Lots of celebrations

I realize as i look at the calendar that we were in Siberia last Feb/March preparing to bring Andrey home. Now, i know time goes by fast & i've tried to slow down time for certain events in my life...like my wedding day..i savored every moment, like each day i spent with thomas pre-Andrey. But after bringing Andrey home i truly cannot believe it's almost been 1 year since we've had him. I realize that i have much less to say about the adoption, about our daily activities, about my relationship with Andrey. I guess it's just every day life now & it's no longer new. That's a relief in a sense..we're just going about our daily life. I just accept moments of each day as they come, some good, some great, some challenging. I continue to love watching the little boys play...oh, they come up with the greatest stuff & it makes me flash back to my childhood when i made forts & dug holes & rode big wheels.
I'm fully aware to that being a mom is about serving..i attend to their little & big needs all day long. Sometimes i laugh because i feel like a waitress! I realize how important motherhood is.. raising up these 2 little monkeys..caring for them, being there for them & fixing their forts & finding toys for them. It's a privilege really. I would say that the relationship between thomas & andrey has become a precious one...they are best buddies. It's great to see.
Recent events - celebrated Greg's 35 birthday & Thomas's 4th birthday.

Merry Christmas

A few pics

1st Christmas season

Well... i cannot find the pics of our tree trimming experience...i dropped the camera that night..who knows. It's a good thing i didn't have grand expectations because while it was fun to get a tree from our local Home Depot, it was a chaotic night... i had to laugh...the boys were trying to hang ornaments, into all the decoration boxes, going kinda nuts. & now there are no pictures to prove it! Andrey was crying, then thomas was going nuts...i'm beginning to think we're kind of a whacky family. It just seems that this is a season of life with 2 small boys who are small animals sometimes.
Ok, so here's so good pics of everyone looking happy at greg's work kids party.

An average day in our front driveway

Andrey's 1st Thanksgiving (he's on left side)

Andrey really gets how to party & eat & enjoy a big family. We ate out with Greg's side first - andrey got to sit at the head of the table! He loves the attention & gets many laughs. He fits right in. After we go to my side of the family. Andrey hugs & kisses everyone & is genuinely excited to see everyone. We've had him for 7 months now & he's gotten to know & develop relationships with others. I no longer worry that he'll get confused as to who everyone is... some kids from orphanages think everyone's a care giver. At this point, it's in his head for sure that we are his mom & dad & everything comes from us. Thomas & Andrey have been playing very well lately. My stressed has been somewhat reduced. I did have sinus surgery & my deviated septum straightened. I'm still recovering. Being down when you have small children is a minor nightmare as they need you & it's so hard to care take when you need caretaking!

KIDS PLAY

One of the greatest little joys i experience throughout the day are these moments where i watch thomas & andrey play & i start laughing... i was in the kitchen working & when i came out i saw that the boys had taken all the toys & chairs & baricaded (spelling?) their bedroom door. I don't know where they come up these things. They come up with these real funny things....we have 2 little outside cars that they push with their feet in the driveway...they take trucks & cars & pile them on the roof of their cars & they wear funny things on their heads...i really love watching them. It's just the kind of fun i want for my children & i get the gift of a little chuckle here & there.
Also, here's some pics of andrey at Dorothy's son's 2 year b-day party & a family birthday party sitting with his cousin gennean ..he absolutely has the hang of the birthday song..he sings it loud with his deep Siberian voice!

Next fundraiser Garage Sale - Sat.. Nov. 29th

Greg's mom will be hosting the next garage sale fundraiser. If anyone has items they'd like to donate, please e-mail Jeanette at treesjd@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Funny Video

Hey everyone. I was just reviewing some video of my boys and had to post these two from Halloween.

#1 - Thomas doesn't know what day it is, and thinks we trick or treat on Saturday morning.

#2 - Andrey is very obedient. I'll leave it at that.

Andrey's 1st pumpkin day