Family Camping Trip

We decided since we were not going to do any vacations this summer that we would take a little weekend getaway at a state park. We were going to tent camp but our friends graciously offered their truck and camper. We drove about an hour to Oubache State park. It's a great park with a big pool and bike and foot trails. We had a wonderful time. We went from Friday afternoon until Monday afternoon. Here are some pics of our time.

Before we got on the road Rob set up this stand for Abraham to sell some of our garden veggies. We have kept it up and he has made $4.25 so far.

Our campsite

Eden had fun crawling on the ground and getting dirty. She was busy putting rocks and grass in this cup when I said her name and she just smiled. I think she is starting to learn we want her to smile when the camera is pointed at her.

Abraham at the end of the big slide. Notice who is waiting for him...

Eden's Birthday

I made a Boston Cream pie for everyone else but used a little of the cake batter to make two small yellow cakes for the girls. I was supposed to use the chocolate frosting for theirs too but forgot and used the leftover vanilla pudding for their frosting.

Singing Happy birthday to Eden and Georgia - that is Lynette Georgia's Mommy sitting next to her.

Grandpa Eicher feeding Eden her cake - can't you tell she just loves it! ;) Georgia on the other hand really did love her cake and got right to it.

This is Eden asking to be all done. She was doing the sign language for "All Done".

Eden turned 1 on June 11th but we waited until my Dad and Ginger came to town to celebrate on the 19th. Her cousin Georgia turned 1 on the 12th so we also celebrated her birthday! Eden has not figured out how to feed herself yet so the little cake in front of her was a mystery. I tried putting her hands into and then put her hand up to her mouth but she just didn't get it. Grandpa Eicher then helped her out by grabbing bits of cake and feeding them to her with his finger. After about half the cake was gone she was done - she wanted nothing more to do with it. We had a great time celebrating with family!

Abraham turns 7!!!!

Abraham turned 7 on May 29th. We had his party on the 28th out by my in-laws pond. Rob's sisters and their children were there along with his sister who lives overseas - she is visiting for 2 weeks. We also had a few of his friends with their families joining in on the fun! The picture below is of the cake I made, it's called After Dinner Mint Pie. It's made with crushed oreos, cool whip, marshmallow cream and a bit of peppermint. You freeze it and then serve.

doing the water balloon toss - if they made it the basket was moved back. If they missed they got one more try and then were out if they missed again. Abraham won! They had a water balloon fight with the balloons left over.

The egg relay race - down around a basket and back to the line to pass the spoon and egg off to the next runner. We had a race with the adults too - boy we got competitive - well some of us did!

Opening gifts

Then a few of the Dad's stayed the night and camped out with their sons.

On the 29th we gave him his present which was a bike from his grandparents in NY as well as Rob and I. It's a pretty cool bike that he was thrilled about. Thank you - Mooie and Poppie, Oma and Opa.

checking it out.....

looking at the trick pegs...

yes it's a keeper....

Kindergarten Music Program

Abraham's first performance - singing with all the kindergartners. The girl next to him looking at the camera is Erin.

The night was all about being on a farm - so all the songs went along with that theme. This was the Chicken dance.

Abraham with his teacher Mrs. Hensch

Eden dancing during the performance

Abraham has had a great start to school. He has so enjoyed his teacher and he has done well with all the rules and homework etc. I'm glad for a good start for him. He is ready for the next step of all day school. I'm not sure I am ready. It seems like such a long day to not have my boy with me. I know I will adjust - it's another part of life and season we are going into. He is getting so big. He is such a help to me with Eden. He is beginning to help more around the house without being asked and he is growing to be such a great kid. I feel so blessed to have him in our family.

One Month!!!

Abraham put Eden in the toy basket and piled all the toys around her. She loved it. Doesn't she look like someone reading the newspaper or something.

Ha! Ha! Big brother playing games

Abraham wanted to stay outside with her on the blanket. I took this with the zoom lens from inside the house.

Tomorrow the 18th marks one month since Eden joined our family. I can't believe it's been a month already. It has gone much better than I had imagined. I read a lot about adoption beforehand and talkes to others who had adopted and there are horror stories about the babies crying all night every night. Eventually, these babies adjust and end up being very happy and content babies. So I was preparing for that and it has been nothing like that at all. The first few weeks we could tell she was just getting to know us and would look at us with that stare wondering who we are. Now when I go in her room to get her she will often have a smile for me. Getting her diaper changed is not such a traumatic thing anymore and she seems very much at ease with us. We feel blessed. She is such a joy!

The Many Faces of Eden

Eden is a very funny girl. She likes to mimic almost everything and sound we do. If you blow in her face she tries to blow in yours, if you growl like a lion she will growl, if you close your eyes tight she will close hers tight. It's very funny! It makes me wonder what she will be like as she grows up - doing this at 10 months makes me think she is very smart.

The other funny thing she does is makes all sorts of faces. The other day while taking photos of her I was able to capture a few - here they are.....

First Week Back!

Eden being read to for the first time (that we know of) she kept trying to grab the images off the page. She really enjoyed it.

Eden with her cousin Georgia who was born one day later. We told them they are going to be good friends! ;)

It will be a week tomorrow night that we have been back. It's been a pretty smooth week I have to say. On Monday after Rob left for work was the only time I felt a little overwhelmed. There was still unpacking to do, I was feeling the jet lag and I had to figure in a baby's schedule along with taking Abraham to and from school. I had a few times of being short with Abraham, I asked him to forgive me and told him how I was feeling. He of course forgave me and the day seemed much better after that.

Eden is getting used to her car seat which is good. We also took a walk in the stroller for the first time and she seemed to love that. I think we are all about over jet lag. Today was the first day none of us woke up around 4 or 5 a.m. Eden has been doing the best as far as the jet lag goes. It's probably because I don't let her sleep very long for her naps (2hrs.) before waking her up.

She has met most of her family that lives in the area. All her immediate family that is. Her Aunt's and Uncles Grandpa and Grandma just love her.

She is going to be dedicated next Sunday on Mother's day! Then she will turn 1 on June 11th.