Remember when

Remembering the first time our family traditions included our baby girl:

She sat in the seat we sat her in because she didn't know how to move. She throughly enjoyed her empty cone at our favorite ice cream and antique shop in Northern Wisconsin.

And now this year.

She won't even sit still.

And she didn't get to hold her cone because there was ice cream in it. And she had places to go and people to wave to and a stop to Mom for a lick was sufficient.

And it is after all a camping trip, don't mind the hair.

today

in my wanderings today

beauty in my backyard

little gifts

growing potential

captured in the moment

in the newly sprouted bean plants

in the tiny little growing apples

in the diapers drying in the breeze

in the beagle relaxing in the sun

in a precious goat kid overcome with curiosity

in a smiley little one

better late than never

Although my oldest baby turned 10 a bit ago (translated "weeks ago"), I decided it was time to post the good news!

And in an effort to not lose my traditional blogging style (that being, better late than never)~~on with the post!

~Happy birthday banner, highly recommended! Get yours here!~

~Little brother making birthday supper; homemade pizza~

~Birthday wishes from out of state family~

~My baby is 10! And requested his favorite, poppyseed torte~

New kids on the block

For anyone wondering, yes, this was my idea. Hubby wasn't certain. Did we want new kids? Did we have room for new kids? Did we have the time for new kids?

So after awhile of wondering and so on and such, the answers to the questions were YES! New kids for us! Precious little faces and future milk providers!

Introducing:

Violet

And Cricket

The back side of the barn that Brian built

The girls hanging out

"Why hello there!"

Really, could they be any cuter?

It's Springtime in Wisconsin

And this is how we know:

continued..

Ok, so it's proven that I am the world's worst blogger. But anyway...on with the posting.

Our trip to Ethiopia was amazing. I still dream about it, cry about it. Wish I was there now. Wonder if there is another baby waiting for us. I still celebrate with other families traveling, receiving their referrals, waiting for court.

I love Ethiopia.

The country that gave me this hand:


And this baby:




Also gave me these memories:

Everything I thought Ethiopia was:

Banana stands everywhere:
Donkey delivery service.

And that which I didn't

Children singing in morning sun at the school
Beautiful city parks
My injera lesson: I was not good at this.

And it was good...if only we could go back, if only for a moment.

If only

If only we could go back, if only for a moment...

to the view out the window:

And only 30 minutes left on a more than 18 hour flight:


To a van loaded high with family's big dreams coming true, and donations, and a weeks worth of goodies:


And a view out the balcony of the guest home...so different from home. So much a part of me now:


To the moment when I felt the weight of my precious baby, years of wait lifted in counterbalance with her:


And to a celebration on that day with what can only be described as the best coffee in the world:



Last year at this time our baby girl was with her forever family for about 24 hours. Hard to believe it's been one year. There is oh so much more of this story....come back soon!