Clouds & Katie

Birthday week continued for Katie - she had at least 2 or 3 more times this week to celebrate her birthday - each time being very pleased to announce that it was once again "Katies Birthday".

Today - she decided it was fun to wear a bicycle helmet - while eating pizza for supper. She kept saying - "Katie so pretty" - yes you are . . .



Getting it off at bedtime was a bit of a challenge. . .

On Friday morning - some powerful storms rolled through the area -


Some strong winds, much needed rain, a little bit of hail and some really cool looking clouds was the extent of the storm.

Birthday Girl!

 

Our little Princess Katie finally celebrates her birthday!  (after enduring and crying  through the birthdays of all her siblings and parents in the last 9 months!)

 

 

What a tremendous blessing to be able to have a party and cake for our little sweetheart!   Just like at Emie’s birthday, I was struck with emotion at the fact that neither have ever had a party, gifts or cake…in fact, at the orphanage, I’m sure that their birthday was like any other day of the year.  In an orphanage, children  keep getting older but nobody cares.   But…not anymore for our little girls! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie wanted a kitty cake and that is what she got!  It was a special day and she swelled with pride every time she reminded us that it was “Katie’s Birthday”.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Katie!!!

 

(and now for anyone astute enough to notice Katies’ hair is a different length……stay tuned for a blog post on that!)

Fourth of July

Three sisters - and two celebrating their first Fourth of July in the US! We are doing lots of reminiscing - as it is almost a year ago since we left for Ukraine.

Before we get to the Fourth of July - the 10 most interesting highlights since the last post (ok - most are probably not that interesting - but they are the most newsworthy for us).

1. Sam lost a tooth - he is now officially 'toothless' in front.
2. Andrew has not yet cut his hair - almost 1 year
3. Sam had a grand time in Iowa with Nana & Poppa & Cousins
4. The twins had a great week at camp in Iowa and also the week after in Sioux Falls
5. We have had strep throat - at least 5 of us.
6. David is back in Wisconsin staying with Auntie K for 2 weeks.
7. Sam caught a frog - named it Dexter and is supplying it with flies to eat.
8. We got our fence put up
9. We have had Wahpeton visitors stay overnight - thanks for coming after Valley Fair
10. We have paid our first monthly mortgage - only 359 to go!!!

The Fourth of July was spent up in the northwoods -

Daniel & Annie waiting for natures fireworks (bonfire)

We don't do little fires
(at least when the forest is really green we don't)

Andrew

Mr Sam my four wheeling man -who believes Sam can drive a four wheeler? What you don't see is that he is carrying a garbage can on a small trailer and the really expert drivers can get the can all the way back to the cabin from the garbage dumpster without dumping - and Sam can do it! - just like a pro!

We celebrated with a cake made by Daniel - our "Ace of Cakes"


And a good safe time was had by all - we hope you and yours also had a very good Fourth of July!

Gotta do 2 photos - the old and the new

Quick update - Karen is out of town for the weekend - the twins go to camp this upcoming week and Sam is off for a week of great adventure with nana and poppa. I am here with David, Katie and Emie and we have had an exciting day exploring our local Super Target and playing in the yard. The kids also watched Little Bear - while Big Bear took a nap - 8). Funny story about Super Target - we ended up having a 3 course meal @ Target. First, we started with popcorn. Then a round of hotdogs and after the first round was done - the kids wanted another!


The photo above is our last afternoon in Mayberry - before we move to the big city of Mt Pilot.

Most of the last 3 weeks has been a blur, but we have moved and have photos to prove it.

A few highlights -

• beautiful days for moving!
• we had more stuff than we thought - 1 1/2 trucks
• we had more weight than we thought - the 'rule' was 25,000 lbs - we were over by almost 10,000 - extra pounds - maybe that is what 7 kids does to you.
  
• we had an awesome moving crew - not a single thing broken (that we have found)
• kids did well
• we have boxes all over - most frequently asked question - where is the ______ ?
• we are enjoying our new house - we have a lot more space and a few features that a 1930 Cape Cod was missing.
• I have an investment tip - I think the companies that make out the best in moves are those that make bathmats - I think we have had 200 bathmats in and out of our house for size, color, shape, smell - who knows what all.
• We've had some great help with the kids the past 2 weeks - which has enabled the kitchen and a few other essential areas to be set up.

