tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84403163979307548872024-02-07T01:00:51.420-08:00Two Boston and BeyondOne family's journey to adopt their third child from the Pacific IslandsLoishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-49589878397021266402012-10-04T14:41:00.001-07:002012-10-04T14:41:24.575-07:00Fall 2012Hi to those of you who still check this blog! We are all well and thankful for the beautiful fall weather we are enjoying. <br />
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Here are some pictures from the summer and fall to bring you up-to-date on the kids! <br />
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This was the first day of school 8/22/12 as Jacob and Hannah started Fourth Grade, and Boston started Kindergarten. </div>
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A day at Brookfield Zoo in August!<br />
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At our Pacific Islands Midwest Family Reunion in July with Dona from RMI.<br />
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Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-63931954281901371372012-03-30T13:28:00.009-07:002012-04-03T12:35:25.750-07:00Catching UpOkay, I see I haven't posted in almost 7 months! Happy Spring! Here are some random pictures from the past months to bring some smiles to your faces!<br /><br />Our family Christmas photo:<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726861778040840962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYh6XC2SoXD6VAmQ0USmT24_JWfq7PkBGz8LrB4PMMuVBruqJd5otiiozCyq5iagtxhNkPELkxYlL2mxpUEQduEst0LQTb_ByFLvAvQ3lvybkXZ2E4jBeozaquwqRy9025HjFGyw5oV4V/s320/DSCN1836.JPG" /> Jacob's 9th birthday in September:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDzQU4Ic9W65KgSnN9fKgmGKK7rnNfkVZrIm2TsXWTa3njd9EvfuFEGlCuYWw9FcE_l_57596nGX8A61RR7JFQiHH7USmIkCrT2caAFmY3ejHGCge31Aorww_y3X4sQxp5jHTu6y-238E/s1600/DSCN1702.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726860953502387010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDzQU4Ic9W65KgSnN9fKgmGKK7rnNfkVZrIm2TsXWTa3njd9EvfuFEGlCuYWw9FcE_l_57596nGX8A61RR7JFQiHH7USmIkCrT2caAFmY3ejHGCge31Aorww_y3X4sQxp5jHTu6y-238E/s320/DSCN1702.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Boston's 5th birthday in November:</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVZ8lKaou7Otk8nZNw7O7lYYCRiutGoN7zFp0-xtBEbq1HC3wi17PA-fVQ166dZN0a3_HHjzQ05wghQ6_zRqvaTDhsC0Q9l9yBDxukpMm_7I_Yr9HFRU6oPPgAbd14Mq5nGts9UUBdfkU/s1600/DSCN1806.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725790968255751042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVZ8lKaou7Otk8nZNw7O7lYYCRiutGoN7zFp0-xtBEbq1HC3wi17PA-fVQ166dZN0a3_HHjzQ05wghQ6_zRqvaTDhsC0Q9l9yBDxukpMm_7I_Yr9HFRU6oPPgAbd14Mq5nGts9UUBdfkU/s320/DSCN1806.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Hannah's 8-and-a-half birthday in October:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy02bLGXR0xnWUst7hkZabJnmqwMiWkLsNDLG2dI28E2GDJI33iJKSCofdCPkIqCZp8zzqLeOp-6Ur5VQ-6Ej7gbjPbCN38WYPD7nNH140U0sUqrDTr7o-NC5N9CEIvjoFo126qgUI7-e0/s1600/DSCN1795.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725790434520228418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy02bLGXR0xnWUst7hkZabJnmqwMiWkLsNDLG2dI28E2GDJI33iJKSCofdCPkIqCZp8zzqLeOp-6Ur5VQ-6Ej7gbjPbCN38WYPD7nNH140U0sUqrDTr7o-NC5N9CEIvjoFo126qgUI7-e0/s320/DSCN1795.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2p7dInUmhyphenhyphenI5Km4mETuUN5oAa1ucld8potdPOXX3daursjgsYU7IgMo-LHzcPOQH4e1kRdn_L_VwpVTMfx2LqlRm8UVIua2FDG__0OkXCZMIpo-fqIOWcmvwE8yPSIeyvPSktDxxwOQC/s1600/DSCN1728.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-66597407969527476892011-08-29T07:40:00.000-07:002011-08-29T07:51:18.683-07:00Back to School Part 2Today was Boston's first day of preschool and here's his picture before he got on the bus! He was very excited for this big step and we're so proud of him!
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<br />Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-36487554266283881972011-08-24T06:51:00.000-07:002011-08-24T06:56:42.754-07:00Back to SchoolToday is the first day of third grade for Jacob and Hannah! They were very excited to begin school and we did have a great 11 weeks of summer vacation. Here are two pictures from this morning.
<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644420042453678994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRQKeCBTiPycnq_bS3N3cuqQ0S_ZPMU7JasDuNG5f_OjNztG9Gb4AAFczJGkGVoJnMMT8CKf6DoSREfVWSxiDwfM2EhlYU3woR3SFk15Gj54msnj56zDLQII1DNj1QJiuXCKs2RQIybhy/s320/DSCN1692.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgR0pFMzxDjWcLW-_s2aPHcgVkPzYPjowniPbWlnrT_k-9sHbgjJPfXHsj9fwwA8R-GCPtUX55HhA-YIV-FW-I8ovPsy9kLjit19pUHO05g-0MdpY5yedzhC5FVXGmdENhBd5UvgYLeU7/s1600/DSCN1693.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644420646688082418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgR0pFMzxDjWcLW-_s2aPHcgVkPzYPjowniPbWlnrT_k-9sHbgjJPfXHsj9fwwA8R-GCPtUX55HhA-YIV-FW-I8ovPsy9kLjit19pUHO05g-0MdpY5yedzhC5FVXGmdENhBd5UvgYLeU7/s320/DSCN1693.JPG" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-936673281587414372011-06-01T06:53:00.000-07:002011-06-01T07:05:23.903-07:00Family Day 2011Two years ago today - on June 1, 2009 - Boston became a Stenstrom and we became a family of five! The picture below is from that day in RMI - right after court. <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613250019712483570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBHHBnX0L8HKtWyn-5SaurZm6ZINyyBL99D5mQ7QXt6Xq_HOqJW7ws8tWhWnncqCuDqprV87rPV5ZLRyiOSGrbCjdu_mDb5UFVS8ZC08CikeMRoz5FRKmYXWcNJCwlRsBfrUycnEPwMtm/s320/May+June+2009+035.jpg" border="0" /> Now here's a recent picture of Boston, now 4.5 years old! <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWimDNNriiFmtoJ7mowtV_CoS-j-A6E7T6xKXcHPfNmdm4NiZJ9AhlW1AGnU4oEcdHEnm6Y2751gOmny-hYWLH5K9ODixvRNivp7QW4FlW1vGflYeT8ISSU2lc0a2wwYC_W411BOPXUM4/s1600/DSCN1493.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613250569813136882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWimDNNriiFmtoJ7mowtV_CoS-j-A6E7T6xKXcHPfNmdm4NiZJ9AhlW1AGnU4oEcdHEnm6Y2751gOmny-hYWLH5K9ODixvRNivp7QW4FlW1vGflYeT8ISSU2lc0a2wwYC_W411BOPXUM4/s320/DSCN1493.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>And here are Jacob, Boston and Hannah together. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613250993509659314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8KAqDlSuCwXtpOxN0QjGo9QExlhkMNSJoLYFdhFeNg5Jy29PQnIrfDEp7ybBo_hdvLmQ-ngO95uuyNz1s3wv5F4kSFQBlI59F-RI8wJ_0ERtCBoJj8HiUn3Duhgy1k7x7tqDc2Iq6Gpi/s320/DSCN1386.JPG" border="0" />Fun to think back on our time in RMI in June 2009 and even more fun to see our kids together now every day!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-68212745623804849342011-01-24T11:09:00.001-08:002011-01-24T11:21:30.880-08:00Catching up!Hi! Happy New Year! It's been over 4 months since my last blog post . I'll catch up a bit with some pictures from the fall and aim to post a bit more often in 2011. Below is a picture of our three kiddos at Christmastime (Jacob 8, Hannah 7, Boston 4).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIPDY7Ri4F_sg1wLQs_sakszfhAZ4UNcTfQmAdr6QnYUjzDuBvRv41pHGNXVsPoM7sHIaTrCnaKsZtjMXI_cC6ZSxA3Q3I8ZYhpgEUTlxAStrYqmBjEE-L9HyXjRRWBD7datrc56c3ws-/s1600/DSCN1289.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565833633727506002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIPDY7Ri4F_sg1wLQs_sakszfhAZ4UNcTfQmAdr6QnYUjzDuBvRv41pHGNXVsPoM7sHIaTrCnaKsZtjMXI_cC6ZSxA3Q3I8ZYhpgEUTlxAStrYqmBjEE-L9HyXjRRWBD7datrc56c3ws-/s320/DSCN1289.JPG" border="0" /></a> Boston had a bad fall in the kitchen at home in December and this is how he looked the next morning after Urgent Care gave him 3 stitches!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pJw-sFWpn4iSeHK44D_YYjDJtKxOgC1caXt9FiZkRwtER8MP51kQS_Zu8qoC2Lv6uN6j2QyP-5ON0Rhk37wZS542ujedlAjqhcYaOwqkHTAHr49nV2UFpVy678Bymv5N_Kq66OhV1Af8/s1600/DSCN1276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565833261453377970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pJw-sFWpn4iSeHK44D_YYjDJtKxOgC1caXt9FiZkRwtER8MP51kQS_Zu8qoC2Lv6uN6j2QyP-5ON0Rhk37wZS542ujedlAjqhcYaOwqkHTAHr49nV2UFpVy678Bymv5N_Kq66OhV1Af8/s320/DSCN1276.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our family together on Thanksgiving Day - with a big big smile from Boston!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwegEtvIfc6fr-5urAfewruSTungk_8df-N1lMxZ8Qv107Zl3zWr9Tcnm0vSVVWKjJSNf5VwrTIrDmuj9nm1hxz5WNsTOuqVkibOE1C87STVF4S9jhgLVygXyfMA8l8KCvsTCDF_Htl5Jl/s1600/DSCN1255.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565832970664564706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwegEtvIfc6fr-5urAfewruSTungk_8df-N1lMxZ8Qv107Zl3zWr9Tcnm0vSVVWKjJSNf5VwrTIrDmuj9nm1hxz5WNsTOuqVkibOE1C87STVF4S9jhgLVygXyfMA8l8KCvsTCDF_Htl5Jl/s320/DSCN1255.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jacob as a Ninja for Halloween:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVRMqYM56hXsu93o8oiVes0adoUwa3wL49hOlmLOZlNOF2gWj8nPEcRkvjwY0z3xH3JMlwmuvBZBGmFB6w7h2DMw-Pvtg3LoH4QQXxbeHe-WIoXmGssuQO8OCOK2CfAeGoyQ9Gy_TztGC/s1600/DSCN1202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565832643817120834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVRMqYM56hXsu93o8oiVes0adoUwa3wL49hOlmLOZlNOF2gWj8nPEcRkvjwY0z3xH3JMlwmuvBZBGmFB6w7h2DMw-Pvtg3LoH4QQXxbeHe-WIoXmGssuQO8OCOK2CfAeGoyQ9Gy_TztGC/s320/DSCN1202.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hannah as a bumblebee for Halloween. Boston was not interested in dressing up for Halloween, but he did like the candy that was around for Halloween!