Christmas Cupcakes

When Hannah turned one, I attempted to make her Birthday cake. Somewhere along the road of life, I got it in my head that a mother is supposed to make at least the 1st Birthday cake. After that one, I vowed I would not be doing that again...well, I've not made Hannah a birthday cake, but I have made her Christmas Cupcakes for her Christmas party in her class tomorrow. Now, keep in mind, she's not even 2 yet!! Lucky for me, there's only 8 students and 2 teachers for a big total of 10!! I voluntered to make the cupcakes, with excitement...Then I actually started making them...I asked David, "what will I do when Hannah is in a class with 30 children?" He quickly replied, "you won't be making homemade cupcakes like this unless you plan to give an entire day to it!!" hahahah - what was I thinking? I was going to give up and just put icing on them until David said, "I don't think you can make that snowman." That did it. I was determined then that Hannah would proudly take Frosty and Rudolph cupcakes to her class tomorrow....So below is the final product!! (This is so my mom can see them :) )

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman....

Upclose and personal with Rudolph!

And he thought I couldn't make Frosty....I sure showed him!!


As I type this, Hannah has not yet seen her cupcakes. I'm sure she'll be thrilled. Actually, she was thrilled with the plain cupcakes. She kept declaring to me that she would like "a cake mommy...a cake...pwease!!! cake Mommy." I wouldn't let her have one, so tomorrow in her classroom, she can enjoy a decorated one! It was a fun night afterall. David ended up helping and we laughed a lot at my determination to finish Rudolph and Frosty!!

These are for you Miss Hannah!!! We love you!

Thanksgving....

Our Thanksgiving post has been delayed because...well we were hit with an After Thanksgiving Plague - or at least it seemed like it. Our family caught a virus and a week later I now can say I think we are going to survive! Prior to Thanksgiving, Hannah and I had a very enjoyable and relaxing visit with my parents in Alabama. While there, we were able to see my sister-in-law, niece and nephew. I was so thankful that Melissa brought the kids over to see us. It was a huge sacrifice on her part and I was very blessed!

Hannah and my niece Katie helping my mom in the kitchen.

It was impossible to get a good picture of the three of them! Notice the divided family? Hannah has on Alabama gear..Nathan has on Gator gear!

Think it's in her genes?

For Thanksgiving, David's parents came to visit us. It was a nice visit, except that his mom got sick and was sick the entire time she was here. So we didn't get to visit with them much.

Growing up, my family always started Thanksgiving morning off with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and sausage balls for breakfast. I have always wanted to go see the parade in person - one of those crazy dreams you have in life. In our family, the only Thanksgiving tradition we have is that we are never at the same place for Thanksgiving the next year. The last two years, we were in Colorado. Well, this year, I began our family tradition... Just like my mom, I fixed sausage balls and got everything ready so that Hannah could watch the parade.

Here is Hannah and David enjoying the parade!

Hannah loved the parade this year! When they would flash a banner on the screen announcing who was on the parade, she would bend down and try to look under the banner in order to see the parade! We laughed so hard at her. She loved the balloons and all the band and cheerleaders!

After lunch, we went to the park with David's brother's family. In my mind, Thanksgiving is supposed to be cold, so while I was at the park, I reminded myself..."not everyone gets to go to the park after Thanksgiving lunch. This is pretty nice."

Here's David's family.

Trunks of Treats

We had a great time at our church for the Fall Festival! Our church went all out! There were games, hotdogs, snowcones, popcorn, cotton candy, prizes,cake walks, inflatables and of course.... candy!! It was a huge success. Around 1000 people came through. It was such a fun night. For the first time, the church had trunks of treats. David and I decorated our trunk. We were a bit nervous because I had been talking trash saying we were going to win. (The winner won a gift card to Outback). Our pastor had been talking it up with me. So David got nervous since I had been running my mouth :). I had heard that kids were going to be the judges, so I decided we needed to apeal to the kids!! We had a "Down on the Farm" theme. We had a pretend barn and pulled out all of Hannah's stuffed animals. A big thank you to all of you that have given Hannah stuffed animals throughout her life thus far... Because... WE WON!!!!! Rumor is that the kids liked the fact that we had music playing in our car!!! Ours certainly was not the best. Our music pastor and his wife had "candy land" and it was great. Another car was cookie monster and it was fantastic too!!

