Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day! We had a great day with our family and with our friends, the Coopers. Allison, Emma Kate and Matthew joined us just before lunch for a special day filled with junk food, a trip to the movies, a trip to McDonalds, dancing to High School Musical 3, Apples to Apples and teaching MK how to burp - yes, burp! Mason-Kate thought the sound was hysterical and because we all needed the laughter, we did not discourage her. The other hit of our day was Potty Putty. Oh my, the laughter that brought to our home - it makes quite the variety of "potty" sounds and comes nicely wrapped in a plastic potty - my boys and their friends were all doubled over in laughter. Reality will hit hard tomorrow when they awaken to hear that all such sounds will no longer be allowed.

Lunchtime silliness!

The children checking out their gifts from Cupid!

Mason-Kate and her hat....she loves a good hat!

Kirstin and Tom, this pic is for you....

donning her Air Force attire, MK is

praying for news to come soon!

Lucky 13

Last weekend Ryan and I enjoyed watching Colin's basketball game with one of our closest friends whose daughter happens to be a part of the same team. He stated that his birthday was Friday, February 13. I said, "ughhh" just because the number 13 is not one that I tend to associate with good things. However, he smiled and said, "yeah, I am deeming it the lucky 13". With that, he smiled, the game was over and we went our separate ways. One week later, we are rejoicing that our dear friend is alive! Yesterday, Friday, February 13, as he was driving to begin a family vacation, he suffered from symptoms similar to that of a heart attack - that is what he is being treated for at this time. The doctors told him that he was lucky to be alive after having an astonishing heart rate of 278 upon arrival at the hospital. Lucky 13 it will be from here on out! They have three small children and one very strong mother who was, understandably, very broken yesterday. Brandon is currently in ICU awaiting further testing. Please keep them in your prayers!

I Lub You!

Today is the day that MK's daddy is surely wrapped (as if he wasn't before!)....this morning for the first time, Mason-Kate said, "I lub you!". She was on the phone with Ryan and as they were saying their goodbyes, I told MK to say bye-bye and I love you....and she did! So sweet. I guess I will have to get in line to be Ryan's Valentine this year :)

Update to No Hands But Ours

I decided to submit Mason-Kate's story to the site http://www.nohandsbutours.blogspot.com/ and it was posted today. I love that someone has taken the opportunity to create this site for the adopting community. It is such a great resource. I also love the thought that our story could possibly change the life for another waiting child. Happy reading! Also, I want to add that MK is talking more and more each day. We are learning to brace ourselves for what is going to come out of her little mouth next. Last night as Pryce was decorating a box for his class, MK sat and watched in a chair beside the table. Pryce accidently knocked something over and before any of us could say anything, MK said "oh gosh" plain as day. We were all laughing and wondering if that is what she had really said but as the evening went on she continued to "oh gosh" everything! She has such a personality!

Circus

Sometimes I feel like my life is a circus but on Saturday I took the boys to the circus and I decided my life is nothing in comparison! I will point out that going to the circus as an adult is a whole different ballgame than going to the circus as a child. As the boys watched in amazement at every new trick that was performed, I sat there thinking, gosh, if they fall from that high on the trapeze (no net involved at this circus) to the concrete floor, that is really going to be bad! We laughed, we ooohed, we ahhhed, Pryce rode an elephant, we purchased really cheap toys at not so cheap prices, we cheered....it was really a lot of fun. Pryce's fav part was watching a monkey hit the ringmaster during a skit, Colin's favorite part was, in his words, "all of it, but I liked the dogs the best, especially the little one who didn't perform right....." One trick that was performed was this guy juggling ping pong balls using his mouth. Needless to say, I spent our drive home explaining to the boys that juggling anything in ones mouth is not necessary, especially dangerous and that circus tricks are meant to stay at the circus. I then took the opportunity to reiterate to them that they can do whatever they want to in life but they will have to do it AFTER they get a college education!

Naturally after every individual performance, the audience clapped. Pryce found it more fun to draw his sword and wave it around in the air to show his approval! The sword was a hit for him....he has several swords at home but they do not have a sheath. When we were in China, we purchased a sword and sheath as a gift for Pryce's friend. Pryce has been asking for a sheath ever since but many toy swords do not come with an accompanying sheath. Imagine that we found one at the circus!

In other news, we finally have a piano! Colin has been asking for a piano for years, he takes lessons and loves to play. Ryan's parents saw Colin's desire and offered to give us their piano. We are so excited!

Mason-Kate spent the day at her grandparents house while we hit circus town and Ryan relocated the piano to our house. G-Mom has lots of flowers, even a greenhouse to care for them. MK loves flowers and decided to pick some that were planted in a pot and LICK them! With our one year Gotcha Day fast approaching, I think a lot about this time last year and where we all were. It is so good to see MK home, secure and loved by so many!