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaI3F9hY_fhPlP8FhMeRzxqw-7Uurn4m6gW6mdlzDuu08DxsKqN4JkxWa1eVVvbTzfNrNBj8eQNAgj9dsnlQUrUvYJNn5a-G7SY7w-LI7Mkc-ebZD5jE8aDBPf0vO7oitTBZJ4KfD9Jeg/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565832042780165218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaI3F9hY_fhPlP8FhMeRzxqw-7Uurn4m6gW6mdlzDuu08DxsKqN4JkxWa1eVVvbTzfNrNBj8eQNAgj9dsnlQUrUvYJNn5a-G7SY7w-LI7Mkc-ebZD5jE8aDBPf0vO7oitTBZJ4KfD9Jeg/s320/IMG_2674.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-49693056574134203282010-09-16T07:05:00.000-07:002010-09-16T07:13:56.241-07:00Eyes and Language<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZ5KeMDuBQwswr0KQ0WI0Q7WMhcCDt6WfSQHcT8MyqCHy75rDSIh7Mhws_iHXoz1v_gmeu5cpJX80NN9oyepvkMBbOhgaks-KRDhEa3HOayd1KZtC25btUUAQCFznH4nB8F4nW0jHMd-i/s1600/DSCN1115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517513793233442322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZ5KeMDuBQwswr0KQ0WI0Q7WMhcCDt6WfSQHcT8MyqCHy75rDSIh7Mhws_iHXoz1v_gmeu5cpJX80NN9oyepvkMBbOhgaks-KRDhEa3HOayd1KZtC25btUUAQCFznH4nB8F4nW0jHMd-i/s320/DSCN1115.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Boston had his first eye exam yesterday. On the way there, I was thinking back to how the eye doctor would test Jacob and Hannah when they were younger - - and it was by showing them cards with pictures for them to name. I wondered if Boston, with his developing English, would be able to name those cards. Well, I didn't need to give it a moment of concern. Here's what happened!<br /></div><div>The doctor showed Boston a picture of a house and Boston said "home". Great. Next came a picture of a car. Boston said "Honda"! Since our cars are both Hondas - it was another winner. Then a picture of a tree, which he identified correctly. Next came a picture of a birthday cake. Boston said "Jacob" and then began singing Happy Birthday! I told the doctor that Jacob's birthday was the next day and so Boston was right on it!</div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-32040675076149047212010-08-25T06:51:00.000-07:002010-08-25T07:09:02.760-07:00School<div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROdJz7cYbwYMV4LmW9wDreXrrm6S8BKmLMIe4ciqNoMdiKAZm4yhyHs2tnxN5CzBl87whWhn_yjQyKdu_j8cUyAR5WtBZxA2ft51nZoKh_XVx6q-o7ZiKNXkgspgoyi7WvATDlk-wnfn9/s1600/DSCN1054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509347602653086674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROdJz7cYbwYMV4LmW9wDreXrrm6S8BKmLMIe4ciqNoMdiKAZm4yhyHs2tnxN5CzBl87whWhn_yjQyKdu_j8cUyAR5WtBZxA2ft51nZoKh_XVx6q-o7ZiKNXkgspgoyi7WvATDlk-wnfn9/s320/DSCN1054.JPG" border="0" /></a>This morning was the first day of second grade for Jacob and Hannah! They were out of bed and dressed at 6:00 am! They were very very excited for the start of second grade!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509348250777954226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUq-Yat0XGhflP4pNrhwAvHtyZSsTzT2fTms1pdEQncFkpP7KgzlvdonuM0ykQ4o_VovETuwdfuisOdDkjLTo4U0ZeAS6ofmWravrPYudF_xV6kO4YSq2dLRDzXHaH8hwlqdBLOczInsj2/s320/DSCN1058.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509348808383471074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREreaYo1gywpzjH8kkwIT8jrCej9MK2cf60b0p8yoW3Gkkp6TO9osU-LgDQ3ElGcEZKNiu7X4C2Vf8TbUUY2K_0rysf8j6HjTI6V3WmwtECWr3xCku-l_e9wt9_16M2OBEU40Jn9Y00re/s320/DSCN1061.JPG" border="0" />We'll hear after school how the first day went in their individual second grade classes - but we're off to a good start here for sure!Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-19421325953190149612010-06-03T06:20:00.001-07:002010-06-03T18:33:24.042-07:00Boston's Family DayThis is a picture of the first time we met Boston - on May 30, 2009, in the Marshall Islands. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuD6xSPsBkewOBBqRJMEvkG4jCX55dSFnafXie40PtpDOcJcJLtbtA-QiASwPh-Mr3xTeK6fH4rvY_VaI5VYYNzJwKrfI_rp8L1WN3bNmt8zhL8YEW6bN3Sj9vfWkdrLrIYk4PkIhLxbH/s1600/May+June+2009+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478723810456359906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuD6xSPsBkewOBBqRJMEvkG4jCX55dSFnafXie40PtpDOcJcJLtbtA-QiASwPh-Mr3xTeK6fH4rvY_VaI5VYYNzJwKrfI_rp8L1WN3bNmt8zhL8YEW6bN3Sj9vfWkdrLrIYk4PkIhLxbH/s320/May+June+2009+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>He officially became a Stenstrom on June 1, 2009! We are celebrating and remembering our first year together! Below are some more recent pictures of our growing boy! We love him and are so very thankful for our family!<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQEczHWMN83l4EQYCH4_aYtn5n9M9M-v3Vkrf9Yxs9U0loOTl-or-14z4lmEahJjEejhhlgQW9-32d-eYOdOkCYMGGgAhoR1rdlAaGM46dWip-iQaSPt51DPpAJeVCewZ9Dwnu6mZe3el/s1600/DSCN0710.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478537876533348770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQEczHWMN83l4EQYCH4_aYtn5n9M9M-v3Vkrf9Yxs9U0loOTl-or-14z4lmEahJjEejhhlgQW9-32d-eYOdOkCYMGGgAhoR1rdlAaGM46dWip-iQaSPt51DPpAJeVCewZ9Dwnu6mZe3el/s320/DSCN0710.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03ma2Qa27B7RX73RQjEQQV6RdvJKJ1G3bFddbBpcGy6TpzNiOYtpisIKhFiI6-j3w6y9OxqUzuROSBy8Pp7TiW95RW6zvMoOVBui4_6nK6SyvMNWmcqZHokKNF3kgZoYq-qGxT5U9Ewtv/s1600/DSCN0741.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478537228014302130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03ma2Qa27B7RX73RQjEQQV6RdvJKJ1G3bFddbBpcGy6TpzNiOYtpisIKhFiI6-j3w6y9OxqUzuROSBy8Pp7TiW95RW6zvMoOVBui4_6nK6SyvMNWmcqZHokKNF3kgZoYq-qGxT5U9Ewtv/s320/DSCN0741.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jacob and Hannah will finish First Grade tomorrow! We are looking forward to the summer ahead and a change in schedule. Here's a picture of all three kids taken on Memorial Day in Minnesota!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478722803868071010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk6d0LHHAM6sE4dZEfzpEWlcnPk7ngce3Jqge77uGOXE7I-T-bIoefeQqp0pw5Qc0reKiUjU5iyr7Q-CZC-VVHadAGmshIfOpmL_ZLvvtMH1Cv3Bx6vhfANgp2dMD7sEuEIYglAf8m9bl/s320/DSCN0783.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-15959778354336746082010-05-12T19:03:00.001-07:002010-05-12T19:17:34.493-07:00Birthday funHannah turned 7 just a few weeks ago! It was a fun birthday for sure. She wanted a shark on her birthday cake. Peter remembered me saying I was never decorating another birthday cake again, but I must have forgotten that! Below is a picture of the cake after it was finished late Saturday evening, before her party on Sunday. But this shark was not content to stay <strong>on </strong>the cake. Late Saturday night, the shark portion of the cake cracked and fell apart. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwJ-tESJwN6pWrqfeW7yPwjQ6Dyavn2V9LYhvM-Rh69RViUYzaBKsejxdzGy82JYMzyMDJWBIVlI9w3yIWbjZkpQ-dN3kHOfqiMHCC981NZQ7qQq-URNvPGsss_kVoEn9QxZGs8Gwu5YU/s1600/DSCN0679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470571124055192962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwJ-tESJwN6pWrqfeW7yPwjQ6Dyavn2V9LYhvM-Rh69RViUYzaBKsejxdzGy82JYMzyMDJWBIVlI9w3yIWbjZkpQ-dN3kHOfqiMHCC981NZQ7qQq-URNvPGsss_kVoEn9QxZGs8Gwu5YU/s320/DSCN0679.JPG" border="0" /></a> Peter helped me to put skewers into the cake to try and keep it together for the party. It looks a bit like something out of "Jaws" and a shark being harpooned. But Hannah laughed about it and we ate the cake anyway. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjVLUVtdxvrjBitpE7NfeTy1T2Ju5Zc4vaY6fF-vSUZSO7PxBc3YfuP06keJ0fDn8xs45xtinZxX7mD6o6YBBiQcRwQRAA3rbHNhxMmx4e9ODrPf2F7wICicEkiMT7TpQVw83pg3ZU8X8/s1600/DSCN0692.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470570489402058162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjVLUVtdxvrjBitpE7NfeTy1T2Ju5Zc4vaY6fF-vSUZSO7PxBc3YfuP06keJ0fDn8xs45xtinZxX7mD6o6YBBiQcRwQRAA3rbHNhxMmx4e9ODrPf2F7wICicEkiMT7TpQVw83pg3ZU8X8/s320/DSCN0692.JPG" border="0" /></a> Happy Birthday sweet Hannah! You are seven years old, and almost done with first grade! This past year you've learned to read, tell time, add and subtract. You just lost your 10th baby tooth this week, you are excited about learning Tae Kwon Do, and you are growing into a young lady! What a joy it is to know and love you!!<br /><br /><div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-37440501320908003662010-03-29T06:28:00.001-07:002010-03-29T06:43:38.717-07:00Spring Break and TractorsHi everyone - Our county farm bureau hosted a Touch-A-Tractor event this weekend. The kids enjoyed climbing all over the huge pieces of farm equipment! Here are a few pictures of the fun:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUobsV4KZFO0Fc32KLL0muSRV6ubbHPkoScyISM50HkEIUd-nQ72TqGQN00qeEKqlU3-wIBKLQBYc9DlWClrPGv-fxAXuhyphenhyphen09PsrAGTpZ8Pi1I6W7g16x480G-bhH_s9O99ho84d4e0mt/s1600/DSCN0576.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454049942296493378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUobsV4KZFO0Fc32KLL0muSRV6ubbHPkoScyISM50HkEIUd-nQ72TqGQN00qeEKqlU3-wIBKLQBYc9DlWClrPGv-fxAXuhyphenhyphen09PsrAGTpZ8Pi1I6W7g16x480G-bhH_s9O99ho84d4e0mt/s320/DSCN0576.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhq3_O_wTddhZFcqZm5BtrcdHZgtivJWC9CXSt54_LbmTINJwakwNqIyuEJIdqDKjZbuAIsDQjFuYFv30YHJ4gMdWGRaTnc6ZdKinEKiDEVpNyQNzkcmlqe9S_eJKlG_nkLXCNJe_asXu/s1600/DSCN0585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454049561449939138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhq3_O_wTddhZFcqZm5BtrcdHZgtivJWC9CXSt54_LbmTINJwakwNqIyuEJIdqDKjZbuAIsDQjFuYFv30YHJ4gMdWGRaTnc6ZdKinEKiDEVpNyQNzkcmlqe9S_eJKlG_nkLXCNJe_asXu/s320/DSCN0585.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYBBFYBpWZoRQPvxL7D2abum6iCQAWkIZW92Jbg96VQxDsDvK-zoKnIxAapSa6EakTHEL8p5SzRuNuXNSguNE8l0vUUy0aEEE5wih9oLgx_5u-fhh88sq5LSyrovr40Y1kzH5J9TwO8eC/s1600/DSCN0580.