Visitors

Yesterday morning there was much ruckus from the street, and we went out to see the fire trucks going by.  Don't worry, there was no fire.  Just Santa in a fire truck, handing out candy to the kids.

I'm sure it will surprise no one that there was much excitement involved.

Mommy, I Walk?

Isaac had finished a particular difficult puzzle (he really loves puzzles lately!), and he declares,

"Mommy, I walk!"  

I was confused for a minute, wondering what he was talking about.
But then realized he was really saying:
"Mommy, I Rock!"   

hahaha.  Oh, sweet little ego.  

Quotes

I know, I know, this blog is heinously slackery on pictures lately.  I'll work on that.  But I keep having more and more stories of the funny stuff that Isaac says.  I think I like 3 and a half!  :)  hehe.

Here are a couple more:

Isaac was coming back from brushing his teeth.  He had large splashes of water on his shirt.

"Why are you all wet?"  I asked.

"Because... there's water on me."

Isaac, once again proclaiming that I am super-super slow (I think he must mean my driving) and was scolding John for now going super-slow also.  (Note, the road we were going on had a speed limit of 30.)  So I was again explaining that there was a Speed Limit, and we couldn't just go tearing down roads because we thought we were Lightning McQueen.  Confused, he pauses for a minute, and then says.  "Yeah!  The Speed Women!"

Funnies

Since I want to write these somewhere before I forget, here we go.  Isaac's recent funnies:

Yesterday I had helped him get dressed and then when I went to get myself ready for church, John helped him get some breakfast, and he tells John, "Mommy helped me get dressed.  She's very helpful."


On the way to Grandma and Grandpa's house Isaac was being mean and taunting. (You know the type... na na na na boo boo, or that sort) and John told him he needs to stop being mean, and can only say nice words.
So he proclaims, "I can say nice words.  Nice!  Words!  Listen- I'm saying nice words.  Niiiiiice Woorrrds!  Nice words!  Nice words!..."


Yesterday at dinner, we asked Isaac what they learned about at Sunday School (which he calls Church).  He said "King David."  We were sort of impressed, because he usually can't tell us much about it.  So we asked what King David did in the story.
"He bwoked his foot.  He walk on his tiptoes."
Hmmm... I don't remember that story.

Giving Thanks

Rejoice always, 

pray continually, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may you be thankful always, on this day and every day!  

National Adoption Day. And a Change of Plans.

Today is National Adoption Day.
Which is, reasonably, in the middle of Adoption Awareness Month.

And so today seems as good a day as any to let my celebration be made public.

As you may recall, we have been working on an Ethiopian adoption for quite some time now.
I haven't talked about it much here because, well, there has been nothing to say.  We turned in our dossier almost 1 year ago, and since then, we've just been waiting.  And waiting.  And waiting.

Ethiopian adoption is a bit chaotic and unpredictable right now.
To say the least.

And I'm not very good at waiting.
For months, I've routinely searched waiting child lists,
and fallen in love with many children along the way,
but none that were mine.

Until recently.

In fact, I first saw his face on my birthday.  I showed his cute little self to John (who nodded and smiled, for the thousandth time, over my internet dream-babies) and emailed about him.

Yes, he's still waiting for a family, they said.  But he's not in Ethiopia.

Turns out he is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Turns out we liked that even better.

Turns out, Lord willing, he's going to be our son.
Isaac's long-awaited Little Brother.

So we mailed in our dossier today.  Again.

We had to start over, but fast, and with precious and handsome motivation.

Our papers are already scanned and emailed, and being translated.  Soon to be authenticated in DC, and submitted to court in Kinshasa.

Go Papers, Go!  Be blessed.

My boy needs to come home.

In Which He Forgets How to Walk

Isaac doesn't remember how to walk.  

He only runs.  

I can tell him 100 times a day to "Walk, Please!"  or "No running in the house!"  but to no avail.  

He is "Super-Super-Fast!"  Like "Wightneen AQueen".  

He informed us yesterday that he got a time out at preschool because he was "going super-super-fast" at school.  

He says to me often, "Mommy, you are not super-super-fast like me and Ababa.  You are slow."  I don't know what I do that has so ingrained this in his mind, but apparently I move in a very sloth-like fashion.  Unlike Isaac.  He is always Super-Super-fast!

Cutest Firefighter Ever.

I know.  I am so on the ball with my Halloween picture.  

Plus, I forgot my camera on real Halloween, so this is a fake.  

But he's still cute.

And he loved trick-or-treating.  

I mean, who doesn't love just walking up and getting candy from everyone you see?

"Trick Or Treat!"

"Thank You!

Let's go the a different house!  There's one with the lights on!"

Repeat.

Working

Yesterday morning over breakfast, Isaac asked me where Ababa was.
"Working," I replied.
"What he doing?"
"Working," I re-stated.
"But what he doing?"
Oh!  finally I understood his question.  "He's making buildings."
"Oh."  He pauses.  "With blocks?"
"Huh.  Maybe with some blocks, yeah."
:)

Grandpa and the Big Truck

"I'm so 'cited to see Gwampa and the Big Twuck!"  he declared.

