Levi Had a Birthday, Shout Hooray!!!!

So, Levi turned 5 this last week. Here is what he had to say about it....
Levi - I am not going to school when I turn 5.
Mom - You're right. You are not going to school WHEN you turn 5.
Levi - And I'm not going during that Fall time either!

Mom - Good morning Baby! And Happy Birthday. Wow, I'm not going to get to call you that much longer.
Levi - Don't you worry. You'll be calling Jet that for a long time. (sigh)

Levi - Is 5 big?
Mom - Yes it is. But not so big that you can't snuggle with me.
Levi - I know. Even Dad still has to snuggle.

Levi - Why do I have to grow up?
Mom - I don't know. Why do you?
Levi - I don't know either. If you don't know and I don't know, then maybe nobody will know if I don't grow big.
Mom - Dad might know why you have to grow up.
Levi - Well, don't ask Dad!

I love that he likes being little even though he really is doing everything a 5 year old does and even more. He had a wonderful birthday. He choose cereal and boiled eggs for breakfast and pizza for dinner. we had a fun party with presents and cheesecake with ice cream. It was a perfect evening and Shiloh got to webcam and watch him open his gifts. The joys of technology. He also spent all week looking at the e-card Grandma Lee sent him. So much so, that he figured out how to get to it all by himself. I need a password protection for my 5 year old!! He also loved that Shane wrote him a special birthday letter. - Thanks big brother Shane!







Showing Shi his gift





More basketball games









Family Night at the school. Notice the game they are playing? Trouble. How fitting!

2 Weeks or More?

We have had a crazy busy couple of weeks. I'll start with the visit from Elder Holland to our stake. We had stake conference last weekend and Elder Holland and Elder Bussey came, yes, out of the blue. well, announced out of the blue in November. Can I just say it was incredible. Elder Holland was so sweet and sincere and kind and passionate and fiery and bold and kind and grateful. He gave such a powerful talk, sermon, challenge on Saturday night. I sat on the front row next to an investigator and she was glued to him and hung on every word he said. After the meeting as we (Elder Holland, Elder and Sister Bussey, James and I) were walking to the cars, my investigator friend walked out a side door and Elder Holland called her over and hugged her and told her he wanted a call when she was baptized. She mentioned she couldn't wait to write her son who is on a mission and James and I chuckled as we thought of this little missionary praying for his mother to accept the gospel and finding out an Apostle of the Lord committed her for baptism. :) Then on Sunday all the youth and new members and investigators were invited to sit in the chapel. He spoke mainly to them and it was simply inspiring. James spoke as well and announced to the stake our wonderful news that we have a COURT DATE!!!! James and I will travel to Ethiopia on Feb 23 to meet our boys and complete the adoption. We won't be bringing them home but hope to go back within 6 weeks to pick them up. I can't even express my feelings on this. I did think it was ironic (you know, in the sense of a tender mercy) that Elder Holland is the Apostle over Africa. He enjoyed hearing our news and told us of wonderful things happening in Africa with the church. Our Ethiopian couple came on Sunday and were able to meet Elder Holland and shake his hand. It was awesome. Then our family was able to have lunch with the visiting authorities along with the rest of the stake presidency. All of our kids were able to talk with Elder Holland and he hugged all of them. Sister Bussey was so sweet and they came with their son who was adopted from Russia. It was so fun to talk to her and hear a little of their story. Then Elder Holland spoke to the YSAs of the area and gave another amazing and inspiring talk. We then said good bye to the Busseys and drove Elder Holland to the airport. He was so kind to James and complimentary of him and his presidency. Of course I agreed with all of it and have thought that for the last 5 years but it was nice to hear an Apostle say it. He hugged us both goodbye and kissed me on the cheek. I felt so loved and cared for. He told me he was proud of me and what I was doing for my family and husband. And the best part was that as I was in the spirit of the spirit, I later that night heard my dad whisper in my ear the same thing. That night I had sweet dreams of my dad. It was wonderful. An experience all of us will remember forever.
And then real life began again on Monday and snow hit. We've all done a lot of shoveling this week. The kids even had a snow day on Friday. They of course loved it and spent a majority of the day outside. We ended the week with a great day at church and a great fireside broadcast with Elder Packer. And now, the kids are in bed and I'm about to email my wonderful missionary.
I can't wait til after court and to be able to fully tell our story of adoption and post pictures of their sweet little faces and beautiful eyes so full of the spirit. You'll see what I mean when you meet them via photos.
The Gospel is true and in Elder Holland's words, "I dare anyone to meet me outside and try to convince me otherwise".

Happy New Year

We had a great week after Christmas. We played together, did some work together, did some serving together, and did lots of eating together. James and Tony were able to play lots of hockey and even took all the kids with them a few times to the pond. We had a wonderful New Year's Eve get together with James' family. Susan and JA were in town as well as Carson and Kandi and their 3 little girls. The party was at Brandon and Shiela's home which is always a treat. The cousins all had a great time together and the adults had some fun playing games. And of course the food was fabulous as always.
Then a bunch of the family got together the next morning for some football. i think they all enjoyed the game. Then some of us went to lunch together and it was a great weekend. Thank you to everyone who came!
To celebrate his last day of vacation, James cleaned our carpets. He did a wonderful job and I love my clean carpets. We also rearranged rooms; Shauna and Ali now have their own rooms, the girls divided their room into two, and Josh and Koli did some redecorating. Everything looks great.
And then we started school again. School is, well, school. I miss the kids, the kids miss home, and we miss the free time. But, we like the accomplishments that happen. it's a new year and we've made some goals and we want to accomplish many things. Number one is to get our little boys here from Ethiopia. We are getting closer. I can't wait to introduce them to you all and write about our story. But all in good time.
Happy New Year to All!






















Becca and Katie handed out awards as part of ASB and also received an award.







This is the cutest thing ever and this is for you Shane.



I forgot we did this one for you Shane.