Chance to win a Canon Digital SLR...

Click here for a chance to win a Canon Digital SLR camera and other great prizes! In the process, you'll also help a family offset some costs of their Korean adoption.

Jen :)

Holiday Recap...

Man, can you believe how fast the holidays go by??? I can't believe we're in mid-January already! Although I do have one more holiday party on the 31st...we call it the Annual Cousins Holiday party...and we're hosting this year...so time to get this house in order! I have to say we've been getting very organized over the past few weeks (we started TIVO'ing that show Clean House and its inspired us!) We've thrown out and given away a ton of stuff...need to work on the garage (and possibly building a shed) and then we'll be in really good shape! Minimizing & organizing is our mission for 2009.

The holidays were great...everyone was healthy (a miracle!!) and fun was had by all. The kids and Craig were off from school & work for almost 2 1/2 weeks (a little *too* long if you ask me!). They enjoyed all their Xmas presents and (of course) got everything they wanted...can you say spoiled?!? We all got a great present from my parents...four days at the Great Wolf Lodge! The boys have been wanting to go back for the past two years and now we're all going in April! Ava's gonna love it...she LOVES the pool.

Well, here's a few slideshows from the past month that wrap up what we've been up to. Enjoy & Happy New Year!!




Jen :)

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

I probably won't be blogging much in the next few weeks, so I just wanted to wish everyone a safe, happy & healthy holiday season.

Jen :)

Please pray for this family...

The Azhderian family has lost their little girl in a home invasion in Guatemala. They already had her new birth certificate issued and were only a few weeks from bringing her home. Send up some prayers for this little girl and her family today.


**The following is from the Shrum family blog...

The Azhderian Family still owe alot from the adoption of Josi. Carla
e-mailed me and told me they just sent the last payment for Josi a
few weeks ago of $12,800. This horrible tradgedy should never have to
happen to any family and then have to end up paying for an adoption
when their child will never come home to them.

If you are like me and want to do something for this sweet family and
do not know what to do, here is a wonderful way to honor precious
Josi. They have a chip in button on their blog you can donate any
amount to in Josi's name. I am praying that God will help them not
have to worry about the financial end of this with all that they are
going through right now.

If you want to help me with the memorial fund for Josi please post
this on your blog, spread the word to all your adoption friends, or
you can send them to my blog. I think together we all can show our
love to Azhderian family in their time of crisis.

Click here to go to their blog. They have a chip in button on
the side bar of their blog where you can give your donation.

Thank you,
Jen

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

As you can see I Christmas'd up my blog...check out the You Tube clip over on the right...Alvin & The Chipmunks are rockin'! Ava loves it...she makes me play it over & over & OVER while she dances.

Speaking of Christmas, I put up our tree today. We bought a brand new one this weekend...pre-lit with 1000 lights! It's really nice & SO easy to assemble. I highly recommend the pre-lit tree.

For the first time in 7 years, I had all the kids Xmas gifts bought before Thanksgiving. I think I spent a *little* too much, but they're worth it! Here's a few special gifts they'll find under the tree this year...

For Ava...


And for the boys...



Now I just need to finish shopping for our other family members and I'll be done! Wishing everyone a safe & healthy holiday season!!
Jen :)

Wow, one year ago...

One year ago today I held my daughter for the 1st time at the Westin in Guatemala. What a day that was...waking up in the middle of the night to make the very early flight...arriving in Guatemala for the 1st time and all that entails...getting to the hotel and unpacking like maniacs because Ava was scheduled to arrive in less than an hour...getting the call that Ava was in the lobby waiting for us. Such a range of emotions...happiness, fear, you name it, we felt it! And then the wonderful moment when she was placed into my arms. Here's the slideshow from that first day of our visit trip, November 21, 2007...

And after a wild ride on the adoption rollercoaster she is now safe & sound in our home...at times we thought she would never make it here; but now it seems like she has been here forever.

We love you little girl!
Jen :)

BOO!!!

Happy Halloween!!
Jen :]