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454049126361795314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYBBFYBpWZoRQPvxL7D2abum6iCQAWkIZW92Jbg96VQxDsDvK-zoKnIxAapSa6EakTHEL8p5SzRuNuXNSguNE8l0vUUy0aEEE5wih9oLgx_5u-fhh88sq5LSyrovr40Y1kzH5J9TwO8eC/s320/DSCN0580.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnRhe-ybluP0GKk3TsSsFE6li31vDJPJeIIrmUqjzFwv6p6G4eqJeNEMHW9HshF2lQjOelMdC3yvYoDPNCJDUD1h1ouMKZtgDmXeq_DaXGoOBPW0gJS60O2i3jMiYS-CuZCPSv_RNc-fy/s1600/DSCN0584.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454048744655421698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnRhe-ybluP0GKk3TsSsFE6li31vDJPJeIIrmUqjzFwv6p6G4eqJeNEMHW9HshF2lQjOelMdC3yvYoDPNCJDUD1h1ouMKZtgDmXeq_DaXGoOBPW0gJS60O2i3jMiYS-CuZCPSv_RNc-fy/s320/DSCN0584.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPgAUx5YPkhGelcsW4HIu7WIs3WWqpmj5oEdx2wgC7jDMdy9VCP3at6NNg6HsmnvQHEbRRQqUocgB6hz1K1Mt12rZJ342dkG48iFr0VZCmR_xLQQ3elAsR12E0Z7V8Wb0WPOAG1l87z3K/s1600/DSCN0583.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454048343909565042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPgAUx5YPkhGelcsW4HIu7WIs3WWqpmj5oEdx2wgC7jDMdy9VCP3at6NNg6HsmnvQHEbRRQqUocgB6hz1K1Mt12rZJ342dkG48iFr0VZCmR_xLQQ3elAsR12E0Z7V8Wb0WPOAG1l87z3K/s320/DSCN0583.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-43997013347120295892010-03-09T15:03:00.001-08:002010-03-09T15:14:03.396-08:00It's been awhile!Hello everyone! Sorry that I haven't posted to this blog in more than three months! Here are a few pictures from a morning of sledding just two weeks ago. Today feels more like a spring day, and the snowman pictured at the end is now almost completely melted in our front yard! I'll aim to post again soon with another update! Bye for now - Lois<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446775804633171970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVwaUgqEO7F1IHUuEVgf9GfW-elA_SDCzf8UM0NUaLB_n0nR-21IkoAKnJBPax05GTVRzuHxagqvD2RbR6J3jWg7pom7apSfv_2VnspnfwdHE3oZYSE22tzjGYmqNxSeosg1Wws7P-AlV/s320/DSCN0551.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeGnMNvPVH_QXrJ2MsU-XiU70YC76Qjj3oxMaGonUEsrRdLVJSAShOhBfqIeD11S8awwEU_zhYHbLNAXwRvnwo0sfMNzqaqWNJnowqK5yzdmX_Wh_bqhl2Qu2bMdIKLIYua81y67qeWKM/s1600-h/DSCN0552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446775437655523618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeGnMNvPVH_QXrJ2MsU-XiU70YC76Qjj3oxMaGonUEsrRdLVJSAShOhBfqIeD11S8awwEU_zhYHbLNAXwRvnwo0sfMNzqaqWNJnowqK5yzdmX_Wh_bqhl2Qu2bMdIKLIYua81y67qeWKM/s320/DSCN0552.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8AJe18Zk9wKPeP2_fkjfrvmglM52cdRxsByRtDUL1dVomr-GVF9ltTnWIPm7bM2pxLklTXP0IGGlI87592YLNU2TBKyKMb3mkt8fIUanKS0hvMzwl8FMSnaWsxe9O1b5lOfzH5gj0o_k/s1600-h/DSCN0539.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446774649092572482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8AJe18Zk9wKPeP2_fkjfrvmglM52cdRxsByRtDUL1dVomr-GVF9ltTnWIPm7bM2pxLklTXP0IGGlI87592YLNU2TBKyKMb3mkt8fIUanKS0hvMzwl8FMSnaWsxe9O1b5lOfzH5gj0o_k/s320/DSCN0539.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLgD8i_lpxeMHmJYc25_bwlq4u4YonDNqHdnNtzIxFFah3r2ypI7k-9fdWlfRGXwlPuk6lU6g3A3Kx2KwHJf5mlju4fnXL9cIwwbDo-cyzqV7QOGK8de4X6orbWtvCkiCTPVWwWulEEBF/s1600-h/DSCN0537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446774203539610658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLgD8i_lpxeMHmJYc25_bwlq4u4YonDNqHdnNtzIxFFah3r2ypI7k-9fdWlfRGXwlPuk6lU6g3A3Kx2KwHJf5mlju4fnXL9cIwwbDo-cyzqV7QOGK8de4X6orbWtvCkiCTPVWwWulEEBF/s320/DSCN0537.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-33149502547194395312009-11-28T13:44:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:56:10.430-08:00November 2009<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409275301357299186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdVc9bJ0VYAHPhNONWVHSLHl_UWej4nZxtWF-OowZam_C6Rhf3mJebpOmcgh0ySk0tUCdinHiXTGokVntTrdTgTsl_yDyxTaqvAfZL9qpCQAjTw_M61pTEVf6SylnUYHJcNERXWvXlh_f/s320/ChicagoNovember2009006.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />November began for us with Boston's 3rd birthday and our parent/child dedication for him at church. We had a baseball theme for his birthday, since balls were one of the first things we knew Boston enjoyed when we met him back in May 2009. A special treat was to have the Minnesota Stenstroms visiting for a long weekend and all the fun. Below is a picture of Boston blowing out his candles:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409277837578782050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXESBKLSWjwJe4rU7YCUxy5mjOuFDgO9r3NNXT5KVbakgTi21OsauNIXy3IK6KVQ2oxdEbw-tsA1UNKKNiBRApnG3YrmlmNw6dy5fP-OMcRFmkhHp5FLlKua7pspYrnENpCBrgSNwFbo-/s320/DSCN0378.JPG" border="0" />Here's Boston enjoying the cheese of a Chicago style-pizza for his birthday dinner.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409277033427806610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNUxl6HD5ZyeIX5FHHQ5v2LD7EHiOrq05gNPdsV_EGaMxRJQTDON21f0SqsjV4g5Q8-anj5PaYyjt040dy10nM0bf2H_1Xm_lqwrLnBhxTrX2UlvfQPunX1f1JiFI3NmsJ8XAP02oUwSK/s320/DSCN0392.JPG" border="0" /><br />We've had mild weather and have enjoyed more time outside in November than usual <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409276186218790114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUmlRJzdKI-24jZ320lRqCye0XtA21dsU4m5LfxXa2Srg6S6zmYD2oy9zVL5DjhwH4PFeTDnoFXcI_s7M3uWDD6FNQvTKoO23IpnjgXap1lJJ8GllEAjknfoeyWi2oxhv4F5maIbb9UOa/s320/DSCN0386.JPG" border="0" /><br />The big kids have had a break from school this whole week of Thanksgiving so we've enjoyed some extra fun things, a trip to the zoo, the dentist (okay maybe not so fun!) and visiting family and friends.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409274316594063186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWU2Mi1J-9crlnTIucczbyPybDTf7oWik8LtdcVK0E3-kwHGmHK8pGqly15oi87rA79rLmETxWAUa8vrx8UHiPJ8B3yrTL9kDXHKd-fDPYGx89iQGpdiCSlIlsAYhtWyUwvY68fcU_V28/s320/hannahandboston11-24-09.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409274110097355986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwmNcOVqOKre__c4b65yIKJ0RvP4ToyS_tKcqdEG-GcCVW_Ei1BUM24Vu8r-aB_ynitZ8R-AZ2sB1ZpniuTbk8npqEpyIVU4E_HaX_3rJeQbmtxHSAVOJPkeWp-RPmV3QoZRxdlm99Bc_/s320/bostnandzoe11-24-09.jpg" border="0" /><br />Boston really likes playing with Zoe, our niece Andrea's dog. He calls her "woo woo". <br /><br />We had a nice Thanksgiving Day celebration and below are two pictures of the kids enjoying their play at the Modicas. <br /><br /><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmzV0DfyZdSAeW0hZLk3lVkCoqvP-kmzGbCsyMWjITKKxC-BWAMfMH1W3q9_0kztSBSroh0PMrtR6rMqmT1kcVlO1q_eUyhUSNau-Xp7Z1bQ7dmC4VmRVEMB_HIo74LU7AKvHUqvhjsNt/s1600/bostonlaughing11-26-09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409274779690720994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmzV0DfyZdSAeW0hZLk3lVkCoqvP-kmzGbCsyMWjITKKxC-BWAMfMH1W3q9_0kztSBSroh0PMrtR6rMqmT1kcVlO1q_eUyhUSNau-Xp7Z1bQ7dmC4VmRVEMB_HIo74LU7AKvHUqvhjsNt/s320/bostonlaughing11-26-09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChYXLSWctHFdwZO8_2Lv1T0KuhnTC1JxNfXUbUB7d-VoQMrA3UcL_hE-7Atf2WVUzzXoKtScXi2zoKeDoESmWnW-b5sP-2POw5A9cwwS1cz9Dn2QBBKprFpL63XMVlwrvwKb0r5z19zjE/s1600/jakebostonfort11-26-09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409274572343938882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChYXLSWctHFdwZO8_2Lv1T0KuhnTC1JxNfXUbUB7d-VoQMrA3UcL_hE-7Atf2WVUzzXoKtScXi2zoKeDoESmWnW-b5sP-2POw5A9cwwS1cz9Dn2QBBKprFpL63XMVlwrvwKb0r5z19zjE/s320/jakebostonfort11-26-09.jpg" border="0" /></a> Happy December ahead. I'll try and update the blog again soon! Lois for us 5<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-74729658932075818272009-11-01T16:36:00.001-08:002009-11-01T16:51:07.455-08:00October fun<div>Hi Everyone - Can hardly believe the whole month of October is past. The kids all had influenza, plus a few other things...and so for almost 2 weeks they were at home except for doctor's visits. Lots of resting, watching movies, reading, etc. We are so thankful that they are all healthy again! </div><div> </div><div>We had to cancel a lot of activities while the kids were sick, but the month still brought lots of great things. We enjoyed celebrating at some fun parties for two friends' birthdays this month. Also enjoyed seeing some of the beautiful fall color around the neighborhood and at the Morton Arboretum. We celebrated Hispanic Heritage month with our playgroup friends, and the big kids had some Taekwondo lessons and Jacob had some drum lessons. Boston started his first story time session at our local library too. A school Halloween party finished off the month and was a lot of fun. Although this room parent was GLAD when the party was over!! Below is a picture of the kids from Halloween yesterday. Jacob and Boston were football players, and Hannah was the fairy princess Fawn. They had a great time trick-or-treating even though it was a cold day. Bye for now - Happy November! Love, Lois</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399299999495641906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhunqoqDUJpdRRuTxS9TC9MzJsZHdNBF_CfuZ_CP526EocOiS1ueXw9tUbI04Zc7v8WNXYvl0Jnd10AvlqKugA6bHlDF2NFcN0wS63Nh5D1b-nXb8Uh_vUYLRdZjWzDluGOJUQIFD5x0p/s320/DSCN0328.JPG" border="0" /></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-22362173149139863752009-09-28T19:03:00.000-07:002009-09-30T18:22:04.252-07:00September scenes 9/30/09Today marks three months since we arrived home from RMI as a family of five. We've had a great month of September. Jacob and Hannah are enjoying first grade. We celebrated Jacob's 7th birthday with family and friends. We have enjoyed beautiful weather and some fun Fall traditions like apple picking. Enjoy the photos!