handsful

Celebrating our morning with Starbucks hot chocolate :)

I enjoy finding deals.  I head to the clearance end caps first when I go to Target.  I love using a coupon on TOP of a sale.  And, stumbling across a REALLY good yardsale?  Well, that makes me positively giggle like a school girl. 

I love going to yardsales, but rarely do.  Two reasons…Lainey and I like my sleep on Saturdays.  But, a very nice and very large neighborhood near us was having their annual neighborhood yardsale this weekend.  And, a gal in our homeschool co-op was having one of them, and rumor had it there would be lots of girl clothes, all sizes.  We headed there first and spent an HOUR at that house alone.  We walked away with arm loads and, as we drove off, we giggled and screamed for joy.  (see, I really do giggle…)

The next few sales gave us some great items, too.  Some the girls are saving for Christmas presents (shhh…).  Marley probably found the best bargain of the day. 

Marley has been needing a new bike for a while.  Her hand-me-down from Abbey almost has her knees in her chin when she rides it!  We found this bike today, she gave it a test drive, and it was a go.  Best part?  It was $7.  Cha-ching!

It’s that time…time to pose in front of gorgeous orange and brown colors!  I love fall!

Abbey took it upon herself to guide Lainey in her 2nd pumpkin picking outing. 

Could this be the one??

There were really weird pumpkins there this year!  White ones, greenish ones, some covered in creepy bumps and wrinkles!  This one made Randy curiously hungry. 

Marley found hers right away.  Last year, she took FOREVER…like she was picking her next puppy. 

Picking pumpkins gives Lainey the giggles. 

Payton found one just like him – unique!

Heave.  Ho.  Yep…this is it. 

Lainey found hers, too.  Abbey also found one.  We already had 2 on the porch prior to our visit to the patch.  There’s a lot of orange on our front porch!  I love fall colors.

Ethan has moved up to the 11-12 league, so some of these players tower over him.  The pitcher on the other team was 5’9″!  He doesn’t seem daunted. 

And, he’s been on the Red Sox for the last couple of years.  Now, he’s an Indian. 

Last weekend’s game was blistering hot.  People (including us) even brought their easy-up tents to provide a little shade.  It’s supposed to be in the 60’s for tomorrow’s game.  Nice. 

Even as hot as it was, our good friends the Orton’s came to watch Ethan play.  Here is Nate getting a squeeze from Lainey.  Lainey likes Nate.  A lot. 

Go Ethan!!!

It’s Payton’s turn for a parent/kid night!  He chose a movie, so they headed out tonight to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.  They both look a little meatball-ish to me :)

We had a FANTASTIC time at the annual Autumn Moon Festival with our FCC (Families with Children from China) group.  This year, we met at the beach and the weather was perfect.  If you want some info on what this festival is all about, do a search on the blog for “Autumn Moon Festival”…I explained it last year.  Call me lazy. 

Our day started with everyone having a picnic.  The extra guy in the picture is Payton and Ethan’s friend Corey.  He was over playing so we brought him along.  The more the merrier and all. 

Next up, games.  There was a craft area (which our kids avoided), egg races, sack races, and Moon Pie race.  I’m wondering what China would think of that last one…how American (and Southern) can you get than Moon Pies??

Daddy helps Lainey with her first sack race.

Now she gets help from big sis!  (Lainey’s burn blister broke open that morning, so her hand is wrapped to protect it)

Having fun!  I’ll be honest, I’m usually not a huge fan of the beach.  Hot sun, sticky sun screen, fair skin, and sand just don’t equal tons of fun.  But, being at the beach in the evening is the BEST. 

This picture makes me see the future…Lainey’s protection squad. 

Lainey and Angel practice a little football.  L isn’t exactly precise, but Angel was very patient with her attempts!

Lainey wanted to stay right at the water’s edge the whole time…she loved it when the water ran over her feet, but held tightly to my hand.  If she had had a bathing suit on, she would have been IN that water. 

As the sun was setting, the whole group came together for a tug of war.  Yes, Randy is right in with those kids.  He was fair, though, and helped each side win a few times!

Lainey wasn’t sure why she was pulling that rope, but she loved doing it!

Taking advantage of a nice back drop :)

We tried to light a beautiful lantern, but the wind was blowing hard and toward land instead of the ocean.  So, we just hung out for the rest of the night, and enjoyed gazing at that autumn moon.  

By the light…

Lainey, do you know what today is??

Lainey lived here, in this room (her crib is the one closest to the door) for the first 19 months and 14 days of her life.  Exactly 19 months and 14 days. 

We have very few pictures of her life in the orphanage, and she’s only slightly smiling in one of them.  Here, she’s definitely not a happy camper.  (Her face still does that pitiful little scrunch-up when she cries.)

Today marks Lainey’s 19th month, 14th day with US.  Get it?  She’s been with us for the same length of time that she was in the orphanage.  Which means tomorrow is the “longer here than there” day (as a fellow adoptive mom called it).  Many adoptive parents have told me that this was a turning point for their child.  Their children visibly changed, became more relaxed, attached.  Somehow sensing that they were truly home.

Yes, Lainey, this is your home.  Forever and ever.  We cannot even begin to imagine our lives without you.  You bring us such joy and laughter…just like our other children were born to us, you were meant to be ours.  We’re sorry it took us so long to find you. 

We’ll never know about your family in China.  But, your Forever Family is big!  You have 2 brothers and 2 sisters who love you dearly. 

Happy 19 months and 14 days, Lainey!  We love you.