Hannah was a lion and it was so fun with her this year. She LOVED her costume and cried when we took it off. When you ask her what the lion says, she would say, "RRRHHHH" She strutted around and roared for everyone. We were so pleased with her. She thoroughly enjoyed herself and was such a little trooper! She enjoyed the candy, well she loved the suckers... but more than that - she just loved being dressed up and walking around saying, "hey."

As we left last night, David said, "I was really proud to be a part of Riverhills tonight!!" We feel blessed!

Our little lion!

The golfer and the lion! (Notice the lion continually has a sucker in her mouth!)

The winning Trunk of Treat!! (With the lion and a sucker in her mouth, yet again!)

Journey (Pastor's Granddaughter), Hannah and "Passsor". Journey and Hannah got a little jealous of each other, so he had to hold them both!

And at the end of the day, a lion simply wants to just play in the dirt!!

Family Fun

We are so happy that our Casey and Heather and the boys recently came for a visit. Luckily we live in Tampa where Casey often has meetings. Heather, Israel and Alex came wth him and stayed with us for a couple of days. We feel particularly blessed to have Alex and Isreal in our lives. It's nice to know that Hannah will grow up with two other adopted cousins. God has definitely been good to our family. We are indeed thankful for His goodness! Having three "2-year-olds" was quite funny!! We had a great time though!

There's nothing like jumping on the bed with your cousins!

Casey, Heather, Israel and Alex at the Aquarium. Needless to say, Alex was not too impressed with the Aquarium!

Such a sweet picture! The Aquarium had a play area outside!

haha we figure this picture will come in handy when they're older!!

It's Fall, or so they say...

Fall is my favorite season! I love to pull out long sleeved shirts and begin to look at sweaters. Colorado has perfect fall weather. It's a little warm during the day and then at night, BAM, it's cool! I loved it. However, I no longer live in Colorado and must not accept my present situation :) I live in Florida. Everyone says it's fall. I see that it's October 16 on the calendar. David and I were watching a ballgame this weekend that was taking place in North Carolina. I said to David, "Look - they are wearing sweatshirts, isn't that hard to imagine now!" We spoke with some of our Colorado friends who told us the first ski slope was opening up today. Hum, the very same day that it will be over 80 degrees where I live. It's just hard for me to wrap my mind around that.

In acceptance of this "Florida fall", I asked my teachers to bring the children out and let me take a picture by the fall display at church. Notice most of the children, including my own child, are wearing shorts! Welcome to fall in Florida.

I am NOT complaining though because at least it's not 90 degrees. There IS a big difference between 80 and 90 degrees I've learned!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Hannah and her friends with their teachers, Miss Shala and Ms. Maxine

Hannah thinks she's already two and can just walk on the rope with the 2 year olds. Ahhh, those director's kids....similiar to preacher's kids...WAIT, she's one of those too!

Such a serious face Hannah! This is the bye-bye buggy (so Nana can see what it looks like). Hannah LOVES to ride in the bye-bye buggy!

Love Bugs!

Until I moved to Florida, I thought love bugs were just a very happy couple. Little did I know that love bugs are actually two bugs together. There is "love bug season" and we're in the midst of it. They are EVERYWHERE. I've taken a picture for your non-Floridians. The picture is not very clear... But you get the point.

David and I recently celebrated our 6th Anniversary. Hard to believe that we've been married for 6 years. This year was a quiet dinner to PF Changs in Orlando. Our friends, The Waddell's graciously kept Hannah (actually took her to Disney) for us. We are so thankful to have them near us. We then rode to Orlando and had dinner. It was very simple but the best night ever. Nothing spectacular, but oh so peaceful. We sometimes forget what it's like to ride down the car without saying, "Hannah - you dropped your passy, we can't help you now", "Hannah - we're almost there", "What song would you like to sing Hannah?", "Here, take one more bit for Mommy", "No, Daddy can't hold you now, you have to stay in your highchair until we all finish eating." We drove in silence in the car and enjoyed a quiet dinner. It was great and most needed!

Here's to you David! Six years and three states later we're still going strong! (By the way, PLEASE don't make me move to any more states any time soon!!) I wouldn't want to share my world with anyone else! Thank you for putting up with me and for being an awesome husband and terrific dad!

