Yummy Cupcakes!

Wordless Wednesday - Matching PJ's (thanks Grandma Linda)

Birthday Cupcake Time!

We decided it was only right to make some yummy chocolate cupcakes (which Maya and I called muffins just to annoy Dave since he baked them) and let Makenna dive into one. 

After we sang to Makenna, we let her dive right in.  That girl LOVES cupcakes and frosting!  She ate and ate and ate while making a huge mess.  We all had fun watching her as well as enjoyed our own cupcake (or two cupcakes).

The birthday celebration continues...Happy Birthday Makenna!

 

Visit

While in Ethiopia this past January, we stayed with an incredible family at the Ethiopian Guest Home. This family was in Ethiopia adopting a 6 year old boy. Besides meeting and bring home our daughter Makenna, the biggest highlight of our week in Ethiopia was getting to know and spending time with this family. Our week would not have been the same without them.

Thankfully they only live a state away which is super close considering we met while in Ethiopia. Dave, Jen, and their 4 kids happened to be vacationing an hour east of us. On their long drive back home, they stopped by our place for a quick visit. It was so great to see them again and to meet their other 2 children who did not travel to Ethiopia.

Even though our visit was short, we enjoyed the time we had and looked back at our wonderful week together. I said it once and I'll say it again, this family is terrific and our week was 10 times better because of them.

Playground Conversations

**Making a guest blog appearance (David aka Dad)**

Last night we spent some time at Theresa's company picnic and Maya was able to enjoy the playground. Much of the night was spent swinging, but she took a break towards the end and made friends with a girl, Brooke, who was from the neighborhood. I was able to listen in on a conversation they had.

Brooke: “Is that your dad?”
Maya: “Yeah”
Brooke: “Why are you brown, and he is white?”
Maya: “Because, umm… I don’t know?”
Brooke: “I wish I was brown like you”
Maya: “I wish I was white like you”
Brooke: “I like your sandals”
Maya: “Thank you, I like your shoes”

At this point I came around the corner so Maya could see me and she was so excited, “Dad, meet my new friend.”

Me: “Hello, what is your new friend’s name?”
Maya to Brooke: “What is your name again?”

Then a few minutes later.

Brooke: “When is your birthday again?”
Maya: "February XX"
Brooke: “Can I come to your birthday party?”
Maya: “Sure”
Brooke: "Can you come back to the park tomorrow?"
Maya: "Sure"

At some point this conversation will be much more complicated, but at age 3 it seems pretty simple doesn’t it?

Makenna's 1st Birthday

Plan A:

• Celebrate Makenna's birthday August 7th at our house with all of our family and Makenna wearing her custom made happy birthday outfit
• Yummy food served along with a pretty pre-ordered cake
• Lots of laughing, tons of smiles, and loads of pictures!

Plan B:

• Celebrate Makenna's birthday at a run-down pizza joint out of town with only my family and without Makenna's custom made outfit
• Serve pretty darn good pizza, breadsticks, and a get whatever you can get cake with a sloppy "Happy Birthday Makenna' written on it
• Lot of crying, screaming, and an adequate amount of photos

Can you guess which plan won out?  Yep, plan B! 

We did actually have a nice time and the kids seemed to have enjoyed themselves but poor Makenna.  She was beside herself and spent most of the evening crying (don't let the pictures fool you as these are the best ones I got of her being happy).  Her favorite part of the night was opening her birthday gifts which were bought an hour before the party.  Makenna thought the tissue paper was awesome and loved to tear it into pieces.

Well Makenna - it may have not been the party I had in mind but it sure was a memorable one.  Happy Birthday my precious one!

 

So Many Emotions

It has been almost a week since my last blog post.  I have had good intentions on keeping up my blog on a regular basis as well as good intentions to keep up on all my favorite blogs.  Life happened to throw me a curve ball :(

My 93 year old grandmother is in the ICU recovering from a fall.  We rushed to be at her side and took two days off from work.  I am so grateful to have been there to hold her hand and to tell her I loved her.  I am so grateful to have been able to sit with my mother in the waiting room for hours so she wouldn't be alone.  I am grateful to have seen my entire family and have a chance to celebrate Makenna's 1 year birthday. 

Thankfully my grandmother is doing much better today but she is still in the ICU.  We really appreciate everyone's kind words and prayers.  My grandmother is a very special woman who means a lot to me and to my family. 

I have learned an important lesson through this.  When you have an opportunity to stop to visit your grandmother, do it.  You just never know what could happen and if you will have another opportunity.