Traveling...

We live about 10 to 11 hours away from any family members. Translation for us...we spend a BOATLOAD of time in the car during the holidays. Our kids have grown up this way, so to them it's just a natural way of traveling...10, 11, 12 hours to get to any place. (this is a bonus though when we travel overseas...since those trips are really long, our kids are use to it)

Because of the time that we have spent in the car, we have become quite the proficient travellers. We know what works for us. What to take. What not to take. We can SQUEEEEEEZZZZEEE into one duffel usually to go places...granted it's a really LARGE duffel bag but still I can count it as one. If there is one thing that I've learned, it's the more people you have to get somewhere the less "stuff" you really truly have to have.

We also love to play games in the car...card and board games. My husband and I have battled each other more than once in the "Totally 80's" trivia game (dorky, I know...but what can we say, we are a product of the 80's). On this account he had just won this game with his oh, so masculine "care bear". I was the "trapper keeper". If you are a product of the 80's then you know what I'm talking about...if not, then you are making me feel VERY old.

Merry Christmas...

From our family to yours...may God bless you and your family this upcoming year.

Merry Christmas...

Gotcha Day 2011...

Today is our Gotcha day. In the world of adoption, it's the day that we celebrate when we became "this" family. The day we walked through the door after over 40 hours of flying halfway across the world...the day our family was finally together.

This is our Gotcha day story...

My favorite Christmas things...

Here are four of my absolute favorite Christmas things. I know they may not seem like much...but to me, they mean the world.

This Santa and Mrs. Claus was on my kitchen table for probably most of my childhood. (They are technically a salt and pepper shaker) My mother is an outstanding cook and this Santa brings wonderful memories of her baking for us during the holidays.



This is such a pathetic little thing...but again, it's the world to me. You flip this upside down and turn the knob on the bottom. Then when you turn it right side up, music plays, the tree turns and "snow" falls down. I cannot tell you how many times I have done this in my lifetime. It was at my Grandmother's house. When she passed away, it's the one thing that I begged to have. It's been taped up and re glued, but to me it's a little bit of my grandmother right here with me during Christmas.

This is the star that was on my tree growing up. I remember arguing with my brother as to whose turn it was to put it on the tree. In the end, my father seem to always put it up (probably because we couldn't reach it). When my father passed away, this star came to me...and it has my father written all over it. Even though I can reach the top now, I like to think he's right here with me during this holiday.









This makes me giggle and smile every time I cook. My aunt gave me these and if you push one of their buttons, they will all "tap dance" together. Take them apart and they do it separately. Way funny, and so great for my kids. It's not uncommon for a child to walk through the kitchen hit a button on the way to get something to drink. I love them...and to me, my aunt's standing right with me in my kitchen every time they go.


Since none of our family lives anywhere close to where we are, it's my special way of bringing those that I hold so dear to my heart home with me for the holidays.

Which one is which?

I took this photo at Thanksgiving of my son standing next to the gutter (on the house).

In case you were wondering...my son is the one on the left...

...I think

Last Christmas...

Have you seen this video? Grab you some tissues and have yourself a little seat. Live in the moment...THIS moment...and be oh, so thankful.