Happy Family Day....

The day had finally arrived...the day we would become a family.  I remember walking into Holt and seeing Jae-min in the lobby in the arms of his very biggest fan....the lovely nurse.  Then I remember her handing him to me and from that moment on I've never let him go.

I remember walking upstairs to the meeting room again with his Omma and taking more pictures and gathering all his belongings.  I remember her talking to me in Korean and somehow I knew just by the tone of her voice and the love in her eyes exactly what she was saying.  And I remember seeing the necklace we had given her on our meeting day hanging proudly around her neck.

I remember his Omma stroking his cheeks as we stood on the streets of Seoul, whispering into his ears.  I remember her hugging me so tightly and then getting into a cab with this little bundle.  I remember the door shutting and the silence...and looking back to see his beautiful Omma waving both hands as we drove away.

I remember the looks as we walked through the hotel and the words of congrats from total strangers in Korean.  I remember taking Jae-min out that day into the streets of Seoul to take pictures of him and us in his homeland.  And then I remember the TEARS....the night full of tears, fear, and grief.  And all I could do was hold that little boy and snuggle him close and cry right along with him.
It amazes me to have watched this little boy grow and change over the last four years.  It amazes me to think back to that very first family day and to remember that little baby so so so afraid.  And to remember how our relationship formed and how he began to trust and how he began to love....us....

And it amazes me each and every day to see glimpses of that boy now in this one, in this bigger boy with the same exact heart, the same exact smile, and the same exact spirit as that very first day.

We loved you the moment you were placed in our arms.  But that love has grown each and every day since. You are the PERFECT fit for us and know that God truly chose you to be ours.  We love you our sunshine!!!  Happy Family Day.

And there you were.....

It has been 4 years since those doors opened in a room a world away....4 years since the son we had longed for and loved from afar became REAL.  4 years since we sat in a little room feeling like we were going to throw up when suddenly just like that a door opened and our lives stood still.

I vividly remember every single second of that meeting.  Every single second of the nerves, the fear, the laughter, and the tears.  I remember sitting there and unexpectedly Jae-min's Omma handing me our son....

I remember how he smelled, how he felt, how he looked at me and smiled.  I remember the feeling of those blue pants he was wearing and reading his shirt that said "happy".  I remember the kerchief tied around his little neck to catch the drool.  I remember handing him back to his Omma and with the sweetest words in Korean she began to speak to him.  And I remember him lighting up so big as she sang to him and thinking "I hope someday he lights up like that with me".

I remember a room full of joy, full of such happiness that we felt we could conquer the world.

I remember walking downstairs with him and watching him light up the room.  I remember everyone he came in contact with smiling and loving on our boy.
And then I remember having to say goodbye....to hand him back to his Omma for just a few more days.  I remember leaving Holt with empty arms, but a full heart.  I remember feeling like I was walking on air!!!!  Because on this day 4 years ago we touched and loved on our son....and this was just the beginning.....

February

Mr. February....you are always so short and so sweet with your red and pink and your house full of hearts.  This year you were extra busy around here....and extra snowy too.  

You inserted alittle bit of your sense of humor.  You decided to bring some snow along...and not just little bits of snow, but a BLIZZARD!!!!!

You laughed at us as we were buried in sooo much snow, with no electricity for days.  And then you watched as we took advantage of what you had to offer and took to the street with our neighbors and went sledding, and sledding, and sledding till our fingers and toes were numb.

And then along came your most special day.....the day of love arrived.  We made Valentine boxes

And heart crafts, and heart muffins, and heart garlands to hang from the curtain rods.  We exchanged cards with our friends and received tatoos that we all adorned for much of your lovely month.

You watched on as we celebrated the Lunar New Year without much fanfare because of the snow....but we celebrated none the less.
You allowed us a special date with a special little boy at his very first trip to the bowling alley....and boy was he thrilled!!!!

And here he is showing us how many he knocked down.  And you never made fun of me Mr. February when that little first timer beat the pants off of me.

You laughed at this momma as you cancelled school numerous times and watched as I frantically came up with ideas to keep Jae-min happy and busy....here we are painting snow....for hours and hours!!!!

We loved each and every magical winter wonderland moment you provided.  I've always said snow is one of my most favoite things!!!!

January.....

Oh Mr. January you arrived with a bang....welcoming in a brand new year!!!!  You haven't decided if you want to snow, freeze, or give us days of pure warmth.  I will say we have relished in any kind of weather you've thrown our way.

We've enjoyed making forts with the ice you left behind.  You gave us hats and boots and mittens....and then you went ahead and gave us a day here and there with questions of "should I wear that heavy coat today".  You've kept us on our toes that's for sure.

And one special night as we were driving along you gave us this magnificent sunset.  Just beautiful!!!!

 You allowed our new little furry friend the privilege of a long overdue haircut...his very first one to which he was a very good boy we were told.

