Happy New Year!

It was a hectic holiday season and with 5 hours to go till the end of 2010, I find myself again busy, busy busy. Our word for 2011 will be PEACE. In everything we do, we will strive to find it, keep it, encourage it and welcome it. It's not always the easiest thing to do while juggling the burdens and demands we carry, however, we will try. Perhaps I mean to say, I will try.... Life needs to slow down so we can welcome peace into our hearts and souls. Life needs to slow down so we can enjoy every waking moment (even if at 5am!) with Adam and Aggie and each other. Life needs to slow down so we embrace everything and don't miss a thing!

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Happy New Year, Everyone! We wish you all a wonderful 2011!
Let there by Peace!

You know your child is learning English......

When you make a hard left turn into the day care parking lot becuase you "almost" drove past and your child yells out "CAREFUL Mommy!". I was speachless for a moment becuase I just hear two words strung together AND I had to tell Adam he was Right! Mommy should be more careful!

Holiday Fun!

I think I have figured out what made Aggie fall asleep at the dinner table....just good 'ol holiday fun!

She likes to try on everyone's boots and winter clothes

We had our first Day Care Holiday Program



Grandpa gave horsey rides and Adam & Aggie learned how to say "Giddy Up!"

We met Santa on a Street Car! We paid $.50 cents per person and took a 15 minute ride around down town Kenosha. We had the street car to ourselves!! I couldn't believe that no one else knew about Santa's visit. Needless to say we sang every Christmas song we could remember including Jingle Bells a couple of times.

Check out Aggie's eyes staring at Santa....Although there were no tears, I wonder if she is thinking...."Hmm, What's this jolly 'ol fellow up to?"

We all joined in the fun telling Santa what we wanted for Christmas!

Look how comfortable Adam is!

Aggie is still checking out Santa!

...and if meeting Santa wasn't enough, then we went on a Sleigh Ride! I wish we had a little more snow because the ride was a little bumpy. However, it was another opportunity to sing more carols "laughing all the way!"

Our friends from Colorado came all the way to Kenosha for their first sleigh ride!

What a great day!

Merry Christmas Everyone! Merry Christmas!~

Someone is Sleepy!

I have heard of this phenomenon before, but never actually witnessed it.....Purely amazing how a child can fall asleep in the middle of dinner. One moment Aggie was eating and the next THIS! Nonetheless, we passed up bath time and went straight to bed!

When I met you for the first time

When I met you for the first time, my heart was pounding. One year ago today, I walked into your room rather unknowingly you were behind the big, white door. Everyone looked as we walked into the room and I immediately scanned the stares for the one I had seen before in pictures. Our eyes met and it was all I could do not to just pick you up and smother you with kisses. Instead, I started with "Hi" my name is Martha, but you can call me mommy. Was that to forward? This is how it began with Aggie. Adam just ran over to Lee and jumped into his arms! It was almost as if someone had said "action" and the reuniting movie scene began to play out.

Has it really been a year since we first met? The time has just flown by and I just can't believe how much life has changed. I could have never imagined how awesome it was going to be, and we have really come so far. We have had our struggles understanding and trusting each other, but I think we are on the right track. There are lots of daily hugs and kisses and LOTS of I love you's. This day just throws me back into a flood of memories and I find myself sometimes giggling outloud or staring into space as my mind replays a certain moment during the trip. See that first day Here!

Do you remember when we couldn't figure out how to turn the lights on in the hotel room and had to ask Magda for help? or when we were able to take you both for a walk around the neighborhood for 2 hours? How about the street sign I took a picture of with the little girl holding the "candy on the stick"! or when we fed you lunch? These were wonderful, funny times when we met you for the first time. This journey has been incredible and just like I couldn't imagine how life would change, I can't imagine what God has planned for us next. But I know it will be good! ..... Adam and Aggie, you make us so Happy!

It was a Wonderful Day!

I have been waiting to hear the words.....Adam and Agnieszka, children of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever....for a really long time. Today, it came true as and it was beautiful.
Adam and Aggie were baptized and it was a really special day.


Thank you to Lee's brother and sister for accepting the role of Godfather and Godmother. I know they will do a great job guiding Adam and Aggie through their faith journey.




Lord, Thank You for this Day!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everyone!
We had a fantastic day trick or treating! Both Adam and Aggie AKA Raggedy Ann and Andy really got into running from house to house for candy. It was really super cute. Now to figure out a way to control the Candy intake!!

The Wisconsin State Fair

A day at the fair always begins with the GIANT SLIDE! The picture doesn't do it justice.....It was SUPER fun! and if I had anything to say about it we would go up and down all day long! Going down the slide is such a great childhood memory for me and sharing it Adam and Aggie was really cool.


Next, you have to go see all the cows. About one million of them! However, whew! on a hot day it sure is stinky!



Food on a Stick is next in order. Yes, this is Chocolate covered Bacon on a stick....for the record, I thought is was pretty gross.



Next we tried the "jump-a-tron" (Not really sure what it was called). I was unsure if Adam would enjoy this experience. He was timid at first and then finally listened to mommy and daddy yell JUMP! THEN, he was flying high! My heart skipped a couple of beats when he really went soaring, but his face just beamed with sheer delight!








The day wouldn't be complete without a picture like this............


or a picture by a really huge tractor.......


And the day wrapped up with a video about POTTY POWER!



We watched it a 2nd time and I captured Lee really taking it all in...



Enjoy some Summer Time Fun Everyone!

Just for Fun!

Seriously, sometimes I just don't know WHAT she is thinking!!!







It must be Love!

Certificate of Citizenship

For those keeping tabs on time lines, we received both Adam and Aggie's Certificate of Citizenship today! It took about 90 days. I think our paper work stated about 45 days, however, we forgot you probably needed to multiply that times two! I think at this point we can now apply for social security numbers.

Just a couple of random pictures to share below. The first is a nature walk we took at a local park. If you look closely at the flower picture you will see a nice, pretty Bee smack dab in the middle. Mind you.....when I was taking the picture, my face was nearly touching the flower and I had NO idea there was a bee there! (I am deathly afraid of bees)
I was looking at the beautiful yellow color!!


Adam and Aggie walked pretty well.....for awhile, okay, maybe just 20 yards. Then we got tired, hot, needed a snack and turned around.

Brown Bear! Brown Bear! What do you see? I see a little boy staring at me!

I SWEAR Adam LIKES to Vacuum!

Many thanks need to be shouted from a mountain top for the Josten Family! Without the help of Jenni, Joanna, Julie, Minda and John, Lee and I would not have been able to enjoy the most wonderful steak dinner and solve the world's problems over a fabulous bottle of wine.

It was our second official date night and this time Adam and Aggie slept overnight at their cousins house. Lee and I slept in till 7am! YEAH!!! Yes, I am cheering about sleeping in till 7 am......Mark this as another one of those things we are still adjusting to!!! Have a great day everyone!

I just love a Parade!

I just love a Parade!

All the floats, candy, bands, cheering.....it's such a happy time and I just love it! Here are some pictures from Adam and Aggie's first 4th of July! We had a great weekend! ....and don't we ALL look so cute dressed up in Red,White, and Blue!







I think we started a new tradition this year! We joined my sister and her family to watch the Palatine Parade. The streets were packed with on lookers and every boy and girl had their bags ready...The candy given out was overwhelming! Sometimes we found ourselves shielding Adam and Aggie from flying candy bopping them on the head!



This picture has me in stitches! If Aggie doesn't have her shoes off her feet, then she has socks on her hands! What a goof!

I really hope that everyone had a great 4th of July!