If you are ever in Mt. Pilot - look us up - ok?

Lee, Karen, Daniel, Andrew, Samuel, Katie, Annie, Emie, David and Scooter the cat

Sam and his 5 days of hair...

 

So Sam decided to celebrate his last week of school by wearing his hair different every day...

 

 

Day 1:        Spiked...

              

Day   2:        Elvis...

 

 

Day 3:         Mohawk...

 

 

 

 

Day 4:     Green   (Jet the Hawk)

 

 

(he informed us at the end of the school day that everyone at recess wanted to play, "chase the green-hair boy" - didn't phase him a bit!)

 

 

Day 5:      The Buzz...

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little guy of mine is too much fun!   One thing is for sure...life with Sam is never boring!

I have decided....

 

...that getting ready for this move would be much simpler if we didn't need to eat or wear clothes.

 

Now, of course that would be too weird and the neighbors might have some issues with it.  It was just a thought today I had as I was running around like a chicken with my head cut-off.

 

Actually, I cant complain, I have wonderful help this week...my amazing in-laws are here and some of my best babysitters  are in full force at my house. 

 

 

 

We have lived in this house for almost 17 years.  I love to garden and so this week I have been trying to dig out and divide 17 yrs. worth of perennials.  Thats a lot of digging!  (Especially for someone whose exercise this past winter consisted only of chasing of small children)   I hurt all over tonight.

 

 
Now, I also can't complain because we have movers who will pack us up and move us down to our new house.   But I also don't want them moving 17 yrs. worth of accumulated junk (aka old treasures) so I am trying to sort and clean out.   Thankfully, it was clean up week here.  So...I piled the junk high at our curb and enjoyed all the curb shoppers!

 

Today I spent the morning with my little girls in their special needs pre-school. That was a blast!  That is one busy little room! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I had lunch with Sam at his school.  Taco salad -he actually said it was one of his favorite meals!

 

 

 

 

 

(Sam with one of his best friends)

 

 

We are starting to say our goodbyes.  That's hard...really hard.   We have sooooooo many dear friends here that we love so much.  This Sunday is our last Sunday at our church.  We are going to have Katie and Emie dedicated.  We have a wonderful church family. They have taken us through so much.  It will be so hard to say goodbye to them.

 

But, I am confident we are doing what the Lord wants us to do.  As hard as it is to say goodbye, we are also so excited to see what the Lord has planned for us in this next phase of our life.  We are so thankful to Him for leading and guiding us.

 

And don't worry we will be fully clothed and eating as we get ready for this move!

We're moving....

 

I have been wracking my brain for a more creative way to make this announcement but it just wasn't coming.  So, after 17 years in the great state of North Dakota we are now moving to the great state of Minnesota!  

 

Lee has informed me that it has now been 36 weeks since he began commuting down to the cities, leaving the kids and I here Monday to Thursday.   I think we would all agree that it has been 36 very loooooooooooong weeks without a Daddy and a husband during the week!  

 

The Lord has provided a lovely house in the Twin cities, with a bigger kitchen (thank you especially for answering that request of this mom, Lord!) and lots of rooms and lots of yard to run and play.   All of the children and I are so excited to be with Lee and be all together as a family again! 

 

We will miss our friends here sooooo much.  I can't even begin to imagine life without all of you!  You have taken Lee and I through some very difficult times.     When we moved here, we  were newly married with no children and only a cat.  After years of infertility, the Lord chose to suddenly pack in 7 children in 12 years time!    Its been an incredible journey that we have been on, but I wouldn't want it to be any different.   Life with Jesus is anything but boring!   Now, we are leaving with a bunch  of kids and of course, a cat!

 

As of now, the plan is to start the move right after Memorial Day.  It will be crazy busy in our household for awhile and I am thinking the blog posts in the next couple months might be a bit scarce....(ha, ha....like I post that often anyway!)   So, if it looks like we've dropped off the planet, don't give up on us....we're still around!