Thursday, March 10, 2011

Happy Birthday Dada-Pop!

Top 10 reasons why my Dad is awesome:
10-He built me really cool things- rocking horses, two story castle beds, doll houses, frog cages, a play village in our yard, science projects, etc. He was the original Bob the Builder.
9-He cooks weird but Delicious stuff like cheeto-breaded mushrooms and chicken
8-He was the chief of our Little Indian Princess Tribe
7-He was the assistant leader of my Girl Scout Troop
6-He sends me almost daily emails of pictures he takes on his camera or OLD pictures I forgot had existed
5-He is the original creator, designer and perfector of the Fire Squirrel. (My dad never does anything the boring way. Lighting a fire, for example.) Step one: Build a fire pit and douse the wood with gasoline. Step Two: Jerry-rig a guide wire from a tree to the gasoline soaked wood. Step Three: Attach a matchbox car with a fuse and firecrackers to the wire. Step Four: Build a trigger. Step Five: Tell an old Indian tale about how fire was created and God made the fire squirrel. Step Six: At just the right time in the story: trigger the car, that lights the fuse, that explodes the firecrackers, the races down the wire to the gasoline soaked wood and BAM! You have a huge campfire. Step 7: Optional: If the Squirrel doesn't light, climb the tree with a lighter and light that sucker manually. (Kids don't try this at home. Call my Dad, he loves giving demonstrations.)
4-He tries to speak foreign languages just by speaking English with a funny Spanish/German/French/Russian Accent
3- He goes on every single Mission Trip with Chad and all of our teenagers every year. And they LOVE him! He teaches them building skills and other important life lessons, like Fire Squirrell building I'm sure.
2-He and my mom have been married for 35 years and he still buys her flowers, takes her shopping AND carries her bags, opens the car door for her everytime, and do fun "Bucket List" things together.
1- He is an awesome, kind, loving Christian man that has never met a stranger and would literally, give you the shirt off his back. He treats others with kindness and love. If you ever get the opportunity to meet my Pop, you would love him too.

We love you and can't wait to see you in a few days for Charlie's Birthday! Finally, you've found a March-born friend!
XOXO, Chad, Sarah and Charlie :)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

9 to 5

Mow the grass
Walk the dog
And cook dinner?!?!
Lady, haven't you heard of Child Labor Laws?!!?




Monday, March 7, 2011

Together 1 month!

I just can't believe how quickly time passes. I would read other family's blogs as they celebrated milestones like these and think how can they not believe they've been home a month, two, six? I guess when you are blissfully happy, time passes much, much quicker! We are doing just great at home. Chad and I have begun to phase into working. Charlie stays home with Papa in the morning while I work and then we flip-flop in the afternoon. At first it was a little bumpy- not for Charlie- but for us. Juggling work responsibilities and such while keeping his world stable. Not an easy task, but we have gotten somewhat use to a new routine.
Church......a different animal. It would be a piece of cake if one of us had a Sunday job. But with that being the busiest day of the week for both of us, it is absolute chaos. It was chaos before, but now it's reached into the insane-o realm. We wear a lot of hats at the church and Mama and Papa need to work some things out on that one. But we're getting there. If I could just drop him off in the nursery, it would be better I think. But I haven't gotten over the "I want to wear Charlie as a shirt and never let him out of my sight until he's 30 and then he better call me every night" phase. It's hard leaving in the morning when he's at home AND with Chad. I guess it just took us so long to become a family, I us to stay like that EVERYDAY. Just the three of us....
His language skills continue to grow. It's funny, we have little mini-conversations now. Granted, they are mostly about food, riding in the car, or going ca-ca, but conversations none the less. He's started to mimic a little more, so that's been a lot of fun. We take turns mimicking each other, both ending in hysterical laughter. His laugh just lights up a room....you can't help laughing along.
Now if we can just get him to smile for a camera without bribery, mentioning his Baba or asking him if he wants a banana.

Yeah...this is my "hello" you gotta problem with that?

I'm not looking at you....


Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sneak Peak....

I ordered Charlie's announcements yesterday from Shutterfly. Not to sound like a commercial for Shutterfly, but I looked EVERYWHERE else, even created several announcements on several different sites. Then you get to the end and they want $12 for shipping, envelopes are seperate cost, of course the paper I choose was "premium" paper and wasn't included in the quoted price...blah...blah....blah....And we need ALOT of announcements!
My mom has always told me I have champagne taste on a beer budget...and I couldn't agree more! I just couldn't justify spending that much money. Then I found Shutterfly. I think they are pretty darn cute, maybe it's the subject!
Licorice Dot Blue Baby Announcements
Turn your favorite photo into a birth announcement.
View the entire collection of cards.
Here is our announcement!

Friday, March 4, 2011

31 for Baby Yana

If you aren't familiar with the brand 31, they have some really fun, funky stuff- purses, luggage tags, storage solutions all made with these fresh, cool patterned fabrics. Anyway, it's a neat-o company and you can have like "home-shows" and get the gals together for a night of shopping. Did I mention you can get everything you buy monogrammed for $6?

-BUT- What could make 31 even better? If it is an adoption fundraiser! My bloggy friend Lisa, is trying to get her angel Yana home. Her friend, Brooke is a 31 consultant and is hosting a show for Lisa and Yana.

Here is Lisa's blog link. FOR THE LOVE OF YANA AND HER FAMILY

Here is where you go to shop: CLICK HERE TO SHOP 31. I KNOW YOU WANT TO!
Not only are you helping a little girl get home, but you are scoring some awesome goods! My fav (pictured) are these collapsible baskets. They are great for tailgating, lugging things around (I am buying a second one because I have twice the amount of stuff to lug around now....) or just to catch all in the trunks of the car.

Also- during the month of March for every $31 you spend you get half-off a purse! They have these really cute ones that you just change the shell of, putting an end to "purse-swapping". Too cute!!!

So shop for Yana!

My Machina!

These pictures are from our first weekend home :) Hard to believe two weeks have just flown by......Believe it or not we did not make him pose with the American flag! My mom handed them out at the airport and he must have held onto that thing for at least 48 hours straight. It still flies proudly above his carseat in Mama's car!
(Almost) All American boy with his car



Building stuff with Papa and Dada


He couldn't wait to get in....no roof, no door, no problem!
Checking out the finished product

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Rain....Rain....Go Away....

Spiffy Super Hero Rain Jacket and Fireman "Ohboofs"

Cheering with Papa at Bethel Boy's Basketball Game
Too much excitement for one day!