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNMaYVlHHB1bfl_gZ0oxQF2ypan4hb0fbFNaVgprUsPnTUdAW0TJhWGsfrgx0WwOo_CE0FBlMlKKC9bIv8RhfrzT9Z0o-_PV00QJx4oJlPjhr-WNzNGaslRVkJrm-uJJ2UaBsnND0Tcu4/s1600-h/2009-02-01c032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387414310937662434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNMaYVlHHB1bfl_gZ0oxQF2ypan4hb0fbFNaVgprUsPnTUdAW0TJhWGsfrgx0WwOo_CE0FBlMlKKC9bIv8RhfrzT9Z0o-_PV00QJx4oJlPjhr-WNzNGaslRVkJrm-uJJ2UaBsnND0Tcu4/s320/2009-02-01c032.jpg" border="0" /></a> A happy and healthy Boston playing in Grandma & Grandpa's yard this week. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4X21rvXE-CpkVtc0SOjZevhjFu6xZCYr5unjNfOl7IjIqdQ_xfm0DGdGqnkJcn4gLZHTE-sAb_d_8T4rrAPX7jGHoj2-EcieHlcYmyVWUQ-8VbTlUA1BYYT8M03x_Gvn0xtQ4K_ceG_X/s1600-h/DSCN0280.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387414002002782706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4X21rvXE-CpkVtc0SOjZevhjFu6xZCYr5unjNfOl7IjIqdQ_xfm0DGdGqnkJcn4gLZHTE-sAb_d_8T4rrAPX7jGHoj2-EcieHlcYmyVWUQ-8VbTlUA1BYYT8M03x_Gvn0xtQ4K_ceG_X/s320/DSCN0280.JPG" border="0" /></a> Bowler Hannah!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe403e_CBStqd6yxG7mWb8tBA3_iq6skLqEHCIGHvJGk5TuHJzUv0-mzYY9i02sINmAq5dOadnqoRKxg1rCp6b1U6p_D2hta1se6LuiYbqNDl4yh30O07dOcyuExZkybZJnMLAsidgz2e/s1600-h/DSCN0249.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387413541365012690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe403e_CBStqd6yxG7mWb8tBA3_iq6skLqEHCIGHvJGk5TuHJzUv0-mzYY9i02sINmAq5dOadnqoRKxg1rCp6b1U6p_D2hta1se6LuiYbqNDl4yh30O07dOcyuExZkybZJnMLAsidgz2e/s320/DSCN0249.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jacob's family birthday party - dinosaur theme!<br /><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIfd6iBpj43CAoEugxU-TfaAWNHWiXoZAYP55aDNg-YyNS0DFTCM0PEYoiNiJ2MikFlnUqGlAPTkTxWA1QykVTpBvKpvwwWOIqkz-n4biECl9oGoZedrR0r6sQzfOAK-oOlo4xLrdz-4G/s1600-h/DSCN0226.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386706218690804178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIfd6iBpj43CAoEugxU-TfaAWNHWiXoZAYP55aDNg-YyNS0DFTCM0PEYoiNiJ2MikFlnUqGlAPTkTxWA1QykVTpBvKpvwwWOIqkz-n4biECl9oGoZedrR0r6sQzfOAK-oOlo4xLrdz-4G/s320/DSCN0226.JPG" border="0" /></a> Apple picking and apple eating! <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6WpvWfzVVnEdmyIfj_oO5-80Et1IElcMozw793L-wjpX4FMZVzU2iHWKedehIiBDua5geOOR7xpwTbQmxDkbPxPqEh_O3aD2GrOapFtj_vjZ2AfvCrffWq5Tga89Eiwp_f4_uEovFmBG/s1600-h/DSCN0290.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386705744719070114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6WpvWfzVVnEdmyIfj_oO5-80Et1IElcMozw793L-wjpX4FMZVzU2iHWKedehIiBDua5geOOR7xpwTbQmxDkbPxPqEh_O3aD2GrOapFtj_vjZ2AfvCrffWq5Tga89Eiwp_f4_uEovFmBG/s320/DSCN0290.JPG" border="0" /></a>Boston enjoying some ice cream for Jacob's birthday!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ho8Uvp9gweaBgcjt_fOcpiCasmVtSWX99KkeiP2v3TZ2zUjNfrPjholOaqT_JapYSMOTKhAVLJAPWeuSOt6BbLvjTA4p05KHz5KkpwRX5XD8OrAWHzCa18OAybcAnt3CIOSTfft8oB2q/s1600-h/DSCN0306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386705192634503106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ho8Uvp9gweaBgcjt_fOcpiCasmVtSWX99KkeiP2v3TZ2zUjNfrPjholOaqT_JapYSMOTKhAVLJAPWeuSOt6BbLvjTA4p05KHz5KkpwRX5XD8OrAWHzCa18OAybcAnt3CIOSTfft8oB2q/s320/DSCN0306.JPG" border="0" /></a>Jacob, Hannah and Boston - in their RMI tshirts and in grass skirts. Celebrating at our friends' for their son's "Kemmen" (a big 1st birthday party- Marshallese tradition). The kids were getting a hula lesson at the party. </div><div> </div><div>Wishing you all a great start to October and the fall! Love, Lois <div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-31949931864378890462009-09-02T06:45:00.001-07:002009-09-02T07:18:51.444-07:00Six years ago today!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBK4v5eDF3Lg1gVSfqfKCLzauqjP39x7a9y2AjtDEjK9-48OGR6i6-NWfO667CV1_a3wo_10G4nH-9dT1AAXqXXvWG15ex9ds7y4DqmU-PrG3z6TXmpFSUGQ3iRcFFnNk-aRC6F6tf7eN/s1600-h/May+June+2009+276.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376868788792921538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBK4v5eDF3Lg1gVSfqfKCLzauqjP39x7a9y2AjtDEjK9-48OGR6i6-NWfO667CV1_a3wo_10G4nH-9dT1AAXqXXvWG15ex9ds7y4DqmU-PrG3z6TXmpFSUGQ3iRcFFnNk-aRC6F6tf7eN/s320/May+June+2009+276.jpg" border="0" /></a> Six years ago today, on September 2, 2003, Peter and I arrived in Majuro, Marshall Islands. We checked into MIR (same hotel as our 2009 trip), rented a car and drove to this house where we met Jacob and Hannah for the first time! Jacob was 11 months old and Hannah was 4 months old. Our agency provided this home for waiting birth families, so Jacob and Hannah had been living in the same home for several months already. I thought you might enjoy these pictures of Jacob and Hannah as babies, as I am reminiscing today. The babies are growing up and are busy in first grade as I type this. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866595292711170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvCz92ZGCxFlO6Te4Pzonzxa9gz23GzeAYHUWJePLbix6QurczJ1oRwA4uo59zAKIS95yF339o2Mdh37dqkHF2Pbi1-DBY3wRqOXTwAWaFjapL6L_uFW82xJLKN8yzlBUYZhsJVCRK01H/s320/2-Hannah.jpg" border="0" />Little Miss Hannah!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmLI8B4XH6anD1fkYLVeqkFcHXwWvHauB98Yxz7b8Z2Gdq9p6tcOjOai5NAI5kWpU2jpUEPYlUpMdHlEWuyQUgcMnml-ppokTQ8zs0E4ALmJSDTrOfuVrvsU5gKTLJjb52x3JijGTDJmX/s1600-h/3-Peter+%26+Jacob.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376867910866211346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmLI8B4XH6anD1fkYLVeqkFcHXwWvHauB98Yxz7b8Z2Gdq9p6tcOjOai5NAI5kWpU2jpUEPYlUpMdHlEWuyQUgcMnml-ppokTQ8zs0E4ALmJSDTrOfuVrvsU5gKTLJjb52x3JijGTDJmX/s320/3-Peter+%26+Jacob.jpg" border="0" /></a> Jacob and Peter<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx8nnLczT_6jzgLCLy3VbdBo563uYDy9qLCFMAu6o9hoggCdd-awRiJ5TgqNXqR42kG55PYSZr8w68wJSruImSOlrzyNCZec0YfzkHZpuRkTRCh93Tg_y1Ei9UZ0eN2LQG61esJ9yu2pc/s1600-h/9-Peter+%26+Hannah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376867043426145298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx8nnLczT_6jzgLCLy3VbdBo563uYDy9qLCFMAu6o9hoggCdd-awRiJ5TgqNXqR42kG55PYSZr8w68wJSruImSOlrzyNCZec0YfzkHZpuRkTRCh93Tg_y1Ei9UZ0eN2LQG61esJ9yu2pc/s320/9-Peter+%26+Hannah.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hannah and Peter<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqcpZGUzeFxICokcFc1RWG-ogdwkbUCofnPW1FTije6hxKs9Wcl1mWckhxOcjIBRrEeiciViIFgpDIX62BdL5vi854Ddo1ZU5cj6L3RLNddAVWV5eIzJ2twxf0FmOToNTx7wcroSHyrJa/s1600-h/2-Court2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866742442289810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 217px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqcpZGUzeFxICokcFc1RWG-ogdwkbUCofnPW1FTije6hxKs9Wcl1mWckhxOcjIBRrEeiciViIFgpDIX62BdL5vi854Ddo1ZU5cj6L3RLNddAVWV5eIzJ2twxf0FmOToNTx7wcroSHyrJa/s320/2-Court2.jpg" border="0" /></a> All of us after Jacob's court date (same Judge presided in 2003 and 2009 for us!)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M_ryx7zdJ00pEUGihHzKXgIzad-xVeefjJ8g7-usl7Wcj82OeF1MUIOSlJTN9KJonooR8ApduAfOmjb2S1hARWALmLyRq7S5nvruHHmGm4QUAUqUToBKnwihSGjb8Wj3GWCUAqgr3CCC/s1600-h/8-Lois,+Jacob,+Hannah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866678888500034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M_ryx7zdJ00pEUGihHzKXgIzad-xVeefjJ8g7-usl7Wcj82OeF1MUIOSlJTN9KJonooR8ApduAfOmjb2S1hARWALmLyRq7S5nvruHHmGm4QUAUqUToBKnwihSGjb8Wj3GWCUAqgr3CCC/s320/8-Lois,+Jacob,+Hannah.jpg" border="0" /></a> "reading" books together<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UuWMMbU6davQp7FSAeQqzu9eS5rptYKp7UpL-cc43x1U9DqegX7UiEQB6elC4QroroEz7G9-l-VSYBl9Un2KZ9gyW6nAOrp2YPHvg7MCid3Amd5uuHccCUUuClvYnOflQTdoCuLv-pmB/s1600-h/8-Peter,+Jacob,+Hannah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866440127799042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UuWMMbU6davQp7FSAeQqzu9eS5rptYKp7UpL-cc43x1U9DqegX7UiEQB6elC4QroroEz7G9-l-VSYBl9Un2KZ9gyW6nAOrp2YPHvg7MCid3Amd5uuHccCUUuClvYnOflQTdoCuLv-pmB/s320/8-Peter,+Jacob,+Hannah.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Since we were all back in RMI this June 2009 to bring Boston home, the sights and sounds of our first RMI trip are very fresh. Doesn't hurt that the hotel curtains and bedspreads were exactly the same in 03 and 09!! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866967088333170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkhXd2UUMfrPmIfZVEjGmbjQt6zozGEov8EO8YZXh_9DJpKw6JlV_UGV6bLiByDJVz4vx-KKM4g0ybxu7iV_LZavq3mnmHBGewsnvOBvSJdeUKSD1majfRrWmrl9kqMjmM7qIO-T1x-yu/s320/9-Jacob+%26+Hannah+airport.jpg" border="0" /></div>New USA citizens Hannah and Jacob in the Honolulu airport 10/1/2003 waiting to come home! ( This double stroller was great for us. After lots of miles and even some rust, it went into the trash just before the 2009 RMI trip! ) <br /></div><div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866872801111410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigobOjMXbgdtC6m8Rt0U-levMU9ocE_HF7SYWIQb6Jk7UjZDhgPVDtwS6An7X-w6G11qaYkWo8tBz9QncRYsy_OXRI32XJbrMZawFhvVWvz_BEKRT1npjrufVai0z9rSH-8YFulzm6gXf/s320/9-Family+at+airport.