Picture day #2

I remembered it was picture day this morning at 8:00 a.m. 

And since we moved 4 months ago, I still have several crates on the floor in big D's room.  (you know that's how I roll..there is not denying it.)

Like the duds I dug up! Oh yeah. 

Hope the photog had better luck than I did.

These boys....big sigh.

A Dozen

12 years!

Love you babe:)

Our friends of more than 12 years came to town for the weekend.  We are good to get in once a year, but we blow it out when we do!  LOVED EVERY MINUTE!

The kids swam, swung, and stayed up too late!

Nana got this tire swing for them for Christmas but we finally put it up this weekend.  Of course, the boys couldn't just hang it.  They had to make a whole pulley system to hoist them probably too high, but too fun!

Also for the young at heart!

Anish was so sweet to David. David has not had a stellar week..lots of fits, but Anish was determined, and David loved him.

Garrett must have said 10 times that he was really going to miss them:(

Our first pizza!

Kiss the chef!  

School pics

The girls school pics were this week.  I wish they weren't looking so old:(  

Mary's front tooth is loose!  NOOO! I told her I would not let it fall!

Four month faces

David came home four months ago today:-)

I can't tell you how glad I am that it has been four months and not four weeks.  I can't tell you how glad I am that it has been four months and not four weeks.  I can't tell you how glad I am that it has been four months and not four weeks.

Did you get that?

It was a road we had to walk down, and we are still walkin' it,  but those first 8 weeks were by far the hardest.  As a mamma, as a daddy, as a sister, as a brother, as a two year old in a new country, a new home, a new family....each of us has had things to work through.  

God has been so gracious as He has knitted us all together. 

Look at that face.  The boy is so animated, and one of the things I find so much joy in are his many expressions.

Total deer in the headlights expression!    One of the only Korean words David still says is "mommo" which is "dog."  He often says "dog," but tonight he kept pointing to his shirt and saying "mommo."  

His speech has really taken off the past few weeks.  He is now saying the "r" sound which was completely absent.  He told me today to "hurry.!"  As clear as a bell!  He says "more" and "water" with the correct "r" sound, and he's been trying to do that since the first or second week home.

He still sleeps like a CHAMP and has been incredibly healthy.  Having a kid outside of our gene pool ROCKS because we I have sucky asthma genes. 

And finally...  What is that in his hand? 

I finally found some sea weed like the kind he was eating in Korea!  He gobbled it down today...look at the smile of approval.  Go MOM!

Happy four months at home sweet David!

Weekend

This summer was a total bust for me in the cooking department.  I was in survival mode, and we ate whatever worked out for that night...meaning I didn't cook much.  I love to cook!  I have missed it, but I have also forgotten what I cook.  I joined emeals a long time ago, and decided to get some recipes to get me going again. 

Last week, when Hannah was knockin' on the door to make her grand debut, I was making a pot pie for my fam, and decided to double up for them.

I don't know why I've never made a chicken pot pie.  It was very yummy!

Finely chopped carrots

1 cup finely diced onions

4T butter

1 c flour

15 oz can chicken broth

1 c heavy cream

1/2 c frozen peas

1 tsp ground thyme

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

I cheated.  I bought a rotisserie chicken already cooked...this cheating tip from  my mom.  Saute carrots, onion in butter.  Add chicken.  Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir.  Cook 5 min.  Stir in broth, cream, and peas.  Allow to thicken.  Season with thyme, salt, and pepper and pour in prepared pie crust.  ( I use a box mix pie crust that you add water to and roll out...Betty Crocker..yum.)

Yesterday we spent the rainy day at the Aggie/Arkansas game with our sweet friends the Colemans.  They are gracious Aggie friends mind you:)

I ran into some pine cove friends.  These were the girls' counselors this summer!  Allie and Mary were so jealous that I saw them.  I wasn't the only "duck" in the stadium by the way.

It was a rotten game.  The rain wasn't bad, but it is very sad when the opposing team fans are patting you on the shoulder and apologizing for your bad year:(  Looks like more of the same to come.  Poor poor hogs.

Hannah Meredith

 Yesterday, September, 26th, Hannah Meredith Koelling was born to Em, Adam, and baby "SEESTER" Abbott.

These two have waited for this sweet one for much longer than 9 months.  It has been a long road, and I couldn't be more joyful on this day for them.  She's perfect and beautiful in every way.  

....all 9 lb 8 oz of her:)

David kept whispering, "baby."  He was very curious and kept touching her very sweetly.  I wonder how many babies he's been around.  

I finally held her this morning.  She had to be monitored a long while yesterday because of a little respiratory distress, but was doing great this morning.

Cousin Grace and Aunt Amber made it into town.

The rest of my crew hasn't seen her!  There are too many of them and I hated to walk past the nurses station with that many kids (they are not crazy about kids being around new borns.)  We can all hold her tomorrow!

Nana holding grand baby numero 11!

Happy birthday precious Hannah.  We couldn't be more excited that you are here safely after all these months!!

Emily on the left. Hannah on the right.  Alike? Much.

Happy big sister day to you Abbott!  Could she look any more proud???

Trip to Arkansas

Since David came home, we have done a lot less traveling.  He's been away from his bed on only two different occasions in four months...that's bound to be a  record for us.  We have a "going" problem, and cannot sit still!  

My grandparents had still not met him because they are not able to travel much, so we decided to take a little road trip.

The girls spent hours face painting!

David has not been around dogs, and he was VERY afraid of  "T," Nana's very ferocious looking doggy.  He is holding Allie's hand because for the majority of our stay, he had to be holding someone's hand.  He made the girls crazy!  He finally came around before we left.  

We did the usual walk to the park.  We had BEAUTIFUL fall weather.

David and Daddy feeding the ducks.

Garrett and Grace played nonstop!

It took big D a full day to warm up, but look at these great pics.  I was able to share with them all of our pics from our trip to Korea.  They really enjoyed meeting him!  

Because he was a little nervous about "T" we let him carry puppy around the whole weekend.  Will probably have to "ween" him tomorrow.  Puppy is nothing more than a furry passy.

I just love love love seeing the kids love on their grandparents and great-grandparents!