in to the place Josh was sent for a half a year as a boy to straighten up! The kids had so much fun visiting a real farm (as opposed to a fake one??)... Thanks cousin Mark for the tour!

Baby Cows

Q: Viv, what does a cow say? A: Ruff!!!

Q: Lil, what does a cat say? A: Hold me!

Olive trying out a bottle by Lily's daily request.

Happy 31st Birthday Josh! We love you lots! Josh's mom made a special birthday dinner and a great tasting cake!

Here are FIVE generations all in one picture!

Vivi lovin hanging out with some cousins. Can you tell her and Jade (on the right) are related?

Here are our last memories from Appleton before we left for Monroe. The kids and Great Granny playing their version of Hide the Thimble with flower petals.

The excitement of the find

Going on a walk, a really funny walk, because before this moment, Granny was trying to take a picture of me and mom but was facing the camera the wrong way. The picture was so funny and we were laughing. Once it started, there's no stopping!

Olivet with her "lovey" Lamb before it gets dirty and sucked on and spilled on and stepped on. At least we are guessing this is the one she will pick to carry around with her and love :)

I got a horrible sinus cold about a week before we had to leave, so on a Sunday, I stayed home with Viv & Olivet hoping to get some rest. I thought that paint was a good idea since it might occupy Viv for a good 40 to 50 minutes. This all happened in less than 10, and then she wanted down immediately. Rats.

Big sister Gretta at the hospital in Green Bay where Nat had her baby!

Introducing: Leila Francine Gremore!

What a doll!

This day was also another highlight. Sometimes having lots of kids makes me feel like I'm stuck, when I'm really not, we just need to be creative. So..

Josh pushed Olivet in the jogging stroller and ran while I rollerbladed pushing Dass and Viv in the double stroller while Lily and Cade rode their bikes around Appleton. Mapmyrun.com revealed we traveled 4.5 miles on this adventure! Fun times.

My dad and Josh were able to enjoy attending a Packer Game together at Lambeau field, only a short walk from my sisters house. Here's Gampy, The Painter, giving Lily a festive necklace.

And Josh painting Cade's mohawk before Nat and I painted his.

What's this Caedmon is riding in?

Only the sweetest looking car I've ever seen. And it matches our stroller :) No, it's not our rental, it's my Uncle Steve's. Amazing.

As I was washing Hadassah's hair in the bathtub, a small glob of hair came out with the shampoo. It startled me and Hadassah must have noticed the concerned and questioning look on my face. She immediately confessed her sneaking out of her quiet time to get the scissors (that I told her she couldn't play with only minutes before). We have been growing out her bangs for over a year and now they wouldn't even comb down! Oh well, I am thankful she was honest!

I was sitting in this exact spot only 10 minutes before this happened! I drove back from the Y, hopped in the shower, heard some winds, a siren and all of a sudden Josh yelling, "Get in the basement everyone!" A storm with 70mph winds came whipping through without a warning.

This is what our entire neighborhood looked like! If the wind is this strong, imagine the strength of our God who created the wind!!

Too bad for our beautiful rented van. There was insurance on it and we did get it fixed just in time... a day before we left.

I'm glad our cousins Madeline and Nathan decided to come and play the day before! We had lots of fun visiting the park and having lunch together.

Happy Birthday Gampy! Lily made him a Packer colored fan to keep him cool at the game.

The grandkids had a grand time running around and playing hard.

Raise your hand if you love GG!

all smiles

a birthday blessing

J & T in charge of the grill

Gampy & GG, we miss you lots!!

Ending on a sweet note, the fruit pizza! Happy Birthday dad!

Mohawk or No hawk? What's your vote?

These pics are in a pretty messed up order, but for the sake of my own heart that feels the need to actually post August pics before Christmas, here are random tidbits of our lives.

Lily lost her 4th tooth while we visited Monroe! What a girl!! To celebrate, at the end of Lily's traditional scavenger hunt after losing a tooth, she found a coupon to take the whole family for ice-cream. 

Here is Great Grandma Selma holding 6 or 7 day old Olivet (I'm not positive, these days are a bit of a blur :)

Our good friends Andy & Karen and their sweet kids came to visit us  while we were all in Wisconsin. We had a jam packed day of picnicking in the rainy park, giving baths to 7, and enjoying a meal together.

What will this couch full look like in 5 years? And 10?
Karen made these BEAUTIFUL hats for each of the kids. I am still amazed, over a month past the gift opening. 

