Is it time for the kids to go back to school yet......

The last two weeks have been something! Wow! So much energy coming out of our 5 kids. The problem they are getting so much bigger and so the running sounds are getting a lot louder like a herd of horses ready to trample!! For the most part it has been good. Its really just the last few days that have been tougher and louder. SO much louder. Only a few more days and school starts again! I have to say I am ready and I believe the kids are too!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year to all of you!!!

Too busy!!!

I hope to have some pictures to post sometime in the near future.

I was sooooooo hoping that this two week vacation from kids being in school would be a lot less busy. I cannot believe how busy it has been. Just day to day things have kept us hopping!!

I pray you all have a wonderful New Years!!!

If you think of it keep my Niece Sarah and her fiance Adam in your prayers. They are in Hawaii as we speak and are getting married on New Years Eve!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Most of you that know me know I am not much into slower paced music. So of course this is My all time favorite version of O Holy night. Transiberian Orchestra





May you all remember this Christmas season that Jesus is ALL we need!!!
Thank you, Lord for sending us this awesome, precious gift!!!! Lord, thank You for Your saving grace and may we NEVER stop telling others about you!!!

Merry Christmas from the Yonkers!!!!!

Caleb's reading buddy!

Caleb's teacher has a wonderful blog that we can
follow what the kids are doing each day they are in school. I found thi picture of caleb with his reading buddy. 5th graders come in and help the kids read. Caleb loves it!!! I thought this was a cute picture. His reading buddy had made Caleb a car

Thought I should show you that Hannah and Caleb really do play well together.
He will even play polly pockets with her. What a good brother. He did want me to tell you that he will ONLY play the boys and with the jet skis!! :)

Not a ton going on today at our house. We are going to have a babysitter tonight and we will be going to some friends house for a Christmas get together. We always have lots of fun, laughs and food!! Just my kind of night!! :)

Turkeys

Nate took these pictures a week ago Saturday.
It is lots of fun to watch the turkeys hanging out!!

Happy Birthday, Nikolas!!!

Happy 11th birthday Nikolas!!!!!!!!

Ten years ago today!!!

December 16Th marks a big day in our house!!! Ten years ago today Judge Bogdonava granted our petition to adopt Vasily Nikoleavitch Nadeleav!!

This picture is of our court house!!!

This is a picture of us just after our court hearing. Next to me in the middle is Judge Bogdonova. She s such a sweet woman. on the lower hand corner next to Nate is our translator Andrei (we still keep in touch with him) and then of course our facilitator Alex on the other side of Nate. We were able to have lunch with Mrs. Bogdonova when we traveled back in 2002 to adopt Katie and she was so happy to see us and to hear about Nikolas.

This is Nik's last time in the baby home. He fell asleep on my lap and woke up in our apartment. Its hard to believe how little he was at that time!!!

This is where Nikolas slept. We had no crib for him then. He fit so nice in the suitcase!!!

This is on our way home from Russia!! our first family picture!!

We were gone for 3 weeks and we arrived home on New Years Eve!!

It was so awesome to start the Brand new year in our home with our new son!!!

Here is Nikolas today!! On December 19Th he will turn 11 years old. It brings tears to my eyes how he as grown into such a sweet young man. He has a heart of Gold and would do anything for anybody.

Nothing is perfect but watching him mature into a young man who loves the Lord just makes my heart so happy!!!

Nikolas we were so blessed to day you were placed into our arms and we thank the Lord for you ever day!!!!!

School Christmas program 2007

Last night we went to the kids Christmas program and their school. It was such a fun
Night!!! The kids did such a great job.
In this first picture is Hannah 2nd row back 3 child in. Caleb is about 7th in the row. They looked so cute!!!

Heather had a small speaking part and did a wonderful job!!!

Here are the girls with their 3rd grade class
They have an awesome music teacher!!!

This is also Nikolas's last year at his elementery school. He was a little sad but he went out
big!! This is the first time he auditioned and got a special singing part with 4 other kids. They sounded
so good. Nate tried to capture it on video so I hope it sounds as good here as it did last night!!!

Nik is in the red sweather in case you didn't know!! :)

Frederic Meijer gardens

Our bank was kind enough to give our whole family a pass to see the Christmas trees last night at Meijer gardens. They were so beautiful! You will love to know that I forgot my camera. Sad isn't it. Sigh. I just don't know what to do with myself.

I found a few pictures on the internet but they will not show up for me so I have this one lone picture. It was so pretty!! It would be have been expensive if we had to pay for it ourselves but if you ever have the chance to go for free it is really beautiful. It has trees from all the different countries and the kid love finding the trees from Russia and the US. Unfortunately China does not do Christmas trees but they did have little display of things for the Hannah to look at.

