2 months old!

Thankful

All strapped in and ready to head to grandpas!

Despite the forecast for rain, Thanksgiving day turned out to be beautiful and we were able to continue our tradition of eating outside.

The beautiful table, compliments of some hard-working sisters.
There are 9 siblings in my family and 22 grandchildren plus we usually have some guests.
It takes a lot of food for a crowd that big so we all contribute. This year I brought 2 pecan pies, a turkey that I had roasted all night, and gravy. I love doing the turkey that way- it always turns out so tender and it's so simple to do. Just smother it with herbs/spices, drizzle it with olive oil, and put it in the oven in a covered roaster at 275* right before you head for bed and it's done by noon the next day. It literally falls off the bones and is so good!
O.K... so my brother would argue that his fried turkeys are the best, but I think we ALL realize by now whose gets eaten the fastest.

The kids all had fun running around together. I wish I could say that I had joined them, seriously, I had every intention of doing just that, but instead I managed to get distracted by the pie table on the way out the door. Not so good for my plans to lose weight.

My turkey-frying brother and my dearest husband doing, uh, hmm...not sure, but I am confident it was something super important. You know, the same 'thing' that they were still working on when it was time to be doing all those dishes?
Oh, well, I suppose we shall all be grateful when that next nuclear attack is diverted or the millions of dollars are made, thanks to them.

Some super cute kiddos

Grandpa and Grandma and all the grandkids (until Dec. 12th anyway!)

So many, many things in my life to be thankful for!
My prayer is to never become complacent about any of them!

Waiting....

So our court date is now less than a month a way!
Six weeks seemed so long from the time that it was assigned, but I have a feeling it will be here before we know it. There is always the likelihood of not passing the first, second or even third time due to some document missing or a new guideline the Ethiopian government may instate without warning, so we will see if Dec. 12th is the magic date or not.

If we pass then we will most likely be traveling middle/end of Jan...wow, I have so much to do before then...things like getting bedrooms ready, organizing drawers, carseats and beds, clothes, lots of paperwork, Dr.'s appointments, vaccinations,and, oh yeah, taking care and homeschooling 7 kids while I'm at it. Losing 40 pounds of baby-weight would be great too.

It can feel a bit overwhelming at times, but somehow we get through each day and what doesn't get done today will get done tomorrow or maybe the next....and if it doesn't I suppose we will still survive.


In other news...the weather around here has been ABSOLUTELY gorgeous!
This is always the time of year we start to feel just a tiny bit smug living here...ah, you poor pitiful, pasty white, freezing people buried under mountains of snow...sigh....you do have my sympathies...

Lest we become too big-headed though, we have summer which, unfortunately, lasts just a little bit too long.

I'll leave you with some pictures of my beautiful babies enjoying their warm, wonderful, gorgeous, balmy environment ...oh, am I sounding smug again?...so sorry...totally unintentional....

My daughter proudly decorated this chair...see a future in interior/exterior design anyone?... on the other hand, maybe not...

We went to the zoo on Sun. to celebrate 'Uncle' David's birthday.
He has been a part of our family for 9 years now and we have been blessed by every one of them!

Mikayla

I know she's my seventh, but it still never ceases to amaze me at how fast they grow!

So, if not interior design, acting, maybe?

She totally needs some kissing!

That's Mikayla's oldest brother hiding behind her there...once a boy reaches his 9th birthday pictures are so not cool anymore...unless your wanting to show off how wide you can open your mouth, how well you can cross your eyes, how far your finger will fit up your nose...things along that line. He's 13.

Aha! Finally caught one! I'll take it, despite the fact that he's not exactly looking at the camera.

This one is only 5 years old so pictures are still lots of fun- and I am taking full advantage of it!