Pictures from November and December

I take a lot of pictures. Sometimes I don't want to forget the moment, other times my boys are just too cute :)

Kaleb got a pirate costume then snuggled up with a Christmas book that Gramps voice reads to him

The boys got into the rice treasure and made a MESS, but they had a blast

selfie

Jacob has the longest tongue

cousins playing the piano

Kaleb was so proud to try on Kylie's hair bow

they had more fun carrying the balls than playing tennis

Kylie found a "The Complete Book of Breastfeeding" book and was telling Jacob about the princess and flowers as she "read" it to him

best way to sit and watch cartoons at Nana's

their favorite spot that Buddy the Elf hid this season

two walruses in the car

Jacob was home sick and Brad took him to the store in this-sweatpants over his footie pj's, LOL

big fishies at Bass Pro Shop, the "Fishie Store" as they call it when we drive by

they rarely choose to sit together, but I captured this moment

We moved!

We have always thought we might move back to Galesburg (we lived in a small town right outside of Galesburg for the past two years). We just never thought it would happen so fast. One Friday night, at small group, a friend was talking about moving in the next year or two. I thought that we'd love their neighborhood and had Brad drive through to see their house or any others that might be for sale. There was a house right when we entered the neighborhood that was For Sale by Owner. We grabbed a flyer and went home. It has 5 bedrooms on the main level, tons of closets (current house has none except small bedroom closets), and a partially finished basement. Some more bonuses were a fireplace, screened in porch, and a den that will be great for a playroom off of the living room. It had more than we ever thought we would find in a house already built. We started dreaming already and Brad started packing :)

We contacted the owners Sunday night to see the house on Monday. It turns out that I knew the wife and she is from the same town as me. We have many mutual friends and my grandpa even depantsed her brother in high school, lol. We really liked the house but we thought we better see what else is out there. We made an appointment with our realtor to see everything else that was available in Galesburg with similar price and sq feet. Nothing compared to it. We came back to see it again Wednesday night with Brads mom and made an offer the next day. In the meantime we needed to deep clean our house to get it ready to put on the market (something we weren't even considering just 5 days before). 

We had it pretty clean and several things packed in totes and moved to the garage before our realtor came over on Friday. As we were talking to him the boys managed to get out all the toys that weren't packed and made a huge mess. We were discussing how we were going to keep the house ready to show with two little kids (and a big one) in the house. We continued to pack and agreed on price and conditions on Saturday. On Saturday night we contacted the sellers to see if we could rent the house until we closed and would try to get a bridge loan until ours sells. We knew we need to have our house empty to have on the market. Whew. Our heads were spinning and our kids didn't understand where all their things were going. We got all the details worked out and moved in on that next Saturday. It was less than 2 weeks from when we picked up a flyer and considered moving to when we moved everything and stayed in our new house. So crazy! Only God could have been in a those details. It was also a new start to the quarter in school and Isaiah was going to change schools, so we hoped it would happen sooner rather than later if it was going to happen. 

We are so thankful for our new home!! The boys LOVE it!! They can run around and play and have so much more room. Isaiah  loves the basement and having his own space. He did not want to move and leave his friends, but he is making some new friends and he still gets to play basketball with his Knoxville friends since the season had already started. We are so thankful for that! He now goes to school with Brad, which I'm sure they both think has its advantages and disadvantages. 

We love being closer to everything and not driving as much. After being there 3 weeks we realized neither of us had been to the gas station since we moved! We are just so thankful that we are making new memories in our new home!!
Here's the few pictures I took in the first week!

Girls Weekend in DC

I got to go on my first girls weekend!! My friend Megan and I hopped on a plane on Thursday morning and  arrived in DC early afternoon. My good friend from Galesburg, Katie, picked us up at the airport and she took us around to see some DC sights. Friday morning we did a little more sight seeing and then we met up with some other Ethiopia adoptive mommas!!! Such a blessing to be able to see some of these ladies again and to meet some for the first time! We had a great weekend of fellowship and teaching from Jen Hatmaker. Susan Wanderer's church hosted Jen and allowed all the ET mommas to attend too! Such a blessing!! We had a dinner with all the ET mommas at Susan's coworkers house. After Jen spoke at church we all went back and had a huge sleepover. Katie (Susan's coworker) had 7 beds set up in her basement, such a treat- we were spoiled all weekend!! Katie has the gift of hostessing for sure! Saturday was filled with more teaching from Jen. We were all challenged to BE Jesus to everyone at all times. All of the ladies that I spent the weekend with are doing BIG things and are such wonderful Christ-loving women and mothers. I left inspired!. I am so, so thankful for the friends we have made through the adoption process. All of our children have similar stories and they all spent time together in Ethiopia.

started the trip off with a Starbucks, we might have been almost the last ones to board the plane-but we had our coffee :)

flying into DC

Katie picked us up at the airport, so good to see her!!

the White House Christmas Tree

Thomas the train was even under the White House Christmas Tree

All 50 states had a tree, this is Illinois' tree

took some pictures to show my students (I hate pictures by myself)

so grateful to spend some time with Katie, I sure miss her in Galesburg

on the Metra, we were such tourists :) My bright green coat also have it away- everyone local had on black coats

touring the capital building

the library of congress

all the ET momma's at dinner Friday night
Audrey, Stacey, Tonya, Jennifer, Susan, Michelle
Monica, me, Megan, Jen

holding pictures of all our kids! 17 Ethiopian kids in these pictures!!!

Love these ladies!!

I finally got to meet Habi's mom-Tiffany!! Such a blessing to hug her!

Georgetown Cupcakes

view of the Pentagon from the airplane

Such a fun, fun weekend!!!