Happy Halloween

Hi All,
Tonight we celebrated Halloween.  This was Gabe’s first Halloween.  Jackson was a skeleton, Grace was a cat and Gabriel was an indian brave.  Grace has been counting down the days to Halloween for a couple of weeks now.  She woke up wanting to know, “Is it today?”  Grace had a party at her school first thing this morning so she got to wear her costume to school.  Jackson’s school party wasn’t until the afternoon.  I made the treats and Andy went and helped with the party. 

After a little down time after school everybody got ready to go and off we went.  We stopped at many places – our first at the Davidson house.  Jackson and Grace remembered them from last year because they give away big candy bars.  We also made a stop by Shane and Jane Brady – the parents of Andy’s good friend Matt.  Jane jokingly had a costume for Andy a “NoBama” bumper sticker – that would be Andy’s nightmare!

After driving around to various houses I took all three kids for trick or treating.  I didn’t know how Gabriel would do, but I shouldn’t have worried – he did just fine.  Of course he did the little kid thing of wanting to stop and eat every piece of candy he got.  He even had a pretty good version of “trick or treat” – more like “treaaa”, but still pretty good.

Later in the evening I took Jackson and the boys across the street (Bryce and Caleb) to the Haunted House.  They were so excited.  We went in and I told the lady that I needed 4 tickets.  When she looked at me funny I looked back to find the boys gone.  I found them back outside with big eyes and all three said, “I don’t want to go!”.  I guess they aren’t as old as they thought they were!  We settled for going for ice cream and some fun at the Sonic playground.  On the ride home, Caleb said, “This has turned out to be a real good friendship night!”

I hope you all had a very happy Halloween.  Below are some pics from our evening.

Dana

The indian, skeleton and cat

 

Jackson

 

Andy

Not quite ready for a Haunted House

Gracie

Pumpkin Carving

Hi All,
Tonight we celebrated Halloween and Fall by carving our pumpkins.  These were the same pumpkins the kids picked out at the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago.  For some reason (maybe my preference to not be covered in slimy goo), Andy has always had the head pumpkin carving duties.

As you can see from the pictures below the kids had a good time and the pumpkins turned out great.  This was Gabe’s first pumpkin carving experience.  He kept saying “Pumk! PumK!  My Pumk!”.  I can’t wait for Halloween.

Dana

Before the carving

 

Jackson tracing his design

 

Grace draws her design

 

 

Aarrrggh!

 

The carving begins.

 

Gabe gets in on the action

 

The finished product

He’s getting it!

Hi All,
For the past several months Gabriel has been taking speech therapy (thanks Susan!). Although he had learned some single words, he had yet to really put two or three words together. I am happy to report that over the last week it is as if someone turned the light on. He is now starting to really use new words and is FINALLY beginning to put together two words.

For example, Gabe’s favorite things in the world are cars or “beep beeps”. We have been working on him to say the actual words, “car, truck, bus, van, train, etc.”. We have also been working really hard to get him to use adjectives, “big, little, etc.” and to put two words together. Last night when we got into town we passed a huge semi-truck. Gabe said, “Big truck!”. Yeah Gabe!!

This morning he and I were playing with his matchbox cars. I had the little tow-truck and I was pushing one of his cars and Gabe said, “Truck Stuck”. Double Yeah Gabe!! He also said, “More Beep Beeps”. He is finally getting it!

Oh, and with all the toy commercials on t.v. his most common word is, “Mine!” while pointing to the t.v screen. I guess that is something he picked up pretty quickly.

Dana

A visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s house

Hi All,
Jackson has spent the last several days with his Grandma and Grandpa Stanton in Logan, KS.   As always, he had a great time.  He got to spend lots of time with Grandpa in the workshop.  He must have made five different airplanes and even a tank.  One of his airplanes he decorated with camouflage and messages to his cousin Jake who is in the Army.   Jake if you are able to read this – know that your cousins think about you ALL THE TIME!!

We went to get Jackson today and spent the afternoon so Grace and Gabriel could also get some Grandma and Grandpa time.   Below, please find some pics from the day:

Dana

Grandma and Jackson with the plane he built

 

Grandpa and Gabriel

 

Grace and Grandpa

Sissy and Little Bubba

Hi All,
Jackson didn’t have school on Thursday or Friday so he went and spent a long weekend in Logan with Grandma and Grandpa Stanton (we’ll get him tomorrow afternoon).  Jackson’s absence left us with just Grace and Gabe.  It has been no secret that our two youngest have had a rocky history.  The problem being they both want the same thing – the constant attention of Mom and Dad.  If Grace comes to me to sit on my lap, Gabe will try to beat her there – and vice/versa.  Grace is especially jealous of any attention Gabe gets.  Her constant lament is, “I wish I was Gabe”. 

We have started to notice that the two have started to play together a little better.  We really noticed the last couple of days with Big Bubba out of the picture that they were playing together much better.  They have played in two empty laundry baskets for the last two days.  They use them as cars, as boats, as a cave, as a bed – you name it they have done it.  It is so funny to watch them.

Of course everything isn’t always perfect, they can go from playing nicely to physically attacking each other – usually Gabe hitting Grace.  Just the other night he chunked a match box car at her – hitting her in the ear and causing it to bleed (no major damage).  It probably really hurt, but Miss Grace put on an Academy Award winning performance – you would have thought he knocked her ear right off.  I’m sure they will be 28 and 30 some day and Grace will remind Gabe of the time he almost took her ear off.  Once offended Grace can hold a grudge with the best of them!