I LOVE YOU!

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Fun Family Days

This past Saturday was such a fun family day. We went to the Open House for the local fire department. We feel special because we are good friends with the Fire Chief who happens to really take time with Hannah. She loves his 7 year old son. So anytime we get a chance to be around this family - Hannah is quite a happy camper.


It was such a neat open house. They had fire trucks everywhere, sat a car on fire so that we could see them put the fire out. They had booths lined up and down the streets. One booth we stopped out we won a book. Luckily one of our youth workers happened to be working this booth and Mr. Joel let Mommy help Hannah. He had some cards and you chose a card. On the card was a caterpillar. If I could guess the name of the book that was from - we won a new book. Luckily Eric Carle is my favorite children's author right now. Therefore, I knew it was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." So we got to pick out a new book. Hannah was so happy about her "BOOK."





Looks like David is telling me to get away from the fire!!

We won a book and a fan... Nana - this fan is for you!!! It's better than the funeral home fan! Hard to believe by this picture that it's October!!!

A few new pictures

Life is progressing along. I found some pictures recently from the General Assembly where we saw our cousins. It's always nice to see your cousins, but especially nice to see your cousins who share a similiar adoption story. Something about having that special bond with someone else in your family!

Hurry Mommy... Get this pool outside!

So we can enjoy some Florida sun!!!!

Hannah loves to stack her toys up on the shower ledge.

When we first moved here, one of our youth's parents came up to us and said, "I made this dress for your daughter...I hope you don't mind." Mind?? I LOVE it...Will you make us some more?!?!

Our cousins, Alex and Israel. Whatever is holding all their attentions so well should pay us to be their advertisement!!!!! It sure captivated our children!

Hannah's favorite hobby.. "Book Daddy...Book mommy!! BOOK"

YUM...Spaghetti and Bananas. Reminds me of Uncle Donnie!!! It's even better when you get to let it get on your face, hands, arms, nose, etc!!!!

Adoption Day

A little late, but certainly worthy of notation. August 10 is our Adoption Day. David and I decided that we would make this a special day each year for Hannah. Lucky for her it's like two birthdays a year. This year was very special because Nana and Pop came to visit us for Adoption Day. Then because we now live near our friends, The Waddells, they celebrated with us as well. These dear friends walked with us through this adoption journey from the very beginning. It was so special to have them with us this year. As always, it was a delight to have Nana and Pop. Hannah spent the days with Nana and Pop while they were visiting and she LOVED it. She learned how to sing "Row Row Row Your Boat" while they were here. It sounds a little like "Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo". It has now progressed to "Woo Woo Woo Melly Melly Melly". Each day I would come home from work and find Hannah in the kitchen chair singing LOUDLY to my parents as they were cooking dinner. It was such a nice way to come home! We desperately wish they lived near us!

Enjoy some Adoption Day Pictures!

Yippee for you - it was an Elmo Celebration!

Hannah pushes this stroller EVERY where now. She loves to take it to church. (We let her take it when we just have a meeting or something at church - not literally to church!!!! :) )

"Wobby" and Katie Waddell enjoying the party!

Oh it's Grocery shopping time!!

Our dear Nana and Pop

Hannah is in School

A couple of months ago I took a job at our church as the interim director of our Pre-School. Now those faithful two of you that read this blog realize that was a big change for me!! It was not a job that I necessarily wanted. But I'm learning we do a lot for our children. I took this job to help Hannah adjust to a daycare setting. We like to call it "school." Probably helps me to say school more than it does Hannah. It helps me not feel so guilty if I think she's going to school and not daycare! She has done well. Has a hard time still when she sees me, but I try to stay away from her class and sneak by and peak in. I like what a friend of mine said on her blog, "I'm just a stalker mom!" I sneak around and look at her class. It helps that I'm the director right now and could just simply "allow her teacher to leave" if I wasn't happy. But I've been blessed. Hannah has good teachers that love on her and put up with me...the mother and their boss!! Kind of funny I suppose.


I'm learning a lot in this new role as director/mom. I'm learning which class I do NOT want Hannah to be in and what I expect from a class. I pity her future school teachers because now I will be extremely picky!! I hope I'll be a "nice-picky" mom!!

Enjoy some school pictures...


I think I'm the new director. Look at me at my Mommy's desk!


