Our Adoption Story: November 2007

Monday, November 19, 2007

Pre-School Pictures

1. Elizabeth gets to put a feather on the turkey

2. Elizabeth pays attention to Mrs. Parn

During play time, Elizabeth (or should I say Dr. Hagan) plays doctor with Jasmine and Gracie. Gotta love those glasses :-)

Pre-School Fun

1. Can you guess what Elizabeth's favorite subject is??? Recess, of course!! Here she is pictured with Emily and Gracie

2. Swinging is a favorite, too.

3. The next favorite thing at Pre-School...Snack Time :-)

4. Elizabeth and Cassidy playing with the doll

house during play-time

Happy Gotcha Day!

Can you believe it has been 2 years!?!?!?!?

November 15th marks the day we got to bring Elizabeth from the orphanage 2 years ago. WoW! How our lives have changed. Elizabeth continues to be a happy, joyful girl. She is always smiling and continues to make those around her smile. She has a great imagination and it is always interesting to see what her little mind is going to come up with next. She has touched many lives and I thank God for giving us the opportunity to have her in our life....we have been truly blessed!

To celebrate the day, Elizabeth and I went to Sawyer's Creek and shopped, she rode on Santa's sleigh, we ate lunch, she fed the fish, we got our nails painted. Later we made Borsch (beet soup - which is a soup common in the Ukraine.) Tom and I ate that several times while we were there. It's a lot better than it sounds - even if you don't like beets, you really can't taste them. I got the recipe off the internet, but if anyone wants the one I used, I would be happy to share it.

Tom and I have been reliving our experience by reviewing the blog from 2 years ago. This time of year with the change in the season always reminds us of our time in the Ukraine - so many memories we'll never forget. We share these experiences and pictures with Elizabeth. She knows we came in an airplane to get her, that she cried when we met, that she LOVED bananas, soon she loved playing with us, and one day we got to bring her home with us in an airplane half way around the world. She gets excited when we talk about the airplane she rode in, so she also got a Little People Airplane for Gotcha Day.

Gotcha Day was a great day, but really...every day with my family is a great day. Tom, Elizabeth, Christopher...God is great and He has been good :-)

Elizabeth's First Manicure

On Gotcha Day, Elizabeth and I got our nails done in Hannibal to celebrate. I'm not sure how well you can see them, but they are painted pink with a white flower on her thumbs and big toes. (You can click on the picture to enlarge it). Some may think it was an elaborate waste of money to have a 3 year olds finger nails painted, but we plan to make this a tradition every day on November 15th on Gotcha Day. Elizabeth LOVED the attention of having her nails done :-)

First day of Pre-School

Elizabeth started Pre-School at Paris with Mrs. Parn (Aunt Holly) for one day each week. She LOVED it. She fit right in with the other kids and they were quick to help her find her way around.

While she is there I help Holly and Mrs. Peterson (Bonnie) with the other kids. Wow! They have their hands full with 14-20 kids ranging in age from 3-5 years old. I have great respect and admiration for Holly and Bonnie and all teachers! What a fun and rewarding job (but in no way is it an easy job, either)!

Happy Halloween ~ 2007

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

1. Elizabeth and I carved pumpkins, then colored the eyes, lips, hair, etc. She named one "Elizabeth" and the other "Daddy." Can't you see the similiarity? Chad, Kim, and Makenzie Hays were nice enough to give us the pumpkins.

2. This is "Spooky ~ The Kitty" (aka Elizabeth). She loved being a kitty and talked about it for weeks before Halloween. Funny though, while we were driving around trick-or-treating, she was already thinking about Christmas because we were listening to Christmas CD's in the van :-)

3. Spooky the Kitty and Princess Danielle

4. Elizabeth with Kent and Jeanne Cheek

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Playing dress up

Playing dress up is another favorite thing to do. In the top picture she's all wrapped up with a colorful string, slippers and sunglasses. The second picture she has a cute hat Aunt Holly got for her and a boa.

Elizabeth with her PaPa. She loves music -- singing, playing the piano and drums, and listening to tapes and CDs, and of course dancing. PaPa is playing with her pony tail :-)

Fall has arrived!

Look at the beautiful fall leaves. As you can see Elizabeth and Mollie are both growing up (Mollie now weighs more than Elizabeth) We are going for one of our many walks with Aunt Holly and GrandMary.

Elizabeth has learned to swing herself and it's one of her favorite things to do!

Elizabeth with PaPa

Weiner Roast at Uncle Gary and Aunt Karen's

"Canines for a Cure" Walk

We had a beautiful day to walk and support the "Canines for a Cure" in October. Some of the proceeds went towards a cure for Breast Cancer. There were many people walking dogs, but we left Mollie at home, she's only 5 months old, and still on the hyper side :-) Holly, mom, Karen, Machelle, Stephen, Elizabeth and I walked while Danielle rode her bike.