NEW PHOTOS!!!

So I'm just heavy-hearted.  I have a lot going on.  Not with me - with people I love and care for.   It just seems like hurt is surrounding adn engulfing them and I'm so helpless to do anything, or even say anything effective.  So today, this is all weighing on my mind, and I open my email to see the beautiful words,"New Photos" and I about cried.  God knew I needed to smile, right now...today.  So here are the photos of my beautiful birthday girl.  We love you!

 She is holding the birthday care package we sent her!

Did you notice..They cut her bangs! 

(not so) Happy Birthday

Today our little Avery Ha-rin turns one. She will celebrate with her foster family in Korea. Holt will have a party for all the babies turning one and she will attend. She will wear a beautiful hanbok dress and celebrate in traditional Korean style. She will get our presents, eventually, and will open them, and although I'm so glad Holt provides soemthing special for all the babies, she is still not home, and I will miss it all. I'm terribly sad about this. I'm not angry, not stressed, not worried, just sad. So happy birthday sweet baby girl. We love you so much and some day we will be able to hold you,love you, and bring you home forever.

Here are some photos of the birthday package we sent her.

 Her very own birthday hat

 Her 1st birthday bib

 

Party stuff

 A birthday dress

 Its traditional to give gold jewelry on a child's first birthday, so we bought her this gold bracelet.

 Everything is all wrapped and ready to go.

 I managed to fit it in the box!  Its a miracle!

Happy birthday sweetheart.

Addison turns two!

 Addison truned two Sunday, May 1st.  Here's the four layer white cake I made her.  (don't be too impressed; it was from a box)

 Wow! That's a look!

 Addison & her Daddy

 Addison and her Papa...she was feeding him cake!

 Addison opening her gifts..with baby Owen.  She kept telling him, "Mine!"

Playing with her new toys.  It was a great birthday!

Corinne turns 4!!!

Baby Airyn...10 months old
Drew, just hanging out.

It appears as though Nick is scared...but why?

Cornne loves her umbrella!! Thanks Grandma.

Cecelia wasn't in the mood to pose!

Corinne opening her soccer ball.

Jack & Addie

Little Dude...chillin' in his rocker.

My nieces...so cute.

Again...Cecelia was not posing well. Still cute though!

Drew's 11!

My baby turned 11. It makes me a little sad that he's so big. He had a small party with a few friends, so here are some picutres of his special day. (I have no idea why he has no shirt. He had one on earlier - but clearly by the time we took pictures, it had disappeared.)

Addie playing with/shredding the envelopes.

Daddy & Addie.

His best friend gave him a "girl" birthday card...they all thought it was hilarious!

Jacker Turns 9!!

He invites some friends over...they play guns & video games.

We grill hamburgers, brats, and eat watermelon.

...in the garage...I can't have this many boys in the house...eating..and burping.

Jack got some gifts.

Addison really liked his new football!

(I don't know what happened to her hair here?!?)

yes...I made that cake!!! (from a box mix, but I'm still proud!)

They camped in our back yard. (again..not in the house..notice a theme?!?)

They had watergun fights. (outside of course!)

Defending their territory. (Drew and his cousin)

All the boys with their water guns.

I think everyone had fun!

Happy Birthday Jack!!!

Addison's Birthday

The birthday girl in her cute pink outfit. (Thanks Lois!!!)

We celebrated Addison's first birthday last Sunday. In Korea, first birthdays are a very important event. Some people rent banquet hall, cater in food, and invite 100+ people! We didn't do all of that, but we did try to incorporate some traditional Korean customs to honor her heritage and make the day special. Here are some photos from her party.

The boys made cupcakes, iced them, and put pink sprinkles on them.

The doljabi game is a traditional game played at a child's first brithday. All the guests guess what item Addison will choose form the table. The item chosen is supposed to indicate something about their future. Here are what the items mean:
Hammer-strength
thread-long life
piggy bank-wealthy
stethescope-doctor
microphone-star
ball-athlete
pencil-scholar

You'll see what she chose in some later photos.

These towers are also traditional decorations. The boys each made one and put something on it to represent Addison: The one on the left was made by Drew. The circle on it is the symbol found on the Korean flag. The one on the right is Nick's. The pig represent Seoul (its their symbol) which is where she lived.

I made this one. It is her Korean name using the Korean letters.

The one on the left was made by Jack. He made a heart becasue he loves her. (so sweet)

Getting dressed in her hanbok. It has many layers as you'll see. This is layer #1; the slip.
The hanbok is what a child wears on their first birthday. The one she had was given to us by her foster mother. It was so beautful!

Layer #2: the skirt

Layer #3: The top

All ready!

She chose the stethescope!!!! She will be a doctor!! See how delighted Jack is? He obviously predicted she would choose that one!

Opening gifts.

Her birthday cake.

Addison & her daddy. (I love this picture!)

We bought her a silver bracelet with her Korean name engraved on it.

Addison and her Aunt.

Eating her cake. She LOVED it!

What a mess!

Still lovin' the stethescope!

Addison with her grandma & grandpa

Addison with her Aunt and Uncle: both are doctors!!

The bracelet we bought her.

Jack with Addie.