........and the tree is up!

On Saturday the kids were so excited to get the Christmas tree decorated. It is the most wonderful time to share this with our children. This year was even more special because both children have their own ornaments that they add to the tree. Trayjan kept asking how old he was in ornament pictures and when he made certain ornaments. Our tree has so many ornaments that have so many special meanings to them. Trayjan has been getting a Michigan Wolverine ornament from Grandma Susan every year since he was one. We also display pictures of family on our tree, so it's so fun to see the pictures from the past that are only brought out for our Christmas Tree.

The kids wore their matching pajamas they were bought two years ago to decorate....they looked so sweet matching eachother. I know there are not many more times, I can get by with them matching for anything.

It was a very special time decorating and the kids had so much fun, they just kept looking for more ornaments to add to our already very full tree.

Thanksgiving Tree

At my wonderful MOPS meeting on Thursday we made these wonderful little trees. The idea came from a mom in our group.

My kids loved the idea of writing what they were thankful for and adding it to the little tree. I think Jie said she's thankful for ABC's and McDonalds and Trayjan was thankful for Family, his Dogs, Toys and Friends. It was precious to have them get so excited for this new centerpiece for our dining table.

I love to create little fun things that our family can do each year, so now this little tree will be our Thanksgiving Tradition. It will fill our table each year with lifes past and present thankful gifts.

MEMORY BOX MONDAY

Okay, this is just a wonderful picture of Trayjan. I remember this time so well, we had just moved back to Indiana from Ohio and we were enjoying having family over to play. Trayjan had found this mud puddle in the back yard and began to go crazy stomping in it. He had mud everywhere and it was absolutely priceless! So this Monday I have a picture that is irreplaceable of my precious boy. It's so hard to believe this was over 4 years ago. He's growing so quickly and I don't want to miss a second of his life. I pray the Lord guides him to follow all his dreams and to always enjoy the earthly life God has given him. I know we enjoy every second with him.

MEMORY BOX MONDAY

I have the most special posting this Monday about what is special in my memory box. When I was in 5th grade, it was such an exciting time as the Cabbage Patch dolls were storming the retail shops. My parents would wait in line for hours to get my sisters and I a doll, only to finally get told they had sold out for more money then my parents had to spend. I remember friends had their dolls before I did and it seemed so agonizing for the wait, but we were raised to be thankful and appreciative of what we had, so I never (remember) once whining to my parents about not having the most beautiful doll in the world. I can remember, not only did my mom want to get my two sisters and I a doll but she was particular on wanting the doll to resemble our hair color and facial features.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity my mom was able to find me a doll. I think she paid over $350 for this doll. I know she knew how much I loved my new doll, because I carried her everywhere with me, even getting a Cabbage Patch Horse for it eventually. It was by far the most special gift every purchased for me by my parents as a child.

I began the search for Jie a Cabbage Patch doll when we first made the decision to adopt and accepted her into our lives. I searched for almost two years when last Christmas I finally found the perfect doll for her.....it doesn't have her hair color, or resemble her in any way, but the reason I chose her baby doll was because it has Jie's exact Birthday of January 8th and it was wearing the EXACT same outfit as the doll my parents had purchased for me 25 years ago.

I couldn't believe how happy it made me and how perfect this Cabbage Doll was when I finally found it. Jie loves that we both have a doll with the same clothes on. My dolls name is Cicile Farrika and Jie's baby dolls name is Imogene Jessica. I will forever remember and keep these dolls in my heart. I wasn't really a doll girl when I was growing up, but my cabbage patch doll was the most special gift I carried on from my child hood and knew I wanted to give Jie something as special. Jie's doll baby is the one on the left and mine is the one on the right with blonde hair.

BASKETBALL.....WHOO HOO!

Basketball has finally began for Trayjan.....he had his first game on Saturday. He was able to participate some, but with just getting his little cast off on Thursday, he says his wrist is sore when he shoots.

We are excited to see his team this year, they are first graders and the game was pretty good. We did lose 32 - 24, but holy cow, that is alot of points for 6 and 7 year olds to score in a 30 min. game. Trayj wasn't able to play, so of course we think had he played it would have at least been tied. (LOL)! He could have scored 4 baskets easily!!!! Well, hopefully, he didn't practice most of the summer with his broken arm....oooops!

His Team is the ROCKETS! Whoo Hoo, Go Rockets!

Halloween Trick or Treating

Our kids loved dressing up and trick or treating this year. Trayjan has been so creative the last couple of years with his costumes, we are so proud of him. Last year he was a Zombie, the year before he was a Vampire, this year he has been a Medical Patient Zombie and on Halloween he wanted to be a Mummy, but he didn't want to buy a costume, he wanted to make his own. Of course we had a few costume malfunctions Halloween night, but all in all, he looked adorable.

Jie wanted to be Barney, I went against the idea up until Halloween day when I knew it was going to be cold and she would need a coat anyway. I really wanted her to look adorable, but she really wanted to be Barney. I even tried to tell her Barney was a boy not a girl, so she couldn't be Barney.....but she insisted she could be a boy and be Barney. To cute! Needless to say, she was so happy that mommy let her be Barney this year.

We had a wonderful night, eating at Trayjan's good friends house before we all headed off to Trick or Treat together. Lots of special memories.