Halloween 2010

More to come....

Fun Times and Breaking News

I have had so much fun this week.  Now that we are in full swing of the school year, I am finally starting to get back in my groove.  It is a little strange because I am not teaching full time this year.  I am counseling for the first half of the day and teaching only 2 hours at the end of the day.  It is a little bit awkward and I feel like I am being pulled in many different directions, but at the same time, it is the best of both worlds.  I get to counsel and teach!!

Unfortunately, Gus has been having a rough week with some teeth coming in so I am sure he has kept his babysitters busy while he is there during the day.  (Once again, THANK YOU Stephanie and Miranda!!)  On the upside, we finally found a second type of sippy cup that Gus will use.  WHEW!!  The other ones that he would use are really hard to find.  I am so happy to have FINALLY found another one suitable to my little picky one.  And speaking of picky...at what age do kids learn how to pick their own noses?  Gus has come down with a cold this weekend and I really hate having to pick his boogers.  But he doesn't know how, so what's a mom to do other than pick her baby's boogies? And thank goodness for Boogie Wipes!  If you haven't tried them for your kids, I highly recommend them!  (I wonder if I can buy stock in them?  That's how much I love them!)

Gus and I also had the opportunity this week to make a quick trip to West Michigan.  (I miss that place more and more.)  We literally went for less than 24 hours this time.  We got there on Thursday evening and my mom watched Gus while I went out to dinner with my friend, Tiffany.  I love getting a chance to catch up with her.  We don't get to see each other very often but when we do, we pick up right where we left off.  I love friendships like that!  The next morning Gus and I finally got to go to the 2010 Blogger Bash put on by Sassy Baby Co.  Oh baby!!  It was so fun!!  Stay tuned because I am going to tell you ALL about it.  But in addition to all the fun that we had, I got to see my friend, Stacy from college.  It was great to see her.  I am so impressed by her and the blog that she writes.  Maybe someday, when I grow up, I will be like her and have a great blog.  So stay tuned to hear about all of the fun that Gus and I had at the Blogger Bash.

AND IN BREAKING NEWS....
Brace yourself.  The link to our blog has changed.  This is a big step in our blogging life.  We originally started this blog as a way for friends and family to go and keep up to date on our adoption process.  (I was getting really tired of hearing, "have you heard anything yet?".  "Umm...no.  I'm pretty sure the whole world will know when we hear something.)  So instead of having uncomfortable conversations about the adoption, we started the blog.  And then it became a place for our family to chronicle our life together.  Recently it has opened up some opportunities that I never knew were possible.  There are a few adoption sites that have our blog listed on their site which have led some people to us.  We have been asked questions by people thinking about adoption but want a real life perspective.  And the coolest by far is the invitation I received to the Blogger Bash with Sassy.  I will always keep this blog as one for our family.  I don't do this as a career or any other monetary gain.  I do this for us.  I do this as a way to get some thoughts out.  But if I have a chance to help others, especially in adoption, then I am ALL for it!!  So a few things will be changing but the important things will remain...our family being the center of that.  But in case you have us bookmarked, you are going to want to change the link.  We can now be found at http://www.stapeshouse.com/.  Okay...how cool is that?!?  Really excited about that.  Please stay tuned.  I am sure that there will be a lot of really fun things coming at Stape's House!

The Maly Wedding Extravaganza

It was a long ride out to Cave B Inn at Sage Cliff which was the site for the wedding.  We had a wonderful time celebrating the marriage of Joe and Jane Maly.

A beautiful drive out to what Joel kept calling, "the middle of no where".

We stopped at the only "scenic view" that we saw.  Had to get out to stretch and to take pictures.

The Wild Horses Monument.  We don'nt know anything about it except someone hauled a bunch of horse statues to the top of the hill. Some people hiked up to it...my bedazzled flip flops were not going on that hike.  We looked on from afar.

The sign outside the hotel where we were staying.

The main lodge of the vinyard...surrounded in vines.

Vines, vines everywhere.

Eme Carlson....I LOVE this little girl!!  She is 3 days younger than Gus.  Our families have made the journey through adoption together.  Such great support for one another. And we are both SO lucky to have our beautiful babies.  (In case you are wondering, yes, I wanted to steal her this weekend.  Just think...it would be like raising twins! She and Gus would have such fun together!!)

Mama Maly.  Isn't she just radiant?  I love this picture of her.  She is just oozing happiness!

Nora Jones.  I got to spend lots of time with her momma, Dana, since both of our husbands were in the wedding.  Funny how Dana and I both graduated the same year from Hope College, yet never crossed paths before.

Buddies!!

Joe's gorgeous sisters, Bekah and Brie.  Love them!!

Dana and Nora kept me sane all weekend.  (Well, as sane as possible.)  Thanks, girls!

Jane's nephews, Brandon and Taye were too stinkin' cute!  During the wedding photos earlier in the day, they were striking many poses...too fun!

The beautiful bride and her dad.

Waiting for his bride.

The happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Maly!!

Brie, Matt and Eme Carlson. This family has been such a wonderful source of support for our family during the past 14 months. I can't wait to watch our kids continue to grow up together.

Swidorski Wedding

We got to see our good friends, Jacob and Sara Swidorski and their kiddos, Ewan, Ellie and Rachel.  We were so lucky to spend so much time with them while they were in town since they need to see so many people when they are in Michigan.  We miss them tons and always look forward to any time that we can spend together!  Jacob's brother, Brandon got married so we all went to the wedding and then we splurged on hotel rooms so that we could spend some undivided attention with them!  (Yes...we were selfish!)

Joel tried to entertain the 3 out of the 4 kids during the outdoor wedding.  Lucky for us we brought snacks...it was like feeding pirhanas with 4 little mouths ready to chomp.

Wanna dance??  The kids had a great time dancing at the reception.

Silly faces in the pool.  The kids...and their daddy's had some pool fun before we had to part ways.

Just us boys!

Getting 4 smiling kids was not going to happen!!  So we will take what we can get!

Growing up, I was lucky to grow up with my mom's life long friend, Elaine's kids, Shine and Amy.  I am thrilled that my kids will have a similiar experience.  I am excited to watch the Stapleton and Swidorski kids grow up together and form life long friendships!!