Catching Up

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog a little bit. I've been working on other things - in my mind and in real life projects. The hour and a half break during nap time can only allow so many things to get accomplished and lately blogging has moved to the bottom of the list. I've been working on a lifebook for Karina - with all the pictures and info we collected from her adoption process. More hours than I care to know were spent on it even if they were enjoyable . . . but 1,092 pictures and 374 pages later it is almost finished. Just a little more proofreading and input from Ryan and then it's off to press. Sort of feeling sad that this is a big milestone to mark the end of the adoption process. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad Karina's home and it's all finalized but I sort of enjoyed the process along the way. Maybe someday we can do it again, but for now I'm trying to catch up on our three blessings because although time seems to move so slow some days as I count down the minutes to bedtime, time is really moving quickly and I am seeing them grow so fast!!! And I want to remember these stages because if I don't document them I know I'll forget.

I back-posted a few posts back where they should have gone so if you're interested in Easter or our current animals go check them out. Then here are some other random things to catch up on. Check back later for each kid to star in their very own blog post! And then I think I'll be sort of caught up. Until I get behind again. :)

Daddy enjoys hanging out at bedtime with the kiddos whenever he can. I have usually reached the exhausted point way before now and am ready to tuck them in, but they want to soak up every minute of this time with each other and I'm so glad for that. They usually can talk daddy into some kind of bedtime snack too. Karina enjoys her bottles - and I'm secretly pretty glad that our pediatrician suggested that we do those for a full year to help with attachment. It's pretty awesome to snuggle her and I can honestly say she has been the most fun of our babies to feed so it's nice to just enjoy it and not  worry if she's getting enough calories or not!

Addyson and Braden have picked me plenty of um, flowers. a.k.a dandelions.

Daddy invited me and our 3 cowpokes to go along to take cattle to the pastures. Look at all those cute little cowboy boots!

And the cuties inside of them.

And check out Addyson's "Laura braids" (from Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie). It's fun that her hair is long enough to do things like this . . . and those bangs are slowly but surely growing out!

My view at the pasture - these two sweeties were way cuter to look at than the bovines. The way they hold hands melts my heart. They are still the best of friends.

We've had picnics - inside picnics might be the best. No bugs or wind. And the mess is at least temporarily contained to one tiny blanket. :) And it keeps Karina still for at least a few minutes.

There's been lots of playing together with these three - and learning how to not get on each other's nerves. We've reached the stage of pestering and fighting - you know with the hitting and pinching and tattling. Nice. But plenty of love sprinkled in there too.

We spied something green making it's way onto our farm. 

And then it was back to throwing rocks.

Karina wasn't going to get left out of the hat fun. Or the rock fun. Miss Observant rarely misses anything and can copy just about everything.

Addyson and Braden finished up their first year of Cubbies. They had fun and Addyson asks me often when it will start again. They are looking forward to that and to preschool in the fall.

It was pretty hot for a few days so we played in water. Karina fits in Addyson's swimsuit from last summer. And Addyson fits in the tub from the hospital where she got her very first bath. 

But the most progress happening around here. . . these three are loving each other more every day. So fun to watch their relationships with each other grow.

I'm so glad they have each other. And that we get to have them for this little while. Because some day I will miss the pestering and screaming . . . and the hugs and sweetness of these three.