Update and pictures!!!

So what have we been up to???

We had an amazing Christmas.  We celebrated with all our family and the kids had a blast.  We could definitely feel the missing piece though. I can not wait to have Caleb home and celebrating with us.  We were able to get a package out to him in time for him to receive it for Christmas and today we got pictures!!!! 

I know buddy not that interesting :)

Ok Mom that is more like it

How wonderful and amazing it is to see him looking at his brother and sister

It looks like he has gotten a haircut and his hair looks thicker!!  I can not get over how much my heart loves this little boy that I only know through a picture.

I can tell you we also got an email yesterday.  One that gave us a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel......our Article 5 was dropped off on 12/23 and will be picked up 1/11.  This is the last step.  Once it is picked up we begin our wait for TA (Travel Approval). Some are getting them quick.  We are hoping and praying we get it right after the Chinese New Year (we would take right before it too).  If we do get it the first week of Feb. we could be traveling the last week of Feb!!!

Oh soooo close.

How have I never been there?!?!?

I was born in Wisconsin.....lived here all my life.

I love....love....LOVE anything that has to do with the old way of life.
Simplicity
Old Traditions
Life Back in the Days

Growing up my favorite part of the museum was "The Streets of old Milwaukee"....Just loved it. Especially when they had people dressed up and acting. Well this weekend we went up to the Green Bay area to Heritage Hill. How in the world have I lived so close all these years and never been there. It was a Old World Christmas theme. Santa how he use to be (not in red but in a big brown coat), how they made toys, old dancing (Virginia Reel, which came back to me since I was taught that in school..lol), horse and carriage rides and so much more. Just loved it!!

Old time Santa.  Neither girl would go near him...lol.  After Nathan said...who is that?  I said ..Santa's helper.  He goes back to Santa and tells him...what you want.  Nathan just laughed and said....No that is just someone dressed up Mom.   I just gave him a...I don't know yeah your right look.  He rolled his eyes and walked away.....He is catching on, bummer!!!

Ben, his mom and the kids!

She was cooking an old fashion Christmas dinner.  Those are chicken roasting!  Yummy!

If you are in the area I highly suggest checking it out next year!!!


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So some things I have been up to!

Made a bible cover!  Love it!

So easy.  I don't even know what these old jug things are but you can use these or an old crate or anything but put the branches you cut off the tree in them, twigs, branches (you can spray paint the branches), use ribbon, lights, I used some flowers from Hobby Lobby.  Just decorate away.  I love how it looks

Old wool sweater mittens....I've wanted to make these and I love how they turned out.

yep Ana looks crazy but it is the only one I got of all of us :)  Ben celebrated his birthday this weekend!  Happy Birthday we love you more then words!!!!1

Pictures of the package we sent out to Caleb.  I forgot to take a picture of some of them before they were wrapped....oh well!

Hope you and your family has a wonderful week leading up to Christmas!!!

I800!!!

We just got the email today

I800 APPROVED!!!!!

Still more steps but nothing that can deny us.  Our agency said there is a chance that we could travel the end of Feb.......I know I'm trying not to get my hopes up but oh my it is so hard not to :-) 

One step closer (I feel like I have written that so many times...lol)!!!!!!

Oh and I also sent out his care package today which included a blanket, toy, photo book, pjs, toothbrush, gifts for his caregivers and some donation items. 

So I go to the post office thinking this is going to be quick.  45 min later, sweating (you know when nothing is going your way and it is taking forever and everyone is looking at you like....can't you get those kids under control kind of sweating) because the girls just ran around laughing and screaming and I couldn't get them to sit still, I was finally out of there.  I never ever would have guessed it would take that long!!!

Now both girls are having "quiet time"/time out because mommy needs to unwind and destress :)  But hey I just have to remember our I800 is approved and the smile is back, all is well!!!



Craft items left.....

About 2 weeks ago we had a craft fair here in town.  Well we have lots left.  Not many buyers came and those that did seemed to be there only for hair accessories :)  Anyway here is some things that we had left.  I can ship them to you if you are out of town.  You can send a check to me or pay via my RR chip in on the side of my blog.  Great Christmas ideas for secret santa gifts, grandparents or our jewelry pouches are perfect if you are a traveler.

Email me or comment to let me know if you would like something.

lanyards $10/each (perfect for work ID badge.  Break aways)

(the one on far rt.-paisley sold)

(second from rt - flower sold)

lanyard - $10/each

nuk holders - velcro on the one side to hold nuk - $5/each

reindeer ornaments - $5/each

have 15 of them

santa ornament - $5/each

have 20 of them

ornaments - $5/each - perfect to put $ in or gift card

I have 4 santas 2 santas, 2 snowman -SOLD, 2 reindeer

table runner $20/reversible

length 42" width 14"

table runner $20/reversible

length 42" width 13 3/4"

Lots of jewelry bags.  draw string closure.  inside is 8 pockets and then the main middle area for jewelry.  $20/each

#1 - SOLD

#2 (I have 3 of these)

#3

#4

 #5

 #6

 #7

 #8

 #9 ( I have 2 of these)

 #10 ( I have 3 2 of these )

Trim the tree.....

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year.  I love warm sweaters, early mornings with coffee and just the lights of the tree and traditions.

Every year we go and cut down our tree.   Everyone LOVES it.   I usually love it until my arms feel like they are going to fall off from holding one of the kids while we walk through the trees and they begin to slowly slip from my arms because of their nice silky snow pants and then I'm trying to make sure Katie is following us and not looking up at "nothing" and walking at a turtle pace....oh and then making sure Nathan is paying attention and holding the saw in a position that absolutely nothing could go wrong.....all the while trying to pay attention to Ben asking if this tree looks good or maybe we could look at the other tree that is over the hill and around the bend and down the road (well not really but it sure felt like it).....it usually gets to the point that I look at him and say....ANYTHING please just cut one down. They all look great just pick.

BUT....

This year we walked over to the area with the type of trees we love, which just happened to be next to the entrance, and walked about 20 feet and I hear.  Wow, look at that one!  Let me tell you it was like God was saying.....Here have an easy year Juli.  And you know what... Thank you Lord.  It was quick.  The kids loved it and we got an awesome tree.  I did however fall down walking back trying to hold Ana and the branches that Ben cut off the bottom of the tree because I "needed" to have them.  Oh and when I fell there was of course other people right there...ughhhh oh well we had a tree!!!

Then we headed home and that night set up the tree.  This year was so fun with the kid's ages.  They got so excited about certain ornaments and were actually able to get them on the tree to the point that they stayed and didn't fall off within a few minutes :-) And of course we cranked up the Christmas tunes nice and loud and danced!

helping me separate the lights...ughhhhh

Caleb I can not wait to create these memories with you......love you more then you know!