Candy Coma

Yes we are slowly emerging from the sugary daze we have been in all week.  We (aka Van and Zak) don't want to see it come to an end but We (Mommy and Daddy) need to hide/eat/remove the giant bowls of sweetness soon.  If not, I will be endorsing all my future paychecks directly to our beloved dentist.     We've taken a giant mound of candy and loaded it up in Zak's soon to be birthday pinata.   We've shared our candy with family and friends, but it's still here and it seems to multiply in the night.  Sweet sweet dreams indeed.

Happy almost candy heaven day!

The paper chain has one loop left and the boys are beyond excited.  Great day today with our best bud superhero friends at the crazy Squirrel-o-ween party.  Thanks Nutzy!

Our Stars

Van had a huge day at flag football this Saturday.  He and his buddy, Michael who's also adopted from China, both received the sportmanship medal for the week.  Each week, they work on a value that is important for players and this week it was "unselfishness".  Michael and Van both exemplified this value all season.  They never cared about winning or the score, they just had fun and were great sports about the game.  Their team never won a game but from their enthusiasm, you'd never guess.

Van right after he won the award

Love the proud face of little brother sharing the spotlight...of course

Our happy unselfish winner

And of course, proud little brother, Zak had his own moment in the spotlight this week as well.  His photo from our local fall parade was featured on a local news website.  The big draw of the parade is the mounds of candy that gets thrown out of the floats to the kids.  Zak figured this out and just kept creeping closer and closer to the candy love.

Forever Family

One year ago, we were a family of three and today we celebrate a year of our family of four.  Happy, funny, charming, smiley, smart, musical, physical, loving, sweet, chatty and just truly cute Zak changed our family forever.  We are forever grateful to all the parents in China who made that heart wrenching decision, to the nannies and caretakers who watched over him, to the doctors who mended him and to God for making him part of our family.  We looked through all the photos of our China trip tonight and the boys remembered and laughed and talked about how "little" they were then and how "big" they are now.  They fill my heart beyond words with their joy and their laughter.  Their bond is so intense and yet so tender.  Families are made in so many ways...I am forever grateful that ours was made into this...
Happy adoption, gotcha, forever family to our "baby brother Zak".

Countdown to Candy

Yes we are that excited about Halloween this year. Last year, we slept through the holiday. It was our first full day back in the US with Zak and he had no clue what all the craziness was about. This year,both boys can hardly contain themselves. We have a paper chain to aid in the countdown, we have decorations, we have costumes that we try on every other day. Oh and tonight we got "booed" by our neighbor buddy and their joy was uncontrollable. Van-"that was so cool that we got booed!" Zak- "do we get to keep the candy for one hundred years?" Doubt he could keep candy that long if he tried! Even now with three teeth pulled, his sweet tooth is obviously still in tact.

Big and Little projects

No homework in kindergarten but Van did bring home a fun project. Of course Zak had to have his own version. The brothers are spending lots of free time playing school, reading and sharing all their new found knowledge and school friendships. One month of school complete.

Toothless Spiderman

Spiderman had his two front teeth pulled last week...a surprise to all of us. But he took it in stride and loved the arrival of the toothfairy. He loves to show off his new look and he loved it even more with the Spiderman face. Happy Fall Festivals and Facepainting.