Hum, should I slide or just stand here?




Hannah's teacher Miss Tori. Hannah "talks" to Miss Tori on the phone constantly at home. Talks to her in the grocery store and while she's playing. We LOVE Miss Tori. She made the transition for all of us sooo much easier!




Hannah showing the other girls how to eat an Icy-Pop. (This was her second icy-pop! Would have eaten a third, but I refused!)



She was more interested in the balloons!

What should I be learning through this?

Today is Sunday and I'm at home with Hannah. This obviously is rare for us. She is coughing and sounds as though she's coughing up a lung. Now it's funny to me because just a month ago she was doing the same thing and I took her to a walk in clinic. The doctor said it was allergies and put her on a medication. She did great with that medicine. Then all of a sudden, it's happening again. I've been chalking it up to teething...but now I'm starting to wonder.



Even more interesting to me is that she was never ever sick until we moved to Florida. (The doctor told me, "welcome to Florida.")



So as I sit at home on a Sunday morning with a cranky baby, I'm wondering, "what should I be learning through this process?" Is God trying to teach me something and I'm just not getting it. Or is it simply what happens with children....they get sick sometimes. It is so difficult to "not know." Should I take her to the doctor, is it teething, will it just pass?



Somehow in my mind this parrallels with our faith walk. There are those times when we just don't know. There's the popular saying, "when bad things happen to good people." And they do just happen sometimes. There are those times when it is simply life. However, I'm learning more every day that there are those times when it is a "spiritual thing." God is calling us (me in particular) to a deeper walk. There are issues in my life that I have previously labeled as "just the way it is." Now I'm sensing God saying, "No, Keena - it is a spiritual thing." All of a sudden, I find God helping me through my daily walk like never before. Does that mean it is now easier. No way, in fact probably that much more difficult. But I sense that it's all going to be ok - because God is with me.



That doesn't necessarily answer my question about what to do with Hannah. But when the dust (or snot in our case) settles...there is still a God who cares for us on a daily basis!



Just my simple thoughts on this Sunday morning.

Getting Started

I attempted a blog a while back but quickly gave up. I'm attempting the blog this time to help family and friends keep up with our life. So allow me to catch you up. Hannah is now 19 months old. I can not believe it. It seems like yesterday we were walking into the hospital on that cold January day and trying to figure out which one of those cries were from our baby. I remember it like yesterday. David looked to me and said, "Do you think that's her?" Yes, he already knew the cry of his child. Soon we would hold her and life would change instantly. So, 19 months later here we are. We just recently celebrated our 1st Adoption Day - which is August 10. It was a fun night with our friends - the Waddell family and my parents who were in town! It was emotional for me remembering that one year ago we nervously stood before the judge praying everything would be ok. I remember hearing our Bishop (Bishop Tim Brown) and our pastor (Pastor Jimmy and Sheila Dickens) sniffling (sp?) their tears along with us. What a special time in our lives that was. How we miss those families.

Why do we miss those families - in case we've not talked to you in a while? We moved to Florida. It was a hard transition, but we know God directed our paths. I still grieve over our move, but know that we're in the midst of God's will. We have a great youth group that have accepted us and opened their arms and hearts to us.

I was reminded of that very though last night at our first youth lock-in. Yes, I know I've publicly stated my disdain for lock-ins and I still do not like them.... But I went. And Hannah went!!! I took my 19 month old child to her first of probably MANY youth lock-ins. I put her to bed at 8 like normal and then got her up at 10 to go to our lockin. She was awesome!!! She thought it was the greatest thing ever. I was reminded how good God is to us when I saw different kids on their knees rolling a ball to my little girl. I saw them playing with her while she pushed her doll stroller around that gym like she was 15 or 16. I just stood back and watched at how good God is to us. These youth have not only embraced David and myself - but have embraced our daughter. That is the most important thing to me. When I made her leave with me at 2:30am - she was very frustrated at me!! She was going strong and not fussy at all!!! (The next day has been a challenge thus far - but we're making it!!)

So that's where we are - enjoying life and all that God has blessed us with!! Stay tuned for my updates on this crazy life of ours!!!

This is our neighbor Bree. She used to go to Hannah's pre-school and then we found out we're neighbors!!

Hannah and Bree pushing their strollers down our sidewalk!!