And you've teased us with small bits of more snow, just enough to bundle up after dinner and go out on the back porch and catch snowflakes on our tongues.

Jae-min never misses an opportunity for a snow angel!!!!

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We had fun wrapping up from the holidays and sliding into the new year!!!  Welcome 2013!!!

Snow

Several weeks back we got our first big snowfall of the season.  Jae-min was  EXCITED to go outside and have fun fun fun.  We geared up and out we went.....

Jae-min had fun making snow angels.....

And Charlie LOVED the snow.  It was his first experience with it and he spent his time running, jumping in the air trying to catch snow falling.  He buried his little nose in that cold white stuff and kept on running till he had actual snowballs attached to his belly!!!!!

Jae-min helped us shovel and make piles of snow.

And then we made a snowman....which strangely enough came to life!!!!

We love playing outdoors and the snow makes it even better.

Flashback Friday #4.....Christmas

On Christmas Eve we threw out the reindeer food that Jae-min had made at preschool.  He told us "don't worry, my teacher said its all natural"  Phew...I was a little concerned!!!!

Christmas morning was met with much excitement.  Jae-min couldn't wait to race down that hall and see what Santa had left.  Lego's it was!!!!  A big big box of them....and a stocking full of goodies.

Jae-min quickly looked through his stocking and saw lots of fun things.  He then quickly wanted to put a Mario video into the tv and proceed to wear his Luigi Halloween costume.  Odd you ask??  Um yup, but dreams come true on Christmas so that is exactly what he did!!!!

Family arrived for more gift giving and we had a nice day.  Jae-min had fun opening a gift and trying it out this year rather than just flying through the gifts.  Which made it more enjoyable!!!  Watching him open the wrapping, then the package and use the gift for awhile before moving on was so much more rewarding than just flying through.

Jae-min couldn't wait to start creating with his big ole tub of little legos.

Jae-min and Charlie especially loved the new sleeping bag from Grammy and Papa.  Um...Charlie move over that is not your gift!!!!

After munching, and playing and laughing it was time for lunch....

The traditional "toots" were enjoyed by all.  Then more playing, more laughing, and some very fun slushie smoothies were made.
Oh, and Charlie didnt' want to give up that comfy sleeping bag....

Jae-min brought the spirit of Christmas to our house.  His laughter, excitement, big almond eyes shining as he opened each and every gift is what this season is all about.  I went to bed that night extra thankful and blessed to share this magical season with him

Flashback Friday #3....Christmas Eve

Last year we started a new tradition to give Jae-min his presents from us on Christmas Eve morning.  This gives us the opportunity to enjoy the gifts without rushing and then he can play with them all day before we go out that night.  He was getting very very excited.....

We had him sit by the fireplace and handed one present to him at a time.....

Every present was met with happiness, smiles, joy, and fascination....

He loved everything.

Light brite is always fun.....

Jae-min was at a FUN age this year where he got excited about each and every gift.  After opening a MobiGo game he exclaimed "oh my, thank you so much.  This is just what I wanted" to which he leaped up and gave me a big hug!!!!

Jae-min got his very own tv remote.  You can program 5 kids channels and  he can change between them all.  He felt like a BIG boy after that gift!!!

Jae-min couldn't contain his excitement after sneaking a peek at this big pirate ship!!!!

And then that big boy needed to be OPENED and played with IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!

A fun and relaxing Christmas Eve morning.  A great tradition to watch Jae-min truly enjoy the gifts we give him.  Lots of playing and cookie making throughout the day...for the big man in red to visit tomorrow!!!!

Flashback Friday 2...The Gingerbread "House"

We decided it would be fun to construct a gingerbread house.  Jae-min was ready......He began by squirting the icing on soooo gingerly.....

And then began to add the candies......

And then the "house' came tumbling down.....

So what are boys to do????  Squirt icing into each others mouths thats what!!!!

The finished "house"

I LOVE the pictures at first with a clean table, clean faces, clean fingers.  And then this last picture with stuff EVERYWHERE!!!!  Now that's how you make a gingerbread house!!!!!

Flashback Friday....Getting The Tree

First up was getting the tree.  Its one of Joe's favorite things to do with me (insert eye roll).  You see, I'm a little "picky" about my Christmas tree....I like them short and fat and will walk around and around and around (did I say around) that tree lot till I find just the one....and its usually the first one we had seen.  I make Joe take them all out of their stands and hold them, spin them, and then frown,and say "nope, next".  Good golly its a wonder he still takes me there year after year  But this boy just rolls with it all.....

We found the tree alittle quickly this year and then headed home to decorate.

Decorating the tree was fun and I was surprised that even little Charlie didn't try to touch it!!!

Little Dokey even visited the tree.

Its always fun looking at all the ornaments and finding just the right spot on the tree for them.  And then Mommy moves them to a "better" location after everyone leaves the area  Haha