Well, that is about it for tonight.  Below find a few pics of Grace and Gabriel.

Dana

Gabriel and Grace

 

Grace and her Baby

 

Grace asleep in the laundry basket

A Night of Music

Me with Joseph Martin!

Hi All,
Tonight I had the most wonderful experience.  As I have mentioned here before I am a member of our church choir.  On many different occasions we have done pieces by the composer Joseph Martin.  Tonight Joseph Martin was in our church to give a concert (he is a wonderful pianist) and then conduct our choir in three of his compositions. 

His piano playing was phenomenal.  Andy, who was sitting in the audience said he thought I might have had a stroke because for his entire performance I had a huge smile frozen on my face.  It was true!  I couldn’t stop smiling.  My favorite were the old hymns played with such amazing energy and technique.  It was unbelievable!!  I am a student of the piano.  I took lessons for years.  I like to play for myself, but am terrified of playing in public (not singing or acting, but of playing the piano).  I play for myself, for my own pleasure.  It was such a treat getting to listen to such a master!

Then the second part of the concert started.  First the combined middle school choirs sang a Joseph Martin piece – of course conducted by Mr. Martin.   Oh their beautiful young voices sounded so pure and angelic.  I was so impressed – they were so young and yet so good!!  As soon as the middle school departed the “big choir” came on.  Joining our church choir were singers from the high school and university.  The pieces were sedate and stately one minute and fun and spirited the next.  Probably my favorite parts were the places where the music swelled to heights (and volumns) that I have rarely experienced.  The sound was alive, physical, beautiful – it really touched my soul.  It was all I could do not to drop my music and weep.   Corny??  Yes, but oh so true!

After the concert I bought a CD and even got my picture taken with Mr. Martin.  I highly encourage you to google “Joseph Martin”  You can buy his CDs online.   I would also like to send a big “congratulations” to our choir director Johnny Matlock.  Johnny (who also directs the middle school choirs) made all the arrangements for this wonderful night.  Thank you Johnny!  Also thanks to my sweet husband Andy for helping feed the choirs before and after the performance.

Here are a few pictures.

Dana
P.S.  Oh, and he also signed the cover of my new CD, “To Dana, my favorite Alto!”

The middle school choirs perform

 

A view from the balcony

 

Combined Choir - can you find me?

 

 

 

 

Prize Winner!

Chosen for the June 2009 Calendar Page

 

 

Hi All,
We got a nice surprise in the mail today.   This Summer we visited Ken and Leah during harvest.  While we were there, we took lots of pictures.  A few weeks after that Leah called us and told us that she had read that the High Plains Journal was having a photo contest for their 2009 Calendar and urged us to enter some of the pictures we had taken.  So, I chose the photos I thought best and entered the contest.

Well, fast forward to this afternoon.  I went to get the mail and found a large package from The High Plains Journal.  In the package was a congratulations letter, a check for $100 and a copy of the 2009 Calendar.  Our photo was chosen for the June calendar page.  Quite honestly I am not sure who took the photo that won (see above).  Andy and I both took lots of photos that day, but in either case we were pretty excited.

For me it was particularly nice.  Growing up I can remember my Grandpa reading three things:  the Holy Bible, The Cappers Weekly and The High Plains Journal.  To a farmer, The High Plains Journal is kind of like the Bible.  I thought if he were still alive he would have gotten a kick out of that picture.

Dana

Prayers for Jake

Jake

Hi All,
Our nephew Jake is in the Army. I decided that I will use the Psalm below to pray for God’s protection over him. If you feel so moved, please say a prayer for Jake and all our service men and women in harm’s way.

I lift up my eyes to the hills- Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121

Dana

Closing in on 25,000 Hits

Hi All,
Since starting this blog we have had close to 25,000 hits. Sometimes people submit a comment, but for the most part people browse and then leave.

I see from our cluster map that we have readers from around the world. I am interested in who regularly reads our blog. If you wouldn’t mind – in honor of our 25,000 visitors – please let us know where you are from by clicking on the responses/comment link. If you want to share more info – great. Obviously we don’t need or want last names. I assume many of you are from the international adoption community and some are friends and family.  I just thought it would be fun to know who our audience is.

Dana

World Communion Sunday

Hi All,
Today was World Communion Sunday.  It is a Sunday where we remember that there are other congregations all over the world celebrating the Lord’s Supper.  In honor we read parts of the service (Apostles’ Creed and The Lord’s Prayer) in other languages – 6 other languages to be exact.  Once again this year I read the portion in French.  I tell you, as far as church is concerned, I have gotten lots of mileage out of my 5 hours of college French.  If I ever go to France, probably the only thing I can saw, with any sort of accuracy, is the Apostles’ Creed and The Lord’s Prayer.  Can’t you imagine me wondering around Paris in a daze – some Frenchman asks if he can help and all I can mutter is, “I believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth”. 

Since we were celebrating God’s church around the world we decided to dress our kids in their Chinese silks.  Our friends Eric and Jacinda also dressed their new daughter Emmaline (CUTE beyond words) in her silk dress as well.  After the service we took some pics – which you can see below.

Dana

The Stanton Family

 

Gabriel (Dang Hui), Jackson and Grace (Ying Zhen)

 

Emmaline and Gabriel

 

Jackson, Emmaline, Grace and Gabe

 

Grace Jo