JIB JAB Snowball fight

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

You Are a Gingerbread House

A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatholidayfoodareyouquiz/">What Holiday Food Are You?

Not much new!

I know its been awhile since I posted anything. I just haven't had much of a chance.

We did get a nice email from Sandi Sheldon.

I know you have all prayed for her so I thought I would share it.

Hi Everyone, We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of the prayers that are being said for us. Words can not begin to express the gratefulness I feel for your efforts to bring us home. Without your rallying for help it probably would not have happened so soon or at all. The last couple of weeks have been a little overwhelming and I apologize for not doing this sooner. We had Dennis's memorial service on Friday and it was a beautiful service. It was so wonderful to see so many people come and pay their respects to a wonderful man. God bless you all!!
Sandi & Hannah

Answers to a few of the Random facts

It has been a strange day today. My kids have the day off from school yet. They haven't been so bad but its just been different having them home on a Monday. Tomorrow will seem so easy with only 2 home!

I also thought I would give those of you who do not know me so well the answers to two of my Random facts.

I was adopted when I was 7 weeks old so I was born as the oldest to my birthmother, who I have had the blessings to meet! I have 1 half sister that is just 1 year younger than me. Mybirthfather also has 4 children all younger than me!

I was raised as a youngest and I have one brother that is 5 years older than me!!

I bet Physciatrists would love to figure that one out!!

I was born with the name. Sandra Lynn McDowell When I was adopted it was changed to Brenda Joy!

I have to laugh someone the other day at biolife (where I donate plasma) said goodbye to me but she called me Sandy. I didn't even realize it at the time. The next time I saw her she apologized to me and then it dawned on me that I was that name at one time in my life!! LOL

I told her that and we got a good laugh out of it!!

8 random facts

Cheri tagged me to do this meme.

You list 8 random facts and then tag 8 people.

It's an easy one so thought I'd do it!

1. I was born the oldest and was raised the youngest

2. I have been to China, Russia (3 times), Haiti (2 times), Japan, Switzerland, Canada

3. I have 5 children

4. I was born with a different name than I have now. (I do not mean married name)

5. I have been married for 17 years (got married at age 19)

6. I am left handed

7. I love being a missionary

8. I love Chinese food.

-

I'm tagging the following people:

Tara, Kimberly, Kathy, Tory, Anna, Dawn S, Karla, Tiffany

Thankfullness

Okay, I am going to try blogging once. I just felt the nudge......
Have you ever dreamed of having all your debt wiped out at once? Ever wonder what it would be like to live without the burden of having to pay for things long gone? Have you ever stopped and thanked God for wiping out our debt of sin which we could never pay off ourselves. Our God is an awesome God and I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and His payment of my debt. Not only that but He is always there for me, no matter what I am going through, I know He is right there carrying me.
Watch this video and try not to cry, then stop and say a prayer thanking God for His son and what He has done for us. Happy Thanksgiving you all. We love you all and thank God for each and every one of you!!

EAT BEEF!!


Happy Thanksgiving!!

We would just like to wish you all a very happy Thankgsiving!

We have been so blessed with our family and all the wonderful
friends that the Lord has given us over the years! You know who
you are and I cannot thank you enough for putting up with me and
my sarcasm!!!

I cannot thank the Lord enough for the blessings he has given us!

Woo-Hoo- there's a great give away here for bloggers who enjoy Michael W. Smithhttp://www.reunionrecords.com/mwschristmas/blogformusicThey're giving away 150 free copies of his Christmas CD. It's very easy to sign up for and if you qualify you get a free CD.Merry Christmas to us all!!

Karla tagged me, on her blog, to answer some adoption questions. I will do my best! I will be answering for Russia and China.

What are the first 3 things you bought for your new child?
Nikolas (12 months at the time)
1. Bottles
2. Clothes
3. Formula

Katie (4 at the time)
1. clothes
2. build a bear

Hannah (6 at the time)
1. Clothes
2. Build a bear

Who laid the first big kiss smack dab on the face of your new child?
Nik and Katie
1. Nate and myself.

Hannah
1. Nate, myself and Heather

What was one of the first phrases you learned in your child's native language?

1. Stasvitya (hello) Russian Die roo koo (take my hand) Ya la Te Blu ( I love you)
2. knee how (chinese) Wha ah knee (I love you)

What was your favorite food in country?
Russia
1. Cabbage and Pototoes. I also loved this spread for bread called Viola! Yum

China
1. I LOVED all of it!!
What was your least favorite food?
Russia
1. Borscht
china
1. I don't remember what I didn't like.

What part of the adoption process has been the most sentimental to you apart from meeting your child?

1. BRINGING THEM HOME and them meeting their new siblings!!!!!

I am now tagging anyone else who has adopted to answer these on your blog!!

Brenda