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>Here we are in O'Hare airport with the family that came to welcome us all home on 10/2/2003! </p><p>We are so very thankful to God for how he has brought our family together! Thanks for sharing in our joy! Love, Lois</p>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-39319537379633481032009-08-26T10:18:00.000-07:002009-08-26T18:19:51.592-07:00New beginningsAlmost three months ago - Jacob and Hannah had their last day of kindergarten. They were absent the last 8 days of kindergarten because of our trip to the Marshall Islands. In those three months we travelled thousands of miles, visited their birth country and birth families, brought Boston into our family and home, and began our new life as a family of 5. <br /><br />Today Jacob and Hannah began 1st grade. What a big step for them both - and very exciting to see them ready for it! Peter worked from home this morning until the big kids got on the bus. Boston was very curious about the bus and where Jacob and Hannah were all day. <br /><br />The first day of first grade was a hit with both Jacob and Hannah. They got off the bus (again in the rain) and came home hungry to finish their lunches! Hannah told me it was "lovely" that I sent them food that they liked, but that spoons were not allowed at lunch! So glad I spent the money for the good bpa-free thermoses! She had not eaten her alphabet soup, and Jacob hadn't gotten to finish his mac & cheese. I've emailed with their teacher since and learned that food requiring spoons is fine for lunch - but is not allowed for morning snack...so just a misunderstanding! Jacob said it was all fun and he had lots of important work to do at his desk. He also said that the day went by fast! Hannah said that it was so much fun, she thought it was the 100th day of school (a big party day in kindergarten). With the rain today they couldn't go outside for recess - but they even said indoor recess in their classroom was fun. <br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1m1r_cTOpSLsfJWwIzztScKfju-PPxMK70Oo3r0uCI15oafaHSL5ZVNY2JsE_-3kkv3jp1MdW4I5Ob9Ph3eVbEhvBj0KTOztRve98a4V6bwJuPupr_-26yIxU92C2uzBkM9VWi1Du0I2/s1600-h/DSCN0217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374326679567957122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1m1r_cTOpSLsfJWwIzztScKfju-PPxMK70Oo3r0uCI15oafaHSL5ZVNY2JsE_-3kkv3jp1MdW4I5Ob9Ph3eVbEhvBj0KTOztRve98a4V6bwJuPupr_-26yIxU92C2uzBkM9VWi1Du0I2/s320/DSCN0217.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hannah and Jacob posing for a picture before heading to the bus this morning in the rain. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374327074340892898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmcfRH_yIUXoRN51bLYVjp9p9UDXh96fdG4e4pWJwCIbTsWX8Y4LGbdCfczplZ-M4vrb4wWDAersxrbUE6-2_3Ff4Wt1JKto4VpSHGUu_mowRGQh0jVxCubm5a02yQQ6aruV8ZYDOsCfX/s320/DSCN0218.JPG" border="0" /></div>Boston and Peter waiting on the front step to wave goodbye to the bus one more time as it heads to school a few stops after ours....<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374327584662874898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pen5cwlxEEXuvCZMbPs3S2cssRXrNsqG7l8hM_YsOjsl7MgamDs-c9IdNLGvoCVcAmbGxVl6BmeskqmNV_kSHKoLCAa4Nq1lgXGFMJUl9tjMtTSTVfPsCDrdJGdYyr_H4KlsyeU3ZC8c/s320/DSCN0219.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374328150501989106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACY3NYzFTaihnmGOtcGcX2QK47yqiU5bsCDLwejGotrzoeQ8c11BDVmbRz0uxsLLkq4rKsZXMM2_0eTXHLnjmYMwclpcaC6Qh2Ic4H5AHCFDgltvQIKremowEY0Ab3I7DzwyKtYBiIKMh/s320/DSCN0221.JPG" border="0" />Boston playing with the grocery bags after a trip for groceries this morning.<br /><br /><div>Here are a few other pictures from our terrific summer! <br /><div></div><br /><div>Fun in the sun with the North Carolina cousins Anna & Jared at Lake Michigan earlier in August<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374328748441479922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wSj4UNBh0tTB1mUaAJLbYeh2rFW5OKNAjXbQhcDigz57gJRDCims_wEOGqcGeB7FMGqKI1xDzEJhY2Jmh9H6bBT9ALuFQotRFQsWF58wsn1eIPAgWtP4qZOpco0o2LbPc_UCP_xi3IJj/s320/August2009044.JPG" border="0" />All three kids passed out in the car on the way home from more fun with the North Carolina cousins and other family. (I was at a stoplight when I took the picture - fyi!)<br /></div></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirz2qnYt3AoeDujovqzM2HwGY4CIMyBr_DMK90sSlpj_raG-_xFtFTdia0_CcodoZPk93tmTX-8y3nllC_l6bLKLkE1TGtstIZ1nWtstykKrsbVaIUh9DxLJeA882RKD_BYaBe_KF8XZld/s1600-h/DSCN0177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374323667767180066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirz2qnYt3AoeDujovqzM2HwGY4CIMyBr_DMK90sSlpj_raG-_xFtFTdia0_CcodoZPk93tmTX-8y3nllC_l6bLKLkE1TGtstIZ1nWtstykKrsbVaIUh9DxLJeA882RKD_BYaBe_KF8XZld/s320/DSCN0177.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Fun with the Minnesota Stenstrom cousins Isabella and Maxwell at Brookfield Zoo just this past weekend!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374324396200186562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRf5OGA8yYXjJu8Y-eTVmcZBcaHmJpRf2wIvxk0C0KVkg-OUPFof3GNCCPA1ylsppygmPGRCi36QTpjIC-34aTfX8yiSt1NLR45CL5yg2RulktzbBBeH4g7WSWufqDEN3XdM-HCnwcY2g/s320/DSCN0199.JPG" border="0" /> Hope the new beginnings in your lives this fall are going well too! Here's to the second day of First Grade!! </div><div> </div><div>Love, Lois<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-10934083254524333632009-08-07T10:23:00.000-07:002009-08-07T10:58:10.077-07:00August FunHi everyone - Hello from our family. We are fine here and enjoying the last weeks of summer before school begins again. We've had great weather and have spent time at parks and splash pads and the pool. <br /><br /><br /><div>The kids and I just spent part of two days in Michigan with family - enjoying the sun, sand and water at the beach, and blueberry picking. There were 7 cousins together on the beach - ages 4 months to 6 years old! Here's our first-time blueberry picker, ready with his bucket.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K7ChSa4qY-EyoHjsb8HkS6AgeiJ3SuLXyQfxq0h6CHbw2hppBM6_htQ8tW97SqOFZkym4WOho9F3uTUFkkyBKz8Xf5Jl5FgNlqEwoWhiDrz-AD06jmIp1t03KZZqBUtUzWvhdPIv9Y-3/s1600-h/DSCN0081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367279470341576834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K7ChSa4qY-EyoHjsb8HkS6AgeiJ3SuLXyQfxq0h6CHbw2hppBM6_htQ8tW97SqOFZkym4WOho9F3uTUFkkyBKz8Xf5Jl5FgNlqEwoWhiDrz-AD06jmIp1t03KZZqBUtUzWvhdPIv9Y-3/s320/DSCN0081.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's Jacob and then Hannah enjoying the wavy and cool Lake Michigan water!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm89KTpT4r8ZcT8lbhW99LKsOgTvdq1c01KTahTx29AX576mRJl-rUszTs84yL4Y3fmk7iVMqDvE-DkC5__h_A440TLjiHgtDuQEijuDFNQpAhDT_p58_Nb0vN2saMAEoZ9rBkcz2SbgW/s1600-h/DSCN0067.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278989119005122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm89KTpT4r8ZcT8lbhW99LKsOgTvdq1c01KTahTx29AX576mRJl-rUszTs84yL4Y3fmk7iVMqDvE-DkC5__h_A440TLjiHgtDuQEijuDFNQpAhDT_p58_Nb0vN2saMAEoZ9rBkcz2SbgW/s320/DSCN0067.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0tUAdnbOO8dFzga7H4Yxiu9YUUy3_lJHO204E1AwPahiLNpiI-stucgUaeslmCblU6NjT-BcSJEt1keRkSPbOquucrjN_ghMDlgPjLvkzMkbiHj690oXwomkxJAuv3yh8MX4LXoh3v5B/s1600-h/DSCN0065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367274199742327730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0tUAdnbOO8dFzga7H4Yxiu9YUUy3_lJHO204E1AwPahiLNpiI-stucgUaeslmCblU6NjT-BcSJEt1keRkSPbOquucrjN_ghMDlgPjLvkzMkbiHj690oXwomkxJAuv3yh8MX4LXoh3v5B/s320/DSCN0065.JPG" border="0" /></a> Boston and Jacob are searching for something in the creek. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367280533617474738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdIPrGPnR0UE9DgEudo3VRJNUPdkUvewBet51qSOYfzr7EvLEBWTkMBPHSacYxzrOOD5LCAdLK90YLz8uar27MCucTlDELRR9E_EryeyIeuY7ec7G8ZdWEWsIGA95p4-xjrNhXEXaRaYA/s320/DSCN0074.JPG" border="0" /> After our Michigan trip - Hannah was ready to get a short new haircut for 1st grade!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367281425175641122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbHPYQx_hdh6TRfl3T3CxiLar2YUKqaxiRlctaGCt41u71vhoa95TeIrcLsz9uNHRIiPHYy-lerC9oy-93d9jhAYWE67us9hIcwsIsSxUDOjHIhANZmRI3_7H1bo_ser1MO52ZvCjJ4yS/s320/DSCN0107.JPG" border="0" />Bye for now! Lois for us 5<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-85124881384874399722009-07-22T16:38:00.000-07:002009-07-22T19:37:51.638-07:00July at homeHi everyone - We are all fine here and thankful for the past three weeks of our new "normal life" since coming home from RMI. We learned from a family that is currently in RMI that there is water rationing going on now there - and they only can use the water in the hotel for 5 hours each day. Here are some pictures of what we've been up to lately! <br /><br />Here's Boston in his new Cubs hat and shirt (thanks to Daniel & Tina!) - while playing empty-water bottle/splash ball baseball at home on 7/8/09! He wanted to put the new shirt and hat on immediately after opening them. He has had a lot of fun getting to know the extended family, our playgroup friends, and our routines at home. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqGudi_UUGb_B7bMY8edThy0FWmPkFlmk0zvh_9wB5yYVrwxEUiLGZ3EsYUiHmXAOses0P27mU4_f364saDpCvhtLhE9zsSvtprdspvtcN4vHxUeqKioDIhh-oHxOtWpKOSbWyn_s0NbL/s1600-h/July+2009+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361434425226152850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqGudi_UUGb_B7bMY8edThy0FWmPkFlmk0zvh_9wB5yYVrwxEUiLGZ3EsYUiHmXAOses0P27mU4_f364saDpCvhtLhE9zsSvtprdspvtcN4vHxUeqKioDIhh-oHxOtWpKOSbWyn_s0NbL/s320/July+2009+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was fun to introduce Boston to our Kane County Fair - here are the kids as we took a break from the rides and listened to some music at the Fair on 7/15/09.