Today Grandpa was in the 'hood, so we met for lunch.  

And Isaac got to "drive" the truck!

(I have a video too, but it was too big to email to myself, 

so for now it's stuck on Grandpa's phone.)  :(

Anyway, here are a few pics:

He was pretty proud of himself.

(Isaac, I mean.)

Chomp

I tell Isaac approximately 300 times every meal to please chew with his mouth closed.
One day he announces "Mommy, we not chew like this. (chomp, chomp, chomp)  It dangerous...  And rude...  And NOT awesome!"

Yeah, man.  Something like that.

Scenerages

It was tropical and pretty on Hilton Head Island.  

Beautiful weather.  Awesome bike trails.  We had a great time!

Here are some of the sceneries around the 'hood.

Isaac threw a lot of these guys back in the water.

Starfish, that is.  Not Beaches.

Harbor Town Lighthouse

Another lighthouse we saw on our cruise to Savannah.

John's Parents Walking around Savannah.

Playtime

Isaac got to spend some QT with his cousin Lilly.

Here they are on a bike ride.

(Trust me, she's happier than she looks.) 

Playing at the Park!

In Which I Return From My Delinquency and Vacation

Things have been busy around here!  We were on vacation last week with John's family, which was fun and sunny and relaxing.  Isaac even survived the 14 hour drive back in one day last weekend!  He's a trooper!

Here are some evidence of our adventures:

Little Fishie learned to doggie-paddle.

And belly flop!

(Over, and over, and over...)

Playing games with Ababa

Getting Tossed by Uncle Jason

Timely

Isaac: (Riding on his fire truck) "I am a fireman... I save you next week!"

Survey says:

I asked Isaac what he was going to be when he grows up.
His answer?  "Gonna be big.  And strong.  Up the sky.  Up the clowns (clouds).  You gonna be up the sky too?"

Notably, if there is a direct correlation between the amount of "ant-mule" (oatmeal) consumed and "Big&Strong-ness," then he will indeed be "up the sky."   Seriously.

Faces

A couple weeks ago, I was gone for the morning, leaving my boys at home.  

Apparently they were practicing expressing their emotions (yeah right), and I got these texts:

Happy:  

Sad: 

Angry:

Better keep working on that "angry" look.

I'm not sure I'd be convinced.

Quote of the Day

Ok, you all are probably sick of reading funny Isaac quotes.  But too bad.  This is my blog, so I can write what I want.  Also, I have nothing else to ramble about currently.

So, here goes.

This morning I was making my lunch, and Isaac was watching me while eating his oatmeal*.  I put some carrots in a little container, and he said, "Those are ca-wits... for a wabbit. You a wabbit, mom!"

still makes me giggle.

* Oatmeal: formerly pronounced "eemoa", now more like "ant-mule"

Baby-Speak (again)

(on seeing a car with flashing lights)  "Hey, Look!  That one goes Woo, Woo, Woo!"

"I have little ears.  Mom, you have big ears."
Sigh. Thanks bud.

I pointed out a school bus one day on the way to daycare, and he looks over and says,
"Silly girl, that's a fire truck!"
(No really, it was a bus.  I promise!)

He was excited about something (I think we saw airplanes at the airport), and exclaimed "Whoopee!  Whoopee!"  and threw his hands up in the air.  Apparently I didn't look appropriately excited, so he demanded, "Say it, Mom!  Whoopee!  Whoopee!"

Coming into my room, too early on a Saturday morning, "Time-a wakin up, Mom!  God made it light outside!"

(on a foggy morning; distraught)  "Our windows are dirty!"

In the Dog House

One last pic of the Homeland:

(Then I'll have to find something else to ramble about I guess.)

Logan loved playing in the doghouse...

It was too cute.

Happy Birthday, Colonel!

So it's The Colonel's birthday today.  He's my baby brother (called "Colonel" by Isaac, because... well, I think Isaac thinks that is his name.  Also, because of his mad auctioneering skillz.)

Anyway, in honor of his birthday, I'll post a couple of pics showing how grown up he is...

And also how much Logan looks like him.

Happy Birthday, Colonel!  

Playin' at the Park

More From the Homeland...

Because it was so fun.

The Homeland Zoo

Toured the Zoo with Grandpa.

There's a big snake.

Goin' for a ride.  

What's that up there?

Amber and Logan

Lap full of trouble

Random butterfly

We all rode the giraffe.

Giddy up!

Home Sweet Homeland

Last week we took a complicated vacation, part of which was to the Homeland to hang out with my Familia.  We had too much fun!  Isaac got to play with his cousins, and it was the first time in 3 or so years that we were all together!    

Boys like Dirt.

And swinging with Grandma

Upside-down!

Playing with the hose.

Jammy boys!

The Whole Clan

Bedtime story with Grandpa

Pretty Toes!

Big Shoes.

These photos all compliments of Emily Photography.