favorites:

• taquitos (sometimes it’s the first thing he asks for when he wakes up)
• puppies
• DUCKS
• tractors
• trash trucks
• jumping off of things
• obtaining bruises, scrapes, and goose eggs at every opportunity

not so much favorites:

• baths, showers, water in general
• being left with a sitter (random new separation anxiety)
• getting his hair cut
• watching television
• vegetables

we’re so glad he’s our kid.

Apparently too much for me to write about? I’m usually one to do a lot of processing here, in writing, but I just couldn’t quite get there.

I think it’s been a long enough break. So time for some catching up:

1. We went to Mexico City at the end of October and it was amazing. Not because it’s a super glamorous place, or made our hearts go pitter-patter, but because we both felt deeply that it was the place we had been praying about. And the partnership.

2. I didn’t bring my real camera, because I hadn’t quite figured out what it would be like to care for my kids well in that crazy mega-city, and thought it best to be undistracted by things like aperture and shutter speed. Little did I know, the lack of those options could be equally distracting! I have some pictures, and I’ll post several… but they leave something to be desired.

2. Penelope loved Mexico. She still thanks God for the “orange train” nearly every night.

3. Arthur hated it. In an all-consuming, unhappiest-we’ve-ever-seen-him kind of way. But when we came back, he hated California for a full 2 weeks too, so we think it may have just been a phase.

4. After Mexico City, I increased my hours at work to help another department. It meant cool things like a raise and benefits, all while my kiddos are napping in the afternoon, but you know… that’s a couple less hours in my day. Life is a little busier, but not in a bad way.

5. Next up came an evaluation having to do with our little girl. We still haven’t wrestled through what it looks like to respect her privacy, and still be transparent about our lives, but we’re working on it. We learned a lot about our quirky (ahem. awesome) Penelope, and some unique challenges that she’ll have… just in the way she’s knit together. It’s the kind of thing we need to dive headfirst in to – gathering info, figuring out what kind of support and help is going to benefit her most, and what that means for our family. Our kind and compassionate missions agency agrees. They want us to put everything related to support-raising on hold for six-months. They were kind and quick to reassure us that we are 100% part of the reach global family, and they want to support us through this journey – but that it’s most important at this point to take care of sweet Penelope.

6. Number 5 is really, very hard for us. But we’re learning (again, and again) to trust. And hope. And wait. Pray with us?

7. Then came Thanksgiving. At just the right time, truly. We shared a meal in the barn, and then played shuffleboard in our hallway. Obviously.

8. At the beginning of this month, Casey finished the final lap of his degree. Oh the sweet, sweet feeling of completion. He technically graduated yesterday. There was much dancing in the streets.

9. Now we prep for Christmas. Isn’t this just the best time of year?

10. Why you all check this thing – pictures of the kids. Here’s a random smattering:

The compound pumpkin carving contest. We attempted (successfully) to bribe the judge. Yes!

barn shuffleboard: first edition

turkey table

zoo trip

stirring some dry beans very seriously.

Look for a full newsletter later this week, and more regular blog updates!

but then when they actually need to be washed..

and you have a very busy little boy…

a high-chair, plastic containers, water, and a window, are especially handy.

I was happy this morning, realizing that everyone was in a good mood and getting along well. Nothing harder than the transition from family bickering to a church service.. and it looked like we’d be avoiding that pitfall this morning.

Though, in the midst of gathering clothes and shoes, diaper bags, coffee, and making sure that everyone was relatively clean… a certain little boy was awfully quiet.

Then it hit me. Or maybe I should say, it hit my friend.

There was a plate of leftover cupcakes from the bridal shower.

On the kitchen table.

I thought delusionally optimistically, maybe he hadn’t found them yet?

Let’s just say… we were a little late this morning.

2) I couldn’t figure out why our mouse was always missing batteries. Till one day I caught him red handed. Busted.

He was the perfect blend of shocked and delighted.