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sfBWHXMQmZs1TElxQGsnT_FK96oobuXZdBFEGFv76kiQvXQOs4m7LgHMvFwboOsRBNj5HStZT3AH1YqA2GiDqN2uVByDgtxP8RefXtEnp4QPuXdoSw3lJAGaPNkGNiVZONPiHRycMuMu/s1600-h/July+2009+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361434161056851378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sfBWHXMQmZs1TElxQGsnT_FK96oobuXZdBFEGFv76kiQvXQOs4m7LgHMvFwboOsRBNj5HStZT3AH1YqA2GiDqN2uVByDgtxP8RefXtEnp4QPuXdoSw3lJAGaPNkGNiVZONPiHRycMuMu/s320/July+2009+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here are Jacob and Hannah with their new stuffed friends while at "Build-A-Bear" for a friend's birthday party 7/19/09:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLtsu_7RpYhQZRNAtVzqDe1LLRIj9-usr1ZMdU2Se_L8fAIQFc1-RYks4Zap51_xr8HwMfJtjC-ifTkcVCr8DQjgtNMagOc_CD_t1lk7cOitYGe-jrPs6ilqkMwZhIvlMt1_bGiqg37wM/s1600-h/DSCN0010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361433701231229810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLtsu_7RpYhQZRNAtVzqDe1LLRIj9-usr1ZMdU2Se_L8fAIQFc1-RYks4Zap51_xr8HwMfJtjC-ifTkcVCr8DQjgtNMagOc_CD_t1lk7cOitYGe-jrPs6ilqkMwZhIvlMt1_bGiqg37wM/s320/DSCN0010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And here are our three happy kids - playing after music class and lunch with friends! Thanks Kerry for the photo!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361434866148343010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWJbV9_hWVfzqqCFTGvcN_ITQjE9_ZuzpFrmzm0e6uwZ2Kho1jXfKUbpSMwoQlrM44AZifkRx_aNtwvSXSLmcMVk1vEmv9JtEpqSHP7efLBluk9He-AaPZZxQDoKFoQxtPC2AwFrMmY9Z/s320/DSC_7126.jpg" border="0" /><br />Bye for now! <br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-58069945888095070132009-07-03T11:11:00.000-07:002009-07-10T18:00:32.716-07:00Settling in to Life at home 7/9/09Hello everyone - Now that we have been home for nine days, we are feeling like we have adjusted back to the time change, etc. Here are some more pictures from our airport homecoming and some random pictures from our first days at home. Boston is doing well and seems to be enjoying every new experience! I'll try and update the blog again in a week or so! Lois<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356519151506693282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BtH3yM1Ru_EjSNw6uzOGCNR3vQ3nxQ4ev2iiMejabeu3C9hMlo74lbkvc7tKJarI3lmaQ4-R2xJqWmEzmMSiwsrULY86fXf9xq1JDS7gky7Haik9zUZVbBGDF8XxOKaLh6XBvbwEHwk-/s320/DSC_5794.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356519916171340642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaVMeeALyyxzWlwzl97EYF-NmyB69aeDicM7milPJOcPaxzrLSG-WjMHTXt2ko8nzrJWdTyoEzauMWDlB-xSXhNGQBxabUuZvHz0N4z6JW4-d-N-Msh3RzcwGBNoKkouuWUnoROgG6VaQ/s320/DSC_5817.JPG" border="0" />Above are pictures of some of the airport greeters before we arrived. We actually came in a different door than they were expecting - so we saw them before they saw us!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6s_tOnTGl-pymr0KERcy1Blj6N1-kr7bYZyRIrFW5o6ycQ-LFchgYMeP4vaA9E4Gm9nDJkRIRb4B_Azxjs9aCPAxYbu_e0Z9bFExKuaOtQypY6YTk8-FnSdD9oPy3YxeyVmeE4JGpZQ5/s1600-h/DSC_5951.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356520668205421362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6s_tOnTGl-pymr0KERcy1Blj6N1-kr7bYZyRIrFW5o6ycQ-LFchgYMeP4vaA9E4Gm9nDJkRIRb4B_Azxjs9aCPAxYbu_e0Z9bFExKuaOtQypY6YTk8-FnSdD9oPy3YxeyVmeE4JGpZQ5/s320/DSC_5951.JPG" border="0" /></a> A happy Boston on Peter's shoulders at the airport - sorry Peter you were caught mid expression!!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354298525528056498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQkV1jsIx-eIsxkf5nyujVf5lIckQVzmd0ROLoG3_yPvmvvNHsu8k-mH9cKV-3izmBY3ZGV2OwDw7HlTrrvmvhuXjd1_f0aJPk2HnQVmSn8PN1ji6kjc_yHO1WQZkxnXJCgqeZciryCkp/s320/June+2009+010.jpg" border="0" />Boston with Auntie Joyce above<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4OqucYo9xbsNWru35ThpcXrSaUOoo4RNFcWpQ9mx9wwa56jDSfcwIMYclpEXQvi2h73VUZTwSH7zoCr1CExvSF_TBGIXlNFMw1LAn0oxy43JydXMHa8w3QsG-bmczyp7bnS5FegOcIMu/s1600-h/May+June+2009+464.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354301471060949554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4OqucYo9xbsNWru35ThpcXrSaUOoo4RNFcWpQ9mx9wwa56jDSfcwIMYclpEXQvi2h73VUZTwSH7zoCr1CExvSF_TBGIXlNFMw1LAn0oxy43JydXMHa8w3QsG-bmczyp7bnS5FegOcIMu/s320/May+June+2009+464.jpg" border="0" /></a>Boston playing with Maddie<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1AN4mY6qZBYEvdKx82TsfN2c-65D4woPXmE5h3XrZ0edq2lGyCgm0AVohTtLgyULUK9dA7WDicdbtmhbBM-lBAinvYSFN1JelAkUVvXDF6y-ErfwF7l9FUQ0a_vTFZxenhXz_xhzZEeA/s1600-h/May+June+2009+463.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354301205356627586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1AN4mY6qZBYEvdKx82TsfN2c-65D4woPXmE5h3XrZ0edq2lGyCgm0AVohTtLgyULUK9dA7WDicdbtmhbBM-lBAinvYSFN1JelAkUVvXDF6y-ErfwF7l9FUQ0a_vTFZxenhXz_xhzZEeA/s320/May+June+2009+463.jpg" border="0" /></a> Boston with Kerry<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356531545006612370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5KvYUu4b9eBSawDQ6tv0tDzKyEkwIT7AeQP1jgLMcEgvKOkMcZKXrktZKc-MHX4mgPlz6mral6rB9R2ZKoRosrBjTO0C3AsYqYmi1hdaBCvaLS6RyLUQmL6YQ2Zh5hg6VRKQGJUfQopa/s320/July+2009+003.jpg" border="0" />Boston in his pjs and in the laundry basket<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356546170539345090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJ41-adxd_6rV_F1GbtYXxIIk7-TTykCiIHXqUmYqGcjCUkxhyJr1zB4PF0grq3K3S9X-kKXAnNLelC_xjijKYiSgNWHbKKM_Y_E3HUlxf1NeOiSWt7ezDDHZ4lkLcmkZOqLWDSgnRRn3/s320/July+2009+005.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br />Boston in the squeeze of siblings!Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-8068180151730723142009-06-30T18:08:00.000-07:002009-07-01T15:20:59.133-07:00HOME!WE'RE HOME! It feels great to be home - our new family of 5! <br /><br /><div><div><div>About 12:30pm on Tuesday 6/30/09, our flight from San Francisco touched down at O'hare. It had been 36 hours since we left our hotel in RMI (on their Monday night). Only about 8 of those hours were spent in a hotel, the rest of the time was waiting in the airports and riding on airplanes! Changing the dates of our flights home from RMI with two different airlines proved very very challenging. So it was terrific for <strong>us</strong> that we were ready to leave RMI two days before our original scheduled departure date....but Continental and United didn't agree!! Our bags came to Chicago on a flight we did not get on, and we spent 5 hours after not getting on that stand-by flight getting to know the Honolulu airport (mostly Gate area #8!!) The two pictures below are of the kids and the hours waiting in the Honolulu airport! </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353612946115388882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiell1n4smJLJiwBsGtfHLRBFsJQMhN9MPVMQWFGXmycFPEXhFiT4eYWA3ndp78Hj1zNXP3qpIe3q3PWpd0rtMaYQoCvcJMTk0gK5ED_c-Gi4MSb-0Pqd53d6z23T1Az_dp-VH7anvGQAHZ/s320/May+June+2009+452.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353612554044108962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXGImree5LEKUTambVCHb29CpvvgTpsbbffUiU3NGE1AaMtZNDXIbYYBqMjd6y0Ao3Tfzt5Xkot8AavgXzFEG5bVC6ajkkUMX2CiNMMPWSwhCsJ-ZFSqcDJkwzLE7xVS3ibGb8SkR3lmp/s320/May+June+2009+451.jpg" border="0" /> <div>Two overnight flights in a row are tough - but Boston slept almost every minute of the three flights (RMI to Honolulu, Honolulu to San Fran, and San Fran to Chicago) and Jacob and Hannah slept a good part of all three flights. </div><div> </div><div>It was fantastic to be met at the airport in Chicago by family and friends. We came into the baggage claim area from a different door than they expected. So we saw all of them before they saw us! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353613456021645826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpRB3zdaIrl_xkLFKawMO3OQmTDMGsFAkzz__wk2hgEPPwPKTFWjQSHY18C0TrRIedRMWqtdPuKv4-ytaKP94k4t5Ark6THi_Hs9UcllDZ142zyKF6blw_g-V2n9S_HVoHD5Li4Al4eqk/s320/June2009051.jpg" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>We came home to more balloons, flowers, signs for the kids on their rooms from their friends, a refrigerator full of food, etc. We are catching up on our sleep and adjusting to the time change too. Hannah slept from 7:30pm Tuesday night until 10:00am on Wednesday morning, just getting up once. She's never slept that long in her whole life! </div><div> </div><div></div>To land at O'Hare airport to 64 degree temperatures was a nice feeling too! Today on July 1st the temps. have been the coolest here for this date since 1930. Boston has probably never felt such cool temps. He also has never seen a microwave working, or a stove - from his staring at them at home. <br /><div> </div><div>I'll post again soon with more homecoming pictures! Love, Lois</div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-710618523246666822009-06-29T12:44:00.000-07:002009-06-29T13:27:14.468-07:00Back in the USA!<div>Hello from Hawaii on Monday morning June 29th! We had a good finish to our stay in RMI spending our last day (also Monday June 29th!) returning the rental car, picking up Boston's VISA packet from the US Embassy (and getting yelled at by a guard for taking a picture of the outside of the embassy!), having lunch with our new American friends there, saying goodbyes to friends made at the hotel and the restaurant we ate at most often, and packing. The next two photos are of Jacob and Boston's birth families who travelled to the airport to see us off and the Joneses and Harveys who also came for the fun (and for the heads up for what happens there - for their own departures in weeks to come!) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352838260912273794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHC-1_9vglKNaD2fmgnnuFqpLSIrYpoMGYfq2TCU5j21l_yLnpCpXgfqcKtzhFwKeSevRInObHW7AWMa7Puo6HY7-NfOgSZwc9rE-MuucX_jBrs-1CeQkx2LDGVRavSG-n7-G22JRI61z/s320/06-29-09a+062.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtFwcWLP5GPvYCg7duRhY_yXOqrzqui_zfN5Jq_CDeIPIyJM0Z2DrOV_vj_5SOEIFFBnh2uVk00zasEQLLj11S2etLOhkfeLeOVB9RzXHHMxSxDw7uEsjMNZIrKuizKFP5EAr7PnQZr3O/s1600-h/06-29-09a+064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352838804711050194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtFwcWLP5GPvYCg7duRhY_yXOqrzqui_zfN5Jq_CDeIPIyJM0Z2DrOV_vj_5SOEIFFBnh2uVk00zasEQLLj11S2etLOhkfeLeOVB9RzXHHMxSxDw7uEsjMNZIrKuizKFP5EAr7PnQZr3O/s320/06-29-09a+064.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Here we are in front of the Amata Kabua airport in Majuro - visiting before checking in. The beautiful hand made necklaces we are wearing were gifts from the birth families and also our security guard friend at the hotel. Checking in for the flight was exciting, as the airlines wanted a document I had already packed in a suitcase that had already gone through security....and they wanted me to open Boston's VISA packet that the embassy had said not to open. Then their computer went down, and so our five boarding passes had to be prepared by hand. End result - the plane was loaded and waiting for us and another passenger or two....and people were in some of our seats - just a riot. It was similar to our last flight out of RMI in 2003....you walk across the tarmack in the dark to the waiting plane - and people are calling to you from a fence outside the airport....birth families, friends - and we just waved back as we climbed the steps to the plane.<br /><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352839033466891026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS7zGaKIKUQBPRB3otXCHBBCGWHrkCGlHShcsQXVwIr8Inm4gKgRWS0dnmC9j_z5BP6Tnju69MsWFwsx1LsdzLiJzIOlN7lyGiTj-X7bSBwErhkdR6MNiGpjgp_ocMwnRoVao7awFgxR3/s320/06-29-09a+065.JPG" border="0" />Boston did well on the flight - his first time on an airplane! He cried hard for probably 5-10 minutes after the flight attendant told Peter to buckle him into his seat. As soon as Peter picked him back up and held him - Boston fell asleep and slept the entire 5 hours until we were off the plane in Hawaii. Below are two pictures of our newest USA citizen, plus a tired Peter, Hannah and Jacob as we waited for the rest of the passengers to be processed before Boston's immigrant VISA was processed. Boston also had his first escalator and elevator rides in the airport this morning after immigration. This morning as he looked out the 11th floor hotel room window - we realized he's never seen mountains, tall buildings, cars going fast, etc. In fact as we walked off the plane this morning to the customs/border area - two Marshallese women in front of us were stopped in their tracks. They had never been on an escalator before (we figured out) and were standing there not sure what to do, as the line of people formed behind them. The pilots were behind the ladies and told them to just "jump"!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352839365068972786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNbPet1Wmpv1gZy-mYun_ZFmbiEQnmNG_6Sz7cLqZ_SYUIIT1KadKTOKk2j9GvC0NZnFanBCAiwuK9EDDw5piTbolR6IgLmzfUVXacZR2hkMgd67jEkEDfY5l0rt5lLKAGIg3HIcb0ZB7/s320/06-29-09a+070.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352847351911170802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCHUC-mxIWnLCEFSabp4FXlyEE1sAvfnTW74otB3PwjRJxq-0w1QkKkC2wjzRVk0xWNV31DGsT9az43ezMKdKcyS29qj1Y9XZOaRA8PL-4pNY6am53iT-DidWRgWvzYXgh_1H2FHa4VgL/s320/06-29-09a+072.JPG" border="0" />Well, I need to next get on the phone with United to sort out our flights the rest of the way home. We have been in Hawaii about 8 hours and spent about 2 hours in the airport processing and getting to the hotel. Jacob is still sleeping, but the rest of us slept about 4 - 5 hours. Once we find out when we are leaving here later today - we'll see what else we can do while in Hawaii for the day. </div><div> </div><div>The time change will be messing us up for awhile. We left RMI on the evening of Monday June 29th, and flew through the night and arrived in Honolulu at 2:30am on the morning of Monday June 29th! It's going to be our day that is two days long!</div><div> </div><div>I'll post again when we get home and settled. Bye for now - so great to be back in the states! Love, Lois<br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-17718554563027843722009-06-27T13:23:00.001-07:002009-06-28T03:11:11.532-07:00Sunday June 28, 2009 - day #31 away from home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELr9K1Fn8nO-qESaXUoKFI7AEODeUUdLJu0NpF3B2sM7lXwQxGyjPP5xGQb_froFyUVBSlDq-4z3En5YrNE6X5DR9KK4TBc6TGKOS3RyIgrgwLn4VQHwyzUjgr6N2lne-HpNtX7Y7bcTc/s1600-h/06-28-09+052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352314674857216818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELr9K1Fn8nO-qESaXUoKFI7AEODeUUdLJu0NpF3B2sM7lXwQxGyjPP5xGQb_froFyUVBSlDq-4z3En5YrNE6X5DR9KK4TBc6TGKOS3RyIgrgwLn4VQHwyzUjgr6N2lne-HpNtX7Y7bcTc/s320/06-28-09+052.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Hey Everyone! This will be my last post from the Marshall Islands!<br /></div><div>We had a good morning at church (the picture of J & H above is from outside church with the breeze off the water cooling us off), and then enjoyed a Chinese buffet lunch with Gordon and his family, along with two other families from their church. The restaurant gave us the VIP room. It had a beautiful view of the water and palm trees, and it was nice that Boston could run around the room and not get into too much trouble! Peter said he hadn't eaten this much at a meal since probably Christmas! And, this was the sixth restaurant we had eaten at while on RMI - - a change from the three restaurants we ate at in 2003! The picture below of me and Boston is from lunch today! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352306882761914818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineUT1O23qmvHtRyphlt_i86AHgtJrRliE9sIY29v2av4MSt-iQU0XniA_F7fgvWixyBBLVPF8b5_kmurbfEHM8aiIuEqlTuTHpWGM9ftrSV4HVR5FwyGc8-eqUEQaOFB_dadnWfyP7eAn/s320/06-28-09+062.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>When I said goodbye to Gordon and family today - I got all choked up. It really surprised me, because being in RMI is hard some days and I have been ready to go home for awhile. But their kindness and hospitality have just made this trip even more enjoyable for us. We anticipate Jacob and Hannah will have some mixed emotions when we leave tomorrow as well.<br /></div><div>After lunch, we headed over to Jacob's birth family's home to say goodbye to his birth grandmother. Both Jacob and Boston's birth families have said they might come to the airport tomorrow night, but the grandmother is not up to it physically. I did not bring any goodies to pass out to the kids at this neighborhood - because I knew it was going to be a brief visit and I am out of suckers, tootsie rolls and gum. As we were sitting and the kids were kind of gathering around me - I realized my mistake. So I dug in my purse and passed out every Tic Tac left in the container!!</div><div> </div><div>Then by 3pm we were back to the hotel for the rest of the day. Peter took the kids swimming and I got a lot of packing done. We were going to have a bring-your-own-dinner gathering in the Harvey's hotel room here, but as we were leaving - Boston's birth mother came to our door, along with Denise one of her nieces. We invited them in and cancelled with the Harveys. Denise was helpful in translating for us and we did learn more about Boston's life before we met him. Also, learned another interesting cultural thing. When we host people in our hotel room - we always offer for them to sit on the beds...but they never do - they always sit on the floor. There is one chair in our room and three double beds - so we have plenty of bed-sitting space and not enough floor space for all of us to sit. Denise explained tonight that it is a Marshallese custom to never sit on someone's bed. I told her we don't usually sit on other people's beds at home either - but in the hotel room there isn't much other choice! I love seeing how Boston is grabbing to include Jacob in the picture below with his birth mother Emcilla. Yes, those are suitcases stacked up in the background!