For some reason, our tour takes us back to Appleton...

enjoying more ice-cream!

"mmm! momma, mmm!"

Before Olivet was born, Auntie Danielle & Uncle Phil were sweet to hang out in Appleton to care for some monkeys before their return to Georgia. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!!

I'm not sure when it was I had time to do this, but it sure looks cute,  AND it stayed in all day!  It's a keeper of a style.

This shirt is not maternity, so this must have been during our "girl time" one day after Olive was born.  Lily and I gave each other facials, and then snuck up on Caedmon and daddy with a big "Roar!"
I don't think I have a picture of our following "girl time" which was a huge blast. Caedmon suggested I rollerblade and Lily ride her bike. And at every corner, we take turns picking 'left,' 'right,' or 'straight.' That was a great idea.

oop, back in Monroe. On this day the kids got to meet their new cousin Olivia Marie! What a doll!

And here is Great Grandma Delores not being able to remember when the last time she held a newborn was.  So sweet.

Olivia taking it easy

After a few days in Monroe, we spent two weeks in La Crosse.  This is my first solo walk (with out my amazing side kick and super hero of a husband) with all 5. Our trip to the park started out good...

And only ended with a few tantrums. Not bad when you consider the ratio of tantrums per kid.

We spent lots of time with really good friends while in LaCrosse.  Here is Natalia with her biggest smile!

And Faith holding Olivet, knowing exactly how to give her her nuk.

Maybe because big sister Malana taught her how!
We had so much fun with you guys!!!

Cooling off from the hot sun at the Nelson's

"What's up with this? I'd like to swim too!"
Maggie & Olivet

We were all excited to hang out with Randa for one afternoon.  We brought her some of her favorite treats from China and I bet there are't any left by now!

Our wonderful friends who we lived near and did life with in China drove a few hours to come and have fun together  for the day. Lily and Abby will always share a special friendship. 

Life isn't all fun and games... or is it?

"Show me your funny face..."

A day at the Brockbergs
Joshie holding Baby and possibly detecting a stinky pants

Matthew & Lily holding fish their dads caught

Most days, Cade is a risk taking machine

"humf. boys." (-Lily)

Now we are in Iowa at the amazing Village Creek Family Camp. Here is Amber in front of the room the littles slept in during naps.

We only spent the day, but it sure was a packed one. We got to meet and play with a litter of cute white puppies.

Snack Time! One of my favorite aspects of this camp was the helpers. Two volunteers hung out with us all day waiting for us to tell them how we needed help. It was like having four extra hands, something busy moms often wish for. 

Getting ready to ride horsey, holding on tight to lion.

"YES, Hadassah, you can jump on that!!"

We are discovering (with joy) that Lily loves to play by the rules.

Here is our risk taker.
"Let me see what else this body can do!"

The finalists from the race all line up durning the rodeo. 

Josh & Caedmon take the gold!

Back in LaCrosse spending time with another one of our favorite families, The Wikkerinks.  They have a crew of their own; their youngest of ten kids is now five. Olivet was blessed to rest in Jade's loved filled arms of such abundant experience.

Josh & James
James was whipping up some homemade mac & cheese, just the way us Wisconsinites love it- cheesy! 

The kids played so well together, and also enjoyed chasing, finding, squeezing & cuddling the six cats!!

Are those Batman ears?

On the way out of town (heading back to Appleton), we stopped at Shepherd's Flock Preschool where Lily attended one semester last time we were in the States. Her teachers are magnificent people who love children more unique & wonderful than I've ever seen in a teacher. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS!!!

Today is picture day in the back yard! Let's start with the baby since I already dressed her last night!
Olivet at 1 month... boy does the time fly!

Celebrating 3 years since Hadassah's Baby Dedication!
(The plan was to take a picture every year wearing the same t-shirt to note the growth.  But I can't remember what t-shirt we started with. Maybe we can do a three year t-shirt rotation :)

Smile if you love getting your picture taken!

I love Hadassah's many faces... each with their own meaning
"I bet I can get some m&m's out of this!"

"Caedmon! Are you ready! Get out here, it's your turn! "
His smile is in anticipation for the following...

Bonus Question: What else is missing besides lots of hair on both sides of the head?
Answer: the clip on tie.

Not sure how this picture from the park ended up in this spot, but here it is.  If I were a betting person, I'd be willing to bed we have at least one hundred pictures of Lily holding someone.

Back to the question of the day: Mohawk or no hawk? 

I wouldn't trade anything in the world for the two guys in my life, mohawks and all!!!