First week of February!

February is a big month around here! Sveta became an American 3 years ago today, and in 10 days she will celebrate her 7th birthday! She is counting the days...and I have to get ready for a Frozen party.

This week was filled with late nights as we are taking a class this month called "Freed-Up Financial" at church. We also got to spend some time with friends, and my wonderful in-laws on Saturday. This weekend was really nice. We had dinner and a movie on Friday as a family.  

Oh...and this morning, Elliott slept until 9:00. I don't think hez's ever made it passed 8:30! Oh...and he ate a marker.

Sveta loves her stethoscope! 

I got out of the house and did some planning!  Lots of new ideas on how to keep Elliott busy while we have school. Implemented one:

And, this is beautiful!

3 years and milestones!

Week 5/52

This week has been awesome! Highlights include Elliott taking his clothes off by himself (see the progression below) Sveta writing an amazing story about being chili that goes through the digestive system, a date night with Barry & my brother Michael, and his girlfriend, Lisa. 

This week also marks a huge celebration period of our family!  3 years ago we were spending our first week together as a family of 3. We picked Sveta up from the orphanage and drove her away from the only home she knew on January 31, 2012. She is the most courageous, and resilient, and amazing little girl!  I am so grateful to be her Mama. She teaches me more everyday than I could have ever imagined.  

Her Daddy gave her $2 for trying hot sauce. She said it wasn't bad.

Barry also made her this amazing birthday countdown! She helped design it...and colored it, of course! 

This is from several months before she came home with us...but it is the first family picture!

Now, for the random things of the week...

This is from Lysa Terkeurst's book The Best Yes. I loved this paragraph.

Also, no picture of this....but, today I was going to get ahead on breakfasts by scrambling 17 eggs to use throughout the week for breakfast burritos (17 is just the number of eggs I had). Got them in the pan, stirred and saw something small and black. Yes, yes, there was mouse poop in my pan and I didn't know it until all 17 eggs were in there with the poo. Eww. 17 eggs were thrown out today. 

And, I am loving the You Need a Budget software. It really is awesome. I am excited to attend the Freed Up Financial class too! 

4/52

This week was busy!!! 

Sveta is learning so quickly, that I have moved up to the advanced second grade readers for her. She is just doing so well!  She got to go on a date with Barry on Thursday since his originally date had to cancel because her son was sick (see cuddle picture). She enjoyed the time, and I enjoyed the snuggles even though I didn't like that my boy wasn't feeling well. 

We also said goodbye to a dear friend who is moving back to Russia with The Boaz Project.  Frenchy, or David, will be helping to get a Russian Christian Foster Home established! This is an incredible project.  Find out more at https://boazproject.org/our-history/sample-page/in-russia/rcfh/. Frenchy was living in Russia when we first met Sveta, and each time we went to Russia while adopting!  He was a huge support (along with the rest of the team) to us with getting internet set up, to just making sure we were comfortable and safe.  

This week ended with Barry being sick...and me using all of my new essential oils (mydoterra.com/jessimorton) to keep the rest of us health, and help Barry get better faster! 

Elliott riding the tractor Jenny gave him for Christmas! 

Playing doctor all by himself

Sveta is ready for school!

Snuggles!

Sveta put Elliott in this table while we stopped at church so they could color together!

A Week at Home

This week was so productive around our house! I really enjoyed running less and staying home more. I am finally learning that I can't do too many activities, or the fun will become not so fun with a tired Mama and 2 worn out kiddos!

Highlights from the week: Elliott can count to 3, Barry was able to have some extended time with Jesus, I was productive at home, and Sveta and I finished reading Henry Huggins! 

I will do extra pictures next week since I just moved them all to our external hard drive and can't get them on my ipad very easily! (This is a selfie)

2/52

This week was crazy at the start with trying to get back into school and routine. Sveta struggled this week with math, but we all rejoiced when she lost another tooth! Elliott was rotten this week, and has decided that he is done with a morning nap. He also loves the word,'no!' He also is all about saying, "hold it." Which is the equivalent of "myself."  Our family enjoyed LOTS of time together. Barry and the kids were eating dinner in a fort when I returned home from my alone time last week, and they all three jammed together on their guitars later in the week. 

A Year in Pictures: 1/52

Every Sunday I hope to post a picture of Sveta, one of Elliott, and one of something that brought joy throughout the week. It will serve as a weekly reminder of all I have to be grateful for, and a way to remember this week more accurately later!  Hope you enjoy!

Sveta is still completely obsessed with Frozen. She is in her Elsa dress and is pretending that she is Elsa and I am Anna. We were playing Frozen Spot It.  She also recently received a guitar from Aunt Ruth. She loves it.  Yesterday she played me a song. It was a rap about two sisters who got on a fight. One poured buttermilk on the other's head. My favorite line was "You need to go back to your Kingdom because I need my freedom." I thought it was pretty genius!!

Elliott has been sick basically all year. Poor guy. He is feeling better now, finally!! He has still been a happy little guy, just a bit more cuddly, which his Mama loves! This picture is after I asked him to smile for me. He is starting to respond and understand more and more. Each night I tell him, "In just a minute I am going to put you in bed with your baba (pacifier), Elmo, and blanket. You will go night-night." And he now stops whatever he is doing, looks up at me, and says. "OK".  Too cute!!

I am sitting at Starbucks typing this...and reflecting on how grateful I am! I am having my monthly alone time and extended time with Jesus. Barry is home with the kids, and will go to the grocery store for me with them tonight (he is a keeper!!). He even got me Sarbucks cards to use monthly for my time so I wouldn't feel guilty about indulging in a cup o' joe! I am blessed!