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4JJy0diKkqm3GI1ZqbI7oQG6xxv6-gCq6BmAQLb4FGYF8kqGqlmREums6xnK_6WlE7RLR69loStr-A3Mc6SpgOC5H3loVBXen5FXny5HrUpoJXFQC9Dk03ovJIMKpwiCn-IBSCydXYc6/s1600-h/06-28-09+066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352307298469221666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4JJy0diKkqm3GI1ZqbI7oQG6xxv6-gCq6BmAQLb4FGYF8kqGqlmREums6xnK_6WlE7RLR69loStr-A3Mc6SpgOC5H3loVBXen5FXny5HrUpoJXFQC9Dk03ovJIMKpwiCn-IBSCydXYc6/s320/06-28-09+066.JPG" border="0" /></a>Well, it is time to publish this post and head upstairs to bed. We are in pretty good shape for getting on the hotel shuttle at 5pm tomorrow to head to the airport here. But then we were remembering the day we left the island back in October 2003....it was one surprise after another, visitors, etc. I'm sure tomorrow will be very interesting. Thank you for following our journey here - and our welcoming Boston to the family! I will post again sometime in Hawaii. Our flight leaves for Hawaii at 8pm tomorrow night 6/29. We fly about 5 hours and arrive in Hawaii in the middle of the night there, but during the early morning hours of the same day that we left RMI. We lost a day on the way here, but we will pick it up again when our Monday June 29th is actually two days long! </div><div> </div><div>Below is a picture of Jacob and Boston at book time before bed last night! Jacob is smiling as you can tell by his eyes - and Boston is grabbing his cheek and saying "cheese". Sweet dreams everyone. I know I'm dreaming of sleeping in our own bed in just a few days!! Love, Lois<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqrNRdJW5q3eNeaF8vubIOckZvcpZFMuSO7nfe4f9WJ3V8EMgn2sG_GjndCmLrwPQjIsljspBlDpdSeqfPk6Ov06LTSiqZmP__Rsws-aaNMA2zWe6DNiS9BHoWslHBKtpcpPm5MYuOCM7/s1600-h/06-26b-09+061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352105957250385282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqrNRdJW5q3eNeaF8vubIOckZvcpZFMuSO7nfe4f9WJ3V8EMgn2sG_GjndCmLrwPQjIsljspBlDpdSeqfPk6Ov06LTSiqZmP__Rsws-aaNMA2zWe6DNiS9BHoWslHBKtpcpPm5MYuOCM7/s320/06-26b-09+061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-65895314717027993352009-06-26T13:29:00.001-07:002009-06-27T03:12:53.348-07:00Saturday - our 5th one in MajuroHi on Saturday evening June 27, 2009! Before I forget - I need to tell you two things. That odd tide change we saw at Laura Beach this week is something that happens here once a month. Peter learned this from one of the security guards here at MIR. And, the other day while taking this picture below with Hannah - we saw a nice car with the license plate 00001 at the entrance to the hotel. I figured it must be someone important to have such a special license. Sure enough, we learned that it was the President of the country's car. We never saw him - just his car!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351736618544884162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl701OaubXNg_d2FJFUkAbNB5tGIdcnT_2z6trc7_yqqKSVxTHTSa6IHZwdAZmYcHTu5RAdSkhq6B8FxvkqWJ-8PUVBsxI5cwe3-PVWAMmxVs-kd3lEmCJlQDEXORO9RQfb-uyQ2CRM0xe/s320/06-25-09+051.JPG" border="0" />This morning I called DHL just to be sure our packet from Manila was here in Majuro. They couldn't find it - so we had a few moments wondering if we would really be here longer next week. We decided to go to the DHL office here and they did find that the package is here - waiting for delivery to the embassy Monday morning. What a relief!! Now I can really change our flights to Hawaii, reservations in Hawaii, and flights from Hawaii home. <br /><br />Next we headed toward the airport, as a flight gets in from Hawaii on Saturday mornings - the same one we came in on 5 Saturdays ago! We thought it would be good for Boston to at least see an airplane before we get on one! We found a nice spot to watch the landing, just past the end of the run way. A small "Air Kirabati"plane landed while we were there and Boston loved that - but we found out that the Continental plane from Hawaii was 2 hours late - so we didn't wait. Both of our other USA families happened to drive by while we were waiting, and visited briefly. They were each travelling to Laura Beach today. Fun to be seeing friends along the way. The three pictures below were taken at the little lagoon along the ocean where we waited to watch the plane land. Jacob was climbing a palm tree:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QTgNcPc8Sl0tmpSSXaU0yhtJ8RGhi1CW7g1Hk_VslZfFCdzZAHu1k-RX0Meh5k_ZQ2VpByXImS4oczTjcUpc9WGTRDiuiJ2n9I-fLTlobIEN54Tlm5qZ9RvQ1HSheOq14TUBeqnpxEdl/s1600-h/06-27-09+061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351827687507257218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QTgNcPc8Sl0tmpSSXaU0yhtJ8RGhi1CW7g1Hk_VslZfFCdzZAHu1k-RX0Meh5k_ZQ2VpByXImS4oczTjcUpc9WGTRDiuiJ2n9I-fLTlobIEN54Tlm5qZ9RvQ1HSheOq14TUBeqnpxEdl/s320/06-27-09+061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Peter was placing Boston on one of the Palm Tree branches:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnuItRsj7ZOh8fIQjFrIF5d-j-LG6-zuadNudyiawThLMqB8m9riu9rgj-3NsV8IKAvqox4jVNbgQ92-oCWLZW47vHzaiLHV_VcfZaCaMH7qQCOXZHKHyUWZI0L_myIcqnhQxvbZ4BBfI/s1600-h/06-27-09+059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351826376259279570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnuItRsj7ZOh8fIQjFrIF5d-j-LG6-zuadNudyiawThLMqB8m9riu9rgj-3NsV8IKAvqox4jVNbgQ92-oCWLZW47vHzaiLHV_VcfZaCaMH7qQCOXZHKHyUWZI0L_myIcqnhQxvbZ4BBfI/s320/06-27-09+059.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Hannah and Jacob were wading in the lagoon we found. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXsUGZneCrbyzL1cJ6cwlfmrt5DBBnStpNpDNjesS1k4a081AXc3KH8y1NDCl74KFYD7Alg5PolSa-z3-jT1WpErq1MSjW_g_zzxHEvw1V6_l7DKmYQ4LHIU1-Z4oBahHxHz8lJCNvRs4/s1600-h/06-27-09+056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351825145356183714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXsUGZneCrbyzL1cJ6cwlfmrt5DBBnStpNpDNjesS1k4a081AXc3KH8y1NDCl74KFYD7Alg5PolSa-z3-jT1WpErq1MSjW_g_zzxHEvw1V6_l7DKmYQ4LHIU1-Z4oBahHxHz8lJCNvRs4/s320/06-27-09+056.JPG" border="0" /></a>This afternoon was more swimming for the big kids - and in some rain again. Boston liked wandering around the pool area in the rain. An early dinner and back to the hotel for the evening. (at dinner, Boston had a horribly messy diaper...there are no changing areas in any bathrooms here, no counter space to even lay him down with something under him, and the floor was dirty and buggy. So I changed the diaper with him standing up in the ladies room. He was fine with it and we got it done!) We saw our first rainbow after dinner and it was beautiful. Back in 2003, we saw rainbows often - so we've been wanting to see some this time too. It was a fun way to end our day. </div><div> </div><div>Bye for now - Thanks for keeping up with our long journey here. Lots of days have been not-too-exciting, but the scenery is beautiful and we have enjoyed the time together. Love, Lois</div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440316397930754887.post-83076130094628177242009-06-26T02:08:00.001-07:002009-06-26T02:32:53.205-07:00Friday June 26, 2009Hi on Friday night! Our papers should be on the plane that came to Majuro this evening. We hope to pick them up from the embassy on Monday and be on the Monday night 6/29 flight to Honolulu! <br /><br />Peter and the boys went to the playground this morning while Hannah and I went to the Continental office to change our tickets for home. Then we visited Boston's birth family and took them to lunch. He had fun with us all together and it was great to see him with both families. He was sad when we dropped them off after lunch (11 people -4 adults and 7 kids - in our rental car on the way back to their home - because we asked a neighbor and her son to come along and help with translation!) but this was definitely his best transition all month. It had been 6 days since we'd seen his birth family. Here is Boston with one of his sisters and his birth mother at lunch.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351561106080733490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pTRgyL878WC1VNg680VY8H8E-HUFdcQCNGaf-D_LsiW3tUkAmbZ3BkhpNPXPnuQcgSWkBrVvWg2dYFMRZWwq2EFLAY2PCmJZqoasSKaHCFl4966_o7vAAtnD9tBlFhxM9SCxc93IuQT4/s320/06-26-09+050.JPG" border="0" /><br /> This afternoon the big kids went swimming and accomplished some new things. For Jacob - it was swimming the dog paddle the whole length of the pool, from shallow to deep end. For Hannah - it was jumping into the pool and letting herself go underwater before standing up! Fun to see these things and know they learned them here! Here is a picture of Hannah from the pool, plus the view of the hotel from the pool, and the view of the lagoon from the pool today. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351561401592660034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M9cNhQQcrAtKmGQ2EaIure3tXwA62up38WoVkszgmA3NcEcDxIID82UMJ2OpfYFMGSZPInHkwdXFY-57H1wsmb7ojsfernj3PQq-ZPOcqVx91bO2pZrppdBz_BNBsb3qJXuKpj6bBOtP/s320/06-26-09+054.JPG" border="0" /> <div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3wzSEppGeDDgCqk_hRzNc2OmJHi69BTQzm3UF96RA4GF1pXs97zQah9As-zdQUz7NYspNhbO-mxJJnluiNDMHFeZGciMEGD7Hbs3643KQKTK22yqsVxyCWs2aPU4a0j6sGh8o7NAdGqJ/s1600-h/06-26-09+060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351561801416267586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3wzSEppGeDDgCqk_hRzNc2OmJHi69BTQzm3UF96RA4GF1pXs97zQah9As-zdQUz7NYspNhbO-mxJJnluiNDMHFeZGciMEGD7Hbs3643KQKTK22yqsVxyCWs2aPU4a0j6sGh8o7NAdGqJ/s320/06-26-09+060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351562163228494930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-08oAyCaIUfd4cQsc-5fqzWmnuFGoP7Nd_aIXa0hzDqIOQr4iYUfMiE2LS1pvMcUv1jtjUNNPqXAGn6x92g3NnP9e4XPJD6eP6cRd2kXK_qHJJZopo5fwLJkfcNebPS2HT88pnxgt804/s320/06-26-09+061.JPG" border="0" />After Boston's nap - we were all down in the gazebo that you see in the picture above and visited with our new friends. We all had dinner together and here is a picture of the 3 older kids after dinner. <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351562576256120386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiEL3aehW0UczAbZ874yuU1OD1fDtux1R1VdAtPrUKTiAa83knhO7P8NUQOeWCxdKDuHg4HHpFNYeZ9Zz7Zl2WZwh9zGxRvO9PXdKY-W4Vwmk2BDQEVDaY4irPuWy-s5FfXUDuu8n5gAz/s320/06-26-09+066.JPG" border="0" />We had a good day and it's exciting that this will be our last weekend here! Bye for now - Love, Lois<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Loishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611826